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Author
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Topic: Space shuttles on both launch pads
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted September 18, 2008 06:14 PM
   
If all proceeds as now planned, two space shuttles -- Atlantis and Endeavour -- will be visible on launch pads 39A and 39B for approximately two hours on Saturday.Endeavour, which will arrive at 39B on Friday, is being readied as a rescue vehicle for Atlantis, now on 39A, before flying its own mission in November. Atlantis' payload -- instruments to upgrade and repair the Hubble Space Telescope -- will arrive at 39A on Saturday evening to be installed in the orbiter's bay. As currently scheduled, the two pads' rotating service structures will both be open from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. EDT Saturday, allowing for a rare unobstructed view of the two shuttles on the two pads at the same time for what may well be the last time.  Columbia and Discovery in 1990 The following details when both pads have simultaneously hosted space shuttles. - STS-61-C (Columbia) and STS-51-L (Challenger)
Dec. 22, 1985 (rollout of 51-L to Pad B) to Jan. 12, 1986 (launch of 61-C from Pad A)
- STS-31 (Discovery) and STS-35 (Columbia)
April 22, 1990 (rollout of STS-35 to Pad A) to April 24, 1990 (launch of STS-31 from Pad B) - STS-35 (Columbia) and STS-41 (Discovery)
Sep. 4, 1990 (rollout of STS-41 to Pad B) to Oct. 6, 1990 (launch of STS-41 from Pad B)
- STS-38 (Atlantis) and STS-35 (Columbia)
Oct. 14, 1990 (rollout of STS-35 to Pad B) to Nov. 15, 1990 (launch of STS-38 from Pad A)
- STS-37 (Atlantis) and STS-39 (Discovery)
April 1, 1991 (rollout of STS-39 to Pad A) to April 5, 1991 (launch of STS-37 from Pad B)
- STS-45 (Atlantis) and STS-49 (Endeavour)
March 13, 1992 (rollout of STS-49 to Pad B) to March 24, 1992 (launch of STS-45 from Pad A)
- STS-50 (Columbia) and STS-46 (Atlantis)
June 11, 1992 (rollout of STS-46 to Pad B) to June 25, 1992 (launch of STS-50 from Pad A)
- STS-56 (Discovery) and STS-55 (Columbia)
Feb. 7, 1993 (rollout of STS-55 to Pad A) to April 8, 1993 (launch of STS-56 from Pad B)
- STS-64 (Discovery) and STS-68 (Endeavour)
Aug. 19, 1994 (rollout of STS-64 to Pad B) to Aug. 24, 1994 (rollback to VAB of STS-68 from Pad A)
- STS-71 (Atlantis) and STS-70 (Discovery)
May 11, 1995 (rollout of STS-70 to Pad B) to June 8, 1995 (rollback to VAB of STS-70 from Pad B)
- STS-71 (Atlantis) and STS-70 (Discovery)
June 15, 1995 (rollout of STS-70 to Pad B) to June 27, 1995 (launch of STS-71 from Pad A)
- STS-70 (Discovery) and STS-69 (Endeavour)
July 6, 1995 (rollout of STS-69 to Pad A) to July 13, 1995 (launch of STS-70 from Pad B)
- STS-69 (Endeavour) and STS-73 (Columbia)
Aug. 28, 1995 (rollout of STS-73 to Pad B) to Sept. 7, 1995 (launch of STS-69 from Pad A)
- STS-73 (Columbia) and STS-74 (Atlantis)
Oct. 12, 1995 (rollout of STS-74 to Pad A) to Oct. 20, 1995 (launch of STS-73 from Pad B)
- STS-95 (Discovery) and STS-88 (Endeavour)
Oct. 21, 1998 (rollout of STS-88 to Pad A) to Oct. 29, 1998 (launch of STS-95 from Pad B)
- STS-103 (Discovery) and STS-99 (Endeavour)
Dec. 13, 1999 (rollout of STS-99 to Pad A) to Dec. 19, 1999 (launch of STS-103 from Pad B)
- STS-104 (Atlantis) and STS-105 (Discovery)
July 2, 2001 (rollout of STS-105 to Pad A) to July 12, 2001 (launch of STS-104 from Pad B)
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted September 20, 2008 12:32 AM
 Endeavour on Pad 39B stands in the foreground of Atlantis on 39A, marking the 18th time in history that two shuttles have occupied the pads at the same time. Credit: Ben Cooper/LaunchPhotography.com  An aerial view of NASA's Kennedy Space Center shows space shuttles on both pads. At top is Endeavour; in the foreground is Atlantis. This is the first time since July 2001 that two shuttles are on the launch pads at the same time. Credit: NASA On September 20, NASA has invited the media to photograph both Atlantis and Endeavour on their respective pads with the rotating service structures rolled back from the vehicles. A live static shot of the two shuttles will be broadcast on NASA TV from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m. EDT. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted September 20, 2008 11:57 AM
 With a rainbow serving as a backdrop in the sky, Atlantis (foreground) sits on Pad 39A and Endeavour on 39B. Credit: NASA 
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted September 20, 2008 03:02 PM
 More photographs by Ben Cooper at LaunchPhotography.com |
contra
Member Posts: 203
From: Kiel, Germany
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted September 20, 2008 03:43 PM
What a great sight that is. Wish I could see it for myself. |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 174
From: Ajax , Ontario, Canada,
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted September 20, 2008 04:03 PM
Great photos! |
cspg
Member Posts: 1850
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted September 21, 2008 12:08 AM
Beautiful, simply beautiful. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 297
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted September 21, 2008 06:18 AM
With both shuttles on the pad has the KSC tours been altered? Specifically, the "Up Close" tour that went past the launch pads? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted September 21, 2008 02:23 PM
According to a ticket sales agent, the tour has been modified. The buses no longer stop for the photo opportunity at the mound between the pads. You'll still see the pads but from inside the bus as you drive by them. |
tegwilym
Member Posts: 1845
