# STS-41D

Occurred 40 years ago

First flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. The primary payloads for the mission were three commercial communications satellites — SBS-4 for Small Business Systems, Telstar 3C for Telesat of Canada, and Syncom IV-2, also known as Leasat 2, for the U.S. Navy.

Space Shuttle

mission duration

Launch

Landing

## STS-41D Mission Facts

**Mission:** SBS-D; Satellite Business System SYNCOM IV-2; Solar Wing TELSTAR**Space Shuttle:** Discovery**Launch Pad: **39A**Launch Weight:** 263,477 pounds**Launched:** August 30, 1984 at 8:41:50 a.m. EDT**Landing Site:** Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.**Landing:**September 5, 1984 at 6:37:54 a.m. PDT**Landing Weight:** 201,674 pounds**Runway:**17**Rollout Distance:** 10,275 feet**Rollout Time:**60 seconds**Revolution:**97**Mission Duration:** 6 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds**Returned to KSC:** September 10, 1984**Orbit Altitude:** 184 nautical miles**Orbit Inclination:**28.5 degrees**Miles Traveled:** 2.5 million

## Crew

Henry W. Hartsfield, Jr., Commander

Michael L. Coats, Pilot

Judith A. Resnik, Mission Specialist

Richard M. Mullane, Mission Specialist

Steven A. Hawley, Mission Specialist

Charles D. Walker, Payload Specialist

## Mission Highlights

Three satellites deployed during this mission: Satellite Business System SBS-D, SYNCOM IV-2 (also known as LEASAT2) and TELSTAR. The 102-foot-tall, 13-foot-wide Office of Application and Space Technology (OAST-1) solar wing extended from the payload bay. The wing carried different types of solar cells and extended to its full height several times. It demonstrated large lightweight solar arrays for a future in building large facilities in space such as a space station. Other payloads included were: Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (CFES) Ill; Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME); Shuttle Student Involvement Program (SSIP) experiment; lMAX camera, being flown for a second time; and an Air Force experiment, Cloud Logic to Optimize Use of Defense Systems (CLOUDS).

## STS-41D

13 Images

Go To Gallery

Go To Gallery

## 				Resources			

## STS-41D 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.

## Shuttle News

				See All Shuttle News                			

Image Article1 Min Read
The First Space Shuttle

Article6 Min Read
45 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Columbia Arrives at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

Image Article1 Min Read
Astronaut Bruce McCandless Performs the First Untethered Spacewalk
Article14 Min Read
40 Years Ago: STS-41B, the First Flight of the Manned Maneuvering Unit

Featured Story

# 35 Years Ago: STS-41D – First Flight of Space Shuttle Discovery

Space Shuttle Discovery, named after several historical ships of exploration, was the third space-qualified orbiter to be added to the...
Read the Story

## Discover More Topics From NASA

Missions

Humans In Space

Space Shuttle

Astronauts Home

### The National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA explores the unknown in air and space, innovates for the benefit of humanity, and inspires the world through discovery.
                  - About NASA's Mission
Join Us

                    - Home
                    - News & Events
                    - Multimedia
                    - NASA+
                    - Missions
                    - Humans in Space
                    - Earth & Climate
                    - The Solar System
                    - The Universe
                    - Science
                    - Aeronautics
                    - Technology
                    - Learning Resources
                    - About NASA
                    - NASA en Español

### Follow NASA

                    -   
                    -   
                    -   
                    -   

                  - 
                  - More NASA Social Accounts
                  - NASA Newsletters

                - Sitemap
                - For Media
                - Privacy Policy
                - FOIA
                - No FEAR Act
                - Office of the IGBudget & Annual Reports
Agency Financial Reports
Contact NASA
Accessibility
-  									Page Last Updated:								  								Sep 01, 2023								 
-  									Page Editor:								  									Sandra L. Johnson								 
-  								Responsible NASA Official:							  								Abigail Bowman