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Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace ShuttleLaunch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
STS-61-C
Launched
January 12, 1986
Summary
STS-61-C launched on a Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA on January 12, 1986. It was Lockheed Space Operations Company's 15th launch, 1st this year and humanity's 3,032nd orbital launch attempt. It was the 24th Space Shuttle flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). Columbia (STS 61-C), one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 334 × 341 km orbit inclined 28.5°. 7 crew members flew: Steven Hawley, Robert L. Gibson, George Nelson, Charles Bolden, Franklin Chang Díaz, Bill Nelson and Robert J. Cenker. The spacecraft was Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102). 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, 2 of them payloads.
- Watch
- Vehicle
- Space Shuttle · Lockheed Space Operations CompanySpace Shuttle
- Booster
- No booster details on record.
- Mission
- Communications · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Milestone
- 24th Space Shuttle flight · 1st this yearLockheed Space Operations Company's 15th launch1st this yearhumanity's 3,032nd orbital launch attempt3rd orbital launch attempt this year
Crew
Steven HawleyMission Specialist · NASA · age 34 · 2nd flight
Robert L. GibsonCommander · NASA · age 39 · 2nd flight
George NelsonMission Specialist · NASA · age 35 · 2nd flight
Charles BoldenPilot · NASA · age 39 · first flight
Franklin Chang DíazMission Specialist · NASA · age 35 · first flight
Bill NelsonPayload Specialist · NASA · age 43 · first flight
Robert J. CenkerPayload Specialist · NASA · age 37 · 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: 6 days 2 hours
Space Shuttle Columbia successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base after this mission.
Flight preview
Orbit: as tracked
Columbia (STS 61-C) · NORAD 16481 · 1986-003 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 3 objects
Show the numbers for orbit elements
- Object
- TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
- Object ID
- 1986-003A
- Epoch
- 1986-01-12 11:36:49 UTC
- Mean motion
- 15.79889874 rev/day
- Eccentricity
- 0.0005221
- Inclination
- 28.4675°
- Ascending node
- 122.4696°
- Arg. of perigee
- 265.487°
- Mean anomaly
- 94.5142°
- 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
3 catalogued: 2 payloads, 1 component; 2 still in orbit
- Columbia (STS 61-C) · NORAD 16481 · landed January 18, 1986
- Satcom K1 · NORAD 16482 · in orbit
Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org
About this launch
STS-61-C was the twenty-fourth mission of the shuttle program and the seventh of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission included the second African-American shuttle pilot, future NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, the first Costa Rican born astronaut and the second sitting politican to fly in space: Bill Nelson.
Pad
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
36th launch from Launch Complex 39A, 1st this year · 41st from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
224 launches from this pad · 283 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
46 days after the previous launch from this pad
Questions
When did STS-61-C launch?
STS-61-C launched on January 12, 1986. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.
Where can I watch STS-61-C?
Coverage: Space Shuttle STS-61C Launch (www.shuttlesource.com). Watch the replay
What rocket launched STS-61-C?
Space Shuttle, flown by Lockheed Space Operations Company. Space Shuttle spec sheet
Where did STS-61-C launch from?
Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.
What orbit did STS-61-C reach?
Columbia (STS 61-C), one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 334 × 341 km orbit inclined 28.5°.
How many satellites did STS-61-C launch?
2 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 1 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).
Which program is STS-61-C part of?
Space Shuttle. About Space Shuttle