Re: DO we really need a new manned launcher?

From: David Sander (surfren_at_bigpond.net.au)
Date: 08/08/04 

Date: Sun, 08 Aug 2004 14:59:19 GMT

Neil Gerace wrote:
>
> "David Sander" <surfren@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:4115C026.3C2DEB40@bigpond.net.au...
> > Neil Gerace wrote:
> > >
> > > "Brian Thorn" <bthorn64@cox.net> wrote in message
> > > news:0s2ah09jfqttqeqrm10v2705ktbf2g1ocv@4ax.com...
> > >
> > > > STS-3 - PIO "wheelie" during landing
> > >
> > > Are there any good videos or pictures of this around the place?
> >
> >
> http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/features/000414overhaul/sts03_qt.html
> >
> > Enjoy :-)
>
> Woah. Thanks David. Was the gear down a little late too, or is that normal?

I would have said (without watching other missions) that it was cutting
it a bit fine on undercarriage deployment (especially considering just
how much of a brick the STS sinks like), but keep in mind this was only
the third mission, and there were still bugs being ironed out (to say
nothing of a particular level of familiarity with an aircraft that sinks
like a brick). In saying that though, once undercarriage is down, your
air speed drops, and Lousma might have thought he needed his speed up a
notch before touching down.

The way it dropped and the way it flared on the tarmac may also have
been because of conditions particular to White Sands (I imagine most of
their training for landing would have featured Edwards AFB and possibly
even KSC's SLF) - high winds at White Sands had already delayed the
landing there by one day and when Columbia did land, there was damage
done to brakes and the TPS due to sand and debris from the area (I'm
wondering if the flare might have been due to a headwind gust).

Edwards was too wet during the landing time, but despite the fact the
SLF had been built in 1975 (or 1979 depending on which website you go
to), it was not until STS-7 that it was first considered as a landing
strip (though the first landing would have to wait until STS-41B in
1984). Also, Enterprise only ever tested at EAFB, so it seems STS-3 was
the first (and last) time White Sands ever saw an orbiter.

David 

-- 
per aspera ad astra

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