NASA Releases First-Ever Inside View of Shuttle After Landing

NASA has released the first-ever up close, high-definition video taken from inside a space shuttle during “towback” following a landing.

Shuttle Atlantis touched down at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 26 after 12 days in space, completing its STS-132 mission to the International Space Station.

Following every shuttle landing, about 150 trained workers assist the crew out and prepare the shuttle for towing atop a large diesel-driven tractor to its processing hangar.

The video, which includes views of Atlantis’ hatch opening and closing from the inside, shows United Space Alliance employees inside Atlantis’ crew compartment working through an extensive checklist to “safe” the spacecraft for towback from Kennedy’s Shuttle Landing Facility runway to Orbiter Processing Facility-1. Inside the facility, Atlantis will be prepared for the unlikely event it is needed as a rescue spacecraft for the final planned shuttle flight, Endeavour’s STS-134 mission.

The video will be broadcast on NASA Television’s Video File. For NASA TV downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

To view the video on the NASA YouTube page, visit: http://www.youtube.com/nasatelevision

For more information about the Space Shuttle Program, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle