A stunning night-time long exposure photograph captures an Atlas V rocket launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket's fiery trail arcs gracefully across the sky, reflected in the calm waters below. The image showcases the beauty and power of space exploration, with the twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) embarking on their mission to study Earth's Van Allen radiation belts.

Astronomy Picture from 02/09/2012

RBSP Night Launch

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120902.html


#AtlasV #RBSP #VanAllenBelts #SpaceLaunch #NASA #RocketLaunch #Florida #NightLaunch #Astrophotography #SpaceExploration #Science #Cosmology #EarthScience

RT @abbv_brasil: Ficou bonita a foto, não? =) #ABBVnawtm ##Encontrodeassociados #RBSP https://t.co/LUx6boTfAO

RT @abbv_brasil: Povo chegando! #EncontrodeAssociadosABBV #RBSP #ABBVnaWTM https://t.co/p1prSYkohp

MT: @NASA "Centaur upper..engine shut down. Craft will coast for 55 mins & engines will reignite at 5:14 am EDT. #RBSP #Sohopingtheysetalarm

Good luck to the @RBStormProbes team tonight! Wish I could've stayed for the 3rd launch attempt! #RBSP #NASASocial

.@cirquelar - I posted a bunch of my #RBSP #NASASocial pics to Facebook: www.facebook.com/media/set/ and more to my album: forest.bigw.org/random_pics/RBSP%20NASA%...

On the way back from @NASAKennedy from the #RBSP #NASASocial. For Neil. #WinkAtTheMoon

Well, looks like I won't see the launch. However, this trip was worth it just for the VAB! #RBSP #NASASocial

Scrubbed :( #RBSP #NASASocial

Hmm... Could do without the thunder storm! I'm 52 stories up... #NASASocial #RBSP

I'm currently ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING! View is spectacular!! Thanks #RBSP #NASASocial!!!

We are getting to watch from the VAB roof!!!!! #RBSP #NASASocial

T-minus 1 hour. Countdown nominal. Only issue may be weather. #RBSP #NASASocial

Ok, once more with feeling. And hopefully liftoff... T-minus 1 hour 51 minutes. #RBSP #NASASocial.

#RBSP #NASASocial dinner at 4280 south washington ave, titusville

Scrubbed for today :( #RBSP #NASASocial

Currently no go on range issue... #NASASocial #RBSP

NASA team is go for terminal count! #RBSP #NASASocial

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. #RBSP #NASASocial

Clock is counting! Time for launch! #RBSP #NASASocial

#RBSP #NASASocial is going to dinner at 6pm at Harbortown Marina - 2700 Harbortown Dr, Merritt Island, FL 32952

NASA is not currently looking at another Flagship class mission due to budget. Looking at multiple smaller missions. #RBSP #NASASocial

Charlie Bolden speaking at the #RBSP #NASASocial

...and a second astronaut (and current NASA Administrator) is here! Charlie Bolden & @astro_flow #RBSP #NASASocial

#RBSP has a companion missed called Barrell looking at radiation in the upper atmosphere using balloons launched from earth. #NASASocial

Electronics on #RBSP are shielded by up to 3/8" of metal. Wiring harnesses are shielded as well. #NASASocial

#RBSP is flying on an Atlas V, 401 config (4 meter payload fairing, no solid rocket boosters, 1 Centaur engine). #NASASocial

#RBSP used a rock concert line-array to simulate the acoustic environment of launch! #NASASocial

#RBSP will spin at about 5 rpm, keeping its center axis pointed at the sun (for power). #NASASocial #RBSP

#RBSP will study particles that are responsible for a lot of Single Event Upset (SEU) errors that I also deal with at @cray_inc. #NASASocial