The 13
Th mission
took place on Oct. 5Ð13, 1984, in Challenger, with
commander Robert Crippen and a
crew of six. Sally Ride overcame mechanical problems in launching the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite. The 14th Shuttle mission occurred on Nov. 8Ð15, 1984, in Discovery, with commander Frederick H. Hauck and a crew of four. The crew retrieved the two satellites that had failed after launch on the tenth Shuttle mission and launched two communications satellites. The 15th Shuttle
flight took place on Jan. 24Ð27, 1985, in Discovery, with commander Thomas K. Mattingly and a crew of four. On this first flight reserved by the U.S. Defense DepartmentÑand therefore veiled in secrecyÑan important satellite-boosting rocket was tested. The 16th Shuttle flight took place on Apr. 12Ð19, 1985, in Discovery, with commander Karol J. Bobko and a crew of sixÑincluding U.S. senator Jake Garn, who took part in medical experiments. A Navy Leasat communications satellite was
deployed, but it failed. The 17th Shuttle flight took place on Apr. 29ÐMay 6, 1985, in Challenger. It included commander Robert F. Overmyer, a crew of six, and the second Spacelab, which was used to investigate motion sickness. The 18th Shuttle flight took place on June 17Ð24, 1985, in Discovery, with commander Daniel C. Brandenstein and a crew of six. During this mission three communications satellites were deployed, including the Arabian Arabsat and the Mexican Morelos A. A Spartan X-ray telescope was deployed and retrieved. A reflector was also used to test the ability of ground-based lasers to focus on space targets, as part of the SDI program (see Strategic Defense Initiative). The 19th Shuttle flight, and the 8th Challenger flight, took place on July 29ÐAug. 6, 1985, with commander C. Gordon Fullerton, a crew of six, and the third SpacelabÑan array of astronomical instruments. The 20th Shuttle flight took place on Aug. 28ÐSept. 3, 1985, in Discovery, with commander Joseph H. Engle and a crew of four. Three satellites were deployed, including Leasat 4. Astronauts James D. van Hoften and William F. Fisher retrieved and repaired Leasat 3, which had failed after deployment on the 16th mission. The 21st Shuttle flight, which took place on Oct. 3Ð7, 1985, marked the debut of the fourth operational Shuttle, Atlantis. Commander Karol J. Bobko and a crew of four conducted the second classified Defense Department mission. The 22d Shuttle flight took place on Oct. 29ÐNov. 6, 1985, in Challenger, with commander Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., and a crew of seven. It included a West GermanÐsponsored Spacelab. The 23d Shuttle flight, on Nov. 26ÐDec. 3, 1985, in Atlantis, had commander Brewster H. Shaw, Jr., and a crew of six. The 24th Shuttle flight took place on Jan. 12Ð18, 1986, in Columbia, with commander Robert L. Gibson and a crew of six.
More abstracts about the SPACE SHUTTLE-EARLIER MISSIONS