{"id":96315,"date":"2022-03-22T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-478249"},"modified":"2023-09-06T15:49:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-06T19:49:57","slug":"40-years-ago-sts-3-columbias-third-mission-to-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-sts-3-columbias-third-mission-to-space\/","title":{"rendered":"40 Years Ago: STS-3, Columbia\u2019s Third Mission to Space"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-article-hero-header nasa-gb-align-full bg-carbon-90 width-full maxw-full color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-article-hero-header\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full maxw-full minh-tablet grid-container minh-tablet flex-column padding-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex flex-direction-column\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"z-400 grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-7 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-spacesuit-white margin-bottom-2\">13 Min Read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-41 line-height-md color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t40 Years Ago: STS-3, Columbia\u2019s Third Mission to Space\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"Space Shuttle Columbia is seen landing in the New Mexico desert with mountains in the background.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.4); transform-origin: 21% 53%; object-position: 21% 53%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=150&h=150&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=768&h=768&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=1024&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1536&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=50&h=50&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=100&h=100&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=200&h=200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=600&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=900&h=900&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S82-28839\/S82-28839~large.jpg?w=1200&h=1200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"padding-y-3 padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"hds-caption maxw-mobile desktop:padding-x-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0 color-carbon-30\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div><figcaption>S82-28839 (30 March 1982) — Seconds from touchdown, the space shuttle Columbia (STS-3), with astronauts Jack R. Lousma and C. Gordon Fullerton aboard, comes into view of a large crowd on hand to greet it at the Northrup strip on White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The successful eight-day mission was the first to end on New Mexico soil. Two T-38 chase planes can be seen in the photograph, while a third (out of view) was carrying the photographer that took this frame with a hand-held camera. <\/figcaption><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Space shuttle Columbia took to the skies on March 22, 1982, for its third trip into space. Astronauts <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/LousmaJR\/lousmajr.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Jack R. Lousma<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/FullertonCG\/fullertoncg.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">C. Gordon Fullerton<\/a> rode the reusable spacecraft on a pillar of fire from Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. They continued engineering tests of the orbiter with an emphasis on characterizing its thermal properties. Lousma and Fullerton used the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) robotic arm to grapple and lift a payload for the first time. Mission managers extended the planned seven-day mission by one day due to inclement weather at the alternate landing site at Northrup Strip at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the only touchdown at that location in shuttle history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"295\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_1_crew_photo_s82-25504.jpg\" alt=\"sts_3_1_crew_photo\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"242\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_2_crew_patch_s82-26315.jpg\" alt=\"sts_3_2_crew_patch\"><br><em>Left: Official photo of the STS-3 crew of Jack R. Lousma, left, and C. Gordon Fullerton. Right: Official STS-3 crew patch.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Space shuttle Columbia landed at KSC on Nov. 14, 1981, following the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-returns-to-space-on-the-sts-2-mission\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"168349\">STS-2 mission<\/a>. Ground crews refurbished the vehicle in what was then record time, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-columbia-rolls-out-to-its-launch-pad-in-preparation-for-sts-3\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"96312\">installed on Launch Pad 39A<\/a> on Feb. 16, 1982. The 73-hour countdown, including several built-in holds, commenced on March 18, with controllers in Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center monitoring the activities. Lousma and Fullerton arrived at KSC on March 20 to prepare for the launch two days later. They reviewed the mission plan and practiced landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft. They awoke before dawn on launch morning, and after the traditional breakfast, they donned their launch and entry pressure suits and took the astronaut van for the ride to the launch pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"261\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_3_170-82pc-287-3.22.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"217\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_4_181b-82pc-329-3.22.