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Columbia and Space Shuttle Orbiter of Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Edwards Air Force Base
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Columbia On Final Approach
| Title |
Columbia On Final Approach |
| Full Description |
The underside of Columbia as it makes its final approach before landing on the Rogers Dry Lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The Shuttle was piloted by Richard Truly who would go on to become NASA's eighth Administrator. |
| Date |
11/16/1981 |
| NASA Center |
Johnson Space Center |
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Sally Ride, First U.S. Woman
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| Title |
Sally Ride, First U.S. Woman in Space |
| Full Description |
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space. Born on May 26, 1951 in Los Angeles, California, she received a Bachelor in Physics and English in 1973 from Stanford University and, later, a Master in Physics in 1975 and a Doctorate in Physics in 1978, also from Stanford. NASA selected Dr. Ride as an astronaut candidate in January 1978. She completed her training in August 1979, and began her astronaut career as a mission specialist on STS-7, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on June 18, 1983. The mission spent 147 hours in space before landing on a lakebed runway at Edwards Air Force Base, California on June 24, 1983. Dr. Ride also served as a mission specialist on STS-41-G, which launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on October 5, 1984 and landed 197 hours later at Kennedy Space Center, Florida on October 13, 1984. In June 1985, NASA assigned Dr. Ride to serve as mission specialist on STS-61-M. She discontinued mission training in January 1986 to serve as a member of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger accident, also known as the Rogers Commission. Upon completing the investigation she returned to NASA Headquarters as Special Assistant to the Administrator for Long Range and Strategic Planning, where she lead a team that wrote NASA Leadership and America's Future in Space:A Report to the Administrator in August 1987. Dr. Ride has also written a children's book, To Space and Back, describing her experiences in space, has received the Jefferson Award for Public Service, and has twice been awarded the National Spaceflight Medal. Her latest books include Voyager: An Adventure to the Edge of the Solar System and The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space. She was also a member of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB), which investigated the February 1, 2003 loss of Space Shuttle Columbia. Dr. Ride is currently a physics professor and Director of the California Space Institute at the University of California, San Diego. |
| Date |
06/1984 |
| NASA Center |
Johnson Space Center |
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The Space Shuttle Columbia g
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| Photo Date |
April 14, 1981 |
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| Photo Description |
After completing it's first orbital mission with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base on April 14, 1981, Space Shuttle Columbia received a humorous sendoff before it's ferry flight atop a modified 747 back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Holding the sign are, left to right: Melvin Burke, DFRC Orbital Flight Test (OFT) Program Manager, Isaac 'Ike' Gillam, DFRC Center Director, Fitzhugh 'Fitz' L. Fulton Jr., NASA DFRC 747 SCA Pilot, and Donald K. 'Deke' Slayton, JSC OFT Project Manager. |
| Photo Date |
April 28, 1981 |
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The Space Shuttle Columbia t
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| Photo Description |
TOUCHDOWN! -- The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on lakebed runway 23 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to conclude the first orbital shuttle mission, April 14, 1981. |
| Photo Date |
April 14, 1981 |
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Space Shuttle astronauts Joh
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| Photo Description |
WELCOME HOME -- Space Shuttle astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen (in tan space suits) are greeted by members of the ground crew moments after stepping off the shuttle Columbia following its first landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Young and Crippen had piloted the Columbia on its first orbital space mission, April 12 - 14, 1981. |
| Project Description |
Space Shuttle astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen (in tan space suits) are greeted by members of the ground crew after stepping off the Space Shuttle Columbia after STS-1 landing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. |
| Photo Date |
April 14, 1981 |
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| Photo Description |
The Space Shuttle Columbia touches down on lakebed runway 23 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to conclude the first orbital shuttle mission. (JSC photo # S81-30734) |
| Project Description |
Space Shuttle STS-1 |
| Photo Date |
April 14, 1981 |
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C. Gordon Fullerton
| Title |
C. Gordon Fullerton |
| Description |
C. Gordon Fullerton is a research pilot at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. His assignments include a variety of flight research and support activities piloting NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and other multi-engine and high performance aircraft. Fullerton, who has logged 382 hours in space flight, was a NASA astronaut from September 1969 until November 1986 when he joined the Flight Crew Branch at Dryden. In July 1988, he completed a 30-year career with the U.S. Air Force and retired as a colonel. As the project pilot on the NASA B-52 launch aircraft, Fullerton flew during the first six air launches of the commercially developed Pegasus space vehicle. He was involved in a series of development air launches of the X-38 Crew Recovery Vehicle and in the Pegasus launch of the X-43A Hyper-X advanced propulsion project. Fullerton also flies Dryden's DC-8 Airborne Science aircraft, regularly deployed worldwide to support a variety of research studies, including atmospheric physics, ground mapping and meteorology. In addition to these current activities, Fullerton has been involved in numerous other research programs at Dryden. He was the project pilot on the Propulsion Controlled Aircraft program, during which he successfully landed both a modified F-15 and an MD-11 transport with all control surfaces neutralized, using only engine thrust modulation for control. Assigned to evaluate the flying qualities of the Russian Tu-144 supersonic transport during two flights in 1998, he reached a speed of Mach 2 and became one of only two non-Russian pilots to fly that aircraft. He piloted a Convair 990 modified to test space shuttle landing gear components during many very high-speed landings. Other projects for which he has flown in