STS-31
Mission / eventCompleted
Deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope into a high Earth orbit
STS-31 carried the Hubble Space Telescope to an unusually high Shuttle orbit and deployed the observatory with Canadarm. Discovery remained nearby during initial checkout after the crew overcame a balky solar-array deployment, beginning a serviceable space-observatory program that would reshape astronomy through decades of observations and later Shuttle servicing missions.
Mission photo archive
Reviewed photographs documenting STS-31. Every image links to its official NASA catalog record.
STS-31 official archive image
Official NASA archive imagery explicitly cataloged for STS-31.
STS-31 Discovery, OV-103, liftoff from KSC
STS-31 Discovery, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex (LC) 39 Pad B. In the foreground STS-35 Columbia, OV-102, is visible on launch pad 39A. This event marked the first time since January 1986 that there was an orbiter on each pad. LC 39 pads are separated by 1.6 miles. View provided by KSC with alternate number KSC-90PC-610.
STS-31 Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is grappled by OV-103 RMS
During STS-31, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), grappled by the remote manipulator system (RMS) end effector, is held against the blackness of space. The two solar array (SA) wings (large gold panels) are fully extended with bistem cassette and secondary deployment mechanism (SDM) handle clearly visible. The two deployed high gain antennae (HGA) masts are parallel to the SA panels. RMS end effector is positioned on the starboard fixture during the predeployment checkout operations above Discovery's, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103's, payload bay (PLB).
Launch record
Explore this mission’s launch, including its vehicle, launch site, payload, and outcome.
OV-103 HST mission
launch attemptOrbital attemptcompletedNo reviewed launch image7 connectionsMission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Mission type
- Hubble Space Telescope deployment[1]
- Vehicle
- STS-31 flight stack[1]
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)[1]
- Crew and station travelers
- 5[1]
Trajectory profile
2 sourcesFollow the mission from departure through its flight environment, destination, and final phase. This sequence is not a scale orbital plot.
Mission locations
2 sourcesDocumented surface, test, landing, and recovery locations. Map links use the cited place name or exact coordinates; AstronautAtlas does not geocode or estimate missing positions.
Departure or test site
Launch site
Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B
Landing site
Landing site
Edwards Air Force Base, Runway 22
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
5 assignmentsMission Purpose
2 sources- Deploy the Hubble Space Telescope into .
- Support Hubble activation and release operations using Discovery's remote manipulator system.
- Conduct IMAX photography and secondary science payloads.
- Operate Discovery in a high-altitude orbit required for Hubble deployment.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Launch
High-altitude deployment mission begins
Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center carrying the Hubble Space Telescope in its payload bay.
- Flight day 2
Hubble deployment
The crew released Hubble using shuttle robotics and supported observatory checkout after deployment.
- Orbit
Science and photography
The crew operated IMAX cameras and secondary experiments while Discovery remained in a higher-than-usual orbit.
- Landing
Edwards landing
Discovery returned from the Hubble deployment mission with a long deorbit burn from high altitude.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- April 24, 1990
Launch
Discovery climbed toward one of the highest Shuttle operating orbits.
- April 25, 1990
Hubble deployed
Canadarm lifted the observatory from the payload bay while its arrays and antennas extended.
- Following days
Checkout support
Discovery remained within range while controllers activated the telescope.
Open operation record - April 29, 1990
Landing
Discovery landed at Edwards after completing the observatory deployment.
Open operation record