Science

Video Compilation Shows Every NASA Space Shuttle Launch (at the Same Time!)

Sunday marked the year anniversary since NASA launched what was to be its final space shuttle carrying astronauts to the International Space Station. In honor of this occasion, artist McLean Fahnestock put together a compilation of every shuttle launch in the history of NASA’s space program from 1981 to 2011.

Commemorate the Year Anniversary Since NASAs Last Launch by Watching All 135 Shuttles Take Off at Once

(Image: Vimeo screenshot)

Commemorate the Year Anniversary Since NASAs Last Launch by Watching All 135 Shuttles Take Off at Once

(Image: Vimeo screenshot)

Commemorate the Year Anniversary Since NASAs Last Launch by Watching All 135 Shuttles Take Off at Once

(Image: Vimeo screenshot)

The video showing all 135 shuttles taking off at the same time, posted on Vimeo 11 months ago, was honored as a finalist in Vimeo’s 2012 video awards. Watch (and hear) the blast offs:

“Grand Finale 2010-11″ ends with Atlantis in the final frame being launched July 8, 2011. NASA commemorated the anniversary of its final launch by releasing a video highlighting the program’s efforts to establish “a new gateway to space.” NASA explains that the Kennedy Space Center is working on other types of spacecraft and rockets that could be flying up astronauts in the future.

Watch the clip that shows the final launch and touch down of Atlantis at the International Space Station and describes where NASA’s space center is going next:

Since the final launch of its own space shuttles, NASA astronauts have been hitching rides up to the ISS on Russia’s space craft. The retired NASA space shuttles have been making their way to museums where they will become available for touring by the general public.

(H/T: Gizmodo)

Comments (43)

  • blair152
    Posted on July 15, 2012 at 4:56pm

    That’s incredible. I’ve only seen the shuttle launches on TV. I remember where I was when BOTH the
    Challenger, and the Columbia, blew up. I was in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, in 1986, when the Challenger blew up, and I was in Sanford, Maine, when the Columbia blew up.

    Report Post »  
  • grussell54
    Posted on July 14, 2012 at 8:53pm

    That video is enough to make even Michelle Obama proud of her country.

    Naah…

    Report Post »  
  • rich66
    Posted on July 14, 2012 at 4:58pm

    The space program and the interstate highway system are probably only two long range plans that have ever turned out good in the end and came from the government.

    Report Post »  
  • tothepoint
    Posted on July 14, 2012 at 4:39pm

    Remember America – Obama’s first order to NASA was:
    “You must make the Muslims feel good about their accomplishments.”
    Yep. That is true.
    Obama told NASA scientists that they must hold the Muslims hands and be social workers.
    America – You wonder why we are in such bad shape.

    Report Post »  
    • Antares
      Posted on July 15, 2012 at 1:09pm

      No, that was first priority for “outreach” a.k.a PR. There are plenty of reasons not to like Obama, but the conservative media has taken this out of context.

      Report Post »  
    • RSHLUVER
      Posted on July 15, 2012 at 3:36pm

      It was under Bill Clinton that NASA changed the material used for the tiles that protect the Shuttle from excessive heat during re-entry for environmental reasons. World Net Daily reported this..
      Did environmentalism bring down Columbia?
      http://www.wnd.com/2003/02/17062/

      Obama choose NASA and the defense to make draconian cuts in federal spending. Under President Obama ,NASA’s mission is no longer space exploration but about Muslim outreach. The left have perverted NASA.
      NASA Outreach Program ‘Confirmed’ Despite White House Denial, Rep Says.
      http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/14/nasa-outreach-program-confirmed-despite-white-house-denial-rep-says/

      Today’s liberal is no way like President John F Kennedy who launched the manned moon program back in the early 1960s.

      Report Post » RSHLUVER  
  • I Aint PC
    Posted on July 10, 2012 at 8:40am

    What emotions this video brings back. Joy and excitement of the space program and ends in sorrow of January 28, 1986 with the loss of the Challenger and crew.

