STS-46 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
STS-46

Atlantis's Canadarm grapples the European Space Agency's EURECA satellite, prior to its deployment.
Names	Space Transportation System-49
Mission type	EURECA satellite deployment Technology
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	7 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds (achieved)
Distance travelled	5,344,643 km (3,321,007 mi)
Orbits completed	127
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Atlantis
Launch mass	116,134 kg (256,032 lb)
Landing mass	94,676 kg (208,725 lb)
Payload mass	12,164 kg (26,817 lb)
Crew
Crew size	7
Members	Loren Shriver Andrew M. Allen Claude Nicollier Marsha Ivins Jeffrey A. Hoffman Franklin Chang Díaz Franco Malerba
Start of mission
Launch date	July 31, 1992, 13:56:48 UTC
Rocket	Space Shuttle Atlantis
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B
Contractor	Rockwell International
End of mission
Landing date	August 8, 1992, 13:11:50 UTC
Landing site	Kennedy Space Center, SLF Runway 33
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee	425 km (264 mi)
Apogee	437 km (272 mi)
Inclination	28.46°
Period	93.20 minutes
STS-46 mission patch Standing: Ivins, Nicollier, Hoffman, Chang-Díaz, Malerba Seated: Allen, Shriver Space Shuttle program ← STS-50 (48) STS-47 (50) →

STS-46 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission using Space Shuttle Atlantis and was launched on July 31, 1992 and landed on August 8, 1992.

Crew

Position	Astronaut
Commander	Loren Shriver Third and last spaceflight
Pilot	Andrew M. Allen First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1	Claude Nicollier, ESA First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2	Marsha Ivins Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 3	Jeffrey A. Hoffman Third spaceflight
Mission Specialist 4	/ Franklin Chang-Díaz Third spaceflight
Payload Specialist 1	Franco Malerba, ASI Only spaceflight

Backup crew

Position	Astronaut
Payload Specialist 1	Umberto Guidoni, ASI First spaceflight

Crew seating arrangements

Seat	Launch	Landing	Seats 1–4 are on the Flight Deck. Seats 5–7 are on the Middeck.
S1	Shriver	Shriver
S2	Allen	Allen
S3	Nicollier	Hoffman
S4	Ivins	Ivins
S5	Hoffman	Nicollier
S6	Chang-Díaz	Chang-Díaz
S7	Malerba	Malerba

Mission highlights

The mission's primary objectives were the deployment of the European Space Agency's European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) and the joint NASA/ASI (Italian Space Agency) Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1). EURECA was deployed a day later than scheduled because of a problem with its data handling system. Seven and a half hours after deployment, the spacecraft's thrusters were fired to boost EURECA to its planned operating altitude of around 500 km (310 mi). However, thruster firing was cut to six minutes from twenty-four minutes because of unexpected attitude data from the spacecraft. The problem was resolved, and EURECA was successfully boosted to its operational orbit on the mission's sixth day. TSS-1 deployment also was delayed one day because of the problems with EURECA. During deployment, the satellite reached a maximum distance of only 260 m (850 ft) from the orbiter instead of the planned 20 km (12 mi) because of a jammed tether line. After numerous attempts over several days to free the tether, TSS-1 operations were curtailed, and the satellite was stowed for return to Earth. It would be reflown in 1996 on STS-75, with astronauts Allen, Hoffman, Nicollier and Chang-Díaz also flying again on that mission.

Secondary payloads included the Evaluation of Oxygen Integration with Materials/Thermal Management Processes (EOIM-III/TEMP 2A), Consortium for Materials Development in Space Complex Autonomous Payload (CONCAP II and CONCAP III), IMAX Cargo Bay Camera (ICBC), Limited Duration Space Environment Candidate Materials Exposure (LDCE), Pituitary Growth Hormone Cell Function (PHCF), and the Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPI). The mission was extended by a day in order to complete scientific objectives.

Gallery

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  EURECA after deployment

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  TSS-1 satellite

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  TSS-1 tether close-up deployment

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  TSS-1 fully extended deployment