Space Shuttle Challenger OV-099 |
Space Shuttle Challenger OV-099 was the second operational orbiter. It began as a structural test article before being converted to a fligh vehicle. It was delivered to NASA from Edwards Air Force Base on July 4, 1982. Its first mision was STS-6 which took off on April 4, 1983 from the Kennedy Space Center and landed on April 9, 1983 at Edwards Air Force Base. It conducted nine successful mission before it was destroyed in an explosion during launch of STS-51-L on January 28, 1986. Seven astronauts lost their lives in the explosion:
Commmander Francis R. Scobee
Pilot Michael J. Smith
Mission Specialist Ellison S. Onizuka
Mission Specialist Judith A. Resnik
Mission Specialist Ronald E. McNair
Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis
Payload Specialist S. Christa McAuliffe
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747-SCA N905NA with Challenger at the NASA Dryden light Research Center on July 3, 1982.
747-SCA N905NA with Challenger.
Grumman Gulfstream II Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) N946NA taxies past the 747-SCA N905NA with Challenger.
747-SCA N905NA with Challenger before dawn at the NASA Dryden light Research Center on July 4, 1982.
747-SCA N905NA with Challenger before dawn.
Columbia OV-102 sitting on Runway 22 with 747-SCA N905NA carrying Challenger flying in the background. Challenger was delivered to NASA from Edwards Air Force Base shortly after Columbia landed at the conclusion of STS-4. President Ronald Reagan held a press conference in front of Enterprise OV-101 and commanded the take-off of 747-SCA N905NA carrying Challenger. This was the first occasion on which two spaceflight capable space shuttles appeared together. I was the only photographer still waiting on the south side of the runway. All the others had gone to see the President's speech. At the moment I took this picture, President Reagan was leading the crowd in a rendition of God Bless America.
747-SCA, N905NA carrying Challenger on its delivery flight.
Challenger landing at the conclusion of STS-6. Paul Weitz and Air Force Colonel Karol Bobko are flying the Challenger on its maiden flight. Story Musgrave and Don Peterson are aboard the Challenger in the role of mission specialists.
Challenger landing at the conclusion of STS-6.
Challenger landing at the conclusion of STS-6.
Support vehicles hook up to Challenger following the conclusion of STS-6.
Challenger being towed to the Dryden Flight Reearch Center following the conclusion of STS-6. Some of the flexible insulation blankets are missing from the orbital maneuvering system pod.
Link to NASA's STS-6 mission page.
More pictures from Space Shuttle events.
Edwards AFB displays.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Space Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
A dozen photos of 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Events depicted include:
747-SCA N905NA/Enterprise Approach and Landing Test 1 take-off on August 12, 1977.
747-SCA N905NA/Enterprise Approach and Landing Test 4 take-off on October 12, 1977.
747-SCA N905NA/Columbia delivery take-off on March 20, 1979.
747-SCA N905NA/Challenger static and departure take-off on July 4, 1982.
747-SCA N911NA/Endeavor delivery take-off from Palmdale on May 2, 1991.
747-SCA N905NA/Columbia landing at Palmdale on September 25, 1999.
747-SCA N905NA/Discovery take-off on November 2, 2000.
747-SCA N905NA/Atlantis take-off on July 1, 2007.
747-SCA N911NA/Endeavor take-off on December 10, 2008.
747-SCA N911NA/Discovery take-off on September 20, 2009.
747-SCA N905NA/Endeavor flyover at LAX, September 21, 2012.
Put a copy of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Space Shuttle Endeavour at Edwards Air Force Base.
Bad weather caused the Space shuttle Endeavour to divert to Edwards Air Force Base at the conclusion of STS-126 on November 30, 2007. Following servicing in the Mate/Demate Device, it departed from Edwards on the back of 747 Carrier Aircraft N911NA on December 10.
Put a copy of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Edwards Air Force Base: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Space Shuttle Discovery at Edwards Air Force Base.
A dozen photographs of the Space Shuttle Discovery at Edwards Air Force Base. Bad weather at the Kennedy Space Center caused the Space shuttle Discovery to divert to Edwards Air Force Base at the conclusion of mission STS-128 on September 11, 2009. Following servicing in the Mate/Demate Device, it departed from Edwards on the back of 747 Carrier Aircraft N911NA on September 20.
Put a copy of the Space Shuttle Discovery at Edwards Air Force Base: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Space Shuttle Endeavour's Final Flights.
A dozen photos of Space Shuttle Endeavour's Final Flights. Boeing 747-Shuttle Carrier Aircraft N905NA and Space Shuttle Endeavour arrived at Edwards Air Force Base from Biggs Army Airfield on September 20, 2012. The pair were placed on static display at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center that afternoon. The 747/Shuttle stack departed from Edwards Air Force Base on the morning of September 21. It toured California and several landmarks in the LA Basin. It made two low passes over Los Angeles International Airport before making its final landing. The 747-SCA was flown to Edwards Air Force Base on September 24 where it was retired. The Endeavour ison display at the California Science Center.
Put a copy of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's Final Flights 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
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