STS-34
Atlantis deploys Galileo on its long journey to Jupiter
STS-34 deployed the Galileo spacecraft and its Inertial Upper Stage from Atlantis, beginning a gravity-assist journey that ultimately reached Jupiter. The crew also operated Earth-observation, student, communications, and medical experiments during the five-day flight while controllers completed the critical planetary-spacecraft release sequence.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- October 18, 1989
- Landing
- October 23, 1989
- Mission duration
- 4d 23h 39m
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Vehicle
- STS-34 flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Atlantis
- 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 Atlantis mission that deployed the Galileo spacecraft toward Jupiter.
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
5 assignments
Donald E. Williamsprime crewCommanderLaunched October 18, 1989Returned October 23, 19894d 23h 39mCommander aboard STS-34 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Ellen S. Bakerprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 18, 1989Returned October 23, 19894d 23h 39mMission Specialist aboard STS-34 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Franklin R. Chang-Diazprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 18, 1989Returned October 23, 19894d 23h 39mMission Specialist aboard STS-34 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Michael J. McCulleyprime crewPilotLaunched October 18, 1989Returned October 23, 19894d 23h 39mPilot aboard STS-34 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Shannon W. Lucidprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 18, 1989Returned October 23, 19894d 23h 39mMission Specialist aboard STS-34 flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- Launch Atlantis and its crew safely into .
- Space Shuttle Atlantis mission that deployed the Galileo spacecraft toward Jupiter.
- Complete the mission's assigned payload, , research, deployment, servicing, or logistics work.
- Return Atlantis and the landing crew safely to Earth.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Ascent
Atlantis launch
STS-34 was planned to launch from Kennedy Space Center aboard its mission-specific shuttle stack.
- On orbit
Primary mission operations
Space Shuttle Atlantis mission that deployed the Galileo spacecraft toward Jupiter.
- Entry and landing
return
Atlantis was scheduled to deorbit, reenter, and complete an unpowered runway landing.
- October 18, 1989
STS-34 launches
STS-34 flight stack departs Kennedy Space Center and enters the planned orbit.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- October 18, 1989
Launch
Atlantis launched from Kennedy Space Center with Galileo and its upper .
- About six hours after launch
Galileo deployed
The spacecraft and Inertial Upper Stage left Atlantis's payload bay.
- Interplanetary injection
Journey to Jupiter begins
The upper stage sent Galileo toward a Venus-Earth-Earth gravity-assist trajectory.
- October 23, 1989
Landing
Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force Base after completing the planetary-deployment mission.
Open operation record