Sts-46

STS-46

EURECA deployment
Mission type	Satellite deployment Technology
Operator	NASA
COSPAR ID	1992-049A
SATCAT №	22064
Mission duration	7 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds[1]
Distance travelled	5,344,643 kilometres (3,321,007 mi)
Orbits completed	127
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Atlantis
Landing mass	94,676 kilograms (208,725 lb)
Payload mass	12,164 kilograms (26,817 lb)
Crew
Crew size	7
Members	Loren J. Shriver Andrew M. Allen Claude Nicollier Marsha S. Ivins Jeffrey A. Hoffman Franklin R. Chang-Diaz Franco Malerba
Start of mission
Launch date	31 July 1992, 13:56:48 (1992-07-31T13:56:48Z) UTC
Launch site	Kennedy LC-39A
End of mission
Landing date	Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter. UTC
Landing site	Kennedy SLF Runway 33
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Low Earth
Perigee	425 kilometres (264 mi)
Apogee	437 kilometres (272 mi)
Inclination	28.45 degrees
Period	93.2 min
Left to right - Seated: Allen, Shriver; Standing: Ivins, Nicollier, Hoffman, Chang-Diaz, Malerba Space Shuttle program ← STS-50 STS-47 →

STS-46 was a NASA space shuttle mission using Space Shuttle Atlantis and was launched on 31 July 1992 at 9:56:48 am EDT.

Crew

Backup crew

Crew seating arrangements

Seat[2]	Launch	Landing	Seats 1–4 are on the Flight Deck. Seats 5–7 are on the Middeck.
S1	Shriver	Shriver
S2	Allen	Allen
S3	Nicollier	Hoffman
S4	Ivins	Ivins
S5	Hoffman	Nicollier
S6	Chang-Diaz	Chang-Diaz
S7	Malerba	Malerba

Mission highlights

The mission's primary objectives were the deployment of the European Space Agency's EURECA (European Retrievable Carrier) and the joint NASA/Italian Space Agency Tethered Satellite System (TSS). EURECA was deployed a day later than scheduled because of a problem with its data handling system. Seven and a half hours after deployment, the spacecraft's thrusters were fired to boost EURECA to its planned operating altitude of around 310 miles. However, thruster firing was cut to six minutes from 24 minutes because of unexpected attitude data from the spacecraft. The problem was resolved, and EURECA was successfully boosted to its operational orbit on the mission's sixth day. TSS deployment also was delayed one day because of the problems with EURECA. During deployment, the satellite reached a maximum distance of only 860 feet from the orbiter instead of the planned 12.5 miles because of a jammed tether line. After numerous attempts over several days to free the tether, TSS operations were curtailed, and the satellite was stowed for return to Earth. It would be reflown in 1996 on STS-75.

Secondary payloads included the Evaluation of Oxygen Integration with Materials/Thermal Management Processes (EOIM-III/TEMP 2A), Consortium for Materials Development in Space Complex Autonomous Payload (CONCAP II and CONCAP III), IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC), Limited Duration Space Environment Candidate Materials Exposure (LDCE), Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS), Pituitary Growth Hormone Cell Function (PHCF), and the Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPI). The mission was extended by a day in order to complete scientific objectives.

STS-46 marked the 150th human spaceflight to achieve orbit.

Gallery

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  EURECA after deployment

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  TSS satellite

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  TSS deployment

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  TSS deployment

See also

• Space science
• Space shuttle
• List of space shuttle missions
• List of human spaceflights chronologically

References

External links

• NASA mission summary
• STS-46 Video Highlights

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.