Program: STS. Objective: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. In the mid-1960's the US Air Force conducted a series of classified studies on next-generation space transportation systems to support projected large military space stations, conduct manned military reconnaissance and strike missions, and reduce the cost of launching military payloads. These Air Force studies finally concluded that a partially reusable vehicle was the most attractive, along the lines of Lockheed's Starlifter, which had a large drop tank but returned the engines and avionics of the vehicle for reuse. The Air Force probably spent around $ 1 billion on 'black' technology development tests at this time, including work on linear aerospike engines and high fineness lifting body shapes that would re-emerge again 30 years later in Lockheed's X-33 space shuttle successor.
NASA also had ambitious plans - for large space stations, lunar bases, nuclear interplanetary rocket stages, and manned Mars expeditions. NASA went through a long iterative process in designing and selecting the space shuttle, leading ultimately to the same conclusion as the Air Force. Initial Phase A concepts were for two stages, both either winged or lifting bodies, both recovered at the launch site for reuse. NASA explored some alternative concepts, including Lockheed's LS200 single orbiter with drop tank, and Chrysler's SERV ballistic single stage to orbit vehicle, before proceeding to Phase B. The Phase B designs were more refined but still used the same two-stage approach. At this point the controversy were over large cross-range winged designs, medium cross-range lifting body designs, and minimal cross-range stub-wing designs. NASA's Faget strongly pushed for the stub-wing design.
Eventually the Nixon administration advised NASA that not only were there to be no flights to Mars, no nuclear interplanetary stages, no space station, no more Saturn V's, no orbital transfer vehicle - but there wouldn't be a space shuttle either if NASA couldn't get the development cost down and get the USAF to participate. A USAF requirement was a large cross-range to allow recovery of the orbiter at Vandenberg AFB from polar orbits in the case of abort-once-around scenarios. This, together with wind tunnel studies indicating that Faget’s straight wing was unstable at re-entry speeds, drove NASA to the delta wing. The reduction in development cost led NASA to throw away the concept of reusing anything but the engines and guidance systems. Instead the shuttle would be boosted by cheap solid fuel boosters and, taking a concept from the Air Force, the propellants would be put in a big expendable drop tank.
Following the usual charade of competitive bidding, NASA picked the same contractors as for X-15 and Apollo, who would build precisely the vehicle it had in mind. North American Rockwell was selected to build the orbiter, with its Rocketdyne Division making the main engines, Thiokol for the solid rocket boosters, and Martin Marietta for the External Tank, to be built at the government Saturn IC factory at Michoud.
To finance the Shuttle in the austere 1970’s, already-built Apollo hardware that would have supported a second Skylab mission was sent to museums and American manned space flight went into a long hiatus. Budget cuts and overruns reduced the number of shuttles built from five to four and delayed the first flight from 1978 to 1981 (thereby ruining the plan to save Skylab on an early shuttle mission). Although several elements were cancelled (a space tug), the project did not much overrun its original cost (development ended up costing $ 6.744 billion in 1971 dollars, versus $ 5.15 billion estimated - less than a quarter of the Apollo program cost).
The pretext for the shuttle was that it would be much cheaper than expendable launch vehicles and would replace them all. Production was accordingly terminated by the US government of Delta, Atlas, and Titan vehicles. NASA staff and contractors were under incredible pressure to justify this decision by increasing the shuttle launch rate, lowering the turn-around time, and thereby reducing the cost per launch. When the shuttle Challenger exploded and the entire US space lift program was shut down for almost a year, the fallacy of this situation was exposed. The US Air Force and commercial users returned to use of expendable launch vehicles. When the shuttle began flying again, it was only for NASA programs.
In the final analysis the shuttle came up short in two areas. First, the shuttle orbiter ended up almost 20% over its specified weight - resulting in it being unable to boost the US Air Force’s payloads into polar orbits from Vandenberg. Lighter filament-would casing Solid Rocket Boosters were being developed for use in flights from Vandenberg, but even this did not seem enough. After the Challenger explosion the USAF was able to extricate itself from the Shuttle program. The Vandenberg launch complex, built at the cost of billions, was mothballed. The Air Force started a new costly development program to design the Titan 4 expendable rocket for its large military payloads.
The second was that it failed, by most definitions, to reduce the cost of putting payloads into orbit. The shuttle program inherited from Apollo huge fixed costs - the Manned Spaceflight Center in Houston, the cadres of government and contractor workers at the Kennedy Space Center, and so on. The result was that there is a fixed base cost of around $ 2.8 billion per year, just to keep all those people and facilities in place, even if you don’t conduct any flights at all (as occurred after the shuttle disaster). The marginal cost of each flight added to this base is under $ 100 million per year. Seen this way the shuttle is almost competitive expendable boosters - but doesn’t come anywhere near the reductions NASA promised when development started. But if you divide the usual number of flights per year by the total costs, you come up with a figure of $ 245 million per year, significantly more than a Titan 4 or Proton launch with the same payload.
