STS-32 (33)

COLUMBIA (9)

Pad 39-A (37)

33rd Shuttle mission

9th Flight OV-102

3rd Night landing

1st use MLP-3 for Shuttle

Crew:

Daniel C. Brandenstein (3), Commander

James D. Wetherbee (1), Pilot

Bonnie J. Dunbar (2), Mission Specialist 1

G. David Low (1), Mission Specialist 2

Marsha S. Ivins (1), Mission Specialist 3

Launch:

January 9,1990,7:35:00 a.m. EST. Launch scheduled for Dec. 18, 1989, postponed to complete and verify modifications to Pad A, being used for first time since January 1986. Launch Jan. 8, 1990 scrubbed due to weather conditions. Launch Weight: 255,994 lbs.

Landing:

January 20, 1990, 1:35:37 a.m. PST, Runway 22, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Rollout distance: 10,731 feet. Rollout time: 62 seconds. Longest Space Shuttle flight to date. Orbiter returned to KSC Jan. 26, 1990. Landing Weight: 228,335 lbs.

Mission Highlights:

Objectives were deployment of SYNCOM IV-F5 defense communications satellite and retrieval of NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). SYNCOM IV-F5 (also known as LEASAT 5) deployed first, and third stage Minuteman solid perigee kick motor propelled satellite to geosynchronous orbit. LDEF retrieved on flight day four using remote manipulator system. Middeck payloads: Characterization of Neurospora Circadian Rhythms (CNCR); Protein Crystal Growth (PCG); Fluid Experiment Apparatus (FEA); American Flight Echocardiograph (AFE); Latitude /Longitude Locator (L3); Mesoscale Lightning Experiment(MLE); IMAX camera; and Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) experiment.