PHOTO FEATURE: Stunning Falcon 9 Launch Delivers SpaceX’s First Geostationary Payload to Orbit

Under the impulse of its nine first-stage engines, the Falcon 9 v1.1 takes flight. Photo Credit: AmericaSpace / Alan Walters (www.AWaltersPhoto.com)
Under the impulse of its nine first-stage engines, the Falcon 9 v1.1 takes flight. Photo Credit: AmericaSpace / Alan Walters (www.AWaltersPhoto.com)

After two false starts, SpaceX successfully launched its second Falcon 9 v1.1 from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., at 5:41 p.m. EST Tuesday, 3 December. The long-awaited flight—described as SpaceX’s “First GEO Transfer Mission”—delivered the SES-8 communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit to provide Ku-band and Ka-band bandwidth-growth capacity in the Asia-Pacific region, with specific focus upon emerging markets in South Asia and Indochina.

AmericaSpace’s photography team devoted an enormous amount of time and work into capturing a series of truly remarkable images of this historic launch. Presented here are several astonishing views acquired by the lenses of our team. All images are © copyright to their respective photographers, all rights reserved. Please contact the photographer directly for permission to use or purchase, or email AmericaSpace via our contact page and we will forward your enquiry to the photographer.

Awaiting for the moment of launch! Falcon 9 v1.1  Photo Credit:©2013 Jeffrey J. Soulliere
Awaiting for the moment of launch! Falcon 9 v1.1 Photo Credit:©2013 Jeffrey J. Soulliere
Photo Credit: AmericaSpace / Alan Walters (www.AWaltersPhoto.com)
Photo Credit: AmericaSpace / Alan Walters (www.AWaltersPhoto.com)
Photo Credit: AmericaSpace / Jeffrey Soulliere
Photo Credit: AmericaSpace / Jeffrey Soulliere

 

Photo Credit: Alex Menendez / http://alexmenendez.photoshelter.com/gallery/SpaceX-Falcon9/G0000J7xh4cllWa4/
Photo Credit: Alex Menendez / http://alexmenendez.photoshelter.com/gallery/SpaceX-Falcon9/G0000J7xh4cllWa4/

 

Photo Credit: Alex Menendez http://alexmenendez.photoshelter.com/gallery/SpaceX-Falcon9/G0000J7xh4cllWa4/
Photo Credit: Alex Menendez http://alexmenendez.photoshelter.com/gallery/SpaceX-Falcon9/G0000J7xh4cllWa4/
Unique trail to the Falcon 9 SES8 Launch Credit: John Studwell
Unique trail to the Falcon 9 SES8 Launch Credit: John Studwell
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Unique trail to the Falcon 9 SES8 Launch separation. Credit: John Studwell
SpaceX Falcon 9 SES8 Launch Credt: John Studwell
SpaceX Falcon 9 SES8 Launch Credt: John Studwell
SpaceX Falcon 9 SES8 Launch Credt: John Studwell
SpaceX Falcon 9 SES8 Launch Credt: John Studwell

Thundering skyward.  SpaceX Falcon v9.1.1 SES8. Credit: Matt Gaetjens
Thundering skyward. SpaceX Falcon v9.1.1 SES8. Credit: Matt Gaetjens

 

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4 Comments

  1. The launch of our ORION spacecraft on Exploration Flight Test-1 next fall atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy should be “stunning”, “remarkable”, and “astonishing”.

    • Yeah, as admirable as SpaceX’s launches are, I really can’t wait for EFT-1! This launch will be really something, won’t it? I so much want to be able to attend it in person next fall!

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