 Spacelab Module LM2 inColumbia's payload bay, serving as the Life and Microgravity Spacelab | |
| Mission type | Bioscience research Microgravity research |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| COSPAR ID | 1996-036A |
| SATCATno. | 23931 |
| Mission duration | 16 days, 21 hours, 48 minutes, 30 seconds |
| Distance travelled | 11,000,000 kilometres (6,800,000 mi) |
| Orbits completed | 271 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Columbia |
| Payload mass | 9,649 kilograms (21,272 lb) |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 7 |
| Members | |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | June 20, 1996, 14:49:00.0075 (1996-06-20UTC14:49Z) UTC |
| Launch site | Kennedy,LC-39B |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | July 7, 1996, 12:37:30 (1996-07-07UTC12:37:31Z) UTC |
| Landing site | Kennedy,SLF Runway 33 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Perigee altitude | 246 kilometres (153 mi) |
| Apogee altitude | 261 kilometres (162 mi) |
| Inclination | 39.0 degrees |
| Period | 89.6 minutes |
  Left to right – Seated: Henricks, Kregel; Standing: Favier, Linnehan, Helms, Brady, Thirsk | |
STS-78 was the fifth dedicated Life and MicrogravitySpacelab mission for theSpace Shuttle program, flown partly in preparation for theInternational Space Station project. The mission used theSpace ShuttleColumbia, which lifted off successfully fromKennedy Space Center'sLaunch Pad 39B on June 20, 1996. This marked the 78th flight of the Space Shuttle and 20th mission forColumbia.
| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Commander |  Terence T. HenricksFourth and last spaceflight | |
| Pilot | Kevin R. Kregel Second spaceflight | |
| Mission Specialist 1 | Richard M. Linnehan First spaceflight | |
| Mission Specialist 2 Flight Engineer | Susan Helms Third spaceflight | |
| Mission Specialist 3 | Charles E. Brady Jr. Only spaceflight | |
| Payload Specialist 1 |  Jean-Jacques Favier,CNESOnly spaceflight | |
| Payload Specialist 2 |  Robert Thirsk,CSAFirst spaceflight | |
| Position | Astronaut | |
|---|---|---|
| Payload Specialist 1 |  Pedro Duque,ESAFirst spaceflight | |
| Payload Specialist 2 |  Luca Urbani,ASIFirst spaceflight | |
| Seat[1] | Launch | Landing |  Seats 1–4 are on the flight deck. Seats 5–7 are on the mid-deck. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henricks | ||
| 2 | Kregel | ||
| 3 | Linnehan | Brady | |
| 4 | Helms | ||
| 5 | Brady | Linnehan | |
| 6 | Favier | ||
| 7 | Thirsk | ||
During the 16-day, 21-hour mission, the crew ofColumbia assisted in the preparations for the International Space Station by studying the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body in readiness for ISS Expeditions, and also carried out experiments similar to those now being carried out on the orbital station.
Following launch,Columbia climbed to an altitude of 278 kilometers (173 mi) with an orbital inclination of 39° to theEarth'sequator to allow the seven-member flight crew to maintain the same sleep rhythms they were accustomed to on Earth and to reduce vibrations and directional forces that could have affected on-board microgravity experiments.
Once in orbit, the crew entered the 40 feet (12 m) long pressurized Spacelab module to commence over 40 science experiments to take place during the mission. Not only did these experiments make use of the module's laboratory, but also employed lockers in the middeck section of the orbiter. Thirteen of the experiments were dedicated to studying the effects of microgravity on the human body, whilst another six studied the behavior of fluids and metals in the almost weightless environment and the production of metallic alloys and protein crystals. The crew also carried out the first ever comprehensive study of sleep patterns in microgravity, research into bone and muscle loss in space, and in-flight fixes to problem hardware on the Bubble, Drop and Particle Unit (BDPU), designed to study fluid physics.
The mission also featured a test of a procedure that was later used during the secondHubble Space Telescope servicing mission to raise the telescope's altitude without damaging the satellite's solar arrays. During the test,Columbia's vernier Reaction Control System jets were gently pulsed to boost the Shuttle's altitude without jarring any of the mission payloads. The test was successful, and was later employed byDiscovery duringSTS-82, and was used multiple times to boost the orbit of the ISS when docked with an orbiter.
Although the launch went without any issue, an issue was discovered with thesolid rocket boosters (SRBs) following their disassembly in June post-recovery. Analysis showed worrying damage to the field joints which was likely caused by hot gases. Failure of booster seals on the lower sections ofSpace ShuttleChallenger's right SRB ultimately caused theorbiter to break up mid-flight in 1986.[2][3] This time the issue did not compromise astronaut safety because the hot gas path traveled through the engines' field joints but not their capture joint (containing the infamous "O-ring" seals). Despite there being no issue with safety, it did raise questions about a newEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)–mandated adhesive and cleaning fluid.[4][5]
Due to the issue,STS-79 which was meant to dock with theSpace StationMir and return astronautShannon Lucid, was delayed.[5][6] Options of returning Shannon on a Soyuz were considered,[citation needed] but never followed through as the Shuttle was considered safe and able to return Shannon.[citation needed]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Space ShuttleColumbia (OV-102) | ||
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