STS-31

STS-31
source
Mission name	STS-31
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Discovery
Launch pad	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B
Launch date	April 24, 1990
Landing date	April 29, 1990
Landing site	Edwards Air Force Base

STS-31 was the thirty-fifth NASA Space Shuttle mission, and the tenth mission for the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission launched on April 24, 1990, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B, and landed on April 29, 1990, at Edwards Air Force Base. The crew consisted of Commander Loren Shriver, Pilot Charles Bolden, and Mission Specialists Bruce McCandless II, Steven Hawley, and Kathryn Sullivan. The mission was a significant milestone in the Space Shuttle program, with the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope, a collaborative project between NASA and the European Space Agency.

Mission Overview

The STS-31 mission was a five-day mission, with the primary objective of deploying the Hubble Space Telescope, which was designed to capture high-resolution images of the universe. The mission was crewed by five experienced astronauts, including Loren Shriver, who had previously flown on STS-41B, and Charles Bolden, who had flown on STS-61C. The crew also included Bruce McCandless II, who had flown on STS-41B and STS-31, and Steven Hawley, who had flown on STS-41D and STS-61C. The mission was supported by Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center, with Gene Kranz and Christopher Kraft playing key roles in the mission's success.

Crew

The crew of STS-31 consisted of Loren Shriver, Charles Bolden, Bruce McCandless II, Steven Hawley, and Kathryn Sullivan. Loren Shriver was the Commander of the mission, with Charles Bolden serving as the Pilot. Bruce McCandless II and Steven Hawley were Mission Specialists, responsible for deploying the Hubble Space Telescope. Kathryn Sullivan was also a Mission Specialist, and had previously flown on STS-41G. The crew underwent extensive training at Johnson Space Center, with support from NASA astronauts such as Sally Ride and John Glenn.

Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the STS-31 mission was to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope, which was designed to capture high-resolution images of the universe. The Hubble Space Telescope was a collaborative project between NASA and the European Space Agency, with contributions from Space Telescope Science Institute and Godard Space Flight Center. The mission also included a number of secondary objectives, including the deployment of several Get Away Special experiments, and the testing of the Space Shuttle's Remote Manipulator System. The crew worked closely with NASA scientists, including Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking, to ensure the success of the mission.

Mission Timeline

The STS-31 mission launched on April 24, 1990, at 8:33 am Eastern Daylight Time from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. The crew spent the first day in orbit checking out the Space Shuttle's systems, and preparing for the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope. On the second day, the crew deployed the Hubble Space Telescope using the Remote Manipulator System. The crew then spent the next two days conducting a series of experiments, including the deployment of several Get Away Special experiments. The mission ended with a landing at Edwards Air Force Base on April 29, 1990, at 6:49 am Pacific Daylight Time.

Spacecraft

The STS-31 mission used the Space Shuttle Discovery, which was the third Space Shuttle to be built by Rockwell International. The Space Shuttle Discovery was equipped with a number of specialized systems, including the Remote Manipulator System, which was used to deploy the Hubble Space Telescope. The Space Shuttle also carried a number of experiments, including several Get Away Special experiments, and a Middeck experiment package. The Space Shuttle was supported by a number of NASA centers, including Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center.

Mission Accomplishments

The STS-31 mission was a major success, with the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope marking a significant milestone in the Space Shuttle program. The mission demonstrated the capabilities of the Space Shuttle and its crew, and paved the way for future Space Shuttle missions. The Hubble Space Telescope has gone on to capture thousands of high-resolution images of the universe, and has made numerous groundbreaking discoveries, including the detection of dark energy and the observation of distant galaxies. The mission was also notable for the participation of NASA astronauts such as Sally Ride and John Glenn, who played key roles in the mission's success. The mission's success was also due to the support of NASA centers, including Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as the contributions of European Space Agency and Space Telescope Science Institute. Category:Space Shuttle missions