Discovery Xenon
High-powered Xenon lights illuminate space shuttle Discovery on the launch pad at LC-39A after rollback of the Rotating Service Structure, for STS-133′s first launch attempt in November of 2010.
Overflight
The International Space Station, with a full complement of visiting vehicles from all participating nations including space shuttle Discovery, soars in orbit over Toronto at 7:02 P.M. This is a stacked set of eight images, the gaps in the trail are caused by the ~1 second delay between shutter actuations.
Reveal
Space shuttle Discovery, STS-133, aims purposefully skyward on the launch pad immediately after rollback of the Rotating Service Structure.
Pillars of Fire
Riding twin pillars of fire, veteran space shuttle Discovery embarks on her final voyage to orbit from LC-39A. After this final mission, she’ll be processed and turned over to the Smithsonian for permanent display.
SSME Stabilization
Space shuttle Discovery’s SSMEs (Space Shuttle Main Engines) stabilize after ignition in this sequence. From left to right, the rough orange flame stabilizes to form a smooth blue flow, displaying the characteristic “Mach diamonds”, formed by the supersonic flow of the engine’s exhaust.
One More Time
Space shuttle Discovery, STS-133 lifts off from the launch pad for the final time. Within twenty seconds of missing her launch window and being forced to abort, she had a flawless ascent to orbit.
Staging Progression
Two minutes after launch, space shuttle Discovery’s twin Solid Rocket Boosters burn out and separate from the orbiter, to fall back to the Atlantic ocean for retrieval.
Roll Program
Space shuttle Discovery, STS-133, performs her roll program after clearing the tower at Launch Complex 39A.
Branch
Consuming 20,000 pounds of propellants every second, space shuttle Discovery lights up the lagoons of the Kennedy Space Centre on the final flight of her career.
STS-132 Overload (audio)
[audio:STS-132-Overload.mp3] The thundering power of space shuttle Atlantis’ twin Solid Rocket Boosters overwhelms the microphone, as recorded from the top of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building.
STS-132 RSS Rollback (timelapse)
The Rotating Service Structure rolls back from the launch pad, revealing space shuttle Atlantis over the course of 45 minutes on the eve of her ‘first final flight’ as STS-132.
STS-132 Launch Panorama
Space shuttle Atlantis, STS-132, blasts off from LC-39A on her ‘first final flight’. This is an extremely wide panorama, encompassing an expansive view of the Florida coastline as seen from the top of NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building. Click image to view larger.
STS-132 Rollback
Space shuttle Atlantis, STS-132, stands revealed on the launch pad after rollback of the Rotating Service Structure, the day before her ‘first final flight’. This is a small detail from a several hundred megapixel final composition.
Ascent Trail
Trailing a long plume of exhaust gases, space shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) heads for orbit from the Kennedy Space Centre.
Remote 1 Liftoff II
Space shuttle Atlantis, STS-132, soars into the clear Florida skies on her ‘first final flight’.
Level Roll
Pulling level with the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building, space shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) has completed enough of her roll manouever to see directly between the External Tank and the orbiter itself.
VAB Liftoff
Space shuttle Atlantis, STS-132, clears the tower as seen from the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building.
Remote 1 Liftoff
Space shuttle Atlantis, STS-132, soars into the clear Florida skies on her ‘first final flight’.
