Space
Shuttle - Facts &
Statistics
TOTAL
SHUTTLE FLIGHTS
With
the completion of Space Shuttle Mission STS-81 on
Jan. 22, 1997, a total of 81 missions have
been flown since the first flight in April 1981.
Detailed information on each mission is provided
in the Space
Shuttle Mission Chronology.
|
Mission
Shortcuts
FLIGHTS
BY ORBITER*
*The orbiter Enterprise (OV-101)
was a test vehicle not intended for spaceflight. It is
on display at Dulles Airport outside Washington, D.C.
Columbia
(OV-102)
|
Discovery
(OV-103)
|
Challenger
(OV-99) |
STS-1,
1981 |
STS-55,
1993 |
STS-2,
1981 |
STS-58,
1993 |
STS-3,
1982 |
STS-62,
1994 |
STS-4,
1982 |
STS-65,
1994 |
STS-5,
1982 |
STS-73,
1995 |
STS-9,
1983 |
STS-75,
1996 |
STS
61-C, 1986 |
STS-78,
1996 |
STS-28,
1989 |
STS-80,
1996 |
STS-32,
1990 |
STS-83,
1997 |
STS-35,
1990 |
STS-94,
1997 |
STS-40,
1991 |
STS-87,
1997 |
STS-50,
1992 |
STS-90,
1998 |
STS-52,
1992 |
STS-93,
1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STS
41-D, 1984 |
STS-42,
1992 |
STS
51-A, 1984 |
STS-53,
1992 |
STS
51-C, 1985 |
STS-56,
1993 |
STS
51-D, 1985 |
STS-51,
1993 |
STS
51-G, 1985 |
STS-60,
1994 |
STS
51-I, 1985 |
STS-64,
1994 |
STS-26,
1988 |
STS-63,
1995 |
STS-29,
1989 |
STS-70,
1995 |
STS-33,
1989 |
STS-82,
1997 |
STS-31,
1990 |
STS-85,
1997 |
STS-41,
1990 |
STS-91,
1998 |
STS-39,
1991 |
STS-95,
1998 |
STS-48,
1991 |
STS-96,
1999 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
STS-6,
1983
|
STS-7,
1983
|
STS-8,
1983
|
STS
41-B, 1984 |
STS
41-C, 1984 |
STS
41-G, 1984 |
STS
51-B, 1985 |
STS
51-F, 1985 |
STS
61-A, 1985 |
STS
51-L, 1986** |
|
**Challenger
and crew were lost approximately 73 seconds
after liftoff on STS
51-L.
|
|
|
Atlantis
(OV-104)
|
Endeavour
(OV-105)
|
STS
51-J, 1985 |
STS-45,
1992 |
STS
61-B, 1985 |
STS-46,
1992 |
STS-27,
1988 |
STS-66,
1994 |
STS-30,
1989 |
STS-71,
1995 |
STS-34,
1989 |
STS-74,
1995 |
STS-36,
1990 |
STS-76,
1996 |
STS-38,
1990 |
STS-79,
1996 |
STS-37,
1991 |
STS-81,
1997 |
STS-43,
1991 |
STS-84,
1997 |
STS-44,
1991 |
STS-86,
1997 |
|
STS-49,
1992 |
STS-67,
1995 |
STS-47,
1992 |
STS-69,
1995 |
STS-54,
1993 |
STS-72,
1995 |
STS-57,
1993 |
STS-77,
1996 |
STS-61,
1993 |
STS-89,
1998 |
STS-59,
1994 |
STS-88,
1998 |
STS-68,
1994 |
|
|
|
|
SPACE SHUTTLE
LAUNCHES
- Night
Launches - Per flight
rules, a night launch is one that occurs no earlier than
15 minutes after sunset.
STS-8,
2:32:00 a.m. EDT, Aug. 30, 1983 |
STS-72,
4:41:00 a.m. EST, Jan. 11, 1996 |
STS
61-B, 7:29:00 p.m. EST, Nov. 26, 1985 |
STS-76,
3:13:04 a.m. EST, March 22, 1996. |
STS-33,
7:23:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 22, 1989 |
STS-79,
4:54:49 a.m. EDT, Sept. 16, 1996 |
STS-36,
2:50:22 a.m. EST, Feb. 28, 1990 |
STS-81,
4:27:23 a.m. EST, Jan. 12, 1997. |
STS-38,
6:48:15 p.m. EST, Nov. 15, 1990 |
STS-82,
3:55:17 a.m. EST, Feb. 11, 1997. |
STS-35,
1:49:01 a.m. EST, Dec. 2, 1990 |
STS-84,
4:07:48 a.m. EDT, May 15, 1997 |
STS-44,
6:44:00 p.m. EST, Nov. 24, 1991 |
STS-86,
10:34:19 p.m. EDT, Sept. 25, 1997 |
STS-56,
1:29:00 a.m. EDT, April 8, 1983 |
STS-89,
9:48:15 p.m. EST, Jan. 22, 1998 |
STS-61,
4:27:00 a.m. EST, Dec. 2, 1993 |
STS-91,
6:06:24 p.m. EDT, June 2, 1998 |
STS-63,
12:22:04 a.m. EST, Feb. 3, 1995 |
STS-96,
06:49:42.080 a.m. EDT, May 27, 1999 |
STS-67,
1:38:13 a.m. EST, March 2, 1995 |
STS-93,
12:31:00 a.m. EDT, July 23, 1999 |
-
- SHUTTLE
FLIGHTS BY MISSION DURATION
Extended Missions - a
mission that lands after the originally scheduled date
STS-3 |
March 22-30,
1982. After landing site changed from Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif., to Northrup Strip at White
Sands, N.M., high winds at White Sands resulted in
one-day extension of mission. |
STS
41-C |
April 6-13,
1984. Mission extended one day when astronauts unable
to grapple Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft. |
STS
51-D |
April 12-19,
1985. Mission extended two days to allow crew to attempt
fix on SYNCOM IV-3 satellite. |
STS
51-F |
July 29-Aug.
6, 1985. Mission extended 17 revolutions for additional
payload activities due to abort-to-orbit. |
STS-38 |
Nov. 15-20,
1990. Mission extended one day due to unacceptable
winds at original planned landing site, Edwards. |
STS-37 |
April 5-11,
1991. Landing delayed one day due to weather conditions
at landing sites in Florida and California. |
STS-42 |
Jan. 22-30,
1992. Mission extended one day to allow continued
scientific research with primary payload, International
Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML-1). |
STS-45 |
March 24-April
2, 1992. Mission extended one day to allow continued
scientific research with primary payload, Atmospheric
Laboratory for Applications and Science-1 (ATLAS-1) |
STS-49 |
May 7-16,
1992. Flight extended two days to complete mission
objectives, including capture, repair and redeploy
of INTELSAT VI satellite. |
STS-50 |
June 25-July
9, 1992. Landing delayed one day due to rain at primary
landing site, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. |
STS-46 |
July 31-Aug.
8, 1992. Mission extended one day to complete science
objectives. |
STS-47 |
Sept. 12-20,
1992. Mission extended one day to further science
objectives. |
STS-56 |
April 8-17,
1993. Landing delayed one day due to KSC weather. |
STS-55 |
April 26-May
6, 1993. Flight extended one day to further science
objectives. |
STS-57 |
June 21-July
1, 1993. Landing attempts on June 29 and 30 waved
off due to unacceptable cloud cover and rain showers
at KSC |
STS-51 |
Sept. 12-22,
1993. Landing delayed one day due to possibility of
rain in KSC area. |
STS-59 |
April 9-20,
1994. Landing delayed one day due to weather in KSC
area. |
STS-65 |
July 8-23,
1994. Landing delayed one day due to weather in KSC
area. |
STS-64 |
Sept. 9-20,
1994. Mission already extended one day was extended
again after landing at KSC waved off on Sept. 19 due
to weather. |
STS-68 |
Sept. 30-Oct.
11, 1994. Mission extended one day to further science
objectives. |
STS-67 |
March 2-18,
1995. Landing delayed one day due to weather in Florida. |
STS-70 |
July 13-22,
1995. First landing opportunities on July 21 at KSC
waved off due to fog and low visibility. First opportunity
on July 22 at KSC also waved off. |
STS-75 |
March 9,
1996. Landing March 8 waved off due to unfavorable
weather conditions. First opportunity at KSC on March
9 also waved off due to weather. |
STS-76 |
March 31,
1996. Landing March 30 waved off due to unfavorable
weather conditions. Opportunities at KSC on March
31 also waved off due to weather and orbiter diverted
to Edwards. |
Extended
Duration Missions
Extended duration missions
began in 1992 when the orbiter Columbia, outfitted with Extended
Duration Orbiter (EDO) hardware, embarked on the longest
Shuttle flight to date at that time, Mission STS-50.
Endeavour later became the second orbiter in the fleet to
be outfitted with EDO hardware for longer flights. Typical
Shuttle flights last about 10 days; extended duration flights
initially lasted up to about 13 days and now can be approximately
16 days in length. Flights are listed by length,
beginning with longest:
STS-78 |
Columbia,
June 20-July 7, 1996. Mission duration 16 days, 21
hours, 47 minutes, 45 seconds. |
STS-67 |
Endeavour,
March 2-18, 1995. Mission duration 16 days, 15 hours,
nine minutes, 46 seconds. STS-67 is first in a series
of flights scheduled to last in the 16-day range,
further advancing extended duration flights. |
STS-75 |
Columbia,
Feb. 22-March 9, 1996. Mission duration 15 days, 17
hours, 40 minutes, 21 seconds. |
STS-65 |
Columbia,
July 8-23, 1994. Mission duration 14 days, 17 hours,
55 minutes, one second. |
STS-58 |
Columbia,
Oct. 18-Nov. 1, 1993. Mission duration 14 days, 12
minutes, 32 seconds |
STS-62 |
Columbia,
March 4-18, 1994. Mission duration 13 days, 23 hours,
16 minutes, 41 seconds |
STS-50 |
Columbia,
June 25-July 9, 1992. Mission duration 13 days, 19
hours, 30 minutes, four seconds. |
Shortened
Missions - a mission that is complete
on an earlier date than originally scheduled.
STS-2 |
Nov. 12-14,
1981. Mission shortened by approximately three days
due to failure of number one fuel cell. |
51-I |
Aug. 27-Sept.
3, 1985. Mission shortened one day due to problem
with one of payloads, the AUSSAT satellite, which
resulted in its being deployed earlier than scheduled. |
STS-35 |
Dec. 2-10,
1990. Mission cut short one day due to impending weather
at primary landing site, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. |
STS-44 |
Nov. 24-Dec.
1, 1991. Mission originally scheduled for 10 days,but
cut short due to on-orbit failure of one of three
orbiter inertial measurement units. |
STS-83 |
April 4-8,
1997. 16-day mission shortened after malfunction
of fuel cell number two. |
-
- SHUTTLE
END-OF-MISSION LANDINGS
Night
landings - a night landing occurs no later
than 15 minutes before sunrise.
STS-8,
12:40:43 a.m. PDT, Sept. 5, 1983, Edwards |
STS-61,
12:25:37 a.m. EST, Dec. 13, 1993, Kennedy |
STS
61-C, 5:58:51 a.m. PST, Jan. 18, 1986, Edwards |
STS-72,
2:41:41 a.m. EST, Jan. 20, 1996, Kennedy |
STS-32,
1:3:36 a.m. PST, Jan. 20, 1990, Edwards |
STS-82,
3:32:26 a.m. EST, Feb. 21, 1997, Kennedy |
STS-35,
9:54:09 p.m. PST, Dec. 10, 1990, Edwards |
STS-88,
10:53:29 p.m. EST, Dec. 15, 1998, Kennedy |
STS-48,
12:38:42 a.m. PDT, Sept. 18, 1991, Edwards |
STS-96,
2:02:43 p.m. EST, June 6, 1999, Kennedy |
STS-51,
3:5:11 a.m. EDT, Sept. 22, 1993, Kennedy |
STS-93,
11:20:37 p.m. EDT, July 27, 1999, Kennedy |
NOTE: 41-C
at 5:38 a.m. PDT on April 13, 1984, was in daylight conditions
and is not considered a nighttime landing.
End-of-Mission
Landings at Kennedy Space Center
Initially, all end-of-mission
Shuttle landings were conducted at Edwards Air Force Base,
Calif. The first
KSC landing occurred in 1984. After the 1986
Challenger accident and return-to-flight
in September 1988, landings were again initially conducted
at Edwards. The first scheduled landing at KSC in the post-Challenger
period occurred in August
1991. Today, KSC is considered the prime landing site.
Not included on this table or the table listing Edwards landings
is STS-3
on March 30, 1982, the only flight to date to have landed
at the Northrup Strip in White Sands, N.M., and 51-L,
Jan. 28, 1986, the Challenger accident. See KSC
Release No. 1-92, Landing the Space Shuttle Orbiter
at KSC, for more information on KSC landings.
