David Vidrine & STS-41C

I'm curious as to whether anyone knows why MSE David Vidrine was pulled from
the STS-41C crew, since I understand it was fairly close to the actual
launch date? Equally, did Vidrine have a backup for this assignment and does
anyone know what his broad tasks would have been on the Solar Max flight? I
assume he would have flown under some kind of PS Observer cover since the
MSE program was still classified at the time. Any information appreciated.

John

Mike Cassutt knows.


"John Geenty" wrote in message
...
I'm curious as to whether anyone knows why MSE David Vidrine was pulled
from
the STS-41C crew, since I understand it was fairly close to the actual
launch date? Equally, did Vidrine have a backup for this assignment and
does
anyone know what his broad tasks would have been on the Solar Max flight?
I
assume he would have flown under some kind of PS Observer cover since the
MSE program was still classified at the time. Any information appreciated.

John

John Geenty asked, then Jim Oberg threw down the challenge.....

I'm curious as to whether anyone knows why MSE David Vidrine was pulled from
the STS-41C crew, since I understand it was fairly close to the actual
launch date?

If you ask NASA, he was never "pulled" from 41-C because he was never
officially assigned -- by NASA. The Air Force (or more precisely, the Special
Projects Office) had him following the STS-13/41-C Solar Max repair mission
from 1982 on, and there _is_ paperwork which mentions him as a possible PS for
the mission.

Nevertheless, his assignment was negated by Maj. Gen. Ralph Jacobson, head of
SP, in mid-1983, prior to the time Vidrine would have had to commence
integrated training with the crew (launch-minus-six months).

Equally, did Vidrine have a backup for this assignment and does anyone know
what his broad tasks would have been on the Solar Max flight? I assume he would
have flown under some kind of PS Observer cover since the MSE program was still
classified at the time.

There was no backup at the time the proposed assignment went away.

Vidrine would inevitably have served as an observer (in fact, in 1982 AV WEEK
reported the possible addition of a "naval observer" to the Solar Max crew).
One of his areas of responsbility within the MSE program was satellite
servicing.

By the way, the MSE program was de-classified in early 1982, when recruitment
of the second cadre began.

Michael Cassutt