Universe Today
As the shuttle era frenetically draws to a close,
the launch views
of the thunderous climb to orbit captured by NASA just get ever more stunning and vividly illustrate what it's like to liftoff to space.
Check out this awesome collection of high definition videos of
Endeavour's final blast off
as recorded by cameras mounted on each of the twin solid rocket boosters (SRB's) from multiple viewpoints.
The
STS-134
mission lifted off on May 16 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The cameras show the launch from numerous spectacular angles and vantage points, pointed down to Earth and up to space, from alongside the belly of the orbiter and along the sides of the SRB's.
[/caption] The videos show all the phases of the SRB in flight - including separation, parachute deployment and all the way to the dramatic splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean with rapidly changing backgrounds of the launch pad, Earth and Space.
The STS-134 mission is the 25th and final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour, NASA youngest orbiter.
Endeavour's six man crew is led by Shuttle Commander Mark Kelly, husband of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. She was shot at point blank range and critically wounded during a routine congressional meet and greet with her constituents in January 2011.
Endeavour is set to land back at KSC on June 1 at 2:32 a.m. EDT after a 16 day mission to the International Space Station. The crew carried up the $2 Billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and attached this wor;ld class science instrument to the truss of the ISS. The AMS is a particle physics detector searching for antimatter, dark energy and dark matter. The goal is to elucidate the birth and evolution of the Universe.
[caption id="attachment_86006" align="aligncenter" width="386" caption="Side view of shuttle Endeavour stack and access walkways. NASA released stunning launch videos taken from cameras mounted on multiple spots around the twin Solid Rocket boosters shown here, including dramatic views with the orbiter belly rocketing to space. Credit: Ken Kremer"]
[/caption]
Read my related stories about the STS-134 mission here:
Spectacular Soyuz Photo Gallery shows Unprecedented View Of Shuttle Docked at Station
Ultimate ISS + Shuttle + Earth Photo Op Coming on May 23 from Soyuz and Paolo Nespoli
Endeavour Blasts Off on Her 25th and Final Mission
Endeavour Unveiled for Historic Final Blastoff
Looking to the Heavens with Endeavour; Launch Pad Photo Special
Endeavour Astronauts Arrive at Cape for May 16 Launch
NASA Sets May 16 for Last Launch of Endeavour; Atlantis Slips to July
Endeavour's Final Launch further delayed another Week or more
On the Cusp of Endeavour's Final Flight
Brush Fires Erupt at Kennedy Space Center during Endeavour's Last Countdown
Commander Mark Kelly and STS-134 Crew Arrive at Kennedy for Endeavour's Final Flight
President Obama to Attend Endeavour's Last Launch on April 29
Shuttle Endeavour Photo Special: On Top of Pad 39A for Final Flight
Endeavour Mated to Rockets for Last Flight Photo Album
Endeavour Rolls to Vehicle Assembly Building for Final Flight