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Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-38
Launched
November 15, 1990
Summary
STS-38 launched on a Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on November 15, 1990. It was Lockheed Space Operations Company's 28th launch, 5th this year and humanity's 3,578th orbital launch attempt. It was the 37th Space Shuttle flight and the 5th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Atlantis (STS-38), one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 223 × 231 km orbit inclined 28.5°. 5 crew members flew: Richard O. Covey, Robert C. Springer, Frank L. Culbertson Jr., Charles D. Gemar and Carl J. Meade. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104). 4 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- STS-38 launch & landing (11-15-90)3210andLiftoff
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 37th Space Shuttle flight · 5th this yearLockheed Space Operations Company's 28th launch5th this yearhumanity's 3,578th orbital launch attempt102nd orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Richard O. CoveyCommander · NASA · age 44 · 3rd flight
Robert C. SpringerMission Specialist · NASA · age 48 · 2nd flight
Frank L. Culbertson Jr.Pilot · NASA · age 41 · first flight
Charles D. GemarMission Specialist · NASA · age 35 · first flight
Carl J. MeadeMission Specialist · NASA · age 39 · first flight
Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104)
Space Shuttle Atlantis (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV‑104) is a Space Shuttle orbiter vehicle belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the spaceflight and space exploration agency of the United States. Constructed by the Rockwell International company in Southern California and delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Eastern Florida in April 1985, Atlantis is the fourth operational and the second-to-last Space Shuttle built. Its maiden flight was STS-51-J from 3 to 7 October 1985. Atlantis embarked on its 33rd and final mission, also the final mission of a space shuttle, STS-135, on 8 July 2011. STS-134 by Endeavour was expected to be the final flight before STS-135 was authorized in October 2010. STS-135 took advantage of the processing for the STS-335 Launch On Need mission that would have been necessary if STS-134's crew became stranded in orbit. Atlantis landed for the final time at the Kennedy Space Center on 21 July 2011. By the end of its final mission, Atlantis had orbited the Earth a total of 4,848 times, traveling nearly 126,000,000 mi (203,000,000 km) or more than 525 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon.
- Destination: Low Earth Orbit
- Mission length: 4 days 21 hours
Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Atlantis (STS-38) · NORAD 20935 · 1990-097 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 4 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1990-097A
- Epoch
- 1990-11-16 00:41:55 UTC
- Mean motion
- 16.19915601 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0006234
- Inclination
- 28.4678°
- Ascending node
- 243.5197°
- Arg. of perigee
- 264.218°
- Mean anomaly
- 21.9681°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0.00025599
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
4 catalogued: 2 payloads, 2 components; 1 still in orbit
- Atlantis (STS-38) · NORAD 20935 · landed November 20, 1990
- USA 67 · NORAD 20963 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-38 was the seventh flight for the Space Shuttle Atlantis and was also the seventh flight dedicated to the department of defence.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
39th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 3rd this year · 54th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
260 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-38 launch?
STS-38 launched on November 15, 1990. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-38?
Coverage: STS-38 launch & landing (11-15-90). Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-38?
Space Shuttle, flown by Lockheed Space Operations Company. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-38 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-38 reach?
Atlantis (STS-38), one of 4 catalogued objects, reached a 223 × 231 km orbit inclined 28.5°.
How many satellites did STS-38 launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 1 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is STS-38 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle