STS-33

Discovery (9)

USA

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:	23.11.1989
Launch time:	00:23 UTC
Launch site:	Cape Canaveral (KSC)
Launch pad:	39-B
Altitude:	559 km
Inclination:	28,45°
Landing date:	28.11.1989
Landing time:	00:30 UTC
Landing site:	Edwards AFB

Crew

No.	Surname	Given names	Position	Flight No.	Duration	Orbits
1	Gregory	Frederick Drew	CDR	2	5d 00h 06m	79
2	Blaha	John Elmer	PLT	2	5d 00h 06m	79
3	Carter	Manley Lanier, Jr. "Sonny"	MSP	1	5d 00h 06m	79
4	Musgrave	Franklin Story	MSP	3	5d 00h 06m	79
5	Thornton	Kathryn Cordell Ryan	MSP	1	5d 00h 06m	79

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1	Gregory
2	Blaha
3	Carter
4	Musgrave
5	Thornton

Landing
1	Gregory
2	Blaha
3	Thornton
4	Musgrave
5	Carter

Flight

Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing on Edwards AFB.

The launch was originally scheduled for November 20, 1989, but was delayed because of suspect integrated electronics assemblies which control ignition and separation of the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters.

S. David Griggs, the originally scheduled pilot for this mission, died in a plane crash 5 months prior to the shuttle launch. He was replaced by John Blaha.

This flight was the fifth mission dedicated to the Department of Defense. Mail goal was to deploy the reconnaissance satellite "Big Ear" (Magnum 2; USA-48), a secret Magnum ELINT (ELectronic INTtelligence) satellite. Frederick Gregory became the first afro-american spacecraft commander.

The landing was postponed for a day because of strong winds at the landing site.