Space

Us Manned Space Programme Resumes With Successful Shuttle Mission 26

The United States have resumed their manned spaceflight programme following the highly successful test flight of Mission 26. The mission involved the launch of a large fracking Data Relay Satellite while serving to demonstrate a wide range of procedural changes, over 200 changes to vehicle configuration and 100 changes to vehicle software. The Solid Rocket Boosters, responsible for the Challenger disaster, were substantially redesigned while over 30 modifications were made to the main engines.

The launch was delayed by 1:38hr due to unusual wind conditions at altitude, crosswinds at the Kennedy runway fluctuating about the 12kt limit, erroneous diagnostic readings in the Orbital Manoeuvring System and the failure of cooling fan circuit fuses in two of the astronauts’ suits. The countdown contained 36 hours of hold time which provided ground crews with just enough time to get everything right, the mission was constrained by 2,500 launch commit criteria.

This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

Login

Become a Member

To continue reading the rest of this article, please login.

Username or Email

Password Forgot password?

Keep me signed in on this device.

If you check this box before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

If you check the box above before you log in, you won’t have to log back into the website next time you return, even if you close your browser and come back later.

---

or

---

Login with a Passkey

To unlock all Australian Aviation magazine content and again unlimited access to our daily news and features, become a member today!
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.

PRINT

$49.95 for 1 year Become a Member

See benefits

• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website

MOST POPULAR

PRINT + DIGITAL

$99.95 for 1 year Become a Member

$179.95 for 2 years Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

DIGITAL

$5.99 Monthly Become a Member

$59.95 Annual Become a Member

See benefits

• Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
• Access to the Australian Aviation app
• Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
• Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
• Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
• Daily news updates via our email bulletin

View more offers and details