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Launch Pad 39A and Space Shuttle Orbiter and Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia
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STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
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| Title |
STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A at 12:12:23:0534 pm (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)). An exhaust cloud covers the launch pad area as OV-102, atop its external tank (ET) and flanked by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), clears the launch tower and heads on its way toward a scheduled record 13-day mission in Earth orbit. OV-102 is NASA's first extended duration orbiter (EDO). The diamond shock effect is visible at OV-102's three space shuttle main engines (SSMEs). |
| Date Taken |
1992-07-09 |
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STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
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| Title |
STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-50 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A at 12:12:23:0534 pm (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)). In this distant view, a cactus (prickly pear), foliage, and a waterway are seen in the foreground as OV-102, in the distance, rockets toward the beginning of its scheduled record 13-day mission in Earth orbit. An exhaust cloud covers the launch pad area with only the sound supression water system tank visible (at right). OV-102, atop its external tank (ET) and flanked by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), has cleared the launch tower and is moments away from its roll maneuver. OV-102 is NASA's first extended duration orbiter (EDO). The diamond shock effect is visible at OV-102's three space shuttle main engines (SSMEs). |
| Date Taken |
1992-07-09 |
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STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
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| Title |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, SSME abort at KSC LC Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A comes to an abrupt halt when space shuttle main engine (SSME) number 3 fails to fully ignite. The SSME failure initiated a main engine abort sequence by the orbiter onboard computers. Ignition of the SSMEs began at T-6.6 seconds and shutdown was completed at about T-3 seconds, resulting in an on-the-pad abort of STS-55. This was the first time in the post-Challenger era that an SSME shutdown has halted a Shuttle launch countdown, and only the third time in the history of the program. OV-102, atop the external tank (ET) and flanked by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), had been scheduled to lift off from LC Pad 39A at 9:51 am (Eastern Standard Time (EST)). The fixed service structure (FSS) tower appears to the left of OV-102. View provided by KSC with alternate KSC number KSC-93PC-475. |
| Date Taken |
1993-04-05 |
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STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
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| Title |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, SSME abort at KSC LC Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, launch attempt from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A comes to an abrupt halt when space shuttle main engine (SSME) number 3 fails to fully ignite. The SSMEs shutdown at T-3 seconds, resulting in an on-the-pad abort of STS-55. This was the first time in the post-Challenger era that an SSME shutdown has halted a Shuttle launch countdown, and only the third time in the history of the program. OV-102 had been scheduled to lift off from LC Pad 39A at 9:51 am (Eastern Standard Time (EST)). An exhaust cloud drifts away from the mobile launcher platform on which OV-102, the external tank, and solid rocket boosters (SRBs) are mounted. The fixed service structure (FSS) tower and the retracted rotating service structure (RSS) are visible to the left of OV-102. In the foreground are a waterway, trees, and birds. In the background and to the right at LC Pad 39B is Discovery, OV-103, undergoing preparations for lift off on Mission STS- |
| Date Taken |
1993-04-05 |
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STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
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| Title |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A at 10:50 am (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)). OV-102, atop its external tank (ET) and flanked by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), has only moments earlier begun its ascent. Leaving the mobile launcher platform below in a cloud of exhaust smoke, OV-102 rises along side the fixed service structure (FSS) tower into the sky. An exhaust cloud fills the surrounding area. The glow of the SRB and space shuttle main engine (SSME) firings is reflected in a waterway in the foreground. |
| Date Taken |
1993-05-06 |
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STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
…
| Title |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A at 10:50 am (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)). This wide shot of the launch pad and surrounding area shows OV-102, atop its external tank (ET) and flanked by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), as it rises into the sky. The fixed service structure (FSS) tower and retracted rotating service structure (RSS) appear at the left. An exhaust cloud fills the launch pad area. The glow of the SRB and space shuttle main engine (SSME) firings is reflected in a waterway in the foreground. |
| Date Taken |
1993-05-06 |
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STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Veh
…
| Title |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39A |
| Description |
STS-55 Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) Pad 39A at 10:50 am (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)). Nearly clear of the fixed service structure (FSS) tower, OV-102, atop its external tank (ET) and flanked by two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), rises into the sky. The retracted rotating service structure (RSS) appears at the left. An exhaust cloud fills the launch pad area. The glow of the SRB and space shuttle main engine (SSME) firings is reflected in a waterway in the foreground. |
| Date Taken |
1993-05-06 |
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