DOCUMENT RESUME ED 310 935 SE 050 881 AUTHOR McAleer, Neil TITLE Space Shuttle: The Renewed Promise. INSTITUTION National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO NASA-PAM-521 PUB DATE 89 NOTE 29p.; Colored photographs will not reproduce well. AVAILABLE FROMSuperintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 ($2.00). PUB TYPE Books (010) -- Reports - Descriptive (141) EDRS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Aerospace Technology; *Satellites (Aerospace); *Science History; Science Materials; Science Programs; *Scientific Personnel; *Space Exploration; *Technological Advancement IDENTIFIERS National Aeronautics and Space Administration; *Space Shuttle ABSTRACT This booklet describes the history of the space shuttle, especially after the Challenger accident. Topics include: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Return to Flight: The Recovery"; (3) "Space Shuttle Chronology"; (4) "Examples of Other Modifications on Shuttle's Major Systems";(5) "Space Shuttle Recovery Chronology"; (6) "Poised for Launch: Space Shuttle and Crew";(7) "Versatile Achievements: The First Twenty-Four Flights"; (8) "Selected Space Shuttle Mission Achievements and Firsts"; and (9) "The Space Shuttle into the 21st Century." (YP) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** r 4 Sipme Pita0U The Renewed Promise 4 Space Shuttle: The Renewed Promise By Neil McAleer For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 5 Introduction 5 Return to Flight: The Recovery 6 Space Shuttle Chronology 7 Examples of Other Modifications on Shuttle's Major Systems 8 Space Shuttle Recovery Chronology 11 Poised for Launch: Space Shuttle and Crew 12 Versatile Achievements: The First Twenty-four Flights 16 Selected Space Shuttle Mission Achievements and Firsts 18 The Space Shuttle into the 21st Century 22 Lihere can be no thought of finishing, for "aiming at the stars," both literally and figuratively, is a problem rev to occupy generations... 0 Dr. Robert H. Goddard When the Space Shuttleestablished-just months before the flight flew again in September 1988, it of Apollo 11 when two men walked on remained the most sophisticated, the Moon for the first time in human complex and technologically advancedhistory. In January 1972, as the last manned spaceship in the world. two Apollo missions (16 and 17) America's intensive return-to-flight prepared to fly to the Moon, President effort over two-and-a-half years since Nixon announced that the nation the Challenger accident included would proceed with the Space Shuttle. hardware redesign and upgradings, The United States developed the Space rigorous testing programs, detailed Shuttle system to greatly improve its reviews of the "ntire Shuttle system, access to space, and for almost five and improvements in safety procedures yeur3, during which 24 successful and decision-making processes. The missions were flown, the Shuttle did Shuttle became a safer spacecraft just that. during the recovery period, but veteran astronauts and engineers alike know There were as many Shuttle flights that sending men and women into theflown in five years as there were space frontier will continue to involve manned Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo risk, just as it has since America's firstflights flown in ten years. The Shuttles manned suborbital flights in 1961. also carried twice the number of astronauts during half the time period. During the 1960s, several studies of a By that measure, the Space Shuttle reusable manned spacecraft were fulfilled its goal of improving access to conducted. Then in April 1969, NASA's space. Space Shuttle Task Group was A 5E3 The In early February 1986, as the nation mourned the tragic loss of seven Americans and the Recovery Challenger spaceship, President Reagan announced the creation of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident. Chaired by William P. Rogers, former secretary of state, it became known as the Rogers Commission. NASA's 51-L Data and Design Analysis Task Force was also established at this time to support the work of the Rogers Commission. More than 6,000 people were involved in the commission's four-month investigation of the accident, and some 15,000 pages of transcript were taken during public and closed hearings. The Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident The commission's report was published and delivered to the President on June 6, 1986. Hardware redesign of the faulty solid rocket motor joints and a review of the Space Shuttle management structure were MO of tlic nine basic recommendations set forth. The other seven recommendations covered. critical hardware review and hazard analysis, safety organization, improved communications, landing safety, launch abort and crew escape; flight rate; and maintenance safeguards. These recommendations represented the guidelines for the enormous amount of work to be done by NASA and the aerospace community to return the Space Shuttle to flight status. The commission also requested that a progress report on implementing the recommendations be made to the President in one year, which was delivered in June 1987. ne Left; Space Shuttle Columbia leaves Earth for the first orbital mission on April 12, 1981. Veteran astronaut John Young. Commander. and Pilot Robert Crippen tested the Space Shuttle's systems in space for the first time. Right: Discovery takes off in April 1985. While in orbit, it deployed two communications satellites. Among the seven crew members were U.S. Senator "Jake" Garn and Charles Walker. a payload specialist from industry. 1 l I I $ February 1964 Several studies of an Integral Launch and Reentry Vehicle to October 1968 conducted Apr111969 NASA's Space Shuttle Task Group established February 1970 NASA creates Space Shuttle Program Office January 1972 President Nixon announces intention to proceed with Space Shuttle March 1972 NASA selects basic Shuttle configuration (orbiter, main engines, external tank, and solid rocket boosters) of today's system July 1972 NASA announces selection of Rockwell international as prime contractor for Space Shuttle June 1974 Rockwell International starts assembly of crew module for Space Shuttle Enterprise, the first orbAer, which was used for approach and landing tests September 1976 Rol: out of firt Space Shuttle orbiter, tne Enterprise August 1977 First of 5 appioach and landing tests; Enterprise released from Boeing 747 at 6705.6 meters (22,000 feet) Apr111981 Space Shuttle Columbia makes first of four orbital flight tests; Commander John Young and Pilot Robert Crippen at the controls November 1982 Columbia flies the first Shuttle flight (STS5) in which commercial satellites (two) are deployed Apr111983 to Nineteen more successful flights of the four Space Shuttle January 18, 1986 orbiters, for a total of more than 2,400 orbits around the Earth and accumulated mi:eage of some 91,732,608 kilometers (57 million miles) - a distance equal to more than 118 round trips to the Moon January 28,1986 After 73 seconds of flight, the Challenger is lost, claiming 7 crew members and spaceship February 1986 Two-anci-one-half year recovery effort begins with formation of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident; establishment of 51:1 Data and Design Analysis Task Force September/ Space Shuttle Discovery successfully files the first mission October 1988 (STS26) since the Challenger accident; the U.S. manned a) space program is back in business 710 nag Solid Rocket o Structurally strengthening U Crew escape system aocted U Turbopump turbine Draws Booster the aft skirt on the solid (telescoping pole and Vow -out strengthened rocket boosters by such Redesign and improvement hatch) measures as upgrading bolts @t Hot gas sensor improved of the aft external tank attach and adding brackets 1217inch disconnect latch II Coolant circuit modified ring on the solid rocket modified booster to make the nng stronger and better distribute 1=3 The Orbiter U Gaseous oxygen flow control the loads encountered. 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