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That big dot? Yeah, that's the second stage of SpaceX's first Falcon 9 v1.1 continuing downrange.
Those two little dots are the payload fairing, a structure that protects the satellite from the atmosphere during the first few minutes of ascent. Once the vehicle is high enough (typically >55mi altitude) the fairing separates, exposing the satellite to the vacuum of space safely.
At this point the vehicle is downrange nearly 175mi from where we were taking photos.
CASSIOPE Launch
September 29th, 2013
Vandenberg AFB
First Falcon 9 v1.1 Flight
Shot on a Canon T2i with a Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3
Those two little dots are the payload fairing, a structure that protects the satellite from the atmosphere during the first few minutes of ascent. Once the vehicle is high enough (typically >55mi altitude) the fairing separates, exposing the satellite to the vacuum of space safely.
At this point the vehicle is downrange nearly 175mi from where we were taking photos.
CASSIOPE Launch
September 29th, 2013
Vandenberg AFB
First Falcon 9 v1.1 Flight
Shot on a Canon T2i with a Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3
Category Photography / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 686 x 609px
File Size 262.8 kB
The first stage isn't flying fast enough to reach orbit, so it falls back into an area of the ocean that is clear of boats and planes, same goes for the payload fairing.
The second stage makes it onto orbit, and sometimes they carry enough fuel so that they can deorbit the second stage into the ocean later, other times the stage burns all its fuel, so it stays in orbit and will for thousands of years, other times the stage is used to send a probe to another planet, so it leaves Earth and goes into a harmless orbit around the Sun.
The second stage makes it onto orbit, and sometimes they carry enough fuel so that they can deorbit the second stage into the ocean later, other times the stage burns all its fuel, so it stays in orbit and will for thousands of years, other times the stage is used to send a probe to another planet, so it leaves Earth and goes into a harmless orbit around the Sun.
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