STS-1 - Landing T-38 Chase Pilots View

14th April 1981 - the chase 2 TV coverage of the STS-1 landing
STS-1 chase 1:
Jon McBride
Pinky Nelson (made the photos)
STS-1 chase 2 (TV):
Dick Gray (JSC)
Pete Stanley (JSC)
STS-1 chase 1 backup:
Dave Walker
Mike Mullane
STS-1 chase 2 backup:
Robert Walker (JSC)
Bobby Gray (JSC)
Thanks to Jeff for the content

[@joestimemachine6454]

I dont know where you find all this footage but I love it. My childhood enthusiasm about spaceflight has been renewed with this channel.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

@Graysen Juelz Who gives a fuck? Find something better to do with your time.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

"Shall I roll it up to the hangar, Joe?" "Nah, we're gonna dust it off first." Omg, these guys are cool as ice.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

John Young the commander of this mission was made of ice, during his Apollo moon launch his heart rate was at the same level as someone resting on a couch, he basically wrote the book on how to fly the shuttle and the only thing that spooked him was the Abort: Return To Launch Site he said he hoped to never do it for real as it basically was pulling a 180 during the launch and trying to fly the shuttle into orientation with the giant orange tank on the belly

[@yassassin6425]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 Incorrect, The ET would have separated in the event of RTLS. Wasn't the only thing that spooked him. During the post mission press conference of STS-9, (aside from STS-28, the mission that came closest to disaster) Young remarked that when the first computer failed “…my knees started shaking. When the next computer failed I turned to jelly.”

[@adamreznik6374]

@@yassassin6425 Logan is correct. The ET does NOT separate during a RTLS abort until after the PPA. The PPA (powered pitch around) maneuver can be started soon after SRB sep, while the orbiter SSMEs are still burning. Just before MECO, with about 2% fuel remaining in the ET, a pitch-down maneuver would be performed to provide proper orientation for ET jettison. At this point, downrange velocity has been nulled, and the orbiter is heading back toward the launch site.

[@yassassin6425]

@@adamreznik6374 Yes correct - but to clarify, I found "trying to fly the shuttle into orientation" inaccurate and ambiguous.

[@indahooddererste]

@@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606 Ye but he was furious they didnt tell him a malfunction on STS-1. NASA played a lot of times russian roulette with their Astronauts.

[@aviationlover3613]

That flying cargo bay with stubby little wings was in space minutes ago! God i love the space shuttles

[@JonnyMainframe]

Just think of the planning and piloting that had to go into those T-38s intercepting Columbia. Shows the awesome skill of everyone involved.

[@lunarmodule5]

Great comment

[@brentboswell1294]

Considering that the Shuttle Landing Simulator (stationed in my hometown of El Paso) had to stick the main gear in the breeze with the nose wheel retracted, and had computers to make lots of unnatural control movements in a poor Gulfstream II, making a T-38 have the flight characteristics of a brick to chase a returning partially lifting body spacecraft probably requires considerable skill 😉

[@calvinnickel9995]

It’s not as hard as people think it is. Yes, for a plane to simulate a Shuttle profile it’s a bit more difficult. But to intercept and pace it? Not at all for a plane like the T-38. Not only can the T-38 adjust drag but it can adjust thrust as well-something that defeats the purpose of a Shuttle trainer. And without adjusting drag or thrust, you can adjust your lateral and vertical profile to compensate. Need speed? Dive or unload the wings. Need to slow down? Level off or pull G. Need to close distance? Cut the corner laterally. Closing too much? Widen out the turn or do S turns or barrel rolls to add track miles.

[@Allenmarshall]

@@calvinnickel9995 Makes the t-38 look like a t-37. Am I right? Guys???

[@richardwillson101]

​@calvinnickel9995 actually, to intercept STS-1 there was a window of only a few seconds to be in the right location... It was a VERY well planned out and executed chase flight. You clearly have no understanding at how fast the Space shuttle came in at or its rate of descent 😂 A T-38 is no match for the space shuttle, it had to be precisely times.

[@luciusvorenus9445]

I remember John Young running down the steps of access ladder to inspect his ship. He was so excited about this spacecraft.

