STS-82 launch photos

you can click on the images below to see a larger picture

Discovery on pad 39A.
Twelve hours to go. Rainy and windy but Discovery is fueled and ready for a 3:56 a.m. launch.

A better view of the launch tower.
Will the weather clear in time? I guess no. NASA says there is a 30% chance of weather violating launch condition requirements. No way... these clouds are moving due east, and there are lots more off to the west.

Give it a push.
My contribution to the launch. I am straining here. Really.

T-minus 1 hour and counting.
Go for launch. The clouds and rain have pushed out to the north. I guess NASA beats me in weather forcasting. They are rocket scientists.

T-plus 3 seconds.
Launch of Discovery for rendevous with the Hubble Space Telescope. Frame #10.

T-plus 6 seconds.
Frame #20 in the launch sequence. An animation with all the frames is below.

Launch Animation
A large (700K) GIF animation of launch. Anyone know where I can get a good MPEG editor? Click here for a smaller (156K) animation if you don't have the time.

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