The launch was successful and experiments were done during the 16 day mission. Columbia planned re-entry on February 1, 2003. As Columbia re-entered the atmosphere it began to break apart killing all on board. An investigating board of seven members was automatically convened to uncover the causes of the shuttle disaster. All materials
The Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster An initial 1972 study by the Mathematica organisation found that the space shuttle could orbit payloads for as little as $100 US per pound, on sixty launches per year with the initial shuttle design specifications (69,000 pound payload capacity). This offered military, satellite deployment, scientific and medical research applications with a very cost effective option. However the Mathematica report was based on unrealistic costings provided by contractors to win NASA tenders. Additionally equipment performance shortfalls prevented the 109% of thrust required by NASA, further reducing payload capacities. The actual cost for payloads became 20 times the
“Fundamental to the conspiracy theory is our supposed inability to go to the Moon. The thought of humans traveling to the Moon was so fantastic even early science-fiction writers didn't predict it happening for centuries to come”(Villard). The rockets that made the moon landing possible were based upon the principles that were founded by Isaac Newton centuries ago, meaning that the underlying science was already there. The Saturn V rockets were more than capable of taking a man to the moon, and it was seen by thousands of eyewitnesses and media who saw the rocket blast off from the Kennedy space center in Florida (Villard). Those who claim that NASA could not reach the moon in the 1960’s discredit the hardworking engineers and scientists who paved the way for a lunar
February 1, 2013 marked the ten year anniversary of the shuttle Columbia disaster that took the lives of seven crew members. President Obama issued a statement recently marking the anniversary. "Ten years ago, seven brave astronauts gave their lives in the name of exploration when America's first flight-ready space shuttle, Columbia, failed to return safely to Earth” (USA Today). On this day ten years ago several hundred people anxiously gathered at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the landing of space shuttle Columbia following 16 days in space; however the craft and its crew never arrived. What could NASA have done differently to prevent the disaster?
However, the design of the shuttles is aging quickly as the vehicles are reaching retirement. In order to see the damage done to the space tile, the shuttle executed a backwards flip so that the underbelly of the vehicle could be photographed. An instrument boom with a laser scanner was then used to precisely determine the measurements of the hole in the tile. After many ground based simulations of reentry, NASA determined that the aluminum structure beneath the tiles would not become damaged to the point of expensive and timely repairs upon reentry. However, the astronauts onboard were prepared to attempt techniques that had not been done before.
John F. Kennedy spoke with hope while addressing the United States on September 12th. He spoke of the greatest journey that this nation is set on accomplishing. He spoke about making a gradual process to someday set foot on the moon, also to make a mark in history upon the moon, in time. John F. Kennedy gave the original, “We choose to go to the moon,” speech. Throughout this speech, Kennedy admits to the huge amounts of money being spent on the space program.
Challenger would have 9 successful missions prior to 1986. Challenger was originally scheduled to launch on January 22nd, however due to weather, the launch was delayed 6 days. The payload was to deploy a second series of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites which was to observe Halley’s Comet, as well as the Teacher in Space Program and Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSIP). On the morning of, temperatures around the launch site, Kennedy space center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, were abnormally low. Engineers had warned their superiors that rubber components that were located in the rocket boosters on the external fuel tank (which were the parts that fell off after take-off leaving the shuttle to its’ mission) called O-rings, which sealed the joints of said rocket boosters, were prone to failure at low temperatures.
The Challenger Disaster “Sometimes, when we reach for the stars, we fall short. But we must pick ourselves up again and press on despite the pain,” said President Ronald Reagan on January 28, 1986 as he spoke of the Challenger’s tragic event. STS 51-L was in the beginning stage of the United States’ space shuttle program. The space shuttle Challenger exploded after seventy-three seconds of glory and fame. It involved the death of seven crewmembers including the first civilian (Teacher-in-Space) chosen to go into space and it also destroyed the orbiter’s satellite cargo.
The Apollo 13 mission was scheduled to be a routine trip to the moon, since the U.S. had already won the race to space by landing on the moon. The crew consisted of three astronauts; Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert. All three astronauts were experienced and knowledgeable about their mission, especially so with captain Jim Lovell who had already been to space on Apollo 11. In Apollo 13 the teams ability to handle different scenarios were tested prior to their departure during their training program. It is also important to note that the crew members had a personal connection, which contributed to the effectiveness of a team.
Because Titan has such a dense atmosphere scientists had a lot of trouble studying the surface of the large moon. This was until 2004 when the CassiniHuygens mission was launched. The purpose of this mission was to observe and study Saturn and Titan by using fly-bys. The fly-bys that have already taken