Read Online Burnout: the mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281 by Stephanie Osborn - Free Book Online

Crash." Christiansen shrugged, looking a bit pale.
    Crash pulled a wry face. "…Thanks, Brian. Where's this… SOPG room?"
    Christiansen pointed down the hall. "Through that door. Hang a right just before you reach the stairs, and go all the way back through the Science Operations Area. Through the double doors, first left, only door on the left."
    "Thanks."
    Crash followed the directions, and arrived at the videoconferencing room used for the scientists' meetings during missions. Once there, he closed the door and activated the communications set, punching up the SOPG loop. Keying the microphone switch, he said, "Eye-eye to HOSC Manager on S-O-P-G loop for a comm check."
    "HOSC Manager to Independent Investigator," Brian's voice sounded on the comm set, as Crash adjusted the volume to a comfortable level, "I read you five by five, Crash."
    "You are loud and clear also, Brian." Crash opened up his documents to the Entry and Deorbit Checklists, and prepared to follow through the activities.
    "Are you ready for audio playback?" Christiansen's voice sounded on the speaker.
    "…Affirmative." Crash sighed to himself, dreading what was coming.
    "Commencing playback."
    * * * *
    CDR: Houston, this is Atlantis. APU prestart complete.
    CapCom: We copy, Atlantis. APU prestart complete.
    PLT: Jet, you got the deorbit program loaded?
    CDR: Doin' that now, Pete. Won't be long now.
    PLT: Yeah. It's been real.
    CDR: Yep.
    CapCom: Atlantis, Houston. You are go for deorbit burn.
CDR: Houston, Atlantis. Copy; go for deorbit burn… [Pause] Everybody ready?
    Crew: [Chorus of] Yeah!
CDR: All right. Begin maneuver to burn attitude. Check DAP to Auto. ADI Att to Inertial. ADI Error to Med. ADI Rate to Med. Let's do it… Houston, Atlantis. Maneuver to burn attitude complete.
    CapCom: Atlantis, Houston. We show burn attitude.
CDR: Copy… Cue cards out. RCS/OMS heater… Forward RCS--Off. Left Pod A, B--Off. Right Pod A, B--Off. OMS crossfeed lines A, B--Auto.
Forward and aft RCS Jets 5--Off. Begin Single APU Start. Number one APU fuel tank valve switch--Open… control switch… Hydraulic pressure indicator… green… Houston, this is Atlantis. We have single APU start.
    CapCom: Roger, single APU start.
    PLT: DAP to Auto.
CDR: Copy, DAP to Auto. Left and right OMS to GPC. Houston, Atlantis. OMS engines armed.
    CapCom: Copy, Atlantis. OMS armed.
CDR: Executing deorbit burn command… now.
[Short pause]
Houston, Atlantis. Countdown to OMS burn. Deorbit TIG in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… ignition.
    CapCom: Copy ignition, Atlantis.
    [Approximately 00:04:45 pause.]
    CDR: Houston, Atlantis. Deorbit burn complete.
    CapCom: Atlantis, Houston. Copy OMS burn complete.
    CDR: RCS--check. OMS status--check.
    PLT: DAP to Manual.
CDR: Copy DAP to Manual. Begin maneuver… Houston, this is Atlantis. We are in entry attitude.
    CapCom: Atlantis, Houston. We confirm entry attitude.
    PLT: Begin switch checks?
    CDR: Roger. Cabin Relief A?
    PLT: Enabled.
    CDR: B?
    PLT: Enabled.
    CDR: Antiskid?
    PLT: On.
    CDR: Nosewheel steering?
    PLT: On.
    CDR: Entry mode?
    PLT: Auto.
    CDR: Speed brake?
    PLT: Full forward.
    CDR: SRB Sep?
    PLT: Auto.
    CDR: ET Sep?
    PLT: Auto.
    CDR: Air data?
    PLT: Nav.
    CDR: ADI error?
    PLT: Med.
    CDR: ADI rate?
    PLT: Med.
    CDR: HSI select mode?
    PLT: Nav, one; nav, two.
    CDR: Turn RHC to inhibit, panel--On.
    PLT: Roger.
    CDR: Radar altimeters one, two?
    PLT: On.
    CDR: MLS?
    PLT: Three--On.
    CDR: TACAN mode?
    PLT: Three--GPC; ANT three--Auto.
CDR: Copy. Houston, Atlantis. Entry switch checklist complete.
    CapCom: Houston copies. Entry switch checklist complete.
    PLT: Beginning control surface prep.
    CDR: Houston, this is Atlantis. RCS dump complete.
    CapCom: Houston copies.
    PLT: ADI shows roll of zero, pitch thirty, yaw zero.
    CDR: Copy. Throttle switch?
    PLT: Auto.
    CDR: Pitch?
    PLT: Auto.
    CDR: Roll?
    PLT: Auto.
    CDR: Yaw?
    PLT: Auto.
    CDR: Body flip?
    PLT: Manual… [faint] …what the?!…
    [Nominal 5 minute pause]
CDR: Body flip switch to Auto. Houston,