STS-41C National Space Transportation Systems Program Mission Report
STS-41C National Space Transportation Systems Program Mission Report
STS-41C National Space Transportation Systems Program Mission Report
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STS 41-C
MISSION REPORT
NBT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
Title .!%I%
BEEEXPERIMENT. . . e 6
VEHICLEASSESSMENT. s e o m e 6
EXTERNALTAHK . . . e.. . 7
The STS 41-C Hational Space Transportation Systems Program Mission Report contains a
suimnary o f the major a c t i v i t i e s and a c c o v l i s h m n t s o f t h e eleventh Shuttle f l i g h t and
f i f t h f l i g h t o f t h e OV-099 vehicle, Challenwr. This report alF3 summarizes the s i g n i f i -
cant problems t h a t occurred during STS 4 1 4 , end provides a problem tracking l i s t t h a t i s
a complete l i s t o f a l l problems t h a t occurred during t h e f l i g h t . None o f the problems
w i l l a f f e c t t h e LTS 41-0 f l f g h t .
The major objectives of f l i g h t STS 41-C were t o successfully deploy the LOEF (long
duration exposure f a c i l i t y ) and retrieve, r e p a i r and redeploy t h e SWW (Solar Flaxitrum
Misslon) spacecraft, and perform functions o f M A X and Cinema 360 camrds.
The sequence o f events f o r t h i s f l i g h t i s shown i n t a b l e I. The problem t r a c k i n g l i s t s
f o r t h e NSFC (Marshall Space F l i g h t Center) elements and O r b i t e r are shown i n tables 11
and 111, respectively, a l s o a t t h e end of t h e report.
MISSION SUHWRY
The STS 4 1 4 f l i g h t was launched from Launch Comalex 39 a t KSC [Kennedy Space Center) on
A p r i l 6, 1984, a t 097:13:57:59.999 6.m.t. (08:57:59.999 e.s.t.), and landed a t t h e Edwards
AFB ( A i r Force Base) a t 05:38:07 P.s.t. on A p r i l 13, 1984. This f l i g h t was scheduled as a
6-day mission, but SM r e t r i e v a l problems during f l i g h t day 3 operations resulted i n ex-
tending t h e mission 1 day f o r a t o t a l o f 7 days. Also, t h i s f l i g h t was scheduled t o land
a t the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing F a c i l i t y ; however, t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f adverse
weather ( r a i n ) resulted i n a decision t o land a t Edwards AFB, California.
The crew f o r t h i s f l i g h t was Capt. Robert L. Crfppen, C o ~ a ~ d @ r Jor; Frances A. Scobee,
P i l o t ; and Terry J. Wart, Jams D. Wan Hoften, PhO., and George D. Nelson, PhD., Missian
Specialists. O f t h e 25 DTO*s ~ d ~ t e s t ~objectfwes)
~ ~and DSQ';
o (detailad
~ ~ supple-
~ t
mentary objectives), a11 w e c m p l e t e d Par a 10O-p~rcentc m ! l e t i o n rate.
The ascent phase was nominal i n a l l respects, as was the SRll ( s o l i d rocket booster) and
t h e ET (external tank) separiatSan and the %IS ( o r b i t a l ~ r ~ e u y ~system)~ i n g maneuver t h a t
placed t h e vehicle i n t h e planned 252- by 137-nsnl. e l l l i p t i c a l orbit, The SRfr's were
recovered along w i t h t h e i r parachutes, a ~ t h ~ one
g h maln parachute d i d not open fully.
The ET iPpected w i t h i n t h e planned footprint.
1
TABLE I. - STS 41-c SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
r
Actual
EVENT G.m.t.
