STS-27 (Atlantis)

 1988-106A

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The second return-to-flight mission was a classified DoD flight, launched on 1988 Dec 2. Amateur observers saw a large payload in orbit next to Atlantis after the first few hours; it is believed to have been the first LACROSSE radar imaging reconnaissance satellite. Middeck experiments included auroral photography, cloud studies, cosmic ray measurements, and the SPADVOS Spaceborne Direct View Optical System, an experiment to evaluate human reconnaissance from space. The  mission lasted 4 days with landing at Edwards on Dec 6.

STS-27 was hit by ET foam during ascent, and during the mission the astronauts reported tile damage, but the concerns were dismissed by Houston. In the event, Atlantis survived reentry but with significant heat shield damage.

STS-27
Date	Time	Event	Orbit
1988 Oct 22		Tow to VAB	VAB/3
1988 Oct 24		ET mate	VAB/3
1988 Nov 2		Rollout	LC39B
1988 Dec 2	1430:34	Launch from LC39B
	1432:40	SRB sep
	1439:08	MECO
	1439:26	ET sep	89.82 83? x 447? x 57.0 (OMS dV guess)
	1513:09	OMS-2 3:34 (105m/s??)
	1516:43	OMS-2 CO	442 x 452 x 57.0 (SODB)
	1602:03	PLBD open
	1600?		93.53 444 x 451 x 57.0
	1900??	RMS unberth
	2130?	LACROSSE deployed
1988 Dec 3	1658:16	OMS-3
	1658:35	OMS-3 CO
	1704	Stationkeeping
	1930	Commanding LACROSSE via LGA
1988 Dec 3	2005:04	OMS-4
	2005:22	OMS 4 CO
1988 Dec 5			93.56 445 x 451 x 57.0
1988 Dec 6	1956:02	PLBD closed
	2229:34	OMS deorbit 3:31
	2233:05	OMS DO CO
	2305:19	Entry
	2336:11	Landed RW17 EAFB
	2336:18	NGTD
	2336:52	Wheels stop
1988 Dec 11	2324	SCA takeoff	EAFB
	2358	SCA landing	Davis-Monthan AFB AZ
1988 Dec 13	1230	SCA takeoff
	1450	SCA landing	Kelly AFB TX
	1915	SCA takeoff
	2335	SCA landing	KSC SLF
1988 Dec 14	0300	Tow to OPF/2