Posts: 1089
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009

posted September 22, 2010 03:40 AM               

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According to Wikipedia several rescue missions were designated, i.e. -

• STS-114 / STS-300
  
• STS-121 / STS-300
  
• STS-115 / STS-301
  
• STS-116 / STS-317
  
• STS-118 / STS-322
  
• STS-120 / STS-320
  
• STS-122 / STS-323
  
• STS-123 / STS-324
  
• STS-124 / STS-326
  
• STS-125 / STS-400*
  
• STS-134 / STS-335

* Hubble repair flight requiring a different orbit from ISS flights.

I have queries regarding this list. Can anyone explain the logic behind the numbering, e.g. why the jump from 301 to 317?

Were there crews selected for these missions and if so who were they?

If there weren't crews nominated, how did NASA propose to crew them if needed at short notice?

Would a nominated rescue crew be allowed their own mission patch?

Answers/thoughts anyone?

Posts: 2300
From: Titusville, FL USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted September 22, 2010 04:48 AM               

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I can't speak for the numbering system but I can confirm that the crew would have been allowed to have their own patch. It would have not been released or adopted unless they were committed to fly.

As I recall the CDR, PLT and two EVA MS astronauts of the most recently flown crew would be assigned to be the four member LON crew for a rescue. I assume it would be because they would be ahead of the training curve having just completed a mission.

Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted September 22, 2010 08:02 AM               

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Since STS-124 (with the exception of STS-125), the Launch On Need (LON) crew has been the four flight deck members from the next mission in line to fly. The space station was significantly stocked with supplies such that any shuttle crew taking "safe haven" there could wait until the launch window for the next mission.

Prior to that, as Tim wrote, the flight deck crew of the prior mission stood in as the LON crew for the next flight.

As for the numbering, originally NASA intended for all LON missions to carry the same designation, STS-300 (until presumably, it flew). I believe that changed when it became necessary for planning manifests to distinguish between different orbiters being reserved for different launch on need assignments (e.g. Atlantis was still serving as the STS-300 vehicle for STS-121 when an updated manifest showed Endeavour assigned to STS-301 to support STS-115).

Posts: 1508
From: Toms River, NJ,USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted September 22, 2010 10:25 AM               

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quote:

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Originally posted by moorouge:
According to Wikipedia several rescue missions were designated...

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It seems to me some of the LON flight numbers were based on the succeeding flight number. Ex.: STS-117 was sked after STS-116, so the 116 LON became STS-317. Same with STS-122 through 124 and 134.

Now if we could only figure out where STS-322 and 320 came from, although it seems to me in the case of 320 that they took the last two numbers of the flight to be rescued and simply added a '3' in front of it. Was STS-122 originally manifested after STS-118?