APU a c t i v a t i o n 1)
12, 097:13:53: 07
i3j 097:13: 53:08
SRB HPU a c t i v a t i o n c o m n d (RH-B2) 097: 13 :57: 32.8
MPS s t a r t conanand sequence (engine 3) 097: 13: 5 7: 53.4
SRB i g n i t i o n command from GPC ( l i f t - o f f ) 097:13: 57: 59.999
MPS throttledown t o 67 percent t h r u s t (engine 3) 09 7:13:58:25.8
Haxf mum dynamic pressure 097:13:58: 50.5
MPS t k r o t t l e u p t o 104-percent t h r u s t (engine 3) 097: 13:58: 57.6
SRB seoaration c 097: 14:00:06
MPS throttledown f o r 39 acceleration (engine 3) 097: 14:05: 30.4
Main engine c u t o f f (MECO) 097: 14: G o : 3 1.2
External tank separation 097:14:06:49.3
APU deactivation (APU 3) 097: 14: 10: 11
OHS-2 fgnltionft 097:14:40:54.1
OMS-2 Cutoff 097: 14:42:29.3
Long duration exposure f a c l l i t y (LDEF) deploy 098:17:19:27
S t a r t f i r s t extravehicular act i v l t y 099:14:18
End f i r s t extravehicular a c t f v i t y 099: 17: 15
SPCM observatory grapple 101:13: 52:20
S t a r t second extravehicular a c t i v i t y 102:08: 58
End second extravehicular a c t f v f t y 102: 15: 14
S f M ohservatory release 103: 09:26:29
OPS-8 ( f l i g h t control syst 103:13:53:29
APU-1 a c t i v a t i o n 104: 12: 24 :33
Deorbit ~ n ~ u v ieg nr l t l o n 104: 12:29:30.3
Deorbit maneuver c u t o f f 104:12:33:32.5
APU-2 and -3 a c t i v a t i o n 104:12:54:58
Entry i n t e r f a c e (400,000 f t ) P04:13:07:51.6
End b 1a ckout 104:13:24:12
Terminal area energy ~ n ~ ~ @ ~ n ~ 104: 13:Jl: 54.5
Mafn landing gear contact 104: 13: 38:Ol
Nose landing gear contact 104:13:38:23
Wheals stop 104:13:38:55
APU deactivation camplete 104:13:51:16
___
Note:
.
S-1 maneuver was not planned o r made on t h i s f l i g h t because o f the d i r e c t ascent
trajectory
2
On t h e second day, t h e cabin pressure was 1 red t o 10.2 psia i n preparation f o r t h e EVA
(extravehicular a c t i v i t y ) t h a t was t o be co cted following SNt4 rendezvous on day 3.
However, because o f a procedural e r r o r i n t h e prebreathing protocol w i t h the suit, the
cabfn was repressurized and depressurized again t o t h e 10.2-psia l e v e l t o Insure t h a t the
required prebreathing was accomplished p r i o r t o t h e EVA. A l l subsystems i n t h e cabin area
functioned s a t i s f a c t o r i l y during the extended period o f lower pressure.
Following rendezv , two of the Mission Specialists (Nelson and Wan Hoften)
on, berthing, and r e p a i r operations. The t r a n s l a t i o n t o
neuvering u n i t ) was excellent; however, a l l attempts a t
SMM were unsuccessful because the jaws o f the YPAD (trunnion p i n attach-
ment device) would not release and softdoci w i t h the SHM trunnion pin. The crew member
then held on t o a s o l a r wing i n an attempt t o slow vehicle r o t a t i o n so t h a t t h e SMM could
be grappled, but t h i s procedure was also unsuccessful. A t t h i s t i n e the EVA was termi-
nated.
Following EVA termination, attempts were made t o grapple t h e S w i t h the RNS. These were
also unsuccessful. Attempts t o r e t r i e v e t h e s a t e l l i t e were t e inated and an Orbiter sep-
a r a t i o n maneuver was performed t o allow the WH spacecraft t o stabilize.
The f o u r t h day was a replannlng day f o r the re-rendezvous and recovery of the S14fl. Plan-
ning during t h i s f o u r t h day a l s included a one-day extension t o the mission, i f the
second attempt t o capture t h e S was successful. Because of he extensive s t a t i o n keep-
i n g and maneuvering performed i attempting t o r e t r i e v e the S , the forward RCS (reaction
control system) had only 22 percent propellant remaining a f t e r t h e f i r s t rendezvous a c t i v -
ity. As a result, the re-rendezvous was delayed u n t i l t h e f i f t h day because the propellant
usage would be s i g n i f i c a n t l y less since the SMP-4 would be i n a more advantageous o r b i t a l
p o s i t i o n w i t h respect t o the Orblter.