STS
41-B - Challenger, Feb. 11, 1984, at 7:15:55 a.m.
|
STS-69
- Endeavour, September 18, 1995, at 7:37:56a |
STS
41-G - Challenger, Oct. 13, 1984, at 12:26:38
p.m. |
STS-73
- Columbia, November 5, 1995, at 6:45:21 am |
STS
51-A - Discovery, Nov. 16, 1984, at 6:59:56 a.m.
|
STS-74
- Atlantis, November 20, 1995, at 12:01:27 p.m |
STS
51-C - Discovery, Jan. 27, 1985, at 4:23:23 p.m.
|
STS-72
- Endeavour, January 20, 1996, at 2:41:41 a.m |
STS
51-D - Discovery, April 19, 1985, at 8:54:28 a.m. |
STS-75
- Columbia, March 9, 1996, at 8:58:21 a.m. |
STS-38
- Atlantis, Nov. 20, 1990, at 4:42:46 p.m. |
STS-77
- Endeavour, May 29, 1996, at 7:09:18 a.m. |
STS-39
- Discovery, May 6, 1991, at 2:55:37 p.m. |
STS-78
- Columbia, July 7, 1996, at 8:36:45 a.m. |
STS-43
- Atlantis, Aug. 11, 1991, at 8:23:25 a.m. |
STS-79
- Atlantis, September 26, 1996, at 8:13:15 a.m. |
STS-45
- Atlantis, April 2, 1992, at 6:23:08 a.m. |
STS-80
- Columbia, December 7, 1996, at 6:49:05 a.m. |
STS-50
- Columbia, July 9, 1992, at 7:42:27 a.m. |
STS-81
- Atlantis, January 22, 1997, at 9:22:44 a.m. |
STS-46
- Atlantis, Aug. 8, 1992, at 9:11:51 a.m. |
STS-82
- Discovery, February 21, 1997, at 3:32:26 a.m. |
STS-47
- Endeavour, Sept. 20, 1992, at 8:53:23 a.m. |
STS-83
- Columbia, April 8, 1997, at 3:23:13 p.m. |
STS-52
- Columbia, Nov. 1, 1992, at 9:05:52 a.m. |
STS-84
- Atlantis, May 24, 1997, at 9:27:44 a.m. |
STS-54
- Endeavour, Jan. 19, 1993, at 8:37:49 a.m. |
STS-94
- Columbia, July 17, 1997, at 6:46:34 a.m. |
STS-56
- Discovery, April 17, 1993, at 7:37:24 a.m. |
STS-85
- Discovery, August 19, 1997, at 7:07:59 a.m. |
STS-57
- Endeavour, July 1, 1993, at 8:52:16 a.m. |
STS-86
- Atlantis, October 6, 1997, at 5:55:09 p.m. |
STS-51
- Discovery, Sept. 22, 1993, at 3:56:11 a.m. |
STS-87
- Columbia, December 5, 1997, at 7:20:04 a.m. |
STS-61
- Endeavour, Dec. 13, 1993, at 12:25:33 a.m. |
STS-89
- Endeavour, January 31, 1998, at 5:35:09 p.m. |
STS-60
- Discovery, Feb. 11, 1994, at 2:19:22 p.m. |
STS-90
- Columbia, May 3, 1998, at 12:08:59 p.m. |
STS-62
- Columbia, March 18, 1994, at 8:09:41 a.m. |
STS-91
- Discovery, June 12, 1998, at 2:00:18 p.m. |
STS-65
- Columbia, July 23, 1994, at 6:38:01 a.m. |
STS-95
- Discovery, November 7, 1998, at 12:04 p.m. |
STS-63
- Discovery, Feb. 11, 1995, at 6:50:19 a.m. |
STS-88
- Endeavour, December 15, 1998, at 10:53:29p |
STS-71
- Atlantis, July 7, 1995, at 10:54:34 a.m. |
STS-96
- Discovery, June 6, 1999, at 2:02:43 a.m. |
STS-70
- Discovery, July 22, 1995, at 8:02:00 a.m. |
STS-93
- Columbia, July 27, 1999, at 11:20:37 p.m. |
-
- End-of-Mission
Landings at Edwards Air Force Base
-
-
STS-1,
April 14, 1981 |
STS
61-A, Nov. 6, 1985 |
STS-37,
April 11, 1991 |
STS-2,
Nov. 14, 1981 |
STS
61-B, Dec. 3, 1985 |
STS-40,
June 14, 1991 |
STS-4,
July 4, 1982 |
STS
61-C, Jan. 18, 1986 |
STS-48,
Sept. 18, 1991 |
STS-5,
Nov. 16, 1982 |
STS-26,
Oct. 3, 1988 |
STS-44,
Dec. 1, 1991 |
STS-6,
April 9, 1983 |
STS-27,
Dec. 6, 1988 |
STS-42,
Jan. 30, 1992 |
STS-7,
June 24, 1983 |
STS-29,
March 18, 1989 |
STS-49,
May 16, 1992 |
STS-8,
Sept. 5, 1983 |
STS-30,
May 8, 1989 |
STS-53,
Dec. 9, 1992 |
STS-9,
Dec. 8, 1983 |
STS-28,
Aug. 13, 1989 |
STS-55,
May 6, 1993 |
STS
41-C, Apr. 13, 1984 |
STS-34,
Oct. 23, 1989 |
STS-58,
Nov. 1, 1993 |
STS
41-D, Sept. 5, 1984 |
STS-33,
Nov. 27, 1989 |
STS-59,
April, 20, 1994 |
STS
51-B, May 6, 1985 |
