Sioux Falls photographer to document this week’s NASA/SpaceX launch
Aug. 14, 2023
A Sioux Falls photographer will be behind the lens this week for a historic NASA/SpaceX launch.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will carry four astronauts to the International Space Station and is expected to launch Thursday in Florida.
Sioux Falls photographer Wes Eisenhauer is among the approximately 20 creators chosen by NASA to document the launch. It’s his third opportunity, though he has been turned down multiple times along the way too.
“It’s very cool,” he said. “You feel like you’re a witness to the progress of mankind. It’s a lot of coloration and a lot of work and timing that goes into it, and it’s also extremely delicate. The wind could change 5 miles per hour, and it could get scrubbed. So it’s a risk even going, but hopefully it all goes down.”
The mission marks the first time just one NASA astronaut will be on board; the others are from the European Space Agency, Russia and Japan.
Eisenhauer plans to arrive Wednesday morning in Florida and receive an itinerary to help him produce some behind-the-scenes content.
“The last time, I got to go inside and have a look around the factory where the Challenger remains are stored, so it’s cool to see the history of space travel, and I’ll get to walk around the actual launch sites, where they launch, the day before, which is really cool,” he said. “It’s these giant, concrete platforms.”
On the day of the launch, he’ll have a designated viewing area and likely bring several cameras, he said.
“You have to pitch to them what you’re going to do, and I said I’m trying to put a more artistic spin on it,” Eisenhauer said.
He plans to produce some reels-style videos on social media and ultimately use some of the photography at the Washington Pavilion for its updated space exhibit.
“NASA loved that,” he said. “That’s them trying to spread the message and get people aware of the program and what they’re doing.”
