Posts: 170 From: Tucson, Arizona Registered: Jan 2009
posted 12-11-2010 05:02 PM
Superb NASA shuttle launch videos complied by NASA engineers captured by high speed cameras for review after launch... beautiful!
Over 45 minutes long. Good narration.
contra Member
Posts: 318 From: Kiel, Germany Registered: Mar 2005
posted 12-12-2010 04:51 AM
Just AWESOME!!!!! Would like to see it in HD.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-12-2010 09:41 AM
"Ascent" is the creation of Matt Melis, the same aerospace engineer with the Structural Mechanics Group at NASA Glenn Research Center who was behind the STS-114 and STS-121 movie posters.
I recently received a copy of "Ascent" on DVD. Here's the description on the back of the case:
Photographic documentation of a Space Shuttle launch plays a critical role in the engineering analysis and evaluation process that takes place during each and every mission. Motion and still images enable Shuttle engineers to visually identify off-nominal events and conditions requiring corrective action to ensure mission safety and success. This imagery also provides highly inspirational and educational insight to those outside the NASA family.
As the Shuttle Program draws to completion, its launch imagery is more comprehensive and spectacular than ever before. This compilation of film and video presents the best ground-based Shuttle motion imagery from the STS-114, STS-117 and STS-124 missions. Rendered in the highest definition possible, this production is a tribute to the dozens of men and women of the Shuttle imagery team and the 30 years of achievement of the Space Shuttle Program.
In addition to the commentary track as presented on YouTube, the DVD includes the same film set to music and bonus scenes that didn't make it into the 45-minute film.
The disc doesn't include ordering information but I am going to contact Matt to learn if it is available for purchase.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 12-12-2010 10:26 AM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: The disc doesn't include ordering information but I am going to contact Matt to learn if it is available for purchase.
Please do. And perhaps you could ask, if the disc is made available to the general public, could it be made available as a region 0 format; so it can be played in DVD machines in any country?
Simply STUNNING!
Tom Member
Posts: 1597 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
posted 12-12-2010 02:19 PM
WOW!!!
Joel Katzowitz Member
Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 12-12-2010 03:24 PM
I thought I'd just take a quick look at the video and maybe come back later to watch it in it's entirety. It didn't quite work out that way. I sat here transfixed through the duration of the presentation. The narrators did a wonderful job of mixing technical jargon in along with an artist's appreciation for the visual aesthetics.
Rob Joyner Member
Posts: 1308 From: GA, USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 12-12-2010 03:44 PM
That was a quick 45 minutes! I hope this will be reformatted for IMAX. It would be a fitting inclusion to the KSCVC library.
JPSastro Member
Posts: 170 From: Tucson, Arizona Registered: Jan 2009
posted 12-12-2010 04:05 PM
Ascent Bonus Footage. An additional 10 minutes of deleted footage that was not included on the original release.
Would really love to have this DVD. Most excellent.
moorouge Member
Posts: 2454 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
posted 12-13-2010 07:09 AM
Amazing footage. But what chance did the bird(s) seen at 26m and 31m have of surviving?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-03-2011 05:18 PM
I heard back from Matt Melis regarding the DVD version of "Ascent." The original run was limited and the copies they made are nearly gone.
They are now looking at how they might be able to arrange for a larger distribution, perhaps timed with the final space shuttle mission. Stay tuned...
Space In Scale Member
Posts: 33 From: Essex, England Registered: Dec 2010
posted 01-03-2011 07:27 PM
Awesome vid, and I look forward to hearing more about getting a copy... if they do make more that is.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-05-2011 10:42 AM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: They are now looking at how they might be able to arrange for a larger distribution...
Though not the commercial DVD or Blu-ray release some have been hoping for, Ascent: Commemorating Shuttle is now available as a free app for the Apple iPad.
This app, designed for iPad, contains the entire Ascent video production with commentary, numerous additional scenes, selected images, production notes, and an unreleased trailer. All video sequences have been bundled with the app to provide users the ability to view the movies while offline.
Cunumdrum61 Member
Posts: 38 From: Australia Registered: Jan 2012
posted 03-15-2012 03:35 PM
Check this out as you witness a launch from the SRB all the way up and back to splashdown. It is really great to watch!
Riding the Booster with enhanced sound
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.
Rick Mulheirn Member
Posts: 4167 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
posted 03-15-2012 05:25 PM
From the upcoming Special Edition Ascent: Commemorating Space Shuttle DVD/BluRay
Any idea of a release date? And if the makers of the movie follow collectSPACE, can they please make the DVD/Bluray a Region 0 format?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-03-2013 11:37 PM
You can now download the ISO file for creating your own DVD of "Ascent" here.
