This image of a rocket was captured by Luke and Noah Prail Aug. 1.
Submitted photo
GREENFIELD – The thrill of a rocket launch never gets old for two local brothers.
Noah and Luke Prail recently returned from a trip to Virginia, where they were credentialed to take photographs and videos of a supply mission to the International Space Station Aug. 1.
They set up multiple cameras before the launch, then stood more than three miles away to watch as the cameras shot remotely.
They’ve both been to multiple rocket launches in recent years, and they say the experience is awe-inspiring and a great way to bond with family and friends.
“You can feel it in your chest, it’s just that loud a very low rumble and it takes a couple of seconds to show up,” Noah said. “It’s like loud fireworks but just continuous, and better.”
“And it’s bright,” Luke added. “It hurts to look at. It’s like looking at the sun; the engines are very powerful.”
The brothers both enjoy photography and videography as a hobby. Noah, 22, is a software engineer and Luke, 19, is in document management.
The interest in rocket launches was a family affair to begin with.
“I went to a launch first with my grandparents kind of as a graduation gift,” Noah said. “That was kind of an impromptu trip where we dragged others along to Florida. The two of us really got interested and it’s very contagious we sort of spread the space obsession to the family.”
The last three years they’ve been taking trips to Florida and Virginia to see space launches live. Sometimes they’ll bring their two older brothers Ben and Caleb along; mom Ingrid Prail is also a regular attendee, and came along for this recent trip to Virginia.
They said this launch in particular was great to watch because the Antares 230 will be replaced by a new rocket. Also, the mission was the last to use Russian and Ukrainian components due to the conflict; US-built components will be used on new missions.
Last week’s spacecraft was filled with supplies to support more than 250 science and research investigations. The Prail brothers set up their cameras about 12 hours before the launch, getting between 400-500 feet away from the rocket.
When the evening launch happened, they were three miles away and relying on technology they set up to take the images and video.
“Basically, once the sound-level passes a set threshold, it starts triggering the camera,” Noah said in an email afterward. “The video cameras were triggered based on time.”
They were surrounded by dozens of other space fans that evening. This was the sixth launch they’ve been to in the last three years; sometimes they’ll watch in a large group, other times from water. Most of the launches are in the evening.
“Once you go to a launch it’s hard to not want to go more,” Noah said. “It’s the energy there, especially with the crowds; it’s very fun.”
To see the video of the launch, visit https://youtu.be/7PApBEMSkqQ
