| Mission Insignia | |
|---|---|
| Mission Statistics | |
| Mission: | STS-51-F |
| Shuttle: | Challenger |
| Launch Pad: | 39A |
| Launch: | July 29, 1985 5:00:00 p.m. EDT (21:00:00 UTC) |
| Landing: | August 6, 1985 12:45:26 p.m. PDT (19:45:26 UTC) Edwards AFB, California, Runway 23 |
| Duration: | 7 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes, 26 seconds |
| Orbit Altitude: | 173 nautical miles |
| Orbit Inclination: | 49.5 degrees |
| Orbits: | 127 |
| Miles Traveled: | 3,283,543 miles |
| Crew photo | |
STS-51-F (Spacelab 2) was a United States Space Shuttle mission, the 8th mission of the Challenger orbiter.
| Table of contents |
|
2 Mission Highlights 3 Launch 4 Landing 5 Mission Insignia 6 External Links |
Crew
Mission Highlights
Primary payload was Spacelab-2. Despite abort-to-orbit, which required mission replanning, mission declared success. Special part of modular Spacelab system, the Igloo, located at head of three-pallet train, provided on-site support to instruments mounted on pallets. Main mission objective was to verify performance of Spacelab system sand determine interface capability of orbiter, and measure environment induced by spacecraft. Experiments covered life sciences, plasma physics, astronomy, High-Energy astrophysics, solar physics, atmospheric physics and technology research.
The flight marked the first time the ESA Instrument Pointing System (IPS) was tested in orbit. This unique experiment pointing enstrument was designed with an accuracy of one arc second. Initially, some problems were experienced when it was commanded to track the Sun. A series of software fixes were made and the problem was corrected.
The payload with the most publicity probably was the Carbonated Beverage Dispenser Evaluation - an experiment where both Coca-Cola as well as Pepsi tried to make their drinks available to astronauts. Both fizzed excessively in microgravity.
Launch
July 29, 1985, 5:00:00 p.m. EDT. Launch countdown July 12 halted at T-3 seconds after main engine ignition when a malfunction of number two Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) coolant valve caused shutdown of all three main engines. Launch July 29 delayed one hour, 37 minutes due to problem with table maintenance block update uplink. Five minutes, 45 seconds into ascent, number one main engine shutdown prematurely, resulting In an Abort To Orbit (ATO) trajectory. Launch Weight: 252,855 lbs.
Landing
August 6, 1985, 12:45:26 p.m. PDT, Runway 23, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 8,569 feet. Rollout time: 55 seconds. Mission extended 17 revolutions for additional payload activities due to abort-to-orbit. Orbiter returned to KSC August 11, 1985. Landing Weight: 216,735 lbs.
Mission Insignia
The mission insignia was designed by Houston artist Skip Bradley.
The Space Shuttle Challenger is depicted
ascending toward the heavens in search of new knowledge in the
field of solar and stellar astronomy, with its Spacelab 2 payload.
The constellations Leo and Orion are in the positions they will be in,
relative to the sun during the flight. The nineteen stars signify that
this will be the 19th STS flight.
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