The National Space Society invites you to the next Space Forum
Thursday, June 12, 2024, 9:00 pm to 10:15 pm EST
Behind the Lens: Capturing
Five Decades of Space Flight
With special guests
Mark and Tom Usciak
Space Photographers
Capturing a rocket launch is anything but simple. It’s a fast-moving, high-stakes event with changing light, weather, and only seconds to get the shot. Mark and Tom Usciak have been meeting that challenge for more than 50 years.
Known throughout the space community for their sharp, technically skilled images, the Usciak brothers have covered dozens of missions—starting with Apollo 15 and continuing through the Shuttle era and into SpaceX and Artemis. Their work has appeared in ad Astra, Aviation Week & Space Technology, other space publications, major news outlets, and is widely shared among spaceflight fans.
At this special NSS Space Forum, Mark and Tom will discuss the realities of launch photography—how they prepare, where they position their cameras, and how they’ve adapted through decades of change at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. They’ll also share insights for aspiring photographers and space enthusiasts alike.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear directly from two of the most experienced space photographers in the field and relive many important milestones in space history. Use the registration link to reserve your spot and ask your questions.
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Tom Usciak began covering space launches with Apollo 15 in 1971 and has since built a celebrated career as a space photographer and photo lab professional. A two-time recipient of the Aviation and Space Writers Association’s Photojournalism Award, Tom’s meticulous eye and behind-the-scenes expertise have made him a trusted contributor to NASA-focused publications for over 50 years. While now largely behind the scenes, his legacy continues through his iconic imagery and support of the space photography community.
Mark Usciak is an award-winning spaceflight photographer whose work has spanned over five decades, beginning with Apollo 16 when, at just 14, he became one of the youngest accredited media members at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. His striking images—from the STS-3 landing at White Sands to the launch of Artemis I—have graced magazine covers and been featured in countless publications. Mark continues to document the space program with a deep sense of history and technical precision.
Register today to reserve your seat and ask your questions. Use the link below.
Register no later than June 12 at 8 pm EST
Past NSS Space Forums and Town Halls may be viewed here.
