Shannon is emergency landing site for US space shuttles

limerick | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Friday October 24, 2003 15:34

by Johno

NASA is authorised to use Shannon Airport as an emergency runway for space shuttles which experience engine failure, it has emerged.

The US space agency yesterday confirmed that the Co Clare runway is one of a number of emergency landing sites for the majority of shuttles which take off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

Mr Marty Lindy, a landing support officer with NASA at the Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas, said the runway could be used if a space shuttle suffered multiple engine failure late into its eight-minute ascent towards space.

"We have a wonderful relationship with Shannon," Mr Lindy said. "We call them before the launch, check on weather and ensure there isn't anything obstructing the runway.

"It fills an important role for us as an emergency landing site should a shuttle experience multiple engine loss late into the ascent."

Just one space shuttle has suffered engine failure, in 1985. However, the crew was able to continue its ascent into space.

Due to the speed at which a space shuttle travels - up to 17,000 m.p.h. - the options available when main engine failure occurs are limited.

They include a return to the launch site, a series of tight arrivals at selected runways on the east coast of the US, or a transatlantic landing.

Around six NASA shuttles take off from Florida each year. However, all shuttle flights have been suspended following the Columbia disaster in February this year. They are scheduled to resume in September 2004.

Only shuttles which require a "high-inclination" orbit, such as those flying to the international space station, could use Shannon as an emergency landing site. Others, such as those engaged in space exploration, take off at a different angle which allows them to use runways in the US for emergency landings.

Mr Lindy said the majority of shuttles will require a high-inclination orbit once flights resume next year. He said Shannon could continue to play a central role when the next generation of space shuttles, known as orbital space planes, are launched within the next decade.

The Irish Aviation Authority said that, in addition to Shannon's geographical suitability, its two-mile runway was the longest in the country.

Investigations into the Columbia disaster show it would not have been possible to abort the take-off midway through its ascent and attempt an emergency landing, as potential damage to the spacecraft was spotted after the craft had entered orbit.

Columbia's left wing was damaged 80 seconds after take-off at the start of a 16-day mission when a piece of foam insulation broke away from an external fuel tank and hit the wing's leading edge at high speed. The impact was captured on film, but no signs of damage were visible.

The seven crew were killed when the shuttle disintegrated as it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere.

However, a report by the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board, set up within days of the February 1st loss of the shuttle, placed a large degree of blame on NASA.

It concluded that it had learned little in the years since the last fatal shuttle accident in 1986, when the Challenger was lost with all seven crew, according to the report.

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Comments (10 of 10)

Oi!

by Grumpy

Fri Oct 24, 2003 15:51

This is just cut & paste and how is it relevant? Editors! Zap it! Are you suggesting Shuttles be denied emergency landing facilities?

Potential radiation?

by worried

Fri Oct 24, 2003 15:55

I know shuttles used to carry an amount of Plutonium(from a Jello Biafra song). Anyone know if they still do? 'twould be kinda worrying if they did.

Polluter pays

by mad into Polluter pays

Fri Oct 24, 2003 16:17

I think if the shitule lands we should confascte it untill the wanks clean up space, any self respecting alien passing by this planet, will just keep going seeing the state of it's garden.
Do they pay anything for all that juck up there being there? they could donate a couple of Bil to some worthy charity, ISPCA for example, cos sure to fuck some peice of the sky is going to fall on some chicken licken one day.

There is a problem!

by finbar

Fri Oct 24, 2003 16:28

If this is true I don't want shannon being used to help build the son of star wars or any such systems. The problem with the American state aparatus is that we can no longer trust them just to use it for emergencies. If we give them an inch the would probably also take the 18000 feet at Knock. Look at Shannon they lied about weapons etc.

The United Nations resolution on the Non-Militarisation of Space

by ipsiphi being a space cadet.

