Launch on Need by Daniel Guiteras (small books to read txt) 📗

we learned Columbia was in trouble, because workers at the VAB had been following a normal work-flow timeline for Atlantis’s scheduled March mission.

“It may be a little tough to see with the somewhat scattered lighting in here and because of the height, but I want to show you something else interesting. If you come this way,” Stangley paused and motioned to his cameraman as he walked to the side of Atlantis so he could see between the orbiter and the ET. “If you look up between the ET and the underside of the nose end of Atlantis, you’ll see a triangular-shaped piece of hardware called a bi-pod. Atlantis has not yet been mounted, but the bi-pod will serve as Atlantis’s forward attachment point to the External Tank at the time of launch.

“Can you zoom in on the bi-pod?” Stangley asked. The cameraman motioned to Stangley to look for himself at the camera-mounted monitor, and Stangley didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, that’s what I wanted you all to see,” Stangley said. The monitor showed a tight shot of the bi-pod. “Can you all see where the bi-pod hardware attaches to the External Tank? Now look just above that point and you will see a block with an incline profile—NASA calls this the bipod ramp foam. This is the same section of foam engineers think came loose during Columbia’s launch, and which struck Columbia’s left wing. Now, because of the time constraints of this rescue mission, engineers won’t be able to make any changes to the current design. Atlantis will launch with the same setup Columbia had.”

With the camera focused back on him, Stangley said, “The bipod ramp foam has been one of NASA engineers’ greatest concerns in launching Atlantis. They fear that what happened to Columbia might also happen to Atlantis. You can bet engineers will be watching this area closely when Atlantis launches.”

Stangley began his wrap-up. “Atlantis is expected to be in the VAB for five days to complete the mating process. When the shuttle stack is ready, the crawler transporter will enter the VAB and pick up the mobile launch platform and the shuttle stack. Then, if all goes well, on Thursday, January 30th, the shuttle stack will roll out of the VAB’s back doors atop the crawler transporter. We of course will show the details of the crawler transporter, and bring you Atlantis’ important trip down the crawler-way, in our final segment of ‘NASA’s Jewels,’ scheduled to air Thursday. And one last program note,” Stangley said as his expression grew solemn. “Stay tuned as we take a look back at the events surrounding the Challenger disaster and remember that terrible day. From the VAB at the Kennedy Space Center, I’m John Stangley.”

Chapter 44

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

Columbia Flight Day 15

Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003

ON THE SOUTH SIDE of the Vehicle Assembly Building, hundreds stood behind two cordoned-off semicircles that had been set up on each side of the space shuttle crawler-way. Atlantis was just minutes away from beginning her journey out to the launch pad.

“Can you believe this,” said Ken Brown, after feeling a tug on his jacket and turning to see that it was Stangley. “The guys at the PAO have surely lost their minds,” he exclaimed, referring to NASA’s public affairs office. “I’ve never seen anything like this—all these people crowding around the crawler-way.”

“And you never will again is my guess,” Stangley said. “You’ve got to admit, the PAO has hit a home run. They’ve managed to market this rescue mission in a way that has captivated America’s youth and adult populations alike.”

Brown looked at Stangley with a puzzled grin.

“The country is so hungry for this rescue,” Stangley continued, unable to control the rush he was feeling from the surrounding crowd. “Americans wanted to feel good again—to feel good about America—and NASA has given it to them, albeit in the form of a potential tragedy. But, hey, the hit movie was about Apollo 13, not Apollo 11.

“The public is still reeling from 9/11,” Stangley declared. “I think that if NASA pulls off this rescue, it’s going to have a big impact on this country—not to mention the elections, how soon or if we go to war with Iraq, and NASA’s future budget.”

Wondering whether Stangley’s ramblings were Vicodin-fortified, Brown asked, “Don’t you remember what I told you would happen?”

Stangley paused as he recalled their last conversation, and then smiled. “You were right, it’s been a circus in every way, although I still haven’t seen any elephants.”

Brown chuckled and looked out over the mass of onlookers. “What’s your guess at the percentage of people standing with us here today who know Atlantis’s first launch window is still ten days away?”

“I’d say it’s at least seventy-five percent,” Stangley answered.

“Well, you’re crazy if you think it’s that high. I don’t care how good our PAO people are.”

“You haven’t been watching any of the media coverage, have you?” Stangley asked.

“Let’s just say I don’t look to the media to find out what’s happening in the space program.”

“I’m telling you, America’s view of the space program is changing overnight—and this rescue mission is the reason.”

“I guess I just don’t see it,” Brown said, shaking his head. “Maybe I’m too close to it all, or maybe I just need to watch more TV,” he added with a teasing grin.

As much as Brown felt there was unending stupidity in most reporting, he really liked Stangley, and felt he represented hope for future coverage of space-related events. He had always been impressed by Stangley’s passion for the space program and thought he could have been a good addition to the NASA team.

Stangley started to respond to Brown’s comment about watching more television, but the NASA spokesman at the podium began his introduction to Atlantis’s rollout. Sitting in front of the crowd were Julie Pollard, Allan Warner and Reid Hamilton.

“I want to welcome you all to the historic