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For All Mankind Wiki
For All Mankind Wiki
"STS" redirects here. For other definitions, see Glossary#STS.

The Space Shuttle is an American spaceplane, a type of reusable spacecraft capable of partial reusability after launch and reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Its official program name is "Space Transportation System" (STS). Space Shuttles were first introduced in August 1981[2] and are operated by NASA and by the US Air ForceW.

General information[]

Space Shuttles have replaced the aging Apollo program in the early 80s. They are used for all kind of orbital operations around the Earth to place, repair and maintain satellites and space stations, as well as for flights to the Moon for supply missions and crew rotations of the lunar base Jamestown. Shuttles are used both for civil and military operations.

The Space Shuttles engines, as well as its SRB's, were developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. The shuttles are assembled and serviced at the US Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, CA.[5]

In 1983, a bigger second generation shuttle was introduced, using a nuclear powered propulsion system. By 1995, another second generation shuttle has been built.[1] By 1997, a third generation shuttle was in use, with an even bigger capacity.[6]

Operation mode[]

Space Shuttles launch from ground with two solid rocket boosters (SRB) and an external tank attached, or, in the case of the 2nd generation shuttles, through an air-launch system from a carrier aircraft. After their mission, they reenter Earth's atmosphere protected by it's heat shields and then glide as a spaceplane to a runway landing. After touch-down, the vehicle brakes by deploying a drag chute and then also uses wheel brakes after reaching a given velocity.

Reusability[]

Beside the spacecraft itself, the empty SRB's, which are jettisoned approx. 2 minutes after launch and then recovered by supporting ships after falling into the ocean on parachutes, are reusable for most parts. The external tank is designed to break upon reentry and travel along a ballistic trajectory into the ocean. It is the only major component of the Space Shuttle system that is not reused.

First generation Space Shuttle[]

The Space Shuttle was developed during the late 70s and first put into operation in fall 1981. The first shuttle was named Enterprise, in honor of the fictional starship from the TV-series Star TrekW.[2]
By 1983, NASA run a fleet of 10 shuttles:

Military shuttles[]

In the same year NASA introduced its shuttle, the US Air Force (USAF) begun to operate its own fleet of Space Shuttles, seemingly identical to the NASA shuttles save for an alternate paint job.[7]

Second generation Space Shuttle[]

Prior to 1983, NASA had already begun to develop a next generation of the Space Shuttle called "Pathfinder shuttles", equipped with the new Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA), the engine that was planned to also be used to bring astronauts to Mars at a later date. The new shuttle is launched in the air from a C-5 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, followed by the use of its onboard NERVA to reach orbit or the Moon.

The first of these new shuttles was named Pathfinder, like the whole new class, and had its maiden flight in September 1983.[4]

Known second generation Space Shuttles: [note 2]

Pathfinder shuttles were used for the rapid expansion of the Jamestown base (together with the Sea Dragon) and the launch of MoonLab and the Thomas Paine Space Telescope.

Pathfinder tragedy[]

In 1989, a Pathfinder shuttle depressurized for an unknown reason, killing 5 Moon Marines and leading to the grounding of the whole fleet. NASA had to rearrange its forthcoming mission plans, using only its remaining Space Shuttle fleet.[8] By 1992, the Pathfinder fleet was in use again.[9]

Third generation Space Shuttle[]

By 1997, NASA is using a new and even bigger Space Shuttle for crew transport to and from Jamestown.[6]

Space Shuttle missions[]

