CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- When shuttle Atlantis is launched on its International Space Station assembly mission, it may not be the astronauts who have the best view of launch.
Taking a cue from the commercial rocket launching industry, NASA is flying a video camera onboard Atlantis' external fuel tank to relaying unprecedented views of the spacecraft's zero-to-17,500 mph climb into orbit.
"When the Delta rocket flew with a camera, it was seen by several people at NASA and they made a request for us to see if there was a way to do that on the shuttle," said Neil Otte, the chief engineer for the shuttle external fuel tank at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
"It was neat stuff to look at," added flight director Phil Engelauf.
The project took three years to realize, but NASA officials said they expect it will be worth the wait.
Mounted 35 feet from the top of the external fuel tank and angled down to peer at the orbiter and the ground below, Shuttlecam, as the project has come to be called, will be turned on about 10 minutes before launch and relay live video during the 8 1/2-minute trip to orbit.
"There may be some engineering value in having that kind of video but we are not doing it because we have any particular agenda," said Engelauf. "It is largely just for the cool video."
Of particular interest will be the first close-up views of the shuttle as the external tank is jettisoned and falls to Earth. The tank, with camera attached, will break into pieces and land in the ocean.
"I think it's going to be a great perspective," said Otte.
For a disposable instrument, the camera is fairly pricey. NASA paid $3.8 million for five Sony SC999 digital video cameras, support gear and integration and testing services from external tank contractor Lockheed Martin. After Atlantis' flight, NASA will decide if and when other Shuttlecams will be flown, said spokeswoman June Malone.
So far, the equipment has been used on 20 expendable launchers, including Boeing's Delta and Lockheed Martin's Atlas and Titan boosters.
"It really gives you a feeling of being more in the picture yourself," said Otte.
Atlantis is scheduled to be launched between 2 p.m.-6 p.m. EDT Wednesday.
