Lockheed Space Operations Company STS-61-C Space Shuttle Columbia / OV-102
Rocket Launch Video Stream
Meet the Astronaut Crew
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 retired NASA astronaut, as well as a...
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. A 1968...
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 from Florida, first elected to that...
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 systems consultant, and former astronaut. Cenker worked for 18...
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.
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 astronomy and director...
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 the founder and current CEO of Ad...
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
| Launches | 224 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 223 |
| Total Launches | 283 |
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).
NASA 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.
| Length | 56.1 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 8.0 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 2,030.0 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 28,200.0 kN |
| LEO Capacity | 27,500 kg |
| Launch Cost | $450,000,000 |
| Maiden Flight | 4/12/1981 |
Mission Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) was the spacecraft used for this mission. It is a NASA Spaceplane designed for Carrying a crew of 7 astronauts along with cargo to Low Earth Orbit. and traveled to Low Earth Orbit.
Space Shuttle Columbia (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first space-rated orbiter in NASA's Space Shuttle fleet. It launched for the first time on mission STS-1 on April 12, 1981, the first flight of the Space Shuttle program. Over 22 years of service, it completed 27 missions before disintegrating during re-entry near the end of its 28th mission, STS-107 on February 1, 2003, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members. The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable LEO spacecraft system operated 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), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development. The first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights in 1982. In addition to the prototype whose completion was cancelled, five complete Shuttle systems were built and used on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Operational missions launched numerous satellites, interplanetary probes, and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST); conducted science experiments in orbit; and participated in construction and servicing of the International Space Station. The Shuttle fleet's total mission time was 1322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds. 14 days
| Type | Spaceplane |
|---|---|
| Agency | NASA |
| Serial Number | OV-102 |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Destination | Low Earth Orbit |
| Maiden Flight | 4/12/1981 |
| Mission End | 1/18/1986 |
| Flights | 28 |
| Crew Capacity | 7 |
| Human Rated | Yes |
| Height | 56.1 m |
| Diameter | 8.7 m |
| Payload Capacity | 27,500 kg |
About Lockheed Space Operations Company
| Total Launches | 65 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 64 |
| Failed | 1 |
| Consecutive Success | 49 |
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:
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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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