STS-51-I

STS -51 -I (English Space Transportation System) is a mission name for the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery ( OV -103 ) from NASA. The launch took place on 27 August 1985. It was the 20th Space Shuttle mission and the sixth flight of Space Shuttle Discovery.

Team

  • Joe Engle ( second space flight), Commander
  • Richard Covey (1st space flight), Pilot
  • James van Hoften ( second space flight), Mission Specialist
  • John Lounge ( first space flight), Mission Specialist
  • William Fisher ( 1 space flight), Mission Specialist

Mission overview

Two launch attempts for this mission had to be aborted. On August 24, the decision was made due to the weather conditions at T-5 minutes on August 25 forced the failure of the onboard computer No 5 to abort. Finally, Discovery launched on 27 August, after a vessel in restricted waters off Florida had again taken care of for three minutes late.

To the objective of the mission was to bring the three communications satellites ASC -1, AUSSAT -1 and LEASAT -4 into orbit, as well as capture the exposed with the mission STS -51- D defective satellite LEASAT -3, repair and suspend again. Because of a manipulation problem had AUSSAT -1 are already exposed one day earlier than planned. For this reason, the mission was shortened by one day. LEASAT -4 was scheduled brought into its orbit, but there could not be put into operation later because one of the UHF transmitting antennas was defective. The repair LEASAT -3 was successful, to extravehicular activities of eleven hours and 27 minutes duration were necessary.

The landing was planned in Edwards Air Force Base in California. Discovery was transported back five days later by a special aircraft to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Gallery

Exposure of ASC -1

Exposing LEASAT -34

The Astronaut Van Hoften working on LEASAT -3

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