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"262\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_5_183a-82pc-166-3.22.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"><br><em>Left: On launch day morning, STS-3 astronauts C. Gordon Fullerton, left, and Jack R. Lousma enjoy the traditional prelaunch breakfast in crew quarters at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Middle: Following breakfast, Fullerton, left, and Lousma don their pressure suits, in this fish-eye view in the suit-up room. Right: Fullerton, left, and Lousma depart crew quarters, accompanied by Chief Astronaut John W. Young, far left, and Director of Flight Operations George W.S. Abbey. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a one-hour delay, at precisely 11 a.m. EST on March 22, 1982, space shuttle Columbia lifted off from Launch Pad 39A, riding on the thrust of its two solid rocket boosters and its three main engines. As soon as the shuttle cleared the launch tower, control handed over to the Mission Control Center (MCC) at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. The Ivory Team of flight controllers led by ascent Flight Director <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HollowayTW\/hollowaytw.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Thomas W. \u201cTommy\u201d Holloway<\/a> monitored Columbia\u2019s launch, with capsule communicator (capcom) astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HartTJ\/harttj.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Terry J. \u201cTJ\u201d Hart<\/a> relaying milestone events to Lousma and Fullerton aboard the shuttle. About two minutes after liftoff, the two solid rocket boosters were jettisoned, and Columbia continued its ascent on the power of its three main engines. Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, Columbia\u2019s main engines cut off and the large external tank was jettisoned. The space shuttle had reached space but was not yet in orbit, that job left for Columbia\u2019s Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines to complete. The next major task involved opening the orbiter\u2019s payload bay doors to allow the radiators mounted inside them to cool the vehicle. Mission Control gave Lousma and Fullerton a \u201cgo\u201d to stay in orbit. They could now remove their launch and entry pressure suits and change into more comfortable flight suits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"119\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_6_launch_s82-28746.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"318\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_7_liftoff_engines_s82-28757.jpg\" alt=\"liftoff_engines\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"293\" height=\"230\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_8_233g1-82pc-333-3.22.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"><br><em>Left: Liftoff of STS-3 on Columbia\u2019s third trip to space. Middle: Seconds after liftoff, a view of the two solid rocket boosters and the shuttle\u2019s three main engines. Right: In Firing Room 1 of the Launch Control Center at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, James A. Abrahamson, left, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Transportation Systems, congratulates the launch team, as KSC Director Richard G. Smith and NASA Administrator James M. Beggs look on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the first tasks for Lousma and Fullerton involved activating the Office of Space Science-1 (OSS-1) payload, a suite of nine experiments in space plasma physics, solar physics, astronomy, life sciences, and space technology located in Columbia\u2019s payload bay and one in the middeck. In Mission Control, Flight Director <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/HutchinsonNB\/hutchinsonnb.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Neil B. Hutchinson<\/a> and his Sliver Team of controllers took over the consoles with astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/RideSK\/ridesk.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Sally K. Ride<\/a> serving as the new capcom. The rest of their first day in space passed uneventfully, and Lousma and Fullerton began their first sleep period in space. In Mission Control, the Crystal Team led by Flight Director Harold M. Draughon, including capcom astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/NagelSR\/nagelsr.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Steven R. Nagel<\/a>, took their positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_9_s03-09-382.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"220\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_10_s03-09-444.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"295\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_11_322-s82-28744-3.23.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"><br><em>Left: View of Columbia\u2019s payload bay, with the shuttle Remote Manipulator System (RMS) robotic arm grappling the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP), part of the Office of Space Science-1 payload. Middle: The PDP at the end of the RMS after unberthing from the payload bay, marking the first use of the RMS to grapple and lift a payload. Right: Televised image from the RMS of the missing tiles from Columbia\u2019s nose.