So, the NASA "photographic history & archive section/department…individual" (if such/one even exists), and the “NASA on The Commons” buffoons stumbled upon this striking photo, probably/possibly here:
images.nasa.gov/details/81PC0758
and uploaded it today (January 29, 2025), accompanied by the following pablum:
“With the desert sky behind it, the Space Shuttle Columbia and 747/Shuttle Carrier Aircraft are poised for the return flight to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After the successful first mission of the Space Shuttle, the orbiter was returned from the desert by a piggyback flight where it landed at KSC. Preparations now begin for the second launch.”
Not surprisingly, the above is a standard mindless, copy/paste of a clueless, vague & wrong description. This is obviously a preflight…to any flight, photo of OV-102, likely taken between March 20 - 24, 1979, during the vehicle’s original delivery to KSC.
I wonder how the NASA stooges came up with the photo ID (KSC-81PC-0758) & date in the first place??? 🎯 or 🎲 maybe?
Further, comments were of course disabled for their posting of the image. We wouldn't want constructive criticism or the ability to set the record straight permitted, now would we?
Good grief.
Update: Coincidentally...or not, as of the posting day (January 29, 2025), of this image, “NASA on The Commons” on Flickr went “buh-bye”, for a brief period at least. It's back - in all its "glory", YAY. However, the photo is no longer. Perpetual buffoonery. But hey, at least it's still here:
images.nasa.gov/details/81PC0758
But I digress. In (I’m hoping) proper context, the photo, amongst others, is here:
www.nasa.gov/history/45-years-ago-space-shuttle-columbia-...
Lastly, prompted by Flickr user Dikkie Dick’s comment, I took a closer look at the image. There appear to be a row of hangar doors visible at the lower left, beneath the wing of the SCA. Through my conscientious & earnest research, I came across a photo (of another SCA/Orbiter combo), with similar doors in the background, which would seem to support this photo having been taken at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base. Additional stellar research (IMHO) then revealed the combo to be (IMHO II) positioned/photographed at the entrance to the “Weight and Balance Hangar”.
The “Weight and Balance Hangar”:
“Perhaps the most unique of the facilities along Contractor's Row is Building 1830, commonly referred to as the Weight and Balance Hangar. This 300 feet by 400 feet clear-span aircraft hangar is equipped with a large, flush-mounted floor-installed, calibrated scale system to determine an aircraft's gross weight as well as provide data to compute its center of gravity. This capability is available for nearly any size aircraft. The system comprises four tables-arranged in a cruciform pattern each with a 300,000 pound capacity and capable of measuring in 20 pound increments.
The center of gravity computation is performed on the largest of these platforms which provides for longitudinal leveling of aircraft via an electrically controlled vertical adjustment through a range of 69 inches.”
Above, along with the photo I reference, at/from:
www.aftc.af.mil/Portals/55/Documents/Historian/E-Books/Ed...
Credit: Air Force Test Center (AFTC) website
Although I may very well be wrong, it’s better than the crap the NASA dolts attributed to it.
