Author
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Topic: Journalist Craig Covault on STS-7?
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dom Member Posts: 855 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 03-31-2018 05:36 AM
The recent NASA Chroniclers citation for journalist Craig Covault says he "was to be the first journalist in space (on STS-7 with Sally Ride), but was replaced by physician astronaut Dr. Norm Thagard to study space motion sickness after its effect on the STS-5 crew."What! I've never heard this before, is it true? |
Grounded! Member Posts: 367 From: Bennington, Vermont, USA Registered: Feb 2011
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posted 03-31-2018 10:16 AM
He was one of 1700 who applied, but was not a finalist. This subject was discussed in this 2014 thread. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-31-2018 10:53 AM
If STS-7 is not a mistake, then this seems to be something different. NASA's Journalist in Space Program did not begin accepting applications until 1985, two years after STS-7 flew. |
328KF Member Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-31-2018 05:11 PM
I think STS-7 was way too early in the program for NASA to even begin considering sending civilians to space. That was the first 5 person flight for the shuttle and the only reason for that was the late addition of Thagard to study space adaptation syndrome. In fact, this was during the time that Bob Stevenson and Paul Scully-Power were under consideration to fly on either STS-7 and/or STS-8. They both had a long history with the Astronaut Office (particularly Stevenson) and were fairly well accepted by the folks there. But even after George Abbey floated the idea to the assigned crews, they were nixed in favor of Thagard and Thornton, both MDs. In researching our book on the Payload Specialist program, Mel C and I found nothing to suggest that journalists were being considered this early on. |
MCroft04 Member Posts: 1634 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
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posted 03-31-2018 06:36 PM
I agree with John; I did not find anything serious about flying civilians that early (with the exception of the Spacelab payload specialists that goes back to the early 1970s). Although Chris Kraft alluded to flying civilians (journalists, politicians, etc) way back in an October 1976 memo. |
Henry Heatherbank Member Posts: 244 From: Adelaide, South Australia Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 03-31-2018 07:03 PM
The earliest I had heard of plans for a non-NASA crew member was a Manned Spaceflight Engineer on 41-C, whose presence would not be announced (and no photos of them taken onboard during the flight). I may be recalling this incorrectly but I thought this was meant to be Gary Payton? So that time frame is late 1983 leading up to an April 1984 flight. |
328KF Member Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-31-2018 07:38 PM
That was David Vidrine, the lone U.S. Navy representative from the first MSE group. For reasons we didn't have the opportunity to explore, the military leadership was not in favor of this prospect. However, given the fact that there was no DoD payload aboard, and this mission was completely dedicated to the Solar Max repair after the Long Duration Exposure Facility deployment, it didn't appear to be an ideal first flight for an MSE. Not to get too far off the original topic, but I should add that there were never any plans to "secretly" fly a crewmember. MSEs were held back from public announcement until close to launch, but no one ever suggested hiding one from the public during flight. |
OV-105 Member Posts: 816 From: Ridgecrest, CA Registered: Sep 2000
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posted 03-31-2018 09:05 PM
Wasn't Ride assigned to the flight that was going to have the journalist, STS 61-M I believe? Was there ever any group photos of the MSEs? |
Henry Heatherbank Member Posts: 244 From: Adelaide, South Australia Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 03-31-2018 09:27 PM
quote: Originally posted by 328KF: ...no one ever suggested hiding one from the public during flight.
If I am recalling correctly, it was EXACTLY the point to keep the MSE's presence secret. I believe there was a thread on this topic a while back. |
328KF Member Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 03-31-2018 09:44 PM
While there were efforts to limit press access to an MSE assigned to a flight, none were ever held back from the public prior to or during a classified mission. The logistics of successfully carrying that out are nearly impossible. Mel and I detail the MSE program over several chapters of Come Fly With Us: NASA's Payload Specialist Program, and were fortunate enough to discuss all of these issues with several of the participants. |
dom Member Posts: 855 From: Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 04-01-2018 01:24 PM
Thanks for the clarification John and Mel (proving your book is going to be THE definitive story of the payload specialists), but I still find it bizarre that an official NASA citation could get the facts so wrong? |
328KF Member Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 04-01-2018 04:10 PM
quote: Originally posted by OV-105: Was there ever any group photos of the MSEs?
There are photos of the first group selected, as well as a photo with some from each of the first and second group, but I don't have any with the entire team or from the third group.Rest assured though that you will find a few MSE photos in our book most interesting... |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-01-2018 04:33 PM
quote: Originally posted by dom: I still find it bizarre that an official NASA citation could get the facts so wrong?
I spoke with NASA public affairs officers from Kennedy and NASA HQ today while at the Kennedy press site. Now they are aware of the issue, they are going to look into it. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-02-2018 12:10 PM
NASA has now revised Covault's entry in the release, removing mention of STS-7. He was considered for NASA's journalist in space initiative during the Space Shuttle Program. |
328KF Member Posts: 1234 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 04-02-2018 04:12 PM
It's proper that they fixed it, and the correction in no way diminishes Covault's work. He is a fine journalist and a real fixture in the press briefings over so many years. I remember watching him growing up and he always asked very insightful questions. A well-deserved honor. |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 04-09-2018 09:40 PM
quote: Originally posted by OV-105: Wasn't Ride assigned to the flight that was going to have the journalist, STS 61-M I believe?
Ride was assigned to 61M, but that was a TDRS deployment. 61I (as in India) was a September 1986 launch with the Journalist-in-Space as well as the Indian (subcontinent) payload specialist, and the LDEF retrieval. Mike Smith would have been the pilot. Jim Bagian was one of the mission specialists scheduled for 61I, and when flights resumed after Challenger, he said he wanted to do the LDEF retrieval, but he moved to the TDRS deployment on 29R because they needed someone to jump in after Anna Fisher took leave. Sonny Carter and Bonnie Dunbar would have been the other mission specialists. Don Williams would have been commander. |