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next morning, the Crystal Team greeted Lousma and Fullerton for their first full day in space with Willie Nelson\u2019s \u201cOn the Road Again\u201d as the wake-up song. The astronauts reported that several of Columbia\u2019s tiles were missing, notably on the vehicle\u2019s nose. Hutchinson\u2019s Silver Team, with Ride again serving as capcom, resumed their console positions and helped the crew with the first task of the day, powering up the RMS for its first test of the mission. The astronauts fired Columbia\u2019s reaction control system thrusters to see the effect they had on the RMS. They next used the RMS and its elbow camera to downlink to Mission Control an inspection of the orbiter\u2019s nose where they earlier reported the missing tiles. Specialists on the ground analyzed the situation and concluded that the 25 missing tiles would not cause any problems during reentry. Due to the failure of the RMS wrist camera and one of the four payload bay cameras, mission managers decided to delete arm operations with the 850-pound Induced Environmental Contamination Monitor from the task list\u2013 the payload flew again on STS-4 and accomplished its objectives on that mission. Instead, Lousma and Fullerton focused their efforts on using an alternate procedure \u2013 one that didn\u2019t require the use of the wrist camera \u2013 to grapple and move the lighter 350-pound Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) to various locations around the payload bay. They conducted operations with the PDP for a total of 20 hours on the mission\u2019s third, fourth, and fifth days. The PDP collected data for an additional 36 hours while stowed on its pallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"sts 3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_12_337-s82-28820-3.24.82.jpg\" width=\"611\" height=\"235\"><br>\n<em>The Mission Control Center at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in<br>\nHouston during the STS-3 mission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ease the astronauts\u2019 workload as they continued to adapt to weightlessness, Mission Control decided to swap the activities for flight days three and four, since day three\u2019s activities included intensive RMS operations. Over the next several days, Lousma and Fullerton continued to execute the flight plan, with only occasional minor glitches and malfunctions. During the mission, to test the orbiter\u2019s thermal responses, they maneuvered Columbia into various attitudes. For 30 hours, Columbia flew with its tail pointed at the Sun, exposing the payload bay to its coldest conditions yet. For 80 hours, they pointed Columbia\u2019s nose toward the Sun, and for 36 hours exposed its open payload bay to the Sun. They also performed several barbecue rolls to passively thermal condition the spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"sts 3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_13_255-s82-28907.jpg\" width=\"295\" height=\"220\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"sts 3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_14_256-23-180a.jpg\" width=\"292\" height=\"220\"><br>\n<em>Astronauts Jack R. Lousma, left, and C. Gordon Fullerton on the flight deck of<br>\nspace shuttle Columbia during the STS-3 mission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Late on their third day, Lousma and Fullerton broke the record for the longest space shuttle mission, a record they held for a year and a half. For the rest of the mission, they continued to operate several experiments in the middeck, such as the electrophoresis experiment verification test and a plant growth experiment, and monitored the Insects in Flight Motion Study, an experiment carried aboard STS-3 as part of the Shuttle Student Involvement Project for Secondary Schools. The breakdown of the waste collection system, or space toilet, early on the third day caused them the most personal discomfort. They also tested a new treadmill designed by astronaut <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/thornton_william_0.pdf?emrc=0b45f7\" rel=\"noopener\">Dr. William E. Thornton<\/a>, and reported that it worked well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"electrophoresis_equipment_verification_test\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_15_251-s82-28916_electrophoresis_equipment_verification_test.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"student_experiment\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_16_260-s82-28913_student_experiment_81-8_se-81-8_insect_flight_motion_study.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\"><br>\n<em>Left: Astronaut Jack R. Lousma working with the electrophoresis experiment.<br>\nRight: Lousma working with the Insects in Flight Motion Study, an experiment<br>\ncarried aboard STS-3 as part of the Shuttle Student Involvement Project<br>\nfor Secondary Schools.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"ksc_workers_headed_for_white_sands-3.26.82\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_17_348c-82pc-384-ksc_workers_headed_for_white_sands-3.26.82.jpg\" width=\"296\" height=\"231\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"sally_ride_in_mcc-3.30.82\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_18_375a-s82-29080-sally_ride_in_mcc-3.30.82.jpg\" width=\"305\" height=\"230\"><br>\n<em>Left: Recovery personnel board a jet to carry them to the alternate landing site<br>\nat Northrup Strip at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Right: Capsule<br>\ncommunicator astronaut Sally K. Ride talks to the STS-3 crew from Mission<br>\nControl at NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four days before launch, NASA Administrator James M. Beggs decided to change Columbia\u2019s touchdown from the prime landing site at Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California. Torrential spring rains had left the lakebed runway covered with several inches of water that wouldn\u2019t dry in time for the STS-3 landing, planned for March 29. Ground crews transported recovery equipment by two trains to the alternate landing site at Northrup Strip at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, while personnel flew in on jets. Lousma and Fullerton suited up for the planned landing, when less than 30 minutes before the scheduled retrofire, mission managers delayed the return by 24 hours when unusually high winds violated landing safety criteria and kicked up the fine gypsum sand at White Sands. With an extra day in space and relatively few scheduled activities, Lousma and Fullerton spent time looking at the Earth, photographing areas of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"210\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_19_302-10-593.