13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle The Space Shuttle: 3. Glass rocket
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Jul 28, 2025 In this riveting discussion, astronaut Bob Crippen, who flew on the inaugural space shuttle mission, and Neil Hutchinson, a flight director during STS-1, share their heart-pounding experiences aboard Columbia. They recount the tense moments of communication loss and concerns about damage to the shuttle's heat shield. The complexities of re-entry and the emotional strain of not knowing if crucial tiles were missing add to the suspense. Their firsthand accounts reveal the challenges of innovation and teamwork that defined a pivotal moment in space exploration.
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Tile Damage Found in Orbit
- Bob Crippen discovered missing heat shield tiles on Columbia's rocket pods shortly after orbit insertion.
- This was a critical finding as these tiles protect the shuttle during re-entry.
Columbia's Rough Arrival
- Bill Carr and team witnessed Columbia arrive with many placeholder tiles missing, making it look like it had already flown multiple missions.
- The team had to replace all temporary tiles with permanent ones that could withstand re-entry heat.
Fragile Glass Heat Shield Tiles
- The Space Shuttle tiles are fragile, made of spun silica sand fibers coated with glass.
- Each tile acts like a delicate ceramic tile that protects the shuttle from extreme heat during re-entry.