If the shuttle failed as a space truck, it succeeded in keeping the US in the manned spaceflight business in a period of low public interest and political support. With the excuse of delivering payloads to orbit, NASA got to fly up to seven astronauts and run a host of supplementary experiments and payloads with each flight.
With construction of the international space station beginning, NASA finally looked forward to using the shuttle for its intended purpose. Due to the lower than planned flight rate, NASA’s contractors were confident they can keep the existing shuttles flying through 2030. The real test come when (as was inevitable) another shuttle was lost. NASA then decided to essentially to complete the station only enough to keep its international partners happy, then retire the shuttle by 2010. It was to be replaced by a modernized Apollo capsule, dubbed the Orion. The shuttle turned out to be a fifty-year detour to nowhere. By 2020 NASA hoped to have the sort of lunar base it would have had by 1980 if it had continued with Apollo rather than started the shuttle program.
Major Events: - 1969 April 21 - Space Shuttle Task Group formed. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
The Director of Apollo Test in the NASA Hq. Apollo Program Office, LeRoy E. Day, was detailed to head the MSF Space Shuttle Task Group. The group would provide NASA with material for a report on the Space Shuttle to the President's Space Task Group.
- 1972 July 26 - Contract awarded for shuttle OV-102.. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1974 June 4 - Structural assembly of crew module for OV-102 begun.. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1975 March 27 - Shuttle Enterprise fuselage complete.. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1975 June 24 - Start structural assembly (MPTA-098).
- 1975 December 20 - First SSME 60-second duration test, NSTL. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
- 1976 January 16 - Crew module on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101). Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 January 23 - MPTA-098 truss on dock, Downey.
- 1976 February 16 - Start fabrication forward fuselage (STA-099).
- 1976 April 2 - Crew escape system test sled on dock, Downey.
- 1976 April 22 - Body flap on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise (OV-101). Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 June 14 - Start aft fuselage assembly (STA-099).
- 1976 June 25 - Complete functional checkout, Enterprise (OV-101). Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 July 8 - MPTA-098 on dock, Downey, without truss assembly.
- 1976 July 12 - Start installation secondary structure (MPTA-098).
- 1976 August 2 - Start carrier aircraft modification.
- 1976 August 20 - Complete horizontal ground vibration tests.
- 1976 August 23 - Start Delta F modification, Enterprise (OV-101). Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 August 27 - Shuttle Enterprise - dummy OMS pods delivered.. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
Reaction control system/orbital maneuvering system pods (simulated), approach and landing tests, on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise
- 1976 September 10 - Complete Delta F modifications, Enterprise. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 September 13 - Start preparations for first rollout, Enterprise. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 September 17 - Complete on-stand construction, NSTL.
- 1976 September 20 - Start Delta F retest, Enterprise (OV-101). Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 October 1 - Start final assembly, wing (STA-099).
- 1976 October 15 - Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1976 October 29 - Complete Delta F retest, Enterprise (OV-101). Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 November 4 - Complete 747 shuttle carrier aircraft modification.
- 1976 November 18 - Start escape system sled test, Holloman, N.M..
- 1976 November 26 - Complete integrated checkout, Enterprise (OV-101). Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1976 November 28 - Complete orbiter transporter strongback.
- 1976 December 7 - Tail cone fairing on dock, Palmdale.
- 1976 December 13 - Start assembly upper forward fuselage, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1976 December 17 - External tank 1/4-scale model on dock, Downey.
- 1977 January 3 - Start assembly vertical stabilizer, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1977 January 28 - Simulated crew module on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 January 31 - Mass simulated SSMEs on dock, Palmdale, Enterprise. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1977 January 31 - Enterprise (OV-101) transported to Edwards AFB. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
- 1977 February 10 - Midfuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1977 March 16 - Wings on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 March 21 - Orbiter 1/4-scale model on dock, Downey.
- 1977 April 1 - Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 April 6 - Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 May 20 - Nose landing gear doors on dock, Palmdale(STA-099).
- 1977 May 26 - Aft payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 May 31 - SRB 1/4-scale model, burnout and maximum q config.
- 1977 May 31 - Body flap on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 May 31 - Body flap on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 June 3 - Ship MPTA-098 from Seal Beach, Calif., to NSTL.
- 1977 June 23 - Deliver first SSME to NSTL (MPTA-098).
- 1977 June 24 - Deliver MPTA-098 to NSTL.
- 1977 July 8 - Deliver second main engine to NSTL (MPTA-098).
- 1977 July 14 - Deliver third main engine to NSTL (MPTA-098).