Designator Shuttle Mission Date Ref Notes     
Atlantis Skylab 12 1982
Columbia Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 36
1982
STS-83-G Kon-Tiki Skylab 1983 [10]
Columbia Jamestown crew rotation
Up: unknown
Down: Wilson, Cobb, Ockels
May 22 1983 [11]
STS-83-I Challenger unknown 1983 [10]
STS-83-N Beagle Skylab 1983 [12]
STS-83-O Discovery Jamestown crew rotation
Up: Jamestown 89
Down: Jamestown 83
Late June 1983 [12]
STS-83-P Challenger Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 90
1983 [12]
STS-83-Q Atlantis LEO 1983 [12]
STS-83-R Columbia Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 91
September 1983 [12]
STS-83-U Victoria Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 92
1983 [12]
STS-83-V Constitution 1983 [12]
STS-83-Y Endeavour LEO 1983 [12]
STS-84-B Discovery Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 93
1984 [12]
STS-84-C Pathfinder LEO (planned)
Sea Dragon 17 escort
1984 (planned)
September 1983
[12] initially planned as test flight in 1984,
but moved to Sept 1983 as a DOD mission
STS-92-D Beagle Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 192
1992 [9]
STS-92-F Enterprise TPST repair July 1992 [9]
STS-92-G Discovery Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 193
1992 [9]
STS-92-H Endeavour Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 194
1992 [9]
STS-92-K Pathfinder DOD (classified) 1992 [9] translunar
STS-92-L Victoria Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 195
1992 [13]
STS-92-N Columbia Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 196
1992 [13]
STS-92-P Kon-Tiki Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 197
1992 [13]
STS-92-S Enterprise Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 200
1992 [13]
STS-94-S Constitution Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 224
1995 [14]
STS-94-T Columbia Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 225
1995 [14]
STS-94-V Challenger Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 226
1995 [14]
STS-95-A Atlantis
Columbia
Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 227
1995 [14]
[15]
[note 3]
STS-95-B Endeavour Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 228
1995 [15] [1]
STS-95-D Constitution Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 229
1995 [15] [1]
STS-95-E Discovery Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 230
1995 [15]
STS-95-F Vangard Skylab 44 1995 [1]
STS-95-G (E) Beagle Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 231
1995 [15] [1] [note 4]
STS-95-H Victoria Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 232
1995 [16]
STS-95-K Enterprise Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 233
1995 [16] [1]
STS-95-L Pathfinder Jamestown crew rotation
Jamestown 234
1995 [16]

Notes[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Data based on real world data
  2. While they are talking of "NASA's Pathfinder fleet" in the bonus video, only two Pathfinder shuttles are known by name, and the number of existing shuttles remains unknown.
  3. There is a discrepancy with this mission. The mission status boards seen in the episodes 3x06 and 3x07 show different vehicles for Jamestown 227.
  4. There is a discrepancy with the STS-number of this mission. The mission status boards seen in the episodes 3x06 and 3x07 show different numbers (95-E/G) for Jamestown 231.
  • There is lots of inconsistency in the designation of the show's Space Shuttle fleet seen on numerous mission status boards and screens throughout the series, especially in season 2. For example, Discovery is sometimes OV-103 and sometimes OV-104, Beagle OV-108 or OV-109, and Challenger OV-099 or OV-103. Sometimes they have different designations even on the same board. The designators are mostly consistent in season 3 though.

Galleries[]

Launch[]

Landing[]

In operation[]

Pathfinder shuttle[]

Third generation shuttle[]

Other[]

Behind the scenes[]

  • The Space Shuttle program in the alternative timeline of For All Mankind started later than in reality, where the first shuttle flight was launched on April 12, 1981 already, most probably because of the prolonged Apollo program.
  • In reality, the military shuttle is a 21st century vehicle class called the X-37BW.
  • The real Space Shuttle PathfinderW is a Space Shuttle test simulator made of steel and wood.
Space Shuttle Patch show vs original

Space Shuttle patch:
Show (left) vs. original (right)


See also[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 For All Mankind, season 3, episode 7, "Bring It Down" (Mission status board @ 43:03)Screenshot
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 For All Mankind TV series, season 2, episode 1, "Every Little Thing" (Press review opening)
  3. Image: NASA prepares for first Space Shuttle launch (1981-08-15)
  4. 4.0 4.1 For All Mankind TV series, season 2, episode 4, "Pathfinder"
  5. For All Mankind TV series, season 2, episode 1, "Every Little Thing"
  6. 6.0 6.1 For All Mankind, 4x01, "Glasnost" (Press review intro)Screenshot
  7. Bonus Video: One Giant Leap: 1975-1982 - Military Shuttle Launch (1981)
  8. Bonus Video: Another Giant Leap: 1984-1992 - Pathfinder Tragedy (1989)
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 For All Mankind, season 3, episode 2, "Game Changer" (Mission status board @ 57:45)Screenshot
  10. 10.0 10.1 For All Mankind, season 2, episode 2, "The Bleeding Edge" (Mission board @ 27:25)
  11. For All Mankind TV series, season 2, episode 2, "The Bleeding Edge"
  12. 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 For All Mankind, season 2, episode 4, "Pathfinder" (Mission board @ 35:31)Screenshot
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 For All Mankind, season 3, episode 2, "Game Changer" (Mission status board @ 07:47)Screenshot
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 For All Mankind, season 3, episode 7, "Bring It Down" (Mission status board @ 43:00)Screenshot
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 For All Mankind, season 3, episode 6, "New Eden" (Mission status board @ 44:50)Screenshot
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 For All Mankind, season 3, episode 6, "New Eden" (Mission status board @ 44:25)Screenshot