sts-51-d

Mission Insignia

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Mission Statistics
Mission:	STS-51-D
Shuttle:	Discovery
Launch Pad:	39-A
Launch:	April 12, 1985, 8:59:05 a.m. EST
Landing:	April 19, 1985,8:54:28 a.m. EST, Runway 33, Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Duration:	Six days, 23 hours, 55 minutes, 23 seconds
Orbit Altitude:	285nm
Orbit Inclination:	28.5 degrees
Miles Traveled:	2,889,785
Crew photo

STS 51-D was the sixteenth flight of a Space Shuttle and the fourth flight of Discovery. It conducted the fifth landing at Kennedy Space Center.

Crew

Karol J. Bobko (2), Commander
Donald E. Williams (1), Pilot
M. Rhea Seddon (1), Mission Specialist 1
Jeffrey A. Hoffman (1), Mission Specialist 2
S. David Griggs (1), Mission Specialist 3
Charles D. Walker (2), Payload Specialist 1
Sen E. Jake Garn (1), Payload Specialist 2

Mission Parameters

Mass:

Orbiter Liftoff: 113,802 kg
Orbiter Landing: 89,816 kg
Payload: 16,249 kg

Perigee: 445 km
Apogee: 535 km
Inclination: 28.5
Period: 94.4 min

Space walk

Hoffman and Griggs - EVA 1
EVA 1 Start: April 16, 1985
EVA 1 End: April 16, 1985
Duration: 3 hours, 06 minutes

Mission Highlights

TELESAT-l (ANIK C-1) communications satellite deployed, attached to Payload Assist Module (PAM-D) motor. SYNCOM IV-3 (also known as LEASAT-3) deployed. but spacecraft sequencer failed to initiate antenna deployment, spin.up and ignition of perigee kick motor. Mission extended two days to make certain sequencer start lever in proper position. Griggs and Hoffman performed space walk to attach Flyswatter devices to remote manipulator system. Seddon engaged LEASAT lever using remote manipulator system but post deployment sequence did not begin. Other payloads: Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES) III, flying for sixth time; two Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSIP) experiments; American Flight Echocardiograph (AFE); two Getaway Specials; Phase Partitioning Experiments (PPE); astronomy Photography verification test; medical experiments and "toys in space," an informal study of the behavior of simple toys in weightless environment, with results to be made available to school students. Extensive brake damage and blown tire during landing prompted landing of future flights at Edwards Air Force Base until implementation of nose wheel steering.