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"6_2_4_8.TXT" (12694 bytes) was created on 01-02-89
CHRONOLOGY
l972
Jan. 5 President Nixon proposes development of a reusable space
transportation system, the Space Shuttle.
March 15 NASA selects the three-part configuration for the Space
Shuttle -- reusable orbiter, partly reusable SRB and an expendable
external tank.
Aug. 9 Rockwell receives NASA contract for construction of the Space
Shuttle orbiter.
1975
Oct. 17 First Space Shuttle main engine tested at the National Space
Technology Laboratories, Miss.
Sept. 17 Rollout of orbiter Enterprise (OV-101).
1976
July 18 Thiokol conducts 2-minute firing of an SRB at Brigham City,
Utah.
Aug. 12 First free flight Approach and Landing Test (ALT) of orbiter
Enterprise from Shuttle carrier aircraft at Dryden Flight Research
Center, Calif. Flight duration: 5 minutes, 21 seconds. Landing
occurred on Runway 17.
Sept. 13 Second Enterprise ALT flight of 5 minutes, 28 seconds;
landing on Runway 15. (Three more ALT flights were flown by
Enterprise on Sept. 23 Oct. 12 and Oct. 25.)
1978
Jan. 18 Thiokol conducts second test firing of an SRB.
1979
March 8 Orbiter Columbia (OV-102) transported 38 miles overland from
Palmdale to Dryden Flight Research Center.
March 20-24 Columbia flown on Shuttle carrier aircraft to Kennedy
Space Center with overnight stops at El Paso and San Antonio, Texas,
and Eglin AFB, Fla.
June 15 First SRB qualification test firing; 122 seconds.
1980
Nov. 26 Columbia mated to SRBs and external tank at Vehicle Assembly
Building (VAB) for STS-l mission.
Dec. 29 Space Shuttle vehicle moved from VAB to Launch Complex 39A
for STS-l mission.1981
Feb. 20 Flight readiness firing of Columbia's main engines; 20
seconds.
April 20-21 Columbia returned to KSC by Shuttle carrier aircraft via
Tinker AFB, Okla.
Aug. 4 Columbia mated with SRBs and external tank for STS-2 mission.
Aug. 26 Space Shuttle vehicle moved to Launch Complex 39A for STS-2
mission.
Nov. 12-14 STS-2, first flight of an orbiter previously flown in space
Nov. 24-25 Columbia transported back to KSC via Bergstrom AFB, Texas.
Dec. ll Spacelab l arrives at KSC.
1982
Feb. 3 Columbia moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS-3
mission.
Feb. 16 Assembled Space Shuttle vehicle moved from VAB to launch pad
for STS-3 mission.
March 22-30 STS-3 mission; landing at White Sands, N.M.
April 6 Columbia returned to KSC from White Sands.
May 16 Columbia moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS-4.
May 25 STS-4 vehicle moved to launch pad.
June 27-July 4 STS-4 mission flown; first concrete runway landing at
Edwards AFB.
June 30 Orbiter Challenger (OV-099) rolled out at Palmdale.
July l Challenger moved overland to Dryden.
July 4-5 Challenger flown to KSC via Ellington AFB, Texas.
July 14-15 Columbia flown to KSC via Dyess AFB, Texas.
Sept. 9 Columbia mated with SRBs and external tank in preparation for
STS-5.
Sept. 21 STS-5 vehicle moved to launch pad.
Nov. ll-16 STS-5 mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
Nov. 21-22 Columbia returned to KSC via Kelly AFB, Texas
Nov. 23 Challenger moved to VAB and mated for STS-6.
Nov. 30 STS-6 vehicle moved to launch pad.
Dec. 18 Flight readiness firing of Challenger's main engines; 20
seconds.
1983
Jan. 22 Second flight readiness firing of Challenger's main engines;
22 seconds.
April 4-9 STS-6 mission, first flight of Challenger.
May 21 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS-7
mission.
May 26 Challenger moved to launch pad for STS-7.
June 18-24 STS-7 mission flown with landing at Edwards AFB.
July 26 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS-8.
June 28-29 Challenger flown back to KSC via Kelly AFB.
Aug. 2 STS-8 vehicle moved to launch pad.
Aug. 30-Sept. 5 STS-8 mission; first night launch and landing at
Edwards AFB.
Sep. 9 Challenger returned to KSC via Sheppard AFB, Texas.
Sept. 23 Columbia moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS-9.
Sept. 28 STS-9 vehicle moved to launch pad.
