Amateur astronomer and photographer Pete Lardizabal of St. Johns, Florida, sent some incredible shots he took of space shuttle Discovery’s ascent February 24, 2011. This launch of the STS-133 mission was Discovery’s final journey into orbit. He took the photos from Apollo Beach in Canaveral National Seashore Park, about 18 miles (29 kilometers) north of the launch pad. He used an Astro-Physics 130EDFGT fitted with an AP Barcon and a Canon 7D camera.
The first shot shows the launch, while the second shows the separation of the solid rocket boosters.
Enjoy!