    Report Post »  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on July 12, 2012 at 1:33am

      I wholeheartedly agree with you………….

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • krazykat_randi
      Posted on July 14, 2012 at 3:09pm

      I was so excited about this launch. I had a radio at work and was listening when the shuttle exploded. I have never forgotten where I was and how I felt at that moment. I still find I can barely breath when I hear this.

      Report Post » krazykat_randi  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on July 15, 2012 at 10:31am

      I was seven years old and remember watching the launch on the classroom television. I remember the principal running up and down the halls making sure that the teachers had turned off all of the TVs. I remember my teacher crying. I’ll never forget that day.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
  • @leftfighter
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:11pm

    Understand that I don’t mean this in the tradiutional way…

    The Space Shuttle program may have been the most spectacular failed government program in history.

    The early NASA budget estimate said that the program would cost about $43B in 2011 dollars, and it ended up costing $196B. The prediction was that each launch would cost $50 million. Each launch actually averaged $450 million.

    It was supposed to be able to launch up to 65 times a year. The busiest year was 1985 with 9 launches and over the program it averaged 5 per year.

    Each shuttle was supposed to be good for 100 launches. Discovery only had 39 flights and there were only 135 total flights.

    NASA administrators said the risk of a catastrophic failure was around one in 100,000; NASA engineers guessed one in a hundred; and the actual failure rate was two out of 135 launches.

    No question: by every measure, the program was a failure. But it was spectacular, wasn’t it?

    Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • SquareHead
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:28pm

      That is government at its best, but man I feel patriotic :)

      I would feel even better if I was a contractor for NASA $$$$

      Report Post »  
    • SIXFRIGATES
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 10:52am

      Your life is dramatically better and easier and ultimately less expensive BECAUSE of the shuttle program. It’s value is priceless. I guess we should have just regressed and gone back into caves and gone back to hunting for food every night.

      Report Post » SIXFRIGATES  
    • FatFreedom
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 3:46pm

      @SIXFRIGATES

      Wow, your convincing logic really made me see the light….. “NOT”

      Your are regurgitating the mantra we are told to think and say, while I am sure that you refused to look at the links I posted. Do it and think for your self, it is not unpatriotic. The notion that facts should get one outraged, and scream treason is like something from 1984.

      TIME TO WAKE UP!

      Report Post »  
    • Bikkiboo
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 4:58pm

      This was an example of WHY government should fund research. It did go over-cost, but look at the spectacular spin-offs. Every techhie thing we have today came from it. Things from Teflon coatings to medical tubings and devices. My son is ALIVE today because of the space program. He was born with Spina Bifida, and the tubings used to let the astronauts urinate without infections are still in his body keeping his brain from swelling due to hydrocephalus! Do you want to give up your computers, cell phones, etc? I don’t. Thank you NASA. I wish we could do the same thing for energy. It may cost a lot, but the spin offs and job growth eventually would be spectacular. Instead, Obama just wants to shut down stuff that works and make use stuff that doesn’t. Research and Development could make Obama’s dream for energy come true, but in an actually useful, eventually cost-effective way. Good old American ingenuity.

      Report Post » Bikkiboo  
    • FatFreedom
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:34pm

      @BIKKIBOO

      Had I been in your situation I would probably seen in the same way. Not necessary because of logic but emotion. Rollowing your logic you must be for the “Green Jobs” aka Solyndra type “investments” from our government? If you through enough money on it something good will come out of it? That is basically what NASA has been.

      Your logic is that of the USSR, China, Cuba etc… “We must invest in science” All major breakthroughs have come from individual ingenuity in pursuit of ones own gain in most places, that is why USA has been the leader, because of our strong patent laws and limited government. So we attracted the best and brightest in the world that knew that they would have to come to USA to make it work!

      You are saying that if it was not for our government we would not have computers?????

      Either you are a Commie, or work for NASA, or you just drank the cool aid propaganda? Or it is because of your own personal experience with your son, in which case you are excused, but like I said you are using Obama’s logic to justify NASA.

      If our government would leave the $ in the private sector, and stop stifling businesses, and just focus on making sure that we have a good legal system we would see even more break through’s.

