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![]() Spacelab Module LM1 in Columbia's payload bay, serving as the Spacelab Life Sciences laboratory | |
Names | Space Transportation System-40 |
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Mission type | Spacelab Life Sciences-1 (SLS-1) |
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1991-040A |
SATCAT no. | 21399![]() |
Mission duration | 9 days, 2 hours, 14 minutes, 20 seconds |
Distance travelled | 6,083,223 km (3,779,940 mi) |
Orbits completed | 146 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Columbia |
Launch mass | 114,290 kg (251,970 lb) |
Landing mass | 102,283 kg (225,495 lb) |
Payload mass | 12,374 kg (27,280 lb) |
Crew | |
Crew size | 7 |
Members | |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | June 5, 1991, 13:24:51 UTC (9:24:51 am EDT) |
Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39B |
Contractor | Rockwell International |
End of mission | |
Landing date | June 14, 1991, 15:39:11 UTC (8:39:11 am PDT) |
Landing site | Edwards, Runway 22 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 287 km (178 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 296 km (184 mi) |
Inclination | 39.02° |
Period | 90.40 minutes |
Instruments | |
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![]() STS-40 mission patch ![]() Back row: O'Connor, Jernigan and Gutierrez Front row: Gaffney, Hughes-Fulford, Seddon and Bagian |
STS-40, the eleventh launch of Space Shuttle Columbia, was a nine-day mission in June 1991. It carried the Spacelab module for Spacelab Life Sciences 1 (SLS-1), the fifth Spacelab mission and the first dedicated solely to biology. STS-40 was the first spaceflight that included three women crew members.[1]