Human Spaceflights

International Flight No. 100

STS-51C

Discovery (3)

USA

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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

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alternate crew photo

Crew

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

Crew seating arrangement

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

Backup Crew

No.   Surname Given names Position
5  Wright  Keith Charles  MSE

hi res version (585 KB)

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.

This was the first Shuttle mission dedicated to Department of Defense. The U.S. Air Force Inertial Upper Stage (IUS/ELINT) booster was deployed and met mission objectives. Gary Payton became the first military astronaut in space.

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

Photos / Drawings

 

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Last update on July 21, 2012.