from the beginning sts-49 would stand
out as an extraordinary mission as
endeavour rolled onto the tarmac in
Palmdale California on April 25th 1991
it set the stage for America's 47th
space shuttle mission endeavour was a
milestone bringing the shuttle fleet
back to full strength after the loss of
the space shuttle Challenger signifying
a new level of confidence and ambition
for the American space program
but the maiden voyage of Endeavour would
prove to be not only a test of the space
transportation system but a test of the
entire space flight program after more
than a year of intensive training the
crew of Endeavour was ready to face the
complex inaugural voyage ahead Navy
captain Dan brandenstein commanded the
crew of seven while Air Force lieutenant
colonel kevin chilton served as pilot
the piloting skills of both men would be
crucial to the success of the mission
the remaining members of the crew
mission specialists Richard dr.
Kathryn Thornton Coast Guard commander
Bruce Melnick Air Force Lieutenant
Colonel Tom Akers
and navy commander Pierre Thuot shared
in the responsibility of achieving the
mission objectives
the primary objective the retrieval
repair and reboost of the International
Telecommunication satellite or Intel sat
6f3 a wiring error on the unmanned
commercial booster rocket marooned the
satellite in a useless low orbit after
its launch in 1990 Intelsat commissioned
NASA to rescue the stranded satellite
though this was not NASA's first
satellite rescue it would be one of the
most challenging for the space shuttle
program and Deborah and her crew would
engage in the first attachment of a
solid rocket motor in orbit and the
first attempt to perform three
consecutive spacewalks another objective
of the flight would be the Assembly of
station by Evy a methods experiment or a
SEM the mission specialist teams of
Akers Thornton thawed and would
perform evey A's or spacewalks
to evaluate equipment and techniques for
construction of space station freedom in
the payload Bay the astronauts would
build a truss structure and evaluate EDA
operations to be used for space station
assembly to achieve these objectives the
crew of Endeavour underwent months of
rigorous training at NASA's Johnson
Space Center in Houston Texas at the
precision air bearing facility a mock-up
of Intel SATs six was used to assess how
the satellite would respond in space and
to demonstrate the capabilities of the
unique capture bar so it would use the
capture bar to catch the satellite and
stop its rotation the bar included a
grapple fixture for the robot arm to
grab the satellite and place it on top
of the solid rocket motor
okay Seward and he continued their
training in the weightless environment
training facility this training focused
on the task of attaching the satellite
to the solid rocket motor and preparing
it for its launch from the shuttle cargo
bay it would pay off handsomely in space
the complex dynamics and interactions of
satellite shuttle robot arm and
astronaut were difficult if not
impossible to recreate on the ground and
proved to be the most serious challenge
facing the satellite rescue mission may
7th 1992 a relaxed and confident
endeavour crew heads for the launch pad
weather problems persisted throughout
the day but the rainy skies couldn't
dampen the spirits of the seven-member
crew
booster ignition and liftoff of the
maiden voyage of Endeavour on a
satellite
SRB separation confirmed
following a flawless liftoff and ascent
endeavors settled into orbit over the
next two days and ever and the stranded
satellites circled the earth while
performing a series of crucial
manoeuvres as a prelude to the
rendezvous the success of this unique
mission would require an unprecedented
level of coordination between the Intel
Sat control facility in Washington DC
and Mission Control in Houston an
intricate dance ensued as the flight
crew gradually raised endeavours
altitude and Intel Sat controllers
lowered their spacecraft this is a 45
second burn of the twin orbital
maneuvering system engines that produce
about 6,000 pounds of thrust
raising endeavours low ends orbit from
146 to 187 nautical miles getting it
closer to a more circular orbit as it
continues its chase to catch up with the
analyst at space craft as the countdown
to the first spacewalk proceeded crew
members began the checkout of the robot
arm and spacesuits and we can't appear
thanks on Sunday the fourth day in two
endeavours mission food and hebes
stepped into the payload bay to begin
the first rescue attempt while thew it
grappled the satellite from his
unique vantage point in the payload Bay
served as an extra pair of eyes for the
cockpit
Melnik operated the robot arm from
inside the orbiter unfortunately the
cards were stacked against the crew this
day
the capture attempts caused the four and
a half ton satellite to wobble so much
it became impossible for thew it to
attach the capture bar and Deborah was
forced to back away to avoid a collision
with the satellite working best maneuver
for you to back out here so we can stay
stabilized for about six to eight hours
we'll try to come in again tomorrow okay
sounds good we'll have some words for
you shortly after analyzing the downlink
footage from endeavours cameras the crew
held a conference with Mission Control
to discuss conditions contributing to
the unsuccessful attempt prime factors
included the satellites unexpected
sensitivity to touch the unanticipated
movement affecting fluids positioning on
