FACT: The empty weight of a Space Shuttle orbiter is about 185,000 pounds.

FAST FACT:

The first astronaut to launch in to space on his birthday was Dick Truly on Columbia STS-2.

STS-2 Mission Highlights

Launch originally set for Oct. 9, 1981  was rescheduled when a nitrogen tetroxide spill occurred during loading of the forward reaction control system. The launch scheduled for Nov. 4 delayed and then scrubbed when the countdown computer called for hold in the count due to an apparent low reading on fuel cell oxygen tank pressures. During the hold, high oil pressures were discovered in two of three auxiliary power units (APUs) that operate hydraulic system. APU gear boxes needed to be flushed and filters replaced, forcing the launch to reschedule. The launch on Nov. 12 , 1981 delayed two hours, 40 minutes to replace the multiplexer/demultiplexer and additional nine minutes, 59 seconds to review systems status.

Modifications of the water sound suppression system at the pad to absorb the solid rocket booster overpressure wave during launch were effective — no tiles were lost and only 12 were damaged.

The planned five-day mission was cut nearly three days due to failure of one of three fuel cells that produce electricity and drinking water, but 90 percent of mission objectives achieved, including first time remote manipulator system tests. Mission scientists were satisfied with data received from Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications-1 (OSTA-1) Earth observation experiments mounted on Spacelab pallet in payload bay.

The closest NASA has come to matching the 1985 launch rate was in 1992 & 1997. Eight Shuttle missions were launched in each of those years.

Enjoy this NASA mission patch collection from the Space Shuttle’s busiest year in history: 1985

STS-51C

Mission Highlights

This was the first mission dedicated to the Department of Defense. The U.S. Air Force Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster was deployed and met the mission objectives.

STS-51D

Mission Highlights

The TELESAT-l (ANIK C-1) communications satellite was deployed attached to the payload assist module (PAM-D) motor. SYNCOM IV-3 (also known as LEASAT-3) was also deployed but the spacecraft sequencer failed to initiate the antenna deployment, spin up and ignition of perigee kick motor. The mission was extended two days to make certain the sequencer start lever was in the proper position. Griggs and Hoffman performed a space walk to attach Flyswatter devices to the remote manipulator system.

STS-51B

Mission Highlights

The primary payload was Spacelab-3. This was the first operational flight for the Spacelab orbital laboratory series developed by the European Space Agency

STS-51G

Mission Highlights

Three communications satellites, all attached to the Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D) motors, were deployed: MORELOS-A, for Mexico; ARABSAT-A, for Arab Satellite Communications Organization; and TELSTAR-3D, for AT&T.

STS-51F

Mission Highlights

Primary payload was Spacelab-2. Despite abort-to-orbit, which required mission replanning, mission declared success. Special part of modular Spacelab system, the Igloo, located at head of three-pallet train, provided on-site support to instruments mounted on pallets.

STS-51 I

Mission Highlights

Three communications satellites were deployed: ASC-1, for American Satellite Company; AUSSAT-1, an Australian Communications Satellite; and SYNCOM IV-4, the Synchronous Communications Satellite. ASC-1 and AUSSAT-1 both attached to Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D) motors. SYNCOM IV-4 (also known as LEASAT-4) failed to function after reaching the correct geosynchronous orbit. Fisher and van Hoften performed two extravehicular activities (EVAs) totaling 11 hours, 51 minutes. Part of time spent retrieving, repairing and redeploying LEASAT-3, which had been deployed on Mission 51-D. Middeck Payload: Physical Vapor Transport Organic Solid Experiment (PVTOS).

STS-51 J

Mission Highlights

STS-51-J Mission Patch The launch was delayed 22 minutes, 30 seconds due to a main engine liquid hydrogen prevalve close remote power controller showing a faulty ‘on’ indication. This was the second classified mission dedicated to the Department of Defense.

