![]() Satcom-K1 is deployed from Columbia's payload bay. | |
Names | Space Transportation System-24 |
---|---|
Mission type | Satellite deployment Microgravity research |
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1986-003A |
SATCAT no. | 16481 |
Mission duration | 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, 51 seconds |
Distance travelled | 4,069,481 km (2,528,658 mi) |
Orbits completed | 98 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Columbia |
Launch mass | 116,121 kg (256,003 lb) |
Landing mass | 95,325 kg (210,156 lb) |
Payload mass | 14,724 kg (32,461 lb) |
Crew | |
Crew size | 7 |
Members | |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | January 12, 1986, 11:55:00 UTC (6:55 am EST) |
Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
Contractor | Rockwell International |
End of mission | |
Landing date | January 18, 1986, 13:58:51 UTC (5:58:51 am PST) |
Landing site | Edwards, Runway 22 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 331 km (206 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 338 km (210 mi) |
Inclination | 28.45° |
Period | 91.20 minutes |
Instruments | |
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![]() STS-61-C mission patch ![]() Standing: Nelson, Hawley and Nelson Seated: Cenker, Bolden, Gibson and Chang-Díaz |
STS-61-C was the 24th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the seventh mission of Space Shuttle Columbia. It was the first time that Columbia, the first space-rated Space Shuttle orbiter to be constructed, had flown since STS-9. The mission launched from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on January 12, 1986, and landed six days later on January 18, 1986. STS-61-C's seven-person crew included the first Costa Rican-born astronaut, Franklin Chang-Díaz, the second African-American shuttle pilot, Charles Bolden, and the second sitting politician to fly in space, Rep. Bill Nelson (D-FL). Both Bolden and Nelson would also later go on to become Administrators of NASA. STS-61-C was the last shuttle mission before the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, which occurred ten days after STS-61-C's landing.