STS-51-J

STS-51-J
Mission insignia
Mission statistics
Mission name	STS-51-J
Space shuttle	Atlantis
Launch pad	39-A
Launch date	3 October 1985, 15:15:30 UTC
Landing	7 October 1985, 17:00:08 UTC
Mission duration	4 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes, 38 seconds
Number of orbits	64
Orbital altitude	219 nautical miles (406 km)
Orbital inclination	28.5°
Distance traveled	1,682,641 miles (2,707,948 km)
Crew photo
L-R: Stewart, Hilmers, Bobko, Pailes, Grabe
Related missions
Previous mission Subsequent mission STS-51-I STS-61-A

STS-51-J was a NASA Space Shuttle mission. It was the first flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis and the 21st shuttle mission overall. It launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 3 October 1985, carrying a payload for the U.S. Department of Defense, and landed four days later, on 7 October.

Crew

Position	Astronaut
Commander	Karol J. Bobko Third spaceflight
Pilot	Ronald J. Grabe First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1	David C. Hilmers First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2	Robert L. Stewart Second spaceflight
Payload Specialist	William A. Pailes, MSE Only spaceflight

Backup crew

Position	Astronaut
Payload Specialist	Michael Booen

Mission parameters

• Mass:
  • Landing weight: 190,400 pounds (86,400 kg)
  • Payload: 19,968 kilograms (44,020 lb)

    2 x DSCS-III satellites (B4/B5) @ 2,613 kilograms (5,760 lb) each

    Boeing Inertial Upper Stage 14,742 kilograms (32,500 lb)

• Perigee: 295 miles (475 km)
• Apogee: 301 miles (484 km)
• Inclination: 28.5°
• Period: 94.2 min

Mission summary

Declassified picture showing the satellites before deployment.

Liftoff of the first flight of Atlantis and the STS 51-J mission.

Space Shuttle Atlantis lands on the dry desert lakebed of Edwards Air Force Base at the end of STS 51-J mission.

STS-51-J launched on 3 October 1985, at 11:15 EDT, from launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch was delayed by 22 minutes and 30 seconds due to a problem with a main engine liquid hydrogen prevalve close remote power controller; the controller was showing a faulty "on" indication.

The mission was the second shuttle flight totally dedicated to deploying a Department of Defense payload, after STS-51-C. Its cargo was classified, but it was reported that two (USA-11 and USA-12) DSCS-III (Defense Satellite Communications System) satellites were launched into stationary orbits by an Inertial Upper Stage. The DSCS satellites used X-band frequencies (8/7 GHz). Each DSCS-III satellite had a design life of ten years, although several of the DSCS satellites have far exceeded their design life expectancy and continue to operate effectively as of 2011.^{[citation needed]}

The mission was deemed successful. After a flight lasting 4 days, 1 hour and 45 minutes, Atlantis landed on Runway 23 at Edwards Air Force Base at 13:00 EDT on 7 October 1985.

See also

• Spaceflight
• Space Shuttle program
• Space Shuttle Atlantis
• List of space shuttle missions
• List of human spaceflights chronologically

References

• Day, Dwayne (2010). "A lighter shade of black: the (non) mystery of STS-51J". The Space Review. http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1536/1. Retrieved 4 January 2010. 

External links

• NASA mission summary