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Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-53
Launched
December 2, 1992
Summary
STS-53 launched on a Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on December 2, 1992. It was Lockheed Space Operations Company's 43rd launch, 8th this year and humanity's 3,776th orbital launch attempt. It was the 52nd Space Shuttle flight and the 8th this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Discovery (STS-53), one of 16 catalogued objects, reached a 373 × 384 km orbit inclined 57.0°. 5 crew members flew: David M. Walker, Guion Bluford, Robert D. Cabana, James S. Voss and Michael R. Clifford. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103). 16 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- STS-53 launch & landing (12-2-92)3210andLiftoff
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Government/Top Secret · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 52nd Space Shuttle flight · 8th this yearLockheed Space Operations Company's 43rd launch8th this yearhumanity's 3,776th orbital launch attempt88th orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
David M. WalkerCommander · NASA · age 48 · 3rd flight
Guion BlufordMission Specialist · NASA · age 50 · 4th flight
Robert D. CabanaPilot · NASA · age 43 · 2nd flight
James S. VossMission Specialist · NASA · age 43 · 2nd flight
Michael R. CliffordMission Specialist · 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: 7 days 7 hours
Space Shuttle Discovery successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Discovery (STS-53) · NORAD 22259 · 1992-086 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 16 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1992-086A
- Epoch
- 1992-12-02 14:51:48 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.65535779 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.000824
- Inclination
- 56.9928°
- Ascending node
- 172.5501°
- Arg. of perigee
- 275.3972°
- Mean anomaly
- 84.6153°
- Element set
- 999
- Rev at epoch
- 1
- B*
- 0.0000025942
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
16 catalogued: 2 payloads, 13 debris, 1 component; 15 still in orbit
- Discovery (STS-53) · NORAD 22259 · landed December 9, 1992
- USA 89 · NORAD 22518 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-53 was a Space Shuttle Discovery mission in support of the United States Department of Defense. The mission was launched on 2 December 1992 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
48th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 5th this year · 69th from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
123 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-53 launch?
STS-53 launched on December 2, 1992. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-53?
Coverage: STS-53 launch & landing (12-2-92). Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-53?
Space Shuttle, flown by Lockheed Space Operations Company. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-53 launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-53 reach?
Discovery (STS-53), one of 16 catalogued objects, reached a 373 × 384 km orbit inclined 57.0°.
How many satellites did STS-53 launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 1 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is STS-53 part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle