Replies

Columbia could not go on missions to the ISS. It was too heavy.

Interesting. Atlantis, Discovery, and Endeavor went to the ISS, but it doesn't appear that Columbia did.

Columbia was considerably heavier than the other shuttles. That being the case, loading it with the new superheavy Space Hab 2 lab on its last, fatal flight now looks like a serious mistake. None of the experiments conducted on that flight that we have been told about sound as if they were all that vital.

The weight increased the kinetic energy, and thus heat, on the reentry.

Actually, as I understand it, Columbia was scheduled to visit the ISS later this year. I think for this mission it was too heavy to visit the ISS.

"Interesting. Atlantis, Discovery, and Endeavor went to the ISS, but it doesn't appear that Columbia did."

The point others are making, is that Columbia as the first space-going shuttle was not built to support a docking mechanism. The later shuttles were designed with docking in mind. Columbia could not be retrofitted without exorbitant costs.

The original designs for space shuttles were for a lighter smaller craft to achieve high orbit and docking with space stations, but the NASA engineers were over-ruled by military dictates for a larger shuttle to put big payloads into low Earth orbit (recon-satellites etc.). As built, it was too heavy to go beyond a few hundred miles up, and wasn't designed to dock.

>>...Interesting. Atlantis, Discovery, and Endeavor went to the ISS, but it doesn't appear that Columbia did....<<

Columbia was the first orbiter built. The others were built lighter.

Also, other modifications had to be made to enable the fleet to achieve the orbital inclination of the proposed ISS.

Mods to the main engines, SRB's and ET had to be made.

Taxpayers paid a lot of money in order for the Russians to be a part of the ISS.

The orbit of the ISS favors the Russians.

This was the second shuttle built. It was too heavy, ie it wasn't made light enough to be able to get up to the orbit of the ISS.

I found this press release from 1999 that sort of explains the mission of Columbia.

Reading between the lines, Columbia was designed to do the other space related duties, while the rest of the shuttle fleet serviced the ISS. Some of these duties were : satellite releases, servicing of Hubble, Capture of Chandra satellite and return.

The bold part of the press release is what I'm looking at and I put in red the shuttle bay size. Still have to check the size of the bay in the other orbiters.

September 23, 1999
KSC Contact: Joel Wells
KSC Release No. 74-99

COLUMBIA SCHEDULED TO DEPART KSC FOR MAJOR MODIFICATIONS IN PALMDALE, CA.

The orbiter Columbia, veteran of 26 Space Shuttle flights, is slated to depart Kennedy Space Center, FL, on Friday, Sept. 24, headed for Palmdale, CA. The oldest of four orbiters in NASA's fleet will undergo extensive inspections and modifications in Boeing's Orbiter Assembly Facility during a nine-month orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP).

This is Columbia's second OMDP, an action that periodically removes each of NASA's orbiters from flight operations. Though Columbia has undergone other major modifications in Palmdale, CA, its first OMDP was in 1994.

While in California, workers will perform more than 100 modifications on the vehicle. Columbia will be the second orbiter outfitted with the multi-functional electronic display system (MEDS) or "glass cockpit". Last year, Shuttle Atlantis had the full-color, flat-panel displays installed on its flight deck during an OMDP. The new system improves crew interaction with the orbiter during flight and reduces the high cost of maintaining the outdated electromechanical cockpit displays currently onboard.

While her sister ships are being outfitted with external airlocks in support of the International Space Station assembly, Columbia's internal airlock will not be removed during this OMDP. Thus, Columbia will continue to be able to accommodate payloads requiring the orbiter's 60-foot long cargo bay. Though not currently slated to dock with the International Space Station, Columbia will be given additional wire harnesses and connectors while at Palmdale to allow installation of the Orbiter Docking System at Kennedy Space Center. This prepares Columbia for docking operations with the space station if plans change.

While at Palmdale, Columbia's 100 miles of wiring will be given a thorough inspection. This is part of NASA's fleet wide wiring inspection. The wiring problem was first identified on Columbia as a result of the STS-93 mission.

Preparation work for an enhanced Global Positioning Satellite system capability will also be performed on Columbia. When installed, the new system will more accurately pinpoint the orbiter's location in flight. A space-to-space orbiter radio and wireless video modification will increase communication capabilities for Columbia's future crew members and space walkers. In addition to scheduled weight saving modifications, Columbia's radiators or coolant lines will be enhanced for protection from orbital debris.

Columbia was rolled out of KSC's Orbiter Processing Facility bay 3 today, bound for the Shuttle Landing Facility's Mate-Demate Device. Later today, the orbiter will be mated, in "piggy-back" fashion, to the Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA). Ferry flight departure may occur as early as 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 24.

The coupled orbiter and SCA are expected to make a one-day cross-country flight to California, with a planned refueling stop at the Naval Air Station in Fort Worth, Texas. All ferry flight plans are subject to weather restrictions and alternate landing sites may be selected en route if necessary. The original ferry flight plan included an overnight stop at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona for refueling and to accommodate several Air Force public affairs events. Following the crash of an F-16 at Luke on Monday and an expected one-day slip in Columbia's arrival in Arizona, Luke officials expressed Shuttle support concerns and agreed to cancel the visit.

Ferry flight rules state the orbiter/SCA cannot fly through precipitation, thick clouds or high turbulence. There are also wind and temperature restrictions. Following the modification period, Columbia is expected to return to KSC in July of 2000.