STS-51-A
USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Aerial view of the launch of STS 51-A shuttle Discovery
Credit: NASA
First retrieval of two satellites (Palapa B-2 and Westar Vl) for return to earth. Deployed Anik D2, Leasat 2.
NASA Official Mission Narrative
Mission Name: 51-A (14)
DISCOVERY (2)
Pad 39-A (26)
14th Shuttle mission
2nd Flight OV-103
3rd KSC landing
Crew:
Frederick H. Hauck (2), Commander
David M. Walker (1), Pilot
Anna L. Fisher (1), Mission Specialist 1
Dale A. Gardner (2), Mission Specialist 2
Joseph P. Allen (2), Mission Specialist 3
Milestones:
OPF - Sept. 10,1984
VAB - Oct. 18,1984
PAD - Oct. 23, 1984
Payload:
ANIK-D2,LEASAT-2,DMOS,RME(5)
Mission Objectives:
Launch:
November 8, 1984,7:15:00 a.m. EST. Launch attempt Nov. 7 scrubbed during built-in hold at T-20 minutes due to wind shears in upper atmosphere. Countdown Nov. 8 proceeded as scheduled. Launch Weight: 263,324 lbs.
Orbit:
Altitude: 185nm
Inclination: 28.5 degrees
Orbits: 127
Duration: 7 days, 23 hours, 44 minutes, 56 seconds.
Distance: 3,289,406 miles
Hardware:
SRB: BI-014
SRM: 014LW(HPM)
ET : 16/LWT-9
MLP : 2
SSME-1: SN-2109
SSME-2: SN-2018
SSME-3: SN-2012
Landing:
November 16, 1984, 6:59:56 a.m. EST, Runway 15, Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Rollout distance: 9,461 feet Rollout time: 58 seconds. Landing Weight: 207,505 lbs.
Mission Highlights:
Canadian communications satellite TELESAT-H (ANIK), attached to Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D), deployed into geosynchronous orbit on flight day two. On third day, defense communications satellite SYNCOM IV-I (also known as LEASAT-1) deployed. Allen and Gardner, wearing jet-propelled manned maneuvering units, retrieved two malfunctioning satellites: PALAPA-B2 and WESTAR-VI, both deployed on Mission 41-B. Fisher operated remote manipulator system, grappling satellites and depositing them in payload bay. Middeck payloads: Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS), and Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME).
More at: STS-51-A.
Related
- Family
- Manned spaceflight
- People
- Allen, Fisher, Gardner, Hauck, Walker, Dave
- Country
- USA
- Spacecraft
- Discovery
- Projects
- STS
- Launch Sites
- Cape Canaveral
- Agency
- NASA, NASA Houston
Photo Gallery
STS-51-A
View of the launch of STS 51-A shuttle Discovery
Credit: NASA
STS-51-A
Astronaut Dale Gardner tethered to Discovery's starboard side.
Credit: NASA
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Astronaut Dale Gardner using MMU to travel to Westar VI satellite
Credit: NASA
STS-51-A
Astronaut Dale Gardner using MMU to travel to Westar VI satellite
Credit: NASA
STS-51-A
Astronaut Dale Gardner using MMU to travel to Westar VI satellite
Credit: NASA
STS-51-A
Astronaut Dale Gardner achieves hard dock with Westar VI satellite
Credit: NASA
STS-51-A
Astronauts Gardner and Allen bringing Westar VI satellite into payload bay
Credit: NASA
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Astronauts Gardner and Allen during loading of Westar VI in payload bay
Credit: NASA
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Astronauts Gardner and Allen during loading of Palapa B-2 in payload bay
Credit: NASA
STS-51-A
Astronauts Joseph Allen rides cherry picker over stowage area/work station
Credit: NASA
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Astronauts Gardner and Allen on the RMS after recapture of Westar VI
Credit: NASA
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Astronaut Dale Gardner holds up for sale sign after EVA
Credit: NASA
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Astronaut Anna Fisher poses near a 3M experiment involving the DMOS
Credit: NASA
STS-51-A
Syncom IV-1 satellite leaving Discovery's payload bay
Credit: NASA
Chronology
6 events
1984 November 8
12:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- STS-51-A - .
Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Allen,
Fisher,
Gardner,
Hauck,
Walker, Dave.
Payload: Discovery F02 / PLT. Mass: 20,550 kg (45,300 lb). Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Allen,
Fisher,
Gardner,
Hauck,
Walker, Dave.
Agency: NASA Houston.
Program: STS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A.
Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle.
Spacecraft: Discovery.
Duration: 7.99 days. Decay Date: 1984-11-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 15382 . COSPAR: 1984-113A. Apogee: 297 km (184 mi). Perigee: 289 km (179 mi). Inclination: 28.40 deg. Period: 90.40 min.
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.
1984 November 10
- STS-51-A - Wakeup Song: Marine Corps Hymn - . Flight: STS-51-A. "Marine Corps Hymn" for the 209th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps CAPCOM: Dave Hilmers.
1984 November 12
13:25 GMT - .- EVA STS-51-A-1 - . Crew: Allen, Gardner. EVA Duration: 0.26 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Gardner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Retrieved Palapa satellite..
1984 November 14
- EVA STS-51-A-2 - . Crew: Allen, Gardner. EVA Duration: 0.25 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Gardner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Retrieved Westar satellite..
1984 November 14
- STS-51-A - Wakeup Song: For a Few Dollars More - .
Flight: STS-51-A.
"For a Few Dollars More" Bob Springer told the crew,"It's a tribute to the day's activities" Springer referred to the fact that originally one group of insurance companies had agreed to pay NASA $4.8 million to retrieve only the Palapa payload. But two months ago, another group of underwriters signed up for the Westar salvage and NASA said it would do both jobs for a total of $5.5 million. Chicago Tribune 11/15/84 CAPCOM: Bob Springer