[net.columbia] SRB separation pictures

pfc (11/11/82)

#N:whuxlb:4600004:000:422
whuxlb!pfc    Nov 11 08:17:00 1982

I watched the launch this morning on NBC.  One thing that they were able
to show on this launch that I never saw before was the SRB separation.  The
picture was good, albeit black and white.  Does anyone know how they got this
picture.  Was there a NASA chase plane up, as there is on the landings, taking
the pictures for them?  Or did they have a special camera?

It still is beautiful after 5 launches.

Peter Caswell

cja (11/15/82)

The camera observing the SRB separation was ground based, and was
used on all STS missions to track the shuttle, except in one case
where it was too cloudy to get a good picture.  By the way, this
camera was also used to provide long-distance visuals of the Apollo
launches, but staging occurred at a much greater altitude so the
coverage wasn't as spectacular.