- 1977 August 12 - Enterprise flight 4. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Conduct first free flight, ALT, tail cone on, Edwards (5 minutes, 21 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 17
- 1977 August 26 - Deliver wings on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1977 September 7 - Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1977 September 13 - Enterprise flight 5. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Second free flight, ALT, tail cone on, Edwards (5 minutes, 28 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 17
- 1977 September 23 - Enterprise flight 6. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Third free flight , ALT, tail cone on, Edwards (5 minutes, 34 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 15
- 1977 October 12 - Enterprise flight 7. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Fourth free flight, ALT, first tail cone off, Edwards (2 minutes, 34 seconds), Enterprise (OV-101), lake bed Runway 17
- 1977 October 26 - Enterprise flight 8. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Fifth free flight, ALT, final tail cone off, Edwards (2 minutes, 1 second), Enterprise (OV-101), concrete Runway 04
- 1977 October 28 - Lower forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1977 November 4 - Deliver aft fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1977 November 7 - Forward RCS on dock, Palmdale (STA-099).
- 1977 December 13 - Complete propellant load testing, NSTL (MPTA-098).
- 1978 January 10 - Vertical stabilizer on dock, Palmdale, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 January 18 - Second SRB firing, Thiokol.
- 1978 February 10 - Complete final assembly, STA-099, Palmdale. Spacecraft: Challenger.
- 1978 February 14 - STA-099 on dock, Lockheed facility, Palmdale. Spacecraft: Challenger.
- 1978 February 17 - Crew module on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 February 24 - Body flap on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 March 6 - Upper forward fuselage on dock, Palmdale, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 March 19 - Aft payload bay doors on dock, Palmdale, Columbia . Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 April 24 - Start precombined systems test, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 May 19 - Start forward RCS thermal tests.
- 1978 May 26 - Upper forward fuselage mate, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 May 26 - Complete forward RCS structure, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 July 3 - Deliver left-hand OMS/RCS pod to WSTF.
- 1978 July 7 - Fourth static firing, MPTA-098.
- 1978 July 21 - First firing development test, OMS.
- 1978 July 31 - Operational readiness date, OPF 1.
Operational readiness date, Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 1, shuttle landing facility, and Hypergolic Maintenance Facility, KSC
- 1978 August 11 - Complete forward RCS, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 August 11 - Complete test preparation, STA-099.
- 1978 August 11 - Complete forward RCS thermal test.
- 1978 September 8 - Start OMS left-hand development test.
- 1978 September 20 - Start acoustic test, forward RCS.
- 1978 September 25 - Start precombined system test, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1978 October 19 - Third SRB firing, Thiokol.
- 1978 November 11 - Complete forward RCS acoustic test.
- 1978 November 15 - Complete aft RCS development test.
- 1978 November 15 - Complete OMS development test.
- 1978 November 30 - Operational readiness date, Pad A, KSC.
- 1978 December 9 - Start OMS Phase I qualification tests.
- 1978 December 15 - Complete precombined system test, Columbia.. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1979 January 31 - Start left-hand OMS Phase I qualification test.
- 1979 January 31 - Start left-hand OMS Phase I qualification test.
- 1979 February 3 - Complete combined systems test, Palmdale, Columbia. Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1979 February 16 - Airlock on dock, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1979 February 17 - Fourth SRB firing, Thiokol.
- 1979 February 28 - Operational readiness date, shuttle landing site..
Operational readiness date, shuttle landing site, Edwards (Edwards AFB) Runway 23, for first manned orbital flight
- 1979 March 5 - Complete postcheckout, Palmdale, Columbia (OV-102). Spacecraft: Columbia.
- 1979 March 20 - Ferry flight, Edwards to El Paso. Spacecraft: Columbia.
Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from Edwards to Biggs Army Air Base, El Paso, Texas (3 hours, 20 minutes)
- 1979 March 22 - Ferry flight El Paso to Kelly AFB. Spacecraft: Columbia.
Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from Biggs Army Air Base to Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas (1 hr, 39 min)
- 1979 March 23 - Ferry flight, Kelly AFB to Eglin AFB, Fla. Spacecraft: Columbia.
Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Columbia (OV-102) from Kelly AFB to Eglin AFB, Fla. (2 hours, 12 minutes)
- 1979 April 6 - Complete Phase I qualification tests, aft RCS.
- 1979 June 12 - Fifth static firing, MPTA-098, flight nozzles.
Fifth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL, flight nozzles (54 seconds, early cutoff, accelerometer filters)
- 1979 June 15 - First SRB qualification firing.
First SRB qualification firing, Thiokol, Utah, 122 seconds; nozzle extension severed at end of run as in actual mission; full cycle gimbal
- 1979 June 21 - Start assembly crew module, Challenger (OV-099). Spacecraft: Challenger.
- 1979 July 2 - Sixth static firing, MPTA-098, flight nozzles..
Sixth static firing, MPTA-098, NSTL, flight nozzles (19 seconds, early cutoff-main fuel valve rupture)
- 1979 August 1 - Start long-lead fabrication crew module, Discovery. Spacecraft: Discovery. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
- 1979 August 11 - Ferry flight, Atlanta to St. Louis. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Atlanta to St. Louis (1 hour, 50 minutes)
- 1979 August 14 - Ferry flight, Denver to Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah. Spacecraft: Enterprise.
Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Denver to Hill AFB, Ogden, Utah (1 hour, 30 minutes)
- 1979 August 15 - Ferry flight, Ogden to Vandenberg AFB. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Ogden to Vandenberg AFB (2 hours, 20 minutes)
- 1979 August 16 - Ferry flight, Vandenberg AFB to Edwards. Spacecraft: Enterprise. Launch Site: Edwards.
Ferry flight, shuttle carrier aircraft/Enterprise (OV-101), Vandenberg AFB to Edwards (1 hour, 10 minutes)
- 1979 August 27 - Start long-lead fabrication crew module, Discovery. Spacecraft: Discovery.
- 1979 August 31 - Complete OMS Phase II qualification tests.
- 1979 Late - STS-2A (cancelled). Spacecraft: Columbia.
In late 1977 shuttle orbital missions were due to start in 1979. STS-2, the second shuttle flight, was to have rendezvoused with the Skylab space station and released a small Skylab Reboost Module. This would dock to Skylab and boost the station to a higher orbit for later use. But the shuttle program also was hit with delays and before the first shuttle flew, Skylab burned up in the atmosphere and crashed into the Australian outback on July 11, 1979.
- 1982 March 22 - STS-3. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 10,301 kg (22,709 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned two crew. Payloads: Office of Space Science (OSS) experiments, Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR), Electro-phoresis Verification Test (EEVT), Plant Lignification Experiment.
- 1982 June 27 - STS-4. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 11,109 kg (24,491 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned two crew. Fourth space shuttle test flight. Payloads: Induced Environment Contamination Monitor (IECM), Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR), Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES), Development Flight Instrumentation (DFl), Orbiter Experiments (OEX), first NASA getaway special (GAS), Night/Day Optical Survey of Lightning (NOSL) experiment, Vapor Phase Compression (VPC) freezer heat exchanger dynamics for freezing samples, Aerodynamic Coefficient Identification Package (AClP) experiment.
- 1982 November 11 - STS-5. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 14,551 kg (32,079 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned four crew. First mission to deploy commercial communications satellites (SBS 3, Anik C3). Payloads: : Satellite Business Systems (SBS)-C with Payload Assist ; (PAM)-D; Telesat-E (Canadian communications satellite) with PAM-D. Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR), Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES), three getaway specials (GAS), Student experiments, GLOW experiment, Vestibular experiment, Oxygen Interaction With Materials experiment.
- 1983 April 4 - STS-6. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 21,305 kg (46,969 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned four crew. First flight of space shuttle Challenger; deployed TDRSS. Payloads: Deployment of Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-A with Inertial Upper Stage (lUS)-2, Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES), Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR), Night/Day Optical Survey of Lightning (NOSL) experiment, three getaway specials (GAS).
- 1983 April 4 - TDRS 1. Spacecraft: TDRS. Mass: 2,268 kg (5,000 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Element of satellite communications network, deployed from STS-6 5 April 1983. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 67 deg W in 1983; 41 deg W in 1983-1989; 79 deg W in 1989-1990; 170 deg W in 1990-1993; 85 deg E in 1994-1995; 49 deg W in 1996-on. As of 5 September 2001 located at 49.36 deg W drifting at 0.010 deg E per day. As of 2007 Mar 9 located at 48.98W drifting at 0.029W degrees per day.
- 1983 June 18 - STS-7. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 16,839 kg (37,123 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed Anik C2, Palapa B1; deployed and retrieved SPAS platform. Payloads: Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications (OSTA)-2 experiments, deployment of PALAPA-B1 communications satellite for Indonesia with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D and Telesat-F communications satellite for Canada with PAM-D, German Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS)-01, seven getaway specials (GAS), Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR), Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES).
- 1983 August 30 - STS-8. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 13,642 kg (30,075 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
First night launch and night landing. Deployed Insat 1B. Payloads: Deployment of INSAT (lndia communica-tion satellite) with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D, Payload Flight Test Article (PFTA)/ Payload Deployment Retrieval System (PDRS), Continuous Flow Electrophoresis (CFES), biomedical experiments. 250,000 express mail envelopes with special cachet for U.S. Postal Service were carried for a first-day cover.
- 1983 November 28 - STS-9. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 15,088 kg (33,263 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Carried ESA Spacelab. Payloads: Payload: Spacelab-1 experiments, habitable Spacelab and pallet, carried 71 experiments. The six-man crew was divided into two 12-hour-day red and blue teams to operate experiments. First high-inclination orbit of 57 degrees.
- 1984-1986 - Shuttle Columbia overhauled at Palmdale.. Spacecraft: Columbia. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
The ejection seats and flight instrumentation used for the first manned shuttle flights were removed. Head-up display and GPS avionics were installed. Orbiter 5.4 structural modifications were made; the disconnect valves, thermal protection system, and brakes were brought up to date. Provisions were made for use of the Manned Maneuvering Unit and 231 Master Change Requests were implemented.
