Posts: 3387 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 02-15-2014 02:01 AM
Challenger lands on the runway at the Kennedy Space Center for the first time at the end of mission STS-41B. A T-38 chase plane can be seen in the background and on the horizon are Launch Complex 39 Pads A and B.
Tom Member
Posts: 1597 From: New York Registered: Nov 2000
posted 02-15-2014 08:33 AM
The first truly "round trip" to space.
Looking at that photo again, was just thinking that the weather that day must have been marginal at best... seems very overcast and foggy.
Thanks for posting, Ed!
randy Member
Posts: 2176 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 02-15-2014 11:41 AM
This picture looks like they're just starting a run on the track at Bonneville Speedway.
posted 02-15-2014 12:12 PM
Indeed the weather that morning was no fun for a photographer.
Was there at the SLF and remember worrying in the early morning darkness and fog that this shuttle landing would probably be sent to California like the previous scheduled attempt.
At the end of STS-7 the planned Cape landing was waved off at de-orbit burn due to cloud cover there at the Space Coast. About an hour and a half later the skies opened up and the sun came out but by then Challenger was zooming it's way towards Edwards AFB.
Greggy_D Member
Posts: 977 From: Michigan Registered: Jul 2006
posted 02-15-2014 03:04 PM
That had to be an extremely surreal feeling for the STS-41B crew. Imagine looking out the cockpit window at the pad where their journey began.
Philip Member
Posts: 5952 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001
posted 02-18-2014 11:11 AM
Remember this well, just as STS-3 (Columbia) which had to land on the White Sands landing strip in New Mexico... Some houses in Cloudcroft, NM have a logo featuring the space shuttle.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 3208 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 10-28-2016 12:14 PM
quote:Originally posted by heng44: A T-38 chase plane can be seen in the background
Looks like STS-41B landing photo S84-27175 was taken from that T-38 chase plane.