Universe Today
With the three-year anniversary this week of STS-135 -- the final launch of the program -- we invited readers of Universe Today to
send in your pictures of shuttle experiences
. We've been spoiled with several entries into our
Flickr pool
, which we've posted below.
Also, noted space tweep Remco Timmermans generously provided us with dozens of pictures, of which we chose just a few to represent his experiences at STS-135. That picture at the top gave us goosebumps. Down below you can see more of Remco's shots (thank you!) and some of the best other shots that readers sent in.
[caption id="attachment_113128" align="alignnone" width="580"]
NASA astronauts Mike Massimino (left) and Douglas Wheelock flank Elmo during a NASA tweetup in July 2011 for the last shuttle launch, STS-135. Credit: Remco Timmermans[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_113129" align="alignnone" width="580"]
A sign points to the NASA Tweetup location for STS-135, the final shuttle launch, in July 2011. Credit: Remco Timmermans[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_113130" align="alignnone" width="386"]
Shuttle Atlantis prior to the last launch of the program, STS-135, in July 2011. Credit: Remco Timmermans[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_113131" align="alignnone" width="580"]
Launch Pad 39A is illuminated by light prior to the launch of Atlantis for STS-135 in July 2011. Credit: Remco Timmermans[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_113132" align="alignnone" width="580"]
The "Astrovan" (right) ferries the STS-135 crew to Launch Pad 39A prior to the July 8, 2011 launch, the last of the shuttle program. Credit: Remco Timmermans[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_113133" align="alignnone" width="580"]
One of the shuttle's external rocket boosters is towed back to port following the launch of STS-135 in July 2011, the last of the shuttle program. Source: Remco Timmermans[/caption]
Thanks also to numerous other Universe Today contributors who posted pictures to our Flickr pool. We'll include some samples below. Nathanial Burton-Bradford who provided a 3-D picture of Atlantis lifting off on its last flight (use red and blue glasses to view properly):
[caption id="attachment_113134" align="alignnone" width="370"]
A 3-D picture of Atlantis lifting off on the last shuttle mission of the program, STS-135, on July 8, 2011. Credit: Nathanial Burton-Bradford[/caption]
Robert Karma provided several stunning pictures of STS-131, which featured Discovery, including one showing the shuttle rising high in the sky beside the American flag, and another with the moment the solid rocket boosters separated from Discovery:
[caption id="attachment_113135" align="alignnone" width="386"]
STS-131 Discovery flies high in the sky following its launch Feb. 24, 2011. Credit: Robert Karma[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_113136" align="alignnone" width="579"]
The solid rocket boosters separate from Discovery during the flight of STS-131 on Feb. 24, 2011. Credit: Robert Karma[/caption]
Also, thanks to Ralph Hightower for providing this image of STS-135 on Flickr:
[caption id="attachment_113137" align="alignnone" width="580"]
The STS-135 Atlantis launch viewed from the NASA Causeway in Florida on July 8, 2011. Credit: Ralph Hightower[/caption]