By Ben Evans, on October 24th, 2017
Paul Weitz, pictured at Skylab’s Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM), during his 28-day mission in May-June 1973. Photo Credit: NASA
Veteran astronaut Paul “P.J.” Weitz, who spacewalked to save America’s Skylab space station and later commanded shuttle Challenger on its maiden voyage, died yesterday (Monday, 23 October). He was 85. During a NASA career […]
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By Ben Evans, on September 20th, 2015 For the final time in the 30-year shuttle program, Endeavour’s engines blaze for their Flight Readiness Firing (FRF) on 6 April 1992. Photo Credit: NASA
“Three engines up. All going well.”
Thirty years ago, last week, the three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) of the orbiter Atlantis roared to life and burned fiercely […]
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By Ben Evans, on September 19th, 2015 Each shuttle was powered by a trio of RS-25 Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs). These were test-fired before each orbiter’s maiden voyage, during the Flight Readiness Firing (FRF). Image Credit: Aerojet Rocketdyne
“And we have a Go for Autosequence Start. Atlantis’ on-board computers now controlling the final sequence.”
Thirty years ago, last week, […]
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By Emily Carney, on April 13th, 2015 The STS-61 crew restored full sight to the ailing Hubble Space Telescope in December 1993. Standing at top, from left: Richard Covey, Jeffrey Hoffman, and Thomas Akers. Seated at bottom, from left: Kenneth Bowersox, Kathryn Thornton, Dr. Story Musgrave, and Claude Nicollier (ESA). Photo Credit: NASA
In space shuttle history, there is one […]
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By Ben Evans, on March 22nd, 2015 During his historic untethered EVA with the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) on 7 February 1984, Bruce McCandless ventured as far as 300 feet (90 meters) from Challenger. Photo Credit: NASA
Ironically, the spacecraft from which the most Extravehicular Activities (EVAs) were performed—the space shuttle—was not originally intended to carry the capability for spacewalking […]
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By Ben Evans, on August 31st, 2013 “Dan, how do the engines look?” As Gardner worried, and Bluford chuckled, Challenger roared into the history books on the morning of 30 August 1983. Photo Credit: NASA
At about midnight on the rainy evening of 30 August 1983, the adventure began for Guy Bluford, NASA’s first African-American astronaut. Together with his four […]
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By Ben Evans, on April 7th, 2013 It was Paul Weitz (seated left) who decided on the F-Troop moniker for his crew, whose number included (left to right) Don Peterson, Story Musgrave, and Karol “Bo” Bobko. Photo Credit: Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de
Thirty years ago this week, the youngest member of the United States’ shuttle fleet took to the skies on her […]
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By Ben Evans, on April 6th, 2013 Challenger rolls in gloomy midwinter fog towards Pad 39A on 30 November 1982. Photo Credit: NASA
Thirty years ago this week, America’s second space shuttle thundered into orbit for the first time. Challenger spent five days circling the Home Planet, deployed a giant communications and data-relay satellite for NASA, and saw the first […]
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