# STS-51G

Occurred 39 years ago

STS-51G was the 18th flight of NASA's Space Shuttle program, and the fifth flight of Space Shuttle Discovery.

Space Shuttle

mission duration

Launch

Landing

## Mission Facts

**Mission:** MORELOS-A, ARABSAT-A and TELSTAR-3D Communications Satellites**Space Shuttle:** Discovery**Launch Pad:** 39A**Launch Weight:** 256,524 pounds**Launched:**June 17, 1985 at 7:33:00 a.m. EDT**Landing Site:**Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.**Landing:** June 24, 1985 at 6:11:52 a.m. PDT**Landing Weight:** 204,169 pounds**Runway:** 23**Rollout Distance:**7,433 feet**Rollout Time:** 42 seconds**Revolution:** 112**Mission Duration:** 7 days, 1 hour, 38 minutes, 52 seconds**Orbit Altitude:** 209 nautical miles**Orbit Inclination:** 28.45 degrees**Miles Traveled:** 2.9 million

## Crew

Daniel C. Brandenstein, Commander

John O. Creighton, Pilot

Shannon W. Lucid, Mission Specialist

Steven R. Nagel, Mission Specialist

John M. Fabian, Mission Specialist

Patrick Baudry, Payload Specialist

Sultan Salman Al-Saud, Payload Specialist

## Mission Highlights

Three communications satellites, all attached to the Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D) motors, were deployed: MORELOS-A, for Mexico; ARABSAT-A, for Arab Satellite Communications Organization; and TELSTAR-3D, for AT&T. Also flown: deployable/retrievable Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (SPARTAN-1); six Get Away Special canisters; Strategic Defense Initiative experiment called the High Precision Tracking Experiment (HPTE); a materials processing furnace called Automated Directional Solidification Furnace (ADSF); and two French biomedical experiments.

## STS-51G

12 Images

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## 				Resources			

## STS-51G Press Kit

Get an overview of the STS mission, its crew and activities during this mission.

## Flights of Discovery

An overview of this shuttle's flights.

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-  									Page Last Updated:								  								Jul 21, 2023								 
-  									Page Editor:								  									Sandra L. Johnson								 
-  								Responsible NASA Official:							  								Abigail Bowman