Space Shuttle Plans a Liftoff --With a Twist
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — In a space shuttle first, Columbia will roll from belly-up to belly-down six minutes after liftoff today while traveling about Mach 13, or 13 times the speed of sound.
The twist is designed to put the rocket ship in radio contact with communication satellites.
In the past, such a tricky maneuver would have been used only if a shuttle had to make an emergency landing overseas.
In this case, it’s a money-saving move. NASA can no longer afford its tracking station in Bermuda.
Columbia will twist to keep its external fuel tank from obstructing the radio antenna that links the spaceship to NASA’s communication satellites.
The shuttle normally would switch to the satellites upon reaching orbit 8 1/2 minutes after liftoff.
NASA stressed that the maneuver is safe and has been certified for emergency use ever since Columbia made the first shuttle flight in 1981.
If the test goes well, NASA will close its Bermuda station after Columbia’s 16-day science mission, saving NASA $5 million a year.
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