David Knisely
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Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
#3536183 - 01/02/10 11:24 PM Attachment (243 downloads)
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For those unfamiliar with the free spaceflight simulation software program ORBITER, here is the link for the program:
ORBITER Space Flight Simulator
It is a great way to actually fly some real (and some not so real) spacecraft and to learn a little about spaceflight in general. It also is a great way to make some really pretty pictures of some simulated space missions. Here, the space shuttle Atlantis is lifting off for ISS not long after sunrise from pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center as seen from a vantage point on the east side of the pad:
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536189 - 01/02/10 11:27 PM Attachment (186 downloads)
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Here is another shot of the launch from southwest of launch complex 39B:
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536194 - 01/02/10 11:29 PM Attachment (140 downloads)
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Here is a view from the tower at the southern launch complex (39A):
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David Knisely
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Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536196 - 01/02/10 11:32 PM Attachment (159 downloads)
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Here a view from alongside the shuttle as it continues pitching over after the roll maneuver:
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536210 - 01/02/10 11:43 PM Attachment (168 downloads)
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Here is the shuttle Commander's view out his left windows after the shuttle has completed its roll:
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536216 - 01/02/10 11:49 PM Attachment (156 downloads)
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At about 127 seconds after liftoff, the solid rocket boosters separate from the external tank, which we see here from a vantage point ahead of the shuttle:
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536220 - 01/02/10 11:53 PM Attachment (167 downloads)
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Here is the "Tank-Cam" shot of the boosters falling behind (from a camera mounted just ahead of the oxidizer feed line on the external tank). You can see almost the entire southern two-thirds of the Florida peninsula from this vantage point (over 50 km altitude):
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536222 - 01/02/10 11:55 PM Attachment (161 downloads)
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Here, the shuttle is continuing on its flight to orbit after SRB separation:
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536231 - 01/02/10 11:57 PM Attachment (159 downloads)
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After about five minutes of flight, the spacecraft rolls over to provide better communications access:
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David Knisely
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536239 - 01/03/10 12:01 AM Attachment (162 downloads)
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After about eight and a half minutes of powered flight, the main engines shut down and the external tank is jettisoned (Cape Cod is seen above the nose of the external tank):
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David Knisely
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Reged: 04/19/04
Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536345 - 01/03/10 01:27 AM Attachment (158 downloads)
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Here is orbital sunrise from the payload bay window:
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David Knisely
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Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536352 - 01/03/10 01:31 AM Attachment (138 downloads)
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Atlantis is now approaching the International Space Station:
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David Knisely
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536356 - 01/03/10 01:32 AM Attachment (145 downloads)
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Here, Atlantis is about to dock with ISS:
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David Knisely
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Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536357 - 01/03/10 01:33 AM Attachment (137 downloads)
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Here, the manipulator arm of the shuttle is lifting the Leonardo logistics module out of the payload bay for installation on the station.
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David Knisely
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Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536360 - 01/03/10 01:40 AM Attachment (156 downloads)
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Its re-supply tasks complete, Atlantis now undocks from ISS:
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David Knisely
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536363 - 01/03/10 01:42 AM Attachment (148 downloads)
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Here is Atlantis performing its de-orbit burn while approaching Australia:
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David Knisely
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536365 - 01/03/10 01:44 AM Attachment (157 downloads)
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Atlantis is now in reentry over the Pacific northwest:
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David Knisely
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Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536368 - 01/03/10 01:46 AM Attachment (144 downloads)
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Atlantis is now undergoing maximum heating during entry:
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David Knisely
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536369 - 01/03/10 01:48 AM Attachment (165 downloads)
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Atlantis is now in the Terminal Area Energy Management, and is doing it final turn around the Heading Alignment Cone, accompanied by a T38 chase plane:
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David Knisely
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Loc: southeastern Nebraska
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Re: Atlantis Mission to ISS (Orbiter)
[Re: David Knisely]
#3536376 - 01/03/10 01:52 AM Attachment (151 downloads)
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Atlantis is on final approach to Runway 33 at KSC.
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