Minotaur's trail of fire

Observers from North Carolina to New Hampshire captured spectacular views of Friday night's launch of a Minotaur 5 rocket from Wallops Island, Va.

The 80-foot-tall rocket launched at 11:27 p.m. EDT Friday (0327 GMT Saturday from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The five-stage launcher delivered the LADEE moon orbiter to space about 23 minutes later.

Veteran space photographer Ben Cooper captured this view of the launch from New York.

See our Mission Status Center for the latest news on the launch.

Photographer Ben Cooper captured this incredible view of Friday night's Minotaur 5 launch from the top of Rockefeller Center in New York City, showing the launcher's first and second stage burns. See a larger image. Credit: Ben Cooper/Launchphotography.com