Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 100

STS-51C

Discovery (3)

USA

Patch STS-51C Patch DoD

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Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  24.01.1985
Launch time:  19:50 UTC
Launch site:  Cape Canaveral (KSC)
Launch pad:  39-A
Altitude:  407 km
Inclination:  28,5°
Landing date:  27.01.1985
Landing time:  21:23 UTC
Landing site:  Cape Canaveral (KSC)

walkout photo

STS-51C crew

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alternate crew photo

Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position Flight No. Duration Orbits
1 USA Mattingly   Thomas Kenneth II "Ken"  CDR 3 3d 01h 33m  49 
2 USA  Shriver  Loren James  PLT 1 3d 01h 33m  49 
3 USA  Onizuka  Ellison Shoji  MSP 1 3d 01h 33m  49 
4 USA  Buchli  James Frederick  MSP 1 3d 01h 33m  49 
5 USA  Payton  Gary Eugene  MSE 1 3d 01h 33m  49 

Crew seating arrangement

Launch
1  Mattingly
2  Shriver
3  Onizuka
4  Buchli
5  Payton
Space Shuttle cockpit
Landing
1  Mattingly
2  Shriver
3  Onizuka
4  Buchli
5  Payton

Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
5 USA  Wright  Keith Charles  MSE
Keith Wright

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Flight

Launch from Cape Canaveral (KSC); landing at Cape Canaveral (KSC).

The launch was scheduled for January 23, 1985 but was delayed because of freezing weather conditions. Orbiter Challenger had been scheduled for this flight, but Discovery was substituted when thermal tile problems were encountered with Challenger.

First Shuttle mission dedicated to Department of Defense. U.S. Air Force Inertial Upper Stage (IUS/ELINT) booster deployed and met mission objectives. Payton became first military astronaut.

According to scientific papers, STS-51C launched a secret Magnum ELINT (ELectronic INTelligence) gathering satellite into a geosynchronous orbit.

Photos / Drawings

Space Shuttle STS-51C MAGNUM
STS-51C rollout STS-51C launch
in-flight photo STS-51C Quezaltenango, Guatemala
STS-51C landing  

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Last update on November 15, 2009.

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