A Delta 4 rocket lifts a Global Positioning System (GPS 2F-2) satellite into orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 2:41 a.m. on 16 July 2011. The photos show at upper left the liftoff, then below that an attempt at a time exposure. Disappointingly, the time exposure only captured about the first 30 seconds of the flight before the remote locking mechanism, which probably was not properly engaged in the rush to run two cameras at once, disengaged and closed the shutter. Better luck next time. The large image at right shows a close-up of the two solid rocket boosters flanking either side of the Delta 4’s liquid fueled central core engine as they all work together to send the satellite into orbit.
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