Return To Space: STS-26 (1988)

two one ignition and lift off Roger Bruce we watched it all we've grown used to wonders in this Century it's hard to Dazzle us but for 25 years the United States space program has been doing just that the Challenger crew was pulling us into the future and we'll continue to follow them [Music] [Laughter] [Music] RC okay we got to go Norms without bur okay now say2 in Reverse it's a simulation now but soon it will be real for astronaut crew 26 selected to help this country return to space z x their shuttle is called Discovery like other orbiters it's named after scientific exploring ships of [Music] [Laughter] History hundreds of improvements have been made in the entire space shuttle system here's a look at some of those changes modifications have been made in the design of the solid rocket Motors the white boosters used to help Propel shuttles into orbit the Rockets are made up of segments M together prior to launch connections between the segments are called joints redesigned to prevent hot gases from burning through the new joints have undergone numerous tests at NASA's Marshall space flight center in Alabama and Morton thol in [Music] Utah test preparations were [Music] extensive inspections thorough [Music] for some of the firings defects were created both in the Rockets insulation and critical O-rings to ensure that backup systems work properly the O-rings are one of the key sealing elements as shown in this crosssection the new field joint has an additional o-ring improved insulation and a metal lip called a capture feature are also included to better combat liftoff pressures the case to nozzle joint linking the upper and bottommost sections of the rocket is redesigned as [Music] well NASA Engineers feel confident that the new rocket joints are rightful job there's also been rumbling in Mississippi the shut main engine is not solid run making noise at last the main engines performed extremely well during the first one4 shutle bights even so over the last 2 and 1/2 years nearly every main engine control has been retested ready to fly so are Commander Rick ha and his astronaut crew pinky Nelson dick cvy Mike lounge and Dave hilmers a team of shuttle veterans Rick how has twice before including a mission which deployed two satellites and retrieved two others the first ever space Salvage like you said loue and Dick cvy were part of a flight regarded by many as the most successful space shuttle mission so far the crew launched three communication satellites and performed a successful un another Hill was aboard Attis its maiden voyage and it was pinky Nelson who flew a man maneuvering unit out to the alen solar maximum satellite solar Max was retrieved with a shuttle's robot arm repaired and successfully redeployed Nelson was also part of a crew that made a night landing at NASA's dry flight research facility California crew training regimens at the Johnson Space Center are demanding here Mission Specialists pinky Nelson and Mike Lounge practice space walking procedures in a pool to simulate weightlessness Dave hmmer the third mission specialist works with the shuttle's robot arm [Music] in between numerous exercises with their crew mates Commander Rick H and pilot Dick Cub take the Helm of this gulf stream jet designed to mirror the shuttle's unique Landing blide the crew's main task will be to put into space a large tracking and data relay satellite called tedris C the first tedris deployed by the STS 6 astronauts has reduced the number of communication blackouts between shuttles and the ground status report from all positions in the mission control room once tedra C is in place Earth to space contact will be almost continuous they will also manage 11 in Cabin experiments some commercial and two designed by students before landing at dren 5 days later so originally The Prestige and Leadership under administr hard over reorganized lines of communication Comm to our responsibilities clearly defined Partners never have a several astronauts including rear Admiral Richard try were given Key Management roles within the as associate administrator for space flight truly has been the driving force behind all shuttle recovery efforts another astronaut Brian oconor was chairman of a space flight safety panel looks like we got a lot of work to do Bob K who has flown a record for Missions is now deputy director for shuttle operations as chairman of the mission management team he will make the final go or no goal decision on shuttle launches I believe that's the way things should be run you should have somebody in charge and delegated as a point of responsibility new safety Hardware introduced with Discovery flight will allow astronauts to parachute from the shuttle in some emergencies the equipment consists of a pole that can be extended out the Orbit's main hatch astronauts attach themselves to the pole and slide down once clear they use their parachutes all clear along with the Quick Escape system are the crew's new pressure suits containing the parachute life support hardware and a life [Music] raft here they practice drills with additional safety equipment an inflatable slide similar to the type carried aboard commercial jet Lin if an emergency develops on Landing the slide allows the crew to get out quickly there are more fire detectors and protective barriers at the launch pads plus improved slide wire evacuation if a problem arises during launch operations astronauts and Pad Personnel can jump into a cage and ride to the ground with an option to use a new safety bunker once there 265 ft 165t as a result of tire wear problems during shuttle Landings at Kennedy Space Center researchers of NASA Langley studi tire and Runway characteristics once the tire is mounted in this Carriage 10,000 Gall of pressurized water released in less than 2 seconds driving it on a track it speeds up to 250 mph slow motion photography and instrumentation are used to evaluate tire and Runway surface performance Kennedy is one of three Landing sites in the country strategic to any shuttle flight after extensive testing engineers recommended that the surface be modified a fine corduroy texture was etched lengthwise into sections at each end of the runway modifications in the shuttles brakes landing gear and nose wheel steering will also improve Landing [Music] capability while technicians work on discovery's payload Bay thousands of heat resistant tiles are inspected on the underside of the orbit after its three main engines are fitted the Orbiter is moved to the Vehicle Assembly [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] Building final mating with the solid rocket boosters and large external fuel tank then takes [Music] place while Space Shuttle Discovery is ready for launch a new Orbiter moves through various stages of construction at Rockwell International in California having a for shuttle Fleet is necessary because it takes 2 to 4 months after a mission to prepare an Orbiter to fly again to maintain the efficiency of this turnaround process NASA is adding a second space shuttle [Music] transporter like its sister ship 747 jetliner will Ferry orbiters from Desert Landing sites back to the Kennedy Space [Music] Center in the future a mixed Fleet of launch Vehicles will be used rather than relying on a single transportation system unmanned Expendable buckets can carry the F non-commercial vs which do not require the unique capabilities of the shut T-minus 15 14 successful main engine firing system fully assembled is one of the final steps in clearing Discovery to fly we have made engine start the M but no matter how much effort is put into making the shuttle safe and reliable as possible there will always be risks in the exploration of space Commander Rick H we are confident we will launch and come back safely but there are no guarantees associated with that and there can't be only way you can guarantee uh that much safety is to never launch 3 2 one and left off hou weather flight go ahead the shuttle is a major part of this country's Legacy in space negative everything same as before okay thank you very much tremendous P launch retri get that [Music] out weightlessness makes possible very large tasks Maneuvers important to the construction of a future space station takes a little bit of for to around efforts in materials processing and microgravity research have led to the creation of metal alloys and refinement of new [Music] drugs the upcoming Mission renews the commitment to these achievements and is a reminder of what makes them possible it is people it is everybody from uh the secretary the person that sweeps the floor to the engineer the technician to the management to the administrator it is people and it is important that everybody out there understand that uh the hardware is important but it is people that make this program happen when Discovery climbs into the sky over Florida it will carry the hopes of these people and the entire nation as America that turn to space engine still running smooth at 85 down stepping down to 67% as the shot wave bu [Music] [Music] vle