Space Shuttle Anecdotes
Discussion
seyre1972 said:
I saw the 2nd shuttle launch - 12th November 1981, I was 9, Ended up standing on top of a big rig truck, as whole freeway had come to a stop (we were in Orlando leaving Disney World)
Visited Kennedy space centre a couple of days later - still the best holiday ever with my parents !!
So last year I did a solo Florida road trip … (into Miami/few days on Miami Beach), then drove up-to Orlando. I made sure I had a trip to Kennedy space Centre (doing the Explorer Tour + Just missed a postponed SpaceX flight)Visited Kennedy space centre a couple of days later - still the best holiday ever with my parents !!
1st time going back (so a near 42 year difference). Blown away was absolutely fantastic.
Few obligatory photos for you
Space Shuttle - Atlantis on display
Space Shuttle Fuel Tank, and Solid Fuel Boosters
Launch Crawler - can’t describe how big they are and how far from the Vehicle Assembly Building they have to go.
Vehicle Assembly Building
Edited by seyre1972 on Tuesday 13th February 11:51
Edited by seyre1972 on Tuesday 13th February 11:57
Eric Mc said:
That's because he wasn't a test pilot. In fact, he wasn't even a pilot. His career in the USAF was as a back seater, mainly in Phantoms. He was based at Lakenheath in the UK for a while.
There are a number of You Tube videos in which he features which are worth watching.
On the subject of Shuttle videos, I have one on VHS which I taped from BBC back in 1987 or so called "Riding the Stack" it was part of the Horizon series so would also have been shown in the US under the "Nova" banner. It was made in the aftermath of the Challenger accident and in that gap period when the Shuttle was grounded. It was the first documentary where people involved in the project, including Shuttle crew members, were honest about their reservations concerning the whole concept.
Another video I have is an episode of BBC's Panorama called "The Dream that Fell Out of the Sky" which was shown a few months after the Challenger accident. Interestingly, it was presented and voiced over by Robert Harris, who is now a best selling novelist.
Despite looking many times, neither of these programmes have made it onto You Tube or BBC iPlayer or any other streaming service - which is really unfortunate as they are both excellent.
Prompted by your post above I had a look and found this:There are a number of You Tube videos in which he features which are worth watching.
On the subject of Shuttle videos, I have one on VHS which I taped from BBC back in 1987 or so called "Riding the Stack" it was part of the Horizon series so would also have been shown in the US under the "Nova" banner. It was made in the aftermath of the Challenger accident and in that gap period when the Shuttle was grounded. It was the first documentary where people involved in the project, including Shuttle crew members, were honest about their reservations concerning the whole concept.
Another video I have is an episode of BBC's Panorama called "The Dream that Fell Out of the Sky" which was shown a few months after the Challenger accident. Interestingly, it was presented and voiced over by Robert Harris, who is now a best selling novelist.
Despite looking many times, neither of these programmes have made it onto You Tube or BBC iPlayer or any other streaming service - which is really unfortunate as they are both excellent.
Riding the Stack along with over 500 other Horizon episodes.
C n C said:
Prompted by your post above I had a look and found this:
Riding the Stack along with over 500 other Horizon episodes.
Good find. Will have a look.Riding the Stack along with over 500 other Horizon episodes.
I found the Nova version a while ago.
I came across this video this evening.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeSrWWuc/
For those who don’t watch it, basically there were two employees at the company that made the solid boosters that blew up on Challenger. They knew it was going to explode and told their bosses. Their bosses called NASA but for various reasons there was pressure to launch and the manufacture backed down with the claim. The rest is history.
People at NASA or the supplier should have been charged with the deaths of the crew.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeSrWWuc/
For those who don’t watch it, basically there were two employees at the company that made the solid boosters that blew up on Challenger. They knew it was going to explode and told their bosses. Their bosses called NASA but for various reasons there was pressure to launch and the manufacture backed down with the claim. The rest is history.
People at NASA or the supplier should have been charged with the deaths of the crew.
STS-107 was carrying the Spacehab and undertaking microgravity research. One of the experiments was using biological research in canisters (BRIC) to research nematodes.
My colleague managed to salvage some experimental insight from the disaster - Surviving Atmospheric Spacecraft Breakup
My colleague managed to salvage some experimental insight from the disaster - Surviving Atmospheric Spacecraft Breakup
Never saw a launch, but did see the shuttle Enterprise on the converted 747 fly over Birmingham in July 1983. It was retuning from the Paris Air Show I think.
We were on a coach for a school trip and I remember seeing the roof of Fort Dunlop next to the M6 being covered in spectators. Realised what they were doing there and managed to catch a very quick glimpse of the shuttle on the plane. Made my day.