Early on the f i f t h day, the rendezvous mneuwers were begun. A minimum amount o f propel-
l a n t was used t o reach the s t a t i o n keepfng positton f ~ m
where g r a p ~ ? could
~ ~ $ begfn wlth
the RHS. The f i r s t grapple a t t e q t was. successful i n capturing the S!&4, a f t e r &'RICE\ the
spacecraft was placad i n the FSS (Plfght service system) i n t h e cargo bay. The SW Has
locked i n pldce f o r the repairs t h a t were t o be conducted cn t h e s i x t h day.
Orlginal planning f o r t h i s mission included a reboost o f the SNM o r b i t t o about 285 nmi.
circular. Hwever. since Orbiter propellant was becornlng a c r i t i c a l consumable, and since
t h e extended s a t a l l l t e nlssion l i f e %as not a high p r i o r i t y item, the reboost was cancel-
jed. As a result, t h e SWM i s operating i n about a 270-nmi. c i r c u l a r orbit.
Upon release o f the St4N I n i t s planned attitude,, t h e Shuttle remained nearby u n t i l ths
o v e r a l l conditlon of t h e S f M could be determined by Goddard Space F l f g h t Center engineers.
A f t e r the more extensive t e s t showed the SW t o be op@ratingproperly, the SS8.I was re-
leased, the Orbfter separated from t h e SW and f i n a l stowage f o r entry was begun.
3
All preparations f o r e n t r y were completed and t h e crew was maklng f i n a l preparations f o r
t h e deorblt maneuver when t h e ground c o n t r o l l e r s made a decision t o delay entry one o r b i t
because o f unsatisfactory weather that was headed t w a r d t h e Shuttle Landing F a c i l i t y
area a t KSC. Further we8ther evaluations lead t o t h e decision t o land a t E
where the weather was ideal.
The descent was flown as planned w i t h only one P T I (programed t e s t i n p u t ) not being
perforwd. This was expected based on the t r a j e c t o r y flown f o r entry and landing a t
Edwards AFB. A l l other aspects o f entry were as lanned and after a 249-degree heading
alignment c i r c l e maneuver, t h e O r b i t e r touched d n a t 104:13:38:07 G.m.t. on lakebed
runway 17.
RENDEZVOUS
FIRST RENDEZVOUS
SECOND RENDEZVOUS
The NCC maneuver solutions were computed before, during, and a f t e r the second s t a r tracker
pass. A l l solutions agreed w i t h i n mission l i m i t s and t h e f i n a l NCC maneuver s o l u t i o n was
executed.
The radar locked on a t about 18 nml. All midcourse corrections were small as expected.
Manual procedures began a f t e r t h e MC4 maneuver and t a r g e t s t a t i o n keeping was successfully
achieved.
4
..
Two periods o f EVA were plan 1-C. The f i r s t EVA was planned
t o capture and s t a b l i z e t h e a t l m s for t h i s f i r s t EVA went
as planned and t h e EVA r s a t a h t 099:14:18 G.m.t.
