Mission: Department of Defense
Space Shuttle:
Atlantis
Launch Pad:
39B
Launch Weight: Classified
Launched: Dec. 2, 1988, 9:30:34 a.m. EST
Landing Site: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Landing: Dec. 6, 1988, 3:36:11 p.m. PST
Landing Weight: 190,956 pounds
Runway: 17
Rollout Distance: 7,123 feet
Rollout Time: 43 seconds
Revolution: 68
Mission Duration: 4 days, 9 hours, 5 minutes, 37 seconds
Returned to KSC: Dec. 13, 1988
Orbit Altitude: Classified
Orbit Inclination: 57 degrees
Miles Traveled: 1.8 million
Crew Members
Commander
Robert L. Gibson, Pilot
Guy S. Gardner, Mission Specialists
Richard Mullane,
Jerry L. Ross and
William M. Shepherd
.
Launch Highlights
The launch set for December 1 during a classified window lying within a launch period between 6:32 a.m. and 9:32 a.m., was postponed due to unacceptable cloud cover and wind conditions and reset for the same launch period on December 2.
Mission Highlights
Third mission dedicated to the Department of Defense.
