STS-134 - The final launch of Endeavour - Full Launch in HD

From T-9 minutes and counting all the way through MECO, this is the final launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour. The low cloud cover blocked shots of the shuttle early in ascent but created a booming echo in the clouds that was loud enough to shake our press tent! Jump to 09:00 to see just the launch itself and skip the awesome pre-flight checks.

[@yannicmeyer421]

Seeing those eingines burst to life at 9:54 never fails to make me smile.

[@andyelkins883]

what is the smoke coming out of the engine's for?

[@sniperkid389]

Andy Elkins what engines and what smoke.

[@sylviej416sr3]

Me too!

[@BettoSarafelli]

And never fails to make me cry man!

[@minipoopuu12340]

Same here

[@butterballin3686]

9:52 will remain the most kickass thing I've ever witnessed! I love the way the engines focus right at the end!

[@MarsFKA]

Before startup, the engine bells were pointed away from each other to avoid possible contact during ignition. Once the engines were running, they were realigned for lift-off.

[@micahgotracksplays340]

@@MarsFKA oh so that’s why they come close together thanks for sharing!!

[@julianw1010]

@@MarsFKA Damn that's interesting if true

[@MarsFKA]

@@julianw1010 Why should it not be true? kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6ncoqVud7uJiqM The truth that you seek is in the first ten seconds of this video.

[@franmellor9843]

It's called A GIMBLE LOCK

[@youraveragespacenerd9911]

There's just something about it. That sound of the RS-25's igniting, the flames that start shooting out of them. I just cant help but smile every time i watch this.

[@thespiritstingray9359]

Same here!

[@saiyanninjawarriorz]

Dear lord the power of those engines.

[@saiyanninjawarriorz]

Les Brown Me too hopefully they will bring back space shuttles

[@saiyanninjawarriorz]

Les Brown Yeah :(

[@TangoSierra888]

Expensive, no doubt. But I don't think I would classify the shuttle program as "not that useful". It had a hell of a run. I hate that I never went to the Cape to see a launch.

[@Legion563]

And to think in horse power, it has 37million of them lol. Even the worlds fastest cars only break the 1k hp mark.

[@saiyanninjawarriorz]

Legion563 That puts dragsters to shame

[@JoshuaVarghese]

And as of today, America is back at it again!

[@repeater95]

Nope south African men, us government don't care about science.

[@joewhite7406]

repeater95 America is back, new spacecraft was launch on Saturday

[@erikschneider160]

@@joewhite7406 new rocket?

[@drewweikum5073]

Joe white that was funded by South African, Elon Musk.

[@user-le6hb5fm8r]

Drew Weikum the astronauts were american

[@JupiterSailfish]

The thing that gets me every time is how much damn power that is.

[@chuck6187]

+TheJupiterSailfish The most powerful rocket engines ever were the Saturn V rockets for the Apollo missions. 7.5 million pounds of thrust! Those were a joy to see as a kid. : )

[@chuck6187]

+Ismael Awad-Risk Ah no, the Solid Rocket booster for the space shuttle produced 2,650,000 pounds of thrust. Not even close to the Saturn V rocket engine at 7.5 million lbs. of thrust. F1?? What are you smoking??

[@mbrazile1]

+lander4545 the saturn V had 5 rocketdyne f-1 engines producing just over 1,500,000lbs of thrust each at liftoff. which gives you a grand total of over 7,650,000lbs of thrust the 3 SSMEs produce between them just under 1,200,000lbs of thrust, while both SRB's produce 2,800,000 of thrust each. the saturn V produced more thrust overall at liftoff. whichever way you look at it trying to imagine what just 1,000,000 lbs of thrust is like is hard to fathom.

[@huss03]

+lander4545 Let me clear it up for you. The combined power of all 5 Apollo engines was the most powerful. HOWEVER, on an individual engine basis, each of the SRBs on the shuttle had more power from a single engine than any of the Apollo engines. The SRBs on the shuttle are beasts.

[@mbrazile1]

+Huxxy You cleared what up exactly? It looks like you just reiterated the things I said in the comment I posted before. Although the SRB are beast rockets they are relatively inefficient compared to even moderate performance rocket engines such as the F-1 on the Saturn V. I also do firmly believe that no humans belong on any rocket using solid fueled boosters. Period

[@michaell.8938]

I'll never get tired of watching shuttle launch videos.

[@franmellor9843]

Same here

[@newcreations1929]

Me either I love this stuff!!

