STS-42 (45)

Discovery (14)

Pad 39-A (44)

45th Shuttle Mission

14th Flight OV-103

Crew:

Ronald J. Grabe (3), Commander

Stephen S. Oswald (1), Pilot

Norman E. Thagard (4) , Mission Specialist 1

David C. Hilmers (4), Mission Specialist 2

William F. Readdy (1), Mission Specialist 3

Roberta L. Bondar (1), Payload Specialist 1 (Canada)

Ulf D. Merbold (2), Payload Specialist 2 (ESA/Germany)

Launch:

Jan. 22, 1992, 9:52:33 a.m. EST. Launch delayed one hour due to weather constraints. Launch Weight: 243,396 lbs.

Landing:

Jan. 30, l992, 8:07:17 a.m. PST Runway 22, Edwards AFB, Calif., Rollout distance: 9,811 feet. Mission extended one day for continued scientific experimentation. Orbiter returned to KSC on Feb. 16, 1992. Landing Weight: 218,016 lbs.

Mission Highlights:

Carried into orbit the International Microgravity Laboratory-1 (IML-1), a pressurized manned Spacelab module, to explore in depth the complex effects of weightlessness on living organisms and materials processing. The international crew, divided into Red and Blue teams, conducted experiments on the human nervous system's adaptation to low gravity and the effects of microgravity on other life forms such as shrimp eggs, lentil seedlings, fruit fly eggs and bacteria. Low gravity materials processing experiments included crystal growth from a variety of substances such as enzymes, mercury iodine and a virus. Other payloads included 10 Get Away Special (GAS) canisters, a number of middeck payloads and two Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSIP) experiments. Middeck payloads included Gelation of SOLS: Applied microgravity research (GOSAMR), Investigations into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP) and the Radiation Monitoring Experiment (RME-III).