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Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-48
Launched
September 12, 1991
Summary
STS-48 launched on a Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on September 12, 1991. It was Lockheed Space Operations Company's 34th launch, 5th this year and humanity's 3,663rd orbital launch attempt. It was the 43rd Space Shuttle flight and the 5th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Discovery (STS-48), one of 7 catalogued objects, reached a 539 × 553 km orbit inclined 57.0°. 5 crew members flew: John Oliver Creighton, James Buchli, Mark N. Brown, Charles D. Gemar and Kenneth S. Reightler Jr.. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103). 7 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- STS-48 launch & landing (9-12-91)3210andLiftoff
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Earth Science · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 43rd Space Shuttle flight · 5th this yearLockheed Space Operations Company's 34th launch5th this yearhumanity's 3,663rd orbital launch attempt66th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
John Oliver CreightonCommander · NASA · age 48 · 3rd flight
James BuchliMission Specialist · NASA · age 46 · 4th flight
Mark N. BrownMission Specialist · NASA · age 39 · 2nd flight
Charles D. GemarMission Specialist · NASA · age 36 · 2nd flight
Kenneth S. Reightler Jr.Pilot · NASA · age 40 · first flight
Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)
Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the orbiters from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, gathering more spaceflights than any other spacecraft to date. Discovery became the third operational orbiter to enter service, preceded by Columbia and Challenger. It embarked on its last mission, STS-133, on February 24, 2011 and touched down for the final time at Kennedy Space Center on March 9, having spent a cumulative total of almost a full year in space. Discovery performed both research and International Space Station (ISS) assembly missions. It also carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. Discovery was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by Endeavour and then Atlantis.
- Destination: Low Earth Orbit
- Mission length: 5 days 8 hours
Space Shuttle Discovery successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Discovery (STS-48) · NORAD 21700 · 1991-063 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 7 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1991-063A
- Epoch
- 1991-09-12 23:59:11 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.09115599 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0010454
- Inclination
- 56.9865°
- Ascending node
- 239.2552°
- Arg. of perigee
- 254.1999°
- Mean anomaly
- 307.9615°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0.00042099
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
7 catalogued: 2 payloads, 5 debris
- Discovery (STS-48) · NORAD 21700 · landed September 18, 1991
- UARS · NORAD 21701
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-48 was the thirteenth mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery and its primary purpose was to launch the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. The flight was also the first to test an electronic still camera in space, a modified Nikon F4.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
42nd launch from Launch Complex 39A, 3rd this year · 60th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
41 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-48 launch?
STS-48 launched on September 12, 1991. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-48?
Coverage: STS-48 launch & landing (9-12-91). Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-48?
Space Shuttle, flown by Lockheed Space Operations Company. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-48 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-48 reach?
Discovery (STS-48), one of 7 catalogued objects, reached a 539 × 553 km orbit inclined 57.0°.
How many satellites did STS-48 launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is STS-48 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle