Nose landing gear tire that was flown to orbit as part of the Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) during the STS-83 mission (Flight 22) from April 4-8, 1997. The 32 x 8.8 size tire is one of six (four main landing gear tires and two smaller nose landing gear tires) onboard the Columbia orbiter that decelerated the 259,000 pound spacecraft from its 227 MPH landing speed to a full stop on the Kennedy Center Space Shuttle Landing Facility's 15,000 foot long runway. Manufactured by B. F. Goodrich, the tubeless 20 ply-rated tire features raised information and part numbers to sidewalls: "3020N00698," "006-836, 217 Knots, .10 Skid, Cage Code No. 68030," and "Maximum Six Landings." The sidewalls are also marked as "CS" and "82-N," and both stencil spray painted "RAT," which stands for 'roll around tire.' RAT tires are used to roll/tow the orbiter from one facility to another during processing. Although it was designated as such, the consignor, a Space Shuttle Orbiter systems engineer of 30 years, notes that the tire was probably not used for that purpose. This tire was designated as a RAT due to the severity of its 'spin up patch,' the initial point of touchdown at which the tire contacted the runway and spins upward; this area is marked in white grease pencil as "Runway Skid," with arrows pointing down to the heavily scuffed area.
Included with the tire is a rare official 'Space Shuttle Recovery Team' t-shirt from the debris collection site of the tragic Space Shuttle Columbia disaster (STS-107). The consignor was presented this shirt during cleanup efforts by the County Sheriff's Office of Nacogdoches, Texas, the city where much of the spacecraft debris came to rest.
Accompanied by an embroidered STS-83 mission patch, a photo of the Columbia STS-83 landing on the runway (picturing the offered tire), a copy of a Configuration Control record that matches the tire with Flight 22, and a detailed letter of provenance from the consignor, who writes: "I was a Shuttle Orbiter systems engineer (Rockwell Intl. and Boeing) for 30+ years at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, spent mostly in the Orbiter Mechanisms subsystem…Our small group was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the payload bay doors, external tank doors, manipulator positioning mechanisms (the remote arm pedestals), ingress/egress hatch and all internal hatches and the landing gear, which included the wheels and tires. During launch countdown myself and colleagues would monitor on the launch console, the various sensor/limit switch indications on these subsystems to ensure these systems were within launch criteria.
Orbiter landing gear tires are subject to extreme preflight testing. They are pressurized to ~310 psi of GN2 and cold soaked for weeks…and checked for leaks periodically. Some loss of pressure can occur due to tire stretching, increasing internal volume, so this testing addresses the cold temperature of space and the physical attributes of the tire materials.
This Nose Landing gear (NLG) tire was flown on STS-83 (Flight 22) orbiter Columbia, launching on April 4, 1997 and landing at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on April 8, 1997. This mission was cut short due to fuel cell technical issues. NLG tires can be certified for two flights, but are limited to two flights. After the first flight a NLG tire is subject to inspection for damage under established criteria of cut depths, lengths and area for possible reuse. This particular tire was routed to engineering after one flight for further evaluation. It was subsequently scrapped for flight use but was approved by engineering for use as a 'RAT'…I personally certify that the tire and associated provenance are authentic."