STS-32,
Jan. 20, 1990 |
STS-64,
Sept. 20, 1994 |
STS
51-G, June 24, 1985 |
STS-36,
March 4, 1990 |
STS-68,
Oct. 11, 1994 |
STS
51-F, Aug. 6, 1985 |
STS-31,
April 29, 1990 |
STS-66,
Nov. 14, 1994 |
STS
51-I, Sept. 3, 1985 |
STS-41,
Oct. 10, 1990 |
STS-67,
March 18, 1995 |
STS
51-J, Oct. 7, 1985 |
STS-35,
Dec. 10, 1990 |
STS-76,
March 3l, 1996 |
Diverted
Landings - a landing where the orbiter does not
land at the originally scheduled landing strip.
STS-3 |
March 30,
1982. Landing site was changed from Edwards Air Force
Base, Calif., to Northrup Strip at White Sands, N.M.,
due to wet conditions on Edwards dry lake bed. |
STS-7 |
June 24,
1983. Planned landing at Kennedy scrubbed due to poor
weather conditions in Florida; orbiter landed in California. |
STS
41-C |
April 13,
1985. Scheduled end-of-mission landing in Florida
diverted to Edwards due to bad weather in vicinity
of Cape. |
STS
61-C |
Jan. 18,
1986. Landing attempts at KSC on Jan. 16, 17 and 18
waved off due to unacceptable weather and orbiter
diverted to California. |
STS-38 |
Nov. 20,
1990. Mission extended one day due to unacceptable
crosswinds at original planned landing site, Edwards.
Continued adverse conditions at Edwards prompted decision
to shift landing to KSC. First end-of-mission at KSC
since April 1985. |
STS-39 |
May 6, 1991.
Landing diverted to KSC because of unacceptably high
winds at planned landing site, Edwards. |
STS-48 |
Sept. 18,
1991. Originally scheduled to be first orbiter night
landing at KSC, but diverted to Edwards due to rapidly
changing weather conditions and the possibility of
rain showers in the KSC area. |
STS-44 |
Dec. 1,
1991. Landing originally scheduled for KSC on Dec.
4, but ten-day mission shortened and landing shifted
to Edwards due to on-orbit failure of one of three
orbiter inertial measurement units (IMUs). Flight
rules stipulate that a mission must be placed in a
minimum duration status and the landing site switched
to Edwards if even one IMU fails. |
STS-50 |
July 9,
1992. Long-duration flight carrying Spacelab module
was scheduled to land at Edwards on July 8, but rain
postponed landing until next day. Continued inclement
weather on west coast diverted orbiter to Florida. |
STS-53 |
Dec. 9,
1992. Landing originally set for KSC, but diverted
due to clouds in vicinity of landing strip |
STS-55 |
May 6, 1993.
Landing originally set for KSC switched to Edwards
due to unacceptable cloud cover in Florida. |
STS-59 |
April 20,
1994. Landing originally set for KSC on April 19,
but waved off due to low clouds and possible thunderstorms
in area. An early landing opportunity at KSC on April
20 also was waved off in favor of Edwards landing. |
STS-64 |
Sept. 20,
1994. Mission already extended one day was extended
again after first landing opportunities at KSC on
Sept. 20 were waved off due to stormy weather. Two
additional opportunities at KSC on Sept. 20 also waved
off, and orbiter diverted to California. |
STS-68 |
Oct. 11,
1994. Landing diverted to Edwards due to unacceptable
weather at KSC. |
STS-66 |
Nov. 14,
1994. Landing diverted to California due to high winds,
rain and clouds in Florida caused by Tropical Storm
Gordon. |
STS-67 |
March 18,
1995. Orbiter diverted to Edwards on March 18 after
landing opportunities in Florida on March 17 and 18
were waved off due to weather. |
STS-76 |
March 31,1996.
