An Amazing Launch! Endeavor STS 123, March 11, 2008

[CardShark989]

on a clear night we could see this in jacksonville a couple years back. it was awesome. only time i ever saw one go up

[OffWIthTheRain]

totally looks like a dick reaching for the clouds at 1:19

[stevebairdchef]

Hi, Going by sound distortion and the slight shake of the camera... I would say with the speed of sound traveling at 343 metres per second and the 15,.5 second delay in hear the roar of the Rockets.. Your 3.55 miles from the base of the shuttle.

[deseret15]

@wlmason73 well stated, sir. Thanks for informing my once misinformed brain, and please forgive my insolence.

[deseret15]

honestly, all you people trying to find how far away he is... go get a life. He has the video. Thats really all that matters.

[wlmason73]

@deseret15 You have to understand the reason why people are questioning the distance from the pad. Civilians, and non-essential personnel are restricted in how close they can be to the launch pad during a launch. The closest anyone who isn't directly involved with the launch can normally get is ~3 miles away and that's typically restricted to press. The fact that the poster is saying he's closer isn't an unimportant detail people are going math nazi on.

[Jimed756]

Listen closely to the difference between the liquid motors and the SRB's. I clock around 24 seconds from seeing the liquid motors ignite and hearing their sound. The SRB's are definitely louder, and it's very discrenable in the audio. So, using 5sec/mile as an average it appears that the camera was just short of 5 miles away.

[sizzlepiece]

jus speechless.....

[eddtoro]

i've tried to get a vip from nasa but don't have anyone family or friends who work at nasa. does the launch pad block the shuttle when viewed from the causeway?

[DrMasaki]

I watched the launch on a cruise ship! =)

[timd941]

i went there 10 days before it launched saw it on the launchpad (took pictures) and left florida 3 days before it launched. that'd been awesome if i saw that.

[cubeus19]

Ah......It's just Chuck Norris's taxi.

[adr712]

the sound 22 to 23 seconds it took to reach the camera after take off..so the distance is around 4.6 to 5 miles away

[PersianLord1995]

@adr712 depending on sea altitude, pressure, humidity... so on but yes about that

[pewtoobe]

Nice zoom lens, but you're definitely farther than 13,200 feet. You can see when the video pulls back. Maybe a few times that distance. Also the engines light around 0:46, but the sound isn't until well after a minute. In every (unmanned) video from inside the exclusion zone you can hear the engines almost immediately so you're not even close.

[97afrye]

Coo my dads cousin was the commander

Greg Johnson

[MrKillingman2]

Now thats loook like a sun :D

[chipmunk126]

holy crap dude it looks like a missile being launched

[rhatcher010]

There is something bittersweet about watching these final launches. Coupled with the success of CERN's Large Hadron Collider, my United States of America better pick up its game. We've done it before we can do it again.

Mars or bust baby!

[BiohazardShock1]

My god that thing lit UP the dark sky. Awsome

[TheCrankyHominid]

Awesome

[footeze226]

Now search YouTube for the vid on how to

"see the shuttle as It passes over your area" while connected to the Space Station

[Aic1944]

I tried seeing it, at my house. Woke up at 4, then fell back asleep sadly until 5.

[nezone007]

hey man how did u get that close? am trying to go see the last one this sun 2/7/10 can u tell me how to get that close directions? if u get a chance thanks

[xLinkinPark209x]

@nezone007 did u get to see Endeavour launch?

[hootyhaha]

I did, I have video I'll upload soon. Subscribe to me so when I upload you'll get the announcement.

[hootyhaha]

I know. I just went to the Feb. 2010 night launch. There was so much air, ground, and water security everywhere nobody could get close to that launch unless they paid tour tickets, or sat on the road 12 miles away to see it.

[casurfer1973]

If he is only 2.5 miles away from the pad. He is at the Space Center itself.  He looks like he is by the time clock you always see on the tv....

[spybas006]

nice video & Lift off.

