Mission summary STS-61-C

deployment of satcom k1 satellite.

after 4 unsuccessful launch attempts, columbia launched kennedy space center @ 6:55 am est on 12 january 1986. there no significant anomalies reported during launch.

the primary objective of mission deploy satcom k1 communications satellite, second in planned series of geosynchronous satellites owned , operated rca americom; deployment successful. columbia carried large number of small scientific experiments, including 13 getaway special (gas) canisters devoted investigations involving effect of microgravity on materials processing, seed germination, chemical reactions, egg hatching, astronomy, atmospheric physics, , experiment designed ellery kurtz , howard wishnow of vertical horizons determine effects of space environment on fine arts materials , original oil paintings. carried materials science laboratory-2 structure experiments involving liquid bubble suspension sound waves, melting , resolidification of metallic samples , container-less melting , solidification of electrically conductive specimens. small experiment carrier located in payload bay hitchiker g-1 (hhg-1), carried 3 experiments study film particles in orbiter environment, test new heat transfer system , determine effects of contamination , atomic oxygen on ultraviolet optics materials, respectively. there 4 in-cabin experiments, 3 of them part of shuttle student involvement program. shuttle carried experiment called comet halley active monitoring program (champ), consisting of 35 mm camera intended photograph halley s comet through aft flight deck overhead window. experiment proved unsuccessful because of battery problems.

according bolden, in addition deploying rca satellite, cenker operated classified experiment united states air force during mission. bolden told prototype infrared imaging camera.

sts-61-c scheduled last 7 days, nasa decided end after 4 because delays had delayed next flight, sts-51-l. rescheduled land on 17 january, brought forward 1 day. however, landing attempt on 16 january cancelled because of unfavorable weather @ edwards air force base. continued bad weather forced wave-off following day. flight extended 1 more day provide landing opportunity @ kennedy space center on 18 january – in order avoid time lost in edwards afb landing , turnaround. however, bad weather @ ksc landing site resulted in yet wave-off.

columbia landed @ edwards afb on fifth landing attempt @ 5:59 am pst, on 18 january. mission lasted total of 6 days, 2 hours, 3 minutes, , 51 seconds. sts-61-c last successful space shuttle flight before challenger disaster, occurred on 28 january 1986, 10 days after columbia s return. accordingly, commander gibson later called sts-61-c mission end of innocence shuttle program.

nelson, florida congressman, had hoped receive florida orange after landing in state. personnel @ edwards greeted crew bolden described peck basket of california oranges , grapefruits .