Into the Black « AmericaSpace

The Lunacy of Secrecy: 30 Years Since Mission 51C (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on January 25th, 2015

Since the conception of the Manned Spaceflight Engineer (MSE) program, the intent was to fly a dedicated officer aboard each classified flight. For Mission 51C, it would be Air Force Major Gary Payton (back left). The other NASA crew members were Loren Shriver (front left) and Ken Mattingly (front right), with Jim Buchli and […]

The Lunacy of Secrecy: 30 Years Since Mission 51C (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on January 24th, 2015

Mission 51C roars into orbit on 24 January 1985, kicking off the shuttle program’s first dedicated Department of Defense assignment. Photo Credit: NASA

“Miracle” is a term which is often applied to many aspects of the space program: to Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering flight to the accomplishment of the first manned lunar landing or to […]

' ... T-9 Minutes and Counting ... ': NASA's First Secret Shuttle Flight

By Ben Evans, on January 18th, 2014

Since the conception of the manned spaceflight engineer programme, the intent was to fly a dedicated officer aboard each classified flight. For Mission 51C, it would be Air Force Major Gary Payton (back left). The other NASA crew members were Loren Shriver (front left) and Ken Mattingly (front right), with Jim Buchli and Ellison […]

Into the Black – NASA’s Secret Shuttle Missions: A Gold Star for an Admiral

By Ben Evans, on February 7th, 2012

STS-33 was the first nocturnal Shuttle launch and landing of the post-Challenger era; entirely appropriate, perhaps, in light of the shroud of darkness which covered its primary payload. Photo Credit: NASA

The delays in preparing Columbia for her first post-Challenger launch and the need to despatch the Galileo spacecraft to Jupiter during a critical […]

Into the Black – NASA’s Secret Shuttle Missions -‘Tasting’ the Unknown

By Ben Evans, on February 6th, 2012

Space shuttle Columbia lands at Edwards Air Force base in California after the successful completion of the STS-28 mission. Photo Credit: NASA

Astronaut Dick Richards was five weeks from his first launch into space when the Challenger disaster snatched the opportunity, cruelly, from him. In January 1985, he had been assigned as Jon McBride’s […]

Into the Black: NASA’s Secret Shuttle Missions – Part Five

By Ben Evans, on February 3rd, 2012

Atlantis awaits her new home at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. While Atlantis will undoubtedly become the star attraction at the Visitor Complex – she was always have her secrets. STS-44 is the last of the "middle child" of NASA's shuttle fleet secret missions. Photo Credit: Alan Walters/awaltersphoto.com

The […]

Into the Black: NASA’s Secret Shuttle Missions – Part Four

By Ben Evans, on February 2nd, 2012

"Into the Black" continues with a review of STS-38, the 37th flight of the space shuttle era and the seventh dedicated Department of Defense mission. Photo Credit: NASA

The Secret History of NASA’s Middle Child: Part 4: The Mystery of the ‘Prowler’

‘High profile’ are two words which can easily be […]

Into the Black: NASA’s Secret Shuttle Missions – Part Three

By Ben Evans, on February 1st, 2012

Astonishing view of Atlantis' nocturnal launch on 28 February 1990, with the Vehicle Assembly Building and Launch Control Center in the foreground. Seconds after this photograph was taken, the Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) were jettisoned and Atlantis performed a unique 'dog-leg' maneuver to achieve a 62-degree orbit…the highest ever attained in the shuttle program. […]

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