the robot arm and reduced visibility on
the dark side of the earth the next step
was clear a second attempt would be made
on Monday probably the most important
question first were with engineers on
earth struggle throughout the day and
into the night to come up with a better
way of capturing the satellite Monday
May 11th thordan stepped from the
airlock into the payload Bay while
Mission Control had brainstorm for the
second DVA
the crew had come up with a few
suggestions of their own they would
attempt the capture in maximum sunlight
to give through at the best view time
would be allowed for a bump test bumping
the capture bar against the left side of
the cargo
they to familiarize through it with the
dynamics this would also determine how
the bar would respond when striking the
satellite in a weightless environment
perhaps most importantly brandenstein
would have to keep endeavour in position
beneath Intel set for as long as it took
through it to get into optimum position
awaiting good sun angles now to begin
maneuvering peer through it on the end
of the robot arm into the tail end of
the satellite yet despite the planning
and coordination between ground and
space this second attempt also failed
during the five and a half hour
spacewalk attempts to attach the
problems arose when the trigger release
on the grapple bar failed to snap into
place due to the delicate equilibrium of
the orbiting satellite the situation was
becoming increasingly frustrating after
the second attempt through it noted a
wide margin of difference between
performing the capture and NASA's
microgravity simulators and actually
trying it in space because of brandon
Stein's piloting skills and frugal use
of fuel on the second attempt enough
fuel remained for one more rendezvous
and Dan we've been looking at the prop
just want to tell you that your
formation flying there has been
outstanding we've had practically no
four proper uses you don't find job
you're doing a third attempt was
immediately approved but a replanting of
strategy was clearly necessary period no
EBA for tomorrow we're gonna rendezvous
with Intel set on day seven stabilized
he's been human intelligence was
endeavour strongest ally and ingenuity
and adaptability were crucial to success
the hours that followed were a maze of
brainstorming sessions and hands-on
tests for veterans of the space program
the level of activity was reminiscent of
the early days of Gemini and Apollo the
tiger team a group of troubleshooting
specialists discussed the options
available
where do you want to put all your eggs
among the ideas suggested a revised
two-man space walk to capture and repair
the satellite engineers also discussed
using the orbiters robot arm to maneuver
a crew member to the top of the
satellite and capture it from there
meanwhile the crew came up with a simple
yet revolutionary plan a record-setting
three-man spacewalk of first in the
history of the space program the crew
downlinked a sketch photographed on the
electronic still camera developed by
Johnson Space Center to demonstrate
their plan to Mission Control three
astronauts through it
he band Akers would attempt to capture
the satellite by hand
safety was a primary concern piloting
had to be exact to ensure there would be
no risk of a collision between the
satellite and the orbiter every possible
danger was assessed so the three crew
members will be putting on their suits
and climbing into the airlock along with
all of their tools and equipment that
will be necessary for tomorrow's
spacewalk attempt to capture the antal
sad spacecraft in addition there was
some concern as to whether the three
astronauts could fit into the airlock so
before the plan was approved it was
tested in the orbiter and on the ground
dozens of Engineers astronauts and other
specialists debated and tested the plan
by using mock-ups of Intel sat in the
under water tank with astronaut story
Musgrave rich Clifford and Jim Voss
similar mock-up demonstrations were
conducted on the air bearing table
and presented the plan and I think we've
got something that is gonna pull
together here the go-ahead was given
Tuesday night the third and final
attempt would be made the following day
good evening friends a high drama is
being played out in space right now a
risky rescue attempt an unprecedented
mission while the astronauts work 225
miles above the earth Americans kept an
ear to their radios and an eye on their
televisions for the latest news the
drama and many were eagerly offering
their own suggestions on how to capture
the stranded satellite velcro fishing
hooks and lassos were some of the
methods suggested Wednesday May 13th
brandenstein and Chilton began
maneuvering the orbiter closer to the
satellite 12 miles behind the satellite
as they approach the most critical burn
of the rendezvous they discovered a
previously unencoded evers computers at
the same time a thunderstorm over a
ground communication site caused the
crew to lose contact with Mission
Control the computer problem on board
endeavour meant brandenstein and Chilton
would not be able to compute the final
critical rendezvous burns ground control
studied the problem with only minutes to
decide to continue the rendezvous or
delay for one orbit another option was
to skip today's attempt and study the
problem for another day or should they
try it without the onboard computer and
attempt a ground controlled approach to
the satellite this type of approach
meant that data normally collected by
