Atlantis STS-36 Night Launch
As viewed from Indialantic Beach, Florida
Photos by Bob Hampton
Launch of the Space Shuttle ATLANTIS STS-36, on Feb. 28, 1990. It was a SECRET Dept. of Defense mission carrying the AFP-731 satellite, the second Advanced KH-11 (Magnum) spy satellite. The satellite was reported to have malfunctioned after being placed into orbit.
This is a composite of two photos, shot from the beach at Indialantic Fl. The left side was a two or three minute exposure at f11. After the Shuttle had left the field of view I repositioned the camera and made a 10 minute exposure at f4.5. The end of the streak (at right) is MECO (Main Engine Cut-off), at which time Atlantis was over Western Africa.
Photo © 1990 by Bob Hampton All Rights Reserved