STS-3
| Mission Insignia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mission Statistics | |
| Mission: | STS-3 |
| Shuttle: | Columbia |
| Launch Pad: | 39-A |
| Launch: | March 22, 1982 11:00:00 a.m. EST |
| Landing: | March 30, 1982 9:04:46 a.m. MST |
| Duration: | 8 days, 0 hours, 4 minutes, 46 seconds |
| Orbit Altitude: | 147 nautical miles |
| Orbit Inclination: | 38.0 degrees |
| Miles Traveled: | 3,334,904 miles |
| Crew photo | |
| File:Sts-3-crew.jpg | |
STS-3 was a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Columbia, launched March 22, 1982. This was the third space shuttle mission, and was also the third mission for the Space Shuttle Columbia.
The mission of the STS-3
Primary mission objective was to demonstrate safe re-launch and safe return of the orbiter and crew. Also, verify the combined performance of the entire shuttle vehicle - orbiter, solid rocket boosters and external tank.
During this mission, testing of the space shuttle and the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) continued. The crew also gathered data on contamination (dust, gasses, etc.) put into the near-Earth space enviroment by the shuttle itself.
Problems encountered: The crew experienced space sickness, had a malfunctioning toilet, thermostat difficulty and unexplained static interfering with crew sleep. Also, the auxiliary power unit registered overheating during ascent, but functioned properly during descent. Communication link lost three times.
This is the last mission that NASA named the backup crews.
Columbia circled the Earth 130 times.
Crew
- Commander: Jack R. Lousma
- Pilot: C. Gordon Fullerton
Backup Crew
- Backup Commander: Thomas K. Mattingly
- Backup Pilot: Henry W. Hartsfield Jr.