51-L (25)

CHALLENGER

Pad 39-B

25th Shuttle mission

10th liftoff OV-099

Crew:

Francis R. Scobee, Commander

Michael J. Smith, Pilot

Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist

Ellison S. Onizuka, Mission Specialist

Ronaid E. McNair, Mission Specialist

Sharon Christa McAuliffe (TISP)

Gregory B. Jarvis, Payload Specialist

Milestones:

OPF - Nov. 11, 1985

VAB - Dec. 16, 1985

PAD - Dec. 22, 1985

Payload:

TDRS-B SPARTAN/HALLEY MPESS CHAMP FDE RME TISP SSIP

Launch:

January 28, 11:38:00 a.m. EST. First Shuttle liftoff scheduled from Pad B. Launch set for 3:43 p.m. EST, Jan. 22, slipped to Jan. 23, then Jan. 24, due to delays in mission 61-C. Launch reset for Jan. 25 because of bad weather at transoceanic abort landing (TLA) site in Dakar, Senegal. To utilize Casablanca (not equipped for night landings) as alternate TLA site, T-zero moved to morning liftoff time. Launch postponed a day when launch processing unable to meet new morning liftoff time. Prediction of unacceptable weather at KSC led to launch rescheduled for 9:37 a.m. EST, Jan. 27. Launch delayed 24 hours again when ground servicing equipment hatch closing fixture could not be removed from orbiter hatch. Fixture sawed off and attaching bolt drilled out before closoout completed. During delay, cross winds exceeded return-to-launch-site limits at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. Launch Jan. 28 delayed two hours when hardware interface module in launch processing system, which monitors fire detection system, failed during liquid hydrogen tanking procedures. Explosion 73 seconds after liftoff claimed crew and vehicle. Cause of explosion was an O-ring failure in right SRB. Cold weather was a contributing factor. Launch Weight: 268,829 lbs.

Orbit:

Altitude: 150nm (planned)

Inclination: 28.5 degrees (planned)

Orbits: 0

Duration: 01 min 13 seconds

Distance: 18 miles

Hardware:

SRB : BI-026

SRM: L025(HPM)

ET : 26/LWT-19

MLP : 2

SSME-1 : SN-2023

SSME-2: SN-2020

SSME-3: SN-2021

Landing:

None.

Mission Objective:

Planned objectives were deployment of Tracking Data Relay Satellite-2 (TDRS-2) and flying of Shuttle-Pointed Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN-203)/Halley's Comet Experiment Deployable, a free-flying module designed to observe tail and coma of Halleys comet with two ultraviolet spectrometers and two cameras. Other payloads were Fluid Dynamics Experiment (FDE); Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program (CHAMP); Phase Partitioning Experiment (PPE); three Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSIP) experiments; and set of lessons for Teacher in Space Project (TISP).