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Rockwell InternationalSpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-2
Launched
November 12, 1981
Summary
STS-2 launched on a Rockwell International Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on November 12, 1981. It was Rockwell International's 1st launch, 1st this year and humanity's 2,504th orbital launch attempt. It was the 2nd Space Shuttle flight. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). It reached a 227 × 236 km orbit inclined 38.0°. 2 crew members flew: Joe Engle and Richard H. Truly. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102). One object from this launch is catalogued.
- Watch
- STS-2: Space Shuttle ColumbiaLaunch Library
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Rockwell InternationalSpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Test Flight · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 2nd Space Shuttle flightRockwell International's 1st launch1st this yearhumanity's 2,504th orbital launch attempt113th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Joe EngleCommander · NASA · age 49 · 4th flight
Richard H. TrulyPilot · NASA · age 44 · first flight
Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102)
Space Shuttle Columbia (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first space-rated orbiter in NASA's Space Shuttle fleet. It launched for the first time on mission STS-1 on April 12, 1981, the first flight of the Space Shuttle program. Over 22 years of service, it completed 27 missions before disintegrating during re-entry near the end of its 28th mission, STS-107 on February 1, 2003, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members.
- Destination: Low Earth Orbit
- Mission length: 2 days 6 hours
Space Shuttle Columbia successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Columbia (STS-2) · NORAD 12953 · 1981-111 · Space-Track
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1981-111A
- Epoch
- 1981-11-12 15:53:10 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.18349648 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0007031
- Inclination
- 38.0321°
- Ascending node
- 155.9482°
- Arg. of perigee
- 262.6057°
- Mean anomaly
- 302.2354°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0.00001105
Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.
Catalogued objects
1 catalogued: 1 payload; none still in orbit
- Columbia (STS-2) · NORAD 12953 · landed November 14, 1981
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-2 was the second flight of the Space Shuttle program. It flew on Columbia again marking the first time in history that a manned, reusable orbital vehicle returned to orbit for a second time.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
14th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 2nd this year · 19th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
214 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-2 launch?
STS-2 launched on November 12, 1981. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-2?
Coverage: STS-2: Space Shuttle Columbia. Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-2?
Space Shuttle, flown by Rockwell International. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-2 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-2 reach?
It reached a 227 × 236 km orbit inclined 38.0°.
Which program is STS-2 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle