STS-93

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Mission emblem
Mission emblem STS-93
Mission dates
Mission: STS-93
COSPAR-ID : 1999-040A
Crew: 5
Begin: July 23, 1999, 4:31:00  UTC
Starting place: Kennedy Space Center , LC-39B
Landing: July 28, 1999, 3:20:37 UTC
Landing place: Kennedy Space Center, Lane 33
Flight duration: 4d 22h 49min 37s
Earth orbits: 80
Rotation time : 90.0 min
Orbit inclination : 28.5 °
Apogee : 280 km
Perigee : 260 km
Covered track: 2.8 million km
Payload: Chandra Telescope
Team photo
v. l. No. Eileen Collins, Steven Hawley, Jeffrey Ashby, Michel Tognini, Catherine Coleman
v. l. No. Eileen Collins, Steven Hawley, Jeffrey Ashby, Michel Tognini, Catherine Coleman
◄ Before / After ►
STS-96 STS-103

STS-93 ( english S pace T ransportation S ystem) is the mission designation for a flight of the US Space Shuttle Columbia ( OV -102) of NASA . The launch took place on July 23, 1999. It was the 95th space shuttle mission and the 26th flight of the Columbia space shuttle.

During take-off, a dissolved oxygen nozzle caused a hydrogen leak in one of the engines, so that the engine automatically switched off prematurely. As a result, the intended orbit height was not fully achieved. The mission could still be carried out successfully.

team

(On this flight the space shuttle was commanded for the first time by a woman).

Mission description

With the Columbia the X-ray telescope Chandra was put into low earth orbit. Just a few hours after take-off, it was catapulted out of the loading bay after a brief system check. The two-stage inertial upper stage later brought the satellite to an elliptical orbit between 1,200 and 72,000 kilometers.

Experiments in the fields of biology, astronomy, atmospheric research and space technology were then carried out on board the space shuttle . Engine ignitions were used to calibrate the sensors of the MSX ( Midcourse Space Experiment ) satellite , which was launched in 1996 . He flew over the space shuttle about 600 kilometers away. The influence of the engine exhaust on the surrounding ionosphere was investigated in the SIMPLEX experiment . The source of high-frequency radar echoes caused by the orbiter should be targeted. The data are needed to determine turbulence in the ionosphere. A CCD camera (South West Ultraviolet Imaging System) coupled to a UV telescope was located on the middle deck of the Columbia . With it, pictures of celestial bodies in our solar system can be made in quick succession. Objects of observation were the planets Mercury , Venus and Jupiter as well as the moon and a comet . From the middle deck, pictures of the earth were also taken with an electronic camera (Earth KAM).

The influence of microgravity on the production of gelatinous mixtures was also researched. This was intended to prove that precursors of composite ceramics get a more uniform structure in weightlessness. Technological research included the testing of shape memory metals for unfolding individual solar cell panels (Light Weight Flexible Solar Array Hinge) and the testing of the performance of accelerometers, gyro systems and sensors during take-off, landing and while staying in weightlessness (Micro-Electrical Mechanical Systems).

On the one hand, the biological investigations concerned the confirmation of models for the loss of tissue and function of muscle, bone and skin cells due to the stress factors weightlessness and increased radiation (Cell Culture Module). At the cellular level, the cell skeleton , metabolism , membrane integrity and protease activity were examined. In addition, pharmaceutical preparations were tested that are supposed to slow down tissue loss. In the Space Tissue Loss experiment, cell cultures were monitored with a microscope system in order to be able to record their immediate reactions to changes in the environment. On the other hand, it was investigated whether plants are suitable for indicating changes in the environment through direct physiological reactions (Plant Growth Investigations in Microgravity). The experiments Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus and Biological Research In a Canister were also on board.

During the mission, amateur radio contact was made with school classes several times via the SAREX experiment. The bicycle training served not only for physical exercise, but also to investigate the vibrations caused by it and ways to dampen them. Several problems had arisen when the Columbia was launched. Apparently, hydrogen leaked from an engine . Overheating of the engine could have led to its automatic shutdown. Then the space shuttle would not have reached orbit. In addition, a short circuit had occurred during the start-up phase. Both defects had no effect on the night landing in Florida.

See also

Web links

Commons : STS-93  - album with pictures, videos and audio files