A Rememberance

I remember every one have Shuttle toys when I was a kid. Watching TV as they the talking heads discussed where we were going to in the future. Living as I did near Langley Research Center and they did things with the shuttle flight research when it was back in our atmosphere. I was also a big fan as a kid of "Buck Rodgers in the 25th Century". Astronauts were cool. Anyhow, seeing how NASA's space division just seems to be making mistakes lead me to do some research. It seems as though the worst week for an "oops, my bad" for NASA in the public relations is the last week of January and the first week of February. These are the 3 biggest NASA missions that didn't make it either up to Space or back down.

Apollo/Saturn 204 -
Lost: January 27th, 1967.
Location: On Lanch Complex 3 at Cape Kennedy, Fl.

Command Pilot:
LIEUTENANT COLONEL Virgil. I "Gus" Grissom, USAF
Born: 3 April 1926 in Mitchell Indiana.
Combat pilot he flew F-86's in Korea. Graduate of USAF Test Pilot School. Went to Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio to study Aeronautical Engineering. One of the original Mercury 7. Second American Astronaut when he Piloted "Liberty Bell 7" capsule in sub-orbital flight. Was the first Gemini command pilot and second Astronaut to do two missions in NASA.

Senior Pilot:
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Higgins White II, USAF
Born:November 14th, 1930 in San Antonio, Texas

Received a Bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering from United States Military Academy in 1952.
Flew F-86's and F-100's in Germany and US. Received a Masters in Aeronautical Engineering from U of Michigan in 1959.
Attended USAF Test Pilot School Edwards AFB, CA in 1959First American to space walk in 1965 with Gemini 4.

Pilot:
Lieutenant Commander Roger Bruce Chaffee,USN
Born:February 15, 1935 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Graduated in 1957 from Purdue University with a degree in aeronautical engineering on a NROTC scholarship.
Completed Officer training in Pensacola, Fl. and commissioned as an Ensign in August 1957.
Awarded Naval Aviator Wings in 1958.
Qualified as the youngest pilot to fly the A3D-2P Skywarrior while assigned to Heavy Photographic Squadron 62 (VAP-62).
Flew with VAP-62 during the Cuban Missile Crisis taking many photos of Cuban and Soviet build areas.
Completed a masters in Reliability Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1963.
Selected by NASA to join the Apollo program in 1963.
Selected in 1966 to be the on the first Apollo flight.

Space Transportation System-51-L
United States Space Shuttle Challenger
Lost: January 28th 1986
Location: approximately 48000 ft above Cape Canaveral, FL


Then a live feed from a major US network filming the launch from launch to debris touchdown in the water.

Shuttle Commander:
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Richard "Dick" Scobee,USAF
Born:May 19, 1939 in Cle Elum, Washington
Enlisted in USAF in 1957. Served as an Aircraft Engine Mechanic at Kelly AFB, Tx.

• Completed a Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1965. Attended classes while off-duty.
• Applied for conversion and then awarded an Officers commission in 1965.
• Awarded pilots wings in 1966.
• Flew combat a combat tour in Vietnam.
• Completed USAF Test Pilot school in 1972.
• Logged hours over 6500 flight hours testing various aircraft such as the C-5, F-111, and X-24 Lifting body.
• Selected for NASA's Astronaut program in 1978.
• First space flight was with STS-41-C onboard US Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984

Shuttle Pilot:
Captain Michael J. Smith, USN
Born: April 30, 1945 in Beaufort, N.C.
Graduated United States Naval Academy 1967.

Flew A-6 Intruders over Vietnam in 1972 and 1973 cruise with VA-52, the "Knight Riders."
Graduated US Navy Test Pilot School 1974.

Work at NAS Patuxent River, Md as a Test Pilot. Instructor Tour at Naval Test Pilot School 1976-77.

Served as Maintenance Officer and Operations Officer with vA-75,the "Sunday Punchers", onboard the USS Saratoga 1979 to 1980.

Selected as Astronaut Candidate in May 1980.

Completed training 1981.

First Space flight January 28th 1986 with STS-51-L onboard US Space Shuttle Challenger.

Mission Specialist One:
Dr. Judith Arlene Resnik, PhD
Born:April 5, 1949 in Akron, Ohio.
Graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1970.

Worked for RCA with radar circuitry design.

Completed Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from University of Maryland in 1977.

Worked for Xerox Corporation after completing PhD.

Selected for Astronaut Program in 1978.

Completed Astronaut Training in 1979.

Flew as Mission Specialist with STS-41-D onboard US Space Shuttle Discovery in 1984.

Mission Specialist Two:
Lieutenant Colonel Ellison Shoji Onizuka, USAF
Born: June 24, 1946 in Kona, Hawaii
Graduated with a BS and Masters in Aerospace Engineering from University of Colorado-Boulder in 1969, while on a AFROTC Scholarship. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in USAF in 1970.

Assigned as Systems Engineer at McClellan AFB, CA in 1971.

Graduated USAF Test Pilot School in 1975 as an aircraft engineer.

Assigned as a Test Flight Engineer at Edwards AFB in 1975.

Selected for Astronaut program in 1978.

Completed training in 1979.

First space flight was with STS-51-C onboard US Space Shuttle Discovery in 1985.

Mission Specialist Three:
Dr. Ronald Erwin McNair, PhD
Born:October 21, 1950 in Lake City, South Carolina

Graduated with a BS in Physics from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971
Graduated with a PhD in quantum electronics and laser technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977
Selected for Astronaut Program in 1978
Completed training in 1979
First space flight was with STS-41-B onboard US Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984.

Payload Specialist One:
Captain Gregory Bruce Jarvis , USAF
Born: August 24, 1944 in Detroit Michigan.

• Graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of Buffalo (SUNY) in 1967.
• Received a Masters at Northeastern University in 1969.
• Joined the USAF in 1969.
• Discharged during post-Vietnam draw down in 1973 as a Captain
• Worked with Hughes Aircraft Corporation in 1974.
• Accepted to the Astronaut program in 1984 and completed training in 1985.


• First space flight was with STS-51-L on board US Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.

Payload Specialist Two:
Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe
Born:September 2, 1948 in Boston Ma.

• Graduated from Farmingham State College(located Farmingham, Ma) in 1970 with a BA in degree in Secondary Education.
• Taught in the Washington D.C. school district American History, Social Studies, law, and economics in 1971.
• While husband attended Georgetown University Law Center.
• Moved to Concord, NH in 1978 when husband was selected to be assistant state Attorney General.
• Took teaching position at Concord High School in 1982 in the History/Social Studies department.
• Was selected for the "Teacher in Space" program in 1985.
• Completed training in 1986.
• First space was was with STS-51-L onboard US Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986.

Space Transportation System-107

United States Space Shuttle Columbia

Lost: February 1, 2003

Location: approximately 40 miles above the central Texas plains.

Video from NASA-TV inside Mission Control during STS-107 re-entry

A hodge podge of STS-107 re-entry video from the ground overlaid with mission control voices.

Mission Commander:
Colonel Richard Douglas Husband , USAF
Born: July 12, 1957 in Amarillo TX
Graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering from Texas Technical University in 1980.
Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1980 after applying for officer commission program.
Received pilot training at Vance AFB, OK in 1981.
Trained as an F-4 pilot at Homestead AFB, FL in 1982.
Flew F-4E fighter squadron based out of Moody AFB, Ga in 1985.
Graduated USAF Test Pilot School 1987.
Graduated from California State University, Fresno with a Masters in electrical engineer in 1990.
Did a NATO exchange tour with the RAF in 1992. Assigned to Boscombe Down with the RAF's Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment. Selected for Astronaut program in 1994.
Completed training in 1995.
First space flight was with STS-96 on board US Space Shuttle Discovery where piloted Discovery to first docking with the International Space Station.

Pilot:
Commander William Cameron "Willie" McCool, USN.
Born:September 23, 1961 in San Diego, CA.
Graduated with a BS in Applied Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1983.
Commissioned as an Ensign in 1983.
Graduated from the University of Maryland with a Masters in Computer Science in 1985.
Applied for Pilot training in 1985.
Awarded Naval Aviator wings 1986.
Reported for EA-6B platform training in 1986 with VAQ-129, the "Vikings".
Completed training assigned to VAQ-133, the "Wizards" assigned to CVW-13 on board the USS Coral Sea (CV-43).
Qualified as a Landing Signals Officer for the squadron and the air wing at this time.
Graduated from Naval Postgraduate school and Naval Test Pilot school joint program with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1992.
Worked as the TA-4J and EA-6B test pilot at Flight Systems Department onboard Strike Aircraft Test Directorate at NAS Patuxent River.
Started a department head tour with VAQ-132, the "Scorpions", in 1994. Squadron was assigned to CVW-17 onboard the USS Enterprise, CVN-65.
Accepted to Astronaut training in 1995. Completed training in 1996.
First space flight was with STS-107 onboard US Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Mission Specialist One:

