25 Years of the Shuttle

I distinctly recall the day Columbia first flew.

Actually I remember the day it didn't fly also.

But the day it flew I stayed home from school until it made orbit.

After that I finally went to school. My teacher only asked one question,
"Well, did it lift off?" She already knew why I was several hours tardy.
:-)

Other people's thoughts?



--
--
Greg D. Moore
President Green Mountain Software
Personal: http://stratton.greenms.com
SQL Server Consulting sql at greenms.com

On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 12:31:11 GMT, in a place far, far away, "Greg D.
Moore \(Strider\)" made the phosphor
on my monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that:



I distinctly recall the day Columbia first flew.

Actually I remember the day it didn't fly also.

But the day it flew I stayed home from school until it made orbit.

After that I finally went to school. My teacher only asked one question,
"Well, did it lift off?" She already knew why I was several hours tardy.
:-)

Other people's thoughts?

I flew to Florida from LA to watch the launch. When it was scrubbed
on the 10th, I and the woman I was with and a couple other friends
drove over to Tampa for the day. We finally saw it launch on the
12th. I remember being surprised at how fast it leapt off the pad,
being used to the much more ponderous Saturn. We flew back to LA the
next day, and drove up to Edwards to watch it land.

Hard to believe that it's been a quarter of a century. And forty-five
years since Gagarin.

April 12, 1981: First launching of the space shuttle

http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/t...day=10272 977
http://tinyurl.com/e7qcy

The space shuttle Columbia is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida,
becoming the first reusable manned spacecraft to travel into space.
Piloted by astronauts Robert L. Crippen and John W. Young, the Columbia
undertook a 54-hour space flight of 36 orbits before successfully
touching down at California's Edwards Air Force Base on April 14.

On September 17, 1976, NASA publicly unveiled its first space shuttle,
the Enterprise, during a ceremony in Palmdale, California. Development
of the aircraft-like spacecraft cost almost $10 billion and took nearly
a decade. In 1977, the Enterprise became the first space shuttle to fly
freely when it was lifted to a height of 25,000 feet by a Boeing 747
airplane and then released, gliding back to Edwards Air Force Base on
its own accord.

Regular flights of the space shuttle began on April 12, 1981, with the
launching of Columbia. Launched by two solid-rocket boosters and an
external tank, only the aircraft-like shuttle entered into orbit around
Earth. When the mission was completed, the shuttle fired engines to
reduce speed and, after descending through the atmosphere, landed like
a glider. Early shuttles took satellite equipment into space and
carried out various scientific experiments. On January 28, 1986, NASA
and the space shuttle program suffered a major setback when the
Challenger exploded 74 seconds after takeoff and all seven people
aboard were killed.

In September 1988, space shuttle flights resumed with the successful
launching of the Discovery. In subsequent years, the space shuttle
carried out numerous important missions, such as the repair and
maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope and the construction and
manning of the International Space Station.

A tragedy in space again rocked the nation on February 1, 2003, when
Columbia, on its 28th mission, disintegrated during re-entry of the
earth's atmosphere. All seven astronauts aboard were killed. In the
aftermath, the space-shuttle program was grounded until Discovery
returned to space in July 2005, amid concerns that the problems that
had downed Columbia had not yet been fully solved.

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:
I distinctly recall the day Columbia first flew.

Actually I remember the day it didn't fly also.

But the day it flew I stayed home from school until it made orbit.

After that I finally went to school. My teacher only asked one question,
"Well, did it lift off?" She already knew why I was several hours tardy.
:-)

Other people's thoughts?



I remember seeing the Shuttle stack on the pad, with that white
external tank and the solid boosters on each side, and thinking how it
reminded me of the Taj Mahal.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010412.html

http://www.thewellpub.com/sitebuilde...taj-mahal1.jpg


Found this on Google. Talk about an alternate history:
http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/model...t2004/sts1.jpg

Rusty

April 12, 1981: First launching of the space shuttle

http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/t...day=10272 977
http://tinyurl.com/e7qcy

The space shuttle Columbia is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida,
becoming the first reusable manned spacecraft to travel into space.
Piloted by astronauts Robert L. Crippen and John W. Young, the Columbia
undertook a 54-hour space flight of 36 orbits before successfully
touching down at California's Edwards Air Force Base on April 14.

