Mission 26 The Big Endeavour, a time lapse video of the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s journey through the streets of Los Angeles, from LAX to its new home at the California Science Center. The video was created by Matthew Givot and his team of six time-lapse specialists.

The California Science Center created a map of the route that took four days and four nights to complete. Total distance: 11.72 miles.

via Vimeo.

Photographer Scott Andrews, his son New York Times photographer Philip Andrews, and Apple software engineer Stan Jirman animated photographs that they made during the space shuttle Atlantis’ last roll-out, (ie. the process of getting a shuttle ready for its last launch).

They’ve also done this before for Discovery’s next-to-last flight in 2010. You can read more about that video on AirSpaceMag.com.

via Vimeo.

A Blast From The Past: Shuttle Through The Decades

One year ago today at 11:29 a.m. EDT, Atlantis launched into orbit at 17,500 mph. A bittersweet launch, it was the very last NASA shuttle mission — though thankfully not the last of the excitement for space explorers. 

If you and your kids can handle some sensory overload, watch all 135 space shuttle launches at once. It gave us a chance to talk about the Challenger disaster and provided a new perspective on the 1981-2011 shuttle program.

Space Shuttle Discovery, atop its Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, NASA 905, is shown from various vantage points around the National Capital region on April 17 on the final leg of its ferry flight from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

A bittersweet flight — but what an amazing view! This video was shot by the T-38 Chase Aircraft that was following the shuttle. You can see the National Mall in Washington DC at 40s and again at 7m25s. You can also see what Discovery’s last flight and landing looked like from the ground, from CBS News.

Previously: Riding the Boosters of the Space Shuttle.

From the upcoming Special Edition Ascent: Commemorating Space Shuttle DVD/BluRay a movie from the point of view of the Solid Rocket Booster with sound mixing and enhancement done by the folks at Skywalker Sound.

Why this video is great: shot in real time, a good look at the shuttle’s heat-absorbing ceramic tiles, the super-unique and riveting perspective of the booster, and the sounds! (I just wish I knew how “enhanced” the sound was from the original… it is such a powerful component of the storytelling.)

via Kottke.