Universe Today
We all know what a big rocket launch looks like from the ground, but this is what it looks like from above the ground --
260 miles
above the ground! The photo above was captured from the Space Station earlier today by NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio, and it shows the contrail from a heavy-lift Ariane 5 that had just launched from ESA's spaceport on the French Guiana coast: flight VA217,
Arianespace's
milestone 250th launch carrying the ABS-2 and Athena-Fidus satellites into orbit.
Rick
shared his view on Twitter
with his nearly 39,000 followers, and now less than an hour later, we're sharing it here. (Isn't technology wonderful?)
For a more "natural" look, here it is reversed:
[caption id="attachment_109100" align="aligncenter" width="580"]
Rick Mastracchio's photo of the Ariane 5 launch, rotated 180 degrees.[/caption]
The ISS was in the process of passing over Costa Rica when the image was taken. The rocket launched from Kourou, French Guiana -- about 2,175 miles (3,500 km) away. What a view!
For this and more great images from orbit follow Rick on Twitter
@AstroRM
.
Watch a video of the VA217 launch below:
The 250th launch performed by Arianespace lifted off from ESA's spaceport in French Guiana, delivering a dual-satellite payload into geostationary transfer orbit: ABS-2 for global satellite operator ABS, and Athena-Fidus for the defense/homeland security needs of France and Italy. The flight lasted just over 32 minutes. (Source)