- 1984 February 3 - STS-41-B. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 15,362 kg (33,867 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed Westar 6, Palapa B2; tested Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU). Payloads: PALAPA-B2 (Indonesian communications satellite) with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D and WESTAR (Western Union communications satellite)-Vl with PAM-D. Both satellites were deployed but the PAM-D in each satellite failed to ignite, leaving both satellites in earth orbit. Both satellites were retrieved and returned to earth for renovation on the STS-51-A mission. The manned maneuvering unit (MMU) was tested with extravehicular astronauts as free flyers without tethers as far as 98 m from the orbiter. Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS)-01 experiments, Monodisperse Latex Reactor (MLR), Isoelectric Focusing Experiment (lEF), Acoustic Containerless Experiment System (ACES), Cinema 360 cameras, five getaway specials (GAS), Aerodynamic Coefficient Identification (ACIP)/High Resolution Accelerom-eter Package (HIRAP).
- 1984 April 6 - STS-41-C. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 17,357 kg (38,265 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. First repair on orbit of a satellite, Solar Maximum Mission, by James van Hoften and George Nelson. Deployed LDEF. Payloads:Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) repair, manned maneuvering unit (MMU) satellite support, deployment of Long-Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) in earth orbit free drift. LDEF contained 57 experiments and weighed about 10,000 kg. Cinema 360 and IMAX 70-mm cameras.
- 1984 August 30 - STS-41-D. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 21,552 kg (47,514 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned six crew. First flight of space shuttle Discovery; deployed SBS 4, Leasat 1, Telstar 3C. Payloads: Satellite Business System (SBS)-D commu-nications satellite with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D deployment, Syncom IV-2 communica-tions satellite with its unique stage deployment, Telstar (American Telephone and Telegraph) 3-C with PAM-D deployment, Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology (OAST)-1 experiments. Deployment and restowing of large solar array. Continuous Flow Electrophoresis (CFES). IMAX camera.
- 1984 October 5 - STS-41-G. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 10,643 kg (23,463 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Deployed ERBS; performed high resolution Earth imagery. Payloads: Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) deployment, Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications (OSTA)-3 experiments, Large Format Camera (LFC). First use of Orbital Refueling System (ORS) with extravehicular activity (EVA) astronauts, IMAX camera. In response to the American Strategic Defence Initiative and continued military use of the shuttle, the Soviet Union fired a 'warning shot' from the Terra-3 laser complex at Sary Shagan. The facility tracked Challenger with a low power laser on 10 October 1984. This caused malfunctions to on-board equipment and discomfort / temporary blinding of the crew, leading to a US diplomatic protest.
- 1984 November 8 - STS-51-A. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 20,550 kg (45,300 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. First retrieval of two satellites (PALAPA B-2 and WESTAR Vl) for return to earth. Deployed Anik D2, Leasat 2; recovered Westar 6, Palapa B2. Payloads: Telesat (Canada communications satellite)-H with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D deploy-ment, Syncom IV-1 communications satellite deployment with its unique stage, retrieval of PALAPA B-2 and WESTAR VI communications satellites with PAM-D which failed to ignite on the STS-41-B mission. Manned maneuvering unit (MMU) used for retrieval. Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS) experiment.
- 1985 January 24 - STS-51-C. Spacecraft: Discovery. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed USA 8 (Aquacade ELINT spacecraft). Orbits of Earth: 48. Landed at: Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Landing Speed: 342 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 839.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,240.00 m. Payloads: Department of Defence classified payloads.
- 1985 April 12 - STS-51-D. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 16,249 kg (35,822 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Payloads: Telesat (Canada communications satellite)-I with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D deployment, Syncom IV-3 communications satellite deploy-ment with its unique stage (unique stage failed to ignite), Continuous Flow Electrophoresis (CFES), Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE), student experiments, two getaway specials (GAS) Informal science studies (Toys in Space).
- 1985 April 29 - STS-51-B. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 14,245 kg (31,404 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Deployed Nusat; carried Spacelab 3. Payloads: Spacelab-3 experiments, habitable Spacelab and mission peculiar experiment support structure. The experiments represented a total of five different disciplines: materials processing in space, environmental observa-tions, life science, astrophysics, and technology experiments. Two getaway specials (GAS). The flight crew was split into gold and silver shifts working 12-hour days during the flight.
- 1985 June 17 - STS-51-G. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 20,174 kg (44,476 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Deployed and retrieved Spartan 1; launched Morelos 1, Arabsat 1B, Telstar 3D.Payloads: Shuttle Pointed Autono-mous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN)-1; Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (ADSF); High Precision Tracking Experiment (HPTE); Orbiter Experiments (OEX); French Echocardiograph Experiment (FEE) and French Pocket Experiment (FPE).
- 1985 July 29 - STS-51-F. Spacecraft: Challenger. Mass: 15,603 kg (34,398 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. At 5 minutes, 45 seconds into ascent the number one engine shut down prematurely due to a a sensor problem and an abort to orbit was declared. Despite the anomaly the mission continued. Launched PDP; carried Spacelab 2. Payloads: Spacelab-2 with 13 experiments, Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX), Protein Crystal Growth (PCG). The flight crew was divided into a red and blue team. Each team worked 12-hour shifts for 24-hour-a-day operation.
- 1985 August 27 - STS-51-I. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 19,952 kg (43,986 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Launched Aussat 1, ASC 1, Leasat 4; repaired Leasat 3. Payloads: Deploy ASC (American Satellite Company)-1 with Payload Assist Modue (PAM)-D. Deploy AUSSAT (Australian communications satellite)-1 with PAM-D. Deploy Syncom IV-4 communications satellite with its unique stage. Retrieve Leasat-3 communications satellite, repair and deploy by extravehicular activity (EVA) astronauts. Physical Vapor Transport Organic Solids (PVTOS) experiment.
- 1985 October 3 - STS-51-J. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Atlantis (first flight); deployed USA 11, USA 12. Reusable space transportation system. Orbits of Earth: 63. Landed at: Runway 23 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, . Touchdown miss distance: 754.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,455.00 m. Payloads: Classified DoD Mission - Record altitude (as of 5/93).
- 1985 October 15 - SLC-6 declared operational for shuttle flights. Launch Site: Vandenberg.
Space Launch Complex 6, site of future Space Shuttle operations, declared operational. However, much additional work and testing required.
- 1985 November 27 - STS-61-B. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Mass: 21,791 kg (48,040 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Deployed Morelos 2, Aussat 2, Satcom K2, OEX. Payloads: Deploy SATCOM (RCA-Satellite Communi-cations) Ku-2 with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D II. Deploy Morelos (Mexico communications satellite)-B with PAM-D. Deploy AUSSAT (Australian communications satellite)-2 with PAM-D. EASE/ACCESS (Assembly of Structures— Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structures) by extravehicular activity (EVA) astronauts, Continuous Flow Electrophore-sis System (CFES), Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS), IMAX camera, one getaway special (GAS), Linhof camera and Hasseblad camera.
- 1986 January 12 - STS-61-C. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 14,724 kg (32,460 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Launched Satcom K1. Payloads: Deploy SATCOM (RCA-Satellite Communi-cations) Ku-1 with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D II. Materials Science Laboratory, Comet Halley Active Monitoring Experiment (CHAMP), Hitchhiker (HH) Goddard (G)-1, thirteen getaway specials (GAS), student experiment, Initial Blood Storage Equipment (lBSE), Characterization of Space Motion Sickness (SMS).
- 1988 September 29 - STS-26. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 21,082 kg (46,477 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. First shuttle reflight after Challenger disaster. Deployed TDRS 3. Payloads: Deploy IUS (lnertial Upper Stage) with Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-C. 3M's Physical Vapor Transport Organics Solids 2 experiment (PVTOS), Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (ADSF), Infrared Communi-cations Flight Experiment (lRCFE), Protein Crystal Growth Il (PCG), Isoelectric Focusing (ISF)-2, Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE), Aggrega-tion of Red Blood Cells (ARC)-2, Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE)-1, Earth Limb Radiance (ELRAD), Orbiter Experiments (OEX), Autonomous Supporting Instrumentation System (OASlS)-I, two Shuttle Student Involvement Project (SSIP) experiments.
- 1988 December 2 - STS-27. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed a classified payload. Orbits of Earth: 68. Landed at: Runway 17 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, . Landing Speed: 359 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 447.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,171.00 m. Payloads: DoD Mission.
- 1989 March 13 - STS-29. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 17,280 kg (38,090 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed TDRS 4. Payloads: Deploy IUS (Inertial Upper Stage) with Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-D. Protein Crystal Growth (PCG); Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space; IMAX 70mm camera; Shuttle Student Involvement Project (SSIP) experiments: SSIP 82-8, Effects of Weightlessness in Space Flight on the Healing of Bone Fractures, and SSIP 83-9, Chicken Embryo Development in Space; Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) experiment.
- 1989 August 8 - STS-28. Spacecraft: Columbia. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed 2 classified satellites. Landed at: Runway 17 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, . Landing Speed: 287 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 1,618.00 m. Landing Rollout: 1,833.00 m. Payloads: DoD Mission.
- 1989 September 20 - Space Launch Complex 6 placed on mothball status.. Launch Site: Vandenberg.
