3 ms·

Shuttle had the capability to land unmanned from the beginning. It just happened that it flew real missions with astronauts on board, so it wasn't used.

• souprock 7y ago
  At best they could have skidded it down the runway, because opening the landing gear doors was purposely impossible without human intervention.
  • Simon_says 7y ago
    Why?
    • souprock 7y ago
      It would be quite deadly if they opened early. There was no need for automation. Some time after the second wreak, NASA added the ability to run a cable for that. The idea was that a rescue mission would be launched, and the cable would be installed in the abandoned shuttle to allow a landing attempt. BTW, the first mission was flown manually. I don't think the landing software could have been written without data from the first flight.
      • NotSammyHagar 7y ago
        They could have installed remote control landing gear if they ever needed it.