Names | Space Transportation System-43 |
---|---|
Mission type | TDRS-E satellite deployment Technology |
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1991-054A |
SATCAT no. | 21638 |
Mission duration | 8 days, 21 hours, 21 minutes, 25 seconds |
Distance travelled | 5,955,217 km (3,700,400 mi) |
Orbits completed | 142 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Atlantis |
Launch mass | 117,650 kg (259,370 lb) |
Landing mass | 89,239 kg (196,738 lb) |
Payload mass | 21,067 kg (46,445 lb) |
Crew | |
Crew size | 5 |
Members | |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | August 2, 1991, 15:02:00 UTC (11:02 am EDT) |
Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
Contractor | Rockwell International |
End of mission | |
Landing date | August 11, 1991, 12:23:25 UTC (8:23:25 am EDT) |
Landing site | Kennedy, SLF Runway 15 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 301 km (187 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 306 km (190 mi) |
Inclination | 28.46° |
Period | 90.60 minutes |
Instruments | |
| |
STS-43 mission patch From left: Lucid, Adamson, Blaha, Low and Baker |
STS-43, the ninth mission for Space Shuttle Atlantis, was a nine-day mission whose primary goal was launching the TDRS-E satellite (TDRS-5). The flight also tested an advanced heatpipe radiator for potential use on the then-future space station and conducted a variety of medical and materials science investigations.