STS-32
Leasat 5 deployment and recovery of LDEF after nearly six years
STS-32 deployed the Leasat 5 communications satellite and recovered the Long Duration Exposure Facility after nearly six years in orbit. Columbia's crew rendezvoused with the experiment carrier, photographed its exposed surfaces, grappled it with Canadarm, and returned 57 materials and space-environment investigations during a then-record 11-day Shuttle mission.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- January 9, 1990
- Landing
- January 20, 1990
- Mission duration
- 10d 21h 00m
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Vehicle
- STS-32 flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Columbia
- Mission type
- Satellite or observatory deployment and operations
- Crew and station travelers
- 5
- Program
- Space Shuttle
- Crew complement
- 5
- Outcome
- Completed
- Archive classification
- Human spaceflight
- Primary objective
- Space Shuttle Columbia mission that deployed Syncom IV-F5 and retrieved the Long Duration Exposure Facility.
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
5 assignments
Bonnie J. Dunbarprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched January 9, 1990Returned January 20, 199010d 21h 00mMission Specialist aboard STS-32 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Daniel C. Brandensteinprime crewCommanderLaunched January 9, 1990Returned January 20, 199010d 21h 00mCommander aboard STS-32 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
George David Lowprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched January 9, 1990Returned January 20, 199010d 21h 00mMission Specialist aboard STS-32 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
James D. Wetherbeeprime crewPilotLaunched January 9, 1990Returned January 20, 199010d 21h 00mPilot aboard STS-32 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Marsha Sue Ivinsprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched January 9, 1990Returned January 20, 199010d 21h 00mMission Specialist aboard STS-32 flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- Launch Columbia and its crew safely into .
- Space Shuttle Columbia mission that deployed Syncom IV-F5 and retrieved the Long Duration Exposure Facility.
- Complete the mission's assigned payload, , research, deployment, servicing, or logistics work.
- Return Columbia and the landing crew safely to Earth.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Ascent
Columbia launch
STS-32 was planned to launch from Kennedy Space Center aboard its mission-specific shuttle stack.
- On orbit
Primary mission operations
Space Shuttle Columbia mission that deployed Syncom IV-F5 and retrieved the Long Duration Exposure Facility.
- Entry and landing
return
Columbia was scheduled to deorbit, reenter, and complete an unpowered runway landing.
- January 9, 1990
STS-32 launches
STS-32 flight stack departs Kennedy Space Center and enters the planned orbit.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- January 9, 1990
Launch
Columbia began an extended deployment and retrieval mission.
- Flight day 2
Leasat 5 deployed
The communications satellite entered independent flight for transfer to geosynchronous orbit.
- Flight day 4
LDEF captured
Bonnie Dunbar grappled the experiment carrier and berthed it in Columbia's payload bay.
- January 20, 1990
LDEF returned
Columbia landed with the facility and its long-exposed experiment samples.