Florida Today Photographer Michael R. Brown took this picture of me before
the article was released last week. In the picture, I am standing next to
Endeavor's (OV-105) Nose Landing Gear Doors (NLGD). I felt this was a good picture to share with you as it is close up enough to see the nose landing gear retracted in the lower forward fuselage. At the time the picture was taken, technicians were working on the NLGD, so that is the extra stuff you see taped on the tiles.
When the Orbiter approaches the runway for landing, the landing gear is deployed while the Orbiter is gliding at about 267 mph. Touchdown of the main landing gear occurs as the Orbiter reaches about 215 mph!!! Then at about 213 mpg the nose landing gear wheels touch the runway. The landing gear tires have a life of one flight.
3 comments:
Any idea how much the tires cost?
Great image always good to see the shuttle from different angles.
Mark
Ok, I was stupid for a few moments, and was wondering how the shuttle was getting better gas mileage than my car at 213mpg...
Anyway, I'm loving these pictures. I've always been fascinated with space travel, and it's really great to be able to see the sort of inside pictures that you've been posting.
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