List of space shuttle landing runways
Encyclopedia
Three locations in the United States of America have been the sites of landings of the Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle)
. Each site includes runways of sufficient length to provide adequate distance for the slowing-down of a returning space shuttle. The prime landing site is the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center
, a landing strip constructed for the purpose of space shuttle landings. Landings have also occurred at Edwards Air Force Base
in California and White Sands Space Harbor
in New Mexico. Emergency trans-Atlantic abort sites also exist for space shuttle landings in the event of a launch abort. No space shuttle has landed on a dry lakebed runway since 1991. In addition, international landing sites are available in the event of a Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) situation, and other sites in the United States and Canada are available in the event of an East Coast Abort Landing (ECAL) situation. Space shuttle landings were intended to regularly take place at Vandenberg Air Force Base
in California for Department of Defense missions launched from the site, but none occurred due to the cancellation of all launches from Vandenberg.
in Florida has a single 15000 feet (4,572 m) concrete runway, 15/33. It is designated Runway 15 or 33, depending on the direction of use. The first landing at the SLF was for mission STS-41B in 1984, though landings were suspended at the site following brake damage and a blown tire during the STS-51D landing in 1985. Landings resumed in 1990.
in California was the site of the first space shuttle landing, and has now become a back-up site to the prime landing location, the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center
. Several runways are arrayed on the dry lakebed at Rogers Dry Lake, in addition there are also concrete runways. Space shuttle landings on the lakebed have taken place on Runways 05/23, 15/33 and 17/35. Of the concrete strips, the main Runway 04/22 has been utilized. During the renovation of 04/22, a temporary runway (with the same designation) was constructed parallel to it and used for one landing (STS-126
). Additionally, all five free flights of space shuttle Enterprise landed on Edwards Air Force Base runways.
at White Sands Test Facility
in New Mexico is an emergency landing site for the space shuttle and was used as a backup when the runways at Edwards Air Force Base and the Kennedy Space Center were unavailable. Two 35000 feet (10,668 m) runways and a 12800 feet (3,901.4 m) runway are available for landings on the dry lakebed. One mission, STS-3
, used Runway 17 for a landing.
in Terceira island, Azores, Portugal, Zaragoza Air Base
in Spain, Morón Air Base
in Spain, and Istres Air Base in France. All sites have runways of sufficient length to support the landing of a space shuttle, and include personnel from NASA as well as equipment to aid a space shuttle landing. Zaragoza Air Base features Runway 30L with a length of 12,109 ft.; Morón Air Base features an 11800 ft (3,596.6 m). runway; and Istres Air Base features Runway 33 with a length of 12,303 ft. Former TAL sites include Diego Garcia
in the British Indian Ocean Territory
; Cologne Bonn Airport
in Germany; Ben Guerir Air Base
, Morocco (1988–2002); Casablanca
, Morocco (up to 1986); Banjul International Airport
, The Gambia (1987–2002); Dakar
, Senegal; Rota, Spain; and Kano
, Nigeria. Had a TAL situation arisen during a launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Hao
and Easter Island
s in the Pacific Ocean would have the been the TAL sites.
RAF Fairford
was the only TransOceanic Abort Landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle in the UK. As well as having a sufficiently long runway for a shuttle landing (the runway is 3 km long), Fairford also has NASA-trained fire and medical crews stationed on the base.
, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Wilmington International Airport
, North Carolina Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
, North Carolina; Naval Air Station Oceana
, Virginia; Dover Air Force Base
, Delaware; Bangor International Airport
, Maine; Westover Joint Air Reserve Base
, Massachusetts; Otis Air National Guard Base
, Massachusetts; Pease Air National Guard Base
, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Enfield, Nova Scotia; Stephenville International Airport, Stephenville, Newfoundland; CFB Goose Bay
, Labrador; Gander International Airport
, Gander, Newfoundland; and St. John's International Airport
, St. Johns, Newfoundland.
in California were planned to conclude with a landing at Runway 12/30 at the site. The runway was lengthened to support shuttle landings. The first landing at Vandenberg was planned for mission STS-62-A
, which was scheduled for launch in July, 1986, but canceled in the wake of the STS-51L accident. Due to the ceasing of space shuttle operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base, no landings ever occurred at the site.
