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.

 

[stearnst]

Thanks for the vid! I certainly learned a couple things about launches that I didn't know before. I never knew that the boosters came back with parachutes. Plus, I was surprised at the appearance of the underside of the shuttle. I have the utmost faith in NASA and whatnot, but man, that thing looks beat-up from the get-go.

 

[PDH]

coolest picture was at 3 minutes 00 seconds on the second vid. You could also see shock waves forming (I think) at about 1:30 on the second vid. Very nice.

 

[C-150ETOPS]

The last 7 minutes made me dizzy...

I kept hearing a voice saying "bank angle, bank angle, bank angle"

 

[AerroMatt]

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

I think I once read that the water was being sprayed to prevent the launchpad from melting due to the heat of the rocket exhaust. Is there a NASA employee in the room who can enlighten us?

 

[Cardinal]

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

I concur.

A sound suppression water system is installed on the launch pads to protect the orbiter and its payloads from damage by acoustical energy reflected from the mobile launcher platform during launch. The system includes an elevated water tank with a capacity of 300,000 gallons. The tank is 290 feet high and stands on the northeast side of the pad. The water is released just before the ignition of the orbiter's three main engines and twin solid rocket boosters and flows through parallel 7-foot-diameter pipes to the pad area.

More at: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/stsover-prep.html#stsover-sound

 

[AerroMatt]

Thank you Cardinal for bringing knowledge to us masses. I stand corrected.

 

[timeoff]

Approximately 220 decibels when up close. At 180 your eardrums rupture, and at 220 your organs are basically being torn apart.

 

[AerroMatt]

Approximately 220 decibels when up close. At 180 your eardrums rupture, and at 220 your organs are basically being torn apart.

Wow, what a HeadRush!!!

Rock on!!!!!!!!