Orbiter diverted to Edwards on March 31 after landing
opportunities in Florida on March 30 and 31 were waved
off due to weather. First landing diverted to Edwards
in about a year. |
SHUTTLE
PAYLOADS AND RELATED INFORMATION
- Spacelab
Flights - Flights that carry either the
Spacelab module, Spacelab pallet or Spacelab Multipurpose
Experiment Support Structure (MPESS) in the orbiter payload
bay:
-
STS-9 |
Columbia,
Nov. 28-Dec. 8, 1983. First Spacelab module flight,
Spacelab-1. |
STS
51-B |
Challenger,
April 29-May 6, 1985. Considered to be first operational
flight of Spacelab module. Spacelab-3 covered five
basic fields of investigation. Spacelab-3 flown
out of sequence ahead of Spacelab-2, listed below. |
STS
51-F |
Challenger,
July 29-Aug. 6, 1985. Spacelab-2 primary payload.
Instead of laboratory module, featured three-pallet
train holding instruments exposed to space environment.
Second and final Spacelab verification flight. |
STS
61-A |
Challenger,
Oct. 30-Nov. 6, 1985. Dedicated German Spacelab
(Spacelab D-1) mission featuring Spacelab module. |
STS-35 |
Columbia,
Dec. 2-10, 1990. First flight of astronomical observatory,
ASTRO-1, a collection of instruments mounted atop
Spacelab Instrument Pointing System and pallets
in orbiter payload bay. |
STS-40 |
Columbia,
June 5-14, 1991. Fifth dedicated Spacelab mission
carried Spacelab Life Sciences-1 (SLS-1), first
Spacelab flight dedicated to single discipline,
the life sciences. |
STS-42 |
Discovery,
Jan. 22- 30, 1992. First flight of International
Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML-1), featuring Spacelab
module. |
STS-45 |
Atlantis,
March 24-April 2, 1992. First flight of Atmospheric
Laboratory for Applications and Science-1 (ATLAS-1),
mounted on nondeployable Spacelab pallets. |
STS-50 |
Columbia,
June 25-July 9, 1992. First flight of U.S.
Microgravity Laboratory-1 (USML-1) in Spacelab module. |
STS-47 |
Endeavour,
Sept. 12-20, 1992. Spacelab flight jointly sponsored
by United States and Japan, designated as Spacelab-J
(SL-J), featuring Spacelab module. |
STS-52 |
Columbia,
Oct. 22-Nov. 1, 1992. First flight of U.S. Microgravity
Payload-1 (USMP-1), a complement of three experiments
mounted on two connected Spacelab Multipurpose Experiment
Support Structures (MPESSs) in cargo bay of Columbia. |
STS-56 |
Discovery,
April 8-17, 1993. Second flight of Atmospheric Laboratory
for Applications and Science, ATLAS-2, mounted on
Spacelab pallet. |
STS-55 |
Columbia,
April 26-May 6, 1993. Second dedicated German Spacelab
flight, Spacelab D-2, featuring Spacelab laboratory
module. |
STS-58 |
Columbia,
Oct. 18-Nov. 1, 1993. Second dedicated Spacelab
Life Sciences mission (SLS-2) using Spacelab module. |
STS-62 |
Columbia,
March 4-18, 1994. Second flight of U.S. Microgravity
Payload-2 (USMP-2) mounted on two connected Spacelab
Multipurpose Experiment Support Structures (MPESSs)
in orbiter payload bay. |
STS-65 |
Columbia,
July 8-23, 1994. Second flight of International
Microgravity Payload (IML-2) with Spacelab module. |
STS-66 |
Atlantis,
Nov. 3-14, 1994. Third flight of Atmospheric Laboratory
for Applications and Science (ATLAS-3) on Spacelab
pallet in payload bay. |
STS-67 |
Endeavour,
March 2-18, 1995. Second flight of astronomical
observatory (ASTRO-2), mounted on Spacelab Instrument
Pointing System and pallets in orbiter payload bay. |
STS-73 |
Columbia,
Oct. 20-Nov. 5, 1995. Second flight of U.S. Microgravity
Laboratory (USML-2) in Spacelab module. |
STS-75 |
Columbia,
Feb. 22-March 9, 1996. Third flight of U.S. Microgravity
Payload (USMP-3) on Spacelab pallet. |
STS-78 |
Columbia,
June 20-July 7, 1996. Life and Microgravity Spacelab
(LMS) on longest Shuttle flight to date. |
STS-83 |
Columbia,
April 4-8, 1997. Microgravity Science Laboratory-1.
