STS-135 - Countdown and Launch (Full Mission Day 1- Part 1)

STS-135 - Countdown and Launch (Full Mission Day 1- Part 1)

All video/audio/photos/checklists courtesy NASA

This video forms part of the channels 10th anniversary celebrations of the final Space Shuttle mission

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Massive shout-out to Brian, Jeff, Mark, Mike, Rob and Steve without whom none of this would have been possible

Checklists have been added to the timeline for the countdown. There are over 400. A blue line approximates where the countdown checklist item has been completed. the checklists are placed in the order were in documents S0007.200 and S0007.500

2 post launch to orbit checklists are used. The following might help with your understanding of what is occurring: (courtesy Mark)

“102 102, we are in Auto”
Ferguson is verbally confirming that both the PASS (primary computers) and the BFS (backup computers) switched to the first stage ascent trajectory display know as Major Mode “102”. He also confirmed that the flight control system was in “Auto”.

“Dump has started”
This is a confirmation that the orbital manoeuvring system engines are firing. This “OMS Assist” engine burn is really considered to be a propulsive “dump” of propellants - this helps increase performance

"EVAP OUT" refers to Flash Evaporator Out Temperature. During first stage the orbiter relies on residual cooling from the ground support equipment. There is enough “thermal inertia “ to last for the duration of first stage. This is a good thing since the FES (Flash Evaporator System) won’t work until you have enough altitude - and thus low pressure - to allow for efficient evaporation. At SRB sep the FES is activated by the general purpose computers, it should be working effectively by T+3 minutes. At that time Sandy calls out that the Evap Out T is coming down. She checks that Temperature by looking at a meter on the forward panel above Fergy’s head.

All the stuff with the asterisk borders refers to non-nominal procedures. So none of them were used on this launch.

Everything on the card, including the off nominal stuff, is written in order based on the timeframe it would be relevant.
Roll to Heads up occurs at a velocity of MACH 13.2 (aka 13,200 feet per second) - this is usually at approximately 5 and half minutes into the flight.
What the card is saying below that line is, if you had a problem requiring the PLT (Hurley) to manually throttle the engines, then he would also have to manually shut all the engines down at a velocity of 25,700 feet per second (Mach 25.7). It’s just a reminder - if he does it exactly at that velocity, then the time it takes for the engines to shutdown (thrust decay) should result in a nearly nominal MECO velocity of 25,819.
Post orbit checklists are used.
Video is HD and SD and is as near real-time through to orbit insertion.