On February 18, 1977 the Space Shuttle flew for the first time. It didn’t go into space, and it never left the back of the 747 carrying it. But it was an important step in a program that would take American astronauts to space on a somewhat regular routine.
The first flight of any aircraft is always a bit nerve-wracking. Even after all the modelling and testing, the real thing makes the heart race, blood pressure to rise, and the breath to get short. All of these are classic symptoms of anxiety.
But, she flew. She did alright, too. After four more “captive-inactive” flights, NASA felt comfortable enough to put a crew of two in the Space Shuttle Enterprise for three more flights piggybacked on the 747.
The ALT program was the next step. Beginning in October 1977, the Enterprise was released from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft between 19,000 and 26,000 feet. The prototype shuttle would then glide back, much like it would during reentry, to the landing facility at Edwards Air Force Base. Making sure the Space Shuttle could land was probably important to NASA.
The first flight of any aircraft is always a bit nerve-wracking. Even after all the modelling and testing, the real thing makes the heart race, blood pressure to rise, and the breath to get short. All of these are classic symptoms of anxiety.
But, she flew. She did alright, too. After four more “captive-inactive” flights, NASA felt comfortable enough to put a crew of two in the Space Shuttle Enterprise for three more flights piggybacked on the 747.
The ALT program was the next step. Beginning in October 1977, the Enterprise was released from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft between 19,000 and 26,000 feet. The prototype shuttle would then glide back, much like it would during reentry, to the landing facility at Edwards Air Force Base. Making sure the Space Shuttle could land was probably important to NASA.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét