Saul Grinberg Filho

I’ve always enjoyed photography, but until recently, I’ve never had the opportunity to work with real decent equipment. My first real worthy-of-use camera is a Cannon Rebel T1i, and I love it! It’s not a top-of-the-line camera, of course, but it’s great for someone who’s just starting with photography (me!).
I enjoy doing nature shots, portraits, and photographing the sky…. The most common is nature and the sky… because, well, I don’t depend on other people to do it, so it’s “always available”. The sky is not so great over here due to pollution and weather, but every now and then I do get a clear night.

The following pictures of our dear moon were taken on one of those clears nights. Sky photography is a lot harder than I ever though it would be… I still need waaaaaaay more practice… so I’m hoping Mr. Weather will collaborate with me.

Our moon from up close.

Our moon from up close again. This one uses a higher contrast, so that's why it looks the way it does. I thought the result was interesting!

The Moon from up close again.

I’ve been trying to get other heavenly bodies but those are… well… a lot more “out of reach” than our friendly moon. I’ll soon succeed, however… I’m on the right track!

NASA’s Space Shuttle Program conducted the final test firing of a reusable solid rocket motor Feb. 25 in Promontory, Utah.  This test (52nd in over three decades) marks the last of this entire program.

The flight support motor, or FSM-17 (also know as Solid Rocket Boosters), burned for approximately 123 seconds — the same time each reusable solid rocket motor burns during an actual space shuttle launch. Preliminary indications show all test objectives were met. After final test data are analyzed, results for each objective will be published in a NASA report.

This test proved the motors are still good to be used in the four remaining flights of the Space Shuttle program.

Here are some pretty incredible images… keep in mind these rockets produce about 2.6 million pounds of thrust (both rockets combined on a shuttle assembly generate 80% of the lift required to put the orbiter into space):

Final test firing of reusable solid rocket motor FSM-17 on Feb. 25 in Promontory, Utah. (NASA)

Final test firing of reusable solid rocket motor FSM-17 on Feb. 25 in Promontory, Utah. (NASA)

Smoke curls into the Utah skies as FSM-17 completes its successful test firing. (NASA)

Flight Support Motor-17, the final solid rocket ground test motor of the Space Shuttle program. (ATK)

Mist surrounds Flight Support Motor-17 prior to a successful test on Feb. 25 in Promontory, Utah. (NASA)