.-)

[grozmo1]

This video is awesome!! XD

[Maxx6689]

Awesome video of a night launch! I can't wait to see the one in Feb!!

[hootyhaha]

I taped it. Go to my channel and subscribe to be updated once I get to a computer. The capture card on my compter is fubar, so I have to wait to get on another computer to upload it.

[tubeparker23]

It always amazes me to see the shuttle launch. to know where its going, what its mission is. it truly is an icon of mankind. its even more thrilling to know that its here in my country! be proud you are an american and have the honor of watching every launch, as every launch is historic.

[blair91234]

GREAT LAUNCH TODAY! Not a cloud in sight...perfect.

[tubeparker23]

unfortunately i moved from florida to tennessee a few months ago, so I don't think ill get a chance to see one of 6 launches left. i'm gonna try but i seriously doubt it.

[hootyhaha]

@TubeParker Go to my channel and subscribe to be updated once I get to a computer.  The capture card on my compter is fubar, so I have to wait to get on another computer to upload it. The last night launch video I mean.

[billsurlatete]

haha makes you proud your american. sorry just had to laugh at that....

[furgee]

its a shame we are going back to rockets for manned flight. America has lost its fighting spirit to be better htan everyone else. its sad to me. From all we learned from the shuttle we couldnt come up with something better? I shed a tear for my great land.

[hootyhaha]

Don't blame America. Blame the administration that's over America right now. People at NASA are. I was there for the last night launch. They're all silently furious and they whisper his name under their breath with disgust. Some are too scared and just say "The government..." But we all know who that is. I recorded the night launch. I'll be uploading it soon. Subscribe or book mark my page to be updated when I do.

[furgee]

It is funny you mention the current "administration". I am in the Army currently deployed to Afghanistan and none of us like him either ha ha ha!!! Yeah dude I will subscribe.

[b4igetu]

@furgee There is many reasons they are abandoning the Shuttle. The original idea for it was aircraft launch but this made it far more expensive and more unsafe. The Shuttle also isn't particularly good at anything. Only a few materials are strong and can take the heat, but as this has proven in the past still isn't very safe.

The Rocket is cheaper to launch, creates less heat, and has safety measures such as the escape pod the Astronauts are always in.

[b4igetu]

@furgee The Shuttle had no way for the Astronauts to escape. They will also be able to take it to the moon, and as for cargo lifts this will go exclusively to unmanned missions. This can lift far more cargo at far less of the cost of a manned mission. NASA has experience with 2 spacecraft designs and they are going with the safer cheaper to operate planetary exploration based rocket opposed to the shuttle.

Sometimes older technology is better.

[b4igetu]

@tubeparker23 Space missions are international projects. Astronauts from other countries are on board, equipment, experiments all from other countries are on board. It isn't just an American thing, it is a world mission. They are going to the international space station. The mission to mars will involve many other countries. The main reason the shuttle is launched from Florida is because there is less distance from ground to space because of thinner atmosphere so not as much fuel is needed.

[tubeparker23]

@b4igetu Um but it launches here. The space shuttle and the organization launching is American. Missions are international, but NASA and the Endeavor are 100% American.

[b4igetu]

@tubeparker23 It launches there because there is less atmosphere for it to travel through so less fuel is needed.

The technology in the shuttle just isn't American. Lots of Canadian knowledge went into the shuttle. A huge amount of Canadian knowledge went into the Apollo missions.

Yes The Shuttle and NASA are American, But everything to do with space is international.

[Daddydigger1]

@b4igetu Actually, the reason for launching in Florida is two-fold. The Earth spins fastest at the equator (it has a lot further to travel in 24 hours) so you want to launch as far equatorward as possible as this will reduce the amount of speed (fuel) you need to create to reach escape velocity. Secondly, the ocean makes a handy downrange location that is populace-free (unlike launching from say, California).

[wessendorf15]

@b4igetu very true if the germans back in ww2 werent so smart we wouldnt have reockets at all.

