Astronomy Tonight for - 03-19-2025

On March 19th in the realm of astronomy, one of the most significant events occurred in 1982 when the Space Shuttle Columbia completed its third mission, STS-3. This mission was particularly noteworthy for several reasons: 1. It was the first and only time a Space Shuttle landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, rather than the usual Edwards Air Force Base in California or Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This was due to flooding at the primary landing sites. 2. The mission lasted for 8 days and included various scientific experiments, including the first use of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) or "Canadarm" to maneuver a payload in space. 3. Astronauts Jack Lousma and Gordon Fullerton performed a series of thermal tests on the orbiter, rotating it like a rotisserie chicken to expose different parts to the sun's heat and the cold of space. This led to some playful banter among mission control, with one controller quipping, "I'll take mine well-done, please!" 4. The landing itself was quite dramatic. High winds at White Sands caused the orbiter to experience a hard landing, bouncing slightly on touchdown. Commander Lousma later joked that he "greased it on... with a lot of grease!" 5. The mission also marked the first time that mission control in Houston was powered by solar energy for a portion of the flight, as part of an experiment in alternative energy sources. This mission helped pave the way for future Space Shuttle missions and contributed valuable data to our understanding of spacecraft thermal management and landing procedures. It's a testament to human ingenuity and adaptability in the face of challenging conditions, both in space and on the ground. So, the next time you're barbecuing on a windy day, remember the Columbia crew and their space rotisserie adventure!