      On a personal note, I pray for blessings for you and your son, for a long healthy happy life for you both.

      Report Post »  
  • Mr Sanders
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:09pm

    That was fantastic! I’ll have to download that!

    They should have one made of Apollo, Gemini, & Mercury.

    The dreams that generation had – I remember the stories as if it were yesterday. A machine that made a million horsepower. Wow. Thanks Dad!

    Thanks Liz!

    Report Post » Mr Sanders  
  • ronin_6
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 6:07pm

    My God people we just landed a mini-cooper sized rover on Mars that is even now sending data back home and all you can do is dish out this maudlin drivel about the good old days?
    The shuttle was old tech. It was time to retire it. The design process for it started in the dang 60′s for goodness sake.
    An American company just sent and recovered a manned craft to the ISS. This is the beginning of some exciting times.
    Yes I loved the shuttle too. I also loved the Iowa class battleships, but everything has its time and like the battleships the shuttles time had passed.
    Like freedom Greatness isn’t free. You gotta gut it out and pull it down. You think this country isn’t great anymore? Tell that to all the men and women in uniform that stand up for it daily.
    You think this country isn’t great? Tell that to all the immigrants that fight tooth and nail to come here every single day.
    You think this country isn’t great? Go to your local airport, book a flight to somewhere else and leave.
    Don’t worry. Those of who have the sand to fight for greatness will still be here keeping the torch lit.

    Report Post » ronin_6  
  • ScottyK7
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:56pm

    Simply incredible! I remember my dad waking me up early to watch the first shuttle launch back on April 12, 1981, and I’ve tried to catch as many of them as I could. Once the media figured the flights were “routine”, they quit covering the launches. Happily the Internet brought me NASA TV, and I was able to watch most of the launches again. Even made it a family event, the kids loved it.

    Report Post » ScottyK7  
  • FatFreedom
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:19pm

    Sorry to bust your bubble but the Moon landing was fake!

    NO MAN HAS BEEN ON THE MOON.

    Yes we have been in low orbit, and have a space station, and have made great technological strides with our satellites etc, but landing on the Moon was cold war propaganda. It worked so well that you refuse to look into the matter objectively. Should the world be around another 30 years, it will be taught in communications classes about how 95% of the people where fooled to believing the Apollo missions.

    Fake Moon Landing:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6MvcIs4OcQ

    Most Americans over 35yrs old will only look at videos that supposedly proves that we went to the moon. Just like most people over 35 yrs believe that fires alone brought down building 7.
    Most over 35 will look at Mythbusters hacked science that “proves” there is nothing to the claims, about the moon hoax. They use a light on a post 25 ft away from a model, that should have been 2 miles away if it where to be to scale, besides they overlook the most condemning evidence. NASA’s handling or lack of in regards to the Apollo hoax really is what made me realize we never went to the moon.

    I think it is the devastation of realizing that what we where so proud of was a lie is too much to bare.
    I would not share this information with the WW2 generation or any other elderly patriotic American, as It could kill them.

    Nevertheless in the end the truth will stand.

    Report Post »  
    • ronin_6
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:55pm

      Let me guess; your under 35?
      My friend… you are wrong.
      I know that no matter what I say you will believe what you want.
      But it must be said. You are wrong. Your arguments have been debunked time and again. You will go to your grave cursing the stupidity of the rest of us and you will die a lonely, frustrated, ostracized person. Why? Because it is instinctual for society to shun people like you.
      Good luck. I mean that. Good luck. I hope that you find some solacise someday.

      Report Post » ronin_6  
    • Taldren
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:57pm

      @FatFreedom, Um … satellites orbiting the moon have sent back numerous pictures of the landing sites in high resolution. Unless you think that multiple foreign governments are now in on the conspiracy in an age where everyone and their mother is taking potshots at the United States. No one would cover that one up for us, especially China who has some of the best pictures that prove it happened. Not go find something constructive to do to make up for all the time you have wasted on this nonsense.

