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51-F (19)
- CHALLENGER (8)
- Pad 39-A (31)
- 19th Shuttle mission
- 8th Flight OV-099
- RSLS Abort after SSME Ignition (2)
- Abort-to orbit (1)
- Extended mission
Crew:
- Gordon Fullerton (2), Commander
- Roy D. Bridges (1), Jr., Pilot
- F. Story Musgrave (2), Mission Specialist 1
- Anthony W. England (1), Mission Specialist 2
- Karl G. Henize (1), Mission Specialist 3
- Loren W. Acton (1), Payload Specialist 1
- John-David F. Bartoe (1), Payload Specialist 2
Milestones:
- OPF - May 12,1985
- VAB - June 24, 1985
- PAD - June 29, 1985
Payload:
- SPACELAB-2,SAREX(1),CBDE,PGU
Mission Objectives:
Click here for Press Kit Click here for Additional Info on 51-F
- The Spacelab-2 payload consisted of an igloo and three pallets in
the payload bay, containing scientific instruments dedicated to life
sciences, plasma physics, astronomy, high-energy astrophysics, solar
physics, atmospheric physics and technology research.
- A major objective of the mission was to verify the performance of
the Spacelab systems with the orbiter as well as to measure the
environment created by the vehicle in space.
Launch:
- July 29, 1985, 5:00:00 p.m. EDT. Launch countdown July 12 halted at
T-3 seconds after main engine ignition when a malfunction of number
two Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) coolant valve caused shutdown of
all three main engines. Launch July 29 delayed one hour, 37 minutes
due to problem with table maintenance block update uplink. Five
minutes, 45 seconds into ascent, number one main engine shutdown
prematurely, resulting In an Abort To Orbit (ATO) trajectory. Launch
Weight: 252,855 lbs.
Orbit:
- Altitude: 173nm
- Inclination: 49.5 degrees
- Orbits: 127
- Duration: 7 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes; 26 seconds.
- Distance: 3,283,543 miles
Hardware:
- SRB: BI-017
- SRM: M019(HPM)
- ET : 19/LWT-12
- MLP : 2
- SSME-1: SN-2023
- SSME-2: SN-2020
- SSME-3: SN-2021
Landing:
- August 6, 1985, 12:45:26 p.m. PDT, Runway 23, Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 8,569 feet. Rollout time: 55
seconds. Mission extended 17 revolutions for additional payload
activities due to abort-to-orbit. Orbiter returned to KSC Aug. 11, 1985.
Landing Weight: 216,735 lbs.
Mission Highlights:
- Primary payload was Spacelab-2. Despite abort-to-orbit, which
required mission replanning, mission declared success. Special
part of modular Spacelab system, the Igloo, located at head of
three-pallet train, provided on-site support to instruments mounted
on pallets. Main mission objective was to verify performance of
Spacelab system sand determine interface capability of orbiter, and
measure environment induced by spacecraft. Experiments covered life
sciences, plasma physics, astronomy, high energy astrophysics, solar
physics, atmospheric physics and technology research.
- The flight marked the first time the ESA Instrument Pointing System
(IPS) was tested in orbit. This unique experiment pointing enstrument
was designed with an accuracy of one arc second. Initially, some
problems were experienced when it was commanded to track the Sun. A
series of software fixes were made and the problem was corrected.
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Last Updated Friday June 29 11:21:02 EDT 2001
Jim Dumoulin (dumoulin@titan.ksc.nasa.gov)
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