Space Shuttle program
NASA's Space Shuttle program, officially called Space Transportation System , was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011...
. Each site includes runways of sufficient length to provide adequate distance for the slowing-down of a returning space shuttle. The prime landing site is the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
, a landing strip constructed for the purpose of space shuttle landings. Landings have also occurred at Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
in California and White Sands Space Harbor
White Sands Space Harbor
White Sands Space Harbor is the primary training area used by NASA for Space Shuttle pilots flying practice approaches and landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft and T-38 Talon aircraft. Its runways, navigational aids, runway lighting, and control facilities also stand continuously ready as a...
in New Mexico. Emergency trans-Atlantic abort sites also exist for space shuttle landings in the event of a launch abort. No space shuttle has landed on a dry lakebed runway since 1991. In addition, international landing sites are available in the event of a Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) situation, and other sites in the United States and Canada are available in the event of an East Coast Abort Landing (ECAL) situation. Space shuttle landings were intended to regularly take place at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
in California for Department of Defense missions launched from the site, but none occurred due to the cancellation of all launches from Vandenberg.
Kennedy Space Center
The Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space CenterKennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
in Florida has a single 15000 feet (4,572 m) concrete runway, 15/33. It is designated Runway 15 or 33, depending on the direction of use. The first landing at the SLF was for mission STS-41B in 1984, though landings were suspended at the site following brake damage and a blown tire during the STS-51D landing in 1985. Landings resumed in 1990.
| Runway | Surface Material | Missions Landed |
|---|---|---|
| Runway 15 | Concrete | STS-41B, 51A, 51C, 39, 43, 51, 63, 71, 72, 79, 82, 86, 89, 91, 88, 96, 101, 106, 97, 102, 104, 105, 108, 121, 116, 118, 122, 123, 124, 119, 127, 130, 133, 134, 135 |
| Runway 33 | Concrete | STS-41G, 51D, 38, 45, 50, 46, 47, 52, 54, 56, 57, 61, 60, 62, 65, 70, 69, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 80, 81, 83, 84, 94, 85, 87, 90, 95, 93, 103, 99, 109, 110, 112, 113, 115, 120, 129, 131, 132 |
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force BaseEdwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
in California was the site of the first space shuttle landing, and has now become a back-up site to the prime landing location, the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
. Several runways are arrayed on the dry lakebed at Rogers Dry Lake, in addition there are also concrete runways. Space shuttle landings on the lakebed have taken place on Runways 05/23, 15/33 and 17/35. Of the concrete strips, the main Runway 04/22 has been utilized. During the renovation of 04/22, a temporary runway (with the same designation) was constructed parallel to it and used for one landing (STS-126
STS-126
-Crew notes:Originally scheduled to fly on STS-126 was Joan E. Higginbotham, who was a mission specialist on STS-116. On 21 November 2007, NASA announced a change in the crew manifest due to Higginbotham's decision to leave NASA to take a job in the private sector. Stephen G...
). Additionally, all five free flights of space shuttle Enterprise landed on Edwards Air Force Base runways.
| Runway | Surface Material | Missions Landed |
|---|---|---|
| Runway 05 | Dry Lakebed | STS-44 |
| Runway 23 | Dry Lakebed | STS-1, 2, 51G, 51F, 51I, 51J, 34, 36 |
| Runway 15 | Dry Lakebed | Enterprise ALT Free Flight No. 3, STS-7 |
| Runway 33 | Dry Lakebed | STS-37 |
| Runway 17 | Dry Lakebed | Enterprise ALT Free Flight No. 1, #2, No. 4, STS-9, 41C, 41D, 51B, 61A, 26, 27, 28 |
| Runway 35 | Dry Lakebed | (none) |
| Runway 04 | Concrete | Enterprise ALT Free Flight No. 5, STS-33, 64 |
| Runway 22 | Concrete | STS-4, 5, 6, 8, 61B, 61C, 29, 30, 32, 31, 41, 35, 40, 48, 42, 49, 53, 55, 58, 59, 68, 66, 67, 76, 92, 98, 100, 111, 114, 117, 125, 128 |
| Runway 04 (Temporary) | Asphalt | STS-126 |
White Sands
White Sands Space HarborWhite Sands Space Harbor
White Sands Space Harbor is the primary training area used by NASA for Space Shuttle pilots flying practice approaches and landings in the Shuttle Training Aircraft and T-38 Talon aircraft. Its runways, navigational aids, runway lighting, and control facilities also stand continuously ready as a...
at White Sands Test Facility
White Sands Test Facility
White Sands Test Facility is a U.S. government rocket engine test facility and a resource for testing and evaluating potentially hazardous materials, space flight components, and rocket propulsion systems. NASA established WSTF on the White Sands Missile Range in 1963...
in New Mexico is an emergency landing site for the space shuttle and was used as a backup when the runways at Edwards Air Force Base and the Kennedy Space Center were unavailable. Two 35000 feet (10,668 m) runways and a 12800 feet (3,901.4 m) runway are available for landings on the dry lakebed. One mission, STS-3
STS-3
STS-3 was NASA's third Space Shuttle mission, and was the third mission for the Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first shuttle launch with an unpainted external tank, and the only mission to land at the White Sands Space Harbor near Las Cruces, New Mexico.-Crew:-Backup crew:-Mission...
, used Runway 17 for a landing.
| Runway | Surface Material | Missions Landed |
|---|---|---|
| Runway 17 | Dry Lakebed | STS-3 |
Transoceanic Abort Landing Sites
In the event of an abort during launch, NASA had several international locations designated as Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) sites. As of 2010, the sites included Lajes Air BaseLajes Field
Lajes Field or Lajes Air Base , officially designated Air Base No. 4 , is a multi-use air field, home to the Portuguese Air Force Base Aérea Nº4 and Azores Air Zone Command , a United States Air Force detachment , and a regional air passenger terminal located near Lajes...
in Terceira island, Azores, Portugal, Zaragoza Air Base
Zaragoza Airport
-Cargo airlines:-Traffic:-External links:* *...
in Spain, Morón Air Base
Morón Air Base
Morón Air Base is located at in southern Spain, approximately southeast of the city of Seville and northeast of Naval Station Rota. The base gets its name from the nearby town of Morón de la Frontera - although its is actually located in the municipality of Arahal.Morón's massive flight line,...
in Spain, and Istres Air Base in France. All sites have runways of sufficient length to support the landing of a space shuttle, and include personnel from NASA as well as equipment to aid a space shuttle landing. Zaragoza Air Base features Runway 30L with a length of 12,109 ft.; Morón Air Base features an 11800 ft (3,596.6 m). runway; and Istres Air Base features Runway 33 with a length of 12,303 ft. Former TAL sites include Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia is a tropical, footprint-shaped coral atoll located south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean at 7 degrees, 26 minutes south latitude. It is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory [BIOT] and is positioned at 72°23' east longitude....
in the British Indian Ocean Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory
The British Indian Ocean Territory or Chagos Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia...
; Cologne Bonn Airport
Cologne Bonn Airport
Cologne/Bonn Airport is an international airport located in the district of Porz in the city of Cologne, Germany, and is surrounded by the Wahner Heide nature reserve. The airport is centrally located in the Cologne/Bonn Region southeast of Cologne city centre and northeast of Bonn...
in Germany; Ben Guerir Air Base
Ben Guerir Air Base
Ben Guerir Air Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Morocco, later operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force, which served as a Transatlantic Abort Landing site for the Space Shuttle...
, Morocco (1988–2002); Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, Morocco (up to 1986); Banjul International Airport
Banjul International Airport
Banjul International Airport also known as Yundum International is the international airport of Banjul, capital of The Gambia.In 2004, the airport served 967,719 passengers....
