Michael Soluri Explores Pluto Through Pictures

Moab Master, Michael Soluri, is thrilled that his photograph of the New Horizons probe (back in 2005 before launch) was chosen for Kenneth Chang’s front page story in Sunday’s (July 19) print edition of the New York Times, along with the WIRED and Smithsonian Magazine. 

9-1/2 years and 3 billions miles later, the New Horizons spacecraft sent back close up images of Pluto. Michael Soluri has been documenting the mission since 2005 photographing the scientists, flight controllers and engineers to learn about the people involved in the process of discovering our solar system. 

"I have always been struggling to find the humanity in space exploration, on Earth and above," says Soluri. "I brought my sons down to the Air and Space Museum in 1984 or 1985. I took them in, and there was an exact replica of the Viking lander [sent to Mars in 1975]. So we're looking at it, and there's this big robot and I'm seeing all this text, and something's puzzling me: I didn't see the picture of the person who made it possible. And I held on to that for like 20 years."
-Michael Soluri (Smithsonian.com) 

Michael Soluri and the team at Moab is looking forward to seeing these photographs in PRINT! 

Enterprise arrives in New York

"Have to say that just when I thought I had experienced  “it all” shooting my shuttle/Hubble project, seeing the 747 flyby the field that morning was breathtaking.

With so much enthusiasm from the range of kids to adults in attendance, it’s challenging to believe that there is limited congressional support for American human space flight!"

Michael Soluri

Here are some more of Michael's images from that day

The End of an Era

Last week's return of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, marks the end of the NASA Shuttle program.  So, we thought it timely to check in with photographer and Moab Master, Michael Soluri, who has documented the final few years of the shuttle program.

A really cool photo essay was recently published online in NPR's The Picture Show gallery.  Back in 1972 Soluri photographed the workers behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center.  These striking B&W images detail the jobs of NASA technicians and engineers.

For something a little different, Time Magazine published a collection of Soluri's work covering the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in West Virginia.  

As the space shuttles find their new permanent homes around the US, expect to see a lot more from Soluri in the coming months.

Space Photography

There's something awe-inspiring to see images taken from space.  Usually the images provoke the curiosity in us - like 'how' was this shot or 'what' were the Astronauts doing?

Moab Master, Michael Soluri has some answers. Soluri had exclusive (and unprecedented) access to the space shuttle mission that saved the Hubble Telescope.  Some of his story was recently published in Aperture Magazine and an excerpt can be read here.

With the final NASA shuttle launch still pending, the enormity of Soluri's project comes into focus.  Some say the final launch marks the end of an era.  We're just grateful Soluri was able to document and share his images with the world.  Stay tuned for a national exhibit of his work and a book sometime in 2012. When his exhibition goes up, his gorgeous images will be printed on Moab Entrada Rag.