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"210\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_20_white_sands_nm_s03-10-613.jpg\" alt=\"white_sands_nm\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"210\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_21_303-10-606.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"202\" height=\"210\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_22_305-10-576.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"><br><em>Four of the Earth observation photographs taken by STS-3 astronauts Jack R. Lousma and C. Gordon Fullerton \u2013 Los Angeles, left, White Sands in New Mexico, New Jersey, and the Straits of Gibraltar.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On March 30, for their final wake-up call in space, capcom Nagel greeted Lousma and Fullerton with the patriotic song \u201cThis is My Country.\u201d They responded with a recorded medley of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps hymns, Fullerton and Lousma\u2019s service branches, respectively. They closed the payload bay doors, donned their pressure suits, and maneuvered Columbia so it was flying tail first. Flight Director Draughon gave them a \u201cgo\u201d for the deorbit burn, and they fired Columbia\u2019s OMS engines over Australia for nearly three minutes to drop it out of orbit. Twenty-seven minutes later, Columbia encountered the first tendrils of the Earth\u2019s upper atmosphere at an altitude of 400,000 feet. The heat of reentry caused a sheath of ionized plasma to form around the vehicle, blocking communications for 16 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"sts 3\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_23_descent_s82-28835.jpg\" width=\"250\" height=\"240\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"sts 3 landing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_24_landing.jpg\" width=\"321\" height=\"240\"><br>\n<em>Left: Space shuttle Columbia makes its final approach to Northrup Strip at the White<br>\nSands Missile Range in New Mexico. Right: Touchdown! Columbia lands on<br>\nthe runway at Northrup Strip.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Columbia crossed the coast of Baja California, Mexico, heading in a northeasterly direction, crossing into the United States over Arizona, flying over Phoenix at 150,000 feet altitude, and finally into New Mexico. At 20,000 feet, Columbia made a right hand turn toward Northrup Strip\u2019s runway 17. Fifty feet above the runway, Fullerton lowered Columbia\u2019s landing gear, and Lousma brought the spacecraft down for a smooth touchdown at 9:05 a.m. MST. After rollout, Columbia came to a stop, having completed a flight of 8 days, 4 minutes, and 46 seconds, and circled the Earth 129 times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"277\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_25_410b-ec82-18508-3.30.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"165\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_26_414c-82hc-486-3.30.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"278\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_27_415h-82pc-411-3.30.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"><br><em>Left: Wheels stop! Space shuttle Columbia\u2019s third trip to space is successfully completed. Middle: STS-3 astronauts C. Gordon Fullerton, left, and Jack R. Lousma exit Columbia following the successful landing. Right: Fullerton, left, and Lousma perform the traditional walkaround of Columbia with Director of Flight Operations George W.S. Abbey.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"278\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_28_417-wstf0382_0529-3.30.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"331\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_29_422-s82-28952-4.1.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"><br><em>Left: At Northrup Strip at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, astronauts Jack R. Lousma, left, and C. Gordon Fullerton address an audience assembled to welcome them home. Right: At NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in Houston, STS-1 Commander and Chief of the Astronaut Office John W. Young, left, Director of Flight Operations George W.S. Abbey, STS-2 Commander Joe H. Engle, STS-4 Pilot Henry W. \u201cHank\u201d Hartsfield, STS-3 Pilot C. Gordon Fullerton, STS-3 Commander Jack R. Lousma, STS-4 Commander Thomas \u00a0K. \u201cTK\u201d Mattingly, and STS-2 Pilot Richard H. Truly debrief the STS-3 mission.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>About 6,000 spectators and 1,600 media and invited guests, including the astronauts\u2019 families, watched Columbia\u2019s landing at the remote Northrup Strip. After a welcome home ceremony, officials transported Lousma and Fullerton to nearby Holloman AFB where they boarded a plane to Houston\u2019s Ellington Field. The next day, they began a series of debriefings, describing in great detail all aspects of their mission. On April 13, Lousma and Fullerton held a press conference at JSC, where they showed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?app=desktop&v=YIekHZ09u4I\" rel=\"noopener\">film<\/a> of their mission and answered reporters\u2019 questions. Lousma compared the reentry to a \u201cgreat toboggan run,\u201d and noted the flight ranked as \u201cthe great adventure of my life.