Pictures from the Top of the Tower

Well, I was offered to be taken to the top of the launch tower so I could take pictures from there, as it is a tall tower, above all the trees. So, after work on Wednesday, I strapped on a safety harness, and climbed the 10 or so flights of stairs, and then climbed about 50 feet of ladders (they have safety harness cables so if you let go, it stops you from falling). I finally made it up to the top, tripod, cameras, lenses, and all. I took a panorama with both the digital camera, as well as the film camera.

Here is a full 360 degree panorama from the top of the tower. It took a couple hours to stitch it together manually, but it came out pretty good. You can download the much larger version by clicking on the picture (WARNING - 2.62 MB, 13000 x 3000).

Here is a panorama of some of the land surrounding the tower. You can click on the image to download a larger version (WARNING - 1.18 MB, 5000 x 1000).

Here is a better view of the IPF (top left) and SCAT (lower right), as from the top of the tower. The SCAT rolls on the tracks between the IPF and the tower (LSS).

Here is the island that is a couple miles out from the point of Narrow Cape.

Here are a few of the buffalo as seen from the top of the tower.

Here I am at the top of the tower. The camera is facing inland, looking at the mountains behind the MSF. It was a very sunny day.

Here is one of the ladders I had to climb up to get to the top. You can see the safety cable running down the middle.

Here is the inside of the tower. The tower wall actually rotates on tracks, too, so that a rocket can be housed and protected inside the tower, then rotated out to be launched.

Here is a view of the tower door in front of the mountains. The tower is currently being painted inside and out, to protect it from the elements.

Here you can see how the door on the tower rotates to open the tower.

Here is the tower. Remember, I was all the way on top!