[@barbaraendicott3666]

Yeah me too so sad they are no longer flying them 💯😭🙏🔥🇺🇸💯😭🙏🔥🇺🇸

[@markki240]

Same here

[@jackrf1446]

9:54 I could watch all day

[@kansasjayhawk8386]

Its spectacular

[@falafeldurum2095]

It's just AMAZING. Look here for the best Space Shuttle video+sound kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ_Sf3yKepJ2gsU

[@Kumquat_Lord]

That exhaust looks like flowing water, it's so pretty

[@DeLaViuda]

falafel dürüm My favourite is this one: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6a8oIyiatCsjKc

[@dickfitswell3437]

I love that part and then on some videos they have a different angle. Once those engines flex it causes the shuttle & tanks to rock forward then as it settles back, the bolts holding it have blown and it just starts going up. Its one of the rare times you see the power.

[@galarianmike283]

The last flight of the shuttle with the coolest name: ENDEAVOUR. The name just sounds so cool!

[@jrockett73]

Atlantis flew the last flight, STS-135.

[@averyshaham1697]

Michael 64 indeed

[@averyshaham1697]

jrockett73 so what

[@tambakoverlanders]

I prefer Atlantis. I think NASA themselves prefers Atlantis too as she was the only orbiter NASA retained.

[@Shadowkey392]

Michael 64 third coolest name; ENTERPRISE and CHALLENGER were cooler.

[@jmarston1043]

i love @ 9:56 when the main engines start up, the shuttle looks as tho its being held back for a couple of seconds just before the boosters blast into life - like some snarling pitbull on its lead

[@AaronShenghao]

The clamps are indeed holding the shuttle to make sure it doesn't just tip over. The engines angled to minimize pitching moment, that is why at lift off it moves diagonally before doing vertical. Like balancing a broom with a tilted handle.

[@isaiahguida4523]

9:52 As much as I love Spacex and all that they do, i wish they had an engine ignition camera as cool as the space shuttle. It never gets old seeing those engines roar to life, just like they belong in a movie…

[@fosstera]

as cool as that would absolutely be, Merlin and Raptor startup times are so incredibly fast there isnt much to capture

[@aspjake123]

Great comment!! Seeing those bad boys light up and come to life is amazing.

[@isaiahguida4523]

@@fosstera Yeah, there’s a lot of stuff that the space shuttle main engines do that are atypical from spacex engines. From the slow start up time, to the way the nozzle flexes as it starts, and how the pad seemly struggles to hold it down at full power. It looks like a car smoking their tires just before the light turns green I get it’s more efficient to launch immediately after engine ignition, but space shuttle launches look like they were designed to show off 😁

[@praba4036]

Praise the lord /*yes in jesus name*/the legend army israel

[@HoppingSkipper]

I have always (and likely will always) believed that the shuttle was the single coolest thing ever designed by mankind.

[@deiu9999]

9:52 The moment those big engines start... so amazing and majestic! So much power, terifying yet so beautiful!

[@praba4036]

Asult all machinery in war's 🐸 /* attention in fly NASA Tamil Nadu*/grand celeberity*/crew astrology*/nasa0.4/*@🔥

[@hisgross]

I agree, nostalgic and really underlies how powerful the merlin engines are. It's crazy!

[@Fireyshotguns51]

5 years ago today I went to school late after staying home to watch this live on tv

[@GumballAstronaut7206]

Same!

[@wll1500]

They stopped class to let us watch

[@casey653]

I got the luck to see it in person

[@JAfonsoNunesMartins10]

Omg so lucky! I was 7 at the time :(

[@BlackGryph0n]

Beautiful! Just saw the Endeavor at CA Science Center yesterday... Wish I could have seen a launch in person.

[@Wombattlr]

Your name sounds so familiar...

[@Wlhlm]

@@Wombattlr the living tombstone overwatch mercy song maybe?

[@SpressieAvi]

@@Wlhlm OOOH

[@joolfive]

iS tHaT hIm? I think it is!

[@onespicybunch5161]

Saw it too was so awesome,and I saw the Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center

[@BWEEOOP]

There's something about watching the gimbals moving those gigantic engines that keeps me coming back.

[@tj9959]

Cones*

[@ryannovakovic5046]

TJ Bells*

[@ryanrising2237]

IIRC In the SSMEs (and most liquid-fuelled rockets) the entire engine is, in fact, moved by the gimbals.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

@@ryanrising2237 Exactly right.

[@basharshalabi2129]

Fucking love it

[@bwgbwg1529]

born in 1979, the space shuttle, that great symbol of technology and scientific research, accompanied me through childhood and youth. yes, I know, the concept was highly problematic and finally fatal for two crews, but as a symbol it was very inspiring.

