猎鹰与红石火箭

2023年8月3日

The Falcon and the Redstone
Image Credit & Copyright: Matt Haskell

Explanation: In a photo from the early hours of July 29 (UTC), a Redstone rocket and Mercury capsule are on display at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 5. Beyond the Redstone, the 8 minute long exposure has captured the arcing launch streak of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The Falcon’s heavy communications satellite payload, at a record setting 9 metric tons, is bound for geosynchronous orbit some 22,000 miles above planet Earth. The historic launch of a Redstone rocket carried astronaut Alan Shepard on a suborbital spaceflight in May 1961 to an altitude of about 116 miles. Near the top of the frame, this Falcon rocket’s two reusable side boosters separate and execute brief entry burns. They returned to land side by side at Canaveral’s Landing Zone 1 and 2 in the distance.

Tomorrow’s picture: moonrays

猎鹰与红石火箭
影像提供与版权: Matt Haskell

说明: 摄于7月29日（UTC）凌晨的这祯照片，记录了在卡纳维尔角5号发射场展出的红石火箭和水星号太空舱。而这张曝光时间长达8分钟的照片，同时也捕捉到红石火箭后方、太空探险公司猎鹰重载火箭发射升空时所曳出的光弧。猎鹰重型火箭当时在推送创记录的9公吨重之通讯卫星酬载，前往地球上空约35,200公里高处的地球同步轨道。而在1961年5月的红石火箭历史性发射，则推送太空人艾伦·薛波进行高度约为186公里的次轨道太空飞行。在视野的顶缘附近，可见到这部猎鹰火箭的2个可重复使用的侧翼助推器，在分离后执行短暂的重返助燃。它们将返回远方卡纳维尔角相邻的1号与2号着陆区。

明日的图片: moonrays