'Shuttlecam' captures never before seen view of launch
BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: October 8, 2002

The world got to hitch a ride aboard space shuttle Atlantis when it thundered from Earth to space Monday thanks to a small video camera mounted to the external fuel tank. This is a collection of images from the video.

Spaceflight Now Plus subscribers can watch the video by clicking the links on the right-hand side of this page. Enjoy!


T-3 seconds
Steam billows from the flame trench as Atlantis' three main engines fire to life. This camera is mounted to a cable tray running up the front side of the external tank.
Shuttlecam
Liftoff!
Atlantis blasts away from Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39B at 3:46 p.m. EDT to begin mission STS-112.
Shuttlecam
T+12 seconds
The shuttle begins the roll maneuver to achieve the proper northeasterly trajectory in the race to catch the international space station.
Shuttlecam
T+24 seconds
The roll maneuver is completed, putting the shuttle on course for an orbit inclined 51.6 degrees to the equator.
Shuttlecam
T+36 seconds
Condensation streams from the top of Atlantis and the solid rocket booster in view as the shuttle passes through the dense lower atmosphere.
Shuttlecam
T+1 minute, 35 seconds
Atlantis is 11.5 miles downrange from the launch pad at an altitude of 17 miles and traveling at a speed of 2,800 miles per hour.
Shuttlecam
T+1 minute, 56 seconds
The solid rocket booster in view is seen burning out.
Shuttlecam
T+2 minutes, 7 seconds
The spent solid rocket boosters are jettisoned from Atlantis, having completed their job. One booster can be seen falling away with its back end glowing orange.
Shuttlecam
T+8 minutes, 56 seconds
A ghostly view of Atlantis, silhouetted against the sun, as the shuttle moves away from the jettisoned external tank.
Shuttlecam

Now showing
For Spaceflight Now+Plus service (subscribers only):

A camera mounted to the external tank captured this stunning view of space shuttle Atlantis' ignition and launch. (1min 06sec file)
  QuickTime or RealVideo

This combined video from two tracking stations receiving the onboard 'shuttlecam' footage follows Atlantis from the final seconds of the countdown through separation of the solid rocket boosters. (2min 26sec file)
  QuickTime or RealVideo

Space shuttle Atlantis separates from the no-longer needed external fuel tank just under nine minutes into the flight. (24sec file)
  QuickTime or RealVideo

CAPCOM Ken Ham radios a report about the shuttlecam from Mission Control to Atlantis commander Jeff Ashby shortly after launch. (37sec file)
  QuickTime or RealVideo


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