Star-Gazette from Elmira, New York • 9

Star-Gazette, Wed, April 15, 1981 1 They wa it all in awe 6A By VIC POLLARD Gannett News Service He said the space shuttle, with its ability to put more and bigger satellites into orbit, will revolutionize many aspects of life on Earth. He predicted, for example, that improved communications will allow individuals to purchase $200 wristwatch-sized antennas that will allow them to receive television from anywhere in the world. Former astronuats were much in evidence in the crowd, most of them evincing a little envy that they were not part of the revival of America's manned space program. "I had my turn, and I don't begrudge anybody theirs," said Russell L. Schweickart, who flew on the Apollo 9 mission and went for a walk in space.

"But I do wish I was a little younger and Schweickart tried to describe the post-landing elation that was evident in television pictures of Young as he pranced around beneath the shuttle on the ground unable to control his jubilation at the success of the mission. "It's a kind of glee," Schweickart said. "You're just so delighted that everything went so well, not so much for your own glory as for being part of something that is so important for the future." A long view of the mission's significance came from former astronaut James McDivitt, who is now an executive with Rockwell International, a prime contractor for the shuttle's construction. "You can't take any aviation event out of context," McDivitt said. He said that the first flight of an airplane at more than 300 miles per hour seemed at the time to be a dramatic event but it did not loom so large today.

"In 1981, this looks really really big and it is," McDivitt said. "ut in the year 2000, it may not lok so dramatic." AP Laserphoto Columbia rolls down runway after its successful landing. It was an event all Americans could cheer about EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. "It was stunning." "It seemed like an everyday thing." "It looked like something the do every time." Jubilant comments flowed frpm movie stars, politicians, former! astronauts, and hundreds of thousands of tourists who gathered in the baking desert sun Tuesday to cheer the return of space shuttle astronauts John W. Young and Robert L.

Crippen. A huge crowd pushed onto the edges of Rogers Dry Lake bed where the Columbia touched down after a seemingly flawless flight. In many ways it was a characteristically festive California outing, with elegantly attired entertainers mingling with conservatively dressed businessmen and officials. But many of the visitors came dressed for one of the hottest days of the year so far and sunburns were almost as numerous as space shuttle souvenirs. "It was always my dream to do that," said actress Nastassia Kinski, star of the Academy Award-winning film "Tess." "Isn't it possible in a few years? I'll be one of the first." One of the most enthusiastic about the new space possibilities was California Gov.

Jerry Brown, who made space exploration a prime plank in his unsuccessful presidential bid last year. "It's a global accomplishment," Brown said. "People throughout the world will benefit from it." Brown is a great believer in the development of the high technology industries as a way to help invigorate the economy of the the United States and particularly his native California. again last weekend when Crippen and Young rode their odd-looking ship skyward above a trail of flame. There was worry about the protective tiles that would shield the ship from incineration on reentry.

The nation held its breath, as it had for so many months during the Iranian crisis, as it had on the afternoon of March 30 after the White House announced that the president had been shot. Then the Columbia came float ing out of a perfect blue California sky. "Welcome home, Columbia," said Mission Control. "You put new worlds within AP LoserptxXo By WICK TEMPLE Associated Press Writer Americans had something to cheer about Tuesday, something to cheer about again in a time when trouble seems a way of life. A spaceship bearing the name of the United States had gone outside the earth's grasp and returned to a safe landing, completing a perfect flight that opened a new chapter of exploration of the universe.

It was a bright moment in the careers of astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen; a bright day for the crowds who sweltered in the Mojave Desert sun to cheer and wave American flags when the Coumbia glided to earth on a dry Iran. Coincidentally, 32 of those former hostages were convening Tuesday for a reunion in West Virginia, a continent away from the desert landing strip where Crippen and Young were making history. Dogwoods bloomed on the mountainside around the majestic Greenbrier resort as the former hostages and their families arrived for a week of festivities and meetings with the medical team which examined them after they were released in January. They all signed a congratulatory telegram to Crippen and Young. It was the first time they had been together since the days of Tension didn't show in astronauts9 voices celebration surrounding their release, when Reagan greeted them as the new president on the White House lawn and proclaimed them American heroes.

An essay That was before the shots were fired outside the Washington Hilton Hotel on March 30. Four men, including the president, were felled, and back came all the memories of assassinations that have blighted this land over the past 18 years. But the national spirit went aloft lit '7 lake bed. Bright, too, for President Reagan, recovering at the White House after being shot two weeks ago by a would-be assassin. "Congratulations on a job well done.

I'm very proud," was the message a chipper Reagan sent to the astronauts moments after their voyage ended. It was the second proud moment of celebration in three months for a nation that has had little to cheer about in the first two years of this decade. It was only three months ago that Americans turned out with yellow ribbons to welcome home the hostages held for 444 days in California." Mission controllers became increasingly exhuberant as the Columbia made a perfect approach to the dry lake bed at Edwards that would serve as their landing strip. "It's coming right down the chute," controllers told the astronauts as they soared within 73 miles of the landing site, still dropping like a rock at 2.8 times the speed of sound. A few moments later: "It couldn't be better, Columbia.

You're really looking good. You're right on the money, right on the money. Looking beautiful." When the Columbia made its perfect touchdown, the first words of congratulations came from a pilot in one of the chase planes that helped guide the space craft on its final approach. "Welcome home, Columbia," he said. "Beautiful, beautiful." Commander Young hit the ground joking.

