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Lockheed Space Operations Company STS-61-C Space Shuttle Columbia / OV-102

Launch Status
Success

Rocket Launch Video Stream

Meet the Astronaut Crew

NASA Astronaut Robert L. Gibson, STS-61-C Commander

Robert L. Gibson

  • Birthday: 10/30/1946
  • Role: Commander
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 02/03/1984
  • Last Flight: 06/27/1995

Robert Lee "Hoot" Gibson is a former American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, aeronautical engineer, and a r...

NASA Astronaut Charles Bolden, STS-61-C Pilot

Charles Bolden

  • Birthday: 08/19/1946
  • Role: Pilot
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 01/12/1986
  • Last Flight: 02/03/1994

Charles Frank Bolden Jr. is a former Administrator of NASA, a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and a former ...

NASA Astronaut Bill Nelson, STS-61-C Payload Specialist

Bill Nelson

  • Birthday: 09/29/1942
  • Role: Payload Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 01/12/1986
  • Last Flight: 01/12/1986

Clarence William Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician serving as the senior United States Senator fr...

NASA Astronaut Robert J. Cenker, STS-61-C Payload Specialist

Robert J. Cenker

  • Birthday: 11/05/1948
  • Role: Payload Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 01/12/1986
  • Last Flight: 01/12/1986

Robert Joseph "Bob" Cenker (born November 5, 1948) is an American aerospace and electrical engineer, aerospace syst...

NASA Astronaut George Nelson, STS-61-C Mission Specialist

George Nelson

  • Birthday: 07/13/1950
  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 04/06/1984
  • Last Flight: 09/29/1988

George Driver "Pinky" Nelson is an American physicist, astronomer, science educator, and a former NASA astronaut.

NASA Astronaut Steven Hawley, STS-61-C Mission Specialist

Steven Hawley

  • Birthday: 12/12/1951
  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 08/30/1984
  • Last Flight: 07/23/1999

Steven Alan Hawley is a former NASA astronaut who flew on five U.S. Space Shuttle flights. He is professor of physics and ast...

NASA Astronaut Franklin Chang Díaz, STS-61-C Mission Specialist

Franklin Chang Díaz

  • Birthday: 04/05/1950
  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 01/12/1986
  • Last Flight: 06/05/2002

Franklin Ramón Chang Díaz is a Costa Rican Chinese American mechanical engineer, physicist, former NASA astronaut. He is th...

About the STS-61-C Mission

  • Type: Communications
  • Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
  • Launch Cost: $450,000,000

STS-61-C was the twenty-fourth mission of the shuttle program and the seventh of the Space Shuttle Columbia. The mission included the second African-American shuttle pilot, future NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, the first Costa Rican born astronaut and the second sitting politican to fly in space: Bill Nelson.

Launch Pad & Location

Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

The Launch Complex 39A launch pad has hosted 222 rocket launches, including 221 orbital launch attempts. The Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA launch site has been the location for 281 total rocket launches.

The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).

Find the best place to watch the launch from Florida

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Shuttle Rocket

The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS). Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011.

Learn more about the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Space Shuttle Rocket

About Lockheed Space Operations Company

Learn more about Lockheed Space Operations Company

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-61-C launch scheduled?

The Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-61-C launch was scheduled for:
.

Where can I watch the Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-61-C launch video?

You can watch the Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.

Where did the Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-61-C mission launch from?

The Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle rocket launched from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).

What rocket was used for the STS-61-C mission?

The STS-61-C mission launched aboard a Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle rocket. The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS). Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.

What weather conditions could have delayed the Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-61-C launch?

The Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-61-C launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.

How can I get updates if the Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-61-C launch was delayed?

This page was updated in real-time with the latest Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the STS-61-C mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official Lockheed Space Operations Company live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.

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