Planned 16-day mission cut short after fuel cell
malfunction. |
STS-94 |
Columbia,
July 1-17, 1997. Microgravity Science Laboratory-1
reflight. |
-
- Tracking
and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) System Missions
- Shuttle flights carrying deployable TDRS spacecraft
and attached Inertial Upper Stage booster as primary payload:
STS-6 |
April 4-9,
1983. TDRS-A deployed, became TDRS-1 once on orbit. |
STS
51-L |
Jan. 28,
1986. TDRS-B, slated to become TDRS-2 on orbit,
lost in Challenger accident. Its designation not re-assigned
to subsequent TDRS spacecraft. |
STS-26 |
Sept. 29-Oct.
3, 1988. TDRS-C deployed to become TDRS-3 on orbit. |
STS-29 |
March 13-18,
1989. TDRS-D deployed to become TDRS-4 on orbit. |
STS-43 |
Aug. 2-11,
1991. TDRS-E deployed to become TDRS-5 on orbit. |
STS-54 |
Jan. 13-19,
1993. TDRS-F deployed to become TDRS-6 on orbit. |
STS-70 |
July 13-22,
1995. TDRS-G deployed to become TDRS-7 on orbit. |
Interplanetary
Explorer Missions - Shuttle missions
that an interplanetary explorer spacecraft was deployed.
STS-30 |
May 4-8,
1989. Magellan/Venus radar mapper attached to Inertial
Upper Stage booster deployed on quest to complete
radar mapping of Earth's nearest neighbor. |
STS-34 |
Oct. 18-23,
1989. Galileo/Jupiter spacecraft, attached to Inertial
Upper Stage booster, deployed on trajectory toward
Jupiter. |
STS-41 |
Oct. 6-10,
1990. European Space Agency-sponsored Ulysses spacecraft
deployed, attach to two upper stages, Inertial Upper
Stage and Payload Assist-Module-S boosters, on mission
to explore polar regions of sun. |
Great
Observatory Missions - Shuttle missions during
which one of NASA's great observatories for studying the solar
system was deployed.
STS-31 |
April 24-29,
1990. First of NASA's great observatories, Hubble
Space Telescope (HST), deployed. |
STS-37 |
April 5-11,
1991. Second great observatory, Gamma Ray Observatory
(GRO) deployed. Since renamed Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
in honor of Arthur Holly Compton. |
STS-93 |
July 23-27,
1999. Third great observatory, Chandra X-ray Observatory.
|
Hubble
Space Telescope Missions
STS-31 |
Discovery,
April 24-29, 1990. Hubble Space Telescope deployed
to 380-statute-mile (612-kilometer) orbit |
STS-61 |
Endeavour,
Dec. 2-13, 1993. First mission to service and repair
telescope. |
STS-82 |
Discovery,
Feb. 1997. Second mission to service and repair
telescope. Additional servicing flights are
planned over course of telescope's 15-year life expectancy. |
STS-103 |
Discovery,
Dec. 14, 1999. Third mission to service and
repair telescope. |
U.S./Russian
Missions - Cooperative missions between
NASA and the Russian Space Agency, being conducted as part
of Phase I of the international space station program.
STS-60 |
Feb. 3-Feb.
11, 1994. First flight of Russian cosmonaut (Sergei
Krikalev) on U.S. Space Shuttle. |
STS-63 |
Feb. 3-Feb.
11, 1995. Second flight of a Russian cosmonaut (Vladimir
Titov) on U.S. Space Shuttle. First approach and rendezvous
with Russian Space Station Mir, serving as dress rehearsal
for planned series of dockings between Shuttle and
Mir. |
STS-71 |
June 27-July
7, 1995. Third flight with Russian cosmonauts aboard:
two aboard at launch (Solovyev and Budarin) transferred
to Mir and two aboard Mir (Dezhurov and Strekalov)
transferred to Shuttle for return flight to Earth.