On September 17, 1976, NASA publicly unveiled its first space shuttle,
the Enterprise, during a ceremony in Palmdale, California. Development
of the aircraft-like spacecraft cost almost $10 billion and took nearly
a decade. In 1977, the Enterprise became the first space shuttle to fly
freely when it was lifted to a height of 25,000 feet by a Boeing 747
airplane and then released, gliding back to Edwards Air Force Base on
its own accord.

Regular flights of the space shuttle began on April 12, 1981, with the
launching of Columbia. Launched by two solid-rocket boosters and an
external tank, only the aircraft-like shuttle entered into orbit around
Earth. When the mission was completed, the shuttle fired engines to
reduce speed and, after descending through the atmosphere, landed like
a glider. Early shuttles took satellite equipment into space and
carried out various scientific experiments. On January 28, 1986, NASA
and the space shuttle program suffered a major setback when the
Challenger exploded 74 seconds after takeoff and all seven people
aboard were killed.

In September 1988, space shuttle flights resumed with the successful
launching of the Discovery. In subsequent years, the space shuttle
carried out numerous important missions, such as the repair and
maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope and the construction and
manning of the International Space Station.

A tragedy in space again rocked the nation on February 1, 2003, when
Columbia, on its 28th mission, disintegrated during re-entry of the
earth's atmosphere. All seven astronauts aboard were killed. In the
aftermath, the space-shuttle program was grounded until Discovery
returned to space in July 2005, amid concerns that the problems that
had downed Columbia had not yet been fully solved.

And April 12, 1961, wasn't this the date of the first manned
spaceflight???

--
73' André, PE1PQX
Mijn site: http://pe1pqx.dyndns.org

NASA PDF's about STS-1

=====

STS-1 operational flight profile. Volume 6: Abort analysis

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TM-81098; JSC-14483-VOL-6-REV-1; REPT-78-FM-51-VOL-6-REV-1 ,
19800601; Jun 1, 1980
The abort analysis for the cycle 3 Operational Flight Profile (OFP) for
the Space Transportation System 1 Flight (STS-1) is defined,
superseding the abort analysis previously presented. Included are the
flight description, abort analysis summary, flight design groundrules
and constraints, initialization information, general abort description
and results, abort solid rocket booster and external tank separation
and disposal results, abort monitoring displays and discussion on both
ground and onboard trajectory monitoring, abort initialization load
summary for the onboard computer, list of the key abort powered flight
dispersion analysis.
Accession ID: 80N27413
Document ID: 19800018912

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1980018912.pdf

=====

STS-1 OPERATIONAL FLIGHT PROFILE. VOLUME 5: DESCENT, CYCLE 3. APPENDIX
C: MONTE CARLO DISPERSION ANALYSIS

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TM-81097; JSC-14483-VOL-5-REV-1-APP-C;
REPT-78-FM-51-VOL-5-R-1-APP-C , 19800601; JUN 1, 1980
THE RESULTS OF THREE NONLINEAR THE MONTE CARLO DISPERSION ANALYSES FOR
THE SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM 1 FLIGHT (STS-1) ORBITER DESCENT
OPERATIONAL FLIGHT PROFILE, CYCLE 3 ARE PRESENTED. FIFTY RANDOMLY
SELECTED SIMULATION FOR THE END OF MISSION (EOM) DESCENT, THE ABORT
ONCE AROUND (AOA) DESCENT TARGETED LINE ARE STEEP TARGET LINE, AND THE
AOA DESCENT TARGETED TO THE SHALLOW TARGET LINE ARE ANALYZED. THESE
ANALYSES COMPARE THE FLIGHT ENVIRONMENT WITH SYSTEM AND OPERATIONAL
CONSTRAINTS ON THE FLIGHT ENVIRONMENT AND IN SOME CASES USE SIMPLIFIED
SYSTEM MODELS AS AN AID IN ASSESSING THE STS-1 DESCENT FLIGHT PROFILE.
IN ADDITION, DESCENT FLIGHT ENVELOPS ARE PROVIDED AS A DATA BASE FOR
USE BY SYSTEM SPECIALISTS TO DETERMINE THE FLIGHT READINESS FOR STS-1.
THE RESULTS OF THESE DISPERSION ANALYSES SUPERSEDE RESULTS OF THE
DISPERSION ANALYSIS PREVIOUSLY DOCUMENTED.
Accession ID: 80N27412
Document ID: 19800018911