After the successful r e t r i e v a l and berthing o f the plans f o r the second EVA were
s o l i d i f i e d , The crew preparations proceeded smooth nd t h e crew e x i t e d the a i r l o c k
a t 102:08:58, over an hour ahead o f Schedule. The crew proceeded d f r e c t l y t o t h e SW,
r e p a i r a c t i v i t y was completed, and the crew was gfven pe n t o conduct an MFIU per-
formance evaluation i n the cargo bay, uslng t h e p o r t - s i d
PAY LOAQS
EXPOSURE FACILITY
LoHe ~~~~7~~~~
The LDEF (long duration exposure f a c f l i t y ] contains 57 individual science and technology
experiments, i s a p p r o x i ~ t e ~14 y ft i n diameter and 30 ft Isr?g, and weighs approximately
8000 lb. The LDEF was successfully deployed on STS 1 be r e t r i e v e d f r o m i t s
gravity-gradfent s t a b i l i z e d a t t f t u d e on a f u t u r e Shu
The LDEF unberthing and deployment operations on day 2 n t as planned. The LOEF was
deployed on time and t h e crew reported no observable rates a t deployment. A preliminary
f i l m review shows t h a t the LDEF rates a t d @ p l o y ~ nwere
t a t l e a s t Q times less than t h e
maximum allowable r a t e o f 0.025 deglsec. A f t e r deployment, t h e Orbiter separation man-
euver was i n i t i a t e d and the crew confirmed t h e separation r a t e w i t h the radar. The crew
also reported t h a t t h e view o f the trunnion p i n s and berthing guides using t h e CCTV
(closed c i r c u i t televiston) system was not satisfactory, and they expressed some concern
about the use o f t h e CCTV system durtng the forthcoming LDEF r e t r l e v a l mission.
The Cinema 3 6 0 c w e r a system was flown i n t h e payload bay and t h e IHAX camera i n the crew
t a m r a was operated by the crew i n the Orbiter cabin. The system had (I
interchangeable lenses and nine 1000-ft f i l m mgazlnes, The Crew hiid no d i f f i c u l t y
operating the cdmera o r i n changing f i l m magazines o r lenses. A l l f i l m was exposed and
5
t h e user reported t h a t 75 t o 80 percent O f t h e f i l m was studio usable. The crew experi-
i f f i c u l t y w i t h t h e voice recorder t h a t tias used I n conjunction w i t h
em able t o r e p a i r t h e recorder.
The payload bay camera was an A r r i f l e x 3 h camera which used a 1000-ft
mounted i n a ~ d i f i e dGAS ( g e t a ~special)
~ canister. The modified GAS
precision-machined l i d t h a t housed a quartz d f o r the fisheye lens t o look through, and
electronics t h a t a110 d t h e crew t o remotely change f-stop, frame rate, olus operata t h e
camera. This camera was used t o capture footage o f EVA'S, payload degloymernt, and RHS
operations. The camera was controlled w i t h the APC (autonornus payload c o n t r o l l e r ) and
a l l f i l m was exposed as planned. The user was extremely pleased w i t h t h e results.
BEE EXPERIMENT
A student-sponsored bee experiment was successfully flown. The crew observed some i n i t i a l
bee d i s o r i e n t a t i o n during t h e f i r s t o r b i t a l day; however, t h e bees then s e t t l e d and were
able t o walk, fly, and f l o a t w i t h no apparent d l f f i c u l t y . A s i m i l a r period o f disorien-
t a t i o n was also observed a f t e r entry.
The performance o f the SWNl's ( s o l i d rocket m t o r s ) was near predicted levels and w e l l
w i t h i n t h e spectficatfon l i m i t s . Quick-look @ v a l ~ a t ~ oshows
m t h a t head pressures and
propellant burn rates were s l i g h t l y gredter than predicted f o r both motors. The separa-
t i o n tlme for the SRB's was a ~ p r o x ~ ~ t 1.4 e l yseconds e a r l i e r than predicted. Operation
o f both SR5 TYC (thrust vector control) systems was satlsfactory and no a n m l f e s were
experienced. Thrust fmbalance between the SRB's #as w i t h i n s p e c i f i c a t i o n throughout the
ascent phase.
The left-hand SRB range safety system channel A sfgnal strength dropped t o 1 v o l t a t
l i f t - o f f plus 1 minute 15 seconds f o r 5 seconds and then returned t o saturation f o r the
remainder of' the f l i g h t , An investfgatfon i s ufiderway t o determine i f t h i s conditton fs
p a r t i n t h e measuring system o r t o the range safety system hardware.
