Posts Tagged ‘shuttle’

Shuttle Endeavour Attached to Boosters, Tank for Final Mission

Space shuttle Endeavour was bolted to its external tank and twin solid rocket boosters on March 1. This “mating” took place in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the orbiter’s move from its processing hangar. Endeavour is slated to rollout to Launch Pad 39A next week for STS-134, its final flight. During the 14-day mission, Endeavour’s six astronauts will deliver to the International Space Station the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a particle physics detector designed to search for various types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays. The crew also will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier 3, a platform that carries spare parts that will sustain station operations once the shuttles are retired later this year. Endeavour’s launch is targeted for April 19.

Space Shuttle Era: External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters

The space shuttle relied on an external tank and a pair of solid rocket boosters to get into orbit and carry out its missions.

Raw Video: Shuttle Makes Rare Nighttime Landing

Space shuttle Endeavour and its six astronauts are back on Earth. The shuttle landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida late Sunday night, wrapping up a successful two-week mission. (Feb. 21)

Launch Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-125

Hubble here we come! Space Shuttle Atlantis is on its way to the Hubble Space Telescope. The extensive servicing mission includes 5 spacewalks, and will provide some incredible views of the Earth and HST. The telescope is about the size of a school bus and will be grappled by the shuttle on Wednesday. Hubble Wallpaper www.watchnasatv.com

FSX – Space Shuttle Atlantis Escorted by F-22 Raptors

Climb aboard the seat of an F22 Raptor from Edwards Airforce Base in Southern California as it entercepts and escorts the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its Glide Slope. This video was made in Flight Simulator X (FSX) using Captain Sim Space Shuttle and Iris F-22. In Real Life the last flight of the Atlantis Space Shuttle landed at Kennedy Space Center, But for this video I have it landing at the Edwards AFB. Enjoy the video! Keywords: Space Shuttle Atlantis, F-22 Raptor, Space Shuttle Landing, United States Space Program, Shuttle Reentry, Military Escort, Edwards Airforce Base, inside space shuttle, f22 cockpit, NASA

STS-135 Space Shuttle Atlantis July 08 2011 Launch – Space View Park

An estimated one million spectators converged upon the area around Kennedy Space Center to witness the final shuttle launch of the storied American shuttle program. I made an all-night drive on Wednesday evening, and arrived at Space View Park to find hundreds of people already there and claiming their spot to view and/or shoot the launch. My friends Brian and Bonnie were among the earlier arrivals and saved me a spot in front. Collectively, we slept in tents, vehicles, lawn chairs and on the ground, just to make sure we did not miss this historic event. All of Thursday was consumed by lightning storms and constant rain. Umbrellas, ponchos, rain suits, wet clothes and wrinkled fingers were the norm. NASA was giving only a 30% chance that Atlantis would lift off the next day at the scheduled time. But, fortune smiled. As Friday’s dawn gave way to morning time, a break in the weather opened the launch opportunity window we needed. Atlantis roared into the overcast sky on a silky smooth trajectory. I feel privileged to have been there to experience the beginning of the last chapter in space shuttle history.

Evacuation and Airlift of Space Shuttle Crew STS 117

This 61 second movie clip shows personnel from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center and Edwards Air Force Base conducted a training exercise on May 5, 2007, that would enable them to effectively handle the rescue of a space shuttle crew in the unlikely event of a landing mishap at the base. The exercises are held periodically to train Air Force fire/rescue and medical crews in aiding the shuttle crew in exiting the shuttle after a simulated landing mishap on or near the Edwards runway, escaping from the mishap area, and after triage assessment, safely evacuating injured crew members. Although NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is the landing site of choice for space shuttle missions, Edwards AFB remains the primary alternate landing site in case weather or other situations preclude Florida as a landing option.