STS-129 Ascent Highlights

[TestingJeff]

Absolutely awe inspiring. I watched this liftoff from the visitors center. What a treat.

[123karismith]

That was incredible!! Well done to all involved and thanks for sharing it!!

[MichaelCox]

And that, gentlemen, is how we do that.

[kush2121]

I can't believe this video only has 21k views. It is a shame when moronic videos from "talented" pop starts get millions of views, and actual inspiring things such as this are overlooked. Back when I was a child, which was in the 80's and especially in the 60's and 70's, everyone kid wanted to be an astronaut when they grew up. Now what do kids want to be? The next reality tv star. It is simply asinine how pathetic mankind has become.

[datareaper]

This is one of the most amazing things I have ever seen.

I watched this entire video with a sense of wonder I haven't experienced in a long time, and I am not ashamed to admit some tears fell as I watched the shuttle lifting off.

[btristal]

Yup, this is the awesomest thing ever created by the human race. To retire it without replacement is beyond irresponsible... they are not even near the end of their rated service life! Why can't anyone pay for anymore launches????

[btristal]

I love those OMS burns; I want Aerojet OMS engines with six metric tons of thrust for my car. I wonder if monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide would require a HAZMAT cert... lol!!!!

[btristal]

We should start a NASA or space travel special interest group; yes, it is only recently that videos like this have been compiled in such a cinematic fashion, but now seems to be when we need it more than ever.

Perhaps it is just in time. Let us see, or let us do!

[btristal]

Yes, these SE&I JSC ascent highlight videos are out of this world- literally. I wish they would have done them for all STS and Saturn V missions.

[btristal]

Yes, it is an AMAZING machine; it is unbelievable that it is REAL, and yet only two launches remain EVER. :(

[StormyDrake]

See, THIS is the kind of stock footage NASA needs to show more often!

[micha1331]

Windows are made of what material in space station

[gelatinouslove]

I saw this video. Then I thought about what I am doing to make the world as good. Then I got back to studying. Thanks for the insipration.

[jayadz]

Like Concorde,another step backwards

[grimyjeeves]

Wow! what a great clip - never seen the camera on the boosters view at 8m 20sec before - great

[pampel64]

Hey,

I found out that the artist performing at the beginning when the date MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2009 is visible should be Michael McGoldrick. Does anybody knows the title of this song?

Thanks for any answer,

Pampel

[01bre]

This is great!!! I love the video. I had a feeling the stars are not so far today anymore, while watching it.

[TheTurbinator]

I can't believe they are going for this awesome technological step forwards, back to the capsules. That would be same, if I decided to move out of my house, and go live back in the cave. I just cant believe we are going to lose the shuttle.

If the fact that we where on the moon more than 40 YEARS AGO, isn't sad enough, we know go back to space capsules. Bravo !!

[thirdclass2006]

The capsule design is looked toward mainly for cost reasons.

With limited budget, NASA's options were confined. So they chose what worked best before.

My only hope is that the Orion lives up to it's promises.

I must say, I'm more concerned about the choice of launch vehicle.

[iamthe1337est]

@TheTurbinator A space shuttle can't take you to mars, nor the moon. But the orion ship can take crews to the ISS, the moon and even mars. The shuttle is now heavily antiquated, to keep it would be like using a computer from the 70s that has not even has much processing power as a low end gpu today.

[TheTurbinator]

@iamthe1337est They should not ground the Shuttle, while they don't even have a new vehicle ready. The shuttle was upgraded to modern standards a few years ago, before they knew they where going to scrap it.

[ytmoog]

Space capsules are actually far more capable in many ways than the shuttle.

They are lighter, cheaper and can withstand far higher re-entry speeds.

The higher re-entry speed capability will be needed for any missions beyond low earth orbit.

[thirdclass2006]

Indeed.

Consider Soyuz, a capsule design that has lasted for nearly 40 years.

