View source for STS-61-C

{{Short description|1986 American crewed spaceflight to deploy Satcom-K1}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name               = STS-61-C
| names_list         = [[Space Transportation System]]-24
| image              = STS-61-C SATCOM Ku-1 deployment.jpg
| image_caption      = [[Satcom (satellite)|Satcom-K1]] is deployed from ''Columbia''{{'}}s payload bay.
| mission_type       = Satellite deployment<br/>[[Micro-g environment|Microgravity research]]
| operator           = [[NASA]]
| COSPAR_ID          = <!-- Wikidata -->
| SATCAT             = <!-- Wikidata -->
| mission_duration   = {{time interval|January 12, 1986, 11:55:00|January 18, 1986, 13:58:51|show=dhms|sep=,}}
| distance_travelled = {{cvt|4069481|km}}
| orbits_completed   = 98
| spacecraft         = {{OV|102}}
| launch_mass        = {{cvt|116121|kg}}
| landing_mass       = {{cvt|95325|kg}}
| payload_mass       = {{cvt|14724|kg}}
| crew_size          = 7
| crew_members       = {{Unbulleted list|[[Robert L. Gibson]]|[[Charles Bolden]]|[[George Nelson (astronaut)|George Nelson]]|[[Steven Hawley]]|[[Franklin Chang-Díaz]]|[[Bill Nelson]]|[[Robert J. Cenker]]}}
| launch_date        = {{Start date text|January 12, 1986, 11:55:00|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}[[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] (6:55{{nbsp}}am{{nbsp}}[[Eastern Standard Time|EST]])
| launch_site        = [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]]
| launch_contractor  = [[Rockwell International]]
| landing_date       = {{End date text|January 18, 1986, 13:58:51|timezone=yes}}{{nbsp}}UTC (5:58:51{{nbsp}}am{{nbsp}}[[Pacific Standard Time|PST]])
| landing_site       = [[Edwards Air Force Base|Edwards]], Runway{{nbsp}}22
| orbit_reference    = [[Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime       = [[Low Earth orbit]]
| orbit_periapsis    = {{cvt|331|km}}
| orbit_apoapsis     = {{cvt|338|km}}
| orbit_period       = 91.20 minutes
| orbit_inclination  = 28.45°
| apsis              = gee
| instruments        = {{ubl|Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program (CHAMP)|[[Getaway Special]] (GAS) canisters|Shuttle Infrared Leeside Temperature Sensing (SILTS)|Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSIP)}}
| insignia           = STS-61-c-patch.png
| insignia_caption   = STS-61-C mission patch
| crew_photo         = STS-61-C crew.jpg
| crew_photo_caption = Background: [[Bill Nelson|B. Nelson]], [[Steven Hawley|Hawley]] and [[George Nelson (astronaut)|G. Nelson]]<br/>Foreground: [[Robert J. Cenker|Cenker]], [[Charles Bolden|Bolden]], [[Robert L. Gibson|Gibson]] and {{nowrap|[[Franklin Chang-Díaz|Chang-Díaz]]}}
| programme          = [[Space Shuttle program]]
| previous_mission   = [[STS-61-B]] (23)
| next_mission       = [[STS-51-L]] (25)
}}

'''STS-61-C''' was the 24th mission of [[NASA]]'s [[Space Shuttle program]], and the seventh mission of [[Space Shuttle Columbia|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'']]. It was the first time that ''Columbia'', the first space-rated Space Shuttle orbiter to be constructed, had flown since [[STS-9]]. The mission launched from [[Florida]]'s [[Kennedy Space Center]] on January 12, 1986, and landed six days later on January 18, 1986. STS-61-C's seven-person crew included the first [[Costa Rican]]-born astronaut, [[Franklin Chang-Díaz]], the second [[African-American]] shuttle pilot, [[Charles Bolden]], and the second sitting politician to fly in space, Rep. [[Bill Nelson]] (D-FL). Both Bolden and Nelson would also later go on to become [[Administrator of NASA|Administrators of NASA]]. STS-61-C was the last shuttle mission before the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster]], which occurred ten days after STS-61-C's landing.

