1989: STS-28 Columbia (DoD)

STS-28 was a space shuttle mission by the US Department of Defense using the Space Shuttle Columbia and launched on 8 August 1989. It was the 30th shuttle mission, and the first flight of Columbia since mission STS-61-C. The details of the mission are classified. The payload is widely believed to have been the first SDS-2 communications satellite. The mission was launched successfully on 8 August 1989. STS-28 lasted just over 5 days and traveled 2.1 million miles in 81 orbits of the earth. The altitude of the mission is classified, but based on the distance traveled and number of orbits, the altitude would have been between 220 km and 380 km.

Being a classified mission, STS-28 has no commentary.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• iaf
• space
• sts-28
• columbia

[jogar54]

I worked as a payload integrator for Hughes Aircraft on STS 28 and got to know the crew, great bunch of guys.

[youvebeenthunderstru]

It was most certainly taken from another part of the mission - some Russian astronauts tried to re-enter without wearing their suits and were indeed killed by depressurization. They would not land without their protective clothing. It is a clip shot from a different part of the mission.

[livinlvis]

During reentry any event that would lead to decompression would probably be fatal for the crew whether they were wearing their suits or not since the orbiter is surrounded by super-hot plasma as it enters the atmosphere. But what I think we are watching is a cut tape. The scene where the astronaut is without his gloves or helmet is filmed before he has secured himself in his seat so it must be very early in the reentry sequence when they first begin to decelerate.

[RickyboyH]

I was wondering why some of the astronauts weren't wearing their helmets and gloves during re-entry. If something were to happen, such as a rapid decompression, that would be fatal to the crew at that altitude. I thought they HAD to be fully suited up during launch and re-entry (gloves on, helmets on, visors down and locked.) Anyone with an explanation?

Thanks for the vid btw!