Time Lapse Video of the Space Shuttle Discovery

Thanks to Mitch over at Planet5D for finding this little gem

Six weeks, and over 100 hours of footage shot on several Canon EOS 5D Mark IIs culminate in this remarkable, 4-minute time lapse of the second to last Space Shuttle Discovery launch.

With the help of everyone from shuttle technicians to crane operators to escorts (86-year-old NASA retiree Charlie Parker was particularly valuable in squiring Andrews’ team around) the photographers positioned multiple cameras—up to nine at any one time—inside the cavernous assembly building to click away while the orbiter, fuel tank, and twin solid rocket boosters were “stacked” for launch.

Scott Andrews figures the finished video represents tens of thousands of individual frames and at least 100 hours of shooting, using the highest-resolution digital single-lens-reflex cameras on the market. Jirman did the color correction, which took a week alone.

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Photosynth Space Shuttle Demo

Photosynth Space ShuttleAlmost a year ago I wrote about the new Microsoft Photosynth technology, calling it The coolest photo technology I’ve ever seen. I still think that. Dammit! How much longer do we have to wait for a public release? Seriously this is Microsoft’s main problem – they… take… too… long… to… do… anything. Let’s have it already!

Anyway, here is a neat demo of the technology as applied to the Space Shuttle. You need to follow this link to go and actually check out the image collection.

For Endeavour’s historic launch on August 7th, 2007, Live Labs joined forces with NASA to provide a Photosynth tour of the shuttle from vehicle assembly building to the launch pad. Thousands of photos intertwine to provide three dimensional, 360 degree perspectives of one of human kind’s greatest innovations.

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Space Shuttle Atlantis Rocket Re-Entry Video

BoosterThis truly amazing video was captured by the cameras mounted on the sides of the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) as they’re blown clear of the space shuttle Atlantis during the launch of STS-115.

What I find to be really facinating is the fact that these boosters fall back to earth and splash down in only about 4 minutes. I can’t get to the grocery store in 4 minutes, but these things glide down from space. Man, we’ve got a thin atmosphere…
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