November-December 1981:milestones

July 1981

15 Shuttle engine 2108, under test at a NASA facility in Missouri, shuts down after an injector failure. The test was part of series to uprate the engines to 109% of their normal full power level.

21 Meteosat 2, launched by Ariane L03 on 19 June, reaches its intended position at 0 deg. longitude in geosynchronous orbit. The meteorological satellite,spinning at 100 revs/min, is to be tested on station and the first weather pictures from its radiometer will reach the ground by the end of the month.

27 Columbia begins two days of integrated tests, powering up its system and checking compatibility with its payload. The tests began three days late because of electrical problems with the Remote Manipulator System.

August 1981

3 The two Dynamics Explorers are launched into incorrect orbits because the Delta launch vehicle’s second stage failed to fire for its full duration. The mission is expected to be completed.

4 Engineers at KSC begin modifications to the Shuttle launch pad to reduce the pressure wave which will hit Columbia during SRB ignition. The shock in the first mission last April was four times greater than expected.

5 Space Services Inc’s Percheron rocket is damaged during a static test of its 60,000 lbf engine.

7 The Intercosmos-Bulgaria 1300 satellite is launched into a 500 mile high orbit from Baikonur. The Meteor-type craft carries 12 Bulgarian experiments for investigations of the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere.

10 GMS 2, a synchronous meteorological satellite, is launched from the Space Centre by the first operational N-2 booster. The satellite will be moved to 140 deg. East to replace GMS 1, launched in July 1977.

12 Columbia is mated to its External Tank and Booster in the VAB.