[72gz]

elhadar .wahna hada ykoulfe khoh

[OROMEX2001]

increíble.... la realidad supera la ficción , la precisión de los instrumentos para cada paso en lanzamiento cuantas horas hombre significan y ya no se digan las horas computo de procesos para que los lanzamientos salgan perfectos.. y las imágenes de las camaras increíbles... la tecnología la servicio del hombre para un buen fin.

[debndonny]

I felt my stomach drop...I'm afraid of heights but given the chance to be on the space shuttle oh I'd go but in the mean time when you see the Great Lakes can you say "hi Deb"...lol...but great stuff and my kids love it

[Ovumee]

5 flight remain. Imagine what celebration will be at the last one!

[librano]

This video transcends levels of epic by order of magnitude! EPIC!

Thanks for the ride!

[apopheniacMCMLXXXIX]

WARNING: This video only works at *FULL VOLUME* with subwoofers!

That was absolutely incredible! It gave me goosebumps. This would have had a similar effect on me if it were a CGI special effect in a bad ass science fiction movie, but the fact that this all actually really happened makes the impact more deep. This is real! THIS IS ALL REAL!

The only thing that ruins it is the fact that it only has 3k views so far.

Nomination for the most criminally under-viewed video in the history of videos.

[apopheniacMCMLXXXIX]

Nobody cares about space anymore, and that's a really really shameful thing. We spend billions of dollars on this and no one even cares about the amazing things that NASA is doing. our future is in space.

"The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will one day venture to the stars..." - Carl Sagan

I think we're destroying ourselves with our ignorance right now. Get with it, humanity!

[FirewalkR]

Well done, putting this in the official channels. Incredible video, my favorite scenes are the 90º rotated launch cams and the SRB sep from the pov of the SRBs looking at the shuttle. I'd seen that pov for the first time the day before this video originally hit the net and it instantly became my favorite shuttle cam. It's incredible to see the Shuttle power away in space. Anyway, congrats to all involved in the making of this video, and everyone at NASA for all the great things you do.

[Nova7o9]

Wow! O.O That was awesome, thanks!

[arthurnudge]

Fantastic! The views of the hold-down clamps on the SRBs were new to me. 5* + favorited.

[lcf34]

12 minutes of happiness for a geek like me... you guys are doing a great, great job. Thanks.

[L1VE0RD1E]

G-UNITTTTTTTTTTTttt

[anmoose]

A spectacular production, and magnificent footage! It's a more detailed look at the ascent than I believe I've ever seen.

[melendrezd]

SRB Sep and Descent: "Extension Tubes", composed by Lisle Moore, from the CD "Drumhead Percussion 1", Amphibious Zoo Entertainment (AZ-006)

Second Stage, ET Sep, and End Credits: "Magical Castle", composed by Lisa Bloom Cohen, from the CD "Orchestral Film & Score, Vol. 2", Nightingale Music (NIGHT105)

Enjoy.

[melendrezd]

SRB Sep and Descent: "Extension Tubes", composed by Lisle Moore, from the CD "Drumhead Percussion 1", Amphibious Zoo Entertainment (AZ-006)

Second Stage, ET Sep, and End Credits: "Magical Castle", composed by Lisa Bloom Cohen, from the CD "Orchestral Film & Score, Vol. 2", Nightingale Music (NIGHT105)

Enjoy.

[melendrezd]

Vehicle Rollout: "Bittern & Crake", composed by Albert Cofrin, performed by Clandestine, from the CD "Red" (CLF 4106)

Final Inspection, Prelaunch, and Ignition: "To War", composed by Pierre Langer, from the CD "Adventure", Groovers Music Library 36 (GRML-0036)

Ascent: "Gladiators", composed by Pierre Langer, from the CD "Adventure", Groovers Music Library 36 (GRML-0036)

[melendrezd]

There have also been several questions about the music we used. So for all those interested, here is the info (and because of the text limit, I'll have to do this in more than 1 post):

NASA Logo Background: "Landing Routine", composed by Nigel Bates, from the CD "Space Atmospheres", Chappell Recorded Music Library (CHAP AV080)

Opening Titles: "The Stream", composed by Michael McGoldrick and Richard Lacy, from the CD "Celtic Melt", Cavendish Music (CAV CD 131)

[melendrezd]

First, let me say thank you for all the kind words and enthusiastic responses weve received (on and off the web) related to this video. Were very glad so many people are enjoying it.

