STS-54 facts for kids

STS-54 was a space mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Endeavour. This was the third time Endeavour flew into space. The mission launched on January 13, 1993. Its main goal was to put a special satellite into orbit and for astronauts to do a spacewalk.

Quick facts for kids
STS-54

Endeavour deploys the TDRS-F satellite.
Names	Space Transportation System-53
Mission type	TDRS-F satellite deployment Technology
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	5 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes, 19 seconds (achieved)
Distance travelled	4,000,000 km (2,500,000 mi)
Orbits completed	96
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch mass	0 kg (0 lb)
Landing mass	92,988 kg (205,003 lb)
Payload mass	18,559 kg (40,916 lb)
Crew
Crew size	5
Members	John H. Casper Donald R. McMonagle Mario Runco Jr. Gregory J. Harbaugh Susan J. Helms
Start of mission
Launch date	13 January 1993, 13:59:30 UTC
Rocket	Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center, LC-39B
Contractor	Rockwell International
End of mission
Landing date	19 January 1993, 13:37:47 UTC
Landing site	Kennedy Space Center, SLF Runway 33
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Low Earth orbit
Perigee	302 km (188 mi)
Apogee	309 km (192 mi)
Inclination	28.45a
Period	90.60 minutes
STS-54 mission patch Mario Runco Jr., John H. Casper, Donald R. McMonagle, Susan J. Helms, Gregory J. Harbaugh Space Shuttle program ← STS-53 (52) STS-56 (54) →

Meet the STS-54 Astronauts

The STS-54 mission had a crew of five brave astronauts. Each person had an important role to play during the spaceflight.

Spacewalk: Working Outside the Shuttle

During the mission, two astronauts, Mario Runco Jr. and Gregory J. Harbaugh, went on a spacewalk. A spacewalk is when astronauts leave the spacecraft to work in outer space. This is also called an Extravehicular Activity (EVA).

• Who: Astronauts Harbaugh and Runco
• When: January 17, 1993
• How Long: 4 hours and 28 minutes

The spacewalk was a chance for NASA to learn more about how astronauts can work outside the Space Shuttle. They practiced moving around and carrying objects in the special environment of space, where everything floats.

Key Moments of the Mission

Harbaugh and Runco during their spacewalk.

The STS-54 mission had two main goals: deploying a satellite and performing scientific experiments.

Deploying a Satellite

The most important part of the mission was to launch a satellite called TDRS-F. TDRS stands for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. These satellites help NASA communicate with other spacecraft. The Endeavour deployed TDRS-F on the first day of the mission. After leaving the shuttle, a special rocket stage pushed the satellite into its correct orbit around Earth.

Experiments in Space

The astronauts also carried out several experiments inside the Space Shuttle. These experiments helped scientists understand how things behave in microgravity, which is the feeling of being weightless in space.

• Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS): This instrument studied X-rays coming from far-off places in space.
• Commercial General Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGPA): This experiment looked at how living things grow and change in space.
• Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space Experiment (CHROMEX): Scientists used this to study how plants grow and divide their cells without Earth's gravity.
• Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE): This experiment studied how space travel affects the bones of small animals.
• Space Acceleration Measurement Equipment (SAMS): This equipment measured how much the shuttle was shaking or moving. This helped scientists understand the true microgravity conditions for other experiments.
• Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE): This experiment looked at how fire spreads and how hot things get when they burn in space.