STS-46

Occurred 32 years ago

The deployment of the European Space Agency's EuThe primary objective was deployment of the European Space Agency's European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) and operation of the joint NASA/Italian Space Agency Tethered Satellite System (TSS). The mission was extended one day to complete the science objectives.ropean Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) and operation of the joint NASA/Italian Space Agency Tethered Satellite System (TSS).

orbiter

Atlantis

mission duration

7 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes

Launch

July 31, 1992

Landing

August 8, 1992

Five men and one woman in spacesuits pose for crew photo in front of flags.

The crew members assigned to the STS-46 mission pose with seven flags that represent participation on the flight. Loren J. Shriver (right front) was mission commander; Andrew M. Allen (left front) wpilot. Others are (left to right) Marsha S. Ivins, mission specialist; Claude Nicollier, mission specialist representing the European Space Agency (ESA); Jeffrey A. Hoffman, payload commander; Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, mission specialist; and Franco Malerba, flying for the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The flags, left to right, represent the United States of America, Costa Rica (Chang’s native country), Italy, Switzerland (Nicollier’s homeland), NASA, ESA and ASI. (May 1992)

NASA

STS-46 Mission Facts

Mission: TSS-1; EURECA Deploy
Space Shuttle: Atlantis
Launch Pad: 39B
Launch Weight: 256,031 pounds
Launched: July 31, 1992, 9:56:48 a.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing: August 8, 1992, 9:11:51 a.m. EDT
Landing Weight: 208,806 pounds
Runway: 33
Rollout Distance: 10,860 feet
Rollout Time: 66 seconds
Revolution: 127
Mission Duration: 7 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds
Orbit Altitude: 230 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Miles Traveled: 3.3 million

Crew

Loren J. Shriver, Commander
Andrew M. Allen, Pilot
Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Mission Specialist
Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Mission Specialist
Claude Nicollier, Mission Specialist
Marsha S. Ivins, Mission Specialist
Franco Malerba, Payload Specialist

Mission Highlights

The primary objective was deployment of the European Space Agency’s European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) and operation of the joint NASA/Italian Space Agency Tethered Satellite System (TSS). The mission was extended one day to complete the science objectives. EURECA deployed one day later than scheduled because of problem with its data handling system. After deployment, the spacecraft’s thrusters were fired to boost EURECA to its planned operating altitude of about 310 statute miles (499 kilometers). However, the thruster firing was cut to six minutes instead of the planned 24 minutes because of unexpected attitude data from EURECA. The problem resolved and EURECA was boosted to operational orbit on the sixth day of the mission. The payload was to be retrieved on STS-57 in 1993.

TSS deployment was also delayed one day because of EURECA. During TSS deployment, the satellite reached a maximum distance of only 840 feet (256 meters) from orbiter instead of planned 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) because of a jammed tether line. After numerous attempts over several days to free the tether, TSS operations were curtailed and satellite was stowed for return to Earth.

Secondary payloads were: Evaluation of Oxygen Integration with Materials/Thermal Management Processes (EOIM-III/TEMP 2A-3); 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 Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPI).