Recent Night Launch-Exhaust Strangeness

I've seen pictures from the recent night launch that seem to show
something strange in the SRB exhust. I'm pretty sure it's not a lens
internal reflection. Does anybody know what these are?

See

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...84977026025170

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...84993023968130

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...85003611889458

On Feb 21, 11:54*am, Robert Love wrote:
I've seen pictures from the recent night launch that seem to show
something strange in the SRB exhust. *I'm pretty sure it's not a lens
internal reflection. * Does anybody know what these are?

Looks like a vortex ring. Maybe due to combustion instability (ISTR
that this may be called "chuffing")?

On Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:54:17 -0600, Robert Love
wrote:

I've seen pictures from the recent night launch that seem to show
something strange in the SRB exhust. I'm pretty sure it's not a lens
internal reflection. Does anybody know what these are?

See

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...84977026025170

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...84993023968130

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...85003611889458

It is in your camera. Possibly from a UV filter or Circular Polarizer
on the front? I've seen mirrors like that when I forgot to remove the
UV.

And the 2.8.2010 launch was STS-130, not 180.

Brian

On 2010-02-21 14:54:16 -0600, Brian Thorn said:

On Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:54:17 -0600, Robert Love
wrote:

I've seen pictures from the recent night launch that seem to show
something strange in the SRB exhust. I'm pretty sure it's not a lens
internal reflection. Does anybody know what these are?

See

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...84977026025170

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...84993023968130

http://picasaweb.google.com/madhawke...85003611889458

It

is in your camera. Possibly from a UV filter or Circular Polarizer
on the front? I've seen mirrors like that when I forgot to remove the
UV.

It's not my camera nor my web site. I would think if it was an optical
effect, it would appear smoother.

Of course if none of NASA's imagery show anything like this, then it
probaly is this camera.


And the 2.8.2010 launch was STS-130, not 180.

Brian

On 2/21/2010 4:44 PM, Robert Love wrote:

It's not my camera nor my web site. I would think if it was an optical
effect, it would appear smoother.

Of course if none of NASA's imagery show anything like this, then it
probaly is this camera.

Here's the launch on YouTube in HD; compare it to what you have:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OQdTjOJjq4

Pat

When a rocket punches through vapor it creates a ring of clouds.

When there is no other light source, but the rocket itself, you see
only part of the ring.

When the sun is shining you see the whole thing.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0911/ares1_duncan.jpg

On Feb 22, 9:22*pm, William Mook wrote:
When a rocket punches through vapor it creates a ring of clouds.

When there is no other light source, but the rocket itself, you see
only part of the ring.

When the sun is shining you see the whole thing.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0911/ares1_duncan.jpg

Here's another photo that shows that the number of shock waves and
resulting vapor patterns - can be arbitrarily complex

http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/2636/shocking-good-fun