Once the spark ignites the fuel, it all takes place at increased velocity. Tons and tons of smoke and flames engulf the towers, the shuttle lifts and it is all history. We don't see how the process takes place, but only its results.
Someone at NASA however did think of shedding some more light into the matter. Using slow-motion cameras which work at 60,000 frames-per-second, NASA was capable of capturing the ignition process in detail.
According to the one who made the video public on YouTube, the 45 minutes long clip was filmed during the launches of the STS-114, STS-117, and STS-124 missions and produced at the Glenn Research Center, being produced by Matt Melis.
The video, as are more like it, is being used by NASA to identify problems, monitor the launch and improve future ones. For us however, this is a great chance at getting a better understanding of the events which take place at an increased speed on the launch pad.
So, if you have nothing better to do, below is the slow-motion video of a space shuttle launch. It's kinda' long, we know, but trust us, it's worth every second of it. And it's narrated, too, so you will understand what the numbers at the right of the screen mean.
The video is also a great opportunity to say goodbye to the space shuttle as humanity's single means of transportation into space. The last shuttle mission, STS-133, is scheduled for February 3, 2011.
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