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STS-51-I

Spacecraft · USA

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

STS-51-I
STS-51-I
Aerial view of the launch of Shuttle Discovery STS 51-I mission
Credit: NASA

First retrieval, repair, and relaunch of a satellite in orbit (Leasat 3). Launched Aussat 1, ASC 1, Leasat 4. Suffered primary O-ring erosion in two locations on the left-hand SRM nozzle joint.

NASA Official Mission Narrative

Mission Name: 51-I (20)
DISCOVERY (6)
Pad 39-A (32)
20th Shuttle mission
6th Flight OV-103
Shortened mission

Crew:
Joseph H. Engle (2), Commander
Richard O. Covey (1), Pilot
James D. A. van Hoften (2), Mission Specialist 1
John M. Lounge (1), Mission Specialist 2
William F. Fisher (1), Mission Specialist 3

Milestones:
OPF - June 29, 1985
VAB - July 30, 1985
PAD - Aug. 6, 1985

Payload:
ASC-1,AUSSAT-1,LEASAT-4,PVTOS
Mission Objectives:

Launch:
August 27, 1985, 6:58:01 a.m. EDT. Launch Aug. 24 scrubbed at T-5 minutes due to thunderstorms in vicinity. Launch Aug. 25 delayed when orbiter's number five on-board general purpose computer failed. Launch Aug. 27 delayed three minutes, one second due to combination of weather and unauthorized ship entering restricted solid rocket booster recovery area. Launch Weight: 262,309 lbs.
Orbit:
Altitude: 242nm
Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Orbits: 112
Duration: 7 days, 2 hours, 17 minutes, 42 seconds.
Distance: 2,919,576 miles

Hardware:
SRB: BI-020
SRM: L020(HPM)
ET : 21/LWT-14
MLP : 1
SSME-1: SN-2109
SSME-2: SN-2018
SSME-3: SN-2012

Landing:
September 3, 1985, 6:15:43 a.m. PDT, Runway 23, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 6,100 feet. Rollout time: 47 seconds. Mission shortened one day when AUSSAT sunshield hung up on remote manipulator system camera and AUSSAT had to be deployed before scheduled. Orbiter returned to KSC Sept. 8, 1985. Landing Weight: 196,674 lbs.

Mission Highlights:
Three communications satellites deployed: ASC-1 , for American Satellite Company; AUSSAT-1, an Australian Communications Satellite; and SYNCOM IV-4, the Synchronous Communications Satellite. ASC-1 and AUSSAT-1 both attached to Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D) motors. SYNCOM IV-4 (also known as LEASAT-4) failed to function after reaching correct geosynchronous orbit. Fisher and van Hoften performed 11 hours, 27 minutes of space walk. Part of time spent retrieving, repairing and redeploying LEASAT-3, deployed on Mission 51-D. Middeck

Payload: Physical Vapor Transport Organic Solid Experiment (PVTOS).

More at: STS-51-I.

Related

Country
USA
Spacecraft
Discovery
Projects
STS
Launch Sites
Cape Canaveral

Photo Gallery

  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Credit: www.spacefacts.de
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Astronaut James van Hoften on RMS tracking Syncom IV-3 after deployment
    Credit: NASA
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Astronaut James van Hoften working with Syncom IV-3 satellite
    Credit: NASA
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Astronaut James van Hoften working with Syncom IV-3 satellite
    Credit: NASA
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    The American Satellite Company (ASC) satellite deployed from payload bay
    Credit: NASA
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Typhoons Pat and Odessa in the Western Pacific Ocean
    Credit: NASA
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Astronaut James van Hoften working with Syncom IV-3 satellite
    Credit: NASA
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Astronaut William Fisher anchored to foot restraint on Discovery
    Credit: NASA
  • STS-51-I
    STS-51-I
    Australia's AUSSAT satellite deployed from payload bay
    Credit: NASA

Chronology

11 events

1985 August 27

10:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
  • STS-51-I - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Payload: Discovery F06 / Syncom-4 4 [Orbus-7S] / Aussat A1. Mass: 19,952 kg (43,986 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Covey, Engle, Fisher, William, Lounge, van Hoften. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-I. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 7.10 days. Decay Date: 1985-09-03 . USAF Sat Cat: 15992 . COSPAR: 1985-076A. Apogee: 364 km (226 mi). Perigee: 351 km (218 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 91.70 min.

    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 August 28

  • STS-51-I - Wakeup Song: Waltzing Matilda - . Flight: STS-51-I. "Waltzing Matilda" awakened the crew as they passed over Australia. CAPCOM: David Leetsma.

1985 August 29

  • STS-51-I - Wakeup Song: Over the Rainbow - . Flight: STS-51-I. "Over the Rainbow" - Judy Garland CAPCOM: David Leetsma.

1985 August 30

  • STS-51-I - Wakeup Song: I Saw the Light - . Flight: STS-51-I. "I Saw the Light" by Willie Nelson CAPCOM: David Leetsma.

1985 August 31

1985 August 31

  • STS-51-I - Wakeup Song: I Get Around - . Flight: STS-51-I. "I Get Around" by Beach Boys CAPCOM: James D. Wetherbee.

1985 September 1

1985 September 1

  • STS-51-I - Wakeup Song: Lucky Old Sun - . Flight: STS-51-I. "Lucky Old Sun" by Willie Nelson.

1985 September 2

  • STS-51-I - Wakeup Song: Stormy Weather - . Flight: STS-51-I. "Stormy Weather" by Willie Nelson. It was chosen due to the powerful Gulf Coast hurricane Elena observed from the Discovery. CAPCOMS: James D. Wetherbee/Joe Engle.

1985 September 3

  • STS-51-I - Wakeup Song: Living in the USA - . Flight: STS-51-I. "Living in the USA" by Linda Ronstadt CAPCOMS: James D. Wetherbee/Joe Engle.

1985 September 3