STS-54

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STS-54
1993 s54 TDRS-F.jpg
Endeavour deploys the TDRS-F satellite.
Names Space Transportation System-53
Mission type TDRS-F satellite deployment
Technology
Operator NASA
COSPAR ID 1993-003A OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
SATCAT no. 22313
Mission duration5 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes, 19 seconds
Distance travelled4,000,000 km (2,500,000 mi)
Orbits completed96
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch mass0 kg (0 lb)
Landing mass92,988 kg (205,003 lb)
Payload mass18,559 kg (40,916 lb)
Crew
Crew size5
Members
Start of mission
Launch dateJanuary 13, 1993, 13:59:30  UTC
Rocket Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch site Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B
Contractor Rockwell International
End of mission
Landing dateJanuary 19, 1993, 13:37:47 UTC
Landing site Kennedy Space Center,
SLF Runway 33
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric orbit
Regime Low Earth orbit
Perigee altitude 302 km (188 mi)
Apogee altitude 309 km (192 mi)
Inclination 28.45 degrees
Period 90.60 minutes
Instruments
  • Commercial General Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGPA)
  • Chromosome and Plant Cell Division
  • Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS)
  • Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE)
  • Space Acceleration Measurement Equipment (SAMS)
  • Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE)
Sts-54-patch.png
STS-54 mission patch
Sts-54 crew.jpg
Runco, Casper, McMonagle, Helms, Harbaugh
  STS-53 (52)
STS-56 (54) 
 

STS-54 was a NASA Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle) mission using Space Shuttle Endeavour. This was the third flight for Endeavour, and was launched on January 13, 1993 with Endeavour returning to the Kennedy Space Center on January 19, 1993.

Contents

Crew

Position Astronaut [1]
Commander John Casper
Second spaceflight
Pilot Donald R. McMonagle
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1 Mario Runco Jr.
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2 Gregory J. Harbaugh
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 3 Susan Helms
First spaceflight

Mission highlights

Harbaugh and Runco during the EVA STS-54 Harbaugh carries Runco.jpg
Harbaugh and Runco during the EVA

The primary payload was the fifth TDRS satellite, TDRS-F, which was deployed on day one of the mission. [2] It was later successfully transferred to its proper orbit by the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS). [3] Also carried into orbit in the payload bay was a Hitchhiker experiment called the Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS). This instrument collected data on X-ray radiation from diffuse sources in deep space. [4]

Other middeck payloads to test the effects of microgravity included the Commercial General Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGPA) for-life sciences research; the Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space Experiment (CHROMEX) to-study plant growth; the Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE) to examine the skeletal system and the adaptation of bone to space flight; the Space Acceleration Measurement Equipment (SAMS) to measure and record the microgravity acceleration environment of middeck experiments; and the Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE) to measure the rate of flame spread and temperature of burning filter paper. [1]

Also, on day five, mission specialists Mario Runco Jr. and Gregory J. Harbaugh spent nearly 5 hours in the open cargo bay performing a series of space-walking tasks designed to increase NASA's knowledge of working in space. They tested their abilities to move about freely in the cargo bay, climb into foot restraints without using their hands and simulated carrying large objects in the microgravity environment. The EVA completed after 4 hours, 28 minutes. [1]

The EVA was a late addition to the mission plan as part of NASA's objectives to hone EVA skills required for hardware assembly anticipating the International Space Station. [5]

The mission completed on January 19, 1993 with a landing at Kennedy Space Center. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "STS-54 Endeavour". Spacefacts.de. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  2. "TDRS-F" . Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  3. "Space Shuttle STS-54 Mission Archives". NASA. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  4. "Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS)" . Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  5. Evans, Ben. "'Tumbling Off Into Space': 25 Years Since Endeavour's Vanilla-to-Chocolate STS-54 Mission". AmericaSpace. Retrieved December 26, 2022.