Shadowing Practice: How Does SpaceX Get These Amazing Camera Shots? - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Those of us Spacex fans that have been following the launches for a while now will be well accustomed to seeing incredible camera shots like this.
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These super high detailed shots provide a great spectacle during the launch procedure, stage separation and the always exciting landing procedure.
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But how are we able to get these amazing shots?
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In this video we’re going to dive in and look at what makes a shot like this so difficult in the first place.
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We’re also going to talk about the equipment that’s used and how it was used in the past.
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Say you’ve got a camera and you’re trying to film a rocket that is 60km away and is moving at 5,000km/h.
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Firstly, a standard telephoto lens will only have a maximum focal length of around 1,000mm.
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In order to get a 70m tall rocket which is 60km away to fill up the entire frame you would need a lens with a focal length of at least 10 times that.
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Secondly, in order to get smooth tracking shots like this, the camera needs to pan upwards in perfect sync with the rocket.
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That is easier said than done because the smallest of movements done by the camera translate to huge movements at the other end where the rocket is.
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This is what it would look like if you tried to track the rocket manually using a standard tripod.
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Now let's say you didn’t have a 10,000mm lens, here’s what that would look like.
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For a shot like this, we need something far more accurate and precise than just a long lens and a tripod.
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Spacex makes use of 3 main launch facilities.
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Launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre, complex 40 at Cape Canaveral and complex 4E at Vandenberg Air force Base in California.
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All of these launch facilities go way back to the early space days of the 60’s and 70’s.
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Each launch pad is surrounded by several long range tracking cameras that look a little bit like this.
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These are kineto tracking mounts which were first developed for use in the military to track down aircraft and missiles.
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Back in the Apollo days, rigs like this would be controlled by a skilled operator to track the Saturn 5 rocket as it screamed into sky.
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Back then, the skill of the operator was responsible for keeping the camera array pointed in the right direction.
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Today, a lot of the tracking functions are automated or semi-automated.
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These Kineto mounts can easily be controlled remotely by an operator at mission control.
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They can also take just about any camera you can imagine and become the world's most expensive tripod.
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Rocket companies use these tracking cameras to provide great coverage of their launches, but these expensive cameras are also used to analyze their rockets as they go through the most difficult parts of their missions.
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NASA uses a mix of digital and film cameras on these mounts.
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The short range tracking cameras make use of high speed frame rates and shutter speeds which are useful for rocket companies to analyze their rockets in great detail during the launch sequence.
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They also make use of some Infrared Temperature cameras to measure the heat of the spacecraft as it burns through the atmosphere on re-entry.
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Cameras like these have played an important role in disaster investigations.
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Tracking cameras were able to show that a falling piece of debris ripped a hole into the Space Shuttle Columbia flight which caused it to disintegrate on re-entry, sadly killing the entire crew.
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NASA reviewed the footage and put new procedures in place to ensure that the Shuttle was safe to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere.
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According to NASA, they even have some film cameras placed around their launch sites loaded with over 1,000 feet of film each.
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Of course, they also have the latest of camera technology capable of streaming a 4K video feed live to the world.
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This is how we are able to view these amazingly clear shots as they are happening.
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We really have come a long way!
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So there you have it, the method behind filming and broadcasting a rocket launch is actually very difficult.
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As the technology of the tracking systems and the cameras continue to improve, we can look forward to seeing more amazing shots like this.
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If you have any questions be sure to leave them in the comments below and make sure you’re subscribed so you can join the discussion as we learn more about all things space.
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Thank you very much for watching and I’ll see you in the next video.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 38 sentences and 770 words to shadow. The speech runs for 5:07. The speaker talks at a natural 150 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| rocket noun | /ˈɹɑk.ɪt/ | A cylindrical projectile that can be fired to a great height through combustion, (specifically) a type of firework of this form, typically exploding with light… |
| lens noun | /lɛnz/ | An object, usually made of glass, that focuses or defocuses the light that passes through it. |
| mount verb | /maʊnt/ | To get upon; to ascend; to climb. |
| procedure noun | /pɹəˈsiː.d͡ʒə/ | A particular method for performing a task. |
| operator noun | /ˈɑpəˌɹeɪtɚ/ | A person or organisation that operates a device, system, service, etc. |
| atmosphere noun | /ˈætməsˌfɪɹ/ | The gases surrounding the Earth or any astronomical body. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| analyze verb | /ˈæn.əˌlaɪz/ | To subject to analysis. |
| focal adjective | /ˈfoʊ.kl̩/ | Belonging to, concerning, or located at a focus (definite location). |
| smooth adjective | /smuːð/ | Having a texture that lacks friction. Not rough. |
| broadcast noun | /ˈbɹɔːd(ˌ)kɑːst/ | A transmission of a radio or television programme intended to be received by anyone with a receiver. |
| disaster noun | /dɪˈzɑːs.təː/ | An unexpected natural or man-made catastrophe of substantial extent causing significant physical damage or destruction, loss of life or sometimes permanent… |
| sequence noun | /ˈsiː.kwəns/ | A set of things next to each other in a set order; a series. |
| footage noun | /ˈfʊtɪd͡ʒ/ | An amount of film or tape that has been used to record something, or the content of the recording. |
| rip verb | /ɹɪp/ | To divide or separate the parts of (especially something flimsy, such as paper or fabric), by cutting or tearing; to tear off or out by violence. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| burn through verb | To use up in a hasty or destructive manner. |
| fill up verb | To make (something) completely full. |
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
| track down verb | To hunt for or locate; to search for; to find. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is surrounded · would be controlled · are automated |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | rocket which is · mounts which were · speeds which are |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have played · have come |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 7 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, you're, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: separation /ˌsɛp.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, shutter /ˈʃʌtəː/
- Long words — get the stress right: operator /ˈɑpəˌɹeɪtɚ/, separation /ˌsɛp.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, manually /ˈmænj(u)əliː/, amazingly /əˈmeɪzɪŋli/, disintegrate /dɪsˈɪntɪɡɹeɪt/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like rocket, lens, mount.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.