Fri Oct 24, 2003 16:53

was affirmed in the last two weeks by the Army of Liberation of the Peoples' Republic of China when one of their officers became the first acknowledged sinocosmonaut to enter Earth's orbit and return [minus one military satelite] in a rocket built designed and launced by the People's Republic of China.
They happily photographed him between the Peoples' Republic of China's distinctive flag and that of the United Nations. [to make the point]

Meanwhile the Kingdom of Spain saw it's first astronaut travel in a former Soviet Union designed rocket launcher and together with a Russian military officer and a member of the USAF serving with NASA assist the next stage of the International Space Station project.

The Americans have less acknowledged space shuttles these days then they used to, and the Chinese have demonstrated their "ability to place a man of 80kg accomapanied by sattelites" into Space whenever they want.

Next week The commercial European-Russian firm Eurockot is to send its Rockot vehicle with a Breeze upper stage on a mission to deliver a Japanese technology research satellite called SERVIS-1 into polar Earth orbit.

at 8:43 a.m. EST
(1343 GMT) on the 29th of October 2003.
at Plestesk aerodrome in the former Soviet Union.

We don't have a space.indymedia.org
but we really _do_ need one.

my last comment on space matters:
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=26903&condense_comments=false#comment47177

US Space Command: Vision 2020 (from 1997)

by Orla Ni Chomhrai

Fri Oct 24, 2003 19:18

nichomhrai at eircom dot net

You might be interested in this document from the US Space Command which was published in 1997, and reveals the plans for militarization of space. There are also interesting reference to economics. I have put the link to it below, along with some quotes.

Quotes:

Historically, military forces have evolved to protect national interests and investments - both military and economic. During the rise of sea commerce, nations built navies to protect and enhance their commercial interests. During the westward expansion of the contintental United States, military outposts and the cavalry emerged to protect our wagon trains, settlements, and railroads.

The emergence of space power follows both of these models. Over the past several decades, space power has primarily supported land, sea, and air operations - - strategically and operationally. During the early portion of the 21st century, space power will also evolve into a separate and equal medium of warfare. Likewise, space forces will emerge to protect military and commercial national interests and investment in the space medium due to their increasing importance...

Although unlikely to be challenged by a global peer competitor, the United States will continue to be challenged regionally. The globalization of the world economy will also continue, with a widening between "haves" and "have-nots"....

To move towards the attainment of our vision, we have adopted four operational concepts:

Control of Space

Global Engagement

Full Force Integration

Global Partnerships [end of quote]

The Global Engagement section mentions 'Non-intrusive global surveillance'.

EisenhowerInstitute

Nasa

by John - none

Fri Oct 24, 2003 20:16

since the shuttle is gronded for the forseeable future, and it is unlikely ever to fly again, those this matter????

Folks, this is not news.

by Bob

Fri Oct 24, 2003 21:37

it has emerged?

Shannon is listed as an emergency landing site for the shuttle and civilian airliners.
there's no secret, and it's not news.

An Italian plane landed there recently (the windscreen cracked due to a faulty heater - a design flaw in 777s)

even a few military aircraft made emergency landings last year. that's all perfectly legal.
if they're carrying anything dodgy or doing anything illegal, of course, they should and can be impounded, but we don't deny landing rights in emergencies.

Bush's bombers, I can understand, but the shuttle? is it going to Baghdad?

sheesh. what you lot will jump at.

One jump for a space cadet. one leap for Irish Society.

by space cadet

Sat Oct 25, 2003 13:33

one topic for discussion.
¿What is the Irish assembly's position on Space?

Not just Shannon

by Seamus

Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:45

This applies, not just to Shannon, but to all Irish airports.

A KLM Jumbo Jet landed at Cork Airport last week after sensors suggested there was a fire on board.

Anyway if it does land all we have to do is call Mary Kelly and the Catholic Workers! A chunk of Space Shuttle would make a handy few bob and it could help defray the cost of all those court appearances.

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Shannon is emergency landing site for US space shuttles

Comments (10 of 10)