#challenger space shuttle

[venusimleder]

Challenger’s explosion, January 1986.

[unofficial-sean]

uh oh, patrick

[silencedminstrel]

THE FIRST GIRL ON THE MOON

I came across a clickbait article a few days back saying something like "They are resuming the US space program" and reading the title reminded me of two things: the first teacher/astronaut (forgot her name) who was supposed to teach her first lesson from space but sadly, she didn't make it (she was part of the tragic Challenger Space Shuttle crew) and this song, "The First Girl On The Moon". Of course this was pre-internet time and yes, post-covid era saw remote schooling becoming the norm but it made me wonder...what if that tragedy never happened? I wonder how would her students react seeing their teacher teaching them that day's lesson from way out in space? Would it had gained popularity, would NASA considered making it part of their space programs or maybe...part of the ISS missions? Or maybe (since I’m a scifi fantasy addict) would it had paved a way for a Utopian society? I don't know for sure, but if that article is true (never bothered reading clickbait articles anyway, heheh), I wish that once they put a female astronaut on the moon, I want her to play this song on the moon as an homage of sort, for that fallen teacher and every other women astronauts past present and future.

[authortoberecognized]

BOOK REVIEWS  CHALLENGER

                                  CHALLENGER                                              By                       ADAM HIGGENBOTHAM This great read delves into the Challenger disaster and how, up to the night before the launch, there was concern about the solid fuel booster rockets due to the cold weather. Also, knowledge of problems with the o rings from previous launches added to concern…

[proceduralbob]

When asked what he was thinking about when preparing for launch abroad his Mercury-Redstone rocket, Alan Shepard, the first American in space, had infamously replied, "The fact that every part of this ship was built by the lowest bidder.”

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, Adam Higginbotham

[watercress-words]

The Inspiring Legacy of Women Physicians

September is Women in Medicine Month. Women doctors are leaders in humanitarian care, government service, social media, and innovative ways to provide care. You may already have noticed a change in the health care you receive, if not, you will.

updated July 15, 2024 Why celebrate women physicians? In 1860 the United States had 200 women physicians. By 1900, there were 7000. The number of female physicians has increased from 35,626 in 1975 to 404, 000 in 2023. Women physicians comprise 37% of actively practicing physicians in the United States. Women physicians-not the minority now In 2018, for the first time since Elizabeth…

[tenth-sentence]

The elastomeric O-rings used to seal the solid booster rockets became brittle at around 0°C.

"Chemistry" 2e - Blackman, A., Bottle, S., Schmid, S., Mocerino, M., Wille, U.

[captainfreelance1]

I made this in honor of American Astronaut and Physicist Doctor Sally Ride, who became the first American Woman in Space on June 18, 1983.

This drawing was a blast for me to make of such a remarkable woman, I hope y'all find it's subject as interesting as I do.

[chemicalarospec]

Top Ten Livestream Fails of All Time

The Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster

[arctic-hands]

I'm not upset discussions of Sally Ride these days don't leave out the fact that she was a lesbian and therefore the first known queer person in space (albeit a fact only known after her death), but I hate that the fact that what is left out is that she, while part of the Roger's Commission after Challenger exploded, was the whistleblower who made sure the information for the defects of the O-rings made its way to Richard Feynman, who then famously, publicly, and on camera demonstrated how icy coldness (such as the cold and icy weather the morning before Challenger launched) could critically deform the O-rings used and keep them from forming a seal. This was also only revealed after she died. (x)

Whenever Sally Ride comes up these days among my (overwhelmingly queer) friends, we all acknowledge that she was a lesbian and celebrate what a role model she was not just for girls but for queer kids (and adults) too, but everyone is always surprised when I bring up the whistleblowing thing, which I think is damn shame and a disservice to her legacy.

[humanoidhistory]

Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Cape Canaveral, 29 July 1985.

[todays-xkcd]

We're right under the flight path for the scheduled orbital launch, but don't worry--it's too cold out for the rockets to operate safely, so I'm sure they'll postpone.

Situation [Explained]

Transcript Under the Cut

[An airship flying, labeled:] Hydrogen-filled scout airship for iceberg spotting

[The airship is chained to a ship, going along a river, labeled:] Unsinkable ocean liner

[In the background on the coast a nuclear power plant, labeled:] Soviet-era nuclear reactor undergoing a turbine test

[The boat and airship are steering towards a bridge, labeled:] Bridge prone to aeroelastic flutter in high winds

[Two unlabeled icebergs are on the water on either side of the bridge.]

