Shot at dusk, this shows Gary Buck's Phoenix taking off with one of the last Rocketflite Silver Streak G160 motors. Check out the broad circle of illumination on the ground from this rocket exhaust! The rocket is barely visible at the top of the flame trail. Sensor overload produced the purplish streak at the top of the image. Photo by Greg Smith at the September 11, 2004 CIA launch.

Shot at dusk, this shows Gary Buck's Phoenix taking off with one of the last Rocketflite Silver Streak G160 motors. Check out the broad circle of illumination on the ground from this rocket exhaust! The rocket is barely visible at the top of the flame trail. Sensor overload produced the purplish streak at the top of the image. Photo by Greg Smith at the September 11, 2004 CIA launch.