13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle The Space Shuttle: 5. Space truck
33 snips
Aug 11, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Hoot Gibson, a veteran astronaut and pilot of the Challenger during the STS-41B mission, shares thrilling stories from space. He recaps the moment when President Reagan opened the space shuttle for business and recounts challenges faced, like the loss of the $75-million Westar 6 satellite. Gibson discusses the emotions aboard Challenger during tense moments, from balloon mishaps to the exhilarating experience of a spacewalk. He highlights the teamwork required in mission control and the personal resilience required to navigate media scrutiny.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Big Bird Hexagon Spy Satellite
- The KH-9 'Hexagon' was a bus-sized Cold War reconnaissance satellite that shot film, not digital images.
- Film was returned in re-entry buckets and caught mid-air for processing.
Military Shaped Shuttle Design
- The DoD required the shuttle to carry bus-sized spy satellites, forcing a 60-foot cargo bay.
- That military demand set the shuttle's size and role as a reusable 'space truck'.
Reagan Opens Shuttle Era At Edwards
- On 4 July 1982 President Ronald Reagan attended Columbia's landing at Edwards AFB and declared the shuttle operational.
- The moment marked the transition from testing to routine shuttle missions.