Friday, January 2, 1998

STS-41-G (Challenger)

 1984-108A


After the 41-C mission, NASA started to prepare Challenger for mission 41-H, but that mission was cancelled shortly afterwards. OV-099's next assignment was 41-G. The STS 41-G mission was devoted to science and earth observation. It was launched on 1984 Oct 5, and its crew was the first to include two women, and a Canadian payload specialist.

ERBS deploy was originally scheduled for orbit 6, and was delayed to orbit 9 after thermal problems with its antenna. After ERBS deploy, the orbit was lowered with 4 burns. Operations with the OAST-3 and LFC payloads were carried out. The crew had problems stowing the SIR-B antenna for the OMS-3 burn, which was delayed until a nudge from the RMS fixed the problem.

The ORS carried 85 kg of hydrazine. The first of 6 ORS hydrazine transfers was carried out on Oct 6. An IMAX camera was also carried. The EVA began at 1542. Sullivan and Leestma entered the payload bay and carried out tests with the ORS refuelling experiment. A ball valve mod kit was installed on the ORS and after the EVA was confirmed to be working. The astronauts practiced stowing the Ku-band antenna manually.

STS 41-G mission events 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1984 Sep 8    VAB/1 
1984 Sep 13    LC39A 
1984 Oct 5  1103:00  Launch  LC39A 
 1105:04  SRB sep at 48.0 km
 1111:50  MECO at 113.7 km 
 1112:08  ET sep, 115.5 km 
   86.65 41 x 174 x 57.0 (dV) 
   86.65 30 x 186 x 57.0 (dv) 
 1113:50  OMS 1 (2:11) 68.5m/s 99 x 353 km  
 1116:04  OMS 1 CO  88.97 96 x 350 x 57.0 (dV) 
 1134?  ET apogee 174 km
 1149:30  OMS 2 (2:23) 75.3m/s 
 1151:54  OMS 2 CO 
 1204  ET breakup 57.1S 150.0E 
 1221  PLBD open  91.59 346 x 358 x 57.0 
 1430  RMS checkout 
 1453  Go for grapple 
 1505?  RMS grapple ERBE 
 1830?  RMS unberth ERBE 
  Deployment delay by 2 revs 
 1908  ERBS array deploy
 2125SIR-B antenna deploy 
 2218:22  RMS deploy ERBE 
1984 Oct 6  1426   91.59 345 x 359 x 57.0 
 1606  SIR-B stow 
 1807  Ride uses RMS to tap SIR-B antenna closed 
 1825RMS tap, latch engaged 
 1912  OMS 3 (51s), 27.6m/s lower orbit 
 1953  OMS 4 (51s) 28.0m/s   
1984 Oct 7  0829   89.63 250 x 262 x 57.0 
 1122  OMS 5 (19s) 10.7m/s  

1208  OMS 6 (16s) 8.8m/s  
 1345  SIR-B deploy 
 1412   88.96 216 x 230 x 57.0 
1984 Oct 8  1238  Trim burn 
 1811   88.98 217 x 230 x 57.0 
1984 Oct 10  1242  RCS trim  
 1440   88.92 216 x 225 x 57.0 
1984 Oct 11  1359  SIR-B stow 
 1530  Leak check 
 1538:09  EVA-1 begin (Rockwell, STSMR) 
 1542  EVA-1 begin (egress) 
 1545  Sullivan egress 
 1622  Working on ORS lines 
 1700  Working on ORS 
 1748  Completion of ORS work 
 1800  Ku antenna stowed
  Antenna repair 
 1820  Redeploy antenna 
 1854  At airlock hatch 
 1905:00  EVA-1 end (STSMR) back on SCU in AL 
 1911  EVA-1 end 
 1833?  SIR-B open 
1984 Oct 12  0833   88.92 215 x 226 x 57.0 
1984 Oct 13  1219  PLBD close  88.90 213 x 226 x 57.0 
 1530:00  OMS DO (142s) 82.1m/s  
 1532:22  OMS DO CO 
 1555:04  Entry 
 1626:33  Landed  RW33 KSC  
 1626:47  NGTD 
 1627:32  Wheels stop 
 1950? OPF 

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