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STS-51-A

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STS-51-A Aerial view of the launch of STS 51-A shuttle Discovery Credit: NASA

AKA: Discovery. Launched: 1984-11-08. Returned: 1984-11-16. Number crew: 5 . Duration: 7.99 days.

Payloads: Telesat (Canada communications satellite)-H with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D deployment, Syncom IV-1 communications satellite deployment with its unique stage, retrieval of PALAPA B-2 and WESTAR VI communications satellites with PAM-D which failed to ignite on the STS-41-B mission. Manned maneuvering unit (MMU) used for retrieval. Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS) experiment.

Orbits of Earth: 126. Distance traveled: 5,293,785 km. Orbiter Liftoff Mass: 119,441 kg. Orbiter Mass at Landing: 94,120 kg. Payload to Orbit: 20,550 kg. Payload Returned: 11,273 kg. Landed at: Runway 15 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Landing Speed: 344 kph. Touchdown miss distance: 828 m. Landing Rollout: 2,883 m. EVA: Joseph Allen and Dale Gardner. EVA No. 1 duration, 6 hours, 13 minutes. EVA No. 2 duration, 6 hours and 1 minute. Manned maneuvering unit (MMU) operating time Joseph Allen 2 hours, 22 minutes, Dale Gardner 1 hour, 40 minutes.

NASA Official Mission Narrative

Mission Name: 51-A (14)
DISCOVERY (2)
Pad 39-A (26)
14th Shuttle mission
2nd Flight OV-103
3rd KSC landing

Crew:
Frederick H. Hauck (2), Commander
David M. Walker (1), Pilot
Anna L. Fisher (1), Mission Specialist 1
Dale A. Gardner (2), Mission Specialist 2
Joseph P. Allen (2), Mission Specialist 3

Milestones:
OPF - Sept. 10,1984
VAB - Oct. 18,1984
PAD - Oct. 23, 1984

Payload:
ANIK-D2,LEASAT-2,DMOS,RME(5)
Mission Objectives:

Launch:
November 8, 1984,7:15:00 a.m. EST. Launch attempt Nov. 7 scrubbed during built-in hold at T-20 minutes due to wind shears in upper atmosphere. Countdown Nov. 8 proceeded as scheduled. Launch Weight: 263,324 lbs.
Orbit:
Altitude: 185nm
Inclination: 28.5 degrees
Orbits: 127
Duration: 7 days, 23 hours, 44 minutes, 56 seconds.
Distance: 3,289,406 miles

Hardware:
SRB: BI-014
SRM: 014LW(HPM)
ET : 16/LWT-9
MLP : 2
SSME-1: SN-2109
SSME-2: SN-2018
SSME-3: SN-2012

Landing:
November 16, 1984, 6:59:56 a.m. EST, Runway 15, Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Rollout distance: 9,461 feet Rollout time: 58 seconds. Landing Weight: 207,505 lbs.

Mission Highlights:
Canadian communications satellite TELESAT-H (ANIK), attached to Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D), deployed into geosynchronous orbit on flight day two. On third day, defense communications satellite SYNCOM IV-I (also known as LEASAT-1) deployed. Allen and Gardner, wearing jet-propelled manned maneuvering units, retrieved two malfunctioning satellites: PALAPA-B2 and WESTAR-VI, both deployed on Mission 41-B. Fisher operated remote manipulator system, grappling satellites and depositing them in payload bay. Middeck payloads: Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS), and Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME).

Photo Gallery

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STS-51-A View of the launch of STS 51-A shuttle Discovery Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronaut Dale Gardner tethered to Discovery's starboard side. Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronaut Dale Gardner using MMU to travel to Westar VI satellite Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronaut Dale Gardner using MMU to travel to Westar VI satellite Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronaut Dale Gardner using MMU to travel to Westar VI satellite Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronaut Dale Gardner achieves hard dock with Westar VI satellite Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronauts Gardner and Allen bringing Westar VI satellite into payload bay Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronauts Gardner and Allen during loading of Westar VI in payload bay Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronauts Gardner and Allen during loading of Palapa B-2 in payload bay Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronauts Joseph Allen rides cherry picker over stowage area/work station Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronauts Gardner and Allen on the RMS after recapture of Westar VI Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronaut Dale Gardner holds up for sale sign after EVA Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Astronaut Anna Fisher poses near a 3M experiment involving the DMOS Credit: NASA

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STS-51-A Syncom IV-1 satellite leaving Discovery's payload bay Credit: NASA

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• STS-51-A - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Allen, Fisher, Gardner, Hauck, Walker, Dave. Payload: Discovery F02 / PLT. Mass: 20,550 kg (45,300 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Fisher, Gardner, Hauck, Walker, Dave. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 7.99 days. Decay Date: 1984-11-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 15382 . COSPAR: 1984-113A. Apogee: 297 km (184 mi). Perigee: 289 km (179 mi). Inclination: 28.40 deg. Period: 90.40 min.

  Manned five crew. First retrieval of two satellites (PALAPA B-2 and WESTAR Vl) for return to earth. Deployed Anik D2, Leasat 2; recovered Westar 6, Palapa B2. Payloads: Telesat (Canada communications satellite)-H with Payload Assist Module (PAM)-D deploy-ment, Syncom IV-1 communications satellite deployment with its unique stage, retrieval of PALAPA B-2 and WESTAR VI communications satellites with PAM-D which failed to ignite on the STS-41-B mission. Manned maneuvering unit (MMU) used for retrieval. Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS) experiment.

• STS-51-A - Wakeup Song: Marine Corps Hymn - . Flight: STS-51-A. "Marine Corps Hymn" for the 209th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps CAPCOM: Dave Hilmers.

• EVA STS-51-A-1 - . Crew: Allen, Gardner. EVA Duration: 0.26 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Gardner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Retrieved Palapa satellite..

• EVA STS-51-A-2 - . Crew: Allen, Gardner. EVA Duration: 0.25 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Gardner. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-51-A. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Retrieved Westar satellite..

• STS-51-A - Wakeup Song: For a Few Dollars More - . Flight: STS-51-A.

  "For a Few Dollars More" Bob Springer told the crew,"It's a tribute to the day's activities" Springer referred to the fact that originally one group of insurance companies had agreed to pay NASA $4.8 million to retrieve only the Palapa payload. But two months ago, another group of underwriters signed up for the Westar salvage and NASA said it would do both jobs for a total of $5.5 million. Chicago Tribune 11/15/84 CAPCOM: Bob Springer

• Landing of STS-51-A - . Return Crew: Allen, Fisher, Gardner, Hauck, Walker, Dave. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Allen, Fisher, Gardner, Hauck, Walker, Dave. Program: STS. Flight: STS-51-A. STS-51-A landed at 12:14 GMT. .