STS-46
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| Operator | NASA | ||||
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| Mission duration | 7 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds | ||||
| Distance travelled | 5,344,643 kilometres (3,321,007 mi) | ||||
| Orbits completed | 127 | ||||
| Spacecraft properties | |||||
| Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Atlantis | ||||
| Landing mass | 94,676 kilograms (208,720 lb) | ||||
| Payload mass | 12,164 kilograms (26,820 lb) | ||||
| Start of mission | |||||
| Launch date | 31 July 1992, 13:56:48 UTC | ||||
| Launch site | Kennedy LC-39A | ||||
| End of mission | |||||
| Landing date | 8 August 1992, 13:11:50 UTC | ||||
| Landing site | Kennedy SLF Runway 33 | ||||
| Orbital parameters | |||||
| Reference system | Geocentric | ||||
| Regime | Low Earth | ||||
| Perigee | 425 kilometres (264 mi) | ||||
| Apogee | 437 kilometres (272 mi) | ||||
| Inclination | 28.45 degrees | ||||
| Period | 93.2 min | ||||
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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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Crew [edit]
| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Commander | Loren J. Shriver Third spaceflight |
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| Pilot | Andrew M. Allen First spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 1 | Claude Nicollier, ESA First spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 2 | Marsha S. Ivins Second spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 3 | Jeffrey A. Hoffman Third spaceflight |
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| Mission Specialist 4 | Franklin R. Chang-Diaz Third spaceflight |
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| Payload Specialist 1 | Franco Malerba, ASI Only spaceflight |
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Backup Crew [edit]
| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Payload Specialist 1 | Umberto Guidoni, ASI | |
Mission highlights [edit]
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.)
Gallery [edit]
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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
See also [edit]
- Space science
- Space shuttle
- List of space shuttle missions
- List of human spaceflights chronologically
External links [edit]
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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