STS-50

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Mission emblem
Mission emblem STS-50
Mission dates
Mission: STS-50
COSPAR-ID : 1992-034A
Crew: 7th
Begin: June 25, 1992, 16:12:23  UTC
Starting place: Kennedy Space Center , LC-39A
Landing: July 9, 1992, 11:42:27 UTC
Landing place: Kennedy Space Center, Lane 33
Flight duration: 13d 19h 30m 4s
Earth orbits: 221
Rotation time : 90.5 min
Orbit inclination : 28.4 °
Apogee : 309 km
Perigee : 294 km
Covered track: 9.2 million km
Payload: Spacelab
Team photo
v. l. No. Ellen Baker, Kenneth Bowersox, Bonnie Dunbar, Richard Richards, Carl Meade, Eugene Trinh, Lawrence DeLucas
v. l. No. Ellen Baker, Kenneth Bowersox, Bonnie Dunbar, Richard Richards, Carl Meade, Eugene Trinh, Lawrence DeLucas
◄ Before / After ►
STS-49 STS-46

STS-50 ( english S pace T ransportation S ystem) is a mission designation for the US Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) NASA . The launch took place on June 25, 1992. It was the 48th space shuttle mission and the 12th flight of the Columbia space shuttle.

team

Main team

John Casper was the first to be the pilot . However, when he was given command of STS-54 , he was replaced by Bowersox, who was designated as a mission specialist. Ellen Baker moved up for Bowersox.

replacement

Mission overview

With the Columbia, the United States Microgravity Laboratory was brought into orbit for its first use. It was located in a Spacelab module in the space shuttle's payload bay. The flight duration should be extended to 16 days with the help of the EDO (Extended Duration Orbiter) pallet, which is located in the rear part of the cargo bay. The EDO range contains additional fuel for the shuttle's energy supply system, a carbon dioxide absorber and a nitrogen supply to supplement the cabin air.

The astronauts worked a total of 34 experiments in twelve-hour shifts. They concerned the research areas of astronomy , materials science (crystal growth), physics (micro-accelerations on board the shuttle) and biotechnology (zeolite crystals, protein crystals). Physical investigations were carried out on the dynamics of liquids (surface tension, droplet formation) and the spread of flames in weightlessness . Experimental greenhouse constructions for future space stations were also tested . Medical research aimed at the longer stay of people in weightlessness.

A leaky oxygen tank, a defect in the carbon dioxide disposal system and difficulties with the domestic water drainage system shortened the mission time by 2 days. The Columbia landed due to bad weather in Edwards on a concrete runway in the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

See also

Web links

Commons : STS-50  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ NASA News Release 91-137 of August 23, 1991