STS-41
Ulysses begins the first mission over the Sun's polar regions
STS-41 deployed the joint ESA-NASA Ulysses spacecraft with an Inertial Upper Stage and a mission-specific PAM-S, the first use of that combined upper-stage arrangement. Ulysses traveled via Jupiter to leave the ecliptic and became the first to survey the space environment above and below the Sun's poles.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- October 6, 1990
- Landing
- October 10, 1990
- Mission duration
- 4d 02h 10m
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Vehicle
- STS-41 flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Discovery
- 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 Discovery mission that deployed the Ulysses solar-polar spacecraft.
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
5 assignments
Bruce E. Melnickprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 6, 1990Returned October 10, 19904d 02h 10mMission Specialist aboard STS-41 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Richard N. Richardsprime crewPilotLaunched October 6, 1990Returned October 10, 19904d 02h 10mPilot aboard STS-41 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Robert D. Cabanaprime crewPilotLaunched October 6, 1990Returned October 10, 19904d 02h 10mPilot aboard STS-41 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Thomas D. Akersprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 6, 1990Returned October 10, 19904d 02h 10mMission Specialist aboard STS-41 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
William M. Shepherdprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 6, 1990Returned October 10, 19904d 02h 10mMission Specialist aboard STS-41 flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- Launch Discovery and its crew safely into .
- Space Shuttle Discovery mission that deployed the Ulysses solar-polar spacecraft.
- Complete the mission's assigned payload, , research, deployment, servicing, or logistics work.
- Return Discovery and the landing crew safely to Earth.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Ascent
Discovery launch
STS-41 was planned to launch from Kennedy Space Center aboard its mission-specific shuttle stack.
- On orbit
Primary mission operations
Space Shuttle Discovery mission that deployed the Ulysses solar-polar spacecraft.
- Entry and landing
return
Discovery was scheduled to deorbit, reenter, and complete an unpowered runway landing.
- October 6, 1990
STS-41 launches
STS-41 flight stack departs Kennedy Space Center and enters the planned orbit.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- October 6, 1990
Launch
Discovery began a four-day interplanetary deployment mission.
- Flight day 1
Ulysses deployed
The , IUS, and PAM-S stack departed the payload bay.
- Upper-stage sequence
Solar-polar trajectory begins
The accelerated Ulysses toward a Jupiter and out-of-ecliptic orbit.
- October 10, 1990
Landing
Discovery landed at Edwards after completing deployment and secondary experiments.
Open operation record