STS-133 space shuttle Discovery launches for the final time - from KSC Press Site

http://www.aresinstitute.org - Video I shot from the KSC Press Site: Space shuttle Discovery lifts off on its 33rd and final launch ever before the orbiter is retired this year.

The flagship of NASA's space shuttle fleet, and the oldest orbiter still flying, Discovery rode a brilliant trail of fire and smoke Thursday afternoon as it soared into orbit for an important mission to the International Space Station. The launch came after a last-minute technical glitch with the Air Force's Eastern Range that left only four seconds in the launch window and a practical limit of two seconds because of draining requirements with the external fuel tank.

"It was one more second than Mike Leinbach (shuttle launch director) needed to get the job done, so there was plenty of margin," said Mike Moses, chairman of the Mission Management Team. Still, he joked, "I could use a little less heart palpitations in the final seconds of the countdown."

Leinbach said launch simulations have conditioned the team of controllers to handle the pressures of last-second "go" decisions without jeopardizing a mission.

"This was one for the record books," Leinbach said. "It may have seemed a little rushed to people on the outside. It's a testament to the team that we have practiced for this."

The launch of the shuttle was not the only thing to happen in space exploration on launch day. Just as Discovery's tank finished being fueled, a cargo-carrying Automated Transfer Vehicle from the Eurpoean Space Agency docked to the station. The spacecraft, which carried no people, launched from South America last week on an Ariane V.

"This is a pretty tremendous day in spaceflight for us," said Bll Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for Space Operations. "For us to be sitting here today with both of these events occurring as they did is pretty amazing."

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  Science & Technology

[Harry Porter]

Great view of SRB sep!

[phkonings]

Thx and agree with JPX2000 for this, I was at the 'other side with my family at Titusville' where you could hardly distinguish the shuttle from the exhaust. I would love if you could supply us with a more HD one? Again thx, form the netherlands!

[JPX2000]

Great camera work, super job on capturing 'live' sound. NASA commentary usually covers up the snarling and crackling SRB music. Thank you.