STS-61-B

STS -61- B (English Space Transportation System) is a mission name for the U.S. Space Shuttle Atlantis ( OV -104 ) from NASA. The launch took place on 27 November 1985. It was the 23rd Space Shuttle mission and the second flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Team

Home team

  • Brewster Shaw ( second space flight), Commander
  • Bryan O'Connor ( first space flight), Pilot
  • Mary Cleave ( first space flight ), Mission Specialist
  • Sherwood Spring ( first space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Jerry Ross ( first space flight), Mission Specialist
  • Rodolfo Neri Vela ( first space flight), Payload Specialist (Mexico)
  • Charles Walker ( third space flight), Payload Specialist, McDonnell Douglas

Replacement

  • Ricardo Peralgta y Fabi for Neri Vela
  • Robert Wood Walker

Mission overview

The start of the mission took place without any delay, the second time was started at night.

Within the mission three communications satellites were brought into orbit: Morelos -B ( Mexico), AUSSAT -2 ( Australia) and SATCOM KU -2. Another main goal, attempts to assemble structural elements in free space, in view of the construction of the International Space Station. These two spacewalks of twelve hours and ten minutes duration were necessary. In this mission, the IMAX camera was carried.

The landing was a mission in orbit earlier than planned in Edwards AFB in California. The shortening of the mission was decided at short notice due to the storm situation in the country area; also put the space shuttle on the concrete runway, because the nature runway normally used in the dry lake was too wet. Atlantis was transported back four days later by a special aircraft to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

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