the shuttles computer would need to be
calculated on the ground and relayed up
to the crew with only 45 seconds until
the burn and Deborah regained
communications with Houston the decision
was to delay food and acres were
already in the airlock and waited
another hour and a half in their cramped
quarters precious fuel had
used to execute the delay maneuver now
more than ever
brandenstein must fly a perfect final
approach he accomplishes this with fuel
to spare an anxious nation held its
breath as lured he banned acres left the
airlock out in the payload Bay three
spacewalking astronauts are preparing to
install the bottom plane of the assembly
of station by a VA methods Hardware
after building a bridge structure across
the payload Bay using struts from the
space station tests and portable foot
restraints
the trio positioned themselves for the
capture on the edge of the payload
Bay and acres on the struts spanning the
payload Bay threw it on the robot arm
adjusted his movements in coordination
with the satellite meanwhile
brandenstein positioned the crew at eye
level with the underside of the
satellite in this attempt every detail
had to be exact really really close to
this and as the saying goes the third
time was a charm
indeed it wasn't over yet but with the
most difficult part of the mission
behind them things could now proceed as
planned after rotating the massive
satellite food and he attached the
capture bar once in place
Melnik maneuvered through it under the
satellite to tighten the bar to do this
Melnik had to move the robot arm with
thew it's still attached extremely close
to the orbiter and truss structure this
unexpected task was not part of the pre
mission training once Melnik used the
robot arm to lower the satellite into
the cargo bay a new booster rocket was
secured when it was all over another
record had been set for the longest
spacewalk in the history of the space
program 8 hours and 29 minutes with the
crew safely inside the airlock again the
satellite was ready for deployment
however the onboard wiring
configurations on the new orbiter were
different than anticipated by the ground
staff so some minor readjustments were
required by a ground support after two
attempts to deploy ground controllers
sorted out the wiring change
communicated the correct switch
positions to the orbiter and int'l sat
six was on its way to its intended orbit
of 22,300 miles but endeavours work was
yet to be completed mission managers
decided to extend the mission an extra
day allowing for a fourth spacewalk on
Thursday to practice the space station
assembly techniques the crew had
originally planned two days for these
spacewalks
but since the space station test
structure had been partially built for
the satellite rescue attempt they were
able to incorporate most of the
activities of two days into one just so
you know the game plan for the day it's
another day another EBA on Thursday
first attention attention the nation was
again in on the payload a with the Vav
Cathy endeavour set the rule of endeavor
space erection the his most facial
NASA's history the pair spent ratings
that used to be during Space Station
functions bruckman may have
maintenance however however this is
spacewalk was not without its
obligations when the crew members unit
members here a footprint roses body body
position time required to quantitate
space was very close the time required
in water tank but briefly precise pretty
much more difficult and time-consuming
mission planners will use the lessons
learned during the four spacewalks
to increase the efficiency training
frantic and techne be used in the
assembly assembly of Space Station
freedom
like endeavour Houston good morning the
sts-49 trainers send Dan and his
spacefaring crew their best for making
the maiden voyage of Endeavour a
spectacular success they wish you well
as you start preparing to come home to
port and ever and it's cruise sailed
into the ninth day of the mission
preparing the orbiter systems for the
trip home the next day it was a day for
reflection as the crew held a news
conference from the orbiter we were
speculating how many people were
involved we knew it was a lot worked and
came up fine to some of our ideas with
theirs and NASA has a great team with
the mission objectives behind them the
crew prepared the orbiter for reentry in
Debra Houston you have a go for the
deorbit burn
but before putting this mission in the
books endeavour had one more test after
touchdown at Edwards Air Force Base in
California a drag chute was deployed
from the back of the orbiter Engineers
designed the chute to improve braking
and steering control during landings
long after endeavour has been rolled off
the runway in preparation for another
mission planners and engineers will use
the information and knowledge gained on
this flight to improve future flights in
hindsight most agree the reasons for
mission success were clear despite the
problems often associated with a maiden
voyage endeavour performed flawlessly we
felt pretty good about the mission that
real interesting and challenging and and
we're real happy with the way endeavour
performed it performed like a real champ
which is phenomenal for the first five
new vehicle perhaps the simplest
explanation for this mission success is
the team effort the ability to adapt and
learn in the face of adversity
demonstrated by both the crew and ground
staff proof that people are a vital link
in the American space program now and
into the 21st century
you