First Fleet: Photographs of the Space Shuttle

First Fleet is my photographic project about the early years of the Space Shuttle program. Beginning with the launch of the first Space Shuttle Columbia in April of 1981 and ending with the launch of Challenger in January of 1986. The Space Shuttle program has always represented to me the best of what America can do and what is possible when a nation unites on a common goal. Space technology fascinated me because it’s the result of doing something that had never been done before. As an artist, I wanted to create photographs that captured the spirit of the Space Shuttle program that were both majestic and symbolic. Photographs, which speak to the importance of science, technology, and exploration and create an enduring portrait of the Space Shuttle. First Fleet pays homage to the early years of the Space Shuttle program and all the men and women who made it possible.