[@Liquid_Mike]

It's literally the symbol we use to show the pinnacle of human achievement!

[@hovermotion]

I cannot believe it's nearly eight years since the last launch of STS 135....and nearly 38 years since the launch of STS 1. I watched a launch in 92 after two scrubbed count downs due to weather , will never forget it ...stunning to watch....

[@MarsFKA]

I travelled from the other side of the world to watch two launches - STS-88 Endeavour in 1998 and STS-133 Discovery in 2010 - and saw them scrubbed both times. Bugger! Happy for you, though.

[@diddles5309]

This was my first, and last space shuttle launch I ever saw. Got to see it with my granddad, for the first and last time I would ever have met him. Saw it for my 7th birthday, and its a memory that has changed my life forever, even now.

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

This is the 21st Century, Diddles. If you mean "you ever saw in person", I'm afraid you must make that clear, or people will think you mean you've only seen _video_ of launches, as well.

[@topgun6981]

The speed it travels is mind blowing 👏

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

"Was". 😟 It is a loss to all of Human History and Progress that the Space Shuttle Program was not replaced, or continued with a new batch of replacement shuttles. Proofreading his paragraph, I thought maybe that is a bit mellow dramatic, but no. I don't think it is. The loss of the Space Shuttle Program really was a loss to, not just U.S. society and technological development, but to the entire World! 🌎

[@jm-mi7kl]

as someone who was in grade school in 1986, I always get a bit tense when I hear the words "Roger, go at throttle up."

[@MarsFKA]

I was a bit older than that back then and the same call still gets me. Then I hold my breath until the 73-second mark is passed. Actually, I don't entirely relax until staging and SRB separation.

[@flybouy11]

My wife and I observed the last night launch. It turned the night into day 10 miles away. It was worth the wait. The noise took 50 seconds to reach us across the waterway in Titusville.

[@stoojinator]

Mach 24.7 just does my head in. That's over 30,000km/h! Absolutely insane!

[@TenorMan96]

RIP to the astronauts that lost their lives in the Columbia and Challenger disaster.

[@justinm1319]

Amen

[@MrMayo-og9rj]

God rest those 14 lives

[@mysteriousstuff8158]

Don’t forget Apollo 1

[@debs-3309]

@@mysteriousstuff8158 yea

[@MrDemoncrusher]

RIP... Lest we forget!

[@michael46harris28]

Anyone here in 2020 and still love to watch those engine burst to life!?😍 I wish these were safe and Cheap they looked amazing!!!!!!

[@djbassgun]

You'll love this also I guess... kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJKmgKyFq7Sqa8U that sound 😁

[@touseefanjum720]

Yess

[@mihaelsubert9081]

The SLS core stage will have 4 RS-25 engines 😍

[@abutler75]

I mean the sod will bring us back some memory’s of the space shuttles because the core is based of the fuel tank

[@sarahmoran7250]

Remember watching the very first space shuttle launch at home in the UK Watched the last launch also. Watching the Space X Crew Dragon launch for the first time with my eldest son. Still an amazing site to see.

[@taevue]

God I love this scene! 9:51

[@reconx86]

It's even more spectacular to see it at 0.5x speed

[@casualbird7671]

Yeah, I can't stop replaying it, help me >v

[@franmellor9843]

We are Nurds and Geek's

[@youtubasoarus]

Still bums me out that I never got to see one of these launch. :( I remember seeing them when I was a kid on TV and always wanted to be there. Amazing achievement! Seeing this in person would have blown my mind.

[@russells9687]

Be down here in September of 2018 for the inaugural launch of the new SLS rocket. At liftoff it uses two SRBs that are significantly larger and more powerful than those that were used on Shuttle -- together with FOUR (4) upgraded Space Shuttle main engines. Total of 9.2 million pounds of thrust vs. 6.5 on Shuttle. Your mind will be blown in real time... : ]

[@youtubasoarus]

Will keep that in mind. Thanks for the heads up! :)

[@Guitarfollower22]

+Russell S i also thank you for the heads up. I never got to see one :/

[@russells9687]

Yup. As in olden days we will all gather by the river in Titusville, with one million of our closest friends, to watch (and listen to) that one... : ]

[@Guitarfollower22]

Russell S ughh lucky!

[@P8nda]

I miss the Space Shuttle... The calls from Mission Control such as: "Go for OAA retract" was cool, the oxygen venting out from the engines looks amazing, The raw power of the SSME's was just insane, the roaring of the SRB's igniting was bone-shattering, the re-entry was neat, and the landings were mesmerizing. We will never forget you, Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.

