STS-33
USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.

STS-33 crewmembers, wearing LESs, leave KSC O&C Bldg for launch pad
Credit: NASA
Deployed a classified payload.
NASA Official Mission Narrative
Mission Name: STS-33 (32)
DISCOVERY (9)
Pad 39-B (13)
32nd Shuttle mission
9th Flight OV-103
3rd Night Launch (1st since return to flight)
Crew:
Frederick D. Gregory (2), Commander
John E. Blaha (2), Pilot
F. Story Musgrave (3), Mission Specialist 1
Manley L Carter, Jr.(1), Mission Specialist 2
Kathryn C. Thornton (1), Mission Specialist 3
Milestones:
OPF - Aug, 20,1989
VAB - Oct. 5. 1989
PAD - Oct. 27, 1989
Payload:
DoD(5)
Mission Objectives:
Launch:
November 22, 1989,7:23:30 p.m. EST. Launch set for Nov. 20 rescheduled to allow changeout of suspect integrated electronics assemblies on twin solid rocket boosters. Launch Weight: Classified.
Orbit:
Altitude: 302
Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Orbits: 79
Duration: 5 days, 0 hours, 6 minutes, 49 seconds.
Distance: 2,100,000 miles
Hardware:
SRB: BI-034
SRM: 360L007
ET : 38/LWT-31
MLP : 2
SSME-1: SN-2011
SSME-2: SN-2031
SSME-3: SN-2107
Landing:
November 27,1989,4:30:16 p.m. PST, Runway 4, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 7,764 feet. Rollout time: 46 seconds. Orbiter returned to KSC Dec. 4, 1989. Landing Weight: 194,282 lbs.
Mission Highlights:
Fifth mission dedicated to Department of Defense.
More at: STS-33.
Related
- Family
- Manned spaceflight
- Country
- USA
- Spacecraft
- Discovery
- Projects
- STS
- Launch Sites
- Cape Canaveral
- Agency
- NASA, NASA Houston
Photo Gallery

STS-33
Credit: www.spacefacts.de
STS-33
STS-33 Discovery, OV-103, early morning lift-off from KSC LC Pad 39B
Credit: NASA
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Aerial view of STS-33 Discovery, OV-103, lifting off from KSC LC Pad 39B
Credit: NASA
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STS-33 MS Musgrave, wearing headset, poses on Discovery's, OV-103's, middeck
Credit: NASA
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STS-33 crewmembers on OV-103's aft flight deck photograph Earth observations
Credit: NASA
STS-33
STS-33 MS Carter and MS Thornton display "Maggot on Board" sign and candy
Credit: NASA
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STS-33 Pilot Blaha with his hand on the RHC looks out aft flight deck window
Credit: NASA
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STS-33 MS Thornton on Discovery's, OV-103's, aft flight deck
Credit: NASA
Chronology
2 events
1989 November 23
00:23 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- STS-33 - .
Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Blaha,
Carter,
Gregory,
Musgrave,
Thornton.
Payload: Discovery F09 / Magnum 2 [IUS]. Mass: 116,884 kg (257,685 lb). Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Blaha,
Carter,
Gregory,
Musgrave,
Thornton.
Agency: NASA Houston.
Program: STS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-33.
Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle.
Spacecraft: Discovery.
Duration: 5.00 days. Decay Date: 1989-11-28 . USAF Sat Cat: 20329 . COSPAR: 1989-090A. Apogee: 214 km (132 mi). Perigee: 207 km (128 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 88.70 min.
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.