STS-61 A

Mission Highlights

STS-61A Mission Patch The dedicated German Spacelab (D-1) mission was conducted in a long module configuration, which featured a Vestibular Sled designed to give scientists data on the functional organization of human vestibular and orientation systems. Spacelab D-1 encompassed 75 numbered experiments. Other objectives: Global Low Orbiting Message Relay (GLOMR) satellite deployed from Get Away Special canister.

STS-61 B

Mission Highlights

Three communications satellites were deployed: MORE LOS-B (Mexico), AUSSAT-2 (Australia) and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). MORELOS-B and AUSSAT-2 were attached to the Payload Assist Module-D motors, SATCOM KU-2 to a PAM-D2 designed for heavier payloads.

Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity (EASE) and Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure (ACCESS). The experiments required two space walks by Spring and Ross lasting five hours, 32 minutes, and six hours, 38 minutes, respectively. Middeck payloads: Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES); Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (DMOS); Morelos Payload Specialist Experiments (MPSE) and Orbiter Experiments (OEX). In payload bay: Get Away Special and IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC)

Phobos  is the larger and closer of the two small moons that orbit Mars; the other moon being Deimos.

Discovered By		A. Hall
Date of Discovery		1877
Average Distance from Mars		Metric: 9,378 km
Equatorial Radius		Metric: 13.4 x 11.2 x 9.2 km
Mass		Metric: 10,630,000,000,000,000 kg Scientific Notation: 1.063 x 1016 kg
Rotation Period (Length of Day)		1.026 Earth days 24.62 hours By Comparison: Synchronous with Mars
Orbit Period (Length of Year)		0.31891023 Earth days
Orbital Eccentricity		0.015
Orbital Inclination to Ecliptic		1 degree

FACT: NASA’s Ares I rocket will go from 0 mph to 1,000 mph in 50 seconds.

The Ares I first stage five-segment solid rocket motor is 154 feet in length, and generates a maximum of 3.6 million lbs of thrust, which is 24 percent more power than one twin Shuttle solid rocket booster.

FACT: Each of the Shuttle’s solid rocket motors burns 5 tons of propellant per second, a total of 1.1 million pounds in 120 seconds. The speed of the gases exiting the nozzle is more than 6,000 miles per hour, about five times the speed of sound or three times the speed of a high-powered rifle bullet. The plume of flame ranges up to 500 feet long.

(Above) Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-5) makes its approach for landing as the sunsets on Edwards Air Force Base. In front of the orbiter is a T-38 chase plane.

FAST FACTS: STS-5 was the first operational Space Shuttle mission. It also carried the largest crew at the time—four astronauts—and the first two commercial communications satellites to be flown on the Shuttle.

FACT: Lunar Prospector spent six months orbiting only 20 miles (30 km) above the lunar surface.

A spacecraft can orbit this low because the Moon has no atmosphere to cause drag or heating on the spacecraft.

FAST FACT: A stacked Solid Rocket Booster is the same height as the Statue of Liberty (not including pedestal) — 151 feet.

• Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) launch is set for June 17, 2009

• The primary objective of LRO is to conduct investigations preparing for future exploration of the moon. Specifically LRO will scout for safe and compelling lunar landing sites, locate potential resources with special attention to the possibility of water ice, and characterize the effects of prolonged exposure to the lunar radiation environment. In addition to its exploration mission, LRO will also return rich scientific data that will help us to better understand the moon’s topography and composition.

• The instrument payload of LRO consists of seven scientific instruments from partner institutions around the nation and globe, including one instrument contributed by the Institute for Space Research in Moscow. These instruments will return lunar imagery, topography, temperatures, and more.

• Launching along with LRO is the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), a partner mission that will search for water ice on the moon by sending a SUV-sized rocket stage into the permanent shadows of a polar crater. LCROSS will fly into the plume of dust left by the impact and take measurements of its properties before also colliding with the lunar surface.

• In response to LRO’s “Send Your Name to the Moon” web site, the spacecraft carries a microchip with nearly 1.6 million names that were submitted by the public.