[@LindaMerchant-bq2hp]

3 times gravity load

[@gonegirl3577]

How come they don't launch anymore

[@P8nda]

@@gonegirl3577 Cause it's expensive, and much better launch vehicles exist now. Plus the fact the government has cut pretty much any and all funding for NASA so NASA's dead in the water

[@praba4036]

Hi Mr fly*/star wars

[@bigguy4u989]

it’s epic to see the thrust of the engines push the shuttle up against its supports with thousands of tons of force

[@captaincessna7897]

Incredible. After just 7 minutes 30, it was doing Mach 20! Somewhere in Filton Bristol, the Concorde is bawling it’s eyes out!

[@kilroy987]

Over 16k mph and into orbit in 9 minutes. That is amazing.

[@rancosteel]

It was an incredible feat of 1970's engineering. Gotta give all those involved credit regardless of the engineering design flaws

[@rohyp600]

*20 seconds after launch it hits 1,5 km altitude at 502km/h* Amazing

[@paveldrumev2117]

Also impressive that the shuttle clears the tower at about 60-70mph already, thats 2000 tons spaceship accelerating vertically faster than supersport cars horizontally... damn...

[@gameseeker6307]

@@paveldrumev2117 space glider

[@garfield4108]

Yes I had my eye on the altitude and speed etc. Unbelievable.

[@srinitaaigaura]

0-60 in 5 sec while vertical and weighing 4.5 million pounds. A climb rate of well over 1000 ft/sec. And at the very end the 3G acceleration is mental -- that's 100 mph every second. Top speed 17000 mph. Mind boggling power!

[@fromnorway643]

The Saturn V moon rocket had a max acceleration of 4G. It couldn't throttle down its engines like the Shuttle did, so the first stage's centre engine was shut down 25 seconds before the four outer ones to keep the acceleration from exceeding 4G.

[@elephant35e]

@@fromnorway643 I never knew that! Interesting fact!!

[@srinitaaigaura]

@@fromnorway643 Saturn V is still the king of rockets though. That power is still unparalleled.

[@fromnorway643]

@@srinitaaigaura The Soviet *_N1_* did exceed the Saturn V's lift-off thrust, but its four launch attempts between 1969 and 1972 all ended in huge explosions. Even if it had worked, its payload capacity would still be less than that of the Saturn V (95 vs 140 metric tonnes to LEO). The closest contender that actually worked was the Soviet *_Energia_* , which had two test launches in the late 1980s, including the first and only launch of the Soviet space shuttle Buran. Energia's lift-off thrust was about equal to Saturn V's, but it also had a lower payload capacity than the Saturn V (100 vs 140 tonnes).

[@srinitaaigaura]

@@fromnorway643 It was a smaller rocket overall. I wish they'd kept Saturn. It could have completed the ISS in a few launches.

[@geoffreydowen5793]

I'm watching in October '23.. and at the age of 65 and numerous Apollo launches, this is truly magical . so sad to have lost crews prior to this , but hopefully they are never forgotten. this is a great post , I'm going to sit with my grandson tomorrow and watch this he is 6. thank you so much for this love and respect from Suffolk, England. ex royal navy veteran . xxxx

[@Theoriginalbigbrillo]

For those who don't know @ 14:06 the shuttle has officially arrived in space ;) Known as the Kármán line, at an altitude of 327360 Feet (62 miles) above sea level, is conventionally Used as the start of outer space in space treaties and for aerospace records keeping, in a little over 4 minutes! All these stats are mind-boggling, but the stat that truly blows my mind is the speed at which these Poor buggers in the shuttle are experiencing when they leave Earths atmosphere shown above as 5,195 MPH and starts to slow down @ Mach 24.83 or 19,000 MPH ;( Or New York to Beijing in just over 20 minutes ;)

[@franmellor9843]

We know that

[@heatherkmetz6136]

Go at throttle up, those four words will haunt NASA forever.

[@internetexplorer9990]

I was there when this launched, the sheer power of those rockets never ceases to amaze me. Probably one of the coolest things I will ever see

[@karenhilker8074]

I'm a loly architect who designed buildings, yes impotent....but when I watch this....the brain cells to design ....what transpires to lift a vehicle into space..not to comprehend. The mathematics ergonomic understanding....when I watched one of these vehicles go up in space...I cried! The Marvel of engineering.

