Kenneth P. Bechis
Kenneth P. Bechis was one of two civilian payload specialists selected in 1987 to fly the StarLab space shuttle mission, scheduled for a 1992 launch.
Bechis and the other civilian, Dennis L. Boesen, trained for three years until the mission was finally canceled in 1990. Here, Bechis explains some of the reasons why it was feared StarLab would be removed from the shuttle.
As noted in the letter I have from Boesen, with completion of the Starbird launch site not expected before December 1989, the Starlab mission was rescheduled to fly on STS-41 in early 1988, with a launch date of June 1990 and later September 1990.
However, the Starlab mission was moved back further: on the January 1989 Launch Manifest, it was planned for the November 1990/STS-42 Spacelab slot. In June, this was taken up by the IML-1 Spacelab mission and Starlab was rescheduled for STS-48, with a launch in August 1991. It was next moved to STS-49, with a launch date of September 1991. In March 1990, with other Air Force Projects such as the Teal Ruby-satellite already canceled, launch was moved further back to January 1992.
In August 1990, the mission was scheduled for May 1992 (STS-50). In late September, Starlab was cancelled altogether to protect funding for the Briliant Pebbles system. The Spacelab slot was taken by the United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML)-1. On September 1, 1990, the four payload specialists associated with the mission resigned from the program.
The Starlab mission would have been flown by a crew of seven astronauts. Four military Payload Specialists were assigned to the Starlab project in July 1987. They were: Craig A. Puz, Maureen C. LaComb, Dennis L. Boesen and Kenneth P. Bechis.
Puz and LaComb, both US Air Force captains, were selected as the primary Payload Specialists, Boesen and Bechis - more scientifically oriented - acted as their back ups.
Puz and LaComb were injured in a car crash in Boston in June 1988. One year later, Puz was medically disqualified and he was replaced by Boesen. The five NASA crewmembers had not yet been assigned to the mission when it was canceled in September 1990, but would probably have been commanded by Dan Brandenstein, John Creighton, Loren Shriver or Dick Richards.
Kenneth P. Bechis
Kenneth P. Bechis was one of two civilian payload specialists selected in 1987 to fly the StarLab space shuttle mission, scheduled for a 1992 launch.
Bechis and the other civilian, Dennis L. Boesen, trained for three years until the mission was finally canceled in 1990. Here, Bechis explains some of the reasons why it was feared StarLab would be removed from the shuttle.
As noted in the letter I have from Boesen, with completion of the Starbird launch site not expected before December 1989, the Starlab mission was rescheduled to fly on STS-41 in early 1988, with a launch date of June 1990 and later September 1990.
However, the Starlab mission was moved back further: on the January 1989 Launch Manifest, it was planned for the November 1990/STS-42 Spacelab slot. In June, this was taken up by the IML-1 Spacelab mission and Starlab was rescheduled for STS-48, with a launch in August 1991. It was next moved to STS-49, with a launch date of September 1991. In March 1990, with other Air Force Projects such as the Teal Ruby-satellite already canceled, launch was moved further back to January 1992.
In August 1990, the mission was scheduled for May 1992 (STS-50). In late September, Starlab was cancelled altogether to protect funding for the Briliant Pebbles system. The Spacelab slot was taken by the United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML)-1. On September 1, 1990, the four payload specialists associated with the mission resigned from the program.
The Starlab mission would have been flown by a crew of seven astronauts. Four military Payload Specialists were assigned to the Starlab project in July 1987. They were: Craig A. Puz, Maureen C. LaComb, Dennis L. Boesen and Kenneth P. Bechis.
Puz and LaComb, both US Air Force captains, were selected as the primary Payload Specialists, Boesen and Bechis - more scientifically oriented - acted as their back ups.
Puz and LaComb were injured in a car crash in Boston in June 1988. One year later, Puz was medically disqualified and he was replaced by Boesen. The five NASA crewmembers had not yet been assigned to the mission when it was canceled in September 1990, but would probably have been commanded by Dan Brandenstein, John Creighton, Loren Shriver or Dick Richards.