STS-78

STS-78 was the fifth dedicated Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission for the Space Shuttle program, flown partly in preparation for the International Space Station project. The mission used the Space Shuttle Columbia, which lifted off successfully from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B on 20 June 1996. This marked the 78th flight of the Space Shuttle and 20th mission for Columbia.

STS-78
Spacelab Module LM2 in Columbia's payload bay, serving as the Life and Microgravity Spacelab
Mission typeBioscience research
Microgravity research
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1996-036A
SATCAT no.23931
Mission duration16 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes, 30 seconds
Distance travelled11,000,000 kilometres (6,800,000 mi)
Orbits completed271
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSpace Shuttle Columbia
Payload mass9,649 kilograms (21,272 lb)
Crew
Crew size7
Members
Start of mission
Launch date20 June 1996, 14:49:00.0075 (1996-06-20UTC14:49Z) UTC
Launch siteKennedy LC-39B
End of mission
Landing date7 July 1996, 12:37:30 (1996-07-07UTC12:37:31Z) UTC
Landing siteKennedy SLF Runway 33
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Perigee altitude246 kilometres (153 mi)
Apogee altitude261 kilometres (162 mi)
Inclination39.0 degrees
Period89.6 minutes

Left to right – Seated: Henricks, Kregel; Standing, Favier Linneham, Helms, Brady, Thirsk
 

Crew

Position Astronaut
Commander Terence T. Henricks
Fourth and last spaceflight
Pilot Kevin R. Kregel
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1 Richard M. Linnehan
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2 Susan J. Helms
Third spaceflight
Mission Specialist 3 Charles E. Brady, Jr.
Only spaceflight
Payload Specialist 1 Jean-Jacques Favier, CNES
Only spaceflight
Payload Specialist 2 Robert Thirsk, CSA
First spaceflight

Backup crew

Position Astronaut
Payload Specialist 1 Pedro Duque, ESA
First spaceflight
Payload Specialist 2 Luca Urbani, ASI
First spaceflight

Mission objectives

  • Research into the effects of long – duration spaceflight on human physiology in preparation for flights on the International Space Station.
  • 22 life science and microgravity experiments using the Orbiter's pressurised Life & Microgravity Spacelab module (LM2).
  • Tests into the use of the Orbiter's Reaction Control System jets to raise the altitude of orbiting satellites.

Mission highlights

Launch of STS-78

During the 16-day, 21-hour mission, the crew of Columbia assisted in the preparations for the International Space Station by studying the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body in readiness for ISS Expeditions, and also carried out experiments similar to those now being carried out on the orbital station.

Following launch, Columbia climbed to an altitude of 278 kilometers (173 mi) with an orbital inclination of 39° to the Earth's equator to allow the seven-member flight crew to maintain the same sleep rhythms they were accustomed to on Earth and to reduce vibrations and directional forces that could have affected on-board microgravity experiments.

Once in orbit, the crew entered the 40 foot (13 m) long pressurised Spacelab module to commence over 40 science experiments to take place during the mission. Not only did these experiments make use of the module's laboratory, but also employed lockers in the middeck section of the Shuttle. Thirteen of the experiments were dedicated to studying the effects of microgravity on the human body, whilst another six studied the behaviour of fluids and metals in the almost weightless environment and the production of metallic alloys and protein crystals. The crew also carried out the first ever comprehensive study of sleep patterns in microgravity, research into bone and muscle loss in space, and in-flight fixes to problem hardware on the Bubble, Drop and Particle Unit (BDPU), designed to study fluid physics.

The mission also featured a test of a procedure that was later used during the second Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission to raise the telescope's altitude without damaging the satellite's solar arrays. During the test, Columbia's vernier Reaction Control System jets were gently pulsed to boost the Shuttle's altitude without jarring any of the mission payloads. The test was successful, and was later employed by Discovery during STS-82, and was used multiple times to boost the orbit of the ISS during visits by Shuttles.

Mission anomaly

Although the launch went without any issue, an issue was discovered with the SRB's following recovery. Analysis showed worrying damage to the field joins which was likely caused by hot gases. This similar damage is what caused booster seals abord Space Shuttle Challenger to break resulting in a break-up mid-flight. The issue did not compromise astronaut safety because there was a hot gas path through the motors field joint but not the capture joint. Despite there being no issue with safety, it did raise questions of a new EPA required cleaning fluid.[1]

Due to the issue, STS-79 which was meant to dock with the Space Station Mir and return astronaut Shannon Lucid, was delayed. Options of returning Shannon on a Soyuz were considered, but never followed through as the Shuttle was considered safe and able to return Shannon.

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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