Conditions were perfect for a launch. Clear skies, cool temps and great visibility.
Kevin Ambrose and I met up at the Marine Corps Memorial after discussing a few options, and we were instantly greeted by no lights on the memorial. After some last minute scrambling, we each decided on different spots close by.
In addition to our shots, we gathered some photos of the launch from around the Mid-Atlantic, via social media (Twitter and Facebook). It was truly an amazing sight for many along the East Coast.
LADEE Ready for Launch http://t.co/nDRfIP8jpp
— NASA Goddard Images (@NASA_GoddardPix) September 6, 2013
#LADEE has launched! pic.twitter.com/50Q2nsDLYn
— Stephen Clark (@StephenClark1) September 7, 2013
Traveled down to Wallop’s Island to see the launch #LADEE @capitalweather @PoPville @DCist pic.twitter.com/wjfAyp6ClH
— Becky (@CoHiClimber) September 7, 2013
#LADEE looked beautiful, riding into the night on a Minotaur V rocket, from 150 miles west of @NASA_Wallops: http://t.co/y8wqvIXNAe
— David Murr (@davidmurr) September 7, 2013
INCREDIBLE PHOTO: As seen from the top of Rockefeller Center in NYC – the @NASA‘s #LADEE launching (@LaunchPhoto) pic.twitter.com/tq4XixgUSR
— NewsBreaker (@NewsBreaker) September 7, 2013
Check out the plume of smoke left by the Minotaur rocket carrying #LADEE as seen from Esperance, NY pic.twitter.com/w9rAWKfyyf
— Louis Suarato (@LouisS) September 7, 2013
And probably one of the most visually stunning shots of the launch, from the LADEE Flickr group set up by NASA:
VIDEOS
NASAtelevision video of LADEE launch from Wallops Island, Va.
CWG reader Paul Connolly shared his view from Ocean City, Md.
The LADEE Rocket over the NYC Skyline, from pfideo.
LADEE launch, as seen from Alexandria, VA via Joshua Turcotte
LADEE will take about 30 days to reach the moon, before entering a 30-day lunar orbit phase. After that, the scientific operations phase is expected to last about 100 days.
Find out more about LADEE on the NASA web site, and check out the handy infographic with some key details.