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ArchivesText SizeSTS-27 Mission: Department of Defense
Space Shuttle: Atlantis
Launch Pad: 39B 
Launch Weight: Classified
Launched: Dec. 2, 1988, 9:30:34 a.m. EST
Landing Site: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Landing: Dec. 6, 1988, 3:36:11 p.m. PST
Landing Weight: 190,956 pounds
Runway: 17 
Rollout Distance: 7,123 feet
Rollout Time: 43 seconds
Revolution: 68
Mission Duration: 4 days, 9 hours, 5 minutes, 37 seconds
Returned to KSC: Dec. 13, 1988
Orbit Altitude: Classified
Orbit Inclination: 57 degrees
Miles Traveled: 1.8 million 

Crew Members

                    

Image above: STS-27 Crew photo with Commander Robert L. Gibson, Pilot Guy S. 
Gardner, Mission Specialists Richard Mullane, Jerry L. Ross and William M. 
Shepherd . Image Credit: NASA 

Launch Highlights

 The launch set for December 1 during a classified window lying within a launch 
period between 6:32 a.m. and 9:32 a.m., was postponed due to unacceptable cloud 
cover and wind conditions and reset for the same launch period on December 2.


Mission Highlights

Third mission dedicated to the Department of Defense. 

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