Orbiter: Challenger (STA-099, OV-99)
- Pad 39-A (23)
- 11th Shuttle mission
- 5th Flight OV-099
- Extended mission
- Diverted landing
Crew:
- Robert L. Crippen (3), Commander
- Francis R. Scobee (1), Pilot
- George D. Nelson (1), Mission Specialist
- James D. A. van Hoften (1), Mission Specialist
- Terry J. Hart (1), Mission Specialist
Milestones:
- OPF - Feb. 11,1984
- VAB - March 14, 1984
- PAD - March 19, 1984
Payload:
- LDEF-1
- SSIP(x1)
- RME
- IMAX-camera(1)
Launch:
- April 6, 1984, 8:58:00 a.m. EST.
- Launch proceeded as scheduled with no delays.
- Launch Weight: 254,254 lbs.
Orbit:
- Altitude: 313nm
- Inclination: 28.5 degrees
- Orbits: 108
- Duration: Six days, 23 hours, 40 minutes, seven seconds.
- Distance: 2,870,000 miles
Hardware:
- SRB: BI-012
- SRM: 011MW(HPM)
- ET : 12/LWT-5
- MLP : 1
- SSME-1: SN-2109
- SSME-2: SN-2020
- SSME-3: SN-2012
Landing:
- April 13, 1984, 5:38:07 a.m. PST,
- Runway 17, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
- Rollout distance: 8,716 feet.
- Rollout time: 48 seconds.
- Landed revolution 108.
- Mission extended one day when astronauts unable to grapple Solar Maximum Mission Spacecraft.
- Planned landing at KSC scrubbed.
- Mission extended one revolution to facilitate landing at Edwards.
- Orbiter returned to KSC April 18, 1984.
- Landing Weight: 196,975 lbs.
Mission Highlights:
First direct ascent trajectory for Space Shuttle. Using manned maneuvering unit, astronauts replaced altitude control system and coronagraph/polarimeter electronics box in the Solar Max satellite while it remained in orbit. Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) deployed, carrying 57 experiments. Left on orbit with intention of retrieving during later mission. Other payloads: IMAX camera; Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME); Cinema 360; Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSlP) experiment.
