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Lockheed Space Operations Company STS-42 Space Shuttle Discovery / OV-103

Launch Status
Success

Rocket Launch Video Stream

Meet the Astronaut Crew

NASA Astronaut Ronald J. Grabe, STS-42 Commander

Ronald J. Grabe

  • Birthday: 06/13/1945
  • Role: Commander
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 10/03/1985
  • Last Flight: 06/21/1993

Ronald John Grabe is a former NASA astronaut.

He has earned the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, the Ai...

NASA Astronaut Stephen S. Oswald, STS-42 Pilot

Stephen S. Oswald

  • Birthday: 06/30/1951
  • Role: Pilot
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 01/22/1992
  • Last Flight: 03/02/1995

Stephen Scot Oswald is a former NASA astronaut.

Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Roberta Bondar, STS-42 Payload Specialist

Roberta Bondar

  • Birthday: 12/04/1945
  • Role: Payload Specialist
  • Nationality: Canada
  • First Flight: 01/22/1992
  • Last Flight: 01/22/1992

Roberta Bondar (born December 4, 1945) is Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space. Following more ...

European Space Agency Astronaut Ulf Merbold, STS-42 Payload Specialist

Ulf Merbold

  • Birthday: 06/20/1941
  • Role: Payload Specialist
  • Nationality: Germany
  • First Flight: 11/28/1983
  • Last Flight: 10/03/1994

Dr. Ulf Dietrich Merbold (born June 20, 1941) is the first West German citizen and second German native (after Sigmund Jähn)...

NASA Astronaut William F. Readdy, STS-42 Mission Specialist

William F. Readdy

  • Birthday: 01/24/1952
  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 01/22/1992
  • Last Flight: 09/16/1996

William Francis Readdy is a former Associate Administrator of the Office of Space Flight, at NASA Headquarters.
...

NASA Astronaut David Hilmers, STS-42 Mission Specialist

David Hilmers

  • Birthday: 01/28/1950
  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 10/03/1985
  • Last Flight: 01/22/1992

David Carl Hilmers is a former NASA astronaut. Hilmers was selected a NASA astronaut in July 1980, and completed the initial ...

NASA Astronaut Norman E. Thagard, STS-42 Mission Specialist

Norman E. Thagard

  • Birthday: 07/03/1943
  • Role: Mission Specialist
  • Nationality: United States of America
  • First Flight: 06/18/1983
  • Last Flight: 03/14/1995

Norman Earl Thagard (born July 3, 1943), (Capt, USMC, Ret.), is an American scientist and former U.S. Marine Corps officer an...

About the STS-42 Mission

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

STS-42 was a Space Shuttle Discovery mission with the Spacelab module. The main goal of the mission was to study the effects of microgravity on a variety of organisms.

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-42 launch scheduled?

The Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-42 launch was scheduled for:
.

Where can I watch the Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-42 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-42 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-42 mission?

The STS-42 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-42 launch?

The Lockheed Space Operations Company Space Shuttle STS-42 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-42 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-42 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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