STS-46
EURECA deployment and the first Tethered Satellite System flight
STS-46 deployed ESA's European Retrievable Carrier for a long-duration free flight and attempted the first Tethered Satellite System deployment. A mechanical problem limited the Italian satellite to a fraction of its planned tether length, but the mission returned valuable data on tether dynamics and orbital plasma while EURECA began an independent microgravity and astronomy program.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- July 31, 1992
- Landing
- August 8, 1992
- Mission duration
- 7d 23h 15m
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Vehicle
- STS-46 flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Atlantis
- Mission type
- Satellite or observatory deployment and operations
- Crew and station travelers
- 7
- Program
- Space Shuttle
- Crew complement
- 7
- Outcome
- Completed
- Archive classification
- Human spaceflight
- Primary objective
- Space Shuttle Atlantis mission that deployed EURECA and tested the Tethered Satellite System.
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
7 assignments
Andrew M. Allenprime crewPilotLaunched July 31, 1992Returned August 8, 19927d 23h 15mPilot aboard STS-46 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Claude Nicollierprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched July 31, 1992Returned August 8, 19927d 23h 15mMission Specialist aboard STS-46 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Franco Egidio Malerbaprime crewPayload SpecialistLaunched July 31, 1992Returned August 8, 19927d 23h 15mPayload Specialist aboard STS-46 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Franklin R. Chang-Diazprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched July 31, 1992Returned August 8, 19927d 23h 15mMission Specialist aboard STS-46 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Jeffrey Alan Hoffmanprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched July 31, 1992Returned August 8, 19927d 23h 15mMission Specialist aboard STS-46 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Loren J. Shriverprime crewCommanderLaunched July 31, 1992Returned August 8, 19927d 23h 15mCommander aboard STS-46 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Marsha Sue Ivinsprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched July 31, 1992Returned August 8, 19927d 23h 15mMission Specialist aboard STS-46 flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- Launch Atlantis and its crew safely into .
- Space Shuttle Atlantis mission that deployed EURECA and tested the Tethered Satellite System.
- 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-46 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 EURECA and tested the Tethered Satellite System.
- Entry and landing
return
Atlantis was scheduled to deorbit, reenter, and complete an unpowered runway landing.
- July 31, 1992
STS-46 launches
STS-46 flight stack departs Kennedy Space Center and enters the planned orbit.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- July 31, 1992
Launch
Atlantis began a two-payload international technology mission.
- August 2, 1992
EURECA deployed
Canadarm released the European platform for a long-duration free flight.
- August 4, 1992
Tether test
The satellite extended only about 260 meters before a mechanical obstruction halted deployment.
- August 8, 1992
Landing
Atlantis returned the tether hardware and experiment data to Kennedy.
Open operation record