Author Topic: Amazing STS-121 video only 3 miles from pad (Read 16218 times)

AstroRJY · « **on:** 04/13/2007 03:43 am »

Found this remarkable video on You Tube and it can't be more than 2-2.5 miles from the pad! Apparently recorded by some very lucky NASA personell. Sound of the main engine start comes only 10 seconds after the actual engine start followed several seconds later by the rip-roaring of the SRBs.
STS-121 from 7/4/06:

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/13/2007 04:25 am »

Yeah it must have been really close! The sound of the SRBs reached the cameraman about 4.5-5 seconds after liftoff. It takes 7-8 seconds from 3.5-4 miles so yeah I'd say 2-2.5 miles! At first I thought they were standing on top of the LCC but the sound gives it all away. Thanks!

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/13/2007 04:28 am »

It's taken from on top of the MLP parked outside the VAB. 3.1 miles from the pad.

Edit: Those employees, including photographer Rod Ostoski, were allowed up there for the past few launches:
http://www.pbase.com/rod_ostoski/

astrobrian · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/13/2007 08:07 pm »

I was thinking on the VAB roof when I first saw it. Either way awesome video

Austin · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/13/2007 09:52 pm »

Thanks for posting. Camerawork was a little shaky, and a wide angle shot or two would have been nice. But no doubt, very unique angle, and love the sharp staccato from the SRBs.

AstroRJY · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/17/2007 03:37 am »

The sound at that point is the delay on the main engine start sound followed 5 seconds later by the SRB sound.

AstroRJY · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/17/2007 03:39 am »

OH allright I guess the sound delay was a tad off thanks for the info

rdale · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/17/2007 03:57 am »

Quote

nathan.moeller - 13/4/2007 12:25 AM
It takes 7-8 seconds from 3.5-4 miles so yeah I'd say 2-2.5 miles!

Remember your lightning safety in grade school ;> Sound travels at 5 seconds per mile...

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/17/2007 12:14 pm »

I can assure you of that distance, period. Perhaps his audio was lost in sync when he made the video.

Regarding the VAB roof, it is easy to tell that view because it is the only one where the ocean will appear behind the pad.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/17/2007 12:32 pm »

Quote

AstroRJY - 17/4/2007 4:39 AM

I think its closer than 3 miles but thanks for the link, that photographer haa some great work on his website!

Ben's been to more launches than I've had hot dinners, so let's all drop the "less than three miles" talk

nathan.moeller · « **Reply #10 on:** 04/17/2007 01:26 pm »

Quote

Ben - 17/4/2007 7:14 AM

I can assure you of that distance, period. Perhaps his audio was lost in sync when he made the video.

Regarding the VAB roof, it is easy to tell that view because it is the only one where the ocean will appear behind the pad.

Ben - how many shuttle launches have you been to? You seem to know a heck of a lot more details than most of us

psloss · « **Reply #11 on:** 04/17/2007 02:58 pm »

Quote

nathan.moeller - 17/4/2007 9:26 AM

Ben - how many shuttle launches have you been to? You seem to know a heck of a lot more details than most of us

Check out Ben's site:
http://www.launchphotography.com/

A suggestion: all of the stuff there is cool, but click on the "Launches" link.

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #12 on:** 04/17/2007 05:13 pm »

Well I'm flattered by the comments :-) (thanks), but I have nothing on those who work at the Cape and who have been there more years than me. I have seen 38 launches so far (shuttle and ELV combined), over eight years (albeit I didn't live here until August 2003 when I came to Embry-Riddle; I've been to pretty much all since then). Sometimes I wish I had gotten deeply interested a few years sooner, but then where would that leave me today.

What I admit, though, is I have deliberately gained knowledge of the area and layout of the area from the days when I was just an amateur and wanted to know what was, say, the closest spot to any given launch on or off base. That has also enabled me to post those viewing guides which I believe are the best and most accurate (not to gloat or anything). In one or two instances there may be a closer spot, technically, but not legally.

You can also use Google Earth to check distances, it (the 'ruler' function) is very accurate, as confirmed with GPS devices on the ground. The closest viewing for shuttle is done at the 3.0 mile mark, which I believe is the defined ILL for the shuttle (if the ILL is slightly closer, well the viewing limit is still 3.0). This includes the press site (and a few other press/photographer shooting areas), the VIP site and the employee viewing area which is mainly around the VAB.

It was only starting with 114 that they are now allowing some employees, with permission, to view from the top of the MLP if it's parked there.

AstroRJY · « **Reply #13 on:** 04/19/2007 03:07 am »

Oh okeydoke, thanks. I was just going by the time delay of the sound as it appeared on the video and calculating distance that way but I'll take your word and apprently Chris Bergins' for it. too.

AstroRJY · « **Reply #14 on:** 04/21/2007 07:49 pm »

Clarification: 10 second delay between image of main engine start and sound. Speed of sound = 1,087 feet per second. 10 x 1,087 = 10,870 . 10,870 / 5,280 feet per mile = 2.05 miles BASED ON WHAT IS SEEN IN THIS VIDEO. If he says the MLP site is 3 miles, I believe him. If there was a problem synching the sound to the video later, fine. But in viewing this video, that is how the math works out. Speaking of which there have only been 4 shuttle launches since 2003 or 24 in the last eight years (counting back to 1999) . I greatly appreciate your website, your knowledge and all you do, but you need to enjoy more wonderful hot dinners

The photographer's website is truly fantastic and he has a great body of viusally stunning artwork.

Were there a way to edit the thread subject lines or delete them and create new ones, I would have made a new one with a different heading.

psloss · « **Reply #15 on:** 04/21/2007 08:41 pm »

Quote

AstroRJY - 21/4/2007 3:49 PM

Clarification: 10 second delay between image of main engine start and sound. Speed of sound = 1,087 feet per second. 10 x 1,087 = 10,870 . 10,870 / 5,280 feet per mile = 2.05 miles BASED ON WHAT IS SEEN IN THIS VIDEO. If he says the MLP site is 3 miles, I believe him. If there was a problem synching the sound to the video later, fine. But in viewing this video, that is how the math works out.

What elevation and temp are you using to get that velocity? (Given the date of launch, it was also probably nice and humid.) Also, what was the frame rate that this video was recorded at? Is that the same frame rate as playback? It looks noticeably "jerky," so there may be more variables that need to go into that calculation.

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #16 on:** 04/21/2007 09:13 pm »

"I greatly appreciate your website, your knowledge and all you do, but you need to enjoy more wonderful hot dinners"

You are the one who is debating this endlessly! I'm telling what the truth is. It should have ended with my first post stating what the actual distance is :-) Fact: the location of this camera was 3.1 miles.

Believe what you want. I agree that based on the timing, the sound arrived sooner than it should, so my only logical conclusion is that the audio is not synced properly.

billmeco · « **Reply #17 on:** 04/21/2007 11:43 pm »

What you all fail to take in account is the wind speed and direction at the time of launch. I think you will fine the wind was pretty strong out of easterly direction and the camera position was to the west of the pad.
I'm surprised Ben didn't catch that seeing he and many of others had the opposite effect with their camera sound triggers firing late from being on the other side of the pad.

Bill
http://www.ktb.net/~billmeco/index.html

psloss · « **Reply #18 on:** 04/22/2007 12:03 am »

Mr. Hartenstein, I presume.

Welcome.

billmeco · « **Reply #19 on:** 04/22/2007 01:56 am »

Thank you Philip.