Orbiter: Challenger (STA-099, OV-99)
- Pad 39-A (34)
- 22nd Shuttle mission
- 9th Flight OV-099
Crew:
- Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr.(3), Commander
- Steven R. Nagel (2), Pilot
- James F. Buchli (2), Mission Specialist 1
- Guion S. Bluford, Jr.(2), Mission Specialist 2
- Bonnie J. Dunbar (1), Mission Specialist 3
- Reinhard Furrer (1), Payload Specialist 1
- Ernst Messerschmid (1), Payload Specialist 2
- Wubbo J. Ockels[/linl] (1), Payload Specialist (ESA) 3
Milestones:
- OPF - Aug. 12,1985
- VAB - Oct. 12,1985
- PAD - Oct. 16,1985
Payload:
- SPACELAB-D1
- GLOMAR
Launch:
- October 30, 1985, 12:00:00 noon EST.
- Launch proceeded as scheduled with no delays.
- Launch Weight: 243,762 lbs.
Orbit:
- Altitude: 207nm
- Inclination: 57.0 degrees
- Orbits: 112
- Duration: 7 days, 0 hours, 44 minutes, 51 seconds.
- Distance: miles
Hardware:
- SRB: BI-022
- SRM: L022(HPM)
- ET : 24/LWT-17
- MLP : 1
- SSME-1: SN-2023
- SSME-2: SN-2020
- SSME-3: SN-2021
Landing:
- November 6,1985,9:44:51 a.m. PST, Runway 17, Edwards Air Force Base. Calif.
- Rollout distance: 8,304 feet.
- Rollout time: 49 seconds.
- Mission duration: Orbiter returned to KSC Nov. 11, 1985.
- Landing Weight: 214,171 lbs.
Mission Highlights:
Dedicated German Spacelab (D-1) mission conducted in long module configuration, which featured Vestibular Sled designed to give scientists data on functional organization of human vestibular and orientation systems. Spacelab D-1 encompassed 75 numbered experiments, most performed more than once. Mission included basic and applied microgravity research in fields of materials science, life sciences and technology, and communications and navigation. Though orbiter controlled from Johnson Space Center, scientific operations controlled from German Space Operations Center at Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich. Other objectives: Global Low Orbiting Message Relay (GLOMR) satellite deployed from Get Away Special canister.