The final moments before launch

[johnvrabec]

One of the coolest things is once the engines are at full thrust, it forces the orbiter to pitch forward ever so slightly, they don't release it from the launch pad until it pitches back to vertical again!

[EngineerPrepper]

Man, I miss the space shuttles. That was truly a remarkable engineering machine.

[howardtreesong]

So long as the SRB's don't fire the launch can be stopped. Once the SRB's light up, you're going whether you like it or not. The saying was: once the SRBs launch either the ship takes off or it takes the launch pad with it.

[fuzzy]

If you never saw one fly, you missed the best show on Earth.

[airzillarocks]

Saw quite a few day and night launches, as well as the final flight - Worked on the SSTS Program for a few years and many other space related programs over the past several decades - Night launches were amazing...

[scar]

There arent many things these days that makes you proud of humanity. *This* is a rare exception.

[Metalminnion]

The shuttle engines run 1st, to compensate for the weight of its own structure slightly listing the main boosters and tank forward some. Then the main rockets kick in balancing the upward movement during ascension. Amazing engineering!!❤❤

[richardacevedo]

My first job out of uni was at the company that designed, developed, produced and maintained the SSME. I spent 8 years in liquid rocket propulsion. One of my managers told me once: When you leave this company you will realise what a Rolls-Royce of an engine you had here. After spending nearly 10 years with RR in Germany, I realised that there was nothing that could compare to environment, specifications and controls that could compare to the SSME.

[philnolan]

It is so awesome to see the main engines light up, then really cool to see the whole lot lift off

[MD.ImNoScientician]

Brilliant !
Thanks for the simple description of this process.

[S-xlnb]

This is one fantastic piece of engineering art.

[MikeActual]

SSME’s are just absolutely nuts, engineering wise. Can’t imagine how much trial and error it took not only to build, but how to light the rocket using the process you described.
🔥🚀🇺🇸

[happydays]

Hard to imagine 45 seconds into the flight they are already breaking the sound barrier.

[koolxxxyear]

Man, that’s some serious power! Compared to a July 4 fireworks.

[zam]

It is amazing how interesting this is
To me, this driven by how weird the space shuttle is

[vitkomusic]

When i was little. I watched them launch. Cancelation afterwards cancelations. But i watched. My friend asked why sre you waiting. I said. They are going to space. He said what?!? I said they're flying to international space Station. He said. Where??? I said there is a space station around earth and this is the way to get to it. He sat next to me. We bought some beers. And waited. 4 hours later they launched...

[jmflyer]

The Apollo Rockets put the shuttle to shame. Back in the day, there was nothing like seeing the massive Apollo Saturn 5 rockets take off! Over TWICE as tall as the puny space shuttle, its 365 foot vertical height (same as a 40 story building) was impressive itself! But with over a MILLION and a HALF ADDITIONAL thrust pounds than the shuttle has, it was truly a spectacle. For those of us who saw it lift off in person, even at a long distance, you felt the power shaking your body in your shoes as it lifted off. Words cannot describe the feeling of being there and watching it launch... !!

[lastmanstanding]

I thought the astronaut just stepped on the gas pedal and off they went.

[manfromwuhan]

The amount of money its costs to create these wonders of engineering is crazy.

[ebenezerwheezer]

I think my barbecue grill has the same kind of igniters.