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"6_2_4_7.TXT" (56240 bytes) was created on 01-02-89
Enter {V}iew, {X}MODEM, {Y}MODEM, {K}ERMIT, ? for HELP, or {M}enu [V]...
SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION SUMMARIES
From April 1981 through January 1986, 25 Space Shuttle launches were
conducted. All four orbiters in the fleet -- Columbia, Challenger,
Discovery and Atlantis -- were flown. However, 1 minute, 13 seconds
after liftoff -- during the 25th launch --on Jan. 28, 1986, the Space
Shuttle exploded. The orbiter Challenger was destroyed and its crew
of seven killed. The accident had a far-reaching impact on the Space
Shuttle program. Launchings were suspended for more than 2 years,
while recommendations of a Presidential Commission which investigated
the accident were implemented, along with changes called for by NASA
itself.
STS-l
The first launch of the Space Shuttle occurred on April 12, l98l,
when the orbiter Columbia, with two crew members, astronauts John W.
Young, commander, and Robert L. Crippen, pilot, lifted off from Pad
A, Launch Complex 39, at the Kennedy Space Center -- the first of 24
launches from Pad A. It was exactly 7 a.m. EST. A launch attempt, 2
days before, was scrubbed because of a timing problem in one of the
Columbia's general purpose computers.
Not only was this the first launch of the Space Shuttle, but it
marked the first time that solid fuel rockets were used for a U.S.
manned launch. The STS-l orbiter, Columbia, also holds the record
for the amount of time spent in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF)
before launch -- 610 days, time needed for replacement of many of its
heat shield tiles.
Primary mission objectives of the maiden flight were to check out
the overall Shuttle system, accomplish a safe ascent into orbit and
to return to Earth for a safe landing. All of these objectives were
met successfully and the Shuttle's worthiness as a space vehicle was
verified.
The only payload carried on the mission was a Development Flight
Instrumentation (DFI) package which contained sensors and measuring
devices to record orbiter performance and the stresses that occurred
during launch, ascent, orbital flight, descent and landing.
The 36-orbit, 933,757-mile-long flight lasted 2 days, 6 hours, 20
minutes and 32 seconds. Landing took place on Runway 23 at Edwards
AFB, Calif., on April 14, 1981, at 10:21 a.m. PST. Post-flight
inspection of the Columbia revealed that an overpressure wave which
occurred when the SRB ignited resulted in the loss of 16 heat shield
tiles and damage to 148 others. In all other respects, however,
Columbia came through the flight with flying colors, and it was to
fly the next four Shuttle missions.
Columbia was returned to Kennedy Space Center from California on
April 28 atop its 747 carrier aircraft.
STS-2
Launch of the second Space Shuttle took place 7 months later, on
Nov. 12, 1981, with liftoff at 10:10 a.m. EST. The planned launch
time of 7:30 a.m. was delayed while a faulty data transmitting unit
on Columbia was replaced. Originally the launch had been set for
Oct. 9, but it was delayed by a nitrogen tetroxide spill during
loading of the forward Reaction Control System (RCS) tanks. It was
next scheduled for Nov. 4, but was again scrubbed when high oil
pressures were discovered in two of the three Auxiliary Power Units
(APU) that control the orbiter's hydraulic system. Prior to launch
Columbia had spent 103 days in the OPF.
The flight marked the first time a manned space vehicle had been
reflown with a second crew: Joseph H. Engle, commander, and Richard
H. Truly, pilot. It again carried the DFI package, as well as the
OSTA-l payload -- named for the NASA Office of Space and Terrestrial
Applications -- which consisted of a number of remote sensing
instruments mounted on a Spacelab pallet in the payload bay. These
instruments, including the Shuttle Imaging Radar-A (SIR-1),
successfully carried out remote sensing of Earth resources,
environmental quality, ocean and weather conditions. In addition,
the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm was
successfully operated in all its various operating modes for the
first time.
Although the STS-2 mission had been planned for 5 days, the flight
was cut short when one of the three fuel cells that produce
electricity and drinking water failed.
Landing took place on Runway 23, at Edwards AFB, at 1:23 p.m. PST,
Nov. 14, after a 36-orbit, 933,757-mile flight that lasted 2 days, 6
hours, 13 minutes, 13 seconds.
Despite the truncated flight, more than 90 percent of the mission's
objectives were achieved. Moreover, modifications of the water sound
suppression system at the pad to absorb the solid rocket booster
overpressure wave during launch were effective -- no tiles were lost
and only 12 were damaged. The Columbia was flown back to KSC on Nov.
25, 1981.
STS-3
Columbia was launched on its third flight at 11:00 a.m. EST, on
March 22, l982, the planned launch date. The launch was delayed 1
hour because of the failure of a heater o