STS-128 Space Shuttle Launch from 320 miles away 8-28-09

Please excuse the shakiness of this one.. This video of the Space Shuttle Discovery launch was filmed from the Tyndall Bridge in Panama City FL. The distance to the launch pad is 320 miles and by the time the shuttle came into view it was 10 miles in altitude and 330 miles from my position! I never expected to see the plume from that distance but it was very clear right up to SRB burnout. Other people in the park had no idea what they were seeing until we told them. Nasa tv audio via Blackberry and Moodio.fm.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• STS128
• space
• shuttle
• long
• distance
• viewing
• night
• launch
• nasa
• pc
• fl
• panama
• city

[theifoncross]

I had no idea you could see it from PC. I'll have to be on the bridge next time.

[zz3astro]

There won't be any more (planned) night launches of the shuttles. When and if they start launching the Ares V in 2018 you will get another chance to see the SRB's like in this video. That's if they launch at night, which they have no reason to with those missions. Plus there won't be any people on board the Ares V's, which is why I made sure to catch this historic last night flight.

[TravisRobertsMusic]

man that is awesome, and really far away! I was about 9 miles away, and it was bright!! I wondered how far away people were seeing this ball of fire!

[blazer34i]

I was located just on the other side at Earl Gilbert park near Tyndall. It was a beautiful site to see! I was shocked at how bright it was as it was so far away. Thanks for the video!!