We were on a coach for a school trip and I remember seeing the roof of Fort Dunlop next to the M6 being covered in spectators. Realised what they were doing there and managed to catch a very quick glimpse of the shuttle on the plane. Made my day.
Skeptisk said:
I came across this video this evening.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeSrWWuc/
For those who don’t watch it, basically there were two employees at the company that made the solid boosters that blew up on Challenger. They knew it was going to explode and told their bosses. Their bosses called NASA but for various reasons there was pressure to launch and the manufacture backed down with the claim. The rest is history.
People at NASA or the supplier should have been charged with the deaths of the crew.
If you're interested look up Roger Boisjoly and Morton Thiokol.https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeSrWWuc/
For those who don’t watch it, basically there were two employees at the company that made the solid boosters that blew up on Challenger. They knew it was going to explode and told their bosses. Their bosses called NASA but for various reasons there was pressure to launch and the manufacture backed down with the claim. The rest is history.
People at NASA or the supplier should have been charged with the deaths of the crew.
595Heaven said:
Never saw a launch, but did see the shuttle Enterprise on the converted 747 fly over Birmingham in July 1983. It was retuning from the Paris Air Show I think.
We were on a coach for a school trip and I remember seeing the roof of Fort Dunlop next to the M6 being covered in spectators. Realised what they were doing there and managed to catch a very quick glimpse of the shuttle on the plane. Made my day.
I think it was June rather than July. The Shuttle Carrier 747 and Enterprise had been on display at the Paris Airshow and flew from there to Stansted before returning to the US.We were on a coach for a school trip and I remember seeing the roof of Fort Dunlop next to the M6 being covered in spectators. Realised what they were doing there and managed to catch a very quick glimpse of the shuttle on the plane. Made my day.
I was there!
Regarding the sound of a launch:
My parents visited KSC many times over the years in the hope of seeing a Shuttle launch but bad luck meant the launches kept being scrubbed (although they were there for a landing once). They finally made it in May 2010 when they saw Atlantis launch for her penultimate mission. My Mum described it as "quite loud" but my Dad disagreed. However, his hearing hasn't been right since he watched Apollo 15 launch in 1971...
We saw the first shuttle launch after the big accident when launches suspended for a year. At the launch site we’ll back from launch but the ground did shake as it took off. Everyone held their breath as it lit up until it rose into the air then everyone cheered especially the Americans, very loudly as they do. Amazing the short time from the wright brothers flight to going to the moon, although the Second World War helped!
Hired an aeroplane from Orlando and flew to the launch site a week later and received permission to fly down the runway, this was before 9/11, took forever to fly down the length at 500’ think I could have landed the 172 across the runway! Did wonder about emergency landing if engine failure over the swamps full of alligators though, nothing to help on checklist
Hired an aeroplane from Orlando and flew to the launch site a week later and received permission to fly down the runway, this was before 9/11, took forever to fly down the length at 500’ think I could have landed the 172 across the runway! Did wonder about emergency landing if engine failure over the swamps full of alligators though, nothing to help on checklist
I have a little anecdote I'm sorry it's not shuttle but I thought it may be interesting anyway.
I was working with a team in Houson as I work in oil and gas. I went out to Houston a couple of times. Working with this guy, I found out he worked on the ISS for NASA before it was launched. He was in Russia, it was a bit awkward and the Russians always snuck off to some other room at lunch. Eventually everyone warmed up and he was allowed into the room. They used to go in there and play pinball or some game along those lines. The room had in it a load of the used capsules and a stuffed dog that had been in space. He couldn't believe it.
I was working with a team in Houson as I work in oil and gas. I went out to Houston a couple of times. Working with this guy, I found out he worked on the ISS for NASA before it was launched. He was in Russia, it was a bit awkward and the Russians always snuck off to some other room at lunch. Eventually everyone warmed up and he was allowed into the room. They used to go in there and play pinball or some game along those lines. The room had in it a load of the used capsules and a stuffed dog that had been in space. He couldn't believe it.
seyre1972 said:
So last year I did a solo Florida road trip … (into Miami/few days on Miami Beach), then drove up-to Orlando. I made sure I had a trip to Kennedy space Centre (doing the Explorer Tour + Just missed a postponed SpaceX flight)
1st time going back (so a near 42 year difference). Blown away was absolutely fantastic.
Few obligatory photos for you
Space Shuttle - Atlantis on display
Space Shuttle Fuel Tank, and Solid Fuel Boosters
Launch Crawler - can’t describe how big they are and how far from the Vehicle Assembly Building they have to go.
