TO BUILD A STAR

[Music] the fourth of July 1982 [Music] [Applause] space shuttle Columbia glides to earth from its fourth successful flight into space [Music] while the whole world watched Columba a certain select group of Americans had special feelings of elation and five the Space Shuttle is theirs created with their breeds and their hands a special part of their lives they are the people who build these great white stars and who send them in and out of the heavens with such precision these people are among the only ones in the history of man who have the skill and the privilege to build a star [Music] how does it feel to be a part of history we really want to thank you the people that put it together that designed it no I want to say seriously I'm a little in awe being in this place and knowing all that has been produced here and thinking back over the years as we waited and watched as you have waited and watched for the results for that first step on the moon you left your fingerprints on that and then a gentleman left his footprints on the moon because of you how does it feel to have a part in the building of America's space shuttle I feel that I'm I'm proud just like a power I'm proud to be part of it we are so privileged to work on this program makes us proud to just be a part of the team to know that we're the few in the country they can do this kind of a job oh I think it's very exciting to be involved with a company that is doing something like this have you feel are very privileged you know everybody doesn't have a chance to work on a shuttle a lot of my friends when my wife or I will tell them that I work on the space shell they seem to be pretty impressed and it makes me feel good I'm pretty impressed with the job - 10 years before NASA awarded the contract to build the world's first reusable spacecraft these people have done everything they said they would do and more Rockwell International was assigned the responsibility to design and build the Shuttle Orbiter vehicles and to assist in integration of the entire space shuttle system of orbiter [Music] mein rocket engines solid rocket boosters [Music] and external propellant tank it takes all kinds of disciplines and skills to build a spacecraft like the shuttle and it takes much more the steadfast commitment of a company and its employees and their patience energy courage and dedication [Music] management of shuttle orbiter design and construction and integration of the entire system involves administering the efforts of thousands of people and hundreds of companies throughout the United States to make certain that the millions of parts and systems will come together perfectly at the right place at the right time [Music] in ten short years the NASA industry team designed built and qualified the spacecraft Columbia the first reusable spacecraft [Music] a spacecraft the like of which had never been built before on April 12 1981 the space shuttle Columbia was launched on its first flight in space [Music] Space Shuttle shuttle has cleared the tower [Music] [Music] anyone ever expected to do it there are many firsts associated with the space shuttle one of the most significant is its ability to return from Earth orbit and fly to a controlled landing on a runway on earth [Music] [Applause] [Music] ksama get out [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] from the moment the spacecraft stops ruling the turnaround crews are in action their job prepare the spacecraft for another flight in space we meet the vehicle when it lands we safe it and then bring it back into the mate demate facility as you see over here and then we process it then for ferry back to the Kennedy Space Center by November 1981 Columbia was ready for another first the return into space minus ten nine we have go for main engine start we have main engine start - three two one we have ignition we have ignition of the solid rocket boosters Space Shuttle and the Space Shuttle has cleared the tower Houston now controlling the Mission Control confirms roll maneuver started [Music] [Applause] [Applause] during the flight one of three fuel cells was shut down due to overheating the second flight was shortened but the spacecraft's overall performance was again near-perfect [Applause] once again the complex and critical turnaround process was completed and Columbia made ready for its third flight [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the third flight gave a dramatic demonstration of the capability and flexibility of the space shuttle system when heavy rains made the landing area at Edwards Air Force Base questionable the landing site was changed to White Sands New Mexico the flight was lengthened until weather conditions improved at this alternate landing site then once again this reusable aircraft spacecraft glided down to a smooth landing on the earth [Music] by the spring of 1982 the spacecraft Columbia had soared into space three times and performed beyond expectations the turnaround operations had been substantially enhanced by the Rockwell team and the time shortened considerably [Applause] [Music] [Applause] June 27th 1982 the space shuttle Columbia was launched on its forth journey into space we have main engine ignition [Music] Houston now controlling Mission Control confirms Rome 20 seconds roughly good June 30th 1982 while Columbia orbited the earth the first operational Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger was rolled out on time meeting a schedule that had been set some 2 and 1/2 years before all of you have worked on challengers and takes pride in the fact that you've played a key and important role in the evolution of our country's space program and capabilities the Space Shuttle will provide a quantum leap beyond expendable launch vehicles with its 65,000 pound payload capacity the system gives access to and from space for men and equipment a relatively unlimited payload capability through multiple missions and an unmatched versatility of operations in order [Music] the fourth of July 1982 [Music] the forth landing the Columbia is the historical equivalent to the driving of the Golden Spike which completed the First Transcontinental railroads [Music] it marks our entrance into a new era the test flights are over the groundwork has been laid and now we will move forward to capitalize on the tremendous potential offered by the ultimate frontiers of space beginning with the next flight the Columbia and our sister ships will be fully operational ready to provide economical and routine access to space for scientific exploration commercial ventures and for tasks related to the national security [Music] July 4 1982 the same day as the sts for landing the first of Columbia sister ships challenger departed from Edwards Air Force Base for delivery to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida [Applause] while the whole world watched Columbia a select group of Americans experienced special feelings of elation and pride these are the people on the NASA and Industry teams who are among the very first to build a star [Music]