== Crew ==
{{Spaceflight crew
| terminology = Astronaut

| position1   = Commander
| crew1_up    = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Robert L. Gibson]] 
| flights1_up = Second

| position2   = Pilot
| crew2_up    = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Charles Bolden]]
| flights2_up = First

| position3   = Mission Specialist 1
| crew3_up    = {{flagicon|USA}} [[George Nelson (astronaut)|George Nelson]]
| flights3_up = Second

| position4   = Mission Specialist 2<br>Flight Engineer
| crew4_up    = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Steven Hawley]]
| flights4_up = Second

| position5   = Mission Specialist 3
| crew5_up    = {{Flagicon|USA}}/{{Flagicon|CRC}}<!-- Chang-Díaz wore the US flag on his arm, so it should be listed first --> [[Franklin Chang-Díaz]]
| flights5_up = First

| position6   = Payload Specialist 1
| crew6_up    = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Bill Nelson]] (U.S. Rep. D-FL)
| flights6_up = Only
| details6_up = Congressional observer

| position7   = Payload Specialist 2
| crew7_up    = {{flagicon|USA}} [[Robert J. Cenker]]
| flights7_up = Only
| details7_up = Sponsor: [[RCA Corporation|RCA]]
|notes=Nelson was a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] from [[Florida]] acting as a congressional observer. He was the second sitting member of Congress in space. Senator [[Jake Garn]] (R-UT) had previously flown on [[STS-51-D]] in the prior year.}}
{{Anchor|Backup crew}} 
{{Spaceflight crew
| terminology = Astronaut
| crew        = backup
| position7   = Payload Specialist 2
| crew7_up    = {{flagicon|USA}} Gerard E. Magilton
| details7_up = Sponsor: [[RCA Corporation|RCA]]
}}
=== Crew seat assignments ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! Seat<ref>{{cite web|title=STS-61C|url=http://spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-61c.htm|publisher=Spacefacts|access-date=February 26, 2014}}</ref> 
! Launch
! Landing
|rowspan=8| [[File:Space Shuttle seating plan.svg|150px]]<br />Seats 1–4 are on the flight deck.<br />Seats 5–7 are on the mid-deck.
|-
! 1
|colspan=2| Gibson
|-
! 2
|colspan=2| Bolden
|-
! 3
| {{nowrap|G. Nelson}}
| {{nowrap|Chang-Díaz}}
|-
! 4
|colspan=2| Hawley
|-
! 5
| {{nowrap|Chang-Díaz}}
| {{nowrap|G. Nelson}}
|-
! 6
|colspan=2| {{nowrap|B. Nelson}}
|-
! 7
|colspan=2| Cenker
|}

