STS-39

STS-39
The Critical ionization velocity (CIV) experiment in Discovery's payload bay
NamesSpace Transportation System-39
Mission typeDoD research
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1991-031A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.21242Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration8 days, 7 hours, 22 minutes, 23 seconds
Distance travelled5,584,423 km (3,470,000 mi)
Orbits completed134
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSpace Shuttle Discovery
Launch mass112,207 kg (247,374 lb)
Landing mass102,755 kg (226,536 lb)
Payload mass5,663 kg (12,485 lb)
Crew
Crew size7
Members
Start of mission
Launch dateApril 28, 1991, 11:33:14 (April 28, 1991, 11:33:14) UTC (7:33:14 am EDT)
Launch siteKennedy, LC-39A
ContractorRockwell International
End of mission
Landing dateMay 6, 1991, 18:55:37 (May 6, 1991, 18:55:37) UTC (2:55:37 pm EDT)
Landing siteKennedy, SLF Runway 15
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude248 km (154 mi)
Apogee altitude263 km (163 mi)
Inclination57.01°
Period89.60 minutes
Instruments
  • Air Force Program-675 (AFP-675)
  • Chemical Release Observation (CRO)
  • Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrumentation for Shuttle (CIRRIS)
  • Cloud Logic to Optimize Use of Defense Systems (CLOUDS-1A)
  • Infrared Background Signature Survey (IBSS)
  • Multi-Purpose Release Canister (MPEC)
  • Shuttle pallet satellite (SPAS-II)
  • Space Test Program (STP-01)
  • Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME-III)

STS-39 mission patch

From left: Veach, Coats, Harbaugh, McMonagle, Hammond, Hieb and Bluford
← STS-37 (39)
STS-40 (41) →

STS-39 was the twelfth mission of the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, and the 40th orbital shuttle mission overall. The primary purpose of the mission was to conduct a variety of payload experiments for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).