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

You didn't have to tell anyone that you are impotent. 🙊

[@karenhilker8074]

@@TheNoiseySpectator he heee...went thru menopause....um 2 decades ago

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

@@karenhilker8074 ..... Oh, yes. Now I see you are a lady. ✔️ "Impotent" can also mean... 🤔 It can also mean something else, nevermind what. "Impotent", you say? I don't think you are. Just because you have not done anything as great as this, it doesn't mean you have done nothing to change the world, even in just a small way. 😃 Are any of the things you designed still standing? ☺️ I bet they are.

[@halken117]

9:52 Holee Jeez-us, I came

[@Kumquat_Lord]

If you listen carefully at 9:53 you can hear the whine of the turbopumps as they get to full power. You can also hear that sound on some old F-1 test footage

[@DJManza_]

@@Kumquat_Lord That's amazing

[@royshashibrock3990]

Similar has already been said, but I have to add mine. I can never get enough of seeing the rocket engines ignite, throttle up, and vector into position. You see the craft lurch slightly upward even though still restrained. Even viewing a video, you can almost feel the immense power of these engines. Magnificent.

[@pauldaniels8247]

Seeing Endeavour up close and personal at the California Science Center is absolutely amazing, i get goose bumps just standing their looking at it.

[@charger19691]

It breaks my heart knowing that the Space Shuttle program came to an end. I thought NASA would of had at least one new Shuttle ready to go after the original orbiters were retired. The Space Shuttle program should be alive and well today. We should have a shuttle that is superior to the originals in every way.

[@AlexanderMcAllister]

Unfortunately it's a little thing called politics that prevents them from having the money to do so - very sad I agree. The world should be investing more in space exploration.

[@Pilot853]

Taxes

[@EricIrl]

They are getting the money to move on and space exploration is alive and well - although more money is always welcome.

[@MrPokerblot]

Alexander McAllister I think you will find this is the answer.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skylon_(spacecraft)

[@charger19691]

Russell Hopkins, I hope the Skylon Project is successful, my family is from The UK on my father's side. So I always have good thoughts for The UK!

[@evilangel8194]

Love watching the engine light my favorite part for some reason

[@TheNoiseySpectator]

Why not? ☺️

[@ferrari458italy1995]

Nothing can beat the excitement of the space shuttle launch even the Saturn V

[@fromnorway643]

Really? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6jRZX-Mi9t0i7M Turn up the volume, but be careful if you have headphones or large speakers!

[@brandywell44]

I've watched this video lots of times and it's just as thrilling every time.

[@Tricelss619]

Shuttle lift offs have a powerful and inspiring sound to me idk about any one else

[@Yonkage]

I love watching the speed climb. It's mindbendingly absurd to think about. Oh, so your fancy sports car can accelerate from zero to sixty in a few seconds? This thing can accelerate from zero to one-thousand in 59 seconds.

[@strikeout1991]

Yonkage This thing accelerates from 0 to 7,8 km/s in roughly 15 minutes.

[@lorenzopappatico]

+strikeout1991 0 to 7.8km/s in roughly 8 and half minutes

[@duckson-kellymfiengi5176]

+strikeout1991 I even paused the video to read t correct numbers. Acceleration from 0 to Mach 1 in exactly 43 seconds

[@brch2]

Hey, 0-60 on the Shuttle was almost 5 seconds if that's what you're comparing. :)

[@ashvinsharma97]

that was vertical acceleration, 0-60 is the lateral acceleration on sports cars

[@Cryssoberyl]

No matter how many times I watch the main engines ignite, it sends a thrill through me every time.

[@flchange]

It's great to have the actual flight parameters in the lower slip. This gives an accurate idea of the awesome dynamics involved in the launch and ascent profile. A shame they have no replacement for this wonderful space program.

[@calibratedtub4810]

growing up these launches and this craft were the coolest thing i had ever seen. Every damn time i would draw these in my art class.

[@ChevyBM]

This gives me goosebumps, I still remember watching these launches from my TV! I hope my daughter will have similar memory's of the space program!

[@franmellor9843]

Now ELON musk is on it nxt attempt 30th may 2020....more good memories

[@catholiccavalier4166]

Damn...what a ride that would be!!!

[@tomkutscher1555]

imagine all three shuttles taking off at the same time that would be so unbelivable

[@Alloneword-cp2xw]

hahaha I've thought about that before. Get all mission worthy shuttles to launch at the same time would be an amazing sight and sound!!!

[@tomkutscher1555]

@@Alloneword-cp2xw imagine all three in the same orbit flying in a formation.

[@JacquesGaines]

I was amazed when I saw this live. Two things that are surprising. The sound is crackly and very impressive. The speed at which it climbs is crazy!

[@therealclart]

I remember this launch like it was yesterday. I was there to see it in person. It was a exiting, yet sad moment. Absolutely incredible!

[@brandywell44]

It's always a thrill to watch this on video. How much more to have been there in person.

[@thakrak]

16:00 I live in Zaragoza, quite close to the Spanish Airforce Base. I always secretely hoped for a double engine failure that would make them land here safely, of course. I have lived my life in awe of these Shuttles...

[@Jin-cf1xp]

Living near Istres Air Force Base in France, Nasa certified too, I know what you feel!

[@tpanayi66]

Really great! I begged teacher in high school to let us watch first launch & he did I am now a bit sad to see the end of an era that I am afraid we won't top in manned flight.

[@jhoodman561]

I'm so proud of this.

[@aclegodude2415]

I remember growing up watching these shuttle launches. Broke my heart when they cancelled the shuttle program.

[@shaneebahera8566]

but it was too dangerous and too expensive also overly complicated even for rocket science

[@owenh2626]

They were also ~40 years old

[@wisemanofsorts6068]

Don't worry, we have better, cheaper and more reusable options now.

[@ZacharyGalen]

Yeah! Welcome to your new home Endeavour! I am SO going to the museum!

[@antn8387]

Space Shuttle design will always look legendary.

[@englishefl]

I visited CA Science Center when I visited the U.S,.I had No idea that it was there! When I entered the room which is in, I remained maybe 3 minutes in absolute surpise admiring the scene! Such a previlige!

[@wizardgaming669]

Rest easy big bird.

[@nate0765]

11:30 always blows my mind how fast fuel is used. 2 million pounds used in 1 1/2 minutes. 11,000 pounds of fuel per second, absolutely insane.

[@karlsumner5594]

Isn’t that just flippin’ awesome? The technology, the thousands and thousands of man hours to build, test and ready it for this day. It’s just unbelievable. I’ve followed the shuttle since before the first launch, I did a project on it at school and last year I was lucky enough to see this very shuttle in the California Science Center. When I walked through the buidling door and came face to face with Endeavour, I was overcome by a wave of emotion which took me completely by surprise; it brought a tear to my eye. After all those years, here it was in front of me. That will always stay with me. I just wish I’d managed to see a launch but I’ll make do with this video. Thanks for sharing it.

[@karlsumner5594]

And yes, spell check has spelt it’s name wrong - doh!

[@MarsFKA]

I have a photo of Endeavour half an hour before its last landing. My wife and I watched it undock the day before from the Space Station and, after sunset, we stood outside and watched the Space Station pass overhead, with Endeavour as a little dot just behind it. Then, then next night, I was watching on NASA TV as Endeavour did its de-orbit burn west of Australia. Its orbit took it south of Australia and New Zealand, so I went out front with the camera to wait for the Orbiter to appear in my southern sky. Endeavour showed up on cue and I started taking time exposures - I had the camera on a little tripod, sitting on a large cardboard box that I had dragged out of the garage. I opened the shutter for one last photo and was about to release it when the Space Station suddenly sailed into view - I had forgotten that it was a couple of hundred kilometres behind Endeavour - so I kept the shutter open for another ten seconds and got two spacecraft for the price of one. Rather pleased with that photo. I would love to see Endeavour in the California Science Center, next trip to the US, but now that Air New Zealand has a direct Auckland/Houston flight, and our family is living in Florida, and I will never again - if I have the choice - transit through LAX, Endeavour is off my To-Do List. On the other hand, Atlantis is at the KSC and I want to go there again...

[@greggriffin3998]

I can never get enough videos of watching the three SSME's (RS-25 Engines) roar to life - they are masterpieces of engineering and combined they generate 33 MILLION Horsepower.

[@PacalB]

It's utterly beautiful watching this & so inspiring. Space programs like this should continue 2 be a major drive for the human race. If only we could go back in time and tell all those whom have pushed the boundaries of science "thank you", thank you for mathematics, physics, biology & all the wealth of other sciences that made this kind of thing possible. That door being left open just says to me, "The door to space will always be open as long as we continue to want to explore!" Beautiful.

[@povertyspec9651]

Too many things need fixed on Earth first: Overpopulation, traffic congestion, roadway safety (40,000 Americans die each year), crime, you name it.

[@geoffreydowen5793]

back again on 31october 23 love this post the commentary is great and the chatter is so powerful, I can't comprehend the amount of effort that has brought this together my grandson built a Lego Shuttle last weekend and we watched this after to put it into context. godspeed "X" and NASA for Artemis xx from Suffolk, England

[@Probowler37]

I was in Freeport during this launch, of course couldn't see it but could see the trail of smoke going up which was cool

[@saiyanninjawarriorz]

That part when those boosters ignite get you every time.

