NASA - STS-49Follow this link to skip to the main contentNASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration› Follow this link to Login to MyNASALog In To MyNASA|› Sign UpHomeNewsNews & FeaturesRecovery InformationShuttle & StationMoon & MarsSolar SystemUniverseAeronauticsEarthTechnologyNASA in Your LifeNASA PeopleNASA HistoryMissionsMissionsMission CalendarLaunch ScheduleMultimediaMultimediaImagesVideoPodcastsNASA TVInteractive Features3D ResourcesRSS FeedsBlogsWorldbook@NASAConnectBlogsRSSTwitterFacebookYouTubeFlickriTunesMore Social Media ...About NASAAbout NASAWhat NASA DoesRecovery InformationNASA LeadershipCareers@NASANASA LocationsNASA CalendarBudget and PerformanceReportsResearch OpportunitiesRequest a NASA SpeakerRequest a NASA ExhibitNASA Home > Missions > Space Shuttle > Shuttle Missions > Archives SendPrintFollow this link to Share This PageShare MissionsMissions HighlightsCurrent MissionsCurrent Missions Space Shuttle Shuttle Missions Archives Behind the Scenes Launch & Landing Multimedia News & Media Resources Vehicle Structure Past MissionsFuture MissionsLaunch ScheduleMission Calendar People Who Read This Also Read...Space Shuttle Mission ArchivesText SizeGrow Text SizeShrink Text Size STS-49 Mission: Intelsat VI Repair Space Shuttle: Endeavour Launch Pad: 39B Launch Weight: 256,597 pounds Launched: May 7, 1992, 7:40 p.m. EDT Landing Site: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Landing: May 16, 1992, 1:57:38 p.m. PDT Landing Weight: 201,649 pounds Runway: 22 Rollout Distance: 9,490 feet Rollout Time: 58 seconds Revolution: 141 Mission Duration: 8 days, 21 hours, 17 minutes, 38 seconds Returned to KSC: May 30, 1992 Orbit Altitude: 195 nautical miles Orbit Inclination: 28.35 degrees Miles Traveled: 3.7 million Crew Members Image above: STS-49 Crew photo with Commander Daniel C. Brandenstein, Pilot Kevin P. Chilton, Mission Specialists Pierre J. Thuot, Kathryn C. Thornton, Richard J. Hieb, Thomas D. Akers and Bruce E. Melnick. Image Credit: NASA Launch Highlights The first flight of orbiter Endeavour. The launch was originally scheduled for May 4 at 8:34 p.m. EDT, but was moved to May 7 for an earlier launch window opening at 7:06 p.m. EDT which provided better lighting conditions for photographic documentation of vehicle behavior during the launch phase. Launch was delayed 34 minutes due to TAL site weather conditions. Mission Highlights The INTELSAT VI (F-3) satellite, stranded in an unusable orbit since its launch aboard a Titan vehicle in March 1990, was captured by crewmembers during an EVA (extravehicular activity) and equipped with a new perigee kick motor. The satellite was subsequently released into orbit and the new motor fired to put the spacecraft into a geosynchronous orbit for operational use. The capture required three EVAs: a planned one by astronaut Pierre J. Thuot and Richard J. Hieb who were unable to attach a capture bar to the satellite from a position on the RMS; a second unscheduled but identical attempt the following day; and finally an unscheduled but successful hand capture by Pierre J. Thuot and fellow crewmen Richard J. Hieb and Thomas D. Akers as Commander Daniel C. Brandenstein delicately maneuvered the orbiter to within a few feet of the 4.5 ton communications satellite. An ASEM structure was erected in the cargo bay by the crew to serve as a platform to aid in the hand capture and subsequent attachment of the capture bar. A planned EVA also was performed by astronauts Kathryn C. Thornton and Thomas D. Akers as part of the Assembly of Station by EVA Methods (ASEM) experiment to demonstrate and verify maintenance and assembly capabilities for Space Station Freedom. The ASEM space walk, originally scheduled for two successive days, was cut to one day because of the lengthy INTELSAT retrieval operation. Other "payloads of opportunity" experiments conducted included: Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG), Ultraviolet Plume Imager (UVPI) and the Air Force Maui Optical Station (AMOS) investigation. The mission was extended two days to complete all of the objectives. The following records were set during the STS-49 mission: First EVA involving three astronauts. First and second longest EVA to date: 8 hours and 29 minutes and 7 hours and 45 minutes. First shuttle mission to feature four EVAs. EVA time for a single shuttle mission: 25 hours and 27 minutes, or 59:23 person hours. First shuttle mission requiring three rendezvous with an orbiting spacecraft. First attachment of a live rocket motor to an orbiting satellite. First use of a-drag chute during a shuttle landing. NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center Related Sites > NASA's Orbiter Fleet > NASA's Launch Schedule > Shuttle Reference Manual > Shuttle Archives › Back To Top NASA HomePage Last Updated: March 31, 2010 Page Editor: Jeanne Ryba NASA Official: Brian DunbarBudgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act Information-Dissemination Policies and Inventories Freedom of Information Act Privacy Policy & Important Notices NASA Advisory Council Inspector General Hotline Office of the Inspector General NASA Communications Policy Contact NASA Site Map USA.gov ExpectMore.gov Open Government at NASA Help and Preferences