Return to earth in the Space Shuttle

The mission sequence of the first Shuttle orbital test flight (OFT-1), scheduled for March 1979, is outlined with attention to the landing phase. Descent into the atmosphere will begin at 400,000 feet at a pitch angle of 40 deg. At 80,000 feet the spacecraft decelerates to Mach 2.5, and the approach and landing phase begin at around 10,000 feet. TACAN stations will supply navigation data during most of the descent, with the pilot taking over most of the control functions during the final flare-out and approach to the runway. Also outlined is the sequencing of the RCS jets and aero surfaces.