STS-54
{{Short description|1993 American crewed spaceflight to deploy TRDS-6}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = STS-54
| names_list = Space Transportation System-54
| image = 1993 s54 TDRS-F.jpg
| image_caption = Endeavour deploys the TDRS-F satellite.
| mission_type = TDRS-F satellite deployment
Technology research
| operator = NASA
| mission_duration = {{time interval|January 13, 1993, 13:59:30|January 19, 1993, 13:37:47|show=dhms|sep=,}}
| distance_travelled = {{cvt|2,501,277|mi|order=flip}}
| orbits_completed = 96
| spacecraft = {{OV|105}}
| launch_mass =
| landing_mass = {{cvt|92988|kg}}
| payload_mass = {{cvt|18559|kg}}
| crew_size = 5
| crew_members = {{Unbulleted list|John Casper|Donald R. McMonagle|Mario Runco Jr.|Gregory J. Harbaugh|Susan Helms}}
| launch_date = {{Start date text|January 13, 1993, 13:59:30|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC (8:59:30{{nbsp}}am{{nbsp}}EST)
| launch_site = Kennedy, LC-39B
| launch_contractor = Rockwell International
| landing_date = {{End date text|January 19, 1993, 13:37:47|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC (8:37:47{{nbsp}}am{{nbsp}}EST)
| landing_site = Kennedy, SLF Runway 33
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit
| orbit_periapsis = {{cvt|302|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis = {{cvt|309|km}}
| orbit_inclination = 28.45 degrees
| orbit_period = 90.60 minutes
| apsis = gee
| instruments = {{ubl|Commercial General Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGPA)|Chromosome and Plant Cell Division|Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS)|Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE)|Space Acceleration Measurement Equipment (SAMS)|Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE)}}
| insignia = Sts-54-patch.png
| insignia_caption = STS-54 mission patch
| crew_photo = Sts-54 crew.jpg
| crew_photo_caption = From left: Runco, Casper, McMonagle, Helms and Harbaugh
| programme = Space Shuttle program
| previous_mission = STS-53 (52)
| next_mission = STS-56 (54)
}}
STS-54 was a NASA Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle) mission using Space Shuttle Endeavour. This was the third flight for Endeavour, and was launched on January 13, 1993 with Endeavour returning to the Kennedy Space Center on January 19, 1993.
Crew
{{Spaceflight crew
| position1 = Commander
| crew1_up = John Casper
| flights1_up = Second
| position2 = Pilot
| crew2_up = Donald R. McMonagle
| flights2_up = Second
| position3 = Mission Specialist 1
| crew3_up = Mario Runco Jr.
| flights3_up = Second
| position4 = Mission Specialist 2
Flight Engineer
| crew4_up = Gregory J. Harbaugh
| flights4_up = Second
| position5 = Mission Specialist 3
| crew5_up = Susan Helms
| flights5_up = First
}}
= Crew seat assignments =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Launch ! Landing |rowspan=8| 150px |
| 1
|colspan=2| Casper |
|---|
| 2
|colspan=2| McMonagle |
| 3
|Runco |Helms |
| 4
|colspan=2| Harbaugh |
| 5
|Helms |Runco |
| 6
|colspan=2 style="background-color:lightgray"| Unused |
| 7
|colspan=2 style="background-color:lightgray"| Unused |
Mission highlights
File:STS-54 Harbaugh carries Runco.jpg
The primary payload was the fifth TDRS satellite, TDRS-F, which was deployed on day one of the mission.{{cite web|title=TDRS-F|url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1993-003B|access-date=December 26, 2022}} It was later successfully transferred to its proper orbit by the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-54.html|title=Space Shuttle STS-54 Mission Archives|publisher=NASA|access-date=December 26, 2022}} Also carried into orbit in the payload bay was a Hitchhiker experiment called the Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS). This instrument collected data on X-ray radiation from diffuse sources in deep space.{{cite web|url=http://hea-www.harvard.edu/~edgar/dxspage.html |title=Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS)|access-date=December 26, 2022}}
Other middeck payloads to test the effects of microgravity included the Commercial General Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGPA) for-life sciences research; the Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space Experiment (CHROMEX) to-study plant growth; the Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE) to examine the skeletal system and the adaptation of bone to space flight; the Space Acceleration Measurement Equipment (SAMS) to measure and record the microgravity acceleration environment of middeck experiments; and the Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE) to measure the rate of flame spread and temperature of burning filter paper.{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-54.htm|title=STS-54 Endeavour|publisher=Spacefacts.de|access-date=December 26, 2022}}
Also, on day five, mission specialists Mario Runco Jr. and Gregory J. Harbaugh spent nearly 5 hours in the open cargo bay performing a series of space-walking tasks designed to increase NASA's knowledge of working in space. They tested their abilities to move about freely in the cargo bay, climb into foot restraints without using their hands and simulated carrying large objects in the microgravity environment. The EVA completed after 4 hours, 28 minutes.
The EVA was a late addition to the mission plan as part of NASA's objectives to hone EVA skills required for hardware assembly anticipating the International Space Station.{{cite web|title='Tumbling Off Into Space': 25 Years Since Endeavour's Vanilla-to-Chocolate STS-54 Mission|url=https://www.americaspace.com/2018/01/14/tumbling-off-into-space-25-years-since-endeavours-vanilla-to-chocolate-sts-54-mission/|first=Ben |last=Evans|date=January 15, 2018 |publisher=AmericaSpace|access-date=December 26, 2022}}
The mission completed on January 19, 1993, with a landing at Kennedy Space Center.
See also
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-54/mission-sts-54.html NASA mission summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830034933/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-54/mission-sts-54.html |date=August 30, 2013 }}
{{Space Shuttle Endeavour}}
{{All U.S. Space Shuttle Missions}}
{{Orbital launches in 1993}}