This video shows a collage of footage from the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB):
 

 
amazing stuff (needs a nice soundtrack though!)

The last mission to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is about to roar
into space. Space Shuttle mission STS-125 will be the final mission to
update the HST. It will also be the final mission where planned non-ISS
EVAs are undertaken. The Orion Crew Vehicle isn't suited for EVAs like
this, so we'll probably never see these repair missions again.
 
Here are a few resources that cover the launch and preparations LIVE:
 
Nasa's own NASATV: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv but that isn't of very good
quality video-wise.
 
A much better alternative is http://www.spacevidcast.com/ which offers
720p quality live streaming. Great about this one is that with the
ustream.tv iPhone app you can actually watch this on your iPhone too,
and also participate in the chat!
 

 
On regular TV there's Discovery Channel that will broadcast the launch
and preps live from 19.30 CEST on!

The ISS passed overhead tonight at around 20:35 CET. Clear skies, so I tried to take some pictures.
Here are the rough images, I hope to improve them over time. Shot with D700 on tripod with 24-120mm F3.5-5.6 AF-S VR lens and 3 second exposure on ISO3200 for each image. Lots of light pollution. Orion is clearly visible in the bottom of the image. Note to self: next time, use lower ISO.

And here is a composite of the above images:

And a smaller animated GIF, please click to see the animation (loading can take a bit of time, it's 1.4MB):

http://www.esquire.com/features/human-space-flight-0209
 
"Go, you fucker. Go."

I came across this image on digg. It shows the "glass cockpit" of the space shuttle after the upgrade in 2000. In the text it says this is the prelude for a "smart cockpit" to be introduced in 2005.
However, since the Columbia broke up during re-entry in 2003, has this project been scrapped? I can't find any info or images of the "smart cockpit".

Anyone?
NASA Images source

(download)

I'm importing all my DV tapes to iMovie, quite a lot of work, and I found this clip of the Shuttle Atlantis mission STS-106 too. We were lucky enough to get press accreditation, so this is filmed from the press site, which is about 5 miles closer than the public sites. In any case, it gives a nice impression about the SOUND this thing makes when going up...
 
We'll miss the shuttle launches!
 
I'll upload more clips (also from inside the VAB) whenever I find the time and motivation to do so :-) I actually want to wait for iMovie '09 to get rid of some vibrating annoyances..

2 years ago I created this clip, and thought it was a pretty nice match.
 

 
Since NASA is selling off the shuttles from 2010 on, I thought the theme
is even more suitable today:
 "No-one's gonna take me aliiiiiive!, Time has come to make things
right! You and I must fight for our right! You and I must fight to
survive!"