Departure
Arrival
The NASA Space Shuttle Columbia began its enroute climb from a location 2 miles southeast of Merritt Island in Florida, United States. As it ascended, the aircraft climbed from an initial altitude of 10,400 feet above sea level to 1,416 feet above sea level, a significant increase of 8,984 feet in just 1 minute, while covering a distance of 4 nautical miles.
As the Space Shuttle Columbia approached the runway at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, it was heading in a southeasterly direction at an angle of 323.0 degrees, at a distance of 1 nautical mile from the runway and an altitude of 1,193 feet above ground level.
Upon landing on runway 33 at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, the aircraft touched down with a good touchdown distance of 242 meters, but at a speed of 223 knots, which was considered excessively fast. The touchdown rate was also very heavy, at -1,419 feet per minute, indicating a rapid descent upon touchdown. However, the runway touchdown alignment was very good, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway.
The local weather conditions at the time of landing were characterized by a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, with a wind speed of 6 knots from a direction of 350 degrees. This resulted in a crosswind of 2 knots and a headwind of 6 knots. The total landing distance was 1,371 meters, which was 30% of the runway length. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway during the rollout phase.
The total flight distance was 6 nautical miles, and the flight duration was 2 minutes, during which the aircraft used no fuel. Overall, the landing was considered successful, with good touchdown distance and runway alignment, but with some concerns regarding the excessive touchdown speed and heavy touchdown rate.
Replay this flight in 3D — the full flight path over the terrain with every stage, event and score along the route.
Enroute Climb
99.94 %
Enroute climb started 2 miles south east of Merritt Island (Florida, United States). Climbing from 10,400 ft asl to 1,416 ft asl, an increase of 8,984 ft in 1 minutes and covering 4 nm.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 100 % |
Average speed 281 kn 240 kn min to max 310 kn |
270 | 310 kn | |
| 100 % |
Average bank angle 7.0 ° 1.1 ° min to max 12.8 ° |
1.1 | 2.2 ° | |
| 99.43 % |
Average g force 0.90 g 0.48 g min to max 1.38 g |
0.73 | 1.38 g | |
| Info |
Average VSI -12,129 fpm -15,330 fpm min to max 1,237 fpm |
1,237 | -13,901 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 4,430 ft asl 1,416 ft asl min to max 10,400 ft asl |
10,400 | 1,416 ft asl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -22.0 ° -28.8 ° min to max 1.4 ° |
1.4 | -20.8 ° | |
| Info |
Turn coordination 0 0 min to max 0 |
0 | 0 | |
| Info |
Battery Master On at 15:18:03 |
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| Info |
Engine 1 Started at 15:18:03 |
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| Info |
Beacon Lights Switched On at 15:18:03 |
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| Info |
Engine 1 Stopped at 15:18:06 |
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| Info |
Landing Gear Down at 15:19:21 |
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| Info |
Exceeded 250 kn below 10000 ft at 15:18:52 |
Arrival Final 2
85.64 %
Approaching runway 33 at KTTS Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility from 2 nm to 1 nm. Descent from 1,193 ft agl to 465 ft agl. A decrease of 728 ft in 5 seconds.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 79.89 % |
Approach angle 6.1 ° 4.5 ° min to max 8.1 ° Target 3.0 ° |
8.1 | 4.5 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average speed 306 kn 295 kn min to max 311 kn |
311 | 295 kn | |
| 100 % |
Heading variation 0.1 ° -0.3 ° min to max 0.6 ° |
-0.3 | 0.6 ° | |
| 63.78 % |
Average bank angle 13.3 ° 11.4 ° min to max 16.4 ° |
11.4 | 16.4 ° | |
| 89.14 % |
Average g force 1.65 g 1.36 g min to max 1.88 g |
1.36 | 1.75 g | |
| Info |
Average VSI -10,043 fpm -13,204 fpm min to max -6,480 fpm |
-13,204 | -6,480 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 786 ft agl 465 ft agl min to max 1,193 ft agl |
1,193 | 465 ft agl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -11.5 ° -19.7 ° min to max -4.6 ° |
-19.7 | -4.6 ° | |
| Info |
GPWS Warning Activated at 15:19:25 |
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| Info |
Exceeded 250 kn below 10000 ft at 15:19:24 |
Arrival Final 1
92.77 %
Approaching runway 33 at KTTS Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility from 1 nm to 0 nm. Descent from 389 ft agl to 72 ft agl. A decrease of 317 ft in 9 seconds.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 100 % |
Approach angle 3.2 ° 2.5 ° min to max 4.1 ° Target 3.0 ° |
4.1 | 4.0 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average speed 242 kn 231 kn min to max 289 kn |
289 | 231 kn | |
| 100 % |
Heading variation 0.1 ° 0.1 ° min to max 0.4 ° |
0.4 | 0.1 ° | |
| 66.68 % |
Average bank angle 5.2 ° 0.5 ° min to max 15.6 ° |
15.6 | 8.1 ° | |
| 94.29 % |
Average g force 1.09 g 0.72 g min to max 1.70 g |
1.58 | 0.72 g | |
| Info |
Average VSI -1,118 fpm -5,254 fpm min to max -540 fpm |
-5,254 | -574 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 104 ft agl 72 ft agl min to max 389 ft agl |
389 | 72 ft agl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle 2.4 ° -3.1 ° min to max 4.9 ° |
-3.1 | 0.2 ° | |
| Info |
GPWS Warning Deactivated at 15:19:37 |
