Video: Last ever Endeavour launch filmed by Delta passenger

by Steven Mostyn - May 18 2011, 13:33

A cool story for the grandchildren. Image: YouTube/Stefanie Gordon.

With the rise and rise of social networking, micro-blogging, and camera-equipped mobile phones, it’s hardly surprising that opportunistic members of the general public often capture amazing 'on-the-spot’ video content.

Case in point, take a look at the following clip of the space shuttle Endeavour blasting towards the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday of this week.

Caught on an iPhone by Stefanie Gordon of Hoboken, New Jersey, the video differs wildly from the usual media coverage afforded shuttle launches—namely because it was filmed during a Delta Airlines flight travelling between New York and West Palm Beach.

According to Miss Gordon, she was listening to music on her smartphone when the pilot directed passengers to look towards the east, where the shuttle was hurtling from cloud cover towards the darkness of space.

Quickly selecting the handset’s camera, she was able to snap some brief but impressive footage that secured a truly once-in-a-lifetime snapshot of the Endeavour’s very last mission to the stars.

With the clip safely stored, Miss Gordon then posted it Twitter, where it was promptly pounced on by media outlets around the world, all interested in using the footage for their own reports.

Once the shuttle returns to Earth in 12 days, it will join the Discovery in official retirement while awaiting relocation to one of America’s leading aerospace museums.