STS-72

STS-72
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Mission name	STS-72
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch pad	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B
Launch date	January 11, 1996
Landing date	January 20, 1996
Landing site	Kennedy Space Center

STS-72 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission that took place in January 1996, using the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission was the 74th Space Shuttle flight and the 10th flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. It was launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B and landed back at Kennedy Space Center. The mission was crewed by Brian Duffy, Brent Jett, Koichi Wakata, Daniel Barry, Leroy Chiao, and Winston Scott, who were all affiliated with NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

● Mission Overview

The STS-72 mission was a complex operation that involved the retrieval of the Space Flyer Unit, a Japanese satellite that had been launched by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science in 1995. The mission also included the deployment and retrieval of the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology Flyer, a NASA satellite designed to test new spacecraft technologies. The crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour worked closely with Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center to ensure the success of the mission. The mission was supported by NASA personnel, including Daniel Goldin, the NASA Administrator at the time, and Robert Cabana, a veteran NASA astronaut.

● Crew

The crew of the STS-72 mission consisted of six experienced astronauts, including Brian Duffy, the Commander of the mission, and Brent Jett, the Pilot. The crew also included Koichi Wakata, a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut, who was the first Japanese astronaut to fly on a Space Shuttle mission. The other crew members were Daniel Barry, Leroy Chiao, and Winston Scott, all of whom were affiliated with NASA. The crew underwent extensive training at Johnson Space Center and Kennedy Space Center to prepare for the mission. They worked closely with other NASA astronauts, including Eileen Collins, Catherine Coleman, and Michael Foale.

● Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the STS-72 mission was to retrieve the Space Flyer Unit, a Japanese satellite that had been launched in 1995. The crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour also deployed and retrieved the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology Flyer, a NASA satellite designed to test new spacecraft technologies. The mission included a number of other objectives, including the testing of new spacewalk procedures and the deployment of a number of Get Away Special experiments. The crew worked closely with NASA personnel, including Story Musgrave, a veteran NASA astronaut, and James Voss, a NASA astronaut who flew on several Space Shuttle missions.

● Mission Timeline

The STS-72 mission began on January 11, 1996, with the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. The crew spent the first few days of the mission in orbit, conducting a series of spacewalks and deploying the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology Flyer. On January 13, the crew retrieved the Space Flyer Unit using the Remote Manipulator System. The crew then spent several days conducting experiments and testing new spacecraft technologies. The mission ended on January 20, 1996, with the landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at Kennedy Space Center. The crew worked closely with Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center, which was staffed by experienced NASA personnel, including Gene Kranz, a veteran NASA flight director.

● Spacecraft and Payload

The STS-72 mission used the Space Shuttle Endeavour, a Space Shuttle that was first launched in 1992. The payload of the mission included the Space Flyer Unit, a Japanese satellite that was retrieved by the crew, and the Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology Flyer, a NASA satellite that was deployed and retrieved during the mission. The crew also deployed a number of Get Away Special experiments, which were designed to test new spacecraft technologies. The Space Shuttle Endeavour was equipped with a number of scientific instruments, including a radar antenna and a spectrometer. The mission was supported by NASA personnel, including Christopher Scolese, the NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, and John Grunsfeld, a veteran NASA astronaut who flew on several Space Shuttle missions. Category:Space Shuttle missions