NASA - STS-56Follow 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-56 Mission: ATLAS-2; SPARTAN-201
Space Shuttle: Discovery
Launch Pad: 39B 
Launch Weight: 236,659 pounds
Launched: April 8, 1993, 1:29:00 a.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing: April 17, 1993, 7:37:24 a.m. EDT
Landing Weight: 206,855 pounds
Runway: 33 
Rollout Distance: 9,530 feet
Rollout Time: 63 seconds
Revolution: 148
Mission Duration: 9 days, 6 hours, 8 minutes, 24 seconds
Orbit Altitude: 160 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination: 57 degrees
Miles Traveled: 3.9 million 

Crew Members

                    

Image above: STS-56 Crew photo with Commander Kenneth D. Cameron, Pilot Stephen 
S. Oswald, Mission Specialists C. Michael Foale, Kenneth D. Cockrell and Ellen 
Ochoa. Image Credit: NASA 

Launch Highlights

 First launch attempt on April 6 was halted at T-11 seconds by orbiter's 
computers when instrumentation on the liquid hydrogen high point bleed valve in 
main propulsion system indicated off instead of on. Later analysis indicated 
valve was properly configured; 48-hour scrub turnaround procedures implemented. 
Final countdown on April 8 proceeded smoothly.

Mission Highlights

The primary payload of the flight was the Atmospheric Laboratory for 
Applications and Science-2 (ATLAS-2), designed to collect data on relationship 
between sun's energy output and Earth's middle atmosphere and how these factors 
affect ozone layer. Included six instruments mounted on Spacelab pallet in cargo 
bay, with seventh mounted on wall of bay in two Get Away Special canisters. 
Atmospheric instruments were Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) 
experiment; Millimeter Wave Atmospheric Sounder (MAS); and Shuttle Solar 
Backscatter Ultraviolet/A (SSBUV/A) spectrometer (on cargo bay wall). Solar 
science instruments were Solar Spectrum Measurement (SOLSPEC) instrument; Solar 
Ultraviolet Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM); and Active Cavity Radiometer (ACR) and 
Solar Constant (SOLCON) experiments.

ATLAS-2 is one element of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth program. All seven 
ATLAS-2 instruments first flew on ATLAS-I during STS-45, and will fly a third 
time in late 1994.

On April 11, crew used remote manipulator arm to deploy Shuttle Point Autonomous 
Research Tool for Astronomy-201 (SPARTAN-201), a free-flying science instrument 
platform designed to study velocity and acceleration of solar wind and observe 
sun's corona. Collected data was stored on tape for playback after return to 
Earth. SPARTAN-201 retrieved on April 13.

Crew also made numerous radio contacts to schools around world using Shuttle 
Amateur Radio Experiment II (SAREX II), including a brief radio contact with 
Russian Mir space station, first such contact between Shuttle and Mir using 
amateur radio equipment.

Other cargo bay payloads: Solar Ultraviolet Experiment (SUVE), sponsored by 
Colorado Space Grant Consortium, and located in Get Away Special canister on 
cargo bay wall.

Middeck payloads: Commercial Materials Dispersion Apparatus Instrumentation 
Technology Associates Experiment (CMIX); Physiological and Anatomical Rodent 
Experiment (PARE); Space Tissue Loss (STL-1); Cosmic Ray Effects and Activation 
Monitor (CREAM) experiment; Hand-held, Earth-oriented, Real-time, Cooperative, 
User-friendly, Location-targeting and Environmental System (HERCULES); Radiation 
Monitoring Equipment III (RE III); and Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) 
calibration test.

  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