the past include the C-140 JetStar Laminar Flow Control, F-111 Mission Adaptive Wing, F-14 Variable Sweep Flow Transition, Space Shuttle drag chute and F-111 crew module parachute tests with the B-52, X-29 vortex flow control, and the F-18 Systems Research Aircraft. With more than15,000 hours of flying time, Fullerton has piloted 135 different types of aircraft, including full qualification in the T-33, T-34, T-37, T-38, T-39, F-86, F-101, F-104, F-106, F-111, F-14, F-15, X-29, KC-135, C-140, B-47, and he currently flies the F/A-18, B-52, DC-8, B-747, and T-34C. Born Oct. 11, 1936, in Rochester, N. Y., Fullerton graduated from U.S. Grant High School, Portland, Ore. He earned bachelor of science and master of science degrees in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, in 1957 and l958, respectively. Fullerton entered the U. S. Air Force in July 1958 after working as a mechanical design engineer for Hughes Aircraft Co., Culver City, California. After flight school, he was trained as an F-86 interceptor pilot, and later became a B-47 bomber pilot at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz. In 1964 he was selected to attend, the Air Force Aerospace Research Pilot School (now the Air Force Test Pilot School), Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Upon graduation he was assigned as a test pilot with the Bomber Operations Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. Fullerton served as a flight crew member for the Air Force Manned Orbiting Laboratory program from 1966 through1969. After assignment to the NASA Johnson Space Center, as an astronaut Fullerton served on the support crews for the Apollo 14, 15, 16, and 17 lunar missions. In 1977, Fullerton was assigned to one of the two two-man flight crews that piloted the Space Shuttle prototype Enterprise during the Approach and Landing Test Program at Dryden. Fullerton was the pilot on the eight-day STS-3 Space Shuttle orbital flight test mission Mar. 22-30, 1982. The mission exposed the orbiter Columbia to extremes in thermal stress and tested the 50-foot Remote Manipulator System used to grapple and maneuver payloads in orbit. STS-3 landed at White Sands, N.M., because Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards was wet due to heavy seasonal rains. Fullerton was commander of the STS-51F Spacelab 2 mission, launched on July 29, 1985. This mission, with the orbiter Challenger, was the first pallet-only Spacelab mission and the first to operate the Spacelab Instrument Pointing System (IPS). It carried 13 major experiments in the fields of astronomy, solar physics, ionospheric science, life science, and materiel science (a super fluid helium experiment). The mission ended August 6, 1985, with a landing at Dryden. Among the special awards and honors Fullerton has received are the Iven C. Kincheloe Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in 1978, Department of Defense Distinguished Service and Superior Service Medals, Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, NASA Distinguished and Exceptional Service Medals, NASA Space Flight Medals in 1983 and 1985, General Thomas D. White Space Trophy, Haley Space Flight Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Astronautical Society Flight Achievement Awards for 1977, 1981, and 1985, the Certificate of Achievement Award from the Soaring Society of America, and the Ray E. Tenhoff Award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in 1992 and 1993. Fullerton was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1982. He is a Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, member of Tau Beta Pi, an engineering honorary fraternity, honorary member of the National World War II Glider Pilot Association, and a Fellow of the American Astronautical Society. |
| Date |
01.01.1989 |
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View of Columbia landing at
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| Title |
View of Columbia landing at Edwards AFB, California |
| Description |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia with its landing gear in position is seen near touchdown on a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-14 |
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Pre-touch down landing views
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| Title |
Pre-touch down landing views of Columbia at Edwards AFB, California |
| Description |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia is seen from the front as it heads for a touchdown atop a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. A T-38 chase plane follows it in at left. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-14 |
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Space Shuttle orbiter Columb
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| Title |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia touches down at Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The rear wheels of the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia touch down on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California at end of STS-1 flight. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-23 |
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View of Columbia landing at
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| Title |
View of Columbia landing at Edwards AFB, California |
| Description |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia with its landing gear in position is seen near touchdown on a dry lakebed at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-14 |
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Space Shuttle orbiter Columb
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| Title |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia on approach for landing Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia is shown on approach for landing on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California at end of STS-1 flight. A T-38 chase plane leads the way. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-23 |
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Space Shuttle orbiter Columb
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| Title |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia on approach for landing Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia is shown on approach for landing on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California at end of STS-1 flight. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-23 |
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Space Shuttle orbiter Columb
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| Title |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia on the ground at Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
This high angle view show the scene at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California soon after the sucessful landing of the Columbia to end STS-1. Service vehicles approach the spacecraft to perform evaluations for safety and egress preparedness. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-23 |
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Space Shuttle orbiter Columb
