Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Rollback from GRAIL's Rocket

NASA ^ | September 10, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: This dramatic time-lapse photo traces a 20 minute long, late evening rollback of the lighted Mobile Service Tower at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 17. Twin spacecraft are snug inside the 13 story tall Delta 2 rocket poised for launch. The duo will journey to the Moon on NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory mission, GRAIL, using precision formation flying to map the Moon's gravity field. The scene was captured prior to the first launch attempt, canceled due to upper level winds, on September 8. Further launch opportunities for GRAIL begin this morning, September 10. The GRAIL launch is the last one planned from Complex 17 on Cape Canaveral's oldest still active pad, in use since 1957.

[SunkenCiv]

[Image Credit & Copyright: Ben Cooper (Launch Photography)]

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops. I was a great big social butterfly yesterday, and while the GGG digest got done, this completely slipped my mind. The truth is, I usually post APoD right after my 2:30 or 3 am pee break, and just forgot. ;')

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[fnord]

“The GRAIL launch is the last one planned from Complex 17”

another chapter closed. remember to tell your grandkids that men once walked on the moon. this history is moving closed to mythology every day.

as always, thanks for the pings Civ