STS-3 launch & only landing at White Sands (3-22-82)

STS-3, March 22, 1982, the first and only space shuttle mission to end with a landing at White Sands, NM.

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Science & Technology

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• STS-3

[Zoomer30]

The first and LAST time the Autoland system was tested. Damn near did a belly landing. Losuma engaged the autoland after they were on final after the HAC and the first thing it did was close the speed brake. Then it re opened it, but they were still hot, lowered the gear about 50 kts fast. The system was messed up by the winds.

[penfat1]

it wsa also the only landing at white sands

[veritasvg]

@krosero

I understand they tried to use the autoland feature here and let's just say they never tried it again.

[topspuikko]

Fun facts: STS-3 landing had the longest rollout distance (13,737 feet/4,19km), longest rollout time (84 seconds) and the highest touchdown speed (233 knots / 432km/h)

[CapPicard]

@frogger626 Ah ok. kinda struck me as strange seeing that. Was this the only or last time chase planes were used to follow the shuttle in for landing?

[frogger626]

@CapPicard One of the T-38 chase planes following it in. The shuttle probably slowed below their stall speed, so they shot on past rather than landing along side.

[CapPicard]

Yikes. What was that at 4:09?

[chillaxer1993]

wow KABC in LA! my mom works there and has a show on sundays! before she came to kabc she worked for kgtv in san diego and covered the landing of STS-1 and went to all the landings up before challenger

[don312000]

@leisulin search "shuttle pilot induced oscillation" on youtube...the final ALT landing of Enterprise...made this one look smooth as glass.

[leisulin]

wow, that's the rockiest landing of the shuttle that I've seen....

[krosero]

Never seen this before. Unique landing! The wings look unsteady in the wind. And strange flareup of the nose.

Loved seeing the NM mountains.

[fcycles]

@Zoomer30 Great, thanks for the info!