STS-114 Aerial view of space shuttle Discovery launch from WB-57 aircraft

This video was taken by a high-altitude WB-57 aircraft flying at 50000 feet during space shuttle Discovery's launch on mission STS-114. The weather was perfect at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where Space Shuttle Discovery stood on its seaside launch pad. At 10:39 am EDT, Discovery's twin white Solid Rocket Boosters thundered to life, carrying a crew of seven explorers on one of the most complicated and closely watched missions in history. "Liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery, beginning America's new journey to the Moon, Mars and beyond," exclaimed launch commentator George Diller. During this test mission, NASA accomplished a variety of goals while also learning some important lessons. At liftoff, a large piece of insulating foam broke off the External Tank. Now, NASA engineers are working to determine what caused this and how to prevent it from happening in the future. The first of two Return to Flight missions, STS-114 included breathtaking in-orbit maneuvers, tests of new equipment and procedures, a first-of-its-kind spacewalking repair, and phone calls from two world leaders. Mission: International Space Station Flight LF1 Space Shuttle: Discovery Launch Pad: 39B Launched: July 26, 2005 at 10:39:00:07 am EDT Landing Site: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Landing: Aug. 9, 2005 at 8:11:22 am EDT Duration: 13 days, 21 hours, 32 minutes, and 48 seconds Orbital Insertion Altitude: 122 nautical miles Orbit Inclination: 51.60°



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLsSh3AYtFY&hl=en

Part 2 of aerial tour of Cape Canaveral onboard helicopter with 920th Rescue Wing

An aerial tour of Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center onbaord an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with the 920th Rescue Wing from Patrick, AFB in Florida. Members of the 920th took the media on an aerial survey of the launch pads and facilities of Cape Canaveral and KSC. some people flew on HC-130 aircraft and others, including me, flew on the Pave Hawks. We flew over the Delta 2 complex, SLC-17, up ICBM row to the Delta IV complex SLc-37 and the Atlas 5 launch pad SLC-41, SpaceX Falcon 9 pad at SLC-40 and the space shuttle launch pad 39-A. We then flew by the Vehicle Assembly Building and cruised down the space shuttle landing runway. Our tour winds up with an overflight of the KSC Visitor Center and then we head back to the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral for landing. This is part two of a two-part video.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjQJNySaN8&hl=en

Part 1 of aerial tour of Cape Canaveral onboard helicopter with 920th Rescue Wing

An aerial tour of Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center onbaord an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with the 920th Rescue Wing from Patrick, AFB in Florida. Members of the 920th took the media on an aerial survey of the launch pads and facilities of Cape Canaveral and KSC. some people flew on HC-130 aircraft and others, including me, flew on the Pave Hawks. We flew over the Delta 2 complex, SLC-17, up ICBM row to the Delta IV complex SLc-37 and the Atlas 5 launch pad SLC-41, SpaceX Falcon 9 pad at SLC-40 and the space shuttle launch pad 39-A. We then flew by the Vehicle Assembly Building and cruised down the space shuttle landing runway. Our tour winds up with an overflight of the KSC Visitor Center and then we head back to the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral for landing. This is part one of a two-part video.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahzCikwSNSI&hl=en