STS-46
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| STS-46 | |||||
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Mission insignia |
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| Mission statistics | |||||
| Mission name | STS-46 | ||||
| Space shuttle | Atlantis | ||||
| Launch pad | 39-A | ||||
| Launch date | 31 July 1992, 9:56:48 am EDT | ||||
| Landing | 8 August 1992, 9:11:50 am EDT, Runway 33, Kennedy Space Center | ||||
| Mission duration | 7/23:15:3 | ||||
| Number of orbits | 127 | ||||
| Orbital altitude | 230 nautical miles (426 kilometres (265 mi)) | ||||
| Orbital inclination | 28.45 degrees | ||||
| Distance traveled | 3,321,007 miles (5,344,643 kilometres (3,321,007 mi)) | ||||
| Crew photo | |||||
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STS-46 was a NASA space shuttle mission using orbiter Atlantis and launched on 31 July 1992 at 9:56:48 am EDT.
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[edit] Crew
| Position | Astronaut | |
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| Commander | Loren J. Shriver Third spaceflight |
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| Pilot | Andrew M. Allen First spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 1 | Jeffrey A. Hoffman Third spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 2 | Franklin R. Chang-Diaz Third spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 3 | Claude Nicollier, ESA First spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 4 | Marsha S. Ivins Second spaceflight |
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| Payload Specialist | Franco Malerba, ASI First spaceflight |
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[edit] Mission parameters
- Mass:
- Orbiter landing with payload: 94,676 kilograms (208,720 lb)
- Payload: 12,164 kilograms (26,820 lb)
- Perigee: 425 kilometres (264 mi)
- Apogee: 437 kilometres (272 mi)
- Inclination: 28.5°
- Period: 93.2 min
[edit] Mission highlights
Mission's primary objectives were the deployment of the European Space Agency's EURECA (European Retrievable Carrier) and the joint NASA/Italian Space Agency Tethered Satellite System (TSS). EURECA was deployed a day later than scheduled because of a problem with its data handling system. Seven and a half hours after deployment, the spacecraft's thrusters were fired to boost EURECA to its planned operating altitude of around 310 miles. However, thruster firing was cut to six minutes from 24 minutes because of unexpected attitude data from the spacecraft. The problem was resolved and EURECA was successfully boosted to its operational orbit on the mission's sixth day. TSS deployment also was delayed one day because of the problems with EURECA. During deployment, the satellite reached a maximum distance of only 860 feet from the orbiter instead of the planned 12.5 miles because of a jammed tether line. After numerous attempts over several days to free the tether, TSS operations were curtailed and the satellite was stowed for return to Earth. Secondary payloads included: Evaluation of Oxygen Integration with Materials/Thermal Management Processes (EOIM-III/TEMP 2A), Consortium for Materials Development in Space Complex Autonomous Payload (CONCAP II and CONCAP III), IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC), Limited Duration Space Environment Candidate Materials Exposure (LDCE), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS), Pituitary Growth Hormone Cell Function (PHCF), and Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPI). Mission extended extra day to complete scientific objectives.
STS-46 marked the 150th human spaceflight to achieve orbit.
(The mission that continued with the Tethered Satellite System program was STS-75, taking place on late February 1996.)
[edit] Gallery
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EURECA deployment
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EURECA after deployment
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TSS satellite
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TSS deployment
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TSS deployment
[edit] See also
- Space science
- Space shuttle
- List of space shuttle missions
- List of human spaceflights chronologically
[edit] External links
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