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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 10,403 feet above sea level to 1,846 feet above sea level, a significant increase of 8,557 feet in just 1 minute, while covering a distance of 5 nautical miles.
Upon reaching its final approach to runway 33 at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, the shuttle was heading in a southerly direction at 345.0 degrees, approximately 1 nautical mile from the runway and at an altitude of 1,579 feet above ground level.
The landing on runway 33 was notable for several factors. The threshold height at 108 feet above ground level was significantly higher than the target, and the threshold speed of 219 knots was also excessively high. However, the touchdown distance of 228 meters was considered good, and the touchdown speed of 202 knots was slightly faster than ideal. The most concerning aspect of the landing was the very heavy touchdown rate of -2,643 feet per minute, indicating a potentially rough landing.
Additionally, the runway touchdown position was significantly misaligned from the centreline by 28.4 meters, and the runway rollout alignment was also misaligned by 21.9 meters from the centreline. The local weather conditions at the time of landing included a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, a wind speed of 6 knots from 350 degrees, resulting in a 2-knot crosswind and a 6-knot headwind.
The total landing distance of 1,152 meters was 25% of the runway length, and the shuttle used no fuel during the flight, which covered a total distance of 6 nautical miles and took approximately 2 minutes to complete.
Replay this flight in 3D — the full flight path over the terrain with every stage, event and score along the route.
Enroute climb started 2 miles south east of Merritt Island (Florida, United States). Climbing from 10,403 ft asl to 1,846 ft asl, an increase of 8,557 ft in 1 minutes and covering 5 nm.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 100 % |
Average speed 258 kn 241 kn min to max 293 kn |
273 | 293 kn | |
| 65.98 % |
Average bank angle 17.1 ° 1.0 ° min to max 57.0 ° |
1.0 | 43.2 ° | |
| 80.86 % |
Average g force 0.90 g -0.17 g min to max 1.28 g |
0.74 | 1.15 g | |
| Info |
Average VSI -8,918 fpm -15,098 fpm min to max 1,598 fpm |
1,598 | -15,098 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 6,218 ft asl 1,846 ft asl min to max 10,403 ft asl |
10,403 | 1,846 ft asl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -15.8 ° -29.1 ° min to max 2.2 ° |
2.2 | -29.1 ° | |
| Info |
Turn coordination 0 0 min to max 0 |
0 | 0 | |
| Info |
Battery Master On at 15:14:24 |
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| Info |
Engine 1 Started at 15:14:24 |
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| Info |
Beacon Lights Switched On at 15:14:24 |
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| Info |
Engine 1 Stopped at 15:14:27 |
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| Info |
Exceeded 250 kn below 10000 ft at 15:15:18 |
Approaching runway 33 at KTTS Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility from 3 nm to 2 nm. Descent from 1,579 ft agl to 1,074 ft agl. A decrease of 505 ft in 2 seconds.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 91.58 % |
Approach angle 10.2 ° 8.9 ° min to max 11.6 ° Target 3.0 ° |
11.6 | 8.9 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average speed 300 kn 298 kn min to max 302 kn |
298 | 302 kn | |
| 58.85 % |
Heading variation 7.3 ° 7.1 ° min to max 7.4 ° |
7.4 | 7.1 ° | |
| 12.97 % |
Average bank angle 29.5 ° 25.1 ° min to max 35.2 ° |
35.2 | 25.1 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average g force 1.27 g 1.13 g min to max 1.39 g |
1.13 | 1.39 g | |
| Info |
Average VSI -15,194 fpm -15,327 fpm min to max -14,940 fpm |
-15,314 | -14,940 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 1,324 ft agl 1,074 ft agl min to max 1,579 ft agl |
