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  Photo of the week 341 (May 14, 2011)

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Author Topic:   Photo of the week 341 (May 14, 2011)
heng44
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Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001

posted 05-14-2011 02:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for heng44   Click Here to Email heng44     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

With the end of the Space Shuttle program approaching, I selected a series of photos showing two orbiters in one shot. I will post these in the coming weeks.

This photo was taken on July 4, 1982, shortly after Columbia’s landing at Edwards following the STS-4 mission. President Reagan was there to welcome the crew and later gave the signal for the new orbiter Challenger to take off for Florida, where it would be prepared for STS-6. Before heading east, the 747/Challenger combination made low pass over Columbia. It was the first time two flight-worthy orbiters were photographed together.

Ed Hengeveld

Henry Heatherbank
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Posts: 244
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Registered: Apr 2005

posted 05-14-2011 04:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Henry Heatherbank     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What a haunting and eerie photo, considering the ultimate fate of these two Orbiters. This photograph perfectly captures the optimistic future of the Shuttle program, with all its high hopes and aspirations, arguably at its brightest point. With the OFT program successfully completed with the landing of STS 4 moments before, with the Shuttle about to go "operational" with STS 5 four months hence, and with the future of the Shuttle fleet (Challenger) ready to step into action. All systems well-and-truly "go".

Ultimately both Columbia and Challenger would meet an inglorious end, both arguably the victims of management issues and/or schedule pressure.

If only it could have been different, with Columbia sitting in the Smithsonian, gloriously in retirement ...

APG85
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Posts: 306
From:
Registered: Jan 2008

posted 05-14-2011 06:45 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for APG85     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That was a neat day!

randyc
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Posts: 779
From: Chandler, AZ USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-14-2011 10:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for randyc   Click Here to Email randyc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I was there (along with 500,000 of my closest friends)!

astro-nut
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Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 05-14-2011 02:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for astro-nut   Click Here to Email astro-nut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
An awesome photo indeed!!! I remember watching the network news coverage of that day, and taking notes in my shuttle notebook. I thought it was always a good day for the shuttle program with all the activities that day along with President Reagan being there!!! The good ole days of the Space Shuttle Program.

micropooz
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Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 05-14-2011 04:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for micropooz   Click Here to Email micropooz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I remember watching that on TV that day. We were all hopeful that Reagan would make a public statement supporting the development of a Space Station. He didn't...

joe bruce
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Posts: 129
From: Spokane, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-14-2011 04:42 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for joe bruce   Click Here to Email joe bruce     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A few days earlier my wife and I were at KSC for Columbia's STS-4 launch. It was our first anniversary. A hail storm had passed through earlier in the evening so technicians were checking for damage on Columbia most of the night. If I remember correctly, they lost one of the SRBs on that launch.

We had rented a Datsun B 210 and were trying to sleep in the car. So between the small car, heat and humidity there was not much sleep that night. It was a memorable 1st anniversary for me but I still am not sure what my wife thought about it.

This year is our 30th anniversary so it must have been okay.

Columbia will always be my favorite orbiter.

Lou Chinal
Member

Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007

posted 05-14-2011 08:01 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Lou Chinal   Click Here to Email Lou Chinal     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Joe, your wife must be very tolerant.

I have fond memories of that day also. Ed had posted a photo awhile back that must have been taken about an hour before this one. It showed the crew of STS 4 talking with Reagan, we were all waiting for the space station announcement.

All in all it was a good day for the space program. Wide eyed optimism was everywhere that day!

OV-105
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Posts: 816
From: Ridgecrest, CA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 05-14-2011 08:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for OV-105   Click Here to Email OV-105     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Both SRB's were lost on STS-4.

joe bruce
Member

Posts: 129
From: Spokane, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-14-2011 10:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for joe bruce   Click Here to Email joe bruce     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by OV-105:
Both SRB's were lost on STS-4.

I can't remember, was it due to rough seas in the recovery area?

joe bruce
Member

Posts: 129
From: Spokane, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Nov 2004

posted 05-14-2011 10:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for joe bruce   Click Here to Email joe bruce     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Lou Chinal:
Joe, your wife must be very tolerant.
Lou, she is a good lady and my best friend. She allows me to take up most of the basement with my collection. She has put up with a lot of weird items coming home over the years.

star51L
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Posts: 340
From: Vilano Beach, FL, USA
Registered: Aug 2002

posted 05-15-2011 07:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for star51L   Click Here to Email star51L     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by joe bruce:
I can't remember, was it due to rough seas in the recovery area?

I believe both were lost due to parachute deployment failures.

Gilbert
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Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 05-15-2011 11:55 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Gilbert   Click Here to Email Gilbert     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Wow. I remember that like it was yesterday. What a different world we live in now.

astro-nut
Member

Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006

posted 05-15-2011 02:50 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for astro-nut   Click Here to Email astro-nut     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I also remember that Astronaut Dick Scobee was piloting the 747/SCA that day along with Fitz Fulton(I think)? Thank you.

GoesTo11
Member

Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 05-21-2011 09:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is that a T-38 chase plane that looks awfully close?

Last Edwards landing before I got there... I saw STS-5, -6, -7, -9, and 41-D come home.

A quarter of a century ago. Wow.

All times are CT (US)

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