It still is unclear whether the No. 1 engine was on fire when five crewmembers exited from the port side. While the evacuation almost ran on autopilot, once we were assembled, we had to evaluate the situation before proceeding. Finally, I learned the importance of preparing the cabin for takeoffs and landing. Switching to red lighting was important, because our eyes didn't have to adjust to the loss of power on the aircraft. With 24 aircrew on missions that typically last more than 10 hours, there is also a lot of personal gear on board, from helmet bags to duffel bags full of food.
Storage space is tight, but it is essential to secure all gear.
The last flight of Ranger 26 has given me a different perspective on flying. Any landing you can walk away from is still a good one, but I know now that walking away from the next landing has to do more than just trusting the pilots.