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Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-51-D
Launched
April 12, 1985
Summary
STS-51-D launched on a Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on April 12, 1985. It was Lockheed Space Operations Company's 7th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 2,932nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 16th Space Shuttle flight and the 2nd this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Discovery (STS 51-D), one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 448 × 538 km orbit inclined 28.5°. 7 crew members flew: Jeffrey Hoffman, Karol J. Bobko, S. David Griggs, Donald E. Williams, Margaret Rhea Seddon, Charles D. Walker and Edwin Jacob Garn. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103). 5 objects from this launch are catalogued, 3 of them payloads.
- Watch
- STS-51D launch DiscoveryLuis Moreno
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 16th Space Shuttle flight · 2nd this yearLockheed Space Operations Company's 7th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 2,932nd orbital launch attempt28th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Jeffrey HoffmanMission Specialist · NASA · age 40 · first flight
Karol J. BobkoCommander · NASA · age 47 · 2nd flight
S. David GriggsMission Specialist · NASA · age 45 · first flight
Donald E. WilliamsPilot · NASA · age 43 · first flight
Margaret Rhea SeddonMission Specialist · NASA · age 37 · first flight
Charles D. WalkerPayload Specialist · NASA · age 36 · 2nd flight
Edwin Jacob GarnPayload Specialist · NASA · age 52 · 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: 6 days 23 hours
Space Shuttle Discovery successfully landed at the Shuttle Landing Facility after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Discovery (STS 51-D) · NORAD 15641 · 1985-028 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 5 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1985-028A
- Epoch
- 1985-04-12 14:43:58 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.26581018 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0065147
- Inclination
- 28.5208°
- Ascending node
- 240.1259°
- Arg. of perigee
- 288.1071°
- Mean anomaly
- 319.3081°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 0
- B*
- 0.00026999
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
5 catalogued: 3 payloads, 2 components; 2 still in orbit
- Discovery (STS 51-D) · NORAD 15641 · landed April 19, 1985
- Anik C1 · NORAD 15642
- Leasat 3 · NORAD 15643
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-51-D was the sixteenth flight of the shuttle and fourth for the Space Shuttle Discovery. Its mission was to deploy a number of 10 satellites. The landing suffered extensive brake damaged and a ruptured tire. All subsequent landings had to be done at the Edwards Air Force Base until the development and implementation of nose steering.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
28th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 2nd this year · 33rd from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
77 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-51-D launch?
STS-51-D launched on April 12, 1985. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-51-D?
Coverage: STS-51D launch Discovery. Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-51-D?
Space Shuttle, flown by Lockheed Space Operations Company. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-51-D launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-51-D reach?
Discovery (STS 51-D), one of 5 catalogued objects, reached a 448 × 538 km orbit inclined 28.5°.
How many satellites did STS-51-D launch?
3 payloads from this launch are catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is STS-51-D part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle