Dec 2, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: The Nerve-Wracking Process of Shooting the Very Last Space Shuttle Launch

Dan Winters
01
shot3dia
Shooting a shuttle requires Winters to work backwards. He mapped each shot out in storyboard form.
Dan Winters
02
shot3
The diagrams help him visualize what he'd like to capture in the frame.

Dan Winters
03
shot4dia
Winters mapped out the location of each of the 11 cameras he used to document each launches, as well as the corresponding focal lengths he wanted to use for each.
Dan Winters
04
shot4
Shooting the shuttle head-on is one thing. It's more difficult to capture the shots as the shuttle flies out of the frame.

Dan Winters
05
shot1dia
Winters mounted five cameras close to the launch pad to capture the firey liftoff.
Dan Winters
06
shot1
The corresponding tight shot.

Dan Winters
07
shot2dia
Others were farther away on the mounds
Dan Winters
08
shot2
Which resulted in looser, full-shuttle images.

Dan Winters
09
covershot
Sometimes the best shot has very little to do with the main subject. The cover shot for Winters' book doesn't even show the shuttle.

What’s Worse Than Romance Scams? Adoption Scams

This week in WIRED Book Club, we recap the final chapters of The Yahoo Boys.

Kate Knibbs

Beatbot’s New Pool Robot Cleans Itself (Mostly)

The AquaSense X brings self-cleaning technology to pool robots for the first time, but is it worth nearly twice the price of Beatbot’s flagship cleaner?

Christopher Null

Skylight’s Touchscreen Calendar Got my Whole Family on the Same Page

The Skylight has become the informational and organizational hub of my household. My touchscreen-native kids have also gained more agency over our family activities.

Jaclyn Greenberg

The Samsung Micro RGB R95H Is a Good, Not Great TV

There’s a new fleet of TVs using new mini and micro RBG display tech, and Samsung’s R95H model isn’t as impressive as it should be.

John Brandon

AI Found a Root Bug in Linux That Everyone Missed for 15 Years

Plus: The Pentagon is training amateurs to become part of its hacker army, a Flock license plate reader error led to cops surrounding a car reviewer, and more.

Dell Cameron

We Make Lovely Home-Cooked Meals for Ourselves. Why Not Do the Same for Our Dogs?

More dog owners have begun cooking for their canine companions in recent years. When my own dog fell ill, I became part of this growing group.

Alicia Kennedy

The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure

From strenuous hikes and serious summits to weekend rambles in the park, these boots help you make the most of your time outdoors.

Chris Haslam

China’s Tianwen-2 Space Probe Has Rendezvoused With Earth’s Quasi-Moon

The probe sent back the first pictures of the asteroid Kamo’oalewa. Next step: landing on the surface and collecting samples to send back to Earth.

Ritsuko Kawai

El Niño Is Already Wreaking Havoc on Pacific Fisheries

As the climate phenomenon sends warm water surging across the eastern Pacific, some parts of the fishing industry are suffering—but other regions are seeing a windfall.

Joseph Winters

Exclusive: How Jay-Z Pulled Off a Surprise-Filled Show During New York’s Wildest Summer

Summer 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut Reasonable Doubt. To honor it, he put on a massive concert at Yankee Stadium—complete with performances from Beyoncé, Nas, and Alicia Keys.

Angela Watercutter