About 4 miles from the launch pad, I watched this Atlas V rocket lift off Saturday, May 7, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
I drove about 45 minutes to Canaveral National Seashore, a park that's popular among nudists. They have to break the law to be nude on this beach, though, so it's not a commonplace thing. Everyone was fully clothed when I was there.
Once I got to the beach, it was about 15 minutes before the 2:10 p.m. launch. In order to get as close as possible to launch pad 41, you have to walk about a mile southward to a fence that prevents people from entering the air station. Because the launch was near, I had to run that mile -- camera equipment in tow. Got there with several minutes to spare.
This rocket carried a $1.2 billion Space-Based Infrared System spacecraft, which will detect incoming missiles, into orbit.
This Atlas V flew without solid rocket boosters, so there was no immediate smoke trail. But this contrail did form once the rocket reached the high atmosphere, where cold air caused condensation.
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