It's another streak. A sunset Starlink launch,  this time, a lot more challenging for me because of how quickly the light changes. It is nearly impossible to get test shots for proper exposure (remember, I'm new enough to shooting rocket streaks that I don't have exposures dialed in just yet). Knowing that each test shot takes between 5-7 minutes, a lot can change with regard to light. I also had the challenge of incoming clouds which, while they make a beautiful photo, they also diminish the burning glow of the rocket. Nonetheless, it was still viewable and still lovely from 150 miles north!

This was a new location as well, so I wasn't confident with the trajectory, but I had a tool for that. The app called FlightClub.io is a powerful toolkit designed just for rocket photography enthusiasts like me. I used its simulator and photography toolkit to show me how the streak would look from where I was standing and to get the exact azimuth reading in degrees so I knew just where to point my camera. You be the judge at how accurate it was. Below is the rendering from the app and my actual photo, which shows both launch from SLC 40 and booster landing.

Mission Details:

Falcon 9 Block 5 Starlink Group 6-25

• Thrust: 7,607 kN
• Stages: 2
• Height: 70 m
• Fairing Height: 13 m
• Booster B1077 Flight #8
• Type: Communications
• Launch Cost: $67,000,000
• Location: SLC 40, Cape Canaveral FL

Click on the photo to see a larger version.
Falcon 9 Starlink Group 6-25 FlightClub.io