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 09-07-2013 08:22 AM
I downloaded the .iso file of "Ascent" and burned it to DVD a couple of days ago. Amazing video...close-in camera shots I'd never seen before, with great narration and explanation of why each is important both aesthetically and technically. Fascinating viewing.
JBoe Member
Posts: 959 From: Churchton, MD Registered: Oct 2012
posted 09-09-2013 10:01 AM
Have you watched your newly created DVD on your settop player and if so does it work? I want to create the DVD, but would like to watch it on a TV instead of on a computer/laptop.
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 09-09-2013 03:49 PM
Actually, it worked on my standard DVD player (connected to my main HD TV) but not on my desktop PC. Like you, the TV is what I'd prefer to watch it on, so the PC thing was no big deal to me, and I didn't spend much time trying rectify the issue.
Anyway, more specifically, the DVD loaded normally in my player and all features, extras, and menus worked as advertised.
ON EDIT: Never mind the PC "issues." Disc has full functionality on my PC using Windows Media Player. Previous failure due to operator error
JBoe Member
Posts: 959 From: Churchton, MD Registered: Oct 2012
posted 09-10-2013 12:48 PM
That's great to hear! I'll definitely give it a try. I'm thinking that Blu-ray players should be compatible since they play the other version of DVDs. Thanks again!
Spacemac Member
Posts: 59 From: Schererville, Indiana, united states Registered: May 2009
posted 09-10-2013 01:48 PM
I download the ISO file for the shuttle ascent but cannot find a way to burn it to a DVD on my Mac. It plays fine in the DVD play on the Mac. Any ideas on how to burn it to a DVD?
garymilgrom Member
Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
posted 09-10-2013 01:58 PM
Sent you a message (hint - it's part of the Mac's disk utility).
Ronpur Member
Posts: 1211 From: Brandon, Fl Registered: May 2012
posted 09-10-2013 09:10 PM
Downloaded and burned this to a DVD. It plays on my Blu-ray player. I just wish it wasn't so amazing! I need to go to bed!
garymilgrom Member
Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
posted 09-11-2013 08:23 AM
I'm a big fan of this footage and have watched the app on a tablet several times. But seeing this on a large HDTV is amazing! You can't compare a 6-8" wide screen to a 50" wide screen! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
sev8n Member
Posts: 233 From: Dallas TX USA Registered: Jul 2012
posted 09-12-2013 06:53 PM
Just finished burning my DVD, a quick test confirms it plays on both my laptop and on my bluray/TV, will watch the entire disc after dinner. Thanks for making this available!!!
JBoe Member
Posts: 959 From: Churchton, MD Registered: Oct 2012
posted 09-15-2013 04:08 PM
Finally got around to burning the DVD, it took some tries and in the end I just used the standard burning program that came with my computer. It looks AWESOME on the TV/Blu-ray. Thanks again for sharing and insights.
James C Member
Posts: 23 From: Registered: Dec 2013
posted 02-16-2014 02:47 AM
Has anyone downloaded this recently from here?
I tried twice last night and both times I got an unspecified network error a couple of megs from completion.
Just trying to work out if its my PC or the source file.
garymilgrom Member
Posts: 1966 From: Atlanta, GA Registered: Feb 2007
posted 02-16-2014 10:15 AM
That page seems to be working fine. It's over 4 GB and I believe if you're on the old FAT32 type of Windows drive you cannot have files or maybe partitions over 2GB. That may be your problem.
James C Member
Posts: 23 From: Registered: Dec 2013
posted 02-16-2014 01:25 PM
Thanks Gary, I though that too initially, but I'm NTFS.
It takes me about 4 hours to download. First time, in Chrome, I just left it to download and when I came back it had failed. I set it running again, and checked when it had 6 minutes to go. I came back 5 minutes later and it had failed again.
I tried through Firefox too, same result. Kicking off again... I need to watch it to the end and see what happens.
sev8n Member
Posts: 233 From: Dallas TX USA Registered: Jul 2012
posted 02-16-2014 08:46 PM
You might try using one of the many download manager utilities available, here is an example.
GoesTo11 Member
Posts: 1309 From: Denver, CO Registered: Jun 2004
posted 02-16-2014 09:04 PM
Since this thread has resurfaced, I thought I'd ask... Anyone know whether any DVD jacket art is available for download yet?
James C Member
Posts: 23 From: Registered: Dec 2013
posted 02-17-2014 10:18 AM
Thanks. I used a download manager in FF and although after downloading it was a ISO.PART file, I was still able to extract the tracks using Make MKV. Looking forward to watching tonight!