STS-114 ..The "Twinkie"
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| STS-114 ..The "Twinkie" |
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| STS-114 lifted off from Launch Pad 39B, Kennedy Space Center, on 26 July 2005 at 9:39 AM CDT (14:39 GMT). This daylight launch was the most watched in Shuttle history, with the possible exception of STS-1, the initial Shuttle launch on 12 April 1981. The timing and solar angle were chosen to maximise opportunities to film the liftoff, and ascent, from every possible perspective. These even included modified old jet bombers from the 1950s (WB-57 Canberras), carrying special camera turrets in the nose for the purpose of photographing Discovery at high altitude as she was on her way to orbit. The reasoning behind all of this was to make sure that if there were ANY debris strikes on the orbiter's sensitive heat shield, like the one which doomed Columbia in 2003, they would be captured on film for detailed analysis before allowing Discovery to re-enter the atmosphere. The Crew experienced some facets of Shuttle flight that are entirely new. On orbit inspection of the heat shield, manual repairs to that heat shield, and experiments with different methods of on orbit heat shield repair. In addition, Discovery carried over 15 tons of equipment and supplies to the International Space Station ( in the Raphaello MPLM module ), where she was greeted upon arrival by the Expedition 11 Crew. Three EVAs (Extra-Vehicular Activity or spacewalk) were carried out. These involved Space Station repairs, improvements, and attending to heat shield problems. A fourth EVA to repair a flaw in the insulation below Commander Eileen Collins window was cancelled as unnecessary. Space Shuttle Discovery and her crew landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base (NASA's Dryden Research Center) in the California desert at 7:11 AM CDT (12:11 GMT) on 9 August 2005. Total flight duration was 13 days 21 hours 32 minutes. The mission was highly successful, accomplishing every goal set for it. The sad news is that in the wake of continued problems with external tank insulation breaking away during liftoff, the Shuttle fleet has been indefinately grounded until the problem is solved. |
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| STS-114
Liftoff |
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| Belly
Inspection |
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| Inside
ISSy |
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| Robinson
On EVA |
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| STS-114
Landing |
| THE
EVENT |
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On 5 August 2005, the Shuttle/Station Complex was cruising serenely over the area of northern Brazil just prior to local sunrise on the ground. On this date, the Moon was new and not visible anywhere from Earth, or on orbit. Yet, an unusual object appeared in the field of view of the payload bay camera. The object appeared to be stationary. The only motion was imparted by the INCO panning the camera downward, effectively removing the anomaly from sight. This incident isn't the first of it's kind in our archives either. Another was sighted during the flight of STS-98, in February 2001. I dubbed that object "The Twinkie" as well, due to it's resemblance to the popular snack cake available in the USA. Similar appearing objects were captured during the docking maneuvers of Progress-15, on 14 August 2004, and also whilst the crew of STS-112 were moving the S-1 Truss into position. Why don't we have a look at it now, OK? |
| SETTING
THE SCENE |
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Inside the yellow circle is the anomaly. It appeared suddenly when the INCO switched from one camera to another. What might this be? It absolutely can't be the Moon. The Moon was new that day. |
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Soon after the anomaly was seen, the scene was taken back to Mission Control Center Houston. Here we can still see the object on the front screen (arrow). It was soon taken out of the field of view by panning the Shuttle camera downward. |
| We can also see the world map display in the center screen at the front of the room. The Yellow circle shows that the Shuttle/Station Complex was flying high over Brazil at the time. It also shows that the Sun should have already risen for the orbiting spacecraft. If so, and the object were some kind of light attached to the Station or Discovery, the rest of the spacecraft would logically also be visible, and there is nothing "out there" save this enigmatic light. Since the Sun should be above the horizon for the Complex, it is unclear whether this object is self-luminous or lit by sunlight. | |
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THE
"TWINKIE" |
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This animated GIF illustrates the entire sequence of events for us. It is the "full view", and about five times (5x) normal speed. As you can see for yourself, the INCO was casting about, switching at various times, to three different camera views. |
The first camera view showed the limb of Earth in darkness.The second shot contained the anomaly, but this was changed back to the first view again. Then we got the THIRD camera view with a different perspective on Earth itself. Finally, there was a sudden switch to the camera in which the object was the only thing in sight. Lastly, the scene was taken back to Mission Control where the object, still visible, was panned out of the field of view. What this thing was is undetermined. We know it wasn't the Moon, a star or planet. Ice and debris don't behave like this, nor are they so bright in the night. So I must classify it as an unknown. *** At all times during this incident, the camera was under the control of the INCO in Houston Mission Control. (INCO - INstrument & Communication Officer - The man in Houston Mission Control Center who is responsible for operating the Shuttle payload bay, and robotic arm, cameras. He also remotely operates the helmet cameras in space suits. In the case of ISS, this officer is referred to as the CATO - Communications And Tracking Officer. In both cases, these persons CONTROL everything which is PERMITTED to go out on broadcast to the public. It is a commonly believed falacy that the cameras are operated by Astronauts & Cosmonauts on the Shuttles, and Space Station. Very little camera work is done by the crews. They're way too busy for that.)
At the end of the day, it's up to YOU to draw your own conclusions.
© 2005 Jeff Challender
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