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Airplane passenger catches Space Shuttle launch on camera

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Dec 22nd 2009 at 6:00PM

I recommend turning the audio down on your computer if you plan to watch this at work, or around children, as the narrator tends to swear a lot.

Here is a video of something you don't see every day out the airplane window - the launch of a Space Shuttle. The video was captured by a passenger on Air Canada flight 981 from Toronto to Nassau, and shows the Shuttle right after take off, on its way into space.

Thankfully, someone on the plane used the PA system to tell passengers about the launch, though I'm sure the 50% of people on the wrong side of the plane were pretty miffed they missed this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

Gallery: Ten pilots you don't want in your cockpit

ALSO: For up-to-the-minute news on possible new TSA rules resulting from Friday's foiled terrorist attack, click here.

Filed under: North America, United States, Airlines

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Bob in Calif. Dec 27th 2009 2:14PM

5 Gold Stars!!!!!! "Nuff said"

Jason Dec 27th 2009 2:31PM

Great video. I almost didn't watch it because of the namby-pamby comment by the poster that I should turn down the audio if I'm at work or around children because the narrator "tends to swear a lot." Flimsy people like that offend me to no end.

For the record, the narrator uses a word three times that is perfectly fine on prime time television.

Grow up, submitter.

bk Dec 27th 2009 2:32PM

HOLY SHE IT! LOOK HOW FAST THAT THING IS GOING...THATS SO COOL!...

screaminfist Dec 27th 2009 2:50PM

the guy filming sounds like a real genius lol

Rudy Dec 27th 2009 4:27PM

I watched a shuttle launch from the air before. It was a 2:14am launch from Canaveral and we were at 10,000 ft flying to melbourne in our schools trainer aircraft. We had flight following, planned it all appropriately and I have to say.... I was never more proud to be an American then when the shuttle burst through the solid overcast cloud layer 3,000 ft below us. We were outside the 30 mile no fly ring and it still illuminated the entire sky like a small miniature sun was rising. It was the single most beautiful thing I've ever seen. This was 2 years ago and it still gives me chills. We tried to take a video of it but with the bright panels in the cockpit, the darkness outside, and the single bright point from the shuttle launching... it didn't come out properly. With the overcast layer beneath us, we watched it from ignition where we saw a HUGE fireball beneath the clouds, through launch, all the way through to when it became another star in the sky. Absolutely breathtaking... and to think not a single other person on earth was seeing what we were seeing... I wish it came out on video :(

KingBrian Dec 27th 2009 8:32PM

Wow Rudy, sounds fantastic!

Suzanne Dec 27th 2009 4:35PM

Wow, I can't wait until I move in April to FL and see this before my eyes. LOVE your video and thanks for sharing it! Happy New Year!!

bd64kcmo Dec 28th 2009 3:20PM

Boy she really gets up and away really FAST!!!.

FatCatJRG Dec 27th 2009 5:02PM

Unlike wussy-fied and nonsense-rule laden airlines in the US, apparently Air Canada doesn't issue warnings about the "use of electronic equipment" like camcorders. Of course Delta, American, USAir and the rest all look the other way if it's a network TV piece about Matt Lauer flying to the Galopagos Islands or Oprah on her way to the fat farm. And get ready. After the Christmas Day BS in Detroit, (we needed a reminder about those awful terrorists from the CIA, FAA, DHS and other stupid, mindless, government-run "alphabet soup" agencies so they can all keep their cushy gigs) flying is going to be even more unbearable with all the Federal Air Transport Aviation Security Service (join the first letters of each word) busy scanning your carry-on for anything that looks suspicious. Like the f*ckin' snowglobe my GF bought in Vegas, that the F.A.T.A.S.S. dyke snatched because it contained "an unknown liquid substance". What a bunch of azzhos. But we deserve the kind of government we've had the last hundred years or so. And it's only gonna get worse.

SongFool Dec 27th 2009 5:47PM

I really don't think that was filmed from a "window" on a plane........

tigertears Dec 27th 2009 7:16PM

Maybe that went over my head,but what do you mean?

jo429 Dec 27th 2009 6:17PM

That is a great video. Certainly something you do not see everyday. Could have done without the audio although I would have expressed the same sentiment with with more adult language. So, Jason, you are a great example of how are society is getting flushed down the toilet. If you get exposed enough to something that is not appropriate, pretty soon it is accepted as OK. By the way, that is kids language, so "growing up" should reduce it use.