Having worked on the avionics in my plane I got curious as to how the space shuttle would navigate itself thousands of miles through reentry to a pinpoint landing in the days before GPS was a thing.

Short Summary

1. Scott Manley discusses the capabilities of the space shuttle compared to other spacecraft.
2. The space shuttle was able to carry payloads, perform accurate re-entry and landings on runways, and glide through the atmosphere like a glider.
3. Challenges of maneuvering the space shuttle during re-entry and landing are emphasized, highlighting the need for precise navigation systems.
4. Ground stations and tracking systems were used to determine the shuttle’s orbit before re-entry.
5. Inertial measurement units were relied upon for navigation during re-entry due to plasma interference inhibiting radio communication.
6. The Tactical Air Navigation system was used for navigation closer to the landing site, providing bearing and distance information.
7. The Vortex system, used for range and angular measurements, emits signals like the Limon pattern for bearing measurements.
8. The military version, VORTAC, offers higher precision by adding a second oscillation to the signal.
9. Landing the space shuttle involves aligning lights and instruments to guide the pilot during the final approach.
10. Managing speed and angle during landing, as well as using various instruments and systems for navigation and altitude readings, are crucial for a safe landing.