"Do I have to take it up to the hangar?" he asked. "We're going to dust it off, first," mission control responded. By DAVID SHAPIRO Gannett News Service HOUSTON If astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen were nervous when they brought the space shuttle Columbia in for its first landing, it didn't show in the running commentary between the shuttle and mission control. Young and Crippen seemed loose and easy as the Columbia plunged into the earth's atmosphere Tuesday morning and began gliding toward Edwards Air Force Base at 10 times the speed of sound. I Most of the tension was in the mission control room, particularly during a 20-minute radio blackout in the early stages of the shuttle's re-entry, one of the most dangerous parts of the mission.

When Crippen broke the silence with the simple announcement, "Hello, Houston. Columbia's here," excited cheers rang through the Johnson Space Center. The astronauts, meanwhile, were just plain enjoying their first-of-a-kind ride. "It's quiet in here," Crippen said. "What a way to come to closer reach and more knowedge within our grasp," Reagan vould write a short time later.

"Wj thank God for your safe return." California Gov. Edmund Brown Jr. called it "a big sep forward for our country an for the entire world." It was the beginning of space shuttle program that williake not only astronauts but scientists and even ordinary people to pace stations and perhaps bewnd, and bring them back. Astronaut Young walled around the spacecraft and gavelhe thumbs up signal. Millions of other Americans, perhaps silently, did tre same.

Future! (Continued from Pige 1A.) Young's shipmateiistronaut Robert Crippen, said of the 54'j-hour flight. Crippen and Youig were the first Americans to venture into space since the Apollo-Soyuz mission with the Russians ended on July 24, 1975. "Through you," President Reagan told the astronauts, "we all feel like giants once again." The Columbia the biggest craft ever put into orbit and the first one with wings Is a cross between a spaceship and an airplane designed as a space-going freighter that will make 100 or more round-trips beyond the earth. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration says the $10 billion Space Transportation System could turn the heavens into a scientific laboratory, a weightless workshop and perhaps even a distant battleground. Even as the Columbia was circling the globe, the shuttle Challenger, still just a partial fuselage with wings, was taking shape inside a Rockwell International hangar near Palmdale, 20 miles south of here.

Construction of the Discovery and the Atlantis shuttles should begin in the next year or so, forming the world's first real fleet of spaceships. After a series of Columbia test flights, the shuttles' 60-foot cargo bays may fill with up to 65,000 pounds of cargo as the space trucks go to work. 1 Scientists and soldurs foresee an assortment of new tises for space, while NASA is Jushing the shuttle as a commercial tool. A company can rent a sh ittle flight for $35 million or choc a Getaway Special to ser 1 a small canister aloft for as litt as $3,000. Industry, so far, has lukewarm.

een The shuttle program already two years behind schedil havp fnrpH near disasta 1 ile, might had this shakedown cruise gonelmd. But all went smoothly. Columbia will soon be back in Florida where the ship vill be checked and re-outfittecXor its second voyage into spaci perhaps in the autumn. Astronaut Robert Crippen waves as he sits with his wife, Virginia, after the shuttle landing. Tlie historic landing SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) Here is a minute-by-minute schedule of Tuesday's historic landing of the space shuttle, as provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

All times are Eastern Standard. 12:21 a.m. Fire rockets to slow shuttle and start descent. Altitude, 143 miles. Speed, Mach 25 (25 times the speed of sound), or about 18,000 mph.

12:45 Begin to enter Earth's atmosphere. Altitude 400,000 feet, or about 76 miles. 12:51 Enter blackout (period of no radio communication). 1:08 p.m. Blackout ends.

Resume radio communication. 1:09 Slow to speed of Mach 8, about 5,760 mph. Altitude 152,000 or about 29 miles. 1:16 Reduce speed to Mach 1 at altitude of 51,000 feet. 28 miles from landing point.

1:17 Start turn. Altitude 38,000 feet. 19 miles from landing point 1:18 Descend to altitude of 25,000 feet. 1:20 Deploy landing gear. 1:20:52 Touchdown.

1:21 Roll to stop. Flying machine (Continued from Page IA.) portable ramp with a bounce in their step and broad smiles on their faces. Young impulsively circled the front of the ship on a personal inspection tour. He liked what he saw, jabbed the air in delight and flashed a thumbs up to recovery crew. They rode the "astrovan" to a nearby space agency facility for physical examination, although from appearances they were the healthiest as well as the happiest of men.

For the next week, the astronauts will undergo extensive debriefings as experts evaluate the ship's maiden flight. "I think we've got a fantastic and remarkable capability here," Young said at a brief welcoming ceremony. "We really are not to far in the human race from going to the stars and Bob and I are mighty proud to have been part of this revolution." And Crippen, a space veteran at last, said that "as the rookie of the group, I can say that waiting 12 years to get my flight in space was really worth it. I'll go stand in line for another 12 years if that is what it will take, but I don't thing it will. "I think we're back in the space business to stay." Then the two astronauts were flown in NASA planes to the space center in Houston where flight controllers lit cigars and cheered their landing.

Flight One of STS-1, Space Transportation System One, was an astounding success. A message awaited the crew from President Reagan in Washington: "Your brave adventure has opened a new era in space travel You put new worlds within closer reach and more knowledge within our grasp." Enormous crowds, estimated at 170,000, came to the desert in cars and campers to cheer Columbia to its finale. The astronauts came out of a 15-minute communications blackout, the most danger-filled time, with a tension-breaking message for the shuttle team: "Hello Houston, Columbia here." "You're coming right down the chute," Houston said. "You're coming right down the track." They were and they stayed exactly on target. "Looking Beautiful," said Joe Allen, the control room's radio contact.

And she was. The ship rolled to a stop on the Rogers Dry Lake runway on the Mojave Desert, right on the runway centerline. It had been aloft exactly 2 days 6 hours, 20 minutes and 52 seconds. "Welcome home Columbia," said Allen..