Space Shuttle Columbia - SOLD Flown High Temperature Insulator - Part Number V070-197156-001
Space Shuttle Columbia - SOLD Flown High Temperature Insulator - Part Number V070-197156-001
This specimen is a mission-flown high temperature insulator that was once a part of the Space Shuttle Columbia, removed during maintenance between missions. The part number on the insulator's scrap tag lists it as V070-197156-001. Insulators like this were located on the wing, between the outer RCC panels and the wing’s spar.
Both the scrap tag and a certificate of authenticity are included with this item.
This specimen is a rare, mission-flown, showcase insulator that was used on Space Shuttle Columbia and removed during maintenance between missions.
The part number on the insulator's scrap tag lists it as V070-197156-001, which tells us a good amount about the piece. “V070” means that this was flight hardware, while the “19” means it was a part of the Wing Thermal Protection System, a part of the wider Space Shuttle thermal protection system that protected the craft during its return to Earth.
The Wing Thermal Protection system was crucial to reentry, as this thinner part of the craft heated up faster and hotter than the rest of the ship. Insulators like this were installed beneath RCC (reinforced carbon-carbon) panels along the leading edge of the shuttle’s wing, which along with the RCC panels in the nose cone, took the brunt of force from atmospheric reentry. The insulator provided a cushion between the outer RCC panels and the wing’s spar, the aluminum skeleton inside the wing, protecting the shuttle during the descent.
The specimen ships with a certificate of authenticity as well the scrap tag associated with the piece.
Air & Space Mega Bundle
Spacelab Flown Parts - Workbench Outlet SOLD
Spacelab Flown Parts - OVBD Controller SOLD
FIRST LAUNCH: April 12, 1981 - TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELED: 125,204,911 miles
SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA
"The powered flight took a total of about eight and a half minutes. It seemed to me it had gone by in a flash. We had gone from sitting still on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center to traveling at 17,500 miles an hour in that eight and a half minutes. It is still mind-boggling to me. I recall making some statement on the air-to-ground radio for the benefit of my fellow astronauts, who had also been in the program a long time, that it was well worth the wait." ~ Bob Crippen, STS-1 astronaut, regarding first flight of the Space Shuttle, April, 12 1981
Above: A stylized view of NASA image S81-30498. Taken on April 12, 1981, during the first mission of the Space Shuttle Program (STS-1).
On April 12, 1981, the Space Shuttle Columbia roared to life on the pad at the Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A. Solid rocket boosters and Columbia’s own engines delivered more than 6,600,000 pounds of thrust, lifting the crew of two and 4,500,000 pounds (2,000,000 kg) of dreams into orbit at more than 17,500 miles per hour (28,163 kmh).
Above: A classic cutaway drawing of the Space Shuttle created by NASA artists in February, 1981. We desperately wanted to include this image in the Fourth Edition Companion Guide but we ran out of space. (Source NASA S81-30630)
NASA's Space Shuttle program delivered 133 successful missions during its three decades in operation, beginning with Columbia's inaugural launch in 1981 and concluding with Atlantis' final flight in 2011. Missions involved many vital tasks, such as maintaining the International Space Station, repairing the Hubble Space Telescope, and deploying satellites. Scientific experiments featured heavily in the rotation, using the reusable Spacelab developed by the ESA.
📸 STS-52 Lands at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. Our tire on the left side. (NASA Image STS052-S-099 November 1, 1992)
The successful launch and return of Columbia heralded a new age in space exploration. Envisioned in the 1950’s as a fleet of reusable spacecraft, Columbia was joined by Challenger, Discovery, Endeavor, and Atlantis.
Over the course of 135 missions, the fleet delivered hundreds of astronauts and thousands of tons of materials into orbit. They also deployed satellites and served as a platform for the advancement of science while traveling more than half a billion miles during three decades of operation.
STS-107: The Tragic End of Columbia and Her Crew
Above: The crew members of STS-107 pose for the traditional in-flight crew portrait. This picture was on a roll of unprocessed film later recovered by searchers from the debris. Members of the Crew: From the left (bottom row), wearing red shirts to signify their shift’s color, are astronauts Kalpana Chawla, mission specialist; Rick D. Husband, mission commander; Laurel B. Clark, mission specialist; and Ilan Ramon, payload specialist. From the left (top row), wearing blue shirts, are astronauts David M. Brown, mission specialist; William C. McCool, pilot; and Michael P. Anderson, payload commander. Ramon represents the Israeli Space Agency.(Source: NASA Image STS107-735-032 taken between January 16th and February 1st, 2003)
On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia was lost when the craft disintegrated due to an undetected puncture in the wing. The damage occurred during liftoff but did not present a problem until re-entering the atmosphere. All seven members of the crew perished, a powerful reminder of the dangers humanity faces as they move boldly toward the stars.
Each year, NASA holds a Day of Remembrance to honor those who lost their lives while furthering the space exploration. We welcome you to visit their site to learn more about men and women of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia.
Further Reading
Ward, Jonathan H. Leinbach, Michael D. “Bringing Columbia Home: The Untold Story of a Lost Space Shuttle and Her Crew.” Arcade Publishing (2018)
Harland, David M. The space shuttle: roles, missions, and accomplishments. Vol. 2. John Wiley & Sons, 1998.
White, Rowland. Into the Black: The Extraordinary Untold Story of the First Flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the Astronauts Who Flew Her. Simon and Schuster, 2017.
Faget, Maxime A. "Space shuttle vehicle and system." U.S. Patent No. 3,702,688. 14 Nov. 1972.
Lamoreux, James C., James D. Siekierski, and JP Nick Carter. "Space Shuttle thermal protection system inspection by 3D imaging laser radar." Laser Radar Technology and Applications IX. Vol. 5412. SPIE, 2004.
Harris, Richard, Michael Stewart, and William Koenig. "Thermal Protection Systems Technology Transfer from Apollo and Space Shuttle to the Orion Program." 2018 AIAA SPACE and Astronautics Forum and Exposition. 2018.
Jenkins, Dennis R. Space shuttle: the history of the National Space Transportation System: the first 100 missions. DR Jenkins, 2001.
Jenkins, Dennis R. Space Shuttle: Developing an Icon: 1972-2013. Specialty Press, 2016.
