Space Shuttle Atlantis SRB Camera Video

Amazing video captured by the cameras on the side of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) as they're blown clear of the space shuttle Atlantis during the launch of STS-115.

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• SRB
• Atlantis
• NASA
• Space
• Shuttle

[treelizard99]

How will they retrieve it ?

[tvspace]

@treelizard99 There are ships in the Atlantic that are positioned to retrieve the boosters after splashdown. The SRB's were then brought to shore, refurbished, and used again.

[yourallguppies09]

this is really cool but i thought this thing burst into  flames when they re-enter the earths atmosphere?

[tvspace]

The SRBs aren't out of the Earth's atmosphere when they separate. They're used for the first 90 seconds of flight.

[ReeseMac]

Its like a Stanley Kubrick film

[Blueskybutterflies]

that.. was fan..freaking..tastic!!!!!

Canada.

[Warrakkk]

@yourallguppies09 The SRBs are...or I should say WERE reused. They splash down in the ocean somewhere. The external tank (orage) is single-use however, and does burn up on re-entry.

[EricIrl]

Things heat up when they re-enter the earth's atmoshere at ORBITAL SPEEDS OR HIGHER e.g 17,500 mph plus. The SRBs are jettisoned when the Shuttle is travelling at aropund 3,000 mph, not fast enough to generate destructive heat.

[strag1]

Simply amazing!

[kinsley2108]

@yourallguppies09 The fuel tank burns up as it re-enters the atmosphere.

[krakenwave]

The sound - makes this just perfect. Why someone hasn't mixed this into some chill-out recording I do not understand

[Biggreasyhotdog]

Epic!! Wish i could free fall from that height!

[dprice1291]

@yourallguppies09 What tvspace said, as well as the fact that they aren't going fast enough to burn up. Theoretically, if you were to drop an apple from the height of even the space station, but weren't traveling in orbit, it wouldn't burn up either - it would just fall and splatter on the ground at a high speed. However, when things enter the atmosphere that are at orbital velocity or near it - like meteors or spacecraft - there is a fiery reentry.