Shuttle Landing at Edwards AFB (slides)

Shuttle Discovery, STS-128, landing on 9/11/09.

Images were shot from the intersection of 20 Mule Team Rd and Rocket Site Rd. Since the USAF generally doesn't open the base to the public for landings, this is the best spot to watch. When the shuttle deorbits while heading northbound in a highly inclined orbit, which is often the case after ISS resupply missions, NASA selects the northern approach loop. This route swings directly over Hiway 58 and gives spectators a hell of a show.

I posted this to hopefully save someone the trouble of figuring out where to go next time.. if there is a next time. The 60 seconds of viewing was easily worth the 10 round trip hours of driving. Go see a launch or landing before it's too late!

This view is digitally zoomed; it's considerably closer than what you see with the naked eye. I didn't have a telephoto lens at the time :(

Daniel Potter posted a much better video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru5FxAVlDw8

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• space shuttle
• discovery
• landing
• STS-128
• 20 mule team
• twenty mule team
• edwards
• rocket site