Editing STS-3 (section)

== Mission summary ==
''Columbia'' was launched from [[Kennedy Space Center]] at 16:00{{nbsp}}[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], on March 22, 1982, the planned launch date.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=NASA|title=NASA – STS-3|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-3.html|access-date=May 9, 2008}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> This was the first launch with an unpainted [[Space Shuttle external tank|external tank]] (ET). The launch was delayed by one hour due to the failure of a heater on a [[nitrogen]]-gas ground support line. Prior to the launch, ''Columbia'' had spent only 70 days in the Orbiter Processing Facility – a record checkout time.

{{LaunchAttempt
| date1           = March 22, 1982, 11:00
| result1         = Success
| reason1         = Technical
| notes1          = Delayed by one hour when the Main Engine GN2 purge header temperature sensor failed in GSE.<ref name=missionsummary>{{cite web|title=Space Shuttle Mission Summary|url=https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/reference/TM-2011-216142.pdf|publisher=NASA Johnson Space Center|access-date=February 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222121120/http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/reference/TM-2011-216142.pdf|archive-date=December 22, 2016|url-status=dead|date=February 11, 2015}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
}}

[[File:STS-3 launch.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|STS-3 lifting off from Launch Complex-39A at [[Kennedy Space Center]].]]
[[File:STS-3 Canadarm captures PDP.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|left|The Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) is grappled by the shuttle's Remote Manipulator System ([[Canadarm]]).]]

The primary objectives of the flight were to continue testing the Remote Manipulator System ([[Canadarm]]), and to carry out extensive thermal testing of ''Columbia'' by exposing its tail, nose and top to the [[Sun]] for varying periods of time. The crew found that prolonged exposure to the Sun caused the cargo bay doors to warp slightly, preventing them from closing fully. Rolling the orbiter to balance temperatures around the orbiter resolved the issue.<ref name="lousma20100315">{{cite interview|url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/LousmaJR/LousmaJR_3-15-10.htm |title=Jack R. Lousma Edited Oral History Transcript|date=March 15, 2010|access-date=February 18, 2012|last=Lousma|first=Jack R.|interviewer=Ross-Nazzal, Jennifer|publisher=NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

In addition, in its payload bay, ''Columbia'' again carried the Development Flight Instrumentation (DFI) package, and OSS-l (named for the NASA Office of Space Science and Applications) which consisted of a number of instruments mounted on a [[Spacelab]] pallet, intended to obtain data on the near-Earth environment and the extent of contamination caused by the orbiter itself. Among other experiments, the OSS pallet contained a [[X-ray detector]] for measuring the polarization of X-rays emitted by [[solar flare]]s.<ref name="tramiel1984">{{cite journal|author=Tramiel, Leonard J.|author2=Chanan, Gary A. |author3=Novick, R.|title=Polarization evidence for the isotropy of electrons responsible for the production of 5-20 keV X-rays in solar flares|bibcode=1984ApJ...280..440T|date=May 1, 1984|journal=The Astrophysical Journal|doi=10.1086/162010|volume=280|page=440|doi-access=free}}</ref> A test canister for the Small Self-Contained Payload program – also known as the [[Getaway Special]] (GAS) – was mounted on one side of the payload bay.

For the first time, a number of experiments were carried in the shuttle's mid-deck lockers. These included an Electrophoresis Equipment Verification Test experiment to study the separation of biological components, and a Mono-disperse Latex Reactor experiment, to produce uniform [[micrometre|micrometer]]-sized [[latex]] particles. The first Shuttle Student Involvement Project (SSIP) – a study of [[insect]] motion – also was carried in a mid-deck locker.

A variety of minor problems were experienced during the flight. The orbiter's [[space toilet|toilet]] malfunctioned on first use resulting in, according to Lousma, "eight days of colorful flushing"; one [[Auxiliary power unit|Auxiliary Power Unit]] (APU) overheated{{r|lousma20100315}} (but worked properly during descent); both crew members experienced some [[space sickness]]; and on March 26, 1982, three communications links were lost.

STS-3 was planned as a 7-day flight. The landing was moved to Northrop Strip (later renamed [[White Sands Space Harbor]]) at [[White Sands Missile Range]], [[New Mexico]] since the planned landing site at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] had flooded. Lousma and Fullerton chose to land at White Sands instead of the new [[Shuttle Landing Facility]] (SLF) at [[Kennedy Space Center]] (KSC) because they had trained there. A large-scale equipment movement (reportedly "40 train carloads") from Edwards Air Force Base to White Sands was undertaken before and during the mission, to ensure that a landing could be fully supported.<ref name="lousma20100315"/> Although time-sensitive equipment movements of this nature were originally to be handled by Air Force cargo planes, NASA altered those plans and moved the equipment in two dedicated trains over the {{cvt|1600|km}} - distance via the [[Santa Fe Railroad]] and the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]]. The choice to move the support equipment by rail saved NASA approximately US$2 million in transportation costs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/pdf/192935main_RRtrain08.pdf|title=The NASA Railroad|publisher=NASA|year=2007|access-date=December 22, 2012}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> High winds at White Sands reduced visibility and delayed the landing by a day. As all mission objectives had been accomplished, the crew enjoyed what Lousma described as "an extra day in our world's favorite vacation spot ... We finally had a chance to look out the window and enjoy being there".{{r|lousma20100315}}

[[File:STS-3 infrared on reentry.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The [[Kuiper Airborne Observatory]] took an [[infrared]] image of the orbiter's [[Space Shuttle thermal protection system|heat shield]] to study its operational temperatures. In this image, ''Columbia'' is travelling at Mach{{nbsp}}15.6 at an altitude of {{cvt|56|km}}.]]