[IxXPacOXxI]

looks like a sci-fi movie^^

[Evilarlos]

Amazing video, great work from the guys at the space shuttle center and a wonderfull job of editing! Good choise of music also ;)

[ETBRAIN]

Beautiful! One of the best here on U2B!

Too bad, the Space Shuttle era is coming to an end. As I understand, the next flight is going to be the last of Shuttle program, probably to pick up a handful of astronauts lef on the ISS!

Lol !

[laserfloyd]

There are 5 more flights planned currently. There will be no more ferrying astronauts back and forth from ISS. The remaining missions are to finish ISS construction from what I understand.

[ETBRAIN]

Thanks for the info, laserfloyd, good to know that will be more SS launches for us to watch! (...lately in HD)

Thanks again.

Cheers!

[xAngelCaidox]

One of the best videos i've seen in this channel.

Amazing shots! Good edition and the soundtrack is well suited for this.

Does anyone knows the music titles for this?

Reminds me Armageddon

Good luck human kind...

[TimTrimT]

Pardon my French but 4:27 = **fu#%in' hell yeah**!!!

Starting at 2:37 - BRILLIANT production of the STS-129 launch!! God bless the shuttle - to the day I die I will cherish having been lucky enough to be alive and have witnessed these mighty machines launch with my own eyes!!

Future generations will only have these excellent videos which saddens me a bit. The next generation of the space program will be safe and reliable, but the romance and raw balls of the Shuttle bring tears to my eyes..

[TheLastHaze]

This is almost breathtaking. ^^

@oojamaflipper Yes there is a huge amount of fuel required to get these shuttles into space, whether or not it's wasteful is a personal opinion I think.

There are new engines being researched right now though, like the Plasma Engine VASIMR.

It won't just take down the fuel consumption by ALOT it will also for example cut the time of travel to Mars from six months to just 39 days.

[oojamaflipper]

yea, s'nice n all but man its when you see footage like this you realise that the way we put people in space is just plain wasteful. cant remember the exact percentage but i remember readin somewhere the fuel tanks have that much in them mainly to life the fuel tanks! there must be a better way.. cant we just fly up there? like a plane does..

[john25992]

No we cant just fly up there like a plane. A space craft needs its own oxygen supply or a very efficient way of getting one and an very high amount of speed to break out of the earth's gravity. I agree with you though, it is very wasteful and we need a better way of getting up there. A more abundant fuel source or one that is renewable. :)

[john25992]

Maybe...

[Geckoliz]

@oojamaflipper The problem with a plane is that the higher up you go the less lift you get from the wings 'cause of the thinner atmosphere. Rocket engines are the only way to get enough thrust for enough time to escape Earth's gravity. Yes it's very inefficient and hopefully with the advent of future technologies we'll find a better way. I vote for antimatter. Check out SpaceShipOne on wikipedia. It's pretty cool, kinda like part plane part rocket. I think it might be the future.

[theturnerconnection]

Thank god for our public school system...they did a GREAT job with you!

[oojamaflipper]

right, first off, there are already planes that can fly up to a low orbit height, secondly there are plans to develop that technology thirdly, stfu. do i really have to put a smily face after every comment that isn't intended to be stone cold serious?

[laserfloyd]

Currently the only way to get into orbit is with chemical rockets (liquid or solid). They don't have longevity but they have raw lifting power. It requires a substantial amount of energy just to get into orbit, let alone leave Earth's gravity well.

We do need better rocket designs if we ever hope to advance as a space faring species though.

And hey at least the exhaust from the SSMEs is water vapor. :) (though processing the liquid propellants is hefty...)

[Daunzin]

Nice! ^^