
Space Workhorse – A History Of The Space Shuttle – Episode 3: Launch Day
A space shuttle launch day is the proverbial tip of the iceberg: Thousands of hours of work by thousands of personnel at facilities throughout the U.S. put the pieces together for a launch. Follow the literal and intricate construction of the external fuel tank, the only part that is not reused. Prepping for a launch includes meticulous multiple tests of all shuttle systems including inspection of the over 30,000 thermal tiles that protect the shuttle and the crew from the heat of re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. This episode details the testing and prep, the dress rehearsal and the cleanup that begins after the launch, recovery of the rocket boosters and the post landing activity that shows the special purpose vehicle convoy that services the shuttle after landing.