STS-131 Launch Seen From The VAB Roof - Space Shuttle Discovery Liftoff

[NextLvlProductions]

How long does it take for the shuttle to reach 300 Kmh ?

[Apollo5595]

8 People? How lucky!

[tasckal]

I saw this launch from the beach at New Smyrna. We too could see it for a full 8 minutes and I have to say it was the coolest thing I've ever seen!

[Laguna4738]

Just out of curiousity....How did you go about getting on the roof? I know you said its for photographers only, but only from media outlets? magazines? etc?

Was there a certain process to go through to get this position? ANY Information is GREATLY appreciated! and Great video by the way!

[snidelyTooYou]

Interesting view of staging around 2:50. I also like the plume next to the smoke pillar at around 5:30. Thanks for sharing this!

[bfarling]

Awesome. We were in Titusville for the launch, not nearly as close, but we still found it awe-inspiring. I can only imagine how cool it was from this distance.

[pgpgsunrise2]

this was the most awesome launch i ever have seen with all the colors and that luck u that u can see it that good all the time and thank u 4 the great video

i will miss the old ladys when they stop in sep

[catmandu2008]

excuse my ignorance, but what is that large flame shooting out from the launch assembly? i've never seen that before, perhaps because of this angle of view. thx. PS - since the number of remaining shuttle launches are finite and few, anybody have a link to the present schedule of remaining launches? i think it's time to plan a trip - i have always wanted to see a launch, and now is the time to go and bring the kids. thx.

[catmandu2008]

@catmandu2008 hey, i just saw the earlier commentary in which my first question was answered by spacearium. Thx spacearium for the great video and explanation.

[catmandu2008]

@catmandu2008 @spacearium hey, i just saw the earlier commentary in which my first question was answered by spacearium. Thx spacearium for the great video and explanation.

[spacearium]

@catmandu2008 The 3 remaining missions are STS-132 May 14, 2010, STS-134 July 29, 2010 and Sept. 16, 2010. Unless the program is extended, those are all that's left.

[mdr48371]

@catmandu2008 The flame burns off vaporizing H2 from the liquid H2 replenish. It is hard to see in daylight, but it's always there.

[KronosIV]

@catmandu2008 The flame you mention is hydrogen burn off. During fueling, significant quantities of cryogenic hydrogen boil off to gas and must be directed away from the pad to prevent massing that would create an explosion hazard.

[Vanakatherock]

That is the view I wanted. My video was shot from the Astronaut Hall of Fame which was still a pretty good view. Is there any particular person you have to contact to get on top of the VAB? I'd like to shoot the last launch from there.

[spacearium]

@Vanakatherock I wish everyone could watch from teh VAB, but not even regular NASA employees are allowed. Only a few news media photographers are taken to the roof for launches. It would be great if everyone could watch from there though. It's breathtaking. The roof shakes even.

[doreenclark]

Thank you so much for this!! I was watching the launch from Space View Park, but of course, would love to have seen it even closer and I got to do that vicariously through your video. Much appreciated.

[giantsdude21]

howd u get on the roof? thats amazing i was at the visitors complex i posted a vid of the launch too

[spacearium]

@giantsdude21 NASA lets a limited number of news media photographers (& videographers) on the roof to shoot launches. Only 8 or so people can go. The wire services automatically get 4 spots and then the rest of us fight it out for the others. I was lucky enough to be one of them for this launch. Definitely the best view around.

[omgitstotallyawesome]

Hey! Great vid, you had a great view from there :) Love seeing all the amateur vids of the launch. you got a great shot of those contrails that ended up making those amazing sunrise pics that have been floating around.

[1emc011]

What is the fire on the side of the launch pad?

[spacearium]

@1emc011 That's the hydrogen flare stack. When the external tank is filled with liquid hydrogen, it slowly warms up and turns to gas. To keep the tank from overpresurizing and exploding, the gas has to be vented away. Since hydrogen is very flammable, it can't simply be vented into the air. Instead, it is piped away to a "chimney" at the perimeter of the launch pad area and burned off.

[spacearium]

@spacearium The liquid oxygen also has to be vented, but since it's just oxygen, safe, it can be vented into the air, which is what all the fog around the base of the shuttle is before launch.

[1emc011]

@spacearium Thank you for the rapid and careful answer. In 29 years of video of Space Shuttle launch this is the first time I noticed that. Wow! Thank you!