Sam Sun

Photographer, pilot, space enthusiast

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

I've been quietly supporting @NASASpaceFlight with aerial launch photography for a while but finally joining the twittersphere as this photo of the Mars #InSight launch wanted my audience. #myfirstTweet

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

At that distance, there's very little detail in these photos, but they do provide a different perspective of the splashdown and recovery operations seen on the @NASA webcast.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

Welcome home to the #Artemis II crew and congratulations on an epic journey around the moon!
From a perch about 20 miles off the coast of San Diego at an altitude of 12000', I was able to watch #Integrity splashdown yesterday about 20 miles further to the southwest.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

About 90 minutes ago, the ghostly plume of the second stage of a #SpaceX #Falcon9 was visible over San Diego as the Starlink 5-7 mission made its way to orbit following its launch from Vandenberg SLC-4E.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

Today's #SpaceX launch was the 6th from Vandenberg this year, and the 9th time overall that a Falcon 9 has landed at LZ-4.
I tried using more telephoto today, for these views of the boostback, entry, and landing burns. (Note the camera was level for the freefall shot!)

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

After a rare auto-abort in the final seconds of the countdown Thursday, #Falcon9 B1075 successfully lifted off on its second flight this morning, carrying a payload of tracking and data relay satellites for @SemperCitiusSDA.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

A beautiful morning launch of the Starlink Group 2-6 mission, with D-Orbit's ION SCV009 "Eclectic Elena" as a rideshare.
It was #SpaceX's 7th flight already this year, the 2nd from Vandenberg SFB, and the 7th flight of B1071. SLC-3 is in the foreground, undergoing some work.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

10/END Finally, towards the end of our last zodiac excursion, as if our guides had planned a grand finale, we came across a lone Emperor Penguin! All in all the trip was an incredible experience!

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

1/ It's impossible to convey the spectacle of #Antarctica in a few short tweets, but here are a few highlights from my recent visit.
(@QuarkExpedition's Crossing the Circle: Southern Expedition on the MV Ultramarine)

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

9/ The craggy mountains and glaciers made for dramatic landscapes, and a never-ending variety of icebergs floated around us.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

Dispatch from south of the Antarctic Circle: Currently sailing on @QuarkExpedition's MV Ultramarine,
homeward bound after an incredible trip to visit #Antarctica. More later, but for now here's some
Adelie #penguins hanging around Detaille Island.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

Liftoff of the last west coast flight of the #AtlasV from Vandenberg SLC-3E. It carried the #JPSS2 weather satellite to orbit, and deployed #LOFTID, an inflatable re-entry vehicle demonstration. SLC-3E will now be upgraded to handle @ULALaunch's next generation Vulcan rocket.

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

@KSpaceAcademy @NASASpaceflight I will make it legal.

*made 😎

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

A #SpaceX #Falcon9 launched a minute after sunset yesterday evening from #Vandenberg SFB (B1063.8, #Starlink Group 4-31).

At 6500' though, the sun was still up...

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

The phenomenon was discussed recently by @DJSnM. https://t.co/3O394DgOLw

[Sam Sun @BirdsNSpace]

The sun is flattened by atmospheric refraction, and looks a bit rattled by shock (sound) waves from the rocket exhaust.

I didn't quite get everything lined up like I wanted, but being off center shows more of the wave propagation.