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Author
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Topic: Shuttle orbiter aft flight deck controls
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SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4886
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-08-2021 03:39 PM
   
The A6U panels shown in the two following images have some differences (for lack of a better term refer to the panel in the first photo as the "Gen 1", and the following "Gen 2" — which can be seen to the top left of the next photo).For example, the Gen 1 panel payload bay latch/unlatch controls employed a rotary selector knob and fewer talkback indicators) to actuate one of the latches (at a time); the Gen 2 panel had dedicated switches and talk backs for each latch. Do any of the shuttle program veterans on this board happen to know when the transition was made from the Gen 1 configuration to Gen 2 A6U? Have located on orbit images showing the Gen 1 on board STS-3 and possibly STS-41B.  
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MOL
Member Posts: 144
From: Los Angeles, CA
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 07-08-2021 07:40 PM
My guess is this change would have occurred during the first OMDP (Orbiter Maintenance Down Period). For Columbia that was 1994, and Discovery in 1995. I recall several other panel modifications during that time frame. I personally was only involved with those related to the communications systems panels, so I would not have been aware of this particular one. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4886
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-08-2021 10:41 PM
Good data point.A fellow cS'r (thank you Mike ) turned me on to this excellent image archive. A query returned on-orbit photos; it seems that the "Gen 1" configuration was unique to Columbia as Challenger at least during its initial missions incorporates the 2nd panel configuration. Furthermore, a preliminary comparison of the on hand panel with this
STS-4 image shot of Columbia's aft flight deck provides some indicators the artifact is actually the same panel flown onboard Columbia. This conclusion is based on the positioning of residual adhesive where velcro was originally attached, as well as existing velcro (these observations are annotated on the image below). The black velcro on the left side of the panel as it was originally installed subsequently replaced with blue velcro later in the panels history. There are additional solid points of correlation I have not indexed between the photo of the artifact and the STS-4 archival shot that increase confidence they are the same (happy to do so if there is further interest) :  |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4886
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-11-2021 11:25 AM
cS member Kyra was able to locate this STS-9 on-orbit image, the final Columbia flight with installed early gen A6U panel. By that point the original black velcro had been removed adjacent to both sides of the payload latch (PL) select knob (A6U panel bottom right corner) leaving residual adhesive visible today on the artifact, with blue velcro replacing the black on the panel bottom left corner (retaining a film mag in the photo). |
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