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STS-46 Mission: TSS-1; EURECA Deploy
Space Shuttle: Atlantis
Launch Pad: 39B 
Launch Weight: 256,031 pounds
Launched: July 31, 1992, 9:56:48 a.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing: August 8, 1992, 9:11:51 a.m. EDT
Landing Weight: 208,806 pounds
Runway: 33 
Rollout Distance: 10,860 feet
Rollout Time: 66 seconds
Revolution: 127
Mission Duration: 7 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds
Orbit Altitude: 230 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Miles Traveled: 3.3 million 

Crew Members

                    

Image above: STS-46 Crew photo with Commander Loren J. Shriver, Pilot Andrew M. 
Allen, Mission Specialists Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, Claude 
Nicollier, Marsha S. Ivins and Payload Specialist Franco Malerba. Image Credit: 
NASA 

Mission Highlights

 The primary objective was deployment of the European Space Agency's European 
Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) and operation of the joint NASA/Italian Space 
Agency Tethered Satellite System (TSS). The mission was extended one day to 
complete the science objectives. EURECA deployed one day later than scheduled 
because of problem with its data handling system. After deployment, the 
spacecraft's thrusters were fired to boost EURECA to its planned operating 
altitude of about 310 statute miles (499 kilometers). However, the thruster 
firing was cut to six minutes instead of the planned 24 minutes because of 
unexpected attitude data from EURECA. The problem resolved and EURECA was 
boosted to operational orbit on the sixth day of the mission. The payload was to 
be retrieved on STS-57 in 1993.

TSS deployment was also delayed one day because of EURECA. During TSS 
deployment, the satellite reached a maximum distance of only 840 feet (256 
meters) from orbiter instead of planned 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) because of a 
jammed tether line. After numerous attempts over several days to free the 
tether, TSS operations were curtailed and satellite was stowed for return to 
Earth.

Secondary payloads were: Evaluation of Oxygen Integration with Materials/Thermal 
Management Processes (EOIM-III/TEMP 2A-3); Consortium for Materials Development 
in Space Complex Autonomous Payload (CONCAP II and CONCAP III); IMAX Cargo Bay 
Camera (ICBC); Limited Duration Space Environment Candidate Materials Exposure 
(LDCE); Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS); Pituitary Growth Hormone Cell 
Function (PHCF); and Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPI). 

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