Mission Insignia
Mission Statistics
Mission:	STS-27
Shuttle:	Atlantis
Launch Pad:	39-B
Launch:	December 2, 1988, 9:30:34 a.m. EST
Landing:	December 6, 1988, 3:36:11 p.m. PST
Duration:	4 days, 9 hours, 5 minutes, 37 seconds
Orbit Altitude:	Classified
Orbit Inclination:	57.0 degrees
Miles Traveled:	1,820,000
Crew photo

STS-27 was a space shuttle mission by NASA using the Space Shuttle Atlantis. It was the 27th shuttle mission, and the 3rd for Atlantis. It carried a payload for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Contents

1 Crew 2 Mission Parameters 3 Mission Highlights 4 Related articles 5 External links

Crew

• Commander: Robert L. Gibson (3)
• Pilot: Guy S. Gardner (1)
• Mission Specialist: Richard M. Mullane (2)
• Mission Specialist: Jerry L. Ross (2)
• Mission Specialist: William M. Shepherd (1)

Mission Parameters

• Mass: 14,500? kg Payload: Lacrosse 1 (radar reconnaissance) satellite
• Perigee: 437 km
• Apogee: 447 km
• Inclination: 57°
• Period: 93.4 min

Mission Highlights

The Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104), the youngest in NASA's fleet, made its third flight in a classified mission for the Department of Defense (DoD).

It was reported that STS-27 deployed Lacrosse 1, a radar reconnaissance satellite. It was also reported that the satellite failed after release from the Shuttle. The Atlantis reapproached the payload and the crew repaired it. This implies that some of the crew members performed a spacewalk (Ross?, Shepherd?). Lacrosse was then released and performed a successful mission.

It was the 27th Space Shuttle mission. Launch was originally scheduled Dec. 1, but was postponed one day because of cloud cover and strong wind conditions. Liftoff from Pad B, Launch Complex 39, KSC, on Dec. 2 was at 9:30 a.m. EST. The Orbiter Atlantis touched down Dec. 6 at Runway 17, Edwards AFB, CA, at 6:35 p.m. EST. The total mission elapsed time (wheels stop) was 4 days, 9 hours and 6 minutes.

The orbiter's Thermal Protection System tiles sustained more-than-normal damage during the flight. A review panel investigating the damage found that the most probable cause was ablative insulating material from the right-hand solid rocket booster nose cap hitting the orbiter about 85 seconds into the flight.

Also, one of the main engines' turbopumps was found to be cracked after the flight.

Related articles

• Space science
• Space shuttle
• List of space shuttle missions
• List of human spaceflights chronologically

External links

• NASA mission summary