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1980018911.pdf

=====

Space Transportation System Public Affairs Plan: First Space Shuttle
Mission STS-1

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TM-102954; NAS 1.15:102954 , 19800901; Sep 1, 1980

Accession ID: 90N71317
Document ID: 19900067371

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1990067371.pdf

=====

Aerodynamic design data book. Volume 1M: Orbiter vehicle STS-1

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-CR-160903; SD72-SH-0060-VOL-1M , 19801114; Nov 14, 1980

Accession ID: 81N72115
Document ID: 19810067693

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1981067693.pdf

=====

The Passive Optical Sample Assembly (POSA) on STS-1
Linton, R. C.
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TM-82407 , 19810301; Mar 1, 1981
The passive optical sample assembly (POSA) hardware, scheduled for the
flight on orbital flight test 1 is described. The function of the
instrument is aid in the assessment contamination hazards to sensitive
payloads in the shuttle cargo bay. It consists of an array of passively
deployed samples mounted on the development flight instrumentation
pallet in the shuttle cargo bay. The directory of samples together with
their intended measurements are presented. The plan for POSA data
analysis is also given.
Accession ID: 81N20868
Document ID: 19810012339

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1981012339.pdf

=====


Reconstruction of the 1st Space Shuttle (STS-1) entry trajectory


Findlay, J. T.; Kelly, G. M.; Heck, M. L.
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-CR-3561; NAS 1.26:3561; AMA-82-6 , 19820601; Jun 1, 1982
A discussion of the generation of the best estimate trajectory (BET) of
the first Space Shuttle Orbiter entry flight is presented. The BET
defines a time history of the state, attitude, and atmospheric relative
parameters throughout the Shuttle entry from an altitude of
approximately 183 km to rollout. The inertial parameters were estimated
utilizing a weighted least squares batch filter algorithm. Spacecraft
angular rate and acceleration data derived from the Inertial
Measurement Unit were utilized to predict the state and attitude which
was constrained in a weighted least squares process to fit external
tracking data consisting of ground based S-band and C-band data.
Refined spacecraft altitude and velocity during and post rollout were
obtained by processing artificial altimeter and Doppler data. The BET
generation process is discussed. Software and data interface
discussions are included. The variables and coordinate systems utilized
are defined. STS-1 mission peculiar inputs are summarized. A listing of
the contents of the actual BET is provided.
Accession ID: 82N28313
Document ID: 19820020437

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1982020437.pdf

=====

Airborne measurements of launch vehicle effluent: Launch of Space
Shuttle (STS-1) on 12 April 1981
Gregory, G. L.; Woods, D. C.; Sebacher, D. I.
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TP-2090; L-15494; NAS 1.60:2090 , 19830101; Jan 1, 1983
Launch vehicle effluent environmental impact activities from the first
space shuttle (STS-1) included airborne measurements within the exhaust
cloud from about 9 min after launch (T + 9) to T + 120 min.
Measurements included total hydrogen chloride (gaseous plus aqueous)
concentrations, particulate concentrations, temperature, and dewpoint
temperature. The airborne measurements are summarized. The physical
growth and behavior of exhaust clouds is presented as well as the
results of laboratory analysis of elemental composition of particulate
samples collected by the aircraft. Observed results from the STS-1
launch are compared with earlier Titan III results. Shuttle effluent
concentrations are found to be within the range of Titan III
observations.
Accession ID: 83N16952
Document ID: 19830008681

