STS-36

'STS-36' was a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle ''Atlantis''. It was the 34th mission, and carried a payload for the U.S. Department of Defense (believed to have been a Misty reconnaissance satellite). It was the sixth flight for ''Atlantis'', the fourth night launch of the program, and the second night launch since Shuttle flights resumed in 1988.

Contents

Crew

Mission parameters

Mission highlights

Mission insignia

See also

External links

Crew

''(total flights to date in parentheses)''

★ John O. Creighton (2), Commander

★ John H. Casper (1), Pilot

★ Richard M. Mullane (3), Mission Specialist

★ David C. Hilmers (3), Mission Specialist

★ Pierre J. Thuot (1), Mission Specialist

Mission parameters

★ 'Mass:' 19,600? kg

★
★ Payload Advanced KH-11 photo-reconnaissance satellite(?) USA-53 1990-019B

★ 'Perigee:' 198 km

★ 'Apogee:' 204 km

★ 'Inclination:' 62°

★ 'Period:' 88.5 min

Mission highlights

The sixth shuttle launch dedicated entirely to the Department of Defense, STS-36's payload is classified. STS-36 launched a single satellite, 1990-019B (USA-53), also described as AFP-731. Other objects (1990-019C-G) have appeared in orbit since its deployment.
It has been reported that USA-53 was an Advanced KH-11 photo-reconnaissance satellite that used an all-digital imaging system to return pictures. The KH-11 series is a digital imaging photo- reconnaissance satellite with both visual and infrared sensors. USA-53, nicknamed "Misty", was tracked briefly by amateur satellite observers in October and November 1990. [1]
February 28, 1990, 2:50:22 a.m. EST. Launch set for February 22 postponed to February 23, February 24, and February 25 due to illness of the crew commander and weather conditions. This was the first time since Apollo 13 in 1970 that a manned space mission was affected by illness of crew member. Launch set for February 25 scrubbed due to malfunction of range safety computer. Launch set for February 26 scrubbed due to weather conditions (Note: external tank loaded only for launch attempts on February 25 and 26, and launch on February 28). Launch February 28 set for classified window lying within launch period extending from 12 midnight to 4 a.m. EST. Launch Weight: Classified.

The launch trajectory was unique to this flight, and allowed the mission to reach an orbital inclination of 62°, the deployment orbit of its payload, while the normal maximum inclination for a shuttle flight is 57°. This so-called "dog-leg" trajectory saw ''Atlantis'' fly downrange on a normal launch azimuth, and then maneuver to a higher launch azimuth once out over the water. Although the maneuver resulted in a reduction of vehicle performance, it was the only way to reach the required deployment orbit from the Kennedy Space Center (originally, the flight had been slated to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, until the shuttle launch facilities there were mothballed in 1989). Flight rules that prohibit overflight of land were suspended, with the trajectory taking the vehicle over or near Cape Hatterras, Cape Cod, and parts of Canada. The payload was considered to be of importance to national security, hence the suspension of normal flight rules.
''Atlantis'' landed at 10:08 a.m. PST on Sunday, March 4, 1990 at Edwards Air Force Base in California on lakebed runway 23 ending the STS-36 Department of Defense mission. The total distance the orbiter rolled out was 7,900 feet (2.41 km). ''Atlantis'' was towed to the Mate Demate Device by about 3 p.m. PST.
About 62 dings in the tiles were counted by the debris team. Tile engineers reported that only one tile may have to be replaced. The brakes and tires performed nominally. Drops of hydraulic fluid were observed in the right main landing gear wheel well, the liquid hydrogen 17-inch (430 mm) disconnect cavity and possibly around two of the main engines.

Mission insignia

The thirty-six stars on the insignia symbolize the flight's numerical designation in the Space Transportation System's mission sequence.

See also

★ Space science

★ Space shuttle

★ List of space shuttle missions

★ List of human spaceflights chronologically

External links

★ NASA mission summary