Oct. 17 STS-9 launch vehicle moved back to VAB from pad because of
SRB nozzle problem.
Oct. 19 Columbia moved to Orbiter Processing Facility.
Nov. 5 Orbiter Discovery (OV-103) moved overland to Dryden.
Nov. 6 Discovery transported to Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
Nov. 8 STS-9 vehicle again moved to launch pad.
Nov. 8-9 Discovery flown from Vandenberg AFB to KSC via Carswell AFB,
Texas.
Nov. 28-Dec. 8 STS-9 mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
Dec. 14-15 Columbia flown to KSC via El Paso, Kelly AFB and Eglin AFB.
1984
Jan. 6 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation of STS 41 B
mission.
Jan. ll STS 41-B vehicle moved to launch pad.
Feb. 3-ll STS 41-B mission; first landing at KSC.
March 14 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS
41-C mission.
March 19 STS 41-C vehicle moved to launch pad.
April 6-13 STS 41-C mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
April 17-18 Challenger flown back to KSC via Kelly AFB.
May 12 Discovery moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS 41-D.
May 19 STS 41-D vehicle moved to launch pad.
June 2 Flight readiness firing of Discovery's main engines.
June 25 STS 41-D launch attempt scrubbed because of computer problem.
June 26 STS 41-D launch attempt scrubbed following main engine
shutdown at T minus 4 seconds.
July 14 STS 41-D vehicle moved back to VAB for remanifest of payloads.
Aug. 9 STS 41-D vehicle again moved out to the launch pad.
Aug. 30-Sept. 5 STS 41-D mission; first flight of Discovery;landing
at Edwards AFB.
Sept. 8 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS
41-G mission.
Sept. 9-10 Discovery returned to KSC via Altus AFB, Okla.
Sept. 13 STS 41-G launch vehicle moved to launch pad.
Oct. 5-13 STS 41-G mission; landing at KSC.
Oct. 18 Discovery moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS 51-A
mission.
Oct. 23 STS 51-A launch vehicle moved to launch pad.
Nov. 7 STS 51-A launch scrubbed because of high shear winds.
Nov. 8-16 STS 51-A mission; landing at KSC.
1985
Jan. 5 Discovery moved to launch pad for STS 51-C mission.
Jan. 24-27 STS 51-C mission landing at KSC.
Feb. 10 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS
51-E mission.
Feb. 15 STS 51-E vehicle moved to launch pad.
March 4 STS 51-E vehicle rolled back to VAB; mission cancelled;
payloads combined with STS 51-B.
March 23 Discovery moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS
51-D mission.
March 28 STS 51-D vehicle moved to launch pad.
April 6 Atlantis (OV-104) rollout at Palmdale.
April 10 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS
51-B mission.
April 12-19 STS 51-D mission; landing at KSC.
April 13 Atlantis ferried to KSC via Ellington AFB, Texas.
April 15 Challenger moved to launch pad for 51-B missing.
April 29-May 6 STS 51-B mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
May 10 Challenger transported back to KSC via Kelly AFB.
May 28 Discovery moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS 51-G.
June 4 STS 51-G vehicle moved to the launch pad.
June 17-24 STS 51-G mission; landing Edwards AFB.
June 24 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS
51-F.
June 28 Discovery ferried back to KSC via Bergstrom AFB, Texas.
June 29 STS 51-F vehicle moved to the launch pad.
July ll Refurbished Columbia moved overland from Palmdale to Dryden.
July 12 STS 51-F launch scrubbed at T-minus 3 seconds because of main
engine shutdown.
July 14 Columbia returned to KSC via Offutt AFB, Neb.
July 29-Aug. 6 STS 51-F mission landing at Edwards AFB.
July 30 Discovery moved to VAB for mating in preparation for STS 51-I
mission.
Aug. 6 STS 51-I vehicle moved to the launch pad.
Aug. 10-ll Challenger flown to KSC via Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.;
Kelly AFB; and Eglin AFB.
Aug. 24 STS 51-I mission scrubbed at T minus 5 minutes because of bad
weather.
Aug. 25 STS 51-I mission scrubbed at T-minus 9 minutes because of an
onboard computer problem.
Aug. 27-Sept. 3 STS 51-I mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
August 29 Atlantis moved to launch pad for the 51-J mission.
Sept. 7-8 Discovery flown back to KSC via Kelly AFB.
Sept. 12 Flight readiness firing of Atlantis' main engines; 20
seconds.
