![]() Chandra and its Inertial Upper Stage, prior to deployment from Columbia's payload bay | |
Names | Space Transportation System-93 |
---|---|
Mission type | Chandra X-ray Observatory deployment |
Operator | NASA |
COSPAR ID | 1999-040A |
SATCAT no. | 25866 |
Mission duration | 4 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, 34 seconds |
Distance travelled | 2,890,000 km (1,796,000 mi)[1] |
Orbits completed | 80 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Space Shuttle Columbia |
Launch mass | 122,534 kg (270,142 lb)[2] |
Landing mass | 99,781 kg (219,980 lb)[2] |
Payload mass | 22,780 kg (50,222 lb)[2] |
Crew | |
Crew size | 5 |
Members | |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 23 July 1999, 04:31:00[3] | UTC
Launch site | Kennedy, LC-39B |
End of mission | |
Landing date | 28 July 1999, 03:20:35[3] | UTC
Landing site | Kennedy, SLF Runway 33 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Perigee altitude | 260 km (160 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 280 km (170 mi) |
Inclination | 28.4° |
Period | 90 minutes |
![]() ![]() Left to right: Collins, Hawley, Ashby, Tognini, Coleman |
STS-93 in 1999 marked the 95th launch of the Space Shuttle, the 26th launch of Columbia, and the 21st night launch of a Space Shuttle. Eileen Collins became the first female shuttle Commander on this flight. Its primary mission was to launch the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the heaviest payload ever carried by the Space Shuttle system, at 22,780 kilograms (50,222 lb).[4][5]
STS-93 would be Columbia's last mission until March 2002. During the interim, Columbia would be out of service for upgrading and would only fly again on STS-109. The launch was originally scheduled for 20 July, but it was aborted at T−7 seconds.[6]: 221 The successful launch of the flight occurred three days later.