- 1989 October 18 - STS-34. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Mass: 22,064 kg (48,642 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed Galileo .Payloads: Deploy IUS with Galileo spacecraft. Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV), Polymer Morphology (PM) experiments, IMAX camera project, Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) experiment, Growth Hormone Concentration and Distribution (GHCD) in Plants experiment, Sensor Technology Experiment (STEX), SSIP Student Experiment (SE) 82-15, Ice Crystals Experiment. First flight at this inclination.
- 1989 November 23 - STS-33. Spacecraft: Discovery. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed a classified payload. Orbits of Earth: 78. Distance traveled: 3,218,687 km. Landed at: Concrete runway 04 at Edwards Air Force Base, Cali. Landing Speed: 368 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 570.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,366.00 m. Payloads: DoD Mission - third space shuttle night launch.
- 1990 January 9 - STS-32. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 12,014 kg (26,486 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed Leasat 5, retrieved LDEF. Night landing. Payloads: Deployment of Syncom IV-5, retrieval of Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF), Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA)-3, Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) III-2, Latitude/Longitude Locator (L3), American Flight Echocardiograph (AFE), Characterization of Neurospora Circadian Rhythms in Space (CNCR)-01, Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS)-4, Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE), IMAX, Interim Operational Contamination Monitor (lOCM).
- 1990 February 28 - STS-36. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed a classified payload. Landed at: Runway 23 dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, . Landing Speed: 368 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 494.00 m. Landing Rollout: 2,407.00 m. Payloads: DoD Mission - Record altitude (through 5/93).
- 1990 April 24 - STS-31. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 13,005 kg (28,671 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Deployed HST (Hubble Space Telescope). Payloads: Deployment of Hubble Space Telescope, IMAX camera in payload bay and in crew compartment, Protein Crystal Growth III-03, Investigation Into Polymer Membrane Process-ing- 01, Air Force Maui Optical Site-05, Radiation Monitoring Equipment III-01, Student Experiment 82-16, and Ascent Particle Monitor 01.
- 1990 October 6 - STS-41. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 22,140 kg (48,810 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed Ulysses spacecraft. Payloads: Deploy Ulysses, Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet, Intelsat Solar Array Coupon, Solid-Surface Combustion Experiment, Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Processing, Chromo-some and Plant Cell Division in Space, Physiological Systems Experiment, Voice Command System, Radiation Monitoring Equipment III, Air Force Maui Optical Site.
- 1990 December 2 - STS-35. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 11,943 kg (26,329 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Carried ASTRO-1 observatory. Payloads: Ultraviolet Astronomy TeIescope (Astro), Broad-Band X-Ray Telescope (BBXRT), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS).
- 1991 April 5 - STS-37. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Mass: 16,611 kg (36,620 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Unscheduled EVA to manually deploy the Gamma-Ray Observatory's high-gain antenna, which failed to deploy upon ground command. Payloads: Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO), Crew/ Equipment Translation Aids (part of Extravehicular Activity Development Flight Experiment), Ascent Particle Monitor (APM), Bioserve Instrumentation Technology Associates Materials Dispersion Apparatus (BlMDA), Protein Crystal Growth (PCG)-Block Il, Space Station Heatpipe Advanced Radiator Element (SHARE)-ll, Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX)-ll, Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-lIl, Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) Calibration Test.
- 1991 April 28 - STS-39. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 9,712 kg (21,411 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Deployed USA 70, CRO A, CRO B, CRO C; deployed and retrieved IBSS. Payloads: Infrared Background Signature Survey (lBSS), Air Force Program (AFP)-675, Space Test Payload (STP)-I, Multi-Purpose Experiment Canister (MPEC), Cloud Logic to Optimize Use of Defense Systems (CLOUDS)-1A, Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-lll.
- 1991 June 5 - STS-40. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 11,767 kg (25,941 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Carried Spacelab life sciences module. Payloads: Spacelab Life Sciences (SLS)-1 with long module, getaway special bridge assembly with 12 getaway specials, Physiological Monitoring System (PMS), Urine Monitoring System (UMS), Animal Enclosure Modules (AEM), Middeck Zero-gravity Dynamics Experiment (MODE), 7 Orbiter Experiments Program experiments.
- 1991 August 2 - STS-43. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Mass: 21,265 kg (46,881 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed TDRS 5 satellite. Payloads: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-E/lnertial Upper Stage (lUS), Space Station Heatpipe Advanced Radiator Element (SHARE)-ll, Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) instrument 03, Optical Communications Through the Shuttle Window (OCTW), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) Calibration Test, Auroral Photography Experiment (APE)-B, Bioserve-lnstrumentation Technology Associates Materials Dispersion Apparatus (BlMDA)-02, Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP)-03, Protein Crystal Growth Ill Block Il, Space Acceleration Measure-ment System (SAMS), Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE)-02, Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE).
- 1991 August 10 - Shuttle Columbia overhauled at Palmdale. Spacecraft: Columbia. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
The orbiter returned to service on 9 February 1992. 62 modifications were made, including replacement of the nose cap; removal of the SEADS and SUMS experiment packages; new Auxiliary Power Units installed; carbon brakes and a drag chute installed; Orbiter 6.0 structural modifications made; AP-101S General Purpose Computers replaced the older AP-101P's; and the Thermal Protection System was reworked.