From: Renton, WA USA
Registered: Jan 2000
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posted September 22, 2008 12:10 PM
Too bad the shuttle program never quite worked out as planned. That should have been a fairly common sight I guess. Nice to see though! |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 162
From: Denver, CO USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted September 22, 2008 01:45 PM
I'm sure some of my fellow cSers wil think I deserve a firm slap for this, but... I can't believe I'm only one who thought of Bruce Willis when I saw these.Seriously, though... awesome pics. Too bad this wasn't a more frequently-seen sight. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 715
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted September 22, 2008 03:06 PM
Actually I was thinking the same thing myself although I didn't have Bruce Willis himself in my head. But, the image from Armageddon of two shuttles on the pads still hangs in my head as well.I did manage to SIM a simultaneous launch of two shuttles in the Orbiter freeware simulator with one of the downloads from more accurate shuttles (with an autopilot). It needs a computer with a fair amount of power to do (and lags will kill it as one won't reach orbit). But when pulled off successfully with but shuttles reaching orbit, it looks awsome! |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 354
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted September 22, 2008 05:24 PM
I was thinking Moonraker.
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 20, 2009 01:41 PM
collectSPACE: Two shuttles on two pads for one last time For what may be only the fourth time in history, two space shuttles sat exposed on NASA's two launch pads at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this weekend. The rare sight came to a close today, as each was covered by rotating sections of their pads' structures.As spectacular as it may have been, NASA hopes it'll be the last such simultaneous view for the shuttles, although they have had that expectation before.  |
MCroft04
Member Posts: 674
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted April 20, 2009 08:13 PM
Robert, what a great picture! Imagine what might have been if the shuttle was more reliable and less expensive to place payload into orbit? If so then this scenario might be just another day at KSC. Just curious, does anyone know of a photo of 3 shuttles? |
NavySpaceFan
Member Posts: 354
From: Norfolk, VA
Registered: May 2007
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posted April 21, 2009 06:57 AM
quote:
Originally posted by MCroft04:
Just curious, does anyone know of a photo of 3 shuttles?
There are only two shuttle launch pads (39A and B) so there can only be two on the pad at the same time.
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MCroft04
Member Posts: 674
From: Smithfield, Me, USA
Registered: Mar 2005
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posted April 21, 2009 07:11 AM
quote:
Originally posted by NavySpaceFan:
There are only two shuttle launch pads (39A and B) so there can only be two on the pad at the same time.
I understand there are only 2 launch pads. I was just curious if 3 orbiters were ever near one another such that they could be photographed at one time. Unlikely I suppose, but just curious. |
mjanovec
Member Posts: 2446
From: Midwest, USA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted April 21, 2009 02:22 PM
It certainly would be nice if all three orbiters could be lined up at the shuttle landing facility following the final mission for a photo opportunity. Perhaps invite every flown shuttle astronaut to pose for a group photo in front of the orbiters before they are dispersed to museums for final display. |
KSCartist
Member Posts: 1569
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005
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posted April 21, 2009 02:29 PM
That's a great idea. It might give people a better idea of the scope of the program.Put Story Musgrave in the front as the only astronaut to have flown on every space shuttle. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 29, 2009 10:33 AM
Two shuttles, two pads, two T-38s: NASA pilots Jack Nickel (in the jet with tail number 62) and Charles Justiz fly over for a bird's eye view of two shuttles on the launch pad. Shuttle Atlantis is in the foreground and Endeavour can be seen in the distance on the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The two are flying T-38 jet trainer aircraft. Image Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz (As an aside, Justiz is the husband of Dayna Steele Justiz, the original founder of TheSpaceStore.com.) |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 1981
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted April 29, 2009 11:08 AM
Great photo but what a waste having those empty back seats!  Paul
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 15393
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 29, 2009 04:35 PM
More photos of two shuttles, two pads, two T-38s (and a Gulfstream!): 
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GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 297
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted April 29, 2009 05:19 PM
GREAT PHOTOS! Oh, and the T-38s and shuttles look cool too.  |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 166
From: washington, Illinois USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted May 04, 2009 09:16 AM
Seeing two space shuttles on the launch pads is a treat in itself! What a sight! |
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