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Author
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Topic: Photo of the week 343 (May 28, 2011)
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heng44
Member Posts: 3387
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 05-28-2011 05:07 AM
   
 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. January 1986: Space Shuttles Columbia (foreground) and Challenger rest on their respective launch pads 39A and 39B with the protective Rotating Service Structures wrapped around the orbiters. Columbia was rolled out to pad A on December 2, 1985, in preparation for STS-61C and Challenger was rolled out to pad B three weeks later on December 21 for STS-51L. This was the first time that two Shuttles had been poised for launch at the same time. Ed Hengeveld |
history in miniature
Member Posts: 600
From: Slatington, PA
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 05-28-2011 12:30 PM
Pity, we'll never see that again. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 05-28-2011 02:30 PM
...and them. |
brianjbradley
Member Posts: 114
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 05-28-2011 05:30 PM
CS - your comment gave me goosebumps |
ASCAN1984
Member Posts: 1049
From: County Down, Nothern Ireland
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-30-2011 03:15 AM
I love the comment in "Space Shuttle: The First 20 Years" that Columbia's STS-61C flight was the end of innocence. It really is true. It is rather haunting to see both orbiters on the pad at the same time knowing what we know now with both disasters and also that both are no longer here. In such a short space of time after this photo was taken if memory serves Columbia barely escaped after several scrubs with one being that if weather hadn't scrubbed it, vehicle would have exploded on the pad. Scary times. Is this the closest that two orbiters who were out on the pad together have ever come to disaster? Great, but haunting photo. |
Jonjonzilla
Member Posts: 42
From: Hagerstown, MAryland
Registered: May 2007
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posted 05-30-2011 09:20 AM
Can you tell me more about the weather delay/pad disaster you are talking about? |
astro-nut
Member Posts: 946
From: Washington, IL
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 06-11-2011 12:30 PM
How exciting and promising it was to see two shuttles on the launch pad for the first time! That photo speaks a thousand words for both Columbia and Challenger! |
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