Spacelab-2
 

51-F (19)

CHALLENGER (8)

Pad 39-A (31)

19th Shuttle mission

8th Flight OV-099

RSLS Abort after SSME Ignition (2)

Abort-to orbit (1)

Extended mission

Crew:

Gordon Fullerton (2), Commander

Roy D. Bridges (1), Jr., Pilot

F. Story Musgrave (2), Mission Specialist 1

Anthony W. England (1), Mission Specialist 2

Karl G. Henize (1), Mission Specialist 3

Loren W. Acton (1), Payload Specialist 1

John-David F. Bartoe (1), Payload Specialist 2

Milestones:

OPF - May 12,1985

VAB - June 24, 1985

PAD - June 29, 1985

Payload:

SPACELAB-2,SAREX(1),CBDE,PGU

Mission Objectives:

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The Spacelab-2 payload consisted of an igloo and three pallets in the payload bay, containing scientific instruments dedicated to life sciences, plasma physics, astronomy, high-energy astrophysics, solar physics, atmospheric physics and technology research.

A major objective of the mission was to verify the performance of the Spacelab systems with the orbiter as well as to measure the environment created by the vehicle in space.

Launch:

July 29, 1985, 5:00:00 p.m. EDT. Launch countdown July 12 halted at T-3 seconds after main engine ignition when a malfunction of number two Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) coolant valve caused shutdown of all three main engines. Launch July 29 delayed one hour, 37 minutes due to problem with table maintenance block update uplink. Five minutes, 45 seconds into ascent, number one main engine shutdown prematurely, resulting In an Abort To Orbit (ATO) trajectory. Launch Weight: 252,855 lbs.

Orbit:

Altitude: 173nm

Inclination: 49.5 degrees

Orbits: 127

Duration: 7 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes; 26 seconds.

Distance: 3,283,543 miles

Hardware:

SRB: BI-017

SRM: M019(HPM)

ET : 19/LWT-12

MLP : 2

SSME-1: SN-2023

SSME-2: SN-2020

SSME-3: SN-2021

Landing:

August 6, 1985, 12:45:26 p.m. PDT, Runway 23, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 8,569 feet. Rollout time: 55 seconds. Mission extended 17 revolutions for additional payload activities due to abort-to-orbit. Orbiter returned to KSC Aug. 11, 1985. Landing Weight: 216,735 lbs.

Mission Highlights:

Primary payload was Spacelab-2. Despite abort-to-orbit, which required mission replanning, mission declared success. Special part of modular Spacelab system, the Igloo, located at head of three-pallet train, provided on-site support to instruments mounted on pallets. Main mission objective was to verify performance of Spacelab system sand determine interface capability of orbiter, and measure environment induced by spacecraft. Experiments covered life sciences, plasma physics, astronomy, high energy astrophysics, solar physics, atmospheric physics and technology research.

The flight marked the first time the ESA Instrument Pointing System (IPS) was tested in orbit. This unique experiment pointing enstrument was designed with an accuracy of one arc second. Initially, some problems were experienced when it was commanded to track the Sun. A series of software fixes were made and the problem was corrected.