1,579 | 1,074 ft agl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -26.7 ° -28.9 ° min to max -24.8 ° |
-28.9 | -24.8 ° | |
| Info |
GPWS Warning Activated at 15:15:48 |
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| Info |
Exceeded 250 kn below 10000 ft at 15:15:45 |
Approaching runway 33 at KTTS Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility from 2 nm to 1 nm. Descent from 842 ft agl to 463 ft agl. A decrease of 379 ft in 2 seconds.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 91.81 % |
Approach angle 6.1 ° 4.8 ° min to max 7.5 ° Target 3.0 ° |
7.5 | 4.8 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average speed 298 kn 295 kn min to max 301 kn |
301 | 295 kn | |
| 68.46 % |
Heading variation 5.9 ° 5.4 ° min to max 6.1 ° |
6.1 | 5.4 ° | |
| 58.38 % |
Average bank angle 10.5 ° 5.2 ° min to max 18.4 ° |
18.4 | 5.2 ° | |
| 73.14 % |
Average g force 2.26 g 2.02 g min to max 2.44 g |
2.02 | 2.44 g | |
| Info |
Average VSI -12,783 fpm -14,244 fpm min to max -11,212 fpm |
-14,244 | -11,212 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 647 ft agl 463 ft agl min to max 842 ft agl |
842 | 463 ft agl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -14.1 ° -20.1 ° min to max -7.1 ° |
-20.1 | -7.1 ° | |
| Info |
Exceeded 250 kn below 10000 ft at 15:15:48 |
Approaching runway 33 at KTTS Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility from 1 nm to 0 nm. Descent from 334 ft agl to 168 ft agl. A decrease of 166 ft in 9 seconds.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 85.86 % |
Approach angle 4.7 ° 2.8 ° min to max 9.0 ° Target 3.0 ° |
3.8 | 9.0 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average speed 253 kn 222 kn min to max 291 kn |
291 | 222 kn | |
| 27.6 % |
Heading variation 0.7 ° -0.7 ° min to max 2.3 ° |
2.3 | -0.7 ° | |
| 0 % |
Average bank angle 29.2 ° 2.5 ° min to max 48.4 ° |
2.5 | 48.2 ° | |
| 71.71 % |
Average g force 1.45 g 0.61 g min to max 2.49 g |
2.08 | 0.84 g | |
| Info |
Average VSI -2,334 fpm -8,825 fpm min to max 136 fpm |
-8,825 | -1,160 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 212 ft agl 168 ft agl min to max 334 ft agl |
334 | 168 ft agl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle 2.6 ° -3.9 ° min to max 7.7 ° |
-3.9 | -0.9 ° | |
| Info |
Landing Gear Down at 15:15:55 |
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| Info |
GPWS Warning Deactivated at 15:15:57 |
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| Info |
GPWS Warning Activated at 15:16:02 |
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| Info |
Gear not down at 15:15:51 |
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| Info |
Exceeded 250 kn below 10000 ft at 15:15:51 |
Landing on runway 33 at KTTS Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility, runway length 4,580 m. Threshold height at 108 ft agl was excessively over target. Threshold speed was excessively high at 219 kn.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 100 % |
Average speed 210 kn 202 kn min to max 219 kn |
219 | 202 kn | |
| 0 % |
Target 50 ft agl |
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| 0 % |
Landing and flare profile |
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| 93.6 % |
Heading variation -0.5 ° -0.7 ° min to max -0.4 ° |
-0.7 | -0.4 ° | |
| 6.04 % |
Average bank angle 14.6 ° 6.3 ° min to max 37.7 ° |
37.7 | 9.6 ° | |
| 100 % |
Average g force 1.13 g 0.71 g min to max 1.18 g |
0.71 | 1.05 g | |
| Info |
Average speed 210 kn 202 kn min to max 219 kn |
219 | 202 kn | |
| Info |
Average VSI -2,533 fpm -2,643 fpm min to max -1,883 fpm |
-1,883 | -2,643 fpm | |
| Info |
Average altitude 51 ft agl 5 ft agl min to max 108 ft agl |
108 | 5 ft agl | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle 0.3 ° -4.1 ° min to max 4.5 ° |
-4.1 | 4.5 ° |