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| Title |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia touches down at Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The rear wheels of the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia touch down on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California at end of STS-1 flight. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-23 |
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Astronaut John W. Young egre
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| Title |
Astronaut John W. Young egresses the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia |
| Description |
Astronaut John W. Young egresses the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia after landing on Rogers dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base. George W.S. Abbey, director of flight operations at JSC congratulates him at the bottom of the stairs. Dr. Craig L. Fischer, head of medical operations at JSC is at the top of the stairs preparing to enter the orbiter. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-27 |
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Astronaut John W. Young egre
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| Title |
Astronaut John W. Young egresses the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia |
| Description |
Astronaut John W. Young egresses the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia after landing on Rogers dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base. Approacing the orbiter at right is Dr. Craig L. Fischer, head of medical operations at JSC. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-27 |
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Space Shuttle orbiter Columb
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| Title |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia on approach for landing Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia approaches its dry lake bed landing site at Edwards Air Force Base southern California at end of STS-1 flight. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-27 |
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Space Shuttle orbiter Columb
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| Title |
Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia touches down at Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The rear wheels of the Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia touch down on Rogers dry lake at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California at end of STS-1 flight. |
| Date Taken |
1981-04-23 |
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STS-4 landing at Edwards Air
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| Title |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California |
| Description |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California. Actor Roy Rogers with Astronauts Jerry L. Ross, left, and Guy S. Gardner at Edwards for the STS-4 landing on July 1, 1982. Also present (behind Gardner at extreme right) was former Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. (33226), President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan meet Astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly, II., right, and Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., after the landing of the Columbia at Edwards (33227,33230), Space Shuttle Columbia, followed by two T-38 chase planes, touches down on Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22 to complete mission. In this view, one chase plane appears to be directly above and behind the Columbia, whose nose wheels have not yet touched ground. The other plane appears to be further up front (33228), The rear wheels of the Columbia touch down on the Edwards AFB runway. There are no chase planes in sight in this photo (33229). |
| Date Taken |
1982-07-06 |
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STS-4 landing at Edwards Air
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| Title |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California |
| Description |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California. Actor Roy Rogers with Astronauts Jerry L. Ross, left, and Guy S. Gardner at Edwards for the STS-4 landing on July 1, 1982. Also present (behind Gardner at extreme right) was former Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. (33226), President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan meet Astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly, II., right, and Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., after the landing of the Columbia at Edwards (33227,33230), Space Shuttle Columbia, followed by two T-38 chase planes, touches down on Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22 to complete mission. In this view, one chase plane appears to be directly above and behind the Columbia, whose nose wheels have not yet touched ground. The other plane appears to be further up front (33228), The rear wheels of the Columbia touch down on the Edwards AFB runway. There are no chase planes in sight in this photo (33229). |
| Date Taken |
1982-07-06 |
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STS-4 landing at Edwards Air
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| Title |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California |
| Description |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California. Actor Roy Rogers with Astronauts Jerry L. Ross, left, and Guy S. Gardner at Edwards for the STS-4 landing on July 1, 1982. Also present (behind Gardner at extreme right) was former Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. (33226), President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan meet Astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly, II., right, and Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., after the landing of the Columbia at Edwards (33227,33230), Space Shuttle Columbia, followed by two T-38 chase planes, touches down on Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22 to complete mission. In this view, one chase plane appears to be directly above and behind the Columbia, whose nose wheels have not yet touched ground. The other plane appears to be further up front (33228), The rear wheels of the Columbia touch down on the Edwards AFB runway. There are no chase planes in sight in this photo (33229). |
| Date Taken |
1982-07-06 |
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STS-4 landing at Edwards Air
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| Title |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California |
