Month Top:

In January 2023, Falcon Heavy lifted off around sunset. As is often the theme with my photography, this lower-in-the-sky lighting provided an opportunity to capture some neat long-exposure imagery. Standing on the grounds of the historic Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, I captured this single, 30-second exposure of the final landing burn of the twin boosters returning to base after performing their duty.

At various matching points of the streaks of light, you can see brief flares. This occurs due to the landing burn of Falcon Heavy side boosters being conducted in a 1-3-1 engine fashion. What does that mean?

First, at the top of the streak and farthest from the ground, the single, center engine ignites.

To further the slowing process so the boosters don’t pancake into the ground, the engines further ignite two more engines on opposite sides of the currently-burning center engine. (three, all in a line)

These bright points are the ignition and shutoff points of the three-engine portions of the landing burn. Above and below these points, the one engine is the only one alight.

Month bottom:

Peering through the tree line at Kennedy Space Center at the interstage and nosecones of Falcon Heavy Psyche’s boosters.

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