As on the previous day's wave off, strong westerly high level winds were in excess of system verification values. As a result, ''Columbia'' had to fly a less desirable high "right base" turn onto final approach instead of the more usual and forgiving overhead pattern. At this stage in the test program the Orbiter had significantly less electronic energy management information available to the crew than on later missions. With the runway visible only on his side Fullerton called the turn in for his commander. Their escorting T-38s were led by astronaut [[Richard O. Covey|Dick Covey]] and NASA photographer Pete Stanley. The final approach was in part flown by the shuttle's [[autopilot]], but the autoland software was not complete so it could not include an automatic landing. Rolling out on final approach, the autopilot was reengaged, and responded by closing the speedbrakes (despite the orbiter being on profile), resulting in increased speed. The autopilot then commanded full speedbrakes, and kept oscillating like this for some time. Lousma left the autopilot activated in order to gather data on its behavior, but disconnected it again at a very late stage to touch down manually. The landing was also one of the more dramatic of the program, with the landing gear deploying at an altitude of {{cvt|46|m}} at a speed of {{cvt|509|kph}} and locking just five seconds before touchdown. Early automatic speed brake closure had resulted in high speed on the inner glideslope and Lousma opted to touchdown fast rather than excessively long. The nose then began to lower at greater than planned airspeed and raised again right before nose-gear touchdown.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/features/000414overhaul/sts03_qt.html|title=Orbiter Overhaul, STS-3 landing video|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=August 12, 2010}}</ref>{{r|lousma20100315}} Touchdown occurred at 16:04:46{{nbsp}}UTC on March 30, 1982, on runway 17 at Northrop Strip.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/FullertonCG/FullertonCG_5-6-02.pdf|title=Oral History Transcript: C. Gordon Fullerton|interviewer=Wright R.|publisher=NASA JSC Oral History Project|date=2002|pages=28 to 29|access-date=February 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216154054/https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/FullertonCG/FullertonCG_5-6-02.pdf|archive-date=February 16, 2017|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

Former [[Administrator of NASA]] [[Charles Bolden|Charles F. Bolden Jr.]] stated that Lousma was trained to disengage autoland by moving the control stick. He rolled the stick, but did not pitch it sufficiently, so autoland was still partially engaged until Fullerton warned him, causing Lousma to pitch up; Bolden, who had worked on the autoland system early in his astronaut career prior to his first space flight, stated in 2004 that the crew "saved the vehicle" by doing so.<ref name="bolden20040106">{{cite interview|title=Charles F. Bolden|date=January 6, 2004|access-date=January 19, 2015|last=Bolden|first=Charles F.|subject-link=Charles F. Bolden|interviewer1=Johnson, Sandra|interviewer2=Wright, Rebecca|interviewer3=Ross-Nazzal, Jennifer|publisher=NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project|pages=14 to 18 |url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/BoldenCF/BoldenCF_1-6-04.htm}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

STS-3 was the only shuttle mission to land at White Sands Missile Range. The unexpectedly difficult landing and post flight conditions damaged the shuttle, requiring extensive repair at KSC. So much [[gypsum]] dust covered ''Columbia'' that Bolden recalled, "I flew it several flights later on my first flight, [[STS-61-C]], and when we got on orbit, there was ''still'' gypsum coming out of everything! They thought they had cleaned it ... but it was just ''unreal'' what it had done!" Dust continued to be found in the spacecraft for the rest of its career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.americaspace.com/2013/03/30/a-kind-of-wheelie-the-salty-landing-of-sts-3/|title='A Kind of Wheelie': The Desert Landing of STS-3|last=Evans|first=Ben|date=March 30, 2013|publisher=America Space}}</ref>

''Columbia'' made 130 orbits and traveled {{cvt|5300000|km}} during its 8{{nbsp}}day, 0 hour, 4{{nbsp}}minute, 46{{nbsp}}second flight. A total of 36 thermal protection tiles were lost and 19 were damaged. The orbiter was returned to Kennedy Space Center on April 6, 1982. STS-3 was the last mission for which NASA named a complete backup crew.

While on a post-mission [[goodwill tour]] in [[Beijing]], Lousma displayed a photo he had taken from space of a "beautiful emerald-colored lake" in China and was surprised by the audience reaction. He later learned that the picture was likely of a secret [[atomic test]] site for the [[Chinese nuclear weapons program]].{{r|lousma20100315}}