Space: Launch And Landing Around The World — 2018 Photo Contest

Night Launch of Arrow ABM System

Avichai Socher, Givat Shmuel, Israel

A night launch of the Arrow ABM (anti-ballistic missile) system was captured from the sea (I was literally standing in the water!) while cloud masses gathered above. It was a night to remember.

ULA Atlas V Rocket Launch

Jeffrey Spotts, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's InSight mission to Mars stands poised to launch at Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg AFB, California. InSight was be the first interplanetary mission to launch from the West Coast of the U.S.

ULA Atlas V Rocket Launch From Cape Canaveral

Jeffrey Spotts, Highlands Ranch, Colorado

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S) satellite for NASA and NOAA lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida, on March 1. 

Early Morning Launch

Matthew Kuhns, Santa Clarita, California

Engine ignition shines through the fog during the early morning launch of NASA InSight to Mars, the first interplanetary launch from the West Coast, which took place from Vandenberg AFB, California.

Masten Xodiac VTOL Rocket Test

Matthew Kuhns, Santa Clarita, California, United States

PlanetVac makes a successful landing in the Mars regolith simulant in Mojave, California, on Masten's Xodiac vertical-takeoff-and-landing rocket. The exercise was part of the NASA Flight Opportunities Program campaign.  

Masten's Xodiac VTOL Rocket

Matthew Kuhns, Santa Clarita, California, United States

PlanetVac takes off during a NASA Flight Opportunities campaign on Masten's Xodiac vertical-takeoff-and-landing rocket rocket in Mojave, California.

Masten Xodiac VTVL Rocket

Matthew Kuhns, Santa Clarita, California, United States

PlanetVac hovers during a NASA Flight Opportunities campaign on Masten's Xodiac VTVL rocket in Mojave, California.  

ESA Sentinel-3B Lifts Off From Plesestk Cosmodrome

Stephane Corvaja, Paris, France

A European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-3B close up at motor start during lift of from the launch pad at Plesestk Cosmodrome in Russia.

MS-09 Launch From Baikonur, Kazakstan

Stephane Corvaja, Paris, France

European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst with his crew launch on an MS-09  from Baikonur, Kazakstan.

Vega VV12 Liftoff

Stephane Corvaja, Paris, France

A Vega VV12 lifts off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, launching the European Space Agency Aeolus wind-monitoring satellite.

Vega VV12 View From Below

Stephane Corvaja, Paris, France

A Vega VV12 is seen from below as it lifts off from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, launching European Space Agency (ESA) Aeolus wind-monitoring satellite.

With the possible exception of bombs exploding, nothing in aerospace unleashes such power in so short a time as hurling a launch vehicle from the pad into orbit. More players than ever are getting into the space launch game, as these photos show.

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