First in a series of planned dockings between Shuttle
and Mir. |
STS-74 |
Nov. 12-20,
1995. Third rendezvous and second docking with Russian
Space Station Mir. Russian-built Docking Module (DM)
installed on Mir's Kristall module docking port to
become a permanent extension to the station complex. |
STS-76 |
March 22-31,
1996. Fourth rendezvous and third docking with Russian
Space Station Mir. U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid transferred
to Mir to become first American woman on station. |
STS-79 |
September
16-26, 1996. Fifth rendezvous and fourth docking with
Russian Space Station Mir. U.S. astronaut John Blaha
transferred to Mir; U.S. astronaut Shannon Lucid returned
to Earth. With STS-79 launch delays, Lucid remained
in orbit 188 days, the longest spaceflight of an American
to date. |
STS-81 |
January
12, 1997. Sixth rendezvous and fifth docking
with Russian Space Station Mir. U.S. astronaut
Jerry Linenger transferred to Mir; U.S. astronaut
John Blaha returned to Earth. |
STS-84 |
May 15,
1997. Seventh rendezvous and sixth docking with
Russian Space Station Mir. U.S. astronaut Michael
Foale transferred to Mir; U.S. astronaut Jerry Linenger
returned to Earth. |
STS-86 |
September
25, 1997. Eighth rendezvous and seventh docking
with Russian Space Station Mir. U.S. astronaut
David Wolf transferred to Mir; U.S. astronaut Michael
Foale returned to Earth. |
STS-89 |
January
22, 1998. Ninth rendezvous and eighth docking
with Russian Space Station Mir. U.S. astronaut
Andrew Thomas transferred to Mir; U. S. astronaut
David Wolf returned to Earth. |
STS-91 |
June 2,
1998. Tenth rendezvous, and ninth and final
docking with Russian Space Station Mir. U.S.
astronaut Andrew Thomas returned to Earth. Cosmonaut
Valery Ryumin was a mission specialist on the crew. |
SHUTTLE
FUN FACTS
It takes only about eight minutes
for the Space
Shuttle to accelerate to a speed of more than 17,000 miles
(27,358 kilometers) per hour.
The Space Shuttle main
engine weighs 1/7th as much as a train engine but delivers
as much horsepower as 39 locomotives.
The turbopump on the Space Shuttle
main engine is so powerful it could drain an average family-sized
swimming pool in 25 seconds.
The Space Shuttle's three main
engines and two solid
rocket boosters generate some 7.3 million pounds (3.3
million kilograms) of thrust at liftoff. Compare that with
America's first two manned launch vehicles, the Redstone which
produced 78,000 pounds (35,381 kilograms) of thrust, and the
Atlas, which produced 360,000 pounds (163, 926 kilograms).
The liquid
hydrogen in the Space Shuttle main engine is -423 degrees
Fahrenheit (-253 degrees Centigrade), the second coldest liquid
on Earth, and when burned with liquid oxygen, the temperature
in the engine's combustion chamber reaches +6,000 degrees
F. (+3,316 degrees C.)
The energy released by the three
Space Shuttle main engines is equivalent to the output of
23 Hoover Dams.
Each of the Shuttle's solid rocket
motors burns 5 tons (5,080 kilograms) of propellant per second,
a total of 1.1 million pounds (500,000 kilograms) in 120 seconds.
The speed of the gases exiting the nozzle is more than 6,000
miles (9,656 kilometers) per hour, about five times the speed
of sound or three times the speed of a high-powered rifle
bullet. The plume of flame ranges up to 500 feet (152 meters)
long.
The combustion gases in a solid
rocket motor are at a temperature of 6,100 degrees Fahrenheit
(3,371 degrees Centigrade), two-thirds the temperature of
the surface of the sun. While that temperature is hot enough
to boil steel, special insulation inside the motor protects
the steel case so well that the outside of the case reaches
only about 130 degrees F. (54 degrees C.).
A stacked booster is the same
height as the Statue of Liberty (not including pedestal) --
151 feet (46 meters) -- but weighs almost three times as much.
The four engines of a Boeing
747 jet produce 188,000 pounds (85,277 kilograms) of thrust,
while just one SRM produces more than 17 times as much thrust
-- 3.3 million pounds (1.5 million kilograms). A pair of SRM's
are more powerful than 35 jumbo jets at takeoff.
If their heat energy could be
converted to electric power, two SRMs firing for two minutes
would produce 2.2 million kilowatt hours of power, enough
to supply the entire power demand of 87,000 homes for a full
day.
- The Shuttle's Remote
Manipulator System (RMS), or robot arm, provided by
the Canadian Space Agency, weighs about 905 pounds (411
kilograms) on Earth but can move cargo in space weighing
66,000 pounds (29,938 kilograms), objects about the size
of a Greyhound bus.
|