Launch of STS-127 on 07.15.09 from T-2 to MECO

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Launch of STS-127 on 07.15.09 from T-2 to MECO

Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off for the International Space Station at 22:03 UTC on 07/15/2009. FINALLY!

  1. Gary says:

    Thank you for putting this Web site together! My 4-year-old son Nicholas loves watching the Space Shuttle and rocket launches and since we don’t have the NASA channel, this was the perfect solution. Hats off to a great Web site for all things space related!

  2. Kevin says:

    hi everybody!
    first of all, I completely agree with Gary above, this is a GREAT website!
    but i have a question about the video…
    from 9:30 until 10:30, there are white-yellowish trails visible, coming off the orbiter. Can anyone tell me what those are? is it excess fuel dump, or something like that? thanks!

    • Falcon1 says:

      The ring of yellow flickering stuff is plasma. Basically, the very thin atmosphere 60+ miles up is pushed aside at high velocity by the orbiter’s nose, forming a detached shock wave which heats the air to extremely high temperatures. This ionizes the air (blasting electrons off), forming a plasma. As the electrons are recaptured and drop to a lower energy level, the atoms emit light.

  3. Heinz Struck says:

    I guess, that this yellow flickering in the little window comes from vibrations + the refelction of the sunlight.