1982 Defense Mapping Agency Chart or Map of STS-3 Space Shuttle Orbits

This is a 1982 Defense Mapping Agency map of STS-3 Space Shuttle orbits superimposed over a Mercator projection map of the world. Printed on both sides, colored lines represent each of Space Shuttle Columbia's 116 orbits during STS-3. (STS stands for Space Transport System and was the official name for the Space Shuttle program.) Orbits are divided into groups, such as Orbits 1 through 16, Orbits 17 through 32, etc., with each orbit numerically identified. Orbits 1 through 64 are illustrated on the recto and 65 through 116 are depicted on the verso. Antenna locations and call letters are identified by black or red block lettering, and solid black and/or red lines illustrate the effective range at these tracking and communication stations.

STS-3 and Space Shuttle Columbia

STS-3 launched on March 22, 1982, and landed eight days later at White Sands (then known as Northrop Strip) on March 30. During the eight-day mission, Columbia's two-man crew performed science experiments and tested the shuttle's thermal resistance, exposing its nose, tail, and top to the Sun for varying lengths of time. The crew also tested the Canadarm Remote Manipulator System. STS-3 was Columbia's third mission, having flown both STS-1 and STS-2. Columbia would also fly STS-5 and STS-9. During her career, Columbia flew a total of twenty-eight missions and was tragically lost in February 2003 during STS-107 when she disintegrated in the atmosphere during reentry, killing her seven-member crew.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the Defense Mapping Agency in January 1982. This is the first edition of the chart, issued in January 1982 and is the only known cataloged example.