STS-95
John Glenn returns to orbit as Discovery conducts aging and solar research
STS-95 returned Mercury astronaut John Glenn to space at age 77, making him the oldest person then to fly in orbit. Discovery's research program compared aspects of aging and spaceflight, deployed and retrieved SPARTAN-201 for solar observations, and operated SPACEHAB experiments in biology, materials, and technology.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- October 29, 1998
- Landing
- November 7, 1998
- Mission duration
- 9 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 seconds
- Inclination
- 28.45 degrees
Places and recovery
Mission record
- Mission type
- Bioscience research and astronomy
- Vehicle
- STS-95 flight stack
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Discovery (OV-103)
- Crew and station travelers
- 7
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
7 assignments
Chiaki Mukaiprime crewPayload SpecialistLaunched October 29, 1998Returned November 7, 19989 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 secondsPayload Specialist aboard STS-95 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Curtis L. Brown Jr.prime crewCommanderLaunched October 29, 1998Returned November 7, 19989 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 secondsCommander aboard STS-95 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
John H. Glenn Jr.prime crewPayload SpecialistLaunched October 29, 1998Returned November 7, 19989 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 secondsPayload Specialist aboard STS-95 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Pedro Francisco Duque Duqueprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 29, 1998Returned November 7, 19989 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 secondsMission Specialist aboard STS-95 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Scott E. Parazynskiprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 29, 1998Returned November 7, 19989 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 secondsMission Specialist aboard STS-95 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Stephen K. Robinsonprime crewMission SpecialistLaunched October 29, 1998Returned November 7, 19989 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 secondsMission Specialist aboard STS-95 flight stack.Open astronaut archive
Steven Wayne Lindseyprime crewPilotLaunched October 29, 1998Returned November 7, 19989 days, 19 hours, 54 minutes, 2 secondsPilot aboard STS-95 flight stack.Open astronaut archiveMission Purpose
2 sources- Conduct Spacehab life-science and aging-related research, including investigations involving John Glenn.
- Deploy and retrieve Spartan 201 for solar-wind and solar-corona observations.
- Operate astronomy, materials, biological, and technology payloads.
- Support international crew science participation by Japan and Spain.
Planned Flight Plan
2 sources- Launch
Discovery research mission begins
Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center with Spacehab, Spartan, and a seven-person crew.
- On orbit
Spacehab research
The crew conducted bioscience, aging, materials, and astronomy investigations inside Spacehab and the .
- Free-flyer operations
Spartan solar observations
The crew deployed and retrieved Spartan 201 for solar research.
- Landing
Kennedy landing
Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center after a nearly ten-day mission.
Mission Timeline
2 sources- October 29, 1998
Launch
Discovery launched John Glenn on his second spaceflight.
- Early mission
SPARTAN-201 deployed
The observatory began independent solar-corona observations.
- Research campaign
Aging studies conducted
Glenn and the crew supported life-science and SPACEHAB investigations.
- November 7, 1998
Landing
Discovery returned Glenn, SPARTAN, samples, and experiment data.
Open operation record