STS-89

Mission emblem

Mission dates

Mission:

STS-89

COSPAR-ID :

1998-003A

Crew:

7th

Begin:

January 23, 1998, 02:48:15 UTC

Starting place:

Kennedy Space Center , LC-39A

Space station:

Me

Coupling:

January 24, 1998, 20:14 UTC

Decoupling:

January 29, 1998, 16:56 UTC

Duration on me:

4d 20h 42min

Landing:

January 31, 1998, 10:35:10 PM UTC

Landing place:

Kennedy Space Center, Lane 15

Flight duration:

8d 19h 46min 55s

Earth orbits:

138

Rotation time :

92.2 min

Apogee :

385 km

Perigee :

379 km

Covered track:

5.8 million km

Team photo

v. l. No. Front: Joe Edwards, Terrence Wilcutt, Bonnie Dunbar;
Back: David Wolf, Salischan Scharipow, James Reilly, Andrew Thomas, Michael Anderson

◄ Before / After ►

STS-87

STS-90

STS-89 ( English S pace T ransportation S ystem) is the mission name for a flight of the US space shuttle Endeavor ( OV -105) of NASA . The launch took place on January 23, 1998. It was the 89th space shuttle mission, the twelfth flight of the space shuttle Endeavor, the tenth flight as part of the Shuttle Mir program and the eighth coupling of a US space shuttle to the Mir space station .

team

Terrence Wilcutt (3rd space flight), commander
Joe Edwards (1st spaceflight), pilot
Bonnie Dunbar (5th spaceflight), mission specialist
Michael Anderson (1st spaceflight), mission specialist
James Reilly (1st Spaceflight), Mission Specialist
Salishan Sharipov ( Russia ) (1st space flight), mission specialistRussia

Me crew outbound

Andrew Thomas (2nd space flight)

Me crew return flight

David Wolf (2nd space flight)

(Returned to Earth after a flight time of 127 days, 20 hours and 2 minutes; one-way flight on STS-86 )

Mission description

The eighth coupling maneuver of an American space shuttle to the Russian Mir space station was the first to complete the Endeavor. As in the previous missions, the Mir shuttle docking module was coupled . There was a SpaceHab double module in the Endeavor's cargo bay. It contained several experiments as well as equipment and food that were brought to the Mir space station. The coupling was completed on the third day of flight. David Wolf returned to Earth after 128 days with the space shuttle, Andrew Thomas took his place on the station. The experiments Astroculture (Advanced CGBA) for testing an automatic greenhouse in continuous operation, X-Ray Detector for testing an X-ray sensor for structural analysis of crystals , the cell culture experiment CoCulture as well as Diffusion- Controlled Crystallization Apparatus for Microgravity ( DCAM ) and Gaseous Nitrogen Dewar were installed here for the production of very pure protein crystals . The results of previous experiments were brought from the space station to the shuttle. This included plant samples , semiconductor materials , protein crystals, saliva, blood and urine samples that were frozen in special systems or stored at a constant temperature (Enhanced Orbiter Refrigerator / Freezer and Thermo Electric Holding Module).

Several scientific experiments were carried out in the middle deck and in the SpaceHab during the flight. The development of fish , snails and plants in a closed aquarium (Closed Equilibrated Biological Aquatic System) was studied, the effectiveness of the nutrient supply for plants via porous materials was analyzed (Microgravity Plant Nutrient Experiment) and the behavior of granules in weightlessness was investigated (Mechanics of granular materials). Above all, the effects of compressive forces on the movements of three different granulates were recorded. From this information about faults in the event of earthquakes should also be derived.

Further investigations were carried out in containers anchored in the cargo bay (Get Away Specials). The processes involved in atomizing a liquid into small droplets were studied. It was silicone oil fluidized in an air-filled cylinder by a piston. This created a liquid-gas mixture. The silicone oil was interspersed with tiny silver-plated glass beads, the movements of which could be made visible with a laser (vortex). The experiment Structure of Marangoni Convection in Floating Zones also dealt with liquids . Here the internal movement of free liquid surfaces at local temperature differences was observed. The Marangoni convection influences z. B. the regularity of semiconductor crystals . Therefore one studies their effect without the overlapping influences of gravity . Investigations on fine melts aimed to improve the handling of glass melts and the elimination of all visible gas inclusions. For this purpose, a glass sample with artificial oxygen inclusions was heated to 1,300 ° C and the dissolution of the gas bubbles was recorded. In other containers, differences between melting temperature and solidification point were measured, high-temperature superconductors were investigated, gallium antimonide crystals were drawn, crystal cylinders were epitaxially produced and the size of liquid droplets when wetting different materials was determined.

For the first time, a system was tested with which medical data can be recorded and transmitted to earth by image and sound (TeleMedicine Instrumentation Pack). A special camera was used to examine the eyes , ears , mouth and throat . Heart sounds , breathing and intestinal noises could also be transmitted via an electronic stethoscope . In addition, there were measured values of heart activity (EKG), oxygen content of the blood, blood pressure and pulse . This is intended to improve medical care in the future, especially for longer stays in space.

Further experiments concerned, for example, the analysis of high-frequency radar echoes caused by the shuttle's engine ignitions (Shuttle Ionospheric Modification with Pulsed Local Exhaust) and the recording and transmission of images of the earth's surface with the EarthKAM, a camera controlled by students. The aim is to include natural or man-made phenomena directly in the classroom.

To assess the risk of stays in space, condensation samples were taken in various areas of the space shuttle (Shuttle Condensate Collection) and the radiation exposure measured during the flight (Intravehicular Radiation Environment Measurement by the Real-time Radiation Monitor). The Endeavor landed in Florida on schedule.