Student Photographer Covers NASA Rocket Launch

Environmental science major Rafeed Hussain ’17 (CLAS) was selected as one of 20 members of the public to cover the launch of a NASA rocket to the International Space Station on social media.

On the day before the mission, we were able visit the launchpad. This was NASA Orbital ATK's seventh mission as part of the Commercial Resupply Services Program for the International Space Station. The Cygnus Spacecraft, which held supplies along with several experiments to be conducted on the Space Station, rested on an Atlas V 401 rocket. Cygnus docked onto the International Space Station, and will be there until July 17, 2017. After its time is up, the Cygnus spacecraft will perform a controlled destructive reentry back to Earth. (Rafeed Hussain/UConn Photo)

Environmental science major Rafeed Hussain ’17 (CLAS) was selected as one of 20 members of the public to cover the launch of a NASA rocket to the International Space Station on social media. (Rafeed Hussain '17 (CLAS)/UConn Photo)

Environmental science major Rafeed Hussain ’17 (CLAS) was selected as one of 20 members of the public to cover the launch of a NASA rocket to the International Space Station on social media. He was the youngest person chosen. Many were professional social media folks. Although the launch was delayed a few times, he finally went to Florida on April 16 for the launch two days later.

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Rafeed Hussain '17 (CLAS)
Have you ever wanted to be an astronaut? Have you ever dreamed of watching a NASA rocket blast into orbit? My name is Rafeed Hussain. and I’m a graduating environmental science major with a minor in EEB, and a passion for outer space. Recently the NASA social media team selected me and several other individuals from around the country to use our social media channels to spend two days documenting NASA’s facilities at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This included photographing a rocket launch to the International Space Station on April 18. If you need a break from crying over finals (because I definitely do) and want to see a “behind the scenes” glimpse of NASA, follow along as I recount one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

Click on the magnifying glass symbol to enlarge the photo and read the full caption.

On May 3, Hussain rolled out his photos over the course of a day on UConn’s Instagram: Instagram.com/uconn.