Sightings: Cause for Reflection
Endeavour lights up the sky—and water—in Florida.
- Air & Space magazine, July 2010
February 8, 2010, 4:14am; Space Shuttle Endeavor Launch as seen from the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge in Ponte Vedra, Florida, 115 miles from the launch pad.
James Vernacotola
The last scheduled night launch of the space shuttle program roused James Vernacotola in the pre-dawn hours of February 8. Vernacotola, who works in the IT field in Jacksonville, Florida, lives a few miles from the Palm Valley Bridge, which crosses the Intracoastal Waterway 115 miles north of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It used to be a two-lane drawbridge until a higher, clear-span, four-lane bridge replaced it in 2002, and improved the view for night launches. “But one thing that I think nobody realized was that that section of the Intracoastal Waterway south of the bridge was pointed toward the Kennedy Space Center, which made it possible to photograph a reflection,” says Vernacotola.
At 4:14 a.m., his lens took in the arc of Endeavour’s ascent on the 32nd shuttle mission, STS-130, to the International Space Station, where the orbiter delivered the Tranquility node. During the 132-second exposure, the stars etched paths westward in the sky, while a waning moon crept in the same direction and gave the appearance of being full. NASA soon posted the image on the Astronomy Picture of the Day page of its Web site, calling it “Waterway to Orbit.” Vernacotola has gotten high praise via Facebook and Twitter, and through his Web site, www.jamesvernacotola.com. “There was something about that photo that really spoke to people in a way I would have never expected,” he says. “Not only was it visually appealing, but it seemed to embody what we can do as a country. It also seemed to have a nostalgic effect, since the manned space program is scheduled to be grounded for some time.”
Comments (6)
What a spectacular photo. If this ever becomes available as a lithograph, I want one.
Posted by Phil Atterbery on May 20,2010 | 01:46 AM
I too would like a print of this incredible photograph. Please advise if it becomes available. EDITORS' REPLY: Go to the photographer's website, listed in the article.
Posted by Cmdr Kennard E. Cole USN (Ret) on May 21,2010 | 04:42 PM
Amazing! This is a fantastic photo. It would be great to see it on an aluminum printing such as from ImageWizards. Please e-mail me if the photographer is going to sell images.
Posted by Robert D Marple on May 21,2010 | 09:21 PM
Phenomenal image. I'm glad he realized the bridge was the perfect vantage point to take it. Will prints be available? What about use as Windows wallpaper? EDITORS' REPLY: Go to the photographer's website (given in the text) for information on product availability.
Posted by Gregg Bender on May 25,2010 | 12:55 PM
Hello,
I have one question for you. In the magazine, can science stop a hurricane air & space, on page twelve...on the water are the things on the sides docks? please write back as soon as possible. i love air and space!! thank you! EDITORS' REPLY: Hi Chris! They do look like docks, don't they? You can ask the photographer yourself though. Go to his website and contact him through that. Thanks for writing.
your friend,
Chris J
p.s.
this is my sisters email.
Posted by Christopher on July 16,2010 | 01:51 PM
Gregg, you can grab it from the NASA page here: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/1002/launch_vernacotola_s.jpg
Posted by Andrew on September 19,2010 | 03:00 AM