At this page:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/video/...4/html/fd1.html
can be seen reduced and compressed but still incredible videos from the STS 114 SRB mounted cameras. the Right booster camera sequence at the bottom of the page is close to what I imagine a passing interstellar expedition might get back from an entry probe. As the booster tumbles various parts of the cloud streaked Earth move through the view, reminding me of the haphazard capturing of the surroundings we saw with the Huygens probe. Upon water impact we briefly get an underwater view. A probe dropped randomly on Earth would have about a 70 percent chance in landing in an ocean.
I would hope designers of future atmospheric probes would consider returning video during their descents to be worthwhile as data return capability improves.

Don

I saw those videos (one from each SRB) on NASA-TV, full size and full resolution, and I completely agree with you, Don. They are amazing.

I was very much taken aback by the sound track -- the cameras had attached microphones. The sound of the motors running was actually not all that noticeable, just a high-pitched, loud hum. But the sound of the air passing them as they fell, becoming thicker and thicker as the boosters descended, causing sounds of metal flexing from deep within the walls of the boosters, was uncanny. It made me feel like I was riding a sinking ship down to the bottom, but violently and hyper-fast.

I guess the best way to describe those films is exhiliarating, and scary!

-the other Doug

Wow.

Those videos are absolutely amazing. As Don says - and perhaps the compression artefacts actually help give this feeling - it's very much like a Huygens for Earth. I'm glad we're not relying on a mosaic from those images!

stunning ride. echoes of mercury, gemini and apollo with the water spash down. it brings home what an extraoridinary trip going and returning to the moon must have been, from space to ocean in a matter of minutes! I dont know which ending i liked best, the underwater view from the right SRB or the amazing shot of the parachutes from the left SRB.

if anyone knows where i can download the high res bung up a link. they are keepers.

Just thinking of the STS114 SRB videos again and wondering if any here know of either

1) links to high (TV+) resolution

or

2) the videos available for purchase (VHS and or DVD)


Any help will be greatly appriciated!


-- Pertinax

A truly mystic experience, especially the sound!
Something that remind me the alien sounds from last scenes of "2001 a Space Odissey".
This give a realistic idea of a sub-orbital ride, perhaps a common experience in few years, at least for reach people (not me!).
I have to deeply thank you, Don.

Pertinax - thanks for bumping this thread - I missed it first time around - very cool.


I was thinking that exact same thing - It even inspired me to break out this old CD set.