Captain David McDowell Brown, USN, MD.
Born: April 16, 1956 in Arlington, VA.
Graduated with a BS in biology form College of William and Mary in 1978.
Graduated with a Medical Doctorate degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1982.
Joined the United States Navy after completing intern with Medical University of South Carolina in 1982.
Completed Flight Surgeon training in 1984.
Assigned to Naval Branch Hospital Adak in Adak, Alaska in 1985.
Assigned to CVW-15 onboard the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in 1987.
Accepted for Naval Aviator training in 1988.
First flight surgeon in a ten year period.
Awarded Naval Aviator wings upon graduation from NAS Beeville in 1990,was number one in his class.
Received training and carrier qualified with the A-6E Intruder in 1991.
Reported to Naval Strike Warfare Center Fallon in 1991.
Deployed with VA-115, the "Eagles", onboard the USS Independence (CV-62) in 1992.
Assigned to Naval Test Pilot school in 1995 as the flight surgeon.
Accepted to Astronaut training in 1996.
Received an amateur radio license, call sign KC5ZTC in 1997.
Completed training in 1998. First space flight was with STS-107 onboard US Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

• Mission Specialist two:
  Dr. Kalpana Chawla, PhD
  Born:July 1, 1961 in Karnal, Haryana, India
  Graduated with a Bachelors in Science in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in 1982.
• Graduated with a Masters in aeronautical engineering from University of Texas in Arlington in 1984.
• Earned a Masters in mechanical engineering from University of Texas in Arlington in 1986.
• Graduated with a PhD in aerospace engineering from University of Colorado of Boulder in 1988.Worked for NASA Ames Research Center, CA in 1988.
• Became a naturalized US citizen in 1990.
• Accepted for Astronaut training in 1993 and completed training in 1995.
• First space flight was with STS-87 onboard US Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997.
• Received an amateur radio license in 1998, call sign KD5ESI.

Payload Commander:
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Phillip Anderson, USAF
Born: December 25, 1959 in Plattsburgh, New York
Graduated with a BS in physics/astronomy from the University of Washington in 1981.
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF in 1981.
Assigned to Randolph AFB, TX with the 2015th Communication Squadron in 1982.
Awarded pilot wings in 1986.
Assigned to 2nd Airborne Command and Control Squadron at Offutt AFB, NE. Flew EC-135's as part of the airborne command post for Strategic Air Command. These aircraft were code-named "Looking Glass"
Assigned to 920th Aerial Refueling Squadron at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan in 1991.
Assigned to 380th Air Refueling Wing in Plattsburg AFB, NY.
Accepted for Astronaut training in 1994.
Completed training in 1995.
First space flight was with STS-89 onboard US Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Mission Specialist three:
Commander Laurel Blair Salton Clark , USN, MD
Born: March 10, 1961 in Ames, Iowa
Graduated with a BS in zoology from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1983.
Received Medical Doctorate from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987.
Commissioned as a Ensign in 1983
Assigned to Diving Medicine Department with the Navy Experimental Diving Unit out of Naval Station Panama City, Fl while going for Doctorate.
Assigned to Naval Medical Center, Maryland (Bethesda Naval Hospital) for postgraduate education in Pediatrics in 1987.
Assigned to Naval Dive and Salvage Training Center Panama City, Fl in 1989.
Assigned to Submarine Squadron 14 out of Holy Loch, Scotland, England as medical department head in 1992. Awarded Naval Submarine Medical Officer and Diving Medical Officer after completion of this tour.
Attended Naval Aerospace Medical Institute at NAS Pensacola, FL for training as a flight surgeon for 6 months in 1993. Designated Naval Flight Surgeon upon completion of training.
Assigned to VMA-211, "Wake Island Defenders", in 1994 as a Flight Surgeon.
Assigned to Marine Air Group 13 in 1994 as the group flight surgeon
Accepted for Astronaut training in 1996.
Completed training in 1998.
First space flight was with STS-107 onboard US Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.



Payload Specialist:
Colonel Ilan Ramon , Israeli Air Force
Born:June 20, 1954 in Ramat Gan, Israel
Served in the Israeli Armed Forces during the 1973 Yom Kippur War
Graduated from the Israeli Air Force Flight school in 1974.
Assigned to A-4 Skyhawk basic training and operations from 1974-1976
Assigned to Mirage III-C basic training and operations from 1976-1980
Selected to attend Hill AFB, Utah for initial training in the F-16A Falcon in 1980.
Assigned as Deputy Squadron commander of an Israeli F-16 Squadron in 1981. Where he flew F-16's as part of Operation Peace for Galilee in 1982.
Graduated with a degree in electronics and computer engineer from Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv ,Isreal in 1987
Assigned as a F-4 Deputy squadron commander in 1988
Assigned as a F-16 Squadron commander in 1990.
Assigned to Israeli Air Force command headquarters in 1992.
Selected to be first Israeli Astronaut in 1997
Reported for training in 1998 as payload specialist.
Completed training in 2003.
First space flight was with STS-107 onboard US Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.