On Saturday, May 14 at 4:40 p.m. ET, SpaceX launched Starlink satellites to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Falcon 9 lifts off from SLC-40 on May 14, 2022. The rocket seems a bit out of focus thanks to the warm air creating “heat shimmer” — turbulent air caused by the difference in temperature by the colder water and warmer sunlit air above causes a lot of distortion.
Click for three more photos…
Falcon 9 piercing the humid air carrying another group of Starlink satellites to orbit on May 14, 2022. This photo was made 20-30 seconds after liftoff. click to enlarge
A longer view of Falcon 9 climbing towards orbit. Shortly after it reaches Max Q — the peak of aerodynamic loading on the vehicle — a contrail starts to form behind the rocket plume. This is a consistent effect seen with liquid rockets that have no solid fuel strap on boosters. (They have visible exhaust from ignition to burnout.)
(click to enlarge)
SpaceX Starlink Launch, May 14, 2022, as seen in monochrome through a deep red filter. (click to enlarge)
