Rich Banick Photography

March 8, 2001 – 6:42 AM – Kennedy Space Center

Astronaut Paul Richards, a native of Dunmore, PA and a graduate of Dunmore High School, launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on a mission that would last 12 days, 19 hours and 49 minutes.

I was there.

I brought five cameras, including two remote cameras set up to capture the launch. I went on my own time with my friend Bill. For some reason the newspaper had no interest in covering the launch, so I decided to go on my own time and expense.

A few weeks later, after he returned safely, the photos finally ran in the paper on a Scranton Times Focus page.

I don’t often say something is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But this truly was. One of the highlights of my 40-year photography career.

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