would Discovery the name chosen for the third orbiter (OV-103) of the space shuttle program . In this way, thus honoring one of the two ships with which Captain James Cook visited the Pacific Ocean between 1776 and 1779 and, incidentally, other ships explorers homonyms, such as those used by Henry Hudson or the Royal Geographic Society. Of the four original ferry was perhaps the least known early in his career. The Columbia, the first orbiter of the fleet was too popular and the Challenger accident catapulted to the pantheon of fame on the second shuttle . On the other hand, the Atlantis, the shuttle art, captured the imagination of many young people in the early 80's. But over time his numerous missions were seeping into the collective memory of society, to the point of becoming synonymous with the entire program. Many people said "there is the Discovery", whether in fact it was the Endeavour, Atlantis and Columbia.
Discovery in orbit (NASA).
"From the Seeds of Change ..... to Discovery", painting by Robert AM Stephens, 1984 (NASA).
The assembly began on August 27, 1979 in California, the Palmdale plant Rockwell Company, prime contractor for the space shuttle. Rockwell received the contract for the construction of the Discovery on 29 January that year. The construction process would be developed sparingly and not finish until February 25, 1983. On October 16, traveled to Dryden to be officially approved by NASA, but would have to wait until September 11, 1983 to view at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where they come from the back of the Boeing 747 SCA. There would be prepared to travel to space for the first time.
The newly built Discovery (NASA / Rockwell).
Discovery benefited from the experience in the construction of the two previous orbiters, OV-102 Columbia and Challenger OV-099, so that its structure was much lighter than their sisters. This advantage would allow it to orbit about 3500 kg of additional load. But the most striking change was related to the heat shield. Part of the ceramic tiles of the upper surfaces of the wings and front fuselage section had been replaced by electric blankets, much simpler to install and maintain, in addition to being lighter.
On 30 August 1984, the Discovery made its first flight into space, STS-41D , a mission "routine" would get certain fame by appearing in the documentary The Dream is Alive , a magnificent production for IMAX that will ultimately become an iconic work for fans of space flight.
First and last launch of Discovery. A rriba, STS-41D in 1984, down , STS-133 in 2011 (NASA).
first and last landing of Discovery. Highlights the deterioration of the heat shield in these 27 years of operations (NASA).
In his second flight, STS-51A, Westar 6 satellite rescue, then drifting in space. This mission would become a great example of the new NASA policy under which the shuttle should be used in business tasks. Unfortunately, the cost of the rescue was several times the price of the satellite, which would be quite a premonition of the economic disaster that would eventually become the space shuttle program .
Dale Gardner rescues the satellite Westar 6 (NASA).
Joseph Allen and Dale Gardner ... "For Sale" (NASA).
Another view of the STS-51A (NASA).
Before the Challenger accident, the Discovery carried out a total of six missions. STS-51G (1985) participated arguably the first space tourist in history, Prince Sultan Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. Al-Saud paid well, it was Saudi Arabia, but is the same-a huge sum for his trip, although it is true that this mission was primarily a political gesture of goodwill by the U.S. government toward its close ally Saudi Arabia. The Discovery also brought a shock to another, after returning from space on STS-51D, suffered a blowout in one of his tires during landing at Kennedy Space Center. A serious incident could have resulted in the loss of the vehicle and its crew . In September 1988, the Discovery would be responsible to return to resume manned space flight from the United States, a bitter task to repeat in 2005 during the STS-114 mission, the first after the Columbia disaster.
Rave on one of the tires of Discovery during the STS-51D (NASA).
View of the Discovery's flight deck during reentry on STS-51i (NASA).
A Prince Saudi in space. Mission STS-51G (NASA).
Curiosa seen during the STS-51i (NASA).
In the 'post-Challenger, Discovery would be hugely popular in 1990 with the STS-31 mission to orbit the famous Hubble Space Telescope . That same year would be in charge of launching the European spacecraft Ulysses during the STS-41. In 1994, with the Cold War ended and the Discovery became the first American spacecraft put into orbit a Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikaliov, on STS-60. A year later, would get a few meters from the Mir space station during the course of STS-63, inaugurating a series of joint missions between Russia and the U.S.. In 1996 would be withdrawn from service for nine months to undergo a comprehensive review in Palmdale. During this review, we installed a fifth set of cryogenic tanks for fuel cells and left the lock inside the lower deck. A new lock was placed outside the cargo bay facing docking missions to Mir and the ISS. Indeed, in 1998 carried out the last docking mission Shuttle-Mir program.
The Discovery places the Hubble in orbit on STS-31 (NASA).
Krikaliov Sergey became the first Russian to travel on a U.S. vessel (NASA).
Inside the top cover of Discovery (NASA).
in 2002 would be subject to further review of two years (Orbiter Maintenance Down Period) during which new sensors were installed and the cockpit glass . Because of the Columbia accident, was also the first orbiter to receive the new modifications to enhance safety of the shuttle fleet. In his thirteen missions to the International Space Station (ISS), Discovery prove his worth by helping to build this great complex.
The Discovery docked with the ISS (NASA).
Curious view of the belly of Discovery in orbit (NASA).
In these 27 years, Discovery has traveled 39 times the space, putting 246 people and 31 orbiting satellites, there is nothing. Now become a museum piece. What future generations will see in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, but as things stand at the NASA dare not say goodbye forever. At the end of the last year we also said goodbye to the Atlantis and there you have prepared for the STS-135 mission. Supposedly, this time, the last mission of the program ... right?
emblems of all the Discovery missions (NASA).
Farewell, Discovery (NASA).
Discovery in orbit (NASA).
"From the Seeds of Change ..... to Discovery", painting by Robert AM Stephens, 1984 (NASA).
The assembly began on August 27, 1979 in California, the Palmdale plant Rockwell Company, prime contractor for the space shuttle. Rockwell received the contract for the construction of the Discovery on 29 January that year. The construction process would be developed sparingly and not finish until February 25, 1983. On October 16, traveled to Dryden to be officially approved by NASA, but would have to wait until September 11, 1983 to view at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where they come from the back of the Boeing 747 SCA. There would be prepared to travel to space for the first time.
The newly built Discovery (NASA / Rockwell).
Discovery benefited from the experience in the construction of the two previous orbiters, OV-102 Columbia and Challenger OV-099, so that its structure was much lighter than their sisters. This advantage would allow it to orbit about 3500 kg of additional load. But the most striking change was related to the heat shield. Part of the ceramic tiles of the upper surfaces of the wings and front fuselage section had been replaced by electric blankets, much simpler to install and maintain, in addition to being lighter.
On 30 August 1984, the Discovery made its first flight into space, STS-41D , a mission "routine" would get certain fame by appearing in the documentary The Dream is Alive , a magnificent production for IMAX that will ultimately become an iconic work for fans of space flight.
First and last launch of Discovery. A rriba, STS-41D in 1984, down , STS-133 in 2011 (NASA).
first and last landing of Discovery. Highlights the deterioration of the heat shield in these 27 years of operations (NASA).
In his second flight, STS-51A, Westar 6 satellite rescue, then drifting in space. This mission would become a great example of the new NASA policy under which the shuttle should be used in business tasks. Unfortunately, the cost of the rescue was several times the price of the satellite, which would be quite a premonition of the economic disaster that would eventually become the space shuttle program .
Dale Gardner rescues the satellite Westar 6 (NASA).
Joseph Allen and Dale Gardner ... "For Sale" (NASA).
Another view of the STS-51A (NASA).
Before the Challenger accident, the Discovery carried out a total of six missions. STS-51G (1985) participated arguably the first space tourist in history, Prince Sultan Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. Al-Saud paid well, it was Saudi Arabia, but is the same-a huge sum for his trip, although it is true that this mission was primarily a political gesture of goodwill by the U.S. government toward its close ally Saudi Arabia. The Discovery also brought a shock to another, after returning from space on STS-51D, suffered a blowout in one of his tires during landing at Kennedy Space Center. A serious incident could have resulted in the loss of the vehicle and its crew . In September 1988, the Discovery would be responsible to return to resume manned space flight from the United States, a bitter task to repeat in 2005 during the STS-114 mission, the first after the Columbia disaster.
Rave on one of the tires of Discovery during the STS-51D (NASA).
View of the Discovery's flight deck during reentry on STS-51i (NASA).
A Prince Saudi in space. Mission STS-51G (NASA).
Curiosa seen during the STS-51i (NASA).
In the 'post-Challenger, Discovery would be hugely popular in 1990 with the STS-31 mission to orbit the famous Hubble Space Telescope . That same year would be in charge of launching the European spacecraft Ulysses during the STS-41. In 1994, with the Cold War ended and the Discovery became the first American spacecraft put into orbit a Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikaliov, on STS-60. A year later, would get a few meters from the Mir space station during the course of STS-63, inaugurating a series of joint missions between Russia and the U.S.. In 1996 would be withdrawn from service for nine months to undergo a comprehensive review in Palmdale. During this review, we installed a fifth set of cryogenic tanks for fuel cells and left the lock inside the lower deck. A new lock was placed outside the cargo bay facing docking missions to Mir and the ISS. Indeed, in 1998 carried out the last docking mission Shuttle-Mir program.
The Discovery places the Hubble in orbit on STS-31 (NASA).
Krikaliov Sergey became the first Russian to travel on a U.S. vessel (NASA).
Inside the top cover of Discovery (NASA).
in 2002 would be subject to further review of two years (Orbiter Maintenance Down Period) during which new sensors were installed and the cockpit glass . Because of the Columbia accident, was also the first orbiter to receive the new modifications to enhance safety of the shuttle fleet. In his thirteen missions to the International Space Station (ISS), Discovery prove his worth by helping to build this great complex.
The Discovery docked with the ISS (NASA).
Curious view of the belly of Discovery in orbit (NASA).
In these 27 years, Discovery has traveled 39 times the space, putting 246 people and 31 orbiting satellites, there is nothing. Now become a museum piece. What future generations will see in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, but as things stand at the NASA dare not say goodbye forever. At the end of the last year we also said goodbye to the Atlantis and there you have prepared for the STS-135 mission. Supposedly, this time, the last mission of the program ... right?
emblems of all the Discovery missions (NASA).
Farewell, Discovery (NASA).
0 comments:
Post a Comment