WIKIARCHIVES.SPACE

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - One of the two solid rocket boosters used in the historic launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia on April 12, is dewatered and floats in its horizontal, or “log” mode for towing on April 13. Recovered at sea by specially designed ships UTC Liberty and UTC Freedom, and dewatered with special, self-powered nozzle plugs, the expended rocket casings are towed to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station where they undergo high pressure cleaning to prepare them for reloading and reuse in future missions. STS-1, known as a shuttle systems test flight, seeks to demonstrate safe launch into orbit and safe return of the orbiter and crew and verify the combined performance of the entire shuttle vehicle -- orbiter, solid rocket boosters and external tank.