![]() DSCS-III satellites in Atlantis' payload bay | |
Names | Space Transportation System-21 |
---|---|
Mission type | Satellite deployment |
Operator | NASA / U.S. DoD |
COSPAR ID | 1985-092A |
SATCAT no. | 16115![]() |
Mission duration | 4 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes and 38 seconds |
Distance travelled | 2,707,948 km (1,682,641 mi) |
Orbits completed | 64 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Atlantis |
Launch mass | N/A |
Landing mass | 86,400 kg (190,500 lb) |
Payload mass | 19,968 kg (44,022 lb) |
Crew | |
Crew size | 5 |
Members | |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | October 3, 1985, 15:15:30 UTC (11:15:30 pm EDT) |
Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
Contractor | Rockwell International |
End of mission | |
Landing date | October 7, 1985, 17:00:08 UTC UTC (10:00:08 am PDT) |
Landing site | Edwards, Runway 23 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 475 km (295 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 484 km (301 mi) |
Inclination | 28.50° |
Period | 94.20 minutes |
![]() STS-51-J mission patch ![]() From left: Stewart, Hilmers, Bobko, Pailes and Grabe |
STS-51-J was NASA's 21st Space Shuttle mission and the first flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis. It launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 3, 1985, carrying a payload for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 7, 1985.