| Description |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California. Actor Roy Rogers with Astronauts Jerry L. Ross, left, and Guy S. Gardner at Edwards for the STS-4 landing on July 1, 1982. Also present (behind Gardner at extreme right) was former Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. (33226), President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan meet Astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly, II., right, and Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., after the landing of the Columbia at Edwards (33227,33230), Space Shuttle Columbia, followed by two T-38 chase planes, touches down on Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22 to complete mission. In this view, one chase plane appears to be directly above and behind the Columbia, whose nose wheels have not yet touched ground. The other plane appears to be further up front (33228), The rear wheels of the Columbia touch down on the Edwards AFB runway. There are no chase planes in sight in this photo (33229). |
| Date Taken |
1982-07-06 |
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STS-4 landing at Edwards Air
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| Title |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California |
| Description |
STS-4 landing at Edwards Air Foce Base, California. Actor Roy Rogers with Astronauts Jerry L. Ross, left, and Guy S. Gardner at Edwards for the STS-4 landing on July 1, 1982. Also present (behind Gardner at extreme right) was former Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. (33226), President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan meet Astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly, II., right, and Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., after the landing of the Columbia at Edwards (33227,33230), Space Shuttle Columbia, followed by two T-38 chase planes, touches down on Edwards Air Force Base's Runway 22 to complete mission. In this view, one chase plane appears to be directly above and behind the Columbia, whose nose wheels have not yet touched ground. The other plane appears to be further up front (33228), The rear wheels of the Columbia touch down on the Edwards AFB runway. There are no chase planes in sight in this photo (33229). |
| Date Taken |
1982-07-06 |
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STS-9 crew egress from Colum
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| Title |
STS-9 crew egress from Columbia after landing of STS-9 mission |
| Description |
STS-9 crew members egress from space shuttle Columbia after landing at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California. Descending the stairs are (from bottom) Astronauts John W. Young, Brewster H. Shaw, Jr., and Robert A. R. Parker, West German physicist Dr. Ulf Merbold, Astronaut Owen K. Garriott, and Dr. Byron K. Licktenberg. |
| Date Taken |
1983-12-09 |
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STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
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| Title |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lands on runway 22 at EAFB, Calif |
| Description |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lands on concrete runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California. Landing occurred at 7:30 am (Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)). This profile view of OV-102's starboard side looks from the space shuttle main engines (SSMEs) to the nose as the main landing gear (MLG) glides along the runway surface and the nose landing gear (NLG) rides above it. EAFB facilities are visible in the distant background with desert scrub brush in the foreground. Weather at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida forced flight controllers to switch the landing site to EAFB on the last day of the mission. |
| Date Taken |
1993-05-06 |
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STS-55 Columbia, OV-102, dra
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| Title |
STS-55 Columbia, OV-102, drag chute deployment during landing at EAFB, Calif |
| Description |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, drag chute is deployed during landing sequence on concrete runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base (EAFB), California. Main landing gear (MLG) touchdown occurred at 7:30 am (Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)). With nose landing gear (NLG) and MLG riding along the runway, the drag chute unfurls behind OV-102. This view looks at OV-102's space shuttle main engines (SSMEs) and deployed rudder/speedbrake system on the vertical tail (stabilizer) and down the port side to the nose cone as it slows to a stop. Use of the drag chute was part of Detailed Test Objective (DTO) 521, Orbiter drag chute system. In the distant background are EAFB facilities (buildings) with desert scrub brush in the foreground. Weather at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida forced flight controllers to switch the landing site to EAFB on the last day of the mission. |
| Date Taken |
1993-05-06 |
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Landing of STS-58 Orbiter Co
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| Title |
Landing of STS-58 Orbiter Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The landing occurred at 7:06 a.m., November 1, 1993 (126), The main landing gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia stirs up dust on the runway at Edwards AFB as it begins to touchdown (127), The nose gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards AFB as Columbia completes its landing procedures (128). |
| Date Taken |
1993-11-01 |
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Landing of STS-58 Orbiter Co
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| Title |
Landing of STS-58 Orbiter Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The landing occurred at 7:06 a.m., November 1, 1993 (126), The main landing gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia stirs up dust on the runway at Edwards AFB as it begins to touchdown (127), The nose gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards AFB as Columbia completes its landing procedures (128). |
| Date Taken |
1993-11-01 |
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STS-58 post landing scene as
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| Title |
STS-58 post landing scene as orbiter is serviced |
| Description |
This busy scene on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base was taken less than an hour following the landing of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The touchdown occurred at 7:06 a.m., November 1, 1993. The array of hardware and workers includes personnel and equipment designed to make the area safe. At far left is the Crew Transport Vehicle (CTV). |
| Date Taken |
1993-11-01 |
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Landing of STS-58 Orbiter Co
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| Title |
Landing of STS-58 Orbiter Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base |
| Description |
The Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The landing occurred at 7:06 a.m., November 1, 1993 (126), The main landing gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia stirs up dust on the runway at Edwards AFB as it begins to touchdown (127), The nose gear of the Space Shuttle Columbia is about to touch down on the runway at Edwards AFB as Columbia completes its landing procedures (128). |
| Date Taken |
1993-11-01 |
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