Kennedy Space Center, May 14th 2010. I was privileged to travel to the Kennedy Space Center, to watch the launch of Atlantis, on what was then, the final "scheduled" flight of the orbiter (STS-132). This video is my homage to the shuttle program, through the in depth experience of a single orbiter launch. I believe we should be thankful for the Atlantis orbiter, all her astronauts, the countless NASA staff who made her fly, and the American people who created a space vehicle of extraordinary power and grace.
This footage incorporates numerous camera views from the ground, footage I took during launch, and video and audio from NASA showing the orbiter stack itself, during takeoff and flight -- in order to experiencing the all the preparation and the resulting eight and a half minute exhilarating ride into space.
In places, the timeline of the actual events has been extended slightly to allow us to see different viewpoints of the same moment, and better experience the amazing feat of launching a spacecraft into orbit.
Enjoy the ride!
MORE BACKGROUND ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After this flight, Atlantis was processed and prepared to fly one last time... this time as "on call" STS-335, which would remain flight ready, should either of the remaining two orbiters flights require a rescue mission.
A rescue flight was not needed and Congress, in a rare moment of clarity, appropriated enough money to extend the program to allowed the already "flight ready" Atlantis to launch one last time and to become the last shuttle mission of the Shuttle Program, as STS-135.
Atlantis now has a home at the Kennedy Space Center.