Touchdown distance was good at 228 m. Touchdown speed at 202 kn was excessively fast. Touchdown rate was very heavy at -2,643 fpm. Runway touchdown position was significantly misaligned by 28.4 m from centreline. Local weather - Temperature 15 °C. Wind 6 kn at 350 °. Crosswind: 2 kn Headwind: 6 kn.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 12.32 % |
Touchdown VSI was -2,643 fpm. |
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| 100 % |
Touchdown distance was 228 m Target 457 m |
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| 100 % |
Average speed 201 kn 200 kn min to max 202 kn |
202 | 200 kn | |
| 7.43 % |
Runway alignment max 28.44 m 24.30 m right |
-28.44 | -19.47 m | |
| 0 % |
Average bank angle 3.5 ° 0.1 ° min to max 10.5 ° |
9.6 | 0.3 ° | |
| 22.57 % |
Average g force 2.51 g 1.05 g min to max 4.21 g |
1.05 | 1.86 g | |
| 100 % |
Landing Bounce |
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| Info |
Average speed 201 kn 200 kn min to max 202 kn |
202 | 200 kn | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle 0.8 ° -4.2 ° min to max 5.0 ° |
4.5 | -4.2 ° |
Total landing distance 1,152 m, 25 % of runway. Runway rollout alignment was misaligned by 21.9 m from centreline.
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| 100 % |
Landing distance 1,152 m 25 % of runway. |
|||
| 31.34 % |
Runway alignment max 39.95 m 21.88 m left to 18.07 m right |
-18.07 | 7.40 m | |
| 88.57 % |
Average g force 1.07 g 0.71 g min to max 1.90 g |
1.90 | 0.96 g | |
| Info |
Average speed 177 kn 99 kn min to max 193 kn |
193 | 99 kn | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -4.7 ° -8.9 ° min to max -4.1 ° |
-4.6 | -4.8 ° | |
| Info |
Average bank angle 3.5 ° 0.1 ° min to max 26.2 ° |
0.5 | 0.7 ° | |
| Info |
GPWS Warning Deactivated at 15:16:05 |
Exiting runway, average speed 34 kn
| Score | Description | Start | Profile | End |
| Info |
Average speed 27 kn 8 kn min to max 89 kn |
89 | 8 kn | |
| Info |
Average pitch angle -4.5 ° -4.7 ° min to max -4.3 ° |
-4.7 | -4.6 ° | |
| Info |
Average bank angle 0.1 ° 0.0 ° min to max 0.2 ° |
0.0 | 0.0 ° | |
| Info |
Average g force 0.99 g 0.96 g min to max 1.00 g |
0.97 | 0.99 g |
The NASA Space Shuttle Columbia's landing at the Space Florida Launch and Landing Facility on runway 33 was marked by several areas of concern. The final approach to the runway was initiated from the south, heading 345.0° at a distance of 1 nautical mile and an altitude of 1,579 feet above ground level. However, the shuttle's performance during the landing was not ideal, with the threshold height being excessively over target at 108 feet above ground level.
Upon touchdown, the shuttle's speed was also found to be excessively high at 219 knots, which is a critical factor in determining the safety and success of the landing. The touchdown distance, although good at 228 meters, was overshadowed by the shuttle's high speed and heavy touchdown rate of -2,643 feet per minute. This excessive rate of descent can put a significant amount of stress on the shuttle's landing gear and other critical systems.
Furthermore, the shuttle's touchdown position was significantly misaligned from the centreline of the runway by 28.4 meters, which can lead to issues with the shuttle's stability and control during the rollout phase. The runway rollout alignment was also found to be misaligned by 21.9 meters from the centreline, which can increase the risk of the shuttle deviating from the centreline and potentially causing a loss of control.
The local weather conditions at the time of the landing were relatively calm, with a temperature of 15°C and a wind speed of 6 knots from a direction of 350°. The crosswind component was minimal at 2 knots, while the headwind component was 6 knots, which is a relatively favorable condition for landing. However, despite these favorable weather conditions, the shuttle's performance during the landing was still subpar, highlighting the need for further improvement in the shuttle's landing capabilities.
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