Posts: 3450
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 09-17-2020 08:01 PM               

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In the Netflix documentary "Challenger: The Final Flight," Ron McNair said he was part of the shuttle crew that made the first landing at Kennedy Space Center, and was looking forward to making a second landing there.

Who was the first astronaut to make two landings at KSC? It has to be before STS-94 (STS-83 and 94), no?

Posts: 3088
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 09-17-2020 09:12 PM               

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Do you mean as commander or pilot only, if so, I think that would be Hoot Gibson as pilot of STS-41B in 1984 and eight years later as commander of STS-47 in 1992. Is that what you're looking for?

Next in line would be Brian Duffy, pilot of both STS-45 in 1992 and STS-57 a year later.

Posts: 1908
From: United States
Registered: May 2000

posted 09-17-2020 10:10 PM               

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EDIT: This post is incorrect, as the source I checked was wrong about STS-48 landing at KSC, when it did in fact land at Edwards as Ken pointed out below.

(Old post: The answer is both James Buchli, STS-51C and STS-48 in 1985 and 1991; and Charlie 'Sam' Gemar, STS-38 and 48 in 1990 and 1991.)

Posts: 3088
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001

Posts: 1908
From: United States
Registered: May 2000

posted 09-18-2020 10:39 AM               

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Wow my mistake, the first source I checked showed KSC as the landing site. I see it was in fact Edwards checking elsewhere.

That means the correct answer appears to be Kathy Sullivan and David Leestma on STS-41G and 45. Do you concur there? 45 was before 47.

Posts: 3088
From: Merritt Island, Florida, Brevard
Registered: Mar 2001