Space Shuttle Columbia Rescue (Better 2000s)

The Space Shuttle Columbia rescue or the Rescue of the Crew of the Columbia is the only ship to ship rescue mission involving the United States Space Shuttle Program. NASA TV aired footage of the mission as it took place.

No-Go for De-orbit Burn; Plight of Columbia
8 AM on Febuary 1, 2003 at Mission Control; Flight Director LeRoy E. Cain has just polled the control room for a go/no-go for Columbia's de-orbit burn. In OTL the de-orbit burn was go due to weather conditions being with in guidelines - but in this timeline the concerns of Linda Ham and others has infiltrated the control room - enough to generate a feeling of dread. The poll returns as a 'no-go'. LeRoy is stuck in a predicament; no one wants to be the guy to declare something costly without reason - but in the past NASA had to do so. LeRoy wasn't at NASA when the Challenger Disaster happened. He joined NASA in 1988; two years after Challenger. The call is ultimately his but if he overrides the poll and gives the go-ahead and something does happen it will undoubtedly be his doing. In this moment of decision LeRoy announces the 'no-go' and calls a meeting. The footage of the launch is reviewed, the fact that Columbia can remain in orbit until the 15th is noted. John C. Harpold says; "You know, there is nothing we can do about damage to the TPS [Thermal Protection System]. If it has been damaged it's probably better not to know. I think the crew would rather not know. Don't you think it would be better for them to have a happy successful flight and die unexpectedly during entry than to stay on orbit, knowing that there was nothing to be done, until the air ran out?" [source] Someone at the meeting finally has had it with this type of talk - which was widespread. This person knows what the control room is feeling, and makes a stand for something to be done. The result was the decision to hold a rescue mission; a decision that would be critizised till the mission concluded.

Media Response to Plan; criticism from with in- and a stressed Mr. Cain
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Mission Planning
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The Mission
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Aftermath
As the empty Columbia disentigrated upon de-orbit opinion regarding the mission shifted. It's since become an iconic moment of heroism in the face of adversity. It also opened the public's eyes to issues with in NASA's organization as those who had voiced criticism of the mission now faced backlash from the public. The state of the US Shuttle Program gave way to the approval of the Constillation Program, and such projects as the X-38 to be utilized by the crew of the ISS (thus saving the cost of another equally costly rescue mission).

Mission Crew
Shuttle: Atlantis

Commander: Charles O. Habaugh

Pilot:

Mission Specialist:

(NOTE for Contributors: The Space Shuttle has only ever had a max crew of 10; and that was in the 90s- seven people are being rescued- I advise we have a crew of no more then three for this mission. We can start a discussion regarding who to send via the talk page for the article- along with bringing up details that those of us involved may not be aware of. As the ISS was under assembly it's possible none American astronauts may have been involved though such may be deemed unlikely by readers)