- 1991 September 12 - STS-48. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 7,854 kg (17,315 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned five crew. Deployed UARS; conducted materials and biological research. Payloads: Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), Ascent Particle Monitor (APM)-03, Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE)-01, Protein Crystal Growth (PCG)-ll-2, Middeck Zero-Gravity Dynamics, Experiment (MODE)-01, Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP)-04, Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM-02), Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-lll-06, Shuttle Activation Monitor (SAM)-03, Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) Calibration Test.
- 1991 November 24 - STS-44. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Mass: 20,242 kg (44,625 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned six crew. Deployed Defense Support Program satellite. Payloads: Defense Support Program satellite/ Inertial Upper Stage, Interim Operational Contamination Monitor, Terra Scout, Military Man in Space, Shuttle Activation Monitor, Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor, Radiation Monitoring Equipment Ill, Air Force Maui Optical Site Calibration Test, Ultraviolet Plume Instrument, Visual Function Tester 1.
- 1992 January 22 - STS-42. Spacecraft: Discovery. Mass: 13,001 kg (28,662 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Carried International Microgravity Laboratory-1. Payloads: International Microgravity Laboratory (lML)-1, getaway special (GAS) bridge with 10 getaway specials, IMAX camera, Gelation of Sols: Applied Microgravity Research (GOSAMR)-1, Investigations Into Polymer Mem-brane Processing (IPMP), Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-lll, Student Experiment 81-09: Convection in Zero Gravity, Student Experiment 83-02: Capillary Rise of Liquid Through Granular Porous Media.
- 1992 February 1 - Discovery OMDP-1. Spacecraft: Discovery. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Shuttle Discovery undergoes its OMDP-1 Orbiter Maintenance Down Period at the Kennedy Space Center. These are undertaken every 10 to 12 shuttle missions. 70 modifications are made, including addition of a brake chute, structural inspection, and thermal protection system refit.
- 1992 March 24 - STS-45. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Mass: 8,020 kg (17,680 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Carried ATLAS-1 experimental package. Payloads: Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS)-1, Shuttle Solar Backscat-ter Ultraviolet (SSBUV)-4, Getaway Special Experiment G-229, Space Tissue Loss (STL)-1, Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-lIl, Visual Function Tester (VFT)-lI, Cloud Logic To Opti-mize Use of Defense Systems (CLOUDS)-1A, Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Process-ing (IPMP), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX)-Il, Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPl).
- 1992 May 7 - STS-49. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Mass: 14,786 kg (32,597 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Retrieved Intelsat 6 and attached new SRM. First active dual rendezvous of two orbiting spacecraft (Endeavour and Intelsat-Vl). First deployment of a drag chute on the orbiter fleet. Payloads: Intelsat-Vl reboost mission hardware, Assembly of Station by EVA Methods (ASEM), Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) Calibration Test, Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPl).
- 1992 June 25 - STS-50. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 11,153 kg (24,588 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Carried United States Microgravity Laboratory. First extended-duration mission. Payloads: United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML)-1; Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE); Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX)-ll; Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPl) .
- 1992 September 12 - STS-47. Spacecraft: Endeavour. Mass: 12,772 kg (28,157 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Manned seven crew. Carried Spacelab-J with microgravity and biology experiments. Payloads: Spacelab-J, nine getaway special canister experiments, Israel Space Agency Investigation About Hornets (ISAIAH), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) II, Solid Surface Combus-tion Experiment (SSCE).
- 1992 October 1 - Atlantis OMDP-1. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Shuttle Atlantis undergoes its OMDP-1 Orbiter Maintenance Down Period at the Palmdale, returning to service in May 1994. These are undertaken every 10 to 12 shuttle missions. Modifications made include: nose wheel steering changes, EDO cargo pallet provisions, and Mir ODS docking system fitting. Provisions for the Long Duration Orbiter 28-day pallet are installed, and 331 Master Change Requests are implemented.
- 1992 October 22 - STS-52. Spacecraft: Columbia. Mass: 9,106 kg (20,075 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle.
Deployed Lageos 2, CTA. Payloads: Laser Geodynamic Satellite (LAGEOS) II/ Italian Research Interim Stage (IRIS), Canadian Experiments (CANEX) 2, United States Micro-gravity Payload (USMP) 1, Attitude Sensor Pack-age (ASP), Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE), Physiological Systems Experiment (PSE), Heat Pipe Performance (HPP) experiment, Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG), Shuttle Plume Impingement Experiment (SPIE), Commercial Materials ITA Experiment (CMIX), Crystals by Vapor Transport Experiment (CVTE).
- 1992 October 22 - CTA. Spacecraft: CTA. Mass: 82 kg (180 lb). Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Vehicle:
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