      Report Post » Taldren  
    • Mr Sanders
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:02pm

      Oh Boy … here we go.

      Report Post » Mr Sanders  
    • FatFreedom
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:08pm

      @Ronin
      No I am not under 35, just intellectually honest :) Unlike you that result to insults, just like arguing with a liberal that is convinced of man made global warming, or that the “right kind” of socialism/communism is the answer despite all facts. It is obvious that you have not looked into it with a open mind, or you would have told me how the astronauts made it through the Van Allen radiation belt through the middle of a solar storm, in their tin can? Or you could explain to me the lack of dust on the feet of the feet of the lunar craft, or where on the lunar craft the rover stored? or the picture of the rover without tracks: http://apolloanomalies.com/rover_tracks_rebuttal.htm
      Or how come the American Flag blows in the wind? Or how about the American Flag showing up in the middle of a back lit lunar craft when they did not have a flash? Anybody that knows photography knows that is not possible, as shown in the video the make of maker of the the very camera used on the moon.
      The fact is you have not bothered to look into it, any more than the liberal that counts on Al Gore for both sides of the argument about man made global warming.

      I wish you could help be believe again, but I did spend hours looking into the rebuttals, and they are virtually all straw man arguments, and did not satisfy me.

      I am happy that you wish me well though, and seriously, please tell me some facts to enlighten me if I am wrong…. :)

      Report Post »  
    • FatFreedom
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:31pm

      @Taldren
      You to have not looked into it. I did see the photos that NASA released last year, after 20 years of outcry. They are hardly high resolution photos, in fact I could probably make the same photos in photos shop:

      Here is the “convincing photo @Taldren is talking about http://jollygoodnews.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/nasa-releases-new-high-definition-images-of-apollo-moon-landings/

      With the Hubble telescope we can look to galaxies billions of light years away, and this is the best photo they could give us?

      The fact is that an ever larger majority of people realize that we were all duped by the Apollo Mission, and they never even dedicated a spot on their website to answer the dozens of un answered questions about mistakes in photos, that are proven to be edited? By your post it appears that you did not bother to look into it or click on any of the links I posted….

      Listen to how emotional you are! Crying about “taking potshots” at the United States! Regarding China, we did give the Most Favorite Nation status, as well as gave them missile technology, besides they have their own Apollo scandal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBL98p0wZ7g

      Every Government plays it citizens for fools for various reasons, including ours..

      That is why our founders wanted a small government.

      There are still people that believe in the “Single Bullet Theory” and that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. and that the Warren commission is the absolute fac

      Report Post »  
    • FatFreedom
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 11:27pm

      @Taldren
      Here is another video about the supposed photos from NASA showing the foot prints and lunar surveyor etc.

      Part 1
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fDybPDtsrY

      Part 2
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwEpyujblXY&feature=related

      It does not mean that America is not great because the moon walk as a hoax. Contrary we are great, because we understand that it is about the individual, not the government. That we do not need to walk in lock step with our government in order to be patriotic. Also blunders by our government, is not necessary a reflection of us, as Obama is not a reflection of myself and yourself I presume. The same can be said of other governments and their actios is not necessary a reflection of its citizens, as we see with Chaves, or Mao Pol Pot etc..

      Report Post »  
  • autofixer
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:05pm

    Fatfreedom, WOW! Have a nice day! :)

    Report Post »  
    • FatFreedom
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:50pm

      You too.
      Not sure if your comment is genuine or you are mocking? When you tell people you don’t believe that we went to the moon you are sure to get looks and plenty of comments, and allot of name calling. Very few are interested in finding out why you don’t believe we went to the moon, and you are not likely to get anywhere with people over 35yrs old, as they are slower to research online, and take it personal, as though it is unpatriotic to even look into it.

      Report Post »  
  • autofixer
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 3:58pm

    The moon missions were the apex of American civilization. Momentum carried us through the end of the 1960s–after Roe and the other things in the early ’60s–ended our divine protection. It is sad to be witnessing the downfall of the greatest civilization man has ever known and the creeping darkness of the upcoming new dark ages. It will truly be a “1,000 years of darkness”, what was, will be again; if God wills it.

