Tuesday, June 2, 1998

STS-77 (Endeavour)

 1996-032A


The STS-77 launch was the first with three Block I SSMEs, and the first with control from the new Houston MCC during the launch phase. The mission carried a materials processing furnace in the Spacehab module, the Spartan 207 inflatable antenna experiment, a GAS Bridge, and the TEAMS technology experiment bridge.

On May 20 the Spartan was deployed, and two hours later IAE was inflated. Doors on the Spartan bus opened to release the antenna, allowing the dish to move out. A spring loaded platform had been intended to push out the antenna, but the struts pushed it out early and inflation began 50 sec later. The inflation was successful, although some minutes later the IAE/Spartan began to tumble in pitch.

The PAMS STU satellite was deployed on May 22. Four hours later, OV-105 came back for a first rendezvous to observe it, 600m behind PAMS to avoid disturbing it with the Orbiter's wake.

By the third rendezvous on May 27, STU had stabilized itself successfully, confirming theoretical expectations. The laser measurement devices on the TEAMS bridge successfully acquired STU for the first time. Also on May 27, Endeavour passed close to Mir and Casper exchanged pleasantries with EO-21 Flight-Engineer-2 Shannon Lucid.


STS-77 
 

DateTimeEventOrbit  

1996 Apr 8   Roll from OPF3 to VAB 
1996 Apr 9   ET mate 
1996 Apr 16   Roll to LC39B 
1996 May 19  1030:00  Launch by STS  KSC LC39B 
 1032:04  RSRM-47 sep 
 1038:29  MECO 
 1038:47  ET-78 sep  82 x 283 x 39.0 (OMS dV)  
 1111:47  OMS 2 2:06 60.5 m/s 
 1113:53  OMS 2 CO 
 1200   90.22 280 x 290 x 39.01 
 1212:28  PLBD open  280 x 290 x 39.0 
 1519RMS checkout complete 
 1535RMS payload bay survey 
1996 May 20  0600   90.21 279 x 290 x 39.02 
 1030? Spartan 207 unberth 
 1129:12  Spartan 207 deploy 
 1131:16  SEP S-1 OV-105 back off to 120m 
 1404  OV-105 back off  
 1415  OV-105 stationkeep at 230 m 
 1452  OV-105 back off  
 1500? OV-105 stationkeep at 900 m 
 1559  RMS cradle 
1996 May 21  0600   90.20 278 x 289 x 39.02 
 0948  Ku-band acquires Spartan at 36km 
 1202   90.19 278 x 288 x 39.0 
 1440  Rendezvous with Spartan 
 1452:47  RMS grapple Spartan 
 1555:41  RMS berth Spartan 
1996 May 22  0919  PAMS STU deploy 
 0943  Sep burn 
 1140  Rendezvous burns
 1200   90.17 278 x 287 x 39.01 
 1354:05  Rendezvous 1 with STU, 600m trailing 
 1600  End rendezvous 1 
1996 May 23   Rendezvous burns 
 1200   90.19 280 x 286 x 39.01 
 1500   90.17 276 x 288 x 39.01 
 1800   90.19 280 x 287 x 39.01 
1996 May 24  0600   90.16 276 x 288 x 39.01 
1996 May 25  0500   90.16 277 x 287 x 39.01 

0512:00  RCS 0.6m/s Rendezvous circ burn 
 0544NCC Rendezvous burn 
 0640TI burn 
 0725MC1 
 0735MC2 
 0800  Rendezvous 2 at VBN (V-bar Null), 600m 
 1430s End rendezvous 2 
1996 May 27  0518  RV-3 NC burn 0.6m/s  
 0802:33  Rendezvous 3 with STU, 730 m 
 1502End rendezvous 3  
 1545  Sep burn 1.8 m/s  90.15 277 x 286 x 39.0 
1996 May 29  0730:09  PLBD closed  90.10 274 x 284 x 39.0  
 1009:30  Deorbit 3:28 107.8m/s 
 1012:58  OMS DO CO  -75 x 276 x 39.0  
 1037:39  Entry interface 122 km 
 1109:24  MGTD KSC RW33 (10d 0h 39m 24s or 18s) 
 1109:26  Chute out 
 1109:33  NGTD 
 1109:56  Chute sep 
 1110:11 Wheels stop 
 1550Tow to OPF/3 

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