022 | Chasing a Very Speedy Blackbird
One of the best parts of life is witnessing unique events for the first time and remembering them forever. As an astronaut, I have seen many things I am sure I will never forget, even if I tried. However, one of the most exciting memories I have is of the time when I was part of a crew tasked to chase a speeding Blackbird. You don’t always get told to run after one of the fastest planes on Earth, and it wasn’t even the most memorable part of the mission.
In this episode, I describe the mission involving the space shuttle, Columbia, and a Blackbird in 1981. I explain what the mission was about, our goals, and what made the mission particularly difficult to pull off, despite numerous flight simulations. I discuss how the mission went and my takeaways from it. I also share my favorite Blackbird sightings and why this one is the best among all of them.
"Blackbirds are spectacularly sleek, almost ominous-looking airplanes."
- Kathy Sullivan
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
My role in Columbia's second flight in 1981
The trick to intercepting a shuttle zooming back from Mach 25
How we solved the problem of intercepting Columbia
Why mission simulations are often flawed
What Blackbirds are and why they're amazing
What I've learned from chasing a Blackbird
My favorite Blackbird sighting
Resources Mentioned:
Spaceship Not Required
I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.
I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.
In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are… spaceship not required.
Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.