"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
08/21/2016 at 17:44 • Filed to: Spacelopnik
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"f86sabre" (f86sabre)
08/21/2016 at 17:44 • Filed to: Spacelopnik | 4
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I am slowly putting together my big post for the NASA Social event I attended last week. One of the things that caught my eye that was on display was this space shuttle tile from OV-099. More commonly know as Challenger. Glad to see it is still helping push science forward.
ttyymmnn
> f86sabre
08/21/2016 at 20:24 |
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The tag says “STS-20", but according to Wiki there was no STS-20. In fact, the numbers go from STS-9 to STS-41. Interesting.
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f86sabre
> ttyymmnn
08/21/2016 at 20:50 |
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The started a new naming convention that included the year, launch site and mission and used that for a while. I'm sure it would be possible to figuremoutnwhatbthe 20th scheduled mission was.
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ttyymmnn
> f86sabre
08/21/2016 at 21:04 |
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Numerically, again according to Wiki, Challenger flew the 19th mission, while the 20th was flown by Discovery. But NASA could, and as you suggest, probably does, have their own numbering system. The Wiki article goes into some detail about it.
facw
> ttyymmnn
08/21/2016 at 21:25 |
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I have a vague recollection that maybe the flight after Challenger was supposed to be the first Vandenberg launch (which obviously never happened). Not seeing any info with a quick search though.
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f86sabre
> facw
08/21/2016 at 21:33 |
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It was. Just finished Into The Black, a great history of the shuttle, and it was discussed.
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f86sabre
> ttyymmnn
08/21/2016 at 21:34 |
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Keep in kind scheduled flights is order flown. Might have something to do with it. I may have to crack open one of my shuttle histories.
TrustMeImAnEngineer, but I'd rather be an InternationalArtThief
> ttyymmnn
08/23/2016 at 19:23 |
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The mission numbers typically are assigned when the missions are planned, and will (at least for satellite launches) frequently be way out of order when it comes to actual launch days because of delays, projects being moved forward, cancelled funding, etc. For example, NRO L-61 was just sent up at the end of July, while L-66 was launched in early 2011. I assume the same happens with shuttle launches, just less frequently.