Quite a rare video from NASA showing feeds from 5 different video cameras mounted on various parts of the left and right solid rocket boosters.
The video is quite long but the first 6 minutes show a full ride on the right booster from take off to detachment at 2 minutes and splashdown at around 6 minutes.
There is sound in the third segment starting around 15 minutes and the sound of the air rushing past the booster as it gets into the thicker air on its way down is rather noisy, as are the bumps and bangs of ice chunks hitting the booster after it detaches.
At sometime around 16 minutes you can catch a glimpse or two of the launch contrail sticking out from the earth in the distance as well as glimpses of the other booster on its own journey back to earth.
The boosters themselves jettison at a height of around 46 kilometres and the view on the ride back down is quite breathtaking. Riding on one of those, Dr Strangelove style would be quite a blast!
Finally, the first 20 seconds or so give a much better impression of how fast this thing gets off the ground. In the normal videos you see, taken from a distance, the launch appears to be quite a leisurely affair but looking down from the right side booster camera it sets off like… well like its got a rocket under it!
NB – There is no sound until the 15 minute mark.
_
_
If you like watching rockets launch I would recommend this video of a Saturn 5 launch which is one of the best I have ever seen.
Forgive my presumption, but the track here goes well with the soundless first 15 mins.
http://englandsfreedome.blogspot.com/2011/03/ah-mon-chevalier.html
Trooper – I watched it a couple of times last night when I found it and again when I posted it – all sorts of things to look for like the launch contrail as well as catching glimpses of the other booster following the first down.
You are right about the track as well – I am going to have to find out more now as I like that one 🙂
I haven’t watched it all yet, but that is cool man. I love it when the rocket hits the ocean around 7 mins
Have now linked to you here:
http://www.maxfarquar.com/2011/03/something-different.html
microdave – glad you liked that one – it certainly gives a very good idea of what happens when you set off sitting on a few thousand tonnes of propellant 🙂
Some of the wind and mechanical noises in the third clip are damned spooky sounding too – I wonder how much racket there is in the cockpit of the orbiter when its taking off?
Impressive video from the plane of a shuttle launch.
Ta for the link as well 🙂
Sorry Duff link – should have an extra character on the end:
Absolutely brilliant! That really does show just how quickly it accelerates. Thanks for posting it, I’ve downloaded it for my collection, and to play on a better screen.
Did you see this video of the launch shot by a passenger on a commercial flight?