Chase plane video and photogrephic coverage shodled t h a t one main parachute on t h e r i g h t -
hand SRB failed t o f n f l a t e and indicated normal parachutes on t h e left-hand SRB. All
parachutes were recovered and the p o s t f l l g h t inspection revealed the following: r i g h t -
hand m i n parachute s e r f a l number 4030 f a i l e d i n gore 47 f r o m horizontal rfbban 24
through the vent band; left-hand drogue pWfxhMte s e r f a l number 3006 severely dsinaged i n
gore 49 and other surrounding material, apparently from SRH hot propellant debris; and
left-hand main parachute s e r i a l number 4027 f a i l e d a l l horizontal rfbbons I n gore 18
( s k i r t band, vent band i n t a c t ) . An investigation team has been establlshed t o determine
t h e caise o f these an lies. Flashfng l i g h t s and RF beacons per40 d normally. Table I 1
contains a current anomaly l i s t f o r t h e SRB's.
EXTERNAL TANK
A l l prelaunch countdown and mainstage m i n engine f l i g h t data looked very good. The hfgh-
pressure oxidizer and f u e l turbo-pump turbine discharge temperatures compared favorably
w i t h predicted values. SSME (Space Shuttle Main Engine) start, c u t o f f and propellant dump
appeared t o be normal. No problems were encountered throughout the Flight. Performance
during mainstage appeared satisfactory,
Overall ascent p e r f o m n c e was bring mx 7,
t h e s E's throttled dwn t o
about 67 percent compared t o the predfcked 71 percent. The lower han-pradi cted t h r o t t l e
l e v e l indicates higRer-than-gredtcteQ SRB impulse delivered during t h e f i r s t 20 seconds o f
flight. *
During STS 41-G prelaunch checkolrt, card 5 o f iWf~!F F l failed, The HLIpE.9
replaced, and a l l associated functions were r e v e r i f i e d o r waived. The replacement MDM
exhibited normal performance throughout the mission.
7
Ku-Band Rendezvous Radar F a i l e d Self-Test and Lost Lock
During on-orbi t operations, t h e Ku-band rendezvous radar experienced sporadic AGC (auto-
i n c o n t r o l ) spiking and f a l s e detects. en these tonditions were present (eight
the radar f a i l e d t h e s e l f - t e s t ; and, on one occasjon, t h e Ku-band f a i l e d t o r e -
a f t e r l o s i n g lock because o f antenna obscuration and subsequent powering
down o f t h e WA ( t r a v e l i n g wave tube assembly). The o v e r a l l performance o f t h e Ku-band
for t h i s mission, however. was acceptable.
Unsuccessful Soft Docking Attempts With SW S a t e l l i t e
Brake Failures
A f t e r landing, t h e brakes ere applied a t 110 knots ground speed, The deceleration
3
varied from 12 t o 6 ft/sec durlng t h e 2142 f e e t of braking distance. Brake energy
varied from 1 4 ~ 1 0I t~- l b CRHOB (right-hand outboard) and LHKB (left-hand inboard)] t o
16x106 and 1 7 ~ 1 0f t~- l b [LWOB (left-hand outboard) and R:-IIB (right-hand inboard), respec-
tively].
P o s t f l i g h t inspection, removal and t e a r d w n o f t h e brakes revea
were damaged. The Beryllium was cracked on r o t o r s 3 and 4 o f b
brakes and on r o t o r 4 o f the LHOB brake. Carbon edges were c h i
were missing, d r i v e c l i p t a i l s were bent and carbon-surface deb
t h e outer two r o t o r s o r s t a t o r s o f a l l four brakes. Damage was
which occurred can STS-7 except t h a t t h e damage occurred on both e f t and r i g h t sldes.
8
t o leave t h e cooling water on for only about 1 minute before t h e temperature became too
cold. A f t e r t u r n i n g the cooling water off, the EV-1 C r m m n was able t o work f o r about an
hour before t h e temperature became too hot. The EV-1 crewman was unable t o maintain
proper temperature control during the second EVA without t u r n i n g t h e cooling water on and
o f f about every hour.
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