[@priscillaliu1458]

RIP the people on Columbia and challenger

[@priscillaliu1458]

nice

[@Joshs4stro]

Christa McAuliffe, Judith Resnik, Michael J. Smith, Dick Scobee, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, Ronald McNair, Guion Bluford, Kalpana Chawla, Ilan Ramon, Laurel Clark, Rick Husband, Michael P. Anderson, William C. McCool, David M. Brown

[@trevorsimpkins3142]

​@Josh Guy Bluford was not on either of those flights. He is alive and well at 80 yrs old.

[@angela_jx]

Idk what it is but there’s something just so fascinating to me about the space shuttle specifically even over all the other spacecraft

[@AlbertLebel]

Just an awesome sight. I don't even have words for this.

[@jkirchman79]

Thanks for your service, Endeavour! You've inspired countless people and you will be missed. Now, NASA -- on to the next adventure!

[@Lorijenken]

hey no worries its only mach freaking 24,,,,,,,,

[@DevSolar]

Well, anything less and you don't make it to orbit. Orbit is not about "up", but about "sideways _really_ fast". (The "up" is just so you get out of the pesky atmosphere hindering you going that fast.) All space missions _have_ to reach that speed, at the very least.

[@tj9959]

DevSolar yup an orbit is basically you just falling back to the earth and missing so you stay in space

[@tranquilityoverload2947]

Apollo 10: hold my liquid hydrogen.

[@Egemeng.]

@@tranquilityoverload2947 and liquid oxygen too.

[@Tomfoolery1972]

I can't explain it, but when the engines first gimbal, I get all choked up, every time since 1981.

[@GooletakesItUpItArse]

That 360° spin around her vertical axis was pure showmanship

[@gzch5524]

10:57 it took only 57 seconds to reach the airplanes' altitude!

[@cola7016]

the ignition at 9:54, well knowing several MILIONS of horsepower energy is blasting out of the rockets, gets me every single time i watch these kind of videos. Its just beautiful so see mankind kan escape the planets gravity...

[@rebeccaobella1041]

Its got to be really scarey too 👍

[@SoniLeonardoR]

I remember seeing this on TV before school. First time I ever saw a live launch. Memories...

[@robinm1729]

From a showmanship standpoint, nothing beats a shuttle launch... *NOTHING* !

[@TheSieBee]

Gosh its so awesome to see just alttle over 9 uears after this launch that the US is finally launching manned spacecraft again. Its so exciting! I remember getting the opportunity to see this in person, it was amazing! It puts into perspective just how much power was behind those launches. I remember seeing the water in front of my family ripple from the power of the launch. I remember standing there and seeing the tiny shuttle riding on a massive fire ball up into the sky. After it went into clouds I remember trying to walk around to get another angle in order to watch it go higher. It truly was a once in a lifetime experience. It's left an impression on me ever since, and its truly amazing what people can do once they put their heads together and collaborate on an end goal. Even if at times that goal may seem difficult or impossible.

[@Lucaswilsonn]

These launches will ALWAYS be better than Space X. No hate to Elon Musk and his amazing work but this and the Apollo missions are more fascinating at leas to me.

[@evolicious]

I literally can't stop watching those engines start. Holy fuck, the power.

[@hariskyritsis1442]

APSOLUTELY AMAZING VIDEO.

[@starfunsfs7730]

The endeavour throttle up give me chills 9:59

[@youreale]

The Shuttle was a fantastic machine, but a very, very expensive one. It also cost the lives of two entire crews. Even in the space program, no one can afford that.

[@hawkeyenextgen7117]

Every time I look at the numbers...more than a thousand feet a second...that’s mind bogglingly fast.

[@knarf2570]

Every start of these shuttles is just exciting .. I can watch it again and again. That feeling when the space shuttle, mounted on this huge tank, stands on the launchpad, the time is counted down, the engines are fired 10 seconds before ... and then this tremendous boost - 10.000 ft and over 500 mph in just 30 seconds... amazing. I associate that with a real spaceship. Too bad the time of the shuttles is over.

[@brch2]

I'm with you. The Shuttles were beautiful, and amazing to watch launch. While "standard" rockets are interesting, their launches just seem so basic in comparison. The only thing so far that has gotten me as excited as a Shuttle launch is a SpaceX stage landing (and now the Falcon Heavy double landings have almost ruined me for regular single stage landings). One of my bigger regrets is that I never got to see a launch in person.

[@knarf2570]

@@brch2 Yeah that would be great!

[@greggb557]

Brilliant!!