\u201d Although Fullerton kidded that his only function involved lowering the shuttle\u2019s landing gear, he accomplished many firsts, including the first person to grapple a payload with the RMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"200\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_30_in_mdd_at_wssh.jpg\" alt=\"sts_3_in_mdd_at_wssh\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_31_426b-s82-32570-4.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"318\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_32_departs_wssh_on_sca.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3 departs wssh on sca\"><br><em>Left: Ground crews at Northrup Strip at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico prepare to lift space shuttle Columbia in the Mate Demate Device (MDD). Middle: Workers lowering Columbia onto the back of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) in the MDD at Northrup Strip. Right: Columbia atop the SCA takes off from Northrup Strip for the ferry flight back to NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"247\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_33_446a-82pc-403-4.6.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"248\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_34_446g-82pc-407-4.7.82.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"244\" height=\"190\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_35_448-82p-276-4.7.82-1.jpg\" alt=\"sts 3\"><br><em>Left: Space shuttle Columbia atop its Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) touches down at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Middle: Workers lift Columbia from the SCA in the Mate Demate Device at KSC. Right: Ground crews tow Columbia from the runway to the Orbiter Processing Facility at KSC<br> to begin preparing it for its next flight.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, ground crews at Northrup Strip towed Columbia from the runway to a service area to begin preparing it for its cross country trip back to KSC. On April 5, after workers mounted it atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing-747, Columbia left Northrup and, after an overnight refueling stop at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana where a crowd estimated at 100,000 turned out to view the space shuttle, arrived at KSC the next day, just one week after its landing in New Mexico. On April 7, workers towed it to KSC\u2019s Orbiter Processing Facility to begin preparations for its next mission, STS-4, planned for June 1982.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/flag-day-2024-one-small-flags-incredible-journey\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=400,300 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=600,450 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/flag-day-2024-11-us-flag-after-demo-2-mission-arrival-1.jpg?resize=900,675 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">7 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Flag Day 2024 \u2013 One Small Flag\u2019s Incredible Journey<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-manned-orbiting-laboratory-cancellation\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg 424w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=300,212 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/mol-cancellation-4-mol-group-1-astronauts.jpg?resize=400,283 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">10 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Manned Orbiting Laboratory Cancellation<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t6 days ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/55-years-ago-star-trek-final-episode-airs-relationship-with-nasa-endures\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=300,217 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=768,555 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=400,289 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/star-trek-final-episode-13-armstrong-at-doohan-farewell-anne-cusack-la-times-2004.jpg?resize=600,434 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">15 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t2 weeks ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Space shuttle Columbia took to the skies on March 22, 1982, for its third trip into space. Astronauts Jack R. Lousma and C. Gordon Fullerton rode the reusable spacecraft on a pillar of fire from Launch Pad 39A at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. They continued engineering tests of the orbiter with an [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":100715,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,3536,3618,2725,2977],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664,11995],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"40 Years Ago: STS-3, Columbia\u2019s Third Mission to Space","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-sts-3-columbias-third-mission-to-space\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-sts-3-columbias-third-mission-to-space\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_1_crew_photo_s82-25504.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_1_crew_photo_s82-25504.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Space Shuttle","STS-3","NASA History","Charles G. Fullerton","Jack R. Lousma"],"dateCreated":"2022-03-23T00:00:00Z","datePublished":"2022-03-23T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-06T19:49:57Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"40 Years Ago: STS-3, Columbia\u2019s Third Mission to Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/40-years-ago-sts-3-columbias-third-mission-to-space\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sts_3_1_crew_photo_s82-25504.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-03-23T00:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Space Shuttle,STS-3,NASA History,Charles G. Fullerton,Jack R. 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