Shuttle Photos: Endeavor STS-118 and Atlantis in Amarillo

Hey all. Some of my aerospace friends sent me a few space shuttle gems.

This first photo was taken by a friend of a friend, and is of Endeavor mission STS-118.



These other ones are from a different friend of a friend, of the Space Shuttle Atlantis in Amarillo, Texas, making a rare landing at Amarillo's Rick Husband International Airport for about two hours to refuel. Here's a news article on the incident itself.

The giant plane Atlantis sits on is a modified Boeing 747.

Each photo has been altered by me only in size, as the originals I was sent were way too large to fit on the page. Enjoy.



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[edit on 1-10-2007 by Jbird]

This first photo was taken by a friend of a friend, and is of Endeavor mission STS-118.

(emphasis mine)

Oh sure, Likely story. (j/k)

Impressive pics 'Libra, and impressive friends, as well.

Love the piggy back pics. I actually was surprised one day, to look up
and see that go overhead, at about 500 ft. , many years ago.

Thanks for sharing, mate

Heh, well I kind of have to take him at his word, though considering his company (GAC/GD), I wouldn't be surprised if he knew the photo takers personally. Past a certain level, it seems like all those guys know each other from somewhere or another. He said the Atlantis photos were taken by "his friend who is the station manager", but whether he meant the fueling station or the fire station or some other station, I don't know.

I honestly don't remember who he said took the Endeavor photo, but my guess is that it was one of the crew. He sent me the STS group photo though it looks PSed for press.



My guess is that his "friend" is one of them. Probably one of them did test pilot work for one of the G-series Gulfstream jets, would be my guess as to how he knows the person.