[@darknessthehedgehog3]

Go with throttle up those four words always makes me nervous

[@MarsFKA]

Me too. For the same reason for we with long memories.

[@rebeccaobella1041]

Yep 👍

[@jmstudios457]

:(

[@jmstudios457]

RIP STS-51-L

[@WhisperinAngel]

It gives me anxiety, especially after a minute 13.

[@saxo19]

I came here after watching the SLS Core Stage test. I really wish I could've watched this launch in person. I remember watching it live with my uncle, knowing that a great era came to an end. I miss the Space Shuttle program so much... :(

[@oficialcesarleitao]

One of the biggest experiences I had, was stepping on that soil, visiting NASA and its complex.

[@Snowcube]

I love that whistle right before the engines start at 9:51

[@franmellor9843]

Good catch

[@ANDREWFITZGERALD100]

Sounds Amazing...Incredible...they should still be flying...

[@SteelFyire]

To be honest, as iconic and cool as the space shuttle program was, it was really kind of a failure as far as being more cost effective than expendable rockets went.

[@nzoomed]

SteelFyire It did still have its use though, especially as far as bringing large payloads back down. I reckon it could have been adapted for lunar missions by means of using a different launch configuration.

[@ANDREWFITZGERALD100]

I Suppose It Became like Concorde A Financial Burden...But I Would Have Thought They Would Have Kept One Two Ready To Fly Just In Case We Got In the The Way Of An Asteroid Or Something Similar...How Would We Tackle That Kind Of Emergency Now...They Have Even Scrapped The Kennedy Launchpads So I Believe...Just Seems A terrible Shame To Get Rid Of The Shuttle & Not Be Replacing It...

[@nzoomed]

Andrew Fitzgerald Yeah its pretty sad, there was a smaller shuttle that originally was intended to be used alongside the main shuttles for crew transfer etc to the ISS, it ended up being scrapped in favour for the constellation program, which in turn has also been scrapped, I wonder how long it will be before NASA return a crew into orbit?

[@HiHello-pl4tj]

SteelFyire I agree. It is such an awesome icon and a really cool craft, I even went and saw it in LA with my dad, almost brought me to tears that it wasnt flying. But you all need to know that NASA is working on a better system, the SLS which is made to carry the Orion command module, which is meant to go to other celestial bodies and carry humans! I am so excited for this new spacecraft and I cant wait till it flies. Its what will take humans to Mars.

[@Filip14l]

I do miss these machines man.... I really do :( Simply magnificent they were!

[@SpheresVA]

Artemis will use the same RS-25 engines as the shuttles! I'm so exited for that

[@richardhawkins2248]

I worked the ET program start to finish and this was the only launch my wife and I got to see. Loved it!

[@daltondebusk]

I always wonder how people get a job like that. It amazes me how stuff like this can be accomplished!

[@richardhawkins2248]

@@daltondebusk I started out as a lab tech. There were tons of people there working all kinds of jobs. I survived the layoffs and got to be on the Orion Design team. There were even people out of the projects working there. I was in New Orleans, but I lived in Mississippi. Louisiana isn't for me.

[@Treetop64]

So bitter-sweet. What's worse is that the Shuttles were put to pasture without an immediate replacement available, and now NASA, Space X, Orbital, and Boeing are all scrambling.

[@jshepard152]

Treetop64 - NASA never seems to get that right, even with three decades to get ready. There was a big gap between the saturn rockets and the shuttle too. Skylab was lost because the shuttle's first flight was years late.

[@justaracething1353]

J Shepard it's incredible, NASA with years of experience goes through 7-8 vehicle designs and all of them are scrapped for "cost cutting" SpaceX with 1/8 as much experience went through 2 designs with 1 checking all the boxes NASA couldn't with the space shuttle, reusability, supplying the ISS, and sending satellites to GTO and LEO orbits at approximately 1/4 of the cost

[@37VQV]

Its also a problem when you design vehicles without a goal? What was the goal of STS originally? It was designed without a real goal. The ISS, etc came later. The Saturn 5 was built ground up for the goal of a lunar mission.

[@adamp.3739]

I'd honestly rather if SpaceX would join in this brawl.

[@dubsy1026]

37VQV it was designed for a space station actually. However, cuts. So there was no station for most of their life.

[@FlavioSpirit]

Boa noite !!!! Absolutamente fantástico. Os Space Shutle nunca deveriam ter sido aposentados. São as máquinas mais incríveis já criadas pelo ser Humano. Só saudades...... Lindo demais. Muito obrigado pelo vídeo e parabéns pelo canal. Abraço do Brasil.......