NASA Space Shuttle's Final Voyage of Atlantis - Space Shuttle Launch

youtube.com ^ | 7/22/2017 | unknown

[rktman]

This NASA HD space video explains the Space Shuttle Atlantis's final mission into orbit. Constructed by the Rockwell International company in Southern California and delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Eastern Florida in April 1985, Atlantis is the fourth operational and the second-to-last Space Shuttle built. Its maiden flight was STS-51-J from 3 to 7 October 1985.

[rktman]

Forgot to post this yesterday on the 6th anniversary of the end of the last shuttle mission. It was a fun 36 years for me. Our contract was "wheel stop" + 30 days. The rest of the building were virtually deserted of contractors the day of landing. Kinda spooky.

[Rockitz]

SSME paid for my first house.

[Fiddlstix]

[rktman]

External tanks still pay' me. LOL! 🚀💵

[bicyclerepair]

Will watch on big tv with my newly built 8core amd box with 16g ram and SSD.

Saving up for a gaming gpu (gtx970 probly) to do FO4 and Skyrim. Using an xbox controller and have 800w surround sound with dual 16” subs.

Amazing setup. Quite the Mcgyver here.

[real saxophonist]

I'll never forget watching one of the first night launches, from a bit of a distance. I was in Statesboro GA, and the launches were still shown on live TV.

I watched the countdown, and went outside and looked south. Sure enough, some 340 miles away, there was the plume. I watched it until it was no longer visible.

[bicyclerepair]

We used to go outside and see the Space Shuttles go up too and we’re down in Ft. Lauderdale.

[rktman]

🤑Dual 16's! Yikes! Twice as loud as dual 8's. LOL!

[RckyRaCoCo]

Went to the first Columbia and Challenger landings at Edwards AFB...though the viewing area was so far away wasn't much to see...easy to get in(love the desert), hell to get out(traffic). At the time worked for a manf./contractor and was able to visit the Downey(?)facility...full scale(close to anyway)of the shuttle, simulator, other cool stuff.

It was the 80's...Reagan, aerospace, the dems hadn't flooded SoCal with illegals(yet), good job, good friends, good times...

...oh well, as they say..."all good things..."

[June2]

Thanks for posting, rktman! Good memories! It was a fun 30+ years for me too. A privilege to have been a part of the shuttle team.

Ps. I’m in that video and I didn’t even realize it until I watched it just now.

[rktman]

🚀. I might be but didn't watch the whole thing. I was in FR-1 for loading and got relieved when we were in "stable replenish". I stuck around for T-zero since it was the last one. Still have my pic from the loading team NASA lead.