STS-43

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Mission emblem
Mission emblem STS-43
Mission dates
Mission: STS-43
COSPAR-ID : 1991-054A
Crew: 5
Begin: August 2, 1991, 3:02:00 p.m.  UTC
Starting place: Kennedy Space Center , LC-39A
Landing: August 11, 1991, 12:23:25 UTC
Landing place: Kennedy Space Center, Lane 15
Flight duration: 8d 21h 21m 25s
Earth orbits: 142
Rotation time : 90.6 min
Orbit inclination : 28.4 °
Apogee : 329 km
Perigee : 309 km
Covered track: 5.9 million km
Payload: TDRS 5
Team photo
v. l. No. Shannon Lucid, James Adamson, John Blaha, David Low, Michael Baker
v. l. No. Shannon Lucid, James Adamson, John Blaha, David Low, Michael Baker
◄ Before / After ►
STS-40 STS-48

STS-43 ( english S pace T ransportation S ystem) is a mission designation for the US Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) of NASA . The launch took place on August 2, 1991. It was the 42nd space shuttle mission and the ninth flight of the space shuttle Atlantis.

team

Mission overview

The TDRS-E satellite is suspended

The launch took place on August 2, 1991. It was originally planned for July 23, but was initially postponed to the next day in order to have time to replace incorrectly mounted electronics that control the release of the two solid fuel rockets. The mission was postponed again around five hours before the scheduled start on July 24th due to a faulty engine control unit on the main engine. The start was postponed to August 1st so that the control unit could be replaced and checked for functionality. The start had to be postponed again for a day due to bad weather.

After the successful catapult launch of NASA's own data transmission satellite TDRS-E six hours after the launch, medical examinations on space traveler's disease were the focus of the investigations. For this purpose, a negative pressure suit was used to draw blood into the lower extremities and thus counteract blood congestion in the head. Further experiments concerned earth exploration and atmospheric research, but could only be carried out to a limited extent in some cases. Important work was also the re-testing of a heat regulation system for future space stations (Space Station Heat Pipe Advanced Radiator Element SHARE II), the production of protein crystals, investigations into the production of plastic membranes, measurements of the remaining accelerations of the space shuttle (experiment SAMS), the study of combustion processes solid surfaces (SSCE) and the recording of UV outbreaks (UVPI).

The TDRS-E satellite was launched into geosynchronous orbit with two IUS upper level ignitions , then separated from the upper level and deployed the antennas and solar panels. It was positioned at 175 degrees west above the equator and after its activation was given the designation TDRS-5.

During the tests in orbit in preparation for landing, the cooling of APU No. 2 failed. The problem could still be solved in orbit. The APU 2 is one of three redundantly designed systems to supply the hydraulic system for controlling the orbiter during reentry and landing.

The Atlantis landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility , Runway 15, at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on August 11th . It was the first planned landing at KSC since the STS-61-C mission in January 1986, which actually had to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

See also

Web links

Commons : STS-43  - album with pictures, videos and audio files