Shuttle launch - as viewed from the SRB

[11thHour]

These vids are awesome. Well worth watching. It's amazing how fast that it gains altitude. What I wouldn't give to ride that thing just once:

Video 1

Video 2

 

[BcPilot99]

The last 7 minutes made me dizzy...

 

[AerroMatt]

These vids are awesome. Well worth watching. It's amazing how fast that it gains altitude. What I wouldn't give to ride that thing just once:

Video 1

Video 2

You and me both.

 

[aucfi]

Why do the spray the water under the launchpad?

Looks like fun!

 

[sleddriver71]

I wish we could see a little VSI and altimeter in the corner of the screen to get an idea how fast it climbs while it's happening. Pretty cool video.

 

[Instinct]

Awesome videos, thanks for sharing! In the last few seconds of the first video, you half expect JAWS to come out of the water and swallow the camera...

 

[Trogdor]

The water has some kind of a cooling effect on the heat from the rockets.

 

[wings421]

The water has some kind of a cooling effect on the heat from the rockets.

Actually, the water is there to cushion the shuttle from damage by acoustic energy from the SRBs.

 

[timeoff]

I wish we could see a little VSI and altimeter in the corner of the screen to get an idea how fast it climbs while it's happening. Pretty cool video.

Right after launch, they have to throttle back to 65% and reach only 35,000ft at one minute (which is "max Q" or max dynamic pressure on the shuttle). After that they go to 104% and hit 153,000 after two minutes. So the vsi would be upwards of 120,000 fpm. Amazing.

 

[MKaprocki]

How about a maximum of 132,000 fpm.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts121/fdf/images/121ascentdata.gif

Notice at SRB sep that the thrust:weight ratio is < 1. As the fuel burns off, it picks up to the point that they have to throttle back to hold 3 Gs.