Vehicle Assembly Building
The thing I always remember from that place was that the stars on the flag are 6 feet wide iirc on the side of the building. They had the saturn 5 there when I went, it totally blew my mind it made me emotional seeing that feat. I also saw it at Johnson some years later but it didn't seem so impressive in a kind of tent building.1st time going back (so a near 42 year difference). Blown away was absolutely fantastic.
Few obligatory photos for you
Space Shuttle - Atlantis on display
Space Shuttle Fuel Tank, and Solid Fuel Boosters
Launch Crawler - can’t describe how big they are and how far from the Vehicle Assembly Building they have to go.
Vehicle Assembly Building
Edited by seyre1972 on Tuesday 13th February 11:51
Edited by seyre1972 on Tuesday 13th February 11:57
I was lucky enough to see I think it was Atlantis at the California space center. What I wouldn't pay to get up and into it. I've not seen a launch of any kind ever though, I really do need to do that.
That's cool, I wasn't aware of that. The telephone area code for Brevard County, which is where the Kennedy Space Center is located, is "321" as well.
The Shuttle is much bigger than I imagined it would be. I thought the presentation at Kennedy was nicely done. They give you a little film show then the curtain pulls back and you realise you're looking at the real thing. Felt kinda choked when they did that.
Endeavour over in Los Angeles is having a huge new display area built currently. She'll be mounted vertically and attached to an external fuel tank and SRBs in launch configuration. They hoisted her upright only a couple of weeks ago, but the building won't be complete for some time yet.
So, of the 3 remaining Shuttles that actual went into space, we'll have Endeavour in launch pose, Atlantis in orbital pose and Discovery in landing pose.
Independence is a full scale Shuttle mock up and can been seen mounted to the back of a 747 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. It was originally called Explorer and was on display at KSC in Florida, but moved to Texas by barge once they got Atlantis.
Enterprise did glide testing, but was never converted into an operational orbiter. She's wheels down at the Intrepid Museum in New York.
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The Shuttle is much bigger than I imagined it would be. I thought the presentation at Kennedy was nicely done. They give you a little film show then the curtain pulls back and you realise you're looking at the real thing. Felt kinda choked when they did that.
Endeavour over in Los Angeles is having a huge new display area built currently. She'll be mounted vertically and attached to an external fuel tank and SRBs in launch configuration. They hoisted her upright only a couple of weeks ago, but the building won't be complete for some time yet.
So, of the 3 remaining Shuttles that actual went into space, we'll have Endeavour in launch pose, Atlantis in orbital pose and Discovery in landing pose.
Independence is a full scale Shuttle mock up and can been seen mounted to the back of a 747 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. It was originally called Explorer and was on display at KSC in Florida, but moved to Texas by barge once they got Atlantis.
Enterprise did glide testing, but was never converted into an operational orbiter. She's wheels down at the Intrepid Museum in New York.
.
Great thread!
Just to add, having never seen one of the real shuttles in the flesh, I have seen the mock up at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Together with the SR-71, they have some amazing machines.
It might have been used for crew training? Either way, as others have said what strikes you is the shear scale of it, as you also try and imagine how much energy it take to lift this into space!
You can walk up inside the loading bay on the model which is nice, its a huge space!
Also a great flight museum in its own right, and worth a trip no matter how far you have to travel.
Just to add, having never seen one of the real shuttles in the flesh, I have seen the mock up at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Together with the SR-71, they have some amazing machines.
It might have been used for crew training? Either way, as others have said what strikes you is the shear scale of it, as you also try and imagine how much energy it take to lift this into space!
You can walk up inside the loading bay on the model which is nice, its a huge space!
Also a great flight museum in its own right, and worth a trip no matter how far you have to travel.
We were in Florida last summer and also had a brilliant time at KSC. We would have watched ont of the space X launches but it was delayed 
I made a Timelapse walk around of the Saturn V
https://youtu.be/PaQ5exXYyLo?si=aZguuhVlOnqI9Z0P
I made a Timelapse walk around of the Saturn V
https://youtu.be/PaQ5exXYyLo?si=aZguuhVlOnqI9Z0P
troc said:
We were in Florida last summer and also had a brilliant time at KSC. We would have watched ont of the space X launches but it was delayed
I made a Timelapse walk around of the Saturn V
https://youtu.be/PaQ5exXYyLo?si=aZguuhVlOnqI9Z0P
Standing under the Saturn V is one of the more memorable things it's possible to do in an afternoon.I made a Timelapse walk around of the Saturn V
https://youtu.be/PaQ5exXYyLo?si=aZguuhVlOnqI9Z0P
I'm in awe of the blokes that strapped themselves to the top of that thing.
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