STS-82

STS-82
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center · Public domain · source
Mission name	STS-82
Spacecraft	Discovery
Launch pad	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
Launch date	February 11, 1997
Landing date	February 21, 1997
Landing site	Kennedy Space Center

STS-82 was the 22nd flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery and the 82nd mission of the NASA Space Shuttle program. The mission was a servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope and was crewed by seven NASA astronauts, including Kenneth D. Bowersox, Scott J. Horowitz, Joseph R. Tanner, Mark C. Lee, Gregory J. Harbaugh, Steven A. Hawley, and Steven L. Smith. The mission was launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A and landed back at Kennedy Space Center after nearly 10 days in space, during which the crew performed a series of spacewalks and scientific experiments in collaboration with European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, and National Reconnaissance Office.

Mission Overview

The STS-82 mission was a critical servicing mission for the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched in 1990 by Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-31 mission. The mission was designed to upgrade the telescope's instruments and systems, including the installation of a new Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and a Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer. The crew also performed a series of spacewalks to maintain and repair the telescope, working closely with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Goddard Space Flight Center, and European Astronaut Centre. The mission was supported by NASA's Johnson Space Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Kennedy Space Center, and was an important step in the ongoing Hubble Space Telescope program, which has involved numerous space agencies and organizations, including Space Telescope Science Institute, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency.

Crew

The STS-82 crew consisted of seven experienced NASA astronauts, including Commander Kenneth D. Bowersox, Pilot Scott J. Horowitz, and five Mission Specialists: Joseph R. Tanner, Mark C. Lee, Gregory J. Harbaugh, Steven A. Hawley, and Steven L. Smith. The crew was supported by a team of flight controllers and engineers from NASA's Johnson Space Center, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and European Space Agency, and worked closely with scientists and researchers from Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Space Telescope Science Institute, and University of California, Berkeley. The crew's training was supported by NASA's Astronaut Candidate School and European Astronaut Centre, and they were launched into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, which was built by Rockwell International and McDonnell Douglas.

Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the STS-82 mission was to service the Hubble Space Telescope and upgrade its instruments and systems. The crew installed a new Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and a Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer, and performed a series of spacewalks to maintain and repair the telescope. The mission also included a range of scientific experiments and observations, including studies of the Sun, Moon, and Earth's atmosphere, in collaboration with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and University of Colorado Boulder. The crew worked closely with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and European Space Agency to achieve the mission's objectives, and the mission was an important step in the ongoing Hubble Space Telescope program, which has involved numerous space agencies and organizations, including Space Telescope Science Institute, Canadian Space Agency, and National Reconnaissance Office.

Mission Timeline

The STS-82 mission was launched on February 11, 1997, at 3:55 AM Eastern Standard Time from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. The crew spent nearly 10 days in space, during which they performed a series of spacewalks and scientific experiments. The mission included a range of orbital operations, including rendezvous and docking with the Hubble Space Telescope, and the crew worked closely with NASA's Johnson Space Center, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and European Space Agency to achieve the mission's objectives. The crew landed back at Kennedy Space Center on February 21, 1997, at 3:32 AM Eastern Standard Time, bringing an end to the successful mission, which was supported by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA's Stennis Space Center, and United Space Alliance.

Spacewalks

The STS-82 mission included a series of five spacewalks, which were performed by Joseph R. Tanner, Mark C. Lee, Gregory J. Harbaugh, and Steven L. Smith. The spacewalks were designed to maintain and repair the Hubble Space Telescope, and the crew installed a new Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and a Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer. The spacewalks were supported by NASA's Johnson Space Center, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and European Space Agency, and were an important part of the mission's success, which was also supported by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA's Ames Research Center, and Lockheed Martin. The crew's spacewalks were a critical component of the Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, which has involved numerous space agencies and organizations, including Space Telescope Science Institute, Canadian Space Agency, and National Reconnaissance Office.