[@brentboswell1294]

Wonder if he found out about the severely damaged body flap that way (it was pushed way past the physical limits by stronger than expected acoustic waves at launch) 😉

[@jshepard152]

@@brentboswell1294 He said later that if they'd known that they would have gotten down to low altitude and bailed out.

[@deoglemnaco7025]

He was very excited that the shuttle had worked. I wonder what he thought of those folks who died in it later. It wasn’t that awesome of a craft. It was a murderous craft

[@MagicAl5F4781]

@@deoglemnaco7025 As a test program it was certainly awesome. But it was misapplied and oversold as the all-purpose replacement for all U.S. launch vehicles. Astronauts were not needed to launch satellites and there should not have been such delivery schedule pressure on such a complex system.

[@deoglemnaco7025]

@@MagicAl5F4781 you should have told him that then instead of saying it now.

[@TheTransporter007]

"The flying brick" - Never have truer words been spoken, but what a beautiful brick.

[@caltom1427]

I was there to see it land. drove down from SF with my girlfriend - we car camped along with about 10,000 people. really cool to see this video.

[@nordithen]

I know it's all according to plan, but that's one terrifyingly steep glide slope.

[@jackmandu]

The Shuttle’s glide ratio was only 4:1. So it didn’t really glide so much as fall in a controlled manner.

[@sixstringedthing]

Gliding in roughly the same manner as your average housebrick. Hell of a thing, sitting there through re-entry knowing you might be asked to try and recover the falling brick manually if the autoland goes sideways for any reason.

[@kenturkey1971]

I remember this from 4th grade. It was SOOOO exciting then...

[@faktisletztenendes]

"Pretty bird, eh?" ❤️ (heavy breathing) "Luke... I am your father..."

[@jvc525]

History Channel: "I don't know much about Columbia Shuttles. Let me call a buddy." lunarmodule5's Channel: Some of the most historically significant footage of the space program ever filmed.

[@lunarmodule5]

LOL that cant be right can it?

[@justinwilliams8230]

John Young was one of our greatest astronauts, but you don't hear about his career as much as Glenn, Armstrong, etc.

[@MikeGoesBadaBoom]

He said fuck on the moon too!

[@PlayerFalcon4]

Described as "the astronauts astronaut" which seems apt. Along side Grissom, probably the most respected.

[@JPaunicka]

Oh, wow. This is simply fantastic. After all these years, I didn’t realize there was STS-1 footage out there that hadn’t been seen. Would be curious to know how you came about this! Regardless, thanks so much for sharing. Wonderful, wonderful.

[@lunarmodule5]

A guy on Facebook put it up and i asked for a copy..

[@walterbatista7594]

Congratulations lunarmodule5 for this amazing videos & thank you very much for sharing. Hail STS-1 ❤ Hail Space Shuttle Program ❤

[@lunarmodule5]

Thank you very much!

[@walterbatista7594]

@@lunarmodule5 to you 👍👨‍🚀

[@PittsSZ]

Thanks, LM5. Remember watching the landing live on TV; what an amazing moment.

[@Tomfoolery1972]

"Get on 'em, John" "Yeah, we're going 320, pal" 🤨 😂😂😂😂😂

[@SuperBowser87]

Never seen this. Damn what a view!!

[@SuperBowser87]

I have really enjoyed the 40th anniversary videos you posted and I appreciate it and you so very much. I was a 12 year old paper boy when STS1 was launched. My dad didn’t make me go to school on the first launch day that was scrubbed. He knew it would be something I would always have a memory of. He was looking at it as most likely the only chance I would have in my life of having the same feeling he did when watching Apollo 11. He was correct ! When the launch was scrubbed he said get dressed so I can take you to school now. I was devastated !!!! Thought I got a free day!! He started laughing and told me to go outside and play. Yes dad was screwing with me!! Sunday morning I got up at 4 AM to get my papers delivered then got home and never took my eyes off the TV. Dad explained all he could to me. All he knew of the shuttle and the space program. Watching the clock countdown my 12 year old stomach was in knots. The closer to lift off the more nervous I got. I was a wreck !! I remember thinking these guys are the bravest two men I’ve ever seen. They are really brave or really dumb was my thoughts. Around 20 seconds left on the clock dad told me to go upstairs and get him a coke from the fridge. WHAT???? It’s going to launch dad!!!! He started laughing again. Yep he got me. Again. He said sit down and watch this bit of history unfold and don’t forget it! This is important. He was so right. Thanks dad!!

