Apollo 14's LOX dump
Taken by Mike Smithwick on January 31, 1980 @
Los Altos, CA
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Date Taken: 2022:06:09 20:26:37
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Details:
The "spirals" and what not are that new. Apollo 14 launched in late afternoon of Jan. 31, 1971. So by time of docking and abandoning the SIV-B, it was night. Once the stage is far enough away, the remaining LOX is dumped to ensure that it was way far away from the spacecraft as it was a propulsive vent.
With the naked eye, it looked like a small but bright comet. These photos were taken through a 16" telescope. (Note that the dropdown for the year the pix was taken on on the submission page goes no earlier than 1980.)
Photographer's website:
No URL provided.
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