NASA SCA and Space Shuttles at Dulles 1 Year Anniversary

Happy Anniversary! Can you believe it? Just one very short year ago today, I was present for modern history where I shot this photo of Space Shuttle Discovery arriving at Washington Dulles International Airport, where it now calls the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center home, less than 3 miles from my home.

In a year's time I've met a lot of great people and done a lot of great things. I especially want to thank my friend Jim, who was on board this flight, for everything he's done; and a big thank you to the crew who also has been very friendly and welcoming to me. Huge thank you to Dennis for getting me involved in last year's historic events in a big way, and Erik for supporting me in pursuing my photography.

And to all those I have met and connected with in the last year, thank you all for making the last year a very special one - one for the history books!

Also, due to renewed popular demand, I've made my highlight photos of last year's NASA SCA and Space Shuttle Transport Missions available for order on my client site, for those of you who were not part of the NASA Crew or Fifty for 50th Event. Enjoy!

Here's a recap of what my week looked like just 1 short year ago:

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Best of 2012

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As 2012 draws to a close, enjoy 50 of my most notable photos from the past 12 months.  I've been very lucky to have participated in some historic moments, witnessed remarkable events, and met many interesting people along the way.  2012 was almost undoubtably my most successful year in photography.  Thank you to my friends at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, the FAA, NASA, and everyone I've met along the way this past year; you've made 2012 a truly unforgettable year!  Here's to 2013 being just as amazing!

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NASA SCA & Space Shuttles Discovery and Enterprise

Working at Washington Dulles International Airport and getting to know the people there for seven years has its benefits... especially when something big and historic flies in.  Not only was I lucky enough to be present for all of NASA's operations at Dulles involving Space Shuttles Discovery and Enterprise along with the 747 SCA (Shuttle Carrier Aircraft), but I was specifically chosen by airport management to be the official event photographer. Dulles held its first "Fifty for 50th" drawing, which brought 50 lucky civilians onto the threshold of the runway during the SCA and Discovery's flyovers and touchdown.  Some of the people pictured are these participants.

Furthermore, during my coverage of the events, my photography caught the eyes of NASA's SCA Pilots and Flight Engineers as well as some NASA Staff Photographers, all of whom have become fans of my work.  This resulted not only in continued correspondence and meeting in person with NASA crew-members (along with receiving some awesome, rare transport mission memorabilia), but also the invitation to visit NASA's operations in New York at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where I met with more of the SCA crew-members onboard the SCA itself, and was invited to also stay for Enterprise's demating.  Due to other photography obligations the next day in Washington, DC, I unfortunately couldn't stay in New York to see the demating, which they were preparing for during my visit.

All of this took place in a whirlwind of a month's time, and here, finally, is a sampler of the resulting photos.

The entire set of photography of my NASA coverage (485 photos), from start to finish, can be seen on my Flickr by clicking here.

Some images are available for print purchase on my website here.

UPDATE (January, 2013):

This is one of my autographed prints of NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft departing Dulles for JFK with Space Shuttle Enterprise. I shot this photograph on April 27th, 2012. The Space Shuttle Ground Crew signed 9 prints (17x22) of my photograph aboard the SCA at JFK in New York on May 12th, 2012.

Upon returning to Washington, I gave away several copies to some close friends, and individuals who helped make my involvement with the Space Shuttle transport possible. I'll be grateful my entire life for being able to partake in this historical event.

This is my framed copy; I gave my Dad an identical one this past Christmas. During the events, I met most of the crewmembers - they were nice enough to also give me an areal photo of the SCA with Space Shuttle Discovery flying above the Washington Monument, signed by the Discovery transport Flight Crew, as well as a Mission Patch that flew on that mission - I have not had these framed yet.

My print seen here is a 17x22, in a 30x24 frame. It reads:

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
with
Space Shuttle Enterprise

SCA Ground Crew
LeRoy Marsh     Eugene Smith     David Lanmon

Arvid Knutson     Robert Hackaday     Rick Brewer