2010 STS-131 Launch

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB).

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB).

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB).

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB).

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB).

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB).

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB).

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB). Remnants of the SRB plume. Made me wish I had brought my wide-angle lens after all -- this only shows about 20% of the whole plume, which over the course of an hour made these wildly colorful corkscrew patterns.

Launch of the STS-131 Shuttle mission, April 5, 2010, as seen from the Banana Creek viewing area (near the Saturn V center and VAB). The SSME plume after SRB separation, well downrange.