Crewed spacecraftExpended
STS-41-D flight stack
Mission-specific Space Shuttle flight stack
Vehicle and mission dossier
STS-41-D
STS-41-D introduced Space Shuttle Discovery. The six-person crew deployed SBS-D, Telstar 3C, and Leasat 2, operated the large OAST-1 extendable solar-array experiment, and carried Charles Walker as the first commercially sponsored .
Flight profile
- Launch
- August 30, 1984
- Landing
- September 5, 1984
- Mission duration
- 6d 00h 57m
Places and recovery
Vehicle record
- Orbiter
- Space Shuttle Discovery
- Mission or test
- STS-41-D
- Configuration
- , external tank, two , and three main engines
- Status
- Mission hardware disposition recorded by component
- Mission type
- Satellite or observatory deployment and operations
- Crew and station travelers
- 6
- Program
- Space Shuttle
- Crew complement
- 6
- Outcome
- Completed
- Archive classification
- Human spaceflight
- Primary objective
- First flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, carrying commercial communications satellites and the OAST-1 solar array experiment.
Flight objectives
- Launch Discovery and its crew safely into .
- First flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, carrying commercial communications satellites and the OAST-1 solar array experiment.
- Complete the mission's assigned payload, , research, deployment, servicing, or logistics work.
- Return Discovery and the landing crew safely to Earth.
Flight timeline
- August 30, 1984Discovery launchesNASA's third spaceworthy Shuttle began its first mission.
- Early missionThree satellites deployedSBS-D, Telstar 3C, and Leasat 2 left Discovery's payload bay.
- Mission operationsOAST-1 extendedThe crew tested a large lightweight solar-array structure in orbit.
- September 5, 1984LandingDiscovery completed its maiden flight at Edwards Air Force Base.
