forty five Years In the past: Assert Shuttle Columbia Arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Assert Center

On March 24, 1979, home shuttle Columbia arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Assert Center (KSC) for the very first time. Following Presidential course to build the home shuttle in 1972, Congress expeditiously approved and funded this map later that One year. Improvement of the first orbital car, later named Columbia, started in 1975. Four years later, Columbia carried out its first transcontinental flight, arriving at KSC to originate up preparations for its first mission. The first shuttle flight in April 1981 ushered in an generation of reusable home transportation.

Left: NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher, left, items a mannequin of the home shuttle to President Richard M. Nixon in January 1972. Appropriate: Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young, left, and Charles M. Duke on the Moon in April 1972.

On Jan. 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon directed NASA to build the home shuttle, formally referred to as the Assert Transportation Machine (STS), bringing up that “it may maybe presumably revolutionize transportation into shut to home.” NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher hailed the President’s option as “an historical step in the nation’s home program,” including that it may maybe presumably commerce what humans can carry out in home. Apollo 16 astronauts John W. Young and Charles M. Duke learned of the home shuttle’s approval while exploring the Moon in April 1972. Mission Alter suggested them that Congress had approved the attain of the home shuttle. Young and Duke each enthusiastically spoke back to the scamper news with “Dazzling! Very fair appropriate! Dazzling!” Young added with some foresight, “The country wants that shuttle mighty sinister. You’ll see.” He had no map of realizing that 9 years later, he would say the first ship of the home shuttle rapid, Columbia, on its maiden voyage.

Left: Columbia’s crew compartment trusty by scheme of assembly in 1976. Heart: Columbia’s aft fuselage and wings trusty by scheme of assembly in November 1977. Appropriate: Columbia appropriate prior to rollout from Rockwell’s plant in Palmdale in March 1979.

Once Congress approved the funds, on July 26, 1972, NASA awarded the contract to the North American Rockwell Company of Downey, California, to originate up construction of the first orbital car. Formally identified as Orbital Automobile-102 (OV-102), in January 1979 NASA named it Columbia after Captain Robert Gary’s sloop that explored the Pacific Northwest in the 1790s and took the consideration because the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe, as effectively as after the Apollo 11 Uncover Module. Improvement of Columbia’s first parts at Rockwell’s Palmdale, California, plant started on March 25, 1975.

Left: Staff roll Columbia out from its hangar at Rockwell’s Palmdale, California, plant. Heart: Staff transport Columbia from Rockwell’s Palmdale facility to NASA’s Dryden, now Armstrong, Flight Analysis Center. Appropriate: Columbia atop the Shuttle Service Airplane takes off from Dryden to originate up the depraved-country ferry flight.

Almost about four years later, on March 8, 1979, Columbia rolled out of the Palmdale facility to originate up its multi-day transcontinental hotfoot to KSC. For step surely among the hotfoot, workers towed Columbia from Palmdale overland to NASA’s Dryden, now Armstrong, Flight Analysis Center at Edwards Air Pressure Substandard (AFB) 36 miles away. Two days later, workers there hoisted Columbia onto the Shuttle Service Airplane (SCA), a Boeing 747 aircraft modified to transport home shuttle orbiters. Throughout a test flight, hundreds of the orbiter’s thermal security machine tiles fell off. Staff returned Columbia to a hangar the put over 100 ladies and men worked for 9 days reapplying the tiles. Climate then delayed Columbia’s departure till March 20, when the SCA/shuttle duo flew from Dryden to Biggs AFB in El Paso, Texas.

Left: Assert shuttle Columbia atop its Shuttle Service Airplane (SCA) touches down at Kelly Air Pressure Substandard (AFB) in San Antonio for an overnight quit. Heart: Head on investigate cross-take a look at of Columbia atop the SCA. Appropriate: Tina Aguilar, age 9, an aspiring younger reporter, interviews astronaut Donald K. “Deke” Slayton in front of Columbia and the SCA at Kelly AFB.

Climate delayed Columbia’s departure for the deliberate refueling quit at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, till the next day. About 200,000 folks went to investigate cross-take a look at the shuttle trusty by scheme of its overnight layover in San Antonio prior to its departure on March 23.

Left: The previous meets the lengthy flee, as home shuttle Columbia atop its Shuttle Service Airplane (SCA) flies over the Saturn V say at NASA’s Kennedy Assert Center (KSC) in Florida. Heart: Columbia atop the SCA touches down at KSC’s Shuttle Touchdown Facility (SLF), with the Automobile Assembly Constructing visible in the background. Appropriate: On the SLF, NASA Administrator Robert A. Frosch addresses the group assembled to welcome Columbia to KSC, as other dignitaries hear.

After one other overnight quit at Eglin AFB in Florida, Columbia atop the SCA touched down at KSC’s Shuttle Touchdown Facility (SLF) on March 24, a crowd of about 3,000 cheering its arrival. Dignitaries in attendance at a fast welcoming ceremony at the SLF integrated NASA Administrator Robert A. FroschKSC Director Lee R. Scherer, SCA pilots Joseph S. Algranti and Fitzhugh L. Fulton, program supervisor for Shuttle Flight Take a look at Operations NASA astronaut Donald K. “Deke” Slaytonand astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippendesignated because the commander and pilot for STS-1, the first home shuttle mission. Furthermore in attendance, U.S. Congressman C. William “Invoice” Nelson whose district integrated KSC and now serves as NASA’s 14^th administrator, and Florida Lieutenant Governor J. Wayne Mixson.

Left: Columbia in the Orbiter Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Assert Center (KSC) in Florida. Heart: Staff hoist Columbia in KSC’s Automobile Assembly Constructing (VAB) for mating with its external tank and solid rocket boosters. Appropriate: Columbia rolls out of the VAB on its technique to Launch Pad 39A.

The subsequent day, after getting rid of Columbia from the wait on of the SCA, workers towed it into the Orbiter Processing Facility, the put the orbiter spent the next 19 months making ready for its first flight. Rollover to the Automobile Assembly Constructing (VAB) for mating with its External Tank and the two Stable Rocket Boosters took bid Nov. 24, 1980. After a series of integrated exams, the shuttle stack rolled out of the VAB and made the 3.5-mile day out to Launch Pad 39A on Dec. 29, 1980. Young and Crippen flew Columbia’s historical first mission, STS-1in April 1981, ushering in an generation of reusable home transportation.