Space Shuttle Launch: Viewed From an Airplane

Flying from Orlando, FL I had the rare opportunity to be able to watch Discovery's final launch as it embarks on STS-133.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[McNultey97]

A shuttle can barely travel into Earth's orbit, and you expect it to cross a galaxy?!

[Cristopher Demczuk]

you are so wrong man, why nasa must feed africa??

[TourOfTorun]

"You didn't address the actual issue."

Except I did. Ground vibration transmitted through the pole would cause the extreme corner to flap. You disagreed. Fair enough.

Alternative explanations involve electrostatic charge (nylon flag and all) and the astronaut touching in in passing.

Personally I find it amusing that at the beginning of the clip, when the astronaut is carrying the flag to be planted, it behaves like it would in a vacuum. No-one mentions this, of course.

[FatFreddy88]

You didn't address the actual issue. Start watching this video...

/watch?v=QI3fwzPGtUk

...at the 3:30 time mark.

These two videos show that the flag started moving before he got close enough to touch it.

/watch?v=dW9qcL4LiUg

/watch?v=oFMpmjEv9o0

Here's a link to some more hoax proof.

spurstalk (dot) com/forums/showthread (dot) php?t=144487

[bluemartian9]

No that's ok, Africa can feed themselves. I could turn that argument on its head and ask has Africa ever helped US get into space? I'd rather fart around in space.

[bluemartian9]

Actually the shuttle is one of the easier objects to get into orbit. The first stage lasts no longer than 110 seconds and at that point the craft has already reached 260 miles above the surface. Compared to the time it takes to get other spacecraft into orbit the shuttle is quite speedy. Most craft are larger and heavier and take longer to get into space.

[Destro7000]

I don't know if anything we can make will cross a Galaxy xD ...possibly smaller-scale interstellar travel, if we make it to the nearest star, but the MilkyWay's a big thing.

[Abdulaziz Naji]

this is not my thought, I said this money which been spent on this type of shuttle could be spent on poor people in Africa I didn't say NASA must feed Africa the top comment translate what I said in wrong way

[Abdulaziz Naji]

heartless, if you were instead of them you would wish that someone gives a flaying fuck for you

[TourOfTorun]

Jarrah is in the business of misrepresentation. Sauce for the goose, really.

[verbacat]

Just curious, did you just happen to be on a plane when the launch happened or were you there intentionally?

[Максим Терехов]

kerbal space program)