    Report Post »  
  • RoAdFiXeR
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 2:13pm

    I made a point to try and watch every take off and landing….the best were always the night take offs the worst well we all know what those were…I would have been first in the “average Joe get to ride on the shuttle” line every time.

    Report Post » RoAdFiXeR  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 12:58pm

    It’s nice remembering what a great nation this once was.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • ronin_6
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:57pm

      Still is brother.
      Did you not hear the man when he said “Freedom is not free”?
      Don’t be such a wuss.
      Giving up and quitting is for losers.

      Report Post » ronin_6  
    • FatFreedom
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:46pm

      It can still be great. We are the only nation with enough citizens that still love liberty, and understand that the government is not the end all be all. The majority of Americans are conservative, but unfortunately ignorant. So we all have a duty to use our influence to inform people. We must get a better congress and senate. We must throw out the big government republicans as well as the democrats which are virtually all socialist.

      To keep our nation free from tyranny we must preserve:
      1. Open Internet
      2. Honest Elections, where everybody must show ID to vote.
      3. Paper ballots only. Electronic voting was made so it could be controlled. We need to return to good old fashioned paper ballots that can be counted and recounted.

      Report Post »  
  • floradaze
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 11:34am

    I will never forget the morning of the first shuttle launch and after about seven minutes of watching this most exciting event, hearing Houston say “7 minutes you’re hot” and feeling the shock wave roll over us 150 miles from the cape!
    I remember the hysterical call from a girlfriend in Daytona as the shuttle buzzed the beach on the back of a 747
    Listening to John Glenn in school in the sixties and then in the nineties going outside with the whole company to watch the trail of the shuttle launch with him on board.
    I remember the horror of the reruns of the films of the Challenger disaster on AFN in Germany and then discovering that a teacher I know had been in the competition for the trip.
    I remember walking in from the garden to hear fox news announce that the shuttle was late on a dead stick landing, something I knew was impossible. I knew that flight was not going to come back.
    I remember the thrill that we would get here in FL when we felt that double tap sonic boom that announced another successful return of the space shuttle.
    I remember the thrill of watching reality dawn on the faces of the uninformed when I explained that the Space Program was not a waste of money when over 156 thousand products we use were a product of the space program.
    I am so proud of the brave men and women who pioneered space in the name of American exceptional-ism.
    I feel sorry for the kids of today who will never know the pride of watching their countrymen walk on the Moon for the f

    Report Post »  
  • Dan
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 11:19am

    It’s sad we have gotten to the point where we have to shut down the shuttle missions and outsource it. Sucks, but it seems to be the “American way” these days. Had the family last week on vacation in DC and we went to the Air and Space museum near Dulles Airport, saw Columbia. It reminded me of my childhood, seeing shuttles launch, I remember watching the Challenger disaster live on TV in the first grade. We are losing who we are…………..

    Report Post »  
  • namron52
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:14am

    Conspiracy theory #74…President Obama “sold” our rights to the Moon to the Chinese for a couple of trillion dollars in loans. News is that the Chinese are launching their astronauts into orbit as preliminaries for building their own space station, to be used as a way-station to their lunar colony. I wouldn’t count on us going to Mars any time soon, either.

    Report Post »  
  • Babylon Falls
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:10am

    Wonderfully done ……. Especially with the touching tribute to the Challenger.

    Report Post » Babylon Falls  
  • huey6367
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:04am

    How did our priorities get so skewed? In the early 60′s our mission was to “send a man to the moon and return him safely to Earth”. Now our mission appears to be to lie to the American people in anyway possible so that it benefits the politician (R or D).

    I forsee a revolution in the making. Not saying it will happen but I can see it occurring.

    Report Post »  
  • Welcome Black Carter
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:46am

    Nice work.
    Too bad NASA is now in charge of muslim relations. It would seem they are under qualified for the task, as is the rest of the country.

    Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:45am

    Aiming for the crescent moon of Islam now.

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  

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