== Mission background ==
[[File:Space Shuttle Columbia launches on STS-61-C.jpg|thumb|STS-61-C lifts off from [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|Launch Complex 39A]] at [[Kennedy Space Center]] ]]{{LaunchAttempt
| date1           = 1985-12-18 7:00
| result1         = Scrubbed
| reason1         = Weather
| notes1          = Technicians needed additional time to close out the orbiter's aft compartment.<ref name="STIsummary" />
| date2           = 1985-12-19 7:55
| result2         = Scrubbed
| reason2         = Technical
| decision_date2  = 1985-12-19 7:54
| decision_clock2 = −00:00:14
| notes2          = The right SRB's Hydraulic Power Unit displayed an out-of-tolerance turbine reading.
| date3           = 1986-01-06 7:05
| result3         = Scrubbed
| reason3         = Technical
| decision_date3  = 1986-01-06 7:04
| decision_clock3 = −00:00:31
| notes3          = Countdown was held at T−02:55 due to a LOX fill and drain valve not closing.<ref name="Mullane 2006">{{cite book |last1=Mullane |first1=Mike |author-link=Mike Mullane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fvWZsjorXJIC |title=Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut |publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons |year=2006 |isbn=978-0743296762 |location=New York City, New York |page=212}}</ref> The countdown stopped at T−31 seconds when a liquid oxygen replenish valve failed to close.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-01-07 |title=Columbia Experiences Second Last-Minute Postponement |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=6w2ZCmoKEM0C&dat=19860107&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=Observer–Reporter |page=A-3 |via=Google News}}</ref>
| date4           = 1986-01-07 7:05
| result4         = Scrubbed
| reason4         = Weather
| decision_date4  = 1986-01-07 9:33
| decision_clock4 = −00:09:00 hold
| notes4          = Bad weather at transoceanic abort landing sites.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-01-08 |title=Columbia Launch Delayed 5th Time |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=6w2ZCmoKEM0C&dat=19860108&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=Observer–Reporter |page=A-7 |via=Google News}}</ref>
| date5           = 1986-01-09 7:05
| result5         = Scrubbed
| reason5         = Technical
| decision_date5  = 1986-01-08 7:05
| notes5          = Problem with SSME prevalve.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-01-08 |title=Shuttle Launch Scrubbed |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=6w2ZCmoKEM0C&dat=19860109&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=Observer–Reporter |page=D-1 |via=Google News}}</ref>
| date6           = 1986-01-10 6:55
| result6         = Scrubbed
| reason6         = Weather
| decision_date6  = 1986-01-10 8:45
| decision_clock6 = −00:09:00 hold
| notes6          = Heavy rainfall in KSC area.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-01-11 |title=Rainstorm Forces Seventh Delay Of Shuttle Launch |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=6w2ZCmoKEM0C&dat=19860111&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=Observer–Reporter |page=B-4 |via=Google News}}</ref>
| date7           = 1986-01-12 6:55
| result7         = Success
| notes7          = Total turnaround time 25 days.<ref name="STIsummary" />
}}
STS-61-C saw ''Columbia'' return to flight for the first time since the STS-9 mission in November 1983, after having undergone major modifications over the course of 18 months by [[Rockwell International]] in [[California]]. Most notable of these modifications was the addition of the SILTS (Shuttle Infrared Leeside Temperature Sensing) pod atop ''Columbia's'' vertical stabilizer, which used an infrared camera to observe reentry heating on the shuttle's left wing and part of its fuselage. The camera was only used for a few more missions after STS-61-C, but the pod remained on ''Columbia'' for the remainder of its operational life. Smaller and more discreet modifications were also added at various points throughout the shuttle. The bulky ejection seats, which had been disabled after [[STS-4]], were replaced with conventional seats and [[head-up display]]s for the commander and pilot were installed.<ref>{{cite web|title=STS-61C Press Kit|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/shuttle_pk/pk/Flight_024_STS-61C_Press_Kit.pdf |publisher=NASA|access-date=November 28, 2012}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The launch was originally scheduled for December 18, 1985, but the closeout of an aft orbiter compartment was delayed, and the mission was rescheduled for the following day. However, on December 19, 1985, the countdown was stopped at T−14 seconds due to an out-of-tolerance turbine reading on the right SRB's hydraulic system. Another launch attempt, on January 6, 1986,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-01-06 |title=Space Shuttle Is Set For Monday Lift-Off |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=6w2ZCmoKEM0C&dat=19860106&printsec=frontpage&hl=en |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=Observer–Reporter |page=A-2 |via=Google News}}</ref> was terminated at T−31 seconds because of a problem in a valve in the [[liquid oxygen]] system. The countdown was recycled to T−20 minutes for a second launch attempt on the same day, but was held at T−9 minutes, and then scrubbed as the launch window expired.<ref>Some Trust in Chariots: The Space Shuttle Challenger Experience</ref> Another attempt was made on January 7, 1986, but was scrubbed because of bad weather at contingency landing sites at [[Dakar]], [[Senegal]], and [[Morón de la Frontera]], [[Spain]]; yet another attempt, on January 9, 1986, was delayed because of a problem with a main engine prevalve, and on January 10, 1986, heavy rainfall in the launch area led to another scrub.<ref name="STIsummary">{{cite web |last1=Legler |first1=Robert D. |last2=Bennett |first2=Floyd V. |date=September 1, 2011 |title=Space Shuttle Missions Summary |url=https://sma.nasa.gov/SignificantIncidents/assets/space-shuttle-missions-summary.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021052010/https://sma.nasa.gov/SignificantIncidents/assets/space-shuttle-missions-summary.pdf |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |website=Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Program Office |publisher=NASA |pages=2–25 |id=NASA/TM–2011–216142}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

== Mission summary ==
[[File:STS-61-C landing.jpg|thumb|STS-61-C lands on Runway{{nbsp}}22 at [[Edwards Air Force Base]]]]

After four unsuccessful launch attempts,{{r|bolden20040106}} ''Columbia'' launched successfully from Kennedy Space Center at 6:55:00 a.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]] on January 12, 1986. There were no significant anomalies reported during the launch.

The primary objective of the mission was to deploy the [[Satcom (satellite)|Satcom-K1]] [[communications satellite]], second in a planned series of [[geosynchronous satellite]]s owned and operated by [[RCA Corporation|RCA Americom]]; the deployment was successful. ''Columbia'' also carried a large number of small scientific experiments, including 13 [[Getaway Special]] (GAS) canisters devoted to investigations involving the effect of [[Micro-g environment|microgravity]] on materials processing, [[Germination|seed germination]], [[chemical reaction]]s, egg hatching, [[astronomy]], [[atmospheric physics]], and an experiment designed by Ellery Kurtz and Howard Wishnow of Vertical Horizons* to determine the effects of the space environment on fine arts materials and original oil paintings, flying four of Kurtz's paintings into space. It also carried the [[Materials Science Laboratory]]-2 structure for experiments involving [[Bubble (physics)|liquid bubble suspension]] by [[Sound|sound wave]]s, melting and resolidification of metallic samples and container-less melting and solidification of electrically conductive specimens. Another small experiment carrier located in the payload bay was the Hitchhiker G-1 (HHG-1), which carried three experiments to study film particles in the orbiter environment, test a new heat transfer system and determine the effects of contamination and [[Allotropes of oxygen|atomic oxygen]] on [[ultraviolet]] optics materials, respectively. There were also four in-cabin experiments, three of them part of the Shuttle Student Involvement Program. The shuttle carried an experiment called the Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program (CHAMP), consisting of a {{cvt|35|mm}} camera intended to photograph [[Halley's Comet]] through the aft flight deck overhead window. This experiment proved unsuccessful because of battery problems.