[Caption below the panel:] In retrospect, we should have noticed how nervous the situation was making the engineers.

[spacefrontier]

Space Shuttle Challenger races off the pad during STS-51F/Spacelab 2. July 29, 1985.

During Challenger's ascent to orbit, both of center engine's two high-pressure fuel turbopump turbine discharge temperature sensors failed, causing a shutdown of the engine. This was the only in-flight failure of an RS-25 engine. The failure of the engine resulted in the only Abort to Orbit of the Space Shuttle program. The ATO led to the Shuttle being in a lower-than-planned orbital altitude, but the Spacelab mission was still able to proceed.

The primary module aboard the Shuttle was the European Space Agency-developed Spacelab. The main mission of STS-51F was to verify performance of Spacelab systems and its interfacing with the Shuttle, with additional experiments covering life sciences, plasma physics, astronomy, high-energy astrophysics, solar physics, atmospheric physics, and technology research.

The Plasma Diagnostics Package, at the end of the Remote Manipulator System, used to study natural plasma processes, orbiter-induced plasma processes, and beam plasma physics.

Perhaps the most publicized payload on STS-51F/Spacelab 2 was the Carbonated Beverage Dispenser Evaluation, which was an experiment in which both Coca-Cola and Pepsi tried to make their drinks available to astronauts using experimental dispensers. Ultimately, neither brand was the victor. Commander Fullerton remarked, "we had no desire to drain the cans."

Mission Specialist Tony England drinking a Coke during STS-51F.

STS-51F/Spacelab 2 crew. Astronauts C. Gordon Fullerton (kneeling center), mission commander; and Roy D. Bridges (kneeling right), pilot; are flanked by the payload specialists and mission specialists for the mission. Standing (left to right) are astronauts Anthony W. England, Karl J. Henize and Story Musgrave - all mission specialists; and payload specialist Loren Acton and John-David Bartoe.

STS-51F/Spacelab 2 spent 8 days on orbit, landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California on August 6, 1985.

NASA 1, 2, 4 LA Times CollectSpace 3

[lonestarflight]

"Astronaut Sally K. Ride, mission specialist, is shown here sitting in the front seat and looking out the windows of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. Ride and four other crew members are onboard the Challenger."

Date: June 18-24, 1983

NASA ID: S83-35783 / STS007-05-029

[todaysdocument]

Guion Bluford became the first African American to go to space as the Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off on August 30, 1983. 

Record Group 330: Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense

Series: Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files

Image description: The Space Shuttle Challenger is lifting off at night. The cloudy plume surrounding it is lit dramatically. 

[otthonzulles]

This iconic photograph is still considered one of the most-terrifying space photographs to date. Astronaut Bruce McCandless II became the first human to do a spacewalk without a safety tether linkd to a spacecraft. In 1984, he floated completely untethered in space with nothing but his Manned Maneuvering Unit keeping him alive.

Here are some fascinating details about Bruce McCandless' historic spacewalk:

*Mission Details:*

1. Mission: STS-41-B (Space Shuttle Challenger) 2. Date: February 7, 1984 3. Duration: 5 hours, 55 minutes

*Spacewalk (EVA) Details:*

1. First untethered spacewalk in history 2. McCandless used the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) to move freely in space 3. Distance from Space Shuttle Challenger: up to 320 feet (98 meters) 4. MMU propulsion: 24 thrusters, using nitrogen gas

*Astronaut's Experience:*

1. McCandless described the feeling as "breathtaking" and "exhilarating" 2. He performed various tasks, including testing the MMU and performing maneuvers 3. Communication with the shuttle crew was maintained through radio

*Historic Significance:*

1. Demonstrated the feasibility of untethered spacewalks 2. Paved the way for future spacewalks and space exploration 3. Showcased the capabilities of the Manned Maneuvering Unit

*Interesting Fact:*

1. The iconic photograph of McCandless was taken by fellow astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson.

Bruce McCandless' courageous spacewalk marked a significant milestone in space exploration history!

(source fb original post here) (nasa link to image above here) (nasa history: The Iconic Photos from STS-41B: Documenting the First Untethered Spacewalk)