STS-2

Who called the crew during the Mission from Mission Control in Houston?

• Ronald Reagan

• George H.W. Bush

• Alexander Haig

• Jimmy Carter

Answer explanation

Reagan was supposed to call the crew of STS-1 but was shot in an assassination attempt 2 weeks before the launch.

Why was the mission shortened from 5 days to 2 days?

• Fuel Cell Failure

• OMS Pod Failure

• Cargo Bay Doors failed to open

• Crew Illness

Who became the first female CAPCOM during STS-2?

• Mae C. Jemison

• Katherine Johnson

• Kathy Sullivan

• Sally Ride

Although testing had been cancelled by NASA due to the shortened mission, what piece of equipment did the crew test during their scheduled sleep time?

• Shuttle Multispectral Infrared Radiometer

• Aerodynamic Coefficient Identification Package

• Canadarm

• OMS Pod Systems

Answer explanation

The crew tested the arm during a scheduled sleep session, using LOS areas to perform the tests.

What was the first wake-up music played for STS-2?

• "Flash Gordon" - Queen

• "Pigs in Space" - Muppets

• "The Jetsons" - Hoyt Curtin

• "Cantina Band" - John Williams

What day did STS-02 launch?

• October 12, 1982

• November 14, 1981

• June 20, 1980

• July 4, 1981

The launch of STS-2 showed the first signs of damage to what piece of the shuttle?

• O-Rings

• Heat Tiles

• RS-25 Engine

• Main Tank SOFI

Answer explanation

The launch showed the first indications of O-ring blow by. More O-ring testing passed all pressure tests and was deemed flightworthy. O-ring blow-by was observed several more times before the Challenger explosion.

STS-2 was the last flight to use the white painted SOFI on the external fuel tank.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Eliminating the paint saved over 600 pounds.

Joe Engle, the Commander of STS-2, was originally supposed to fly on Apollo 17 but was replaced by this Astronaut.

• Eugene Cernan

• Ronald Evans

• Harrison Schmitt

• Ken Mattingly

Answer explanation

As the Apollo program was nearing being cancelled by Congress NASA moved forward to the Science based "J Missions" and replaced Engle with the trained Geologist Harrison Schmitt.

How many heat shield tiles were lost on the launch of STS-2?

• 5

• 0

• 15

• 10

Answer explanation

Changes to the deluge system on Pad 39A after STS-1 to account for the SRBs prevented the OMS heat tile loss that STS-1 suffered. Zero tiles were lost in the mission and only 12 showed any signs of damage.