Space History News space history and collectibles feature articles Messages discussion forums about space history and collecting Sightings calendar of worldwide astronaut appearances buySPACE marketplace for space artifacts, toys and memorabilia Resources collecting guides and selected space history documents Websites related space memorabilia and history websites - The Editor's Collection - Artifacts space flown equipment and ground support hardware Autographs who's who in space: the first 25 years of space exploration Books galleys, drafts, and advanced reading copies Medallions flown coins and those minted with flown metal Philatelics first day ceremony programs and flown stamps

SRB Zero Second Cutter Mission: STS-6 Challenger   Crew: Paul J. Weitz Karol J. Bobko Donald H. Peterson F. Story Musgrave Launch: April 4, 1983   Landing: April 9, 1983   Duration: 5 days, 2 hours   Comment: Maiden flight of Space Shuttle Challenger This zero second cutter was recovered from one of two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) that launched STS-6. After separating from Challenger, the SRBs fell to a splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean, slowed by the deployment of pilot, drogue, and main parachutes. Each chute triggered the release of the next one, e.g. the 11.5-foot-diameter conical ribbon pilot parachute provided the force to pull the lanyard activating a zero-second cutter, which in turn cut the loop securing the drogue retention straps. This cutter was given as a Program Performance Award to Robert John Kern. back to Artifacts © 1999-2008 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Questions? E-mail contact@collectspace.com