Discussion Spaceflight Video Thread

The famous test stand at Marshall, and the dynamic test building, are no more :(
6414826_orig.jpg

8007298.jpg

SA-500D_in_Dynamic_Test_Stand_Configuration_I.jpg

G9lwnvEXUAAmPdS.jpg

 
Rockwell Intl film showing STA-099(would later be converted into OV-099, Challenger) payload bay doors being attached to the midbody with a showing of OV-102 (Columbia) at the end, the least complete orbiter on the right:

 
Last edited:
Here's another one showing Atlantis undergoing Orbiter Maintenance Down Period(OMDP)-J1 in Palmdale, CA, between October 1992 and May 1994:
Additions to the orbiter included the improved nosewheel steering system, improved APUs, the drag chute modification to the vertical stabilizer, lightweight crew equipment. Other changes included capping and deactivating midbody vent doors 4 and 7 on both sides along with provisions to carry the EDO pallet and the Orbiter Docking System. The OMDP was completed 2 weeks early and came in US$2.7 million under budget.

The OMS pods seen in the film footage is the Approach and Landing Test Article (ALTA) units originally built for Enterprise to support the ALTs. The ALTA pods were used whenever there was need to perform a ferry flight using the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) without the actual flight OMS pods. There was also a matching dummy Forward RCS unit that was used for the same purpose.

 
Back
Top