Space X- A mission to Inspire

Moving to the space coast, one of the things I was most excited to start experiencing, is launches from Cape Canaveral. Since I was young I have been fascinated by stars and space, and as many of my fiends know- I can talk your ear off about the engineering and exciting information I learn about NASA and the missions they take. Since I got my first telescope for my 16th birthday, I've wanted to capture more and more photographs and experiences that have to do with space. Since then I've taken photos through my telescope as a kid, transitioned to taking photos of the night sky with my Canon Rebel, crying as I capture and enjoy the totality of the solar eclipse in collage, capturing the Milky Way for the first time with my Canon 90D last fall, and now photographing my first ever launch from the space coast.

It's crazy to think of all I've learned and grown over the years with space and photography, and I know I still have a long way to go. But I just wanted to share of my experience for my first ever live launch, and a couple photos I captured.

This mission in particular was one for the history books. This was the Space X launch of an all civilian crew as a fundraiser for St. Jude's hospital. Crew members orbited around the earth for several days, conducting experiments and conducting research for medical knowledge, before touching back down in Atlantic waters only a few days later. On the day of the launch, Emily and I went over to the beach we stayed at during spring break of 2021 (before we knew that we were going to move here). The experience we surreal to think that only a few months before we were here on vacation, with only a vague plans that I was going to find a job and we were going to move to Florida. And yet we ended up moving only a few minutes away from this very beach.

Showing up- we had the beach completely to ourselves. We set up our towels, bags, and my photography equipment, before enjoying some walks on the beach as we waited for the sun to set. As we got closer to launch a few others showed up, and started to set off some sparklers. We began to watch the live feed as excitement began to grow, and eagerly waited to see what a live launch would be like.

Now keep in mind- my only knowledge of launches at this time has been from live feeds from NASA and Space X over the years, a millions of watching of Apollo 13 with my mom. I was going in with only the most basic knowledge of how to photograph this event. I'm sure for the next launch I will be much more prepared, but I was just so excited to experience the launch that I almost completely forgot about taking photos.

As the last minute began, we lost the live feed signal and we were not flying blind! We had lost track of the time and had no idea when it was about to start. Suddenly the sky began to light, and it felt like the sun had appeared on the horizon again. Our location was just miles away, with a clear view of the launch (no buildings or trees in our way). It was so bright, that the area was lit almost like it was the beginning of sunset again. He fireball began to rise, and we watched in awe knowing how special this launch was, and how unique this experience would be. Shortly there after while watching it rise through the sky, the roar of the initial launch began to reach us. The sound had such deep power behind it that I could not imagine how much louder it must have been closer to the event. It felts like dit lasted forever as we watched the rocket go higher and higher. I eventually remembered to start taking photos, and I captured some wonderful colors that appeared in the second portion of the launch. Eventual we lost sight of the rocket and drove a few minutes home, amazed at what we just experienced, and equally shocked that we got to experience something so cool on just a normal week night.

A few days later, we were enjoying some time at Coco Beach Pier, simply window shopping after a long day at the beach, when we suddenly heard two massive booms. Birds jumped in the air, we heard some people cheer, and people went back to what they were doing. I checked the time to discover it was 7:02! I quickly turned on the live stream as it was time for the crew to land back in the Atlantic. After watching for a few seconds, we realized what we had heard was the delayed sound of the sonic boom as the crew of the Inspiration 4 was reentering the atmosphere. We watched the rest of the livestream as the events were happening a few miles off the coast, too far away for us to see with the naked eye. It was so amazing to realize that we had accidentally placed ourselves in just the location and just the right time to hear the sonic booms. Honestly looking back on this, I don't think I'll ever forget this as it was the first launch I have every experienced in person. Though I look forward to many more in my future since I've made the space coast my home.

Until next time- stay safe, much love!

Laura Mantooth