STS-3

STS-3 indicates the third mission of the American Space shuttle, carried out like the two first by the Orbiteur Columbia.

Crew

Commander: Jack R. Lousma (2) the United States
Pilot: C. Gordon Fullerton (1) the United States

Le figure between brackets indicates the number of space flights accomplished by the astronaut, STS-3 inclus.

Linings:

Commander: Thomas K. Mattingly the United States
Pilot: Henry W. Hartsfield the United States

Objectives

August 1st

One of the objectives of this flight was to test the automatic system of control at the time of the landing.

Course of the flight

August 1st

It had lousma been requested from Jack R. to let the autopilot carry out the phase of landing, and to test the resumption in hand in manual mode at an altitude of 300 feet.

While carrying out the operation, Jack R. Lousma entered in “controlled pumping”, i.e. that it carried out of the operations to the sleeve synchronized with the movements of the apparatus, making oscillate this one dangerously. The copilot being more accustomed to piloting of the apparatuses of large size gave him the council then to release the handle. The pilot thus could take again the control of the shuttle.

The same incident of controlled pumping then reproduced during the alteration of course (operation consisting in posing the nose gear whereas the back is already in contact with the ground).

Thereafter, NASA will use never again the automatic mode for the phase of landing.

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