STSprog-fut_v_bw_o_n (71-H-592, 71-HC-486, NASA-S-71-560 X)
“SHUTTLE VERSATILITY---An artist’s concept of one of the many tasks which the Space Plane will be called upon to perform. In this photograph, the Orbiter has deployed a cannister with space travelers. It is connected to an Earth-orbiting space station. Transfer of the travelers flying on this mission in the 1980s is underway about 240 nautical miles (444 kilometers) above the Hawaiian Islands. Greeting one of the incoming passengers is a vivacious blonde scientist--one of the station’s personnel--while one of the newcomers is a brunette. Provisions will be made in the Modular Space Station to accommodate all scientists, either male or female, and to allow them to conduct their experiments as long as necessary. The station will be supplied by an Orbiter. It is one part of a two-stage vehicle called the Space Shuttle. The other part is the Booster. Together, they represent a new version of NASA space exploration—one that significantly reduces costs of operation. The two are mated in a vertical position on the launch platform. The Orbiter rides piggyback for about three minutes on the Booster, and then separation occurs. This takes place at approximately 33 nautical miles (61.12 kilometers) and the workhorse Booster returns to Earth, landing horizontally on runway, while the sleek Orbiter continues on into space. The Orbiter weighs approximately 900,000 lbs. (or 408,240 kilograms) on the launch pad. Some 245,000 pounds (111,132 kilos) of this is dry weight; the balance is fuel and other inert weight including 25,000 lbs. (11,340 kilograms) of cargo. The Orbiter is the size of a commercial jet aircraft. Upon off-loading cargo, the crew, numbering possibly four, flies the Space Plane back to Earth. They also may land horizontally on runways of 10,000 feet (3,048) or more. The Manned Spacecraft Center’s Jerry Elmore is the artist.”
While very informative & well-written, is that sexist or what? I’m surprised it even depicts the lone black guy aboard the station.
No wonder it wasn’t until 1983 that NASA managed to get both a woman (Sally Ride) into space on STS-7, and the first black man (Guy Bluford) on the very next mission, STS-8!
And while we’re here – it would be nine more years until the first black woman (Mae Jamison) reached orbit aboard STS-47.
The other surprise to me and WIN, unexpectedly, is the overt identification of the artist, and it NOT being Robert McCall. I would not have guessed Mr. Elmore. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the artist’s concept/actual photo combination thing. Oh, wait, one more - ”cannister”?
STSprog-fut_v_bw_o_n (71-H-592, 71-HC-486, NASA-S-71-560 X)
“SHUTTLE VERSATILITY---An artist’s concept of one of the many tasks which the Space Plane will be called upon to perform. In this photograph, the Orbiter has deployed a cannister with space travelers. It is connected to an Earth-orbiting space station. Transfer of the travelers flying on this mission in the 1980s is underway about 240 nautical miles (444 kilometers) above the Hawaiian Islands. Greeting one of the incoming passengers is a vivacious blonde scientist--one of the station’s personnel--while one of the newcomers is a brunette. Provisions will be made in the Modular Space Station to accommodate all scientists, either male or female, and to allow them to conduct their experiments as long as necessary. The station will be supplied by an Orbiter. It is one part of a two-stage vehicle called the Space Shuttle. The other part is the Booster. Together, they represent a new version of NASA space exploration—one that significantly reduces costs of operation. The two are mated in a vertical position on the launch platform. The Orbiter rides piggyback for about three minutes on the Booster, and then separation occurs. This takes place at approximately 33 nautical miles (61.12 kilometers) and the workhorse Booster returns to Earth, landing horizontally on runway, while the sleek Orbiter continues on into space. The Orbiter weighs approximately 900,000 lbs. (or 408,240 kilograms) on the launch pad. Some 245,000 pounds (111,132 kilos) of this is dry weight; the balance is fuel and other inert weight including 25,000 lbs. (11,340 kilograms) of cargo. The Orbiter is the size of a commercial jet aircraft. Upon off-loading cargo, the crew, numbering possibly four, flies the Space Plane back to Earth. They also may land horizontally on runways of 10,000 feet (3,048) or more. The Manned Spacecraft Center’s Jerry Elmore is the artist.”
While very informative & well-written, is that sexist or what? I’m surprised it even depicts the lone black guy aboard the station.
No wonder it wasn’t until 1983 that NASA managed to get both a woman (Sally Ride) into space on STS-7, and the first black man (Guy Bluford) on the very next mission, STS-8!
And while we’re here – it would be nine more years until the first black woman (Mae Jamison) reached orbit aboard STS-47.
The other surprise to me and WIN, unexpectedly, is the overt identification of the artist, and it NOT being Robert McCall. I would not have guessed Mr. Elmore. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the artist’s concept/actual photo combination thing. Oh, wait, one more - ”cannister”?