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United Space Alliance STS-90 Space Shuttle Columbia / OV-102

Launch Status
Success

Rocket Launch Video Stream

Meet the Astronaut Crew

NASA Astronaut Richard A. Searfoss, STS-90 Commander

Richard A. Searfoss

Astronaut details for Richard A. Searfoss
Birthday06/05/1956
RoleCommander
NationalityUnited States of America
First Flight10/18/1993
Last Flight04/17/1998

Richard Alan Searfoss was an American aviator who was United States Air Force colonel, NASA astronaut and test pilot.

NASA Astronaut Scott Altman, STS-90 Pilot

Scott Altman

Astronaut details for Scott Altman
Birthday08/15/1959
RolePilot
NationalityUnited States of America
First Flight04/17/1998
Last Flight05/11/2009

Scott Douglas "Scooter" Altman is a retired United States Navy Captain, engineer, test pilot and former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of four Space...

NASA Astronaut James A. Pawelczyk, STS-90 Payload Specialist

James A. Pawelczyk

Astronaut details for James A. Pawelczyk
Birthday09/20/1960
RolePayload Specialist
NationalityUnited States of America
First Flight04/17/1998
Last Flight04/17/1998

James Anthony "Jim" Pawelczyk (born September 20, 1960) is an American researcher of physiology and Kinesiology who flew aboard the NASA STS-90 Space Shuttle mission...

NASA Astronaut Jay C. Buckey, STS-90 Payload Specialist

Jay C. Buckey

Astronaut details for Jay C. Buckey
Birthday06/06/1956
RolePayload Specialist
NationalityUnited States of America
First Flight04/17/1998
Last Flight04/17/1998

Jay Clark Buckey, Jr. (born June 6, 1956, in New York City) is an American physician and astronaut who flew aboard one space shuttle mission...

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Dafydd Williams, STS-90 Mission Specialist

Dafydd Williams

Astronaut details for Dafydd Williams
Birthday05/16/1954
RoleMission Specialist
NationalityCanada
First Flight04/17/1998
Last Flight08/08/2007

Dafydd Rhys "Dave" Williams OC (born May 16, 1954) is a Canadian physician, public speaker and a retired CSA astronaut. Williams was a mission specialist...

NASA Astronaut Kathryn P. Hire, STS-90 Mission Specialist

Kathryn P. Hire

Astronaut details for Kathryn P. Hire
Birthday08/26/1959
RoleMission Specialist
NationalityUnited States of America
First Flight04/17/1998
Last Flight02/08/2010

Kathryn Patricia "Kay" Hire is a NASA astronaut and Captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve who has flown aboard two Space Shuttle missions.

NASA Astronaut Richard M. Linnehan, STS-90 Mission Specialist

Richard M. Linnehan

Astronaut details for Richard M. Linnehan
Birthday09/19/1957
RoleMission Specialist
NationalityUnited States of America
First Flight06/20/1996
Last Flight03/11/2008

Richard Michael Linnehan is an American veterinarian and a former NASA astronaut.

About the STS-90 Mission

Mission details for STS-90
OrbitLow Earth Orbit
Launch Cost$450,000,000

STS-90 was a 1998 Space Shuttle mission flown by the Space Shuttle Columbia. The 16-day mission marked the last flight of the European Space Agency's Spacelab laboratory module, which had first flown on Columbia on STS-9, and was also the last daytime landing for Columbia.

Launch Pad & Location

Launch Complex 39B

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Launch statistics for Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Launches59
Orbital Launch Attempts58
Total Launches283

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

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.

Rocket specifications for NASA Space Shuttle
Length56.1 m
Diameter8.0 m
Stages2
Launch Mass2,030.0 T
Takeoff Thrust28,200.0 kN
LEO Capacity27,500 kg
Launch Cost$450,000,000
Maiden Flight4/12/1981

Learn more about the NASA Space Shuttle Rocket

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

Spacecraft details for Space Shuttle Columbia
TypeSpaceplane
AgencyNASA
Serial NumberOV-102
StatusDestroyed
DestinationLow Earth Orbit
Maiden Flight4/12/1981
Mission End5/3/1998
Flights28
Crew Capacity7
Human RatedYes
Height56.1 m
Diameter8.7 m
Payload Capacity27,500 kg

About United Space Alliance

United Space Alliance (USA) is a spaceflight operations company. USA is a joint venture which was established in August 1995 as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), equally owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Launch statistics for United Space Alliance
Total Launches51
Successful50
Failed1
Consecutive Success22

Learn more about United Space Alliance

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-90 launch scheduled?

The United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-90 launch was scheduled for:
.

Where can I watch the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-90 launch video?

You can watch the United Space Alliance 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 United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-90 mission launch from?

The United Space Alliance Space Shuttle rocket launched from Launch Complex 39B 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-90 mission?

The STS-90 mission launched aboard a United Space Alliance 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 United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-90 launch?

The United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-90 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 United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-90 launch was delayed?

This page was updated in real-time with the latest United Space Alliance Space Shuttle launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the STS-90 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 United Space Alliance live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.

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