STS-122, Liftoff of Space Shuttle Atlantis February 7, 2008

The liftoff of STS-122, Space Shuttle Atlantis, that launched February 7, 2008 from launch pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center. Filmed 3.2 miles from launch pad, at the Kennedy press area.
Included is a short lesson about the Space Shuttle system, and a little bit about the Columbus mode that is being launched aboard Atlantis, to become a part of the International Space Station. Includes cameo appearance by STS-120 Astronaut Paolo Nespoli, who launched on Discovery in October 2007.
Produced by Pete Smith of popartpete.com.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• sts-122
• space
• shuttle
• atlantis
• discovery
• columbus
• 120
• paolo
• nespoli
• pete
• smith
• nasa
• liftoff
• solid
• rocket
• booster

[tomanyasses]

i dont think  the external tanks burn up if they fall in the ocean they might heat up on the way back to earth.

[jackbuster]

As far as I have heard, the tank reenters the atmosphere, as does the orbiter, but is not protected with a heat shield, so it burns and breaks up over the Indian Ocean.

[LTL220]

Sorry, turns out I'm the idiot. The external tank is NOT reuseable. It breaks apart and falls into the ocean.

[jackbuster]

I'll say! LOL!

[jackbuster]

Notice that beginning at 4:36,the roar of the engines and boosters reached the press area. The noise was so great that it drowned out the commentary from the NASA Public Affairs officer for the next 30-40 seconds, even though I was right underneath the loudspeaker. A retired NASA scientist who saw the video said that most shuttle footage he has ever seen had been on mute (on purpose) not to include this roar, which is is caused by air being forced away by the 6 million pounds of thrust.

[jackbuster]

It is amazing that you can see all the way past booster separation, even with the graininess of youtube. It is the second time I saw such a thing. I saw the Endeavour launch in the early 90's. It was a night launch, so you could see booster separation and staging even more clearly. (I did not film it then) I also watched Discovery launch in 2007, but it was cloudy, so it wasn't visible.

[AtlantisB737]

@tomanyasses it does break up, but I must agree with tomanyasses on the fact that it does not completely disintegrate and an actual piece of it does reach the water. Course no one ever looks for that or tries to recover it...

[LTL220]

What idiot said at 1:37, "the fuel tank will fall to the earth and burn up in the atmosphere."

That tank is reused.

[flippino35]

COOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[4wheeldrifting]

excellent video