Excellent Venus Express Launch Photos

A series of very nice photos of the preparation and
launch of Soyuz FG/Fregat ST-14 with ESA's
Venus Express are at the following web site:

"http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31141&farchive_objecttypeid=18 &farchive_objectid=30912"

These are probably the best R-7 launch photos I've
seen.

- Ed Kyle

"Ed Kyle" wrote in
oups.com:

A series of very nice photos of the preparation and
launch of Soyuz FG/Fregat ST-14 with ESA's
Venus Express are at the following web site:

"http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31141&farc
hive_objecttypeid=18&farchive_objectid=30912"

These are probably the best R-7 launch photos I've
seen.

The resolution in the pad liftoff image has enough detail
to show optical heat distortion of the exhaust plume in
the background; I've never noticed that before in any
photograph.

Great detail of the pad support arms and umbilical
arm; they tuck just far enough out of the way that
the exhaust plume doesn't impinge on them. For all its
simplicity, the R-7 system has a certain elegance.

--DAmon

Damon Hill wrote:
"Ed Kyle" wrote in
oups.com:

A series of very nice photos of the preparation and
launch of Soyuz FG/Fregat ST-14 with ESA's
Venus Express are at the following web site:

"http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=31141&farc
hive_objecttypeid=18&farchive_objectid=30912"

These are probably the best R-7 launch photos I've
seen.

The resolution in the pad liftoff image has enough detail
to show optical heat distortion of the exhaust plume in
the background; I've never noticed that before in any
photograph.

Great detail of the pad support arms and umbilical
arm; they tuck just far enough out of the way that
the exhaust plume doesn't impinge on them. For all its
simplicity, the R-7 system has a certain elegance.

And a certain classic form too. The launch apparatus and
the launch vehicle together have a 1940s science fiction
look to them. R-7 is all flares and tapers and complex
conic sections. The flower petal launch system looks like
something assembled from my dad's classic Erector Set.
Compare this to the modern Zenit, which is a cold tall
cylinder with a single solid umbilical arm.

- Ed Kyle

Great views, Ed -- thanks!

In the view from the service tower,
you can even spot -- on the horizon --
the twin Zenit service towers at
area 45.