Using gravity: US Air Force tandem jumpmaster and jumper, and photographer, at terminal velocity. (The line is to a drogue that stabilizes the tandem pair). Beating gravity: A Delta rocket at sunset, launching an Italian geospatial-information satellite from Vandenberg AFB, in June 2007. (Technically, of course, a satellite launch too uses gravity, according to equations worked out between the 1880s and 1930s independently by Tsiolkovskiy, Oberth and Goddard. The orbit is where the satellite’s inertia equalizes with gravity to hold it equidistant from Earth).
I’m reminded of an old Army recruiting poster that said: “When you jump, it;s just you.” Unless you’re in the Air Force or the SEALs… then it’s just you and the cameraman. He, he, he.
Yes, the photo embiggens quite nicely, with just a click. Launch photos are always striking, but this one is, as far as we know, unique.
Vandenberg is an important West Coast launch site used for everything from commercial launches like this to classified payloads and missile-defense tests.
Hat tip: Slate’s Bad Astronomy blog.
Kevin was a former Special Forces weapons man (MOS 18B, before the 18 series, 11B with Skill Qualification Indicator of S). His focus was on weapons: their history, effects and employment. He started WeaponsMan.com in 2011 and operated it until he passed away in 2017. His work is being preserved here at the request of his family.
2 thoughts on “Using gravity, and beating it”
An incredible shot. The time window to capture both events is so small, I wonder if it’s real.
Well I pulled the hi-Rez from an af.mil server, which is one data point.