Feb 26, 2025
Striking view of STS-3 Columbia's rollout to Pad 39A.
Date: February 16, 1982
NASA ID: 108-KSC-82PC-191
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Striking view of STS-3 Columbia's rollout to Pad 39A.
Date: February 16, 1982
NASA ID: 108-KSC-82PC-191
The Himalayan Mountains, STS-3
March 30th, 1982 - Space Shuttle Columbia lands at White Sands Space Harbor Runway 17 in New Mexico following the third successful test flight of the orbiter.
Due to rain at Cape Canaveral, and high cross winds at Edwards Air Force Base, White Sands was chosen as the contingency landing area for this mission. STS-3 would be the only mission in which a shuttle landed anywhere other than Edwards or Kennedy Space Center.
STS-3 launched 8 days earlier with Commander Jack Lousma and Pilot Charles Gordon Fullerton. This mission focused on testing of the Canadarm as well as a general shakedown of the shuttle itself, exposing areas of the orbiter to the sun for periods of time to study structural behavior.
March 30, 1982 – The Space Shuttle Columbia lands at White Sands, New Mexico, as two T-38 Talon chase planes keep pace with the orbiter.
Flight deck of Space Shuttle Columbia, STS-3
RCS engine thrusting on Space Shuttle Columbia, STS-3
Condensation on Space Shuttle Columbia flight deck window, STS-3
Commander Jack Lousma inspects insect flight motion study, STS-3