According to Bolden, in addition to deploying the RCA satellite, Cenker operated a classified experiment for the [[United States Air Force]] during the mission. Bolden was only told that it was a prototype for an [[infrared]] imaging camera.<ref name="bolden20040106">{{cite interview|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/history/oral_histories/BoldenCF/BoldenCF_1-6-04.htm|title=Charles F. Bolden|last=Bolden|first=Charles F. |subject-link=Charles F. Bolden|interviewer1=Johnson, Sandra|interviewer2=Wright, Rebecca|interviewer3=Ross-Nazzal, Jennifer|work=NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project|location=Houston, Texas|date=January 6, 2004|access-date=January 6, 2014}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

STS-61-C was originally scheduled to last seven days, but NASA decided to end it after four because its delays had delayed the next flight, [[STS-51-L]].{{r|bolden20040106}} It was rescheduled to land on January 17, 1986, but this was brought forward by one day. However, the landing attempt on January 16, 1986, was canceled because of unfavorable weather at [[Edwards Air Force Base]]. Continued bad weather forced another wave-off the following day. The flight was extended one more day to provide for a landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center on January 18, 1986 – this was in order to avoid time lost in an Edwards Air Force Base landing and turnaround. However, bad weather at the KSC landing site resulted in yet another wave-off.

''Columbia'' finally landed at Edwards Air Force Base on its fifth landing attempt{{r|bolden20040106}} at 5:59:51 a.m. [[Pacific Time Zone|PST]], on January 18, 1986. The mission lasted a total of 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 51 seconds. STS-61-C was the last successful Space Shuttle flight before the ''Challenger'' disaster, which occurred on January 28, 1986, only 10 days after ''Columbia''{{'}}s return. Accordingly, commander Gibson later called the STS-61-C mission "The End of Innocence" for the Shuttle Program.<ref name="OMI-Pt1">{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Ben|title=Mission 61C: The Original 'Mission Impossible' (Part 1)|url=http://www.americaspace.com/2014/01/11/mission-61c-the-original-mission-impossible-part-1/|website=americaspace.com|date=January 11, 2014|access-date=February 28, 2017}}</ref>

Nelson, the Florida [[Member of Congress|congressman]], had hoped to receive a Florida orange after landing in the state. The personnel at Edwards greeted the crew with what Bolden described as a "basket of California oranges and grapefruits".{{r|bolden20040106}}

== Wake-up calls ==
NASA began a tradition of playing music to astronauts during the [[Project Gemini]], and first used music to wake up a flight crew during [[Apollo 15]]. Each track is specially chosen, often by the astronauts' families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.<ref name="chronology">{{cite news|first=Colin|last=Fries|title=Chronology of Wakeup Calls|date=June 25, 2007|publisher=NASA|url=https://history.nasa.gov/wakeup%20calls.pdf|access-date=August 13, 2007|archive-date=December 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220093919/https://history.nasa.gov/wakeup%20calls.pdf|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Flight Day
! Song
! Artist/Composer
|-
| Day 2
| "[[Liberty Bell March]]"
| [[John Philip Sousa]]
|-
| Day 3
| "[[Heart of Gold (Neil Young song)|Heart of Gold]]"
| [[Neil Young]]
|-
| Day 4
| "[[Stars and Stripes Forever]]"
| [[John Philip Sousa]]
|}

== Gag photo ==
[[File:STS-61C gag crew photo.jpg|thumb|Gag photo of the STS-61-C crew]]

During the same session as the official crew photo, the NASA photographer took a gag photo of the STS-61-C crew with their heads and faces obscured by their helmets and visors.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* [[List of human spaceflights]]
* [[List of Space Shuttle missions]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/61-c/mission-61-c.html NASA mission summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330143746/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/61-c/mission-61-c.html |date=March 30, 2009 }}
* [http://www.nss.org/resources/library/shuttlevideos/shuttle24.htm STS-61C Video Highlights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210144352/http://www.nss.org/resources/library/shuttlevideos/shuttle24.htm |date=December 10, 2016 }}
* [http://www.verticalhorizons.biz]

{{Space Shuttle Columbia}}
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{{Orbital launches in 1986}}

[[Category:Space Shuttle missions]]
[[Category:Edwards Air Force Base]]
[[Category:1986 in California]]
[[Category:1986 in Florida]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1986]]
[[Category:January 1986]]
[[Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 1986]]