| Mission Insignia | |
|---|---|
| Mission Statistics | |
| Mission: | STS-3 |
| Shuttle: | Columbia |
| Launch Pad: | 39-A |
| Launch: | March 22, 1982 11:00:00 a.m. EST |
| Landing: | March 30, 1982 9:04:46 a.m. MST |
| Duration: | 8 days, 0 hours, 4 minutes, 46 seconds |
| Orbit Altitude: | 147 nautical miles |
| Orbit Inclination: | 38.0 degrees |
| Miles Traveled: | 3,334,904 miles |
| Crew photo | |
STS-3 was the third space shuttle mission, and was the third mission for the Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first launch with an unpainted external tank, and the only landing at White Sands, New Mexico.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Crew 3 Related articles 4 External links |
During this mission, testing of the space shuttle and the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) continued. The crew also gathered data on contamination (dust, gasses, etc.) put into the near-Earth space environment by the shuttle itself.
Problems encountered: The crew experienced space sickness, had a malfunctioning toilet, thermostat difficulty and unexplained static interfering with crew sleep. Also, the auxiliary power unit registered overheating during ascent, but functioned properly during descent. Communication link lost three times.
STS-3 was the only shuttle mission to land at White Sands, New Mexico. The landing demonstrated that the Shuttle could land in the desert, but sand damaged the orbiter.
This is the last mission for which NASA named the backup crews. The mission of the STS-3
Primary mission objective was to demonstrate safe re-launch and safe return of the orbiter and crew. Also, verify the combined performance of the entire shuttle vehicle - orbiter, solid rocket boosters and external tank.
| STS-3 speeds away from Launch Complex 39 at Kennedy Space Center. Note the bright orange flame from the solid rocket booster combustion of ammonium perchlorate and aluminum compared to the blue and clear flame of hydrogen and oxygen from the Space Shuttle Main Engines. |
| STS-3 prepares to land at Northrup Strip, White Sands, New Mexico with two T-38 chase planes observing. |
Related articles
External links
Previous Mission:
STS-2Space Shuttle program
Next Mission:
STS-4