NASA released this video pieced together from footage shot on two shuttle missions. The cameras are mounted at several points on the solid-fuel boosters, which broke away from the shuttle itself shortly into each flight, roughly 30 miles high. The footage shows not only the “boost phase” (where the solid-fuel boosters are actually firing), but also the boosters' re-entry through the atmosphere and splashdown in the ocean. There are two boosters on each launch, and often one can be seen in the other's camera as they tumble toward the earth together.
This particular video has been enhanced in two ways. First, flight data (such as altitude and speed) has been superimposed on the video. I found this data fascinating. For example, you can see that the boosters arc up after detachment (carried by their inertia), then arc down, gain speed, and finally are slowed down as they re-enter the atmosphere. Second, audio has been added in the studio. I don't know where they got the audio from, but I thought it added a lot to the experience of watching the video.
Pretty cool ride... I think its too bad we wasted decades on the shuttle and the ISS though. Its like despite intentions, the manned space program stagnated in low earth orbit because of it. Its a good thing they kept up with unmanned exploration and more importantly realized that it was better to lose a 20 million dollar probe than a 500 million or billion.
Pretty cool ride... I think its too bad we wasted decades on the shuttle and the ISS though. Its like despite intentions, the manned space program stagnated in low earth orbit because of it. Its a good thing they kept up with unmanned exploration and more importantly realized that it was better to lose a 20 million dollar probe than a 500 million or billion.
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