'The Worst Coffee': Remembering Columbia's Return on STS-28, Thirty Years On (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on August 12th, 2019

Columbia roars to orbit on 8 August 1989, beginning the first flight of her post-Challenger career. Photo Credit: NASA

Thirty years ago, this month, Space 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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'Off to a Good Start': Remembering Columbia's Return on STS-28, Thirty Years On (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on August 5th, 2019

Columbia touches down at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on 13 August 1989, to wrap up her first mission after the Challenger tragedy. Photo Credit: NASA

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

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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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Veteran Astronauts Dave Leestma and Andy Thomas Depart NASA

By Ben Evans, on June 19th, 2014

Between them, Dave Leestma and Andy Thomas launched aboard no less than seven shuttle missions. This view shows the early-morning ascent of STS-77 on 19 May 1996, which marked Thomas’ first flight. Photo Credit: NASA

With seven space missions, two EVAs, and almost 200 cumulative days in orbit between them, two of NASA’s […]

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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 […]

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