STS-2

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Mission Insignia


Mission Statistics
Mission:	STS-2
Shuttle:	Columbia
Launch Pad:	39-A
Launch:	November 12, 1981 10:09:59 a.m. EST
Landing:	November 14, 1981 1:23:11 p.m. PST
Duration:	2 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, 12 seconds
Orbit Altitude:	157 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination:	38.03 degrees
Miles Traveled:	1,074,757 miles
Crew photo

STS-2 was a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Columbia, launched November 12, 1981. This was the second space shuttle mission, and was also the second mission for the Space Shuttle Columbia. It was thus the first time ever that a reusable spacecraft left the earth for its second mission, and returned to space.

Table of contents

1 Crew
2 Mission Parameters
3 Mission Highlights
4 Related articles
5 External links

Crew

Commander: Joseph H. Engle
Pilot: Richard H. Truly

Backup Crew

Backup Commander: Thomas K. Mattingly
Backup Pilot: Henry W. Hartsfield

Mission Parameters

Mass:
- Orbiter Liftoff: 104,647 kg
- Orbiter Landing: 92,650 kg
- DFI Payload: 8,517 kg
Perigee: 222 km
Apogee: 231 km
Inclination: 38.0°
Period: 89.0 min

Mission Highlights

Launch of the second Space Shuttle took place 7 months after STS-1, on Nov. 12, 1981, with liftoff at 10:10 a.m. EST. The planned launch time of 7:30 a.m. was delayed while a faulty data transmitting unit on Columbia was replaced. Originally the launch had been set for Oct. 9, but it was delayed by a nitrogen tetroxide spill during loading of the forward Reaction Control System (RCS) tanks. It was next scheduled for Nov. 4, but was again scrubbed when high oil pressures were discovered in two of the three Auxiliary Power Units (APU) that control the orbiter's hydraulic system. Prior to launch Columbia had spent 103 days in the OPF.

The flight marked the first time a manned space vehicle had been reflown with a second crew: Joseph H. Engle, commander, and Richard H. Truly, pilot. It again carried the DFI package, as well as the OSTA-l payload -- named for the NASA Office of Space and Terrestrial Applications -- which consisted of a number of remote sensing instruments mounted on a Spacelab pallet in the payload bay. These instruments, including the Shuttle Imaging Radar-A (SIR-1), successfully carried out remote sensing of Earth resources, environmental quality, ocean and weather conditions. In addition, the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm was successfully operated in all its various operating modes for the first time.

Although the STS-2 mission had been planned for 5 days, the flight was cut short when one of the three fuel cells that produce electricity and drinking water failed.

Landing took place on Runway 23, at Edwards AFB, at 1:23 p.m. PST, Nov. 14, after a 36-orbit, 933,757-mile flight that lasted 2 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes, 13 seconds.

Despite the truncated flight, more than 90 percent of the mission's objectives were achieved. Moreover, modifications of the water sound suppression system at the pad to absorb the solid rocket booster overpressure wave during launch were effective -- no tiles were lost and only 12 were damaged. The Columbia was flown back to KSC on Nov. 25, 1981.

This mission's primary goal was to conduct a series of tests on the Shuttle's performance in the first re-flight of the same manned spacecraft. It was also carrying the program's first payload.

The mission, which was planned to last 5 days, was cut short by nearly 3 days when 1 of the 3 primary fuel cells failed. The fuel cells were responsible for producing electricity and drinking water. Although the mission was cut short, 90% of the mission objectives were met, including the first tests in space of the 50-foot Canadian built Remote Manipulator System, also knows as the RMS.

Columbia circled the Earth 36 times.

External links

Previous Mission:
STS-1

Space Shuttle program

Next Mission:
STS-3