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| Info |
Exceeded 250 kn below 10000 ft at 15:19:30 |
Arrival Landing
73.47 %
Landing on runway 33 at KTTS Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, runway length 4,580 m. Good threshold height. Threshold speed was excessively high at 231 kn.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 100 % |
Average speed 227 kn 223 kn min to max 231 kn |
231 | 223 kn | |
| 100 % |
Target 50 ft agl |
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| 0 % |
Landing and flare profile |
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| 100 % |
Heading variation 0.0 ° 0.0 ° min to max 0.1 ° |
0.1 | 0.0 ° | |
| 84.68 % |
Average bank angle 5.4 ° 2.1 ° min to max 8.0 ° |
8.0 | 2.1 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average g force 0.78 g 0.61 g min to max 1.07 g |
0.69 | 1.05 g | |
| Info |
Average speed 227 kn 223 kn min to max 231 kn |
231 | 223 kn | |
| Info |
Average VSI -1,029 fpm -1,419 fpm min to max -588 fpm |
-588 | -1,419 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 30 ft agl 3 ft agl min to max 53 ft agl |
53 | 3 ft agl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle 0.4 ° -0.6 ° min to max 1.8 ° |
0.1 | 1.5 ° |
Arrival Touchdown
86.88 %
Touchdown distance was good at 242 m. Touchdown speed at 223 kn was excessively fast. Touchdown rate was very heavy at -1,419 fpm. Runway touchdown alignment was very good. Local weather - Temperature 15 °C. Wind 6 kn at 350 °. Crosswind: 2 kn Headwind: 6 kn.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 54.51 % |
Touchdown VSI was -1,419 fpm. |
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| 100 % |
Touchdown distance was 242 m Target 457 m |
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| 100 % |
Average speed 221 kn 219 kn min to max 223 kn |
223 | 219 kn | |
| 100 % |
Runway alignment max 1.91 m 1.77 m left |
1.87 | 1.65 m | |
| 100 % |
Average bank angle 1.0 ° 0.1 ° min to max 2.1 ° |
2.1 | 0.5 ° | |
| 65.14 % |
Average g force 1.94 g 1.05 g min to max 2.72 g |
1.05 | 1.69 g | |
| 100 % |
Landing Bounce |
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| Info |
Average speed 221 kn 219 kn min to max 223 kn |
223 | 219 kn | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -2.3 ° -4.6 ° min to max 1.5 ° |
1.5 | -4.0 ° |
Arrival Rollout
98.02 %
Total landing distance 1,371 m, 30 % of runway. Runway rollout alignment was very good.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 100 % |
Landing distance 1,371 m 30 % of runway. |
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| 95.99 % |
Runway alignment max 4.15 m 4.15 m left to 0.00 m left |
1.63 | 1.92 m | |
| 98.29 % |
Average g force 1.02 g 0.92 g min to max 1.56 g |
1.56 | 0.95 g | |
| Info |
Average speed 198 kn 117 kn min to max 211 kn |
211 | 117 kn | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -3.9 ° -4.8 ° min to max -3.1 ° |
-3.8 | -4.5 ° | |
| Info |
Average bank angle 0.3 ° 0.0 ° min to max 0.7 ° |
0.2 | 0.1 ° |
Runway Exit
Exiting runway, average speed 49 kn
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| Info |
Average speed 41 kn 12 kn min to max 106 kn |
106 | 12 kn | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -4.6 ° -4.7 ° min to max -4.3 ° |
-4.5 | -4.7 ° | |
| Info |
Average bank angle 0.1 ° 0.0 ° min to max 0.2 ° |
0.1 | 0.1 ° | |
| Info |
Average g force 0.98 g 0.93 g min to max 1.00 g |
0.95 | 0.97 g |
The NASA Space Shuttle Columbia successfully landed at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, specifically on runway 33, with a score of 87.8%. The shuttle approached the runway from the southeast, heading 323.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 1,193 feet above ground level.
Upon landing, the shuttle touched down on the runway with a good threshold height, but the threshold speed was excessively high at 231 knots. This indicates that the shuttle may have been traveling too fast as it approached the runway, which could have put additional stress on the landing gear and potentially increased the risk of a hard landing. However, the touchdown distance was good at 242 meters, suggesting that the shuttle's pilots were able to maintain control and slow the vehicle down effectively.
The touchdown speed of 223 knots was also excessively fast, which could have contributed to the very heavy touchdown rate of -1,419 feet per minute. A heavy touchdown rate can be a concern as it may indicate that the shuttle's landing gear is absorbing a significant amount of energy, which could lead to wear and tear on the gear over time.
Despite these issues, the runway touchdown alignment was very good, indicating that the shuttle's pilots were able to maintain a stable and controlled approach to the runway. The local weather conditions at the time of landing were also favorable, with a temperature of 15°C and a gentle headwind of 6 knots at 350°.
The total landing distance of 1,371 meters was 30% of the runway length, which is a relatively short distance considering the shuttle's size and weight. The runway rollout alignment was also very good, indicating that the shuttle's pilots were able to maintain control and stability during the rollout phase of the landing.
Overall, while the landing was not perfect, the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia's pilots were able to bring the vehicle safely to the ground, and the landing was considered successful despite some minor issues with speed and touchdown rate.
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