When a satellite goes missing - 13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle podcast, BBC World Service

Key Concepts:

• KH-9 HEXAGON (Big Bird): US reconnaissance satellite.
• Re-entry vehicles: Buckets used to return film to Earth.
• Space Shuttle: Reusable spacecraft designed for various missions.
• STS-41-B: Tenth space shuttle mission, featuring satellite deployment and MMU test.
• WESTAR-6 & PALAPA B2: Communications satellites lost in space due to kick motor failure.
• MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit): Jet backpack for untethered spacewalks.
• EVA (Extravehicular Activity): Spacewalk.

1. HEXAGON Reconnaissance Satellite

• Developed in the late 1960s, the KH-9 HEXAGON, also known as Big Bird, was a large reconnaissance satellite used to gather intelligence during the Cold War.
• The satellite used two powerful cameras to record images on film, capturing large portions of territory below.
• The film was stored in four re-entry vehicles, each capable of holding close to a ton of tape.
• These re-entry vehicles were dropped back to Earth and caught mid-air by military transport aircraft.
• The film was then processed at Kodak and analyzed to gather intelligence on the Soviet Union's capabilities.
• The HEXAGON satellite's size (school bus) influenced the design of the Space Shuttle, requiring a payload bay of at least 60 feet long.

2. The Space Shuttle Program

• The US Department of Defense supported the Space Shuttle program, envisioning it as a crucial tool during the Cold War.
• The Space Shuttle, officially known as the Space Transportation System, was designed to provide economical and routine access to space for various purposes, including scientific exploration, commercial ventures, and national security tasks.
• The fourth mission, STS-4, marked the beginning of a new era of spaceflight, with the Space Shuttle fleet becoming fully operational.
• President Ronald Reagan hailed the fourth landing of the Columbia as the historical equivalent to the driving of the golden spike which completed the first transcontinental railroad.

3. STS-41-B Mission: Satellite Deployment Failures

• STS-41-B, the tenth space shuttle mission, aimed to deploy two communications satellites: WESTAR-6 and PALAPA B2.
• WESTAR-6, owned by Western Union, was deployed first but was later found to be lost in space due to a kick motor failure.
• Despite the failure of WESTAR-6, NASA decided to proceed with the deployment of PALAPA B2, owned by the Indonesian government.
• PALAPA B2 also suffered a kick motor malfunction, resulting in both satellites being stranded in the wrong orbit.
• The loss of both satellites amounted to $150 million, causing financial consequences for the respective companies and raising concerns about the shuttle program's reliability.

4. STS-41-B Mission: Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Test

• Despite the satellite deployment failures, STS-41-B provided an opportunity to test the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU), a jet backpack for untethered spacewalks.
• Astronaut Bruce McCandless became the first person to perform an untethered spacewalk using the MMU.
• The MMU allowed McCandless to maneuver freely in space, reaching a distance of 350 feet from the shuttle.
• Astronaut Hoot Gibson captured a defining image of McCandless drifting alone in space, which became an iconic representation of human spaceflight.
• The image symbolized humankind's readiness to cross a new frontier in space exploration, untethered from Earth.

5. Anna Fisher's Experience and the Retrieval Mission

• Astronaut Anna Fisher was scheduled to appear on the Today Show to discuss the MMU test but had to address questions about the failed satellite deployments.
• Initially, Fisher dismissed the possibility of NASA attempting to retrieve the stranded satellites.
• However, she later became part of the mission to retrieve WESTAR-6 and PALAPA B2, highlighting the evolving capabilities of the Space Shuttle program.

6. Technical Terms and Concepts

• Reconnaissance Satellite: A satellite used for military or intelligence gathering.
• Re-entry Vehicle: A capsule or container designed to return objects or materials from space to Earth.
• Payload Bay: The cargo area of a spacecraft, used to transport satellites, equipment, or other payloads.
• Kick Motor: A rocket engine used to propel a satellite from low-Earth orbit to its final geostationary orbit.
• Geostationary Orbit: An orbit approximately 36,000 kilometers above Earth, where a satellite appears stationary relative to a specific point on the planet.
• MMU (Manned Maneuvering Unit): A jet-powered backpack that allows astronauts to perform untethered spacewalks.
• EVA (Extravehicular Activity): Any activity performed by an astronaut outside a spacecraft in space.

7. Logical Connections

• The HEXAGON satellite's size influenced the Space Shuttle's design, demonstrating the interconnectedness of different space programs.
• The Space Shuttle was intended to be a versatile platform for various missions, including satellite deployment, scientific research, and military operations.
• The failures of the WESTAR-6 and PALAPA B2 deployments highlighted the risks and challenges associated with space missions.
• The successful MMU test showcased the potential for untethered spacewalks and advanced space exploration.

8. Synthesis/Conclusion

The transcript details the history and significance of the HEXAGON reconnaissance satellite and the Space Shuttle program. It highlights the challenges and triumphs of the STS-41-B mission, including the satellite deployment failures and the groundbreaking MMU test. The iconic image of Bruce McCandless drifting untethered in space symbolizes humankind's ambition to explore new frontiers and push the boundaries of space exploration. Despite the setbacks, the Space Shuttle program continued to evolve, leading to future missions that would retrieve the stranded satellites and further advance space technology.