[Vanakatherock]

I'm trying to get to the Nov. 16 2009 launch, how do you gain access to that launch site? I'm trying to get as close as possible.

[nutyhermit]

Great job but you were cheated. You need to come back for a day launch and you can see if for several minutes....that's what I love about this area. I can see the launches from my yard and I live over 20 miles away!

[bbbrain512]

f the smart assness its a good video

[TheSpaceAcer]

SpaceAcer likey !

[kenpalmer1965]

This is an excellent video of a shuttle night launch. I used to live in Satellite Beach,Florida when I was a kid back in 1969 thru '71. That was obviously during the famous Apollo space program. Great job!

Ken Palmer

[Chisuz]

"so fast that we see it before we hear it."

omg lol rofl

[RdSoxFan618]

You technically see everything before you hear everything (even if it's nanoseconds)...Speed of light = 3 * 10^8 m/s whereas sound was 334 m/s if I remember my freshman physics class a couple years ago correctly.

[xtremspl]

Love how you added "Freshman" physics class. Its amazing to see the junk people say when they don't take science.

Lack of math+science=USA=Obama/Recessi­on=Inescapable debt.

[Waldorf1981]

Not sure what was so funny about that...but ok.

[mattallen95]

wow. 1:03 it looks like some powerful spirit is rising up to the heavens.

[devilsfan1986]

How do you get to the 3 mile mark without being a press member or an astronauts relative????

[danschaoticmind]

You can get special tickets for this some time in advance.

[skatering42]

thats what i love about this day in age...anybody can record history

[Null81]

amen.

[demonator65]

that was alot of sonic booms

[vegasrain84]

1:15 looks like a nuclear explosion with the cloud bank lit up and the trail of smoke below. Awesome video, great natural sound..

[Truthtolder]

Cool!

[dechm4af]

that was sweet...

[AaronRouse37]

Excellent Video .. 5/5.

You have a great piece of history here.

[chizzywoo]

Fan-bloody-tastic. The way it disappears into the clouds only makes it better viewing.

[ecwpr]

wow awesome!

[Sleddog116]

Wow - great vid. How did you get so close? Do you work for NASA or something? I didn't think even the press were allowed to get closer than 3 miles.

[notrealy180217]

i saw that at the river in titusville and just saw the one tonight. it was so beautiful with the full moon out. i had dark side of the moon blasting

[lovingthelifeX3457]

wow, thats really amazing:]

i cant believe the things we can do, its out of this world.

[TOL1488]

Thanks for posting this.

[Staseman]

How did you managed to get closer than even media is allowed ?? Are you sure it was 2.5 miles ? If you are I wanna know the trick :)

[goforlaunch1958]

I hope you enjoyed the video. This is no trick. I work 2.5 miles from the launch pad.

[steleadbitter]

kk i was there a saw it check out my vid

n i went on the nassa toure n the woman said the closest people to the pad are 3miles from it

[Douglas217]

ya they said within 3 miles the blast will kill u just the shockwave of it is equal to an atomic bomb

[crazybastard82]

no. the 3 mile safety zone is because an explosion from the shuttle can throw 100-pound shrapnel up to three miles away. use your brain: if the blast was as powerful as an atomic bomb it would obliterate the shuttle, launch tower, and everything else in the area.

[Douglas217]

jeez im sory im nt as intelligent as u

[danschaoticmind]

Not true. They have a 3 mile perimeter in place in the event that something unexpected would happen. This was a result of the delta rockets explosion on the launch pad a few years ago. Though... at the 3 mile mark you will feel some MAD vibrations. BUt you will not be killed.

[Douglas217]

thnks at least u explained unlike the retard above

[stuntrider15]

you can feel really hot wind from every launch at jedi park over in capecanaveral

[goldchain34]

@goforlaunch1958

Seemed to me, the smoke shot out around :46 into the video and the sound doesn't hit you until around 1:18.... that's a solid 30+ seconds, which would indicate a distance of roughly 6 miles from the launchpad.  Definitely hard to believe it's 2.5 miles.........

