Information About

Sts-27




  Insignia Sts-27-patchjpg
  Shuttle Atlantis
  Launch Pad 39-B
  Launch December 2 , 1988 , 9:30:34 am EST
  Landing December 6 , 1988 , 3:36:11 pm PST
  Duration 4 days, 9 hours, 5 minutes, 37 seconds
  Altitude Classified
  Inclination 570 degrees
  Distance 1,820,000 miles (2,929,000 km)
  Crew Photo Crew_STS-27jpg
  Previous STS-26
  Next STS-29


STS-27 was a Space Shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Atlantis . It was the 27th shuttle mission, and the 3rd for ''Atlantis'', 2nd after the Challenger Disaster . It carried a payload for the U.S. Department Of Defense .


CREW

''(total flights to date in parentheses)''



MISSION PARAMETERS



MISSION HIGHLIGHTS

The Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' (OV-104), at the time the youngest in NASA 's fleet, made its third flight in a classified mission for the Department of Defense(DoD). It deployed a single satellite, USA-34 , which is widely believed to be the first of the Lacrosse radar imaging satellites.

It was the 27th at Runway 17, Edwards AFB , CA, at 6:35 p.m. EST. The total mission elapsed time (wheels stop) was 4 days, 9 hours and 6 minutes.

The orbiter's Thermal Protection System tiles sustained more-than-normal damage during the flight. A review panel investigating the damage found that the most probable cause was ablative insulating material from the right-hand Solid Rocket Booster nose cap hitting the orbiter about 85 seconds into the flight. The crew noticed some of the damage during the flight, and showed mission control with one of the RMS cameras. However, due to the low resolution of the camera, mission control couldn't make out the damage, and pronounced it OK. Upon landing, over 700 damaged tiles were noted, and one tile was missing.

Also, one of the main engines' turbopumps was found to be cracked after the flight.


SEE ALSO



EXTERNAL LINKS