[@lunarmodule5]

awesome Dad you had and what an experience to share - thanks for sharing it with us all

[@robbyxp1]

Amazing work getting these videos. If only we could have watched them in 1981.

[@DustinBruce31]

Now this is some special footage! I don’t think I care that it’s a reminder that I myself turn 40 in September!

[@allgood6760]

Awesome!.. I have a Kiwi newspaper for this flight.. thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿

[@mrcuthbertgriswald]

That thing really is just dropping out of the sky..great vid!

[@twonumber22]

Always a nice touch with the patches at the end.

[@tomandsamuel]

Thanks for this. Amazing find! Simply brilliant

[@Astronut54]

How you come up with these videos is absolutely amazing! You must have insider connections with NASA.

[@leonkernan]

Shuttle didn't really fly, it just fell in a controlled manner.

[@HarryBalzak]

It fell with style

[@devilsoffspring5519]

It certainly flew, during landing approach it was gliding, flying like a normal airplane. It didn't have engine power during landing so it couldn't fly at a constant altitude, but it was still flying in the usual sense.

[@calvinnickel9995]

If it’s was just falling, airspeed and angle of attack wouldn’t matter.

[@guilldea]

Wow they were flying real close!

[@goldgamercommenting2990]

Welcome home Columbia beautiful beautiful

[@Allenmarshall]

This is so cool! Buncha badasses.

[@IzackN]

what a beautiful sight!

[@yassm]

Listening to the chatter is super

[@oxcart4172]

Great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@lunarmodule5]

You bet!

[@CharlieGolfAviation]

Amazing perspective

[@zestydude87]

I miss those days...

[@ThomasLearyUsa]

welcome back STS-1

[@chineserocks77]

Incredible video!

[@hubbsllc]

Must be something to be motoring along in your little jet and then you encounter another aircraft with no power and the glide slope of a clawhammer.

[@bencartwright5998]

So no parachute in California landing ?

[@lunarmodule5]

There was no parachute on any orbiter until the first flight of Endeavour in 1992 - STS-49 - the other orbiters were modified later

[@Stadtpark90]

4:02 6:50 and 6:56 that sounded so Kerbal...

[@jiridest1606]

The best machine that flew 💪

[@MrHichammohsen1]

First baby! Amazing as usual thank you.

[@lunarmodule5]

LOl thanks Hicham -just a short one for todays upload - I need a vacation after STS-1

[@Ghostshadows306]

What does Crippen say after the nose hits the ground? A couple short words followed by skipper. Never could figure out what he said.

[@lunarmodule5]

@@Ghostshadows306 I always thought it's the chase plane pilot saying those words....I have always wondered what he says too...always thought it must be a navy term...maybe something relating to carrier landings...would love to know! Anyone?

[@Ghostshadows306]

@@lunarmodule5Yeah I always thought it was Crippen because he counts down the feet like a co pilot does and then ends it with an emphatic short reference that I always thought was to Young as “skipper” or captain. Like “You got it Skipper” or “You did it Skipper”. But to me it sounds more like he says “touch ‘em all skipper” or something similar I can’t make any sense of. Obviously I could be totally wrong and it might not be “skipper” or even Crippen that’s saying it. But my guess is that it’s Crippen and a reference to Young as “skipper” who he constantly praised as a mentor of his, and we (you and I at least) just can’t figure out the phrase. Anyone? ha

[@crphoto303]

Like landing a F350 with zero visibility. Incredible feats.

[@williamburke8242]

My dad and I have the same color circle like yours!

[@tomandsamuel]

Am I right? This is Chase 2 camera with Chase 1 audio? Would have been awesome to have the chase 1 camera

[@Senor0Droolcup]

Fantastic! Wonderful memories from being 11yrs old..... Question: does anyone remember which STS flight had the landing where the nose began lifting up again after touchdown: for about 1-2 seconds, looked like something very bad was going to happen. Maybe one of the first Challenger flights?

