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Rockwell InternationalSpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-3
Launched
March 22, 1982
Summary
STS-3 launched on a Rockwell International Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on March 22, 1982. It was Rockwell International's 2nd launch, 1st this year and humanity's 2,540th orbital launch attempt. It was the 3rd Space Shuttle flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). It reached a 245 × 254 km orbit inclined 38.0°. 2 crew members flew: Jack R. Lousma and C. Gordon Fullerton. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102). One object from this launch is catalogued.
- Watch
- STS-3: Space Shuttle ColumbiaLaunch Library
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Rockwell InternationalSpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Test Flight · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 3rd Space Shuttle flight · 1st this yearRockwell International's 2nd launch1st this yearhumanity's 2,540th orbital launch attempt23rd orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Jack R. LousmaCommander · NASA · age 46 · 2nd flight
C. Gordon FullertonPilot · NASA · age 45 · 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: under an hour
Space Shuttle Columbia successfully landed at the White Sands Missile Range after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Columbia (STS-3) · NORAD 13106 · 1982-022 · Space-Track
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1982-022A
- Epoch
- 1982-03-22 16:42:19 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.11553793 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0006655
- Inclination
- 38.0119°
- Ascending node
- 296.5135°
- Arg. of perigee
- 273.777°
- Mean anomaly
- 287.5896°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0.0011105
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-3) · NORAD 13106 · landed March 30, 1982
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-3 was the third flight of the Space Shuttle program. It flew in orbit for 8 days. This mission involved extensive orbital endurance testing of Columbia and also included multiple scientific experiments.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
15th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 1st this year · 20th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
130 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-3 launch?
STS-3 launched on March 22, 1982. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-3?
Coverage: STS-3: Space Shuttle Columbia. Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-3?
Space Shuttle, flown by Rockwell International. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-3 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-3 reach?
It reached a 245 × 254 km orbit inclined 38.0°.
Which program is STS-3 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle