Author Topic: OV-104/ATLANTIS: Full Mission History/Tribute Feature Articles (PART 1,2 and 3)  (Read 30907 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

A must-read for space flight fans - a full review of all her service life, missions - by Chris Gebhardt:

PART 1:
OV-104/ATLANTIS: An International Vehicle for a Changing World
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/07/ov-104atlantis-international-vehicle-changing-world/

PART 2:
Shuttle Atlantis and MIR: The Realization of Program Goal
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/07/shuttle-atlantis-mir-realization-program-goal/

PART 3:
Reaching the End: Atlantis and the Fight Against Retirement
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/07/reaching-end-atlantis-fight-against-retirement/


Had an absolute wealth of images for each mission in L2, so used a mix and some beauties.
« Last Edit: 07/04/2011 10:02 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline Orbiter

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Great article!

Are there plans for a space shuttle NSF article tribute?

Orbiter
KSC Engineer, astronomer, rocket photographer.

Offline DavisSTS

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Absolutely amazing read. Such a history. We're never going to see spaceships as famous as these ever again!

Great article!

Are there plans for a space shuttle NSF article tribute?

Orbiter

The tribute articles for the entire fleet will serve as that. NSF doesn't do one for the Space Shuttle, they do them for each orbiter and each mission ;D

Offline psloss

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The tribute articles for the entire fleet will serve as that. NSF doesn't do one for the Space Shuttle, they do them for each orbiter and each mission ;D
The set could certainly serve that purpose, but I still think the whole is greater than the sum of the parts (or the sum of the orbiters and missions).  At the very least, there's a big picture / integration / program point of view that doesn't necessarily fit with a particular orbiter or mission.
« Last Edit: 07/02/2011 06:44 pm by psloss »

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Absolutely amazing read. Such a history. We're never going to see spaceships as famous as these ever again!

Great article!

Are there plans for a space shuttle NSF article tribute?

Orbiter

The tribute articles for the entire fleet will serve as that. NSF doesn't do one for the Space Shuttle, they do them for each orbiter and each mission ;D

Thank you, both I'm finishing up Part II right now and getting the computer warmed up for Part III.

As DavisSTS said, each orbiter and every single one of their missions have been tributed in dedicated articles. As such, there is no plan for a generic Program tribute at this time as we are, instead focusing on the orbiters themselves right now.

But keep watching, Orbiter! I'm sure Chris and I will sit down and have some conversations about additional tributes after the close out of STS-135. :)
« Last Edit: 07/02/2011 06:40 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline Longhorn John

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So many images I've missed, and such a great history, thanks Chris G!

Offline baldusi

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I live right next to Prefectura! In fact, I saw the ceremony on my way to work. If I had knew I would have got you some more pictures. If you're interested, please pm.

Offline Chris Bergin

So many images I've missed, and such a great history, thanks Chris G!

I tip I use - given all the missions don't fit on the tag page - is to click here:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=STS-27

And just change the STS-XXX at the end. Then it brings up everything on L2 for the mission you choose.
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Offline janmb

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Excellent article Chris G, looking forward to the rest :D
Jan M Berg
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Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace
Norway

Offline Gary NASA

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These tribute articles/mission service reviews are fantastic! Can't wait for the next parts!

Offline Albireo

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Absolutely awesome!!! I'm already looking forward to the second Part.
Perfect sunday for me.  :)

Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline AndrewSTS

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Awesome part two. Had no idea we did that many MIR missions!

Offline NavySpaceFan

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Another winner Chris!!!  But what was the issue with Endeavour that prevented her from flying STS-81?
<----First launch of DISCOVERY, STS-41D!!!!

Offline psloss

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Another winner Chris!!!  But what was the issue with Endeavour that prevented her from flying STS-81?
Do you mean STS-86?  If so, it wasn't an Endeavour issue as much as the schedule impact of the STS-83 MDF.  That caught Endeavour without an OPF bay right after she'd returned to KSC from a major mod period out at Palmdale.  (The ISS Service Module schedule was probably another factor.)
« Last Edit: 07/03/2011 10:27 pm by psloss »

Offline TerryNaylor

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Fantastic reads!

Offline NavySpaceFan

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Yes I did, and thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another winner Chris!!!  But what was the issue with Endeavour that prevented her from flying STS-81?
Do you mean STS-86?  If so, it wasn't an Endeavour issue as much as the schedule impact of the STS-83 MDF.  That caught Endeavour without an OPF bay right after she'd returned to KSC from a major mod period out at Palmdale.  (The ISS Service Module schedule was probably another factor.)

<----First launch of DISCOVERY, STS-41D!!!!

Offline Jason1701

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Great article. A few questions:
-What action, if any, did NASA take to avoid a repeat of the woodpecker ET damage?
-What happened to the ET/SRB stack rendered defunct by the adhesive problems? Were the SRBs fixed in Florida, shipped elsewhere, or disposed of?

Thanks.
« Last Edit: 07/04/2011 12:07 am by Jason1701 »

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Great article. A few questions:
-What action, if any, did NASA take to avoid a repeat of the woodpecker ET damage?
-What happened to the ET/SRB stack rendered defunct by the adhesive problems? Were the SRBs fixed in Florida, shipped elsewhere, or disposed of?

Thanks.

-- An Avian Deterrent System (aka - a gigantic inflatable Owls) were placed at the pads.
-- The ET was used later on. The SRBs were destacked, cleaned, had the old adhesive applied, and were used on a mission early in the next calendar year.

Offline SimonShuttle

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Brilliant reads :)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Not entirely on-topic, but I am not sure where I could break this news.. apparently the Atlantis tribute poster made by KSC PAO last year has been updated for STS-135. Notice the place of the STS-135 insignia... :)
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Chris Bergin

That's good, and I like your avatar tribute to Atlantis too ;D
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Offline Chris Bergin

Final part is now on! Amazing, and emotional, work here by Chris Gebhardt:


PART 3:
Reaching the End: Atlantis and the Fight Against Retirement
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/07/reaching-end-atlantis-fight-against-retirement/

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Offline David AF

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F-22 Raptor instructor

Offline Jason Davies

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Thank you for such a superb tribute. No one, not even nasa.gov, will touch these for the amount of content and depth.

Offline The-Hammer

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I noted one factual error in part 3:

The paragraphs about STS-98 (Destiny) state that Atlantis delivered three permanent pressurized modules to the station, she actually delivered four: Destiny, Quest, Columbus and Rassvet.
Grant Imahara: Oxygen deficiency alarm? Is that something I should be worried about?
NASA worker: Only if it goes off.

Offline Stardust9906

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Excellent articles!

Offline Peter NASA

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Fantastic work Chris!

Offline NavySpaceFan

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Great series Chris!!!!  Though I think we'll have to agree to disagree about the "held the most meaningful name of all the Space Shuttles" thing, but then again, I'm biased.  ;)
<----First launch of DISCOVERY, STS-41D!!!!

Offline JSC Phil

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Awesome work, a great tribute to Atlantis and an excellent historical overview!

Offline SpaceAndrew25

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Great review of shuttle history!

Offline Space101

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Finally got through them all. It's enough to make a grown man cry. What amazing vehicles and crews.
Let's go and explore space.

Offline DwightM

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What a brilliant set of articles.  They typify the quality of work that establishes this website as the standard bearer of spaceflight coverage.

I loved the 'First Last Orbiter' heading in part 1 - a nod to STS-132's 'First Last Flight' for her.  Lot's of great points, like the number of internationally supported missions she flew and holding the record for fewest IPR's between flights.

Outstanding work Mr. Gebhardt.

Offline Chris Bergin

Bumping. Today is her final powerdown :(
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Offline MATTBLAK

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It's nearly the 5th Anniversary of the final Space Shuttle launch; STS-135 (July 8th). Any plans by anyone to commemorate it?

This link takes you to the magazine of my late organization; the N.Z. Spaceflight Association which has an article about my trip to cover this mission in 2011. Cheers, Matthew.

http://www.kiwispace.org.nz/mark/www.nzspace.org.nz-archive/liftoff/Liftoff%20265.pdf
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