[@lunarmodule5]

STS-3

[@Senor0Droolcup]

@@lunarmodule5 That was it! "Damn you, Jack Lousma!". Bet he was thinking: "OK, this is for all you $*%$%'s that cancelled Apollo 20 on me...." Just kidding. As I recall there was an interesting TLDR story behind the pitchup. No big deal.

[@Sootaroot]

@@Senor0Droolcup There was a lot of ill-informed comment about the nose pitch-up at the time. The BBC's Reginald Turnill said that "worried" controllers at Houston thought Columbia was going to take off again, presumably using the jet engines nobody had previously mentioned. (In fact the prototype of the Soviets' Buran orbiter could do exactly that.) Post-flight, Jack Lousma said it was no big deal. After main gear touchdown, Columbia's speed was higher than he was happy with for the nose gear, so he performed the flare manoeuvre to lose energy.

[@Senor0Droolcup]

@@Sootaroot That is good Marine Fighter Pilot piloting, right there! It's actually what I do since I'm a poor single-engine pilot and often land with too much energy: pull back gently on the stick and use aerodynamic drag braking to save the brakes a bit.

[@HarryBalzak]

@@Senor0Droolcup Sounds like a recipe for porpoising.

[@DarkFalconAnimations]

Who is saying the numbers during landing?

[@lunarmodule5]

the chase pilot calls the numbers so its either McBride or Nelson in Chase 1 I believe

[@DarkFalconAnimations]

@lunarmodule5 OK, thanks. What did he say right after the nose gear had touched down?

[@brianmcinall9455]

@@DarkFalconAnimations I've read it quoted in other places as "Take a bow Skipper" i.e. a message from Chase to CDR for the great touch down just performed.

[@SeligTiles]

@@brianmcinall9455 “Welcome home Skipper”

[@brianmcinall9455]

@@SeligTiles I taped the audio live from this landing. I played it back many times in the weeks that followed. I too always wondered what was said at this point. My interpretation at the time was "look about skipper", which didn't make any sense until I read the quote some where ("take a bow skipper").... I wish I could remember where I read that. However it's possible that that interpretation was wrong too. The NASA transcript for STS 1 does contain chase transmissions but this exchange is not logged. Oh well...

[@robz7789]

Is that Bob Crippin doing the feet till touchdown?

[@lunarmodule5]

No Rob its the Chase pilot

[@robz7789]

@@lunarmodule5 And here I always thought it was Bob Crippen

[@robz7789]

Welcome home skipper!

[@robadams5799]

It's been 40 years, and I still don't know what was said at touchdown that ended with the word "skipper." Can someone help?

[@HarryBalzak]

"Take a bow Skipper" i.e. a message from Chase to CDR for the great touch down just performed.

[@SeligTiles]

“Welcome home Skipper!”

[@robadams5799]

@@SeligTiles okay, now I'm confused again.

[@incargeek]

“Welcome home, skipper!”

[@HarryBalzak]

@@robadams5799 My answer was copied from a post made by OP(lunarmodule5). He seems to know what he is talking about.

[@robadams5799]

If you want to see more than a tiny white dot in the sky, skip to about 2:35.

[@12345fowler]

Well that intercept geometry needed some workout.

[@VideoNOLA]

If it was this guy's job to film the Shuttle, he got it 10% right at least.

[@fastmclaren71]

I think I heard Jeb at the end.

[@leechjim8023]

Sounds like Darth Vader breathing!

[@cbavid2003]

Dang I wanted to be first.

[@Eddie42023]

right on the money, right on the money, RIIIIIIGHT on the money. SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT! He was trying to give signals without telling anyone but Young/Crippen that they needed to do something.

[@HarryBalzak]

Are you okay? Did you bump your head?

[@calvinnickel9995]

I agree. This is BS talk for what is supposed to be a sterile NASA experiment where they literally invented the term “derotate” (isn’t it just rotating in the opposite direction? Or “flying the nose down” like it is in every rear engine aircraft from the previous two decades.)

[@playgroundchooser]

Uhhhhh... What? Young knew the proper glideslope before STS-1 even made it to the pad. He would have known if it was off at all because he had the stick pretty much the whole way down.

[@campbellmays9900]

What’s with the heavy breathing?

[@lunarmodule5]

It's the T38 pilot or back seater breathing into oxygen masks