[USAmerican100]

@goldchain34

I agree, this dude is lying put thumbs down in his video.

[theeastvillage]

@goldchain34 Absolutely. I was at Banana Creek to see STS-131. Closest you can get at 3 miles away (lots of military brass, JPL people, etc). This guy is mistaken. Also, 3 miles in minimum distance. The next closest viewable area is from the VAB, which is not too much closer than we were. Watching the video I took (not on YouTube) puts the sound coming in around ~12 seconds.

[wlmason73]

@goldchain34 It's certainly not 2.5 miles from the pad. You can see the main engines starting around 0:46, and they're not heard until 1:11. The sound (traveling @ ~340m/s) would cover a distance of roughly 5.3 miles (8.5 km) during the 25 second gap. That's still a hell of a lot closer than I'm ever likely to be to the pad during one of the shuttle launches. It's likely I'll never get to see one up close. Nice video.

[tumamaeselsanto]

@goforlaunch1958 awww ...I hate you

[browntuka]

@goforlaunch1958 Any vacancies so I can enjoy the experience lol

[marklamiss]

@goforlaunch1958

do u happen to know how close(in miles) the public is allowed to get to the launch on the beach? Is anyone allowed on canaveral national seashore? thanks

[kraftwerkmod]

fantastic clip, worthy of CNN

[jalasword]

Great video! Thanks for posting

[Nasaplt]

Very good video! I really like how you can see the light from the shuttle move through the cloud.

Hopefully that will be one day on Orion! :)

[Nasaplt]

**Hopefully that will be me one day on an Orion mission! :)

[wolfemama]

Fun to see from different angle. We were out on the causeway...the rummble you could feel through your entire body. It makes you proud when you see this. Go Nasa...Go Rick Linnehan...You are the best.

[aloa]

I buy it !

[anyhandleleft]

security guy up around parking lot 13 would be my guess.

[anyhandleleft]

your north of the launch pad. around canaveral national seashore.

[Jpfdias]

very very beautiful...thank you!!!

[cenriqueortiz]

Great video. I have seem launches before (I used to work at IBM in Houston), but never a night launch; they are the best. Thanks for sharing

C. Enrique Ortiz

[youngchung2]

thanks!

[NICUDOC68]

Wow. I thought it was loud on the causeway. I can't imagine how loud it was where you were.

You must work for NASA.

[jkharris07]

Very cool indeed, amazing work getting that close

[nasaman77]

just amazing....great vid

[trishignao]

Wow...we were there too ut not as close and sadly our footage does not allow you to hear the noise from the rockets. Amazing.

[taddoo7]

Amazing footage!

[ericc11231]

How did you get that close? It's awesome by the way!

[thenekom]

I don't even know what to say, that's just incredible!

[Staseman]

Well done!!!! I was on the cause way and shot it (and post it on YT) too but I could not concentrate on the camera. It was too awesome.

How did you get so close ? I thought the closes point was 3 miles ? Can you get me in for the May launch :) ?

[bagabagabop1]

Oh. I was on the LCC. Were you at the SLF or nearby. That was just a beautiful launch.

[ibewcountry]

What a cool JOB! Very good video. Tell all your co-workers we are proud of you all!

[saturnv2k]

This was a great launch. We were too far away at the locks. But I've seen videos taken from the NASA causeway, are they letting people view them again now?

[ajsinco]

Very nicely done! Thanks.

[VeeDubbDood]

The light coming out at about 7 seconds after lift off looks like an eagle! =)

[elbigjim]

it's quiet where you are... must of found a nice spot.

[geepbuff]

wow, nice work.

[Skywitness]

Nice..

[sandstone222]

One of the best I have seen, love the roar of the engines at the end.

[KC8YOQ]

Dude were you on KSC at the time of launch?

[cgillard]

Really cool, thanks for the vid.