Oct. 3-7 STS 51-J mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
Oct. ll Atlantis returned to KSC via Kelly AFB.
Oct. 12 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for the STS
61-A mission.
Oct. 16 Challenger vehicle moved to the launch pad for STS 61-A
mission.
Oct. 30-Nov. 6 STS 61-A mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
Nov. 8 Atlantis moved to VAB for mating in preparation for the STS
61-B.
Nov. 10-ll Challenger flown back to KSC via Davis-Monthan AFB, Kelly
AFB and Eglin AFB.
Nov. 12 STS 61-B vehicle moved to the launch pad.
Nov. 18 Enterprise (OV-101) flown from KSC to Dulles Airport,
Washington, D.C., and turned over to the Smithsonian Institution.
Nov. 22 Columbia moved to the VAB for mating in preparation STS 61-C.
Nov. 26-Dec. 3 STS 61-B mission landing at Edwards AFB.
Dec. l STS 61-C vehicle moved to launch pad.
Dec. 7 Atlantis returned to KSC via Kelly AFB.
Dec. 16 Challenger moved to VAB for mating in preparation for the STS
51-L mission.
Dec. 19 STS 61-C mission scrubbed at T minus 13 seconds because of
SRB auxiliary power unit problem.
Dec. 22 STS 51-L vehicle moved to Launch Pad 39B.
1986
Jan. 6 STS 61-C mission scrubbed at T minus 31 seconds because of
liquid oxygen valve problem on pad.
Jan. 7 STS 61-C mission scrubbed at T minus 9 minutes because of
weather problems at contingency landing sites.
Jan. 10 STS 61-C mission scrubbed T minus 9 minutes because of bad
weather at KSC.
Jan. 12-18 STS 61-C mission; landing at Edwards AFB.
Jan. 22-23 Columbia returned to KSC via Davis-Monthan AFB, Kelly AFB
and Eglin AFB.
Jan. 27-28 STS 51-L launched from Pad B. Vehicle exploded 1 minute,
13 seconds after liftoff resulting loss of seven crew members.
Feb. 3 President Reagan announced the formation of the Presidential
Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, headed by
William P. Rogers, former Secretary of State.
March 24 NASA publishes "Strategy for Safely Returning the Space
Shuttle to Flight Status."
May 12 President Reagan appoints Dr. James C. Fletcher NASA
Administrator.
July 8 NASA establishes Safety, Reliability Maintainability, and
Quality Assurance Office.
July 14 NASA's plan to implement the recommendations of the Rogers
commission was submitted to President Reagan.
Aug. 15 President Reagan announced his decision to support a
replacement for the Challenger. At the same time, it was announced
that NASA no longer would launch commercial satellites, except for
those which are Shuttle-unique or have national security or foreign
policy implications.
Aug. 22 NASA announced the beginning of a series of tests designed to
verify the ignition pressure dynamics of the Space Shuttle solid
rocket motor field joint.
Sept. 5 Study contracts were awarded to five aerospace firms for
conceptual designs of an alternative or Block II Space Shuttle solid
rocket motor.
Sept. 10 Astronaut Bryan O'Connor was named chairman of Space Flight
Safety Panel. This panel, with oversight responsibility for all NASA
manned space program activities, reports to the Associate
Administrator for Safety, Reliability, Maintainability and Quality
Assurance.
Oct. 2 After an intensive study, NASA announced the decision to test
fire the redesigned solid rocket motor in a horizontal attitude to
best simulate the critical conditions on the field joint which failed
during the 51-L mission.
Oct. 30 Discovery moved to OPF where more than 200 modification are
accomplished for STS-26 mission.
Nov. 6 Office of the Director, National Space Transportation System,
established in the NASA Headquarters Office of Space Flight.
1987
July 31 Rockwell International awarded contract to build a fifth
orbiter to replace the Challenger.
Aug. 3 Discovery in the Orbital Processing Facility is powered up for
STS-26 mission.
1988
Mid-Jan. Main engines are installed in Discovery.
March 28 Stacking of Discovery's SRBs gets underway.
May 28 Stacking of Discovery's SRBs completed.
June 10 SRBs and External Tank are mated.
June 14 The fourth full-duration test firing of the redesigned SRB
motor is carried out.
June 21 Discovery rolls over from OPF tp the VAB.
July 4 Discovery moved to Launch Pad 39B for STS-26 mission.
Aug. 10 Flight Readiness Firing of Discovery's main engines is
conducted successfully.