posted 07-05-2014 06:53 AM               

Space Cover #272: "We have a cutoff..."

Thirty years ago, on June 26, 1984, Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery sat on the pad primed and ready for its maiden flight. But things didn't go as planned and for those watching on TV, as I was; the STS-41D crew aboard; and those in the KSC Firing Room, the sudden SSME shutdown, or Pad Abort, was a shocking and scary event for all. After the roar from the brief firing of the three Main Engines and the steam subsided, all that remained was silence, with all eyes on Discovery sitting manned and lonely on the pad.

Mark Hess, the KSC launch commentator announced: "We have a cut off...We have an abort by the onboard computers." Shortly, Hess continued with somewhat reassuring words: "We can now verify all three engines have been shutdown." But then a hydrogen fire on the pad quickly added to the drama and suspense, but was quickly doused by water spray from the fire suppression system.

The dazed crew shortly exited thru this huge water spray, with one crew member stating that they looked like "drowned rats." It wasn't a good day for the Space Shuttle Program.

Thus occurred the first shutdown of engines prior to a manned spacecraft launch since Gemini-Titan 6A back in 1965. But it wouldn't be the last, as four more times SSME Pad Aborts occurred, but certainly this first one stands alone as the most shocking and scary.

Shown is a cover canceled for the STS-41D Pad Abort and signed by Hess with some of his commentary that day. Also shown is a cover double canceled for Discovery's launch two months later and its landing at Edwards AFB, CA, and nicely autographed by the STS-41D crew.