Moai and the Space Shuttle....?? - Collecting Tiki

PP Prikli Pear Tiki Socialite New Braunfels, Texas Joined: Jan 04, 2017 Posts: 981	PP Prikli Pear Posted posted on Fri, May 10, 2019 5:32 PM I wasn't familiar with this one, but wow, talk about a product of its time: the Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on a polar orbit flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California. During the launch, the main engines cut off prematurely and the Shuttle is forced to make an emergency landing on Rapa Nui, better known to most of the world as Easter Island.[2] Landing is just the start of the problems for NASA, who now have to deal with the immense technological challenge of getting the Shuttle back home. Problems include lack of documents for the astronauts and shuttle, bringing in the crane that's used to lift the Shuttle onto the specially modified 747 that carries it, widening the runway to accommodate the 747, building turn-arounds on the runway so that it can turn and take off again, bringing in fuel for the plane and many, many other problems. VANDERBERG for crying out loud! Not many folks remember the shuttles were planned to launch from there into polar orbits (Cold War stuffs). And in the book, the Soviets were trying to steal the wayward shuttle as well. Sounds similar to a spate to espionage/technothrillers that were popular at the time.

I wasn't familiar with this one, but wow, talk about a product of its time:

the Space Shuttle Atlantis launches on a polar orbit flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Southern California. During the launch, the main engines cut off prematurely and the Shuttle is forced to make an emergency landing on Rapa Nui, better known to most of the world as Easter Island.[2]

Landing is just the start of the problems for NASA, who now have to deal with the immense technological challenge of getting the Shuttle back home. Problems include lack of documents for the astronauts and shuttle, bringing in the crane that's used to lift the Shuttle onto the specially modified 747 that carries it, widening the runway to accommodate the 747, building turn-arounds on the runway so that it can turn and take off again, bringing in fuel for the plane and many, many other problems.

VANDERBERG for crying out loud! Not many folks remember the shuttles were planned to launch from there into polar orbits (Cold War stuffs). And in the book, the Soviets were trying to steal the wayward shuttle as well. Sounds similar to a spate to espionage/technothrillers that were popular at the time.

Post #795060 by Prikli Pear on Fri, May 10, 2019 5:32 PM