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1983008681.pdf

=====

Correlation of predicted and measured sonic boom characteristics from
the reentry of STS-1 orbiter
Garcia, F., Jr.; Jones, J. H.; Henderson, H. R.
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TP-2475; S-544; NAS 1.60:2475 , 19850601; Jun 1, 1985
Characteristics from sonic boom pressure signatures recorded at 11
locations during reentry of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia are
correlated with characteristics of wind tunnel signatures extrapolated
from flight altitudes for Mach numbers ranging from 1.23 to 5.87. The
flight pressure signature were recorded by microphones positioned at
two levels near the descent groundtrack along the California corridor.
The wind tunnel signatures used in theoretical predictions were
measured using a 0.0041-scale model Orbiter. The mean difference
between all measured and predicted overpressures is 12 percent from
measured levels. With one exception, the flight signatures are very
similar to theoretical n-waves.
Accession ID: 85N29694

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1985021382.pdf

=====

Effects of space shuttle launches STS-1 through STS-9 on terrestrial
vegetation of John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Schmalzer, P. A.; Hinkle, C. R.; Breininger, D.; Knott, W. M., III;
Koller, A. M., Jr.
NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TM-83103; NAS 1.15:83103 , 19850901; Sep 1, 1985
Space Shuttle launches produce a cloud containing hydrochloric acid
(HCl), aluminum oxide (Al203), and other substances. Acidities of less
than 0.5 pH have been measured routinely in association with the launch
cloud. In an area of about 22 ha regularly exposed to the exhaust cloud
during most Shuttle launches, acute vegetation damage has resulted from
the first nine Shuttle launches. Changes include loss of sensitive
species, loss of plant community structure, reduction in total cover,
and replacement of some species by weedy invaders. Community level
changes define a retrogressive sequence. One-time impacts to strand and
dune vegetation occurred after launches of STS-8 and STS-9. Acute
vegetation damage occurred especially to sensitive species. Within six
months, however, recovery was nearly complete. Sensitivity of species
to the launch cloud was partially predicted by previous laboratory
studies. Far-field acidic and dry fallout from the cloud as it rises to
stabilization and moves with the prevailing winds causes vegetation
spotting. Damage from this deposition is minor; typically at most 1% to
5% of leaf surface area is affected. No plant mortality or community
changes have occurred from far-field deposition.
Accession ID: 87N20658
Document ID: 19870011225

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1987011225.pdf

=====


Shuttle flight data and in-flight anomaly list (STS-1 through STS-36,
STS-38, and STS-41)

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TM-105470; JSC-19413; NAS 1.15:105470 , 19910201; Feb 1, 1991
A listing of Space Shuttle data gathered during the mission evaluation
process is presented chronologically. Changes to the report for this
revision include an update of all relevant sections to include STS-1
through STS-36, STS-38, and STS-41 data. The Space Shuttle inflight
anomaly list and the orbiter attitude timelines are also presented.
Accession ID: 92N70460
Document ID: 19920075336

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1992075336.pdf

=====

Shuttle flight data and in-flight anomaly list. STS-1 through STS-50,
and STS-52 through STS-56. Revision T

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-CR-197667; NAS 1.26:197667; JSC-19413-REV-T , 19931001; Oct 1,
1993
This report contains mission data for space shuttle flights and
consists of three sections. The first section is a listing of shuttle
flight data for flights STS-1 through STS-55 gathered during the
mission evaluation process. The second section is a listing of all
orbiter in-flight anomalies arranged in order by affected Work Unit
Codes of the failed items from shuttle flights STS-1 through STS-50 and
STS-52 through STS-56. The third section consists of data derived from
the as-flown orbiter attitude timelines and crew activity plans for
each mission. The data are presented in chart form and show the
progression of the mission from launch to entry interface with the
varying orbiter attitudes (roll, pitch, and yaw) and the time duration
in each attitude. The chart also shows the orbiter's velocity vector,
i.e., which of the orbiter's body axes is pointing forward along the
orbital path. The Beta angle, the angle between the sun vector and the
orbital plane, is also shown for each 12-hour period of the mission.
Accession ID: 96N11129
Document ID: 19960001128

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...1996901128.pdf

=====


Shuttle Flight Data and In-Flight Anomaly List: STS-1 through STS-71,
STS-73 and STS-74; Revised

NASA Center for AeroSpace Information (CASI)
NASA-TM-111711-Rev-5; JSC-19413-Rev-5; NAS 1.15:111711-Rev-5 ,
19960401; Apr. 1996
This report contains shuttle flight data and in-flight anomaly lists
arranged in mission number sequence from Shuttle transportation System
flights STS-1 through STS-71, STS-73 and STS-74. The in-flight anomaly
listing includes all anomalies arranged in the order of affected work
unit codes of the failed items.
Accession ID: 96N32961
Document ID: 19960047214

=====


Rusty

"Gene DiGennaro" wrote in message
oups.com...

