STS-29

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  19882 / 89021A Launch date - time  13 Mar 1989 - 14:57:00 UT Launch site  KSC, LC39B Launch vehicle  Space Shuttle Orbiter  Discovery OV-103 / F08 Primary payload  TDRS-4 Mass (kg)  17280 kg Flight Crew  Coats, Blaha, Buchli Springer, Bagian Call Sign   Earth orbit on :    - Perigee / Apogee  297 x 308 km    - Inclination  28.5°    - Period  90.6 min Landing date - time  18 Mar 1989 - 14:35:50 UT Landing location  Edwards AFB, Runway 22 Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  4d 23h 38m Nbr orbits  80

Crew

STS-29 - STS-29 Discovery, OV-103, external tank (ET) separation - Credit: NASA. 40,560 bytes. 481 x 481 pixels.

Manned five crew. Deployed TDRS 4. Payloads: Deploy IUS (Inertial Upper Stage) with Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS)-D. Protein Crystal Growth (PCG); Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space; IMAX 70mm camera; Shuttle Student Involvement Project (SSIP) experiments: SSIP 82-8, Effects of Weightlessness in Space Flight on the Healing of Bone Fractures, and SSIP 83-9, Chicken Embryo Development in Space; Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) experiment.

STS-29 - STS-29 Discovery, OV-103, crew on flight deck prepares for reentry - Credit: NASA. 46,354 bytes. 516 x 516 pixels.

STS-29 - STS-29 IUS with TDRS-D drifts above Earth's surface during post deployment - Credit: NASA. 17,477 bytes. 477 x 477 pixels.

Mission Name: STS-29 (28)
DISCOVERY (8)
Pad 39-B (9)
28th Shuttle mission
8th Flight OV-103

Crew:
Michael L. Coats (2), Commander
John E. Blaha (1), Pilot
James P. Bagian (1), Mission Specialist 1
James F. Buchli (3), Mission Specialist 2
Robert C. Springer (1), Mission Specialist 3

STS-29 - STS-29 IUS with TDRS-D after deployment from Discovery, OV-103 - Credit: NASA. 2,940 bytes. 187 x 187 pixels.

Payload:
TDRS-D,IMAX-01,SHARE-1
Mission Objectives:

Launch:
March 13, 1989,9:57:00 a.m. EST. Launch manifested Feb. 18 reassessed for late February/early March launch to replace suspect liquid oxygen turbopumps on Discovery's three main engines and faulty master events controller. Launch March 13 delayed one hour, 50 minutes due to morning ground fog and upper winds. Launch Weight: 256,357 lbs.
Orbit:
Altitude: 184nm
Inclination: 28.5 degrees
Orbits: 80
Duration: 4 days, 23 hours, 38 minutes, 52 seconds.
Distance: 2,000,000 miles (approx)

STS-29 - STS-29 onboard view of sunglint over Earth - Credit: NASA. 21,211 bytes. 626 x 626 pixels.

Landing:
March 18, 1989, 6:35:51 s.m. PST, Runway 22, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 9,339 feet. Rollout time: 53 seconds. Orbiter returned to KSC March 24,1989. Landing Weight: 194,789 lbs.

STS-29 - STS-29 Pilot Blaha with SE83-9 "Chix in Space" incubator on OV-103's middeck - Credit: NASA.

STS-29 - STS-29 Pilot Blaha has blood flow checked by MS Bagian on OV-103's middeck - Credit: NASA.

Mission details:

• Jan 30, 1989: Space Shuttle Discovery was moved to the Vehicle Assembly Building last week for mating to its booster rockets.
• Feb 7, 1989: Space Shuttle Discovery was moved to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center last week. Repairs to the main engines are continuing and the launch is scheduled for March 10.
• Space Shuttle Mission STS-29 was launched on Mar 13, 1989 at 1457 UT from Launch Complex 39-B, Kennedy Space Center. Orbiter OV-103 'Discovery' is carrying out experiments on the effects of free fall on living organisms, and testing components being designed for use on the Space Station.
• Space Shuttle Mission STS-29 ended on Mar 18 with the landing of Discovery on concrete RW 22 at Edwards.
• Deploying of communications satellite TDRS-D; different scientific work in biology, crew also photographed Earth with hand-held IMAX camera.

External links:

• AmericaSpace: 210313-Remembering STS-29, OTD in 1989