, The Gambia (1987–2002); Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
, Senegal; Rota, Spain; and Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
, Nigeria. Had a TAL situation arisen during a launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Hao
Hao (French Polynesia)
Hao, or Haorangi, is a large coral atoll in the central part of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Because of its shape, French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville named it Harp Island....
and Easter Island
Easter Island
Easter Island is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle. A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people...
s in the Pacific Ocean would have the been the TAL sites.
RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford is a Royal Air Force station in Gloucestershire, England. It is a standby airfield, not in everyday use. Its most prominent use in recent years has been as an airfield for United States Air Force B-52s during the 2003 Iraq War, Operation Allied Force in 1999, and the first Gulf War in...
was the only TransOceanic Abort Landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle in the UK. As well as having a sufficiently long runway for a shuttle landing (the runway is 3 km long), Fairford also has NASA-trained fire and medical crews stationed on the base.
East Coast Abort Landing Sites
In certain launch abort situations where the mission profile supports a trajectory for such a landing, runways on the East Coast of the United States and Canada can be used for an East Coast Abort Landing (ECAL) situation. The following sites can be used for an ECAL: Myrtle Beach International AirportMyrtle Beach International Airport
Myrtle Beach International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States...
, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Wilmington International Airport
Wilmington International Airport
-Other operations:As of August 2011, Wilmington International Airport has 134 aircraft that are based at the Airport. There are 100 single engine aircraft, 27 multi-engine aircraft, 7 jet engine aircraft, and 3 helicopters...
, North Carolina Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, USA, in the eastern part of the state...
, North Carolina; Naval Air Station Oceana
Naval Air Station Oceana
Naval Air Station Oceana or NAS Oceana is a military airport located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is a United States Navy Master Jet Base. It is also known as Apollo Soucek Field, named after Lieutenant Apollo Soucek, a Navy Test Pilot who set the global altitude record in 1930 by flying a...
, Virginia; Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
, Delaware; Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport
Bangor International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located west of the city of Bangor, in Penobscot County, Maine, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Bangor and was formerly a military installation known as Dow Air Force Base. The airport possesses a single...
, Maine; Westover Joint Air Reserve Base
Westover Joint Air Reserve Base
Westover Air Reserve Base is an Air Force Reserve Command installation located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee and Ludlow, near the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Westover hosts the largest Air Reserve Base in the world in terms of area...
, Massachusetts; Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air National Guard Base is an Air National Guard installation located within the Massachusetts Military Reservation , a military training facility, located on the western portion of Cape Cod, in western Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States...
, Massachusetts; Pease Air National Guard Base
Pease Air National Guard Base
Pease Air National Guard Base is a New Hampshire Air National Guard base located at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease. Formerly, the base was open as Pease Air Force Base until it was closed in 1991. Before it was closed, it was under the control of the United States Air Force's Strategic...
, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Enfield, Nova Scotia; Stephenville International Airport, Stephenville, Newfoundland; CFB Goose Bay
CFB Goose Bay
Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay , is a Canadian Forces Base located in the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador....
, Labrador; Gander International Airport
Gander International Airport
Gander International Airport is located in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and is currently run by the Gander Airport Authority. Canadian Forces Base Gander shares the airfield but is a separate entity from the airport.-Early years and prominence:...
, Gander, Newfoundland; and St. John's International Airport
St. John's International Airport
St. John's International Airport is an international airport located northwest of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada that serves the St. John's Metro Area and the Avalon Peninsula. The airport is part of the National Airports System, and is operated by St...
, St. Johns, Newfoundland.
Vandenberg Air Force Base
Space shuttle missions to be launched from Vandenberg Air Force BaseVandenberg Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately northwest of Lompoc, California. It is under the jurisdiction of the 30th Space Wing, Air Force Space Command ....
in California were planned to conclude with a landing at Runway 12/30 at the site. The runway was lengthened to support shuttle landings. The first landing at Vandenberg was planned for mission STS-62-A
STS-62-A
STS-62-A was a planned Space Shuttle mission to deliver a reconnaissance payload into polar orbit. It was expected to use Discovery. It would have been the first manned launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California...
, which was scheduled for launch in July, 1986, but canceled in the wake of the STS-51L accident. Due to the ceasing of space shuttle operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base, no landings ever occurred at the site.