STS-64

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Mission emblem
Mission emblem STS-64
Mission dates
Mission: STS-64
COSPAR-ID : 1994-059A
Crew: 6th
Begin: September 9, 1994, 22:22:55  UTC
Starting place: Kennedy Space Center , LC-39B
Number of EVA : 1
Landing: September 20, 1994, 21:12:51 UTC
Landing place: Edwards Air Force Base , runway 04
Flight duration: 10d 22h 49m 57s
Earth orbits: 176
Rotation time : 89.5 min
Orbit inclination : 56.9 °
Apogee : 269 ​​km
Perigee : 259 km
Covered track: 7.2 million km
Team photo
v. l. No. Front: Blaine Hammond, Richard Richards, Susan Helms; Back: Mark Lee, Jerry Linenger, Carl Meade
v. l. No. Front: Blaine Hammond, Richard Richards, Susan Helms;
Back: Mark Lee, Jerry Linenger, Carl Meade
◄ Before / After ►
STS-65 STS-68

STS-64 ( english S pace T ransportation S ystem) is a mission designation for the US Space Shuttle Discovery ( OV -103) of NASA . The launch took place on September 9, 1994. It was the 64th space shuttle mission and the 19th flight of the space shuttle Discovery.

team

Mission overview

The mission focused on five scientific and technical investigations. Experiments on atmospheric research, astronomy, materials research and space technology were carried out. The work program was supplemented by routine examinations and automatically running research.

Light Detection and Ranging ( Lidar ) consisted of a pulse laser and a telescope. The laser sent light pulses into the earth's atmosphere and was partially reflected by the particles (aerosols, dust) there. This reflected light is measured by the telescope. Statements about the location, distribution and nature of the particles can be obtained from the data. Measurements were taken in clouds of smoke over North America, rain clouds over Central America, industrial fumes in various regions and particle clouds over an active volcano in New Guinea. A total of around 2 million measurements were carried out. After evaluating the data, one wants to be able to make statements about the influence of humans on changes in the atmosphere.

Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy ( SPARTAN 201) is a satellite that was deployed for 48 hours on the 5th day of flight. He carried 2 measuring instruments to study the solar wind. The White Light Coronagraph determined the distribution of electrons in the sun's corona. The ultraviolet coronal spectrometer was used to measure the temperature distribution and the distribution of protons and hydrogen atoms in the individual layers of the corona. Due to location problems, the satellite could only be recaptured 8 hours later than planned.

During the Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment (SPIFEX), a 10-meter-long detector carrier with the manipulator arm was brought into the exhaust clouds of the maneuvering engines. Findings about the temperature, pressure and speed of the engine gases are to be taken into account when positioning the drive units of the International Space Station.

The Robot Operated Materials Processing System (ROMPS) was the United States' first robot system in space. The robot loaded a melting furnace heated with halogen lamps one after the other with 100 different semiconductor samples. In the furnace itself, the thin semiconductor layers were first melted and then crystallized.

Lee and Meade on a space exit

Another important part of the mission was the EVA of astronauts Mark Charles Lee and Carl Joseph Meade on September 16 for 6 hours and 51 minutes. In doing so, they tested various technical innovations designed to make working in free space easier. This includes a small monitor attached to the astronaut's forearm that acts as an electronic checklist. More spectacular, however, was the first use of a small maneuvering device for the space travelers, with which they can move more quickly within the cargo bay. They can also stabilize their position or return to the spaceship in emergencies. Meade and Lee carried out an extensive test program for this. First, they familiarized themselves with the system through short flights and turns. Then they simulated an emergency in which they detached themselves from the manipulator arm and got into uncontrolled rotation. With the help of the device called SAFER , they were able to stop the rotation and return to the manipulator arm. The astronaut in question was not secured by a line.

The work program was completed by a series of routine experiments. These included the investigation of combustion processes on solid surfaces (Solid Surface Combustion Experiment), a canister with automatically running biological research (Biological Research In Canister), the recording of radiation values ​​in the spaceship (Radiation Monitoring Experiment), the calibration of optical sensors on Maui (AMOS ) and amateur radio contacts to schools in the USA (Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment). On the fifth day of flight, NASA extended the flight by one day so that the SPARTAN satellite could be adequately tested before it was deployed. Another flight extension was caused by bad weather at the intended destination. After a successful flight, the Discovery landed in California on September 20th.

See also

Web links

Commons : STS-64  - album with pictures, videos and audio files