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:
I distinctly recall the day Columbia first flew.

Actually I remember the day it didn't fly also.

But the day it flew I stayed home from school until it made orbit.

After that I finally went to school. My teacher only asked one
question,
"Well, did it lift off?" She already knew why I was several hours
tardy.
:-)

Other people's thoughts?


I stayed home from school on the both the attempted launch day and the
actual launch. I was in tenth grade at the time. While in school I
thought, gee I sure wouldn't want to be a shuttle astronaut, they're
just high tech bus drivers! I'd want an assignment to actually go
somewhere! Little did I know that we wouldn't "go" anywhere for the
next 25 plus years...damn...maybe my kids will.

Hmm, strange, I had thought the 10th was a Sunday and the 12th a Tuesday.

Turns out it was Friday/Sunday.

So I guess I missed school on Friday.



Gene

On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 12:31:11 GMT, "Greg D. Moore \(Strider\)"
wrote:

But the day it flew I stayed home from school until it made orbit.

Er, on a Sunday?

After that I finally went to school. My teacher only asked one question,
"Well, did it lift off?" She already knew why I was several hours tardy.

Other people's thoughts?

I was on the NASA Causeway East for the launch. I'd been at KSC for
the scrub on Friday, April 10, too, but for some reason (reported to
be bootleg, or too many proper Vehicle Passes, but who knows) they put
us on SR-3 north of the VAB.

Brian

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:
"Gene DiGennaro" wrote in message
oups.com...

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:
I distinctly recall the day Columbia first flew.

Actually I remember the day it didn't fly also.

But the day it flew I stayed home from school until it made orbit.

After that I finally went to school. My teacher only asked one
question,
"Well, did it lift off?" She already knew why I was several hours
tardy.
:-)

Other people's thoughts?


I stayed home from school on the both the attempted launch day and the
actual launch. I was in tenth grade at the time. While in school I
thought, gee I sure wouldn't want to be a shuttle astronaut, they're
just high tech bus drivers! I'd want an assignment to actually go
somewhere! Little did I know that we wouldn't "go" anywhere for the
next 25 plus years...damn...maybe my kids will.

Hmm, strange, I had thought the 10th was a Sunday and the 12th a Tuesday.

Turns out it was Friday/Sunday.

So I guess I missed school on Friday.



Gene



Looks like I missed school on Friday too. Funny, I didn't remember that
the 12th was a Sunday. My parents let me stay home for the next
launches that occured during 1982. Kids would notice I was not at
class. The next day, I'd get ribbed by my friends.

Gene

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:
"Gene DiGennaro" wrote in message
oups.com...

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:
I distinctly recall the day Columbia first flew.

Actually I remember the day it didn't fly also.

But the day it flew I stayed home from school until it made orbit.

After that I finally went to school. My teacher only asked one
question,
"Well, did it lift off?" She already knew why I was several hours
tardy.
:-)

Other people's thoughts?


I stayed home from school on the both the attempted launch day and the
actual launch. I was in tenth grade at the time. While in school I
thought, gee I sure wouldn't want to be a shuttle astronaut, they're
just high tech bus drivers! I'd want an assignment to actually go
somewhere! Little did I know that we wouldn't "go" anywhere for the
next 25 plus years...damn...maybe my kids will.

Hmm, strange, I had thought the 10th was a Sunday and the 12th a Tuesday.

Turns out it was Friday/Sunday.

So I guess I missed school on Friday.



Gene


I guessed I missed the Friday as well. My Mom and Dad let me stay home
for the next several launches too, so I guess that's where I got the
memory of missing class more than once.