STS-41-C
Spacecraft · USA
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Rollover & rollout of space shuttle mission 41-C
Credit: NASA
First repair on orbit of a satellite, Solar Maximum Mission, snared by astronaut using MMU. Deployed LDEF. Experienced erosion of the primary O-ring in the right-hand nozzle joint.
NASA Official Mission Narrative
Mission Name: 41-C (11)
CHALLENGER (5)
Pad 39-A (23)
11th Shuttle mission
5th Flight OV-099
Extended mission
Diverted landing
Crew:
Robert L. Crippen (3), Commander
Francis R. Scobee (1), Pilot
George D. Nelson (1), Mission Specialist
James D. A. van Hoften (1), Mission Specialist
Terry J. Hart (1), Mission Specialist
Milestones:
OPF - Feb. 11,1984
VAB - March 14, 1984
PAD - March 19, 1984
Payload:
LDEF-1,SSIP(x1),RME,IMAX-camera(1)
Mission Objectives:
Launch:
April 6, 1984, 8:58:00 a.m. EST. Launch proceeded as scheduled with no delays. Launch Weight: 254,254 lbs.
Orbit:
Altitude: 313nm
Inclination: 28.5 degrees
Orbits: 108
Duration: Six days, 23 hours, 40 minutes, seven seconds.
Distance: 2,870,000 miles
Hardware:
SRB: BI-012
SRM: 011MW(HPM)
ET : 12/LWT-5
MLP : 1
SSME-1: SN-2109
SSME-2: SN-2020
SSME-3: SN-2012
Landing:
April 13, 1984, 5:38:07 a.m. PST, Runway 17, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 8,716 feet. Rollout time: 48 seconds. Landed revolution 108. Mission extended one day when astronauts unable to grapple Solar Maximum Mission Spacecraft. Planned landing at KSC scrubbed. Mission extended one revolution to facilitate landing at Edwards. Orbiter returned to KSC April 18, 1984. Landing Weight: 196,975 lbs.
Mission Highlights:
First direct ascent trajectory for Space Shuttle. Using manned maneuvering unit, astronauts replaced altitude control system and coronagraph/polarimeter electronics box in the Solar Max satellite while it remained in orbit. Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) deployed, carrying 57 experiments. Left on orbit with intention of retrieving during later mission. Other payloads: IMAX camera; Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME); Cinema 360; Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSlP) experiment.
More at: STS-41-C.
Related
- Family
- Manned spaceflight
- People
- Crippen, Hart, Nelson, Scobee, van Hoften
- Country
- USA
- Spacecraft
- Challenger
- Projects
- STS
- Launch Sites
- Cape Canaveral
- Agency
- NASA, NASA Houston
Photo Gallery
STS-41-C
Credit: www.spacefacts.de
STS-41-C
Launch of the Shuttle Challenger during STS 41-C mission
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
Florida Peninsula, LDEF Deploy-RMS
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
View of the Long Duration Exposure Facility in orbit above the earth
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
41-C mission specialist repairs captured Solar Maximum Mission Satellite
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
View of the damaged Solar Maximum Mission Satellite from the 41-C Challenger
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
View of Astronaut Nelson using MMU to examine Solar Maximum Mission Satellite
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
View of the capture of the Solar Maximum Mission Satellite by the RMS
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
View of the Solar Maximum Mission Satellite prior to release by RMS
Credit: NASA
STS-41-C
41-C mission specialists repair captured Solar Maximum Mission Satellite
Credit: NASA
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Deployment of the repaired Solar Maximum Mission Satellite
Credit: NASA
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Shuttle Challenger atop NASA 905 approaches KSC runway
Credit: NASA
Chronology
8 events
1984 April 6
13:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.- STS-41-C - .
Call Sign: Challenger. Crew: Crippen,
Hart,
Nelson,
Scobee,
van Hoften.
Payload: Challenger F05 / LDEF 1 / MMU 3. Mass: 17,357 kg (38,265 lb). Nation: USA.
Related Persons: Crippen,
Hart,
Nelson,
Scobee,
van Hoften.
Agency: NASA Houston.
Program: STS.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-41-C.
Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle.
Spacecraft: Challenger.
Duration: 6.99 days. Decay Date: 1984-04-13 . USAF Sat Cat: 14897 . COSPAR: 1984-034A. Apogee: 468 km (290 mi). Perigee: 222 km (137 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.40 min.
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 April 7
- STS-41-C - Wakeup Song: A Boy Named Sue - . Flight: STS-41-C. "A Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash..
1984 April 8
- STS-41-C - Wakeup Song: Fight song of the University of California at Berkeley - . Flight: STS-41-C. "Fight song of the University of California at Berkeley" followed by the Lehigh University Fight Song. The first in honor of Ox van Hoften, the second in honor of T. J. Hart..
1984 April 8
14:18 GMT - .- EVA STS-41-C-1 - . Crew: Nelson, van Hoften. EVA Duration: 0.12 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Nelson, van Hoften. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-41-C. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Challenger. Attempted capture of Solar Max satellite..
1984 April 10
- STS-41-C - Wakeup Song: Rocky - . Flight: STS-41-C. "Rocky" theme.
1984 April 11
08:58 GMT - .- EVA STS-41-C-2 - . Crew: Nelson, van Hoften. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Nelson, van Hoften. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-41-C. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Challenger. Successfully captured and repaired Solar Max satellite..
1984 April 13
- STS-41-C - Wakeup Song: Fight song from the University of Texas - . Flight: STS-41-C. "Fight song from the University of Texas" , for mission commander, Bob Crippen, and the University of Arizona for Pilot, Dick Scobee..