'To Make Sure We Didn't Make the News': 25 Years Since STS-48 (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on September 18th, 2016

Originally scheduled to be the first shuttle mission to land at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in the hours of darkness, STS-48 was ultimately diverted to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

Late in September 2011, the skies above the Pacific Ocean were illuminated by an astonishing—though not […]

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'Gentlemen's Hours': 25 Years Since STS-48 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on September 17th, 2016

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is readied for deployment by Discovery’s Remote Manipulator System (RMS) mechanical arm, early in the STS-48 mission. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

Late in September 2011, the skies above the Pacific Ocean were illuminated by an astonishing, though not unexpected, fire show. NASA’s 13,000-pound (5,900-kg) Upper […]

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'To Make Sure We Didn't Make the News': The High-Altitude Mission of STS-48 (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on September 14th, 2014

Discovery rockets into orbit on 12 September 1991 to begin a five-day mission to deploy the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Photo Credit: NASA

Late in September 2011, the skies above the Pacific Ocean were illuminated by an astonishing—though not unexpected—fire show. NASA’s 13,000-pound (5,900-kg) Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), launched two decades […]

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'Gentlemen's Hours': The High-Altitude Mission of STS-48 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on September 13th, 2014

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is readied for deployment by Discovery’s Remote Manipulator System (RMS) mechanical arm, early in the STS-48 mission. Photo Credit: NASA

Late in September 2011, the skies above the Pacific Ocean were illuminated by an astonishing, though not unexpected, fire show. NASA’s 13,000-pound (5,900-kg) Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite […]

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'The Worst Tasting Coffee': 25 Years Since the Secret Mission of STS-28 (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on August 10th, 2014

Columbia rockets into orbit on the first (and only) wholly classified mission of her career. Photo Credit: NASA

Twenty-five years ago, this week, the Shuttle Columbia returned to flight, following a three-year down time in the aftermath of the Challenger disaster. Aboard STS-28 for a five-day flight were Commander Brewster Shaw, Pilot Dick […]

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'Constrained Arrangement': 25 Years Since the Secret Mission of STS-28 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on August 9th, 2014

Pictured during her rollout to Pad 39B, Columbia was embarking on her first flight since the Challenger disaster. Photo Credit: Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

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

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