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STS-30
Magellan and its IUS in the payload bay of Atlantis
NamesSpace Transportation System-30
STS-30R
Mission typeMagellan spacecraft deployment
OperatorNASA
COSPAR ID1989-033A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.19968Edit this on Wikidata
Mission duration4 days, 56 minutes, 27 seconds
Distance travelled2,377,800 km (1,477,500 mi)
Orbits completed65
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftSpace Shuttle Atlantis
Launch mass118,441 kg (261,118 lb)
Landing mass87,296 kg (192,455 lb)
Payload mass20,833 kg (45,929 lb)
Crew
Crew size5
Members
Start of mission
Launch dateMay 4, 1989, 18:46:59 (1989-05-04UTC18:46:59Z) UTC (2:46:59 pm EDT)
Launch siteKennedy, LC-39B
ContractorRockwell International
End of mission
Landing dateMay 8, 1989, 19:43:26 (1989-05-08UTC19:43:27Z) UTC (12:43:26 pm PDT)
Landing siteEdwards, Runway 22
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude361 km (224 mi)
Apogee altitude366 km (227 mi)
Inclination28.45°
Period91.80 minutes
Instruments
  • Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA)
  • Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE)

STS-30 mission patch

From left: Grabe, Walker, Thagard, Cleave and Lee
← STS-29 (28)
STS-28 (30) →

STS-30 was the 29th NASA Space Shuttle mission and the fourth mission for Space Shuttle Atlantis. It was the fourth shuttle launch since the Challenger disaster and the first shuttle mission since the disaster to have a female astronaut on board. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on May 4, 1989, and landed four days later on May 8, 1989. During the mission, Atlantis deployed the Venus-bound Magellan probe into orbit.

The mission was officially designated STS-30R as the original STS-30 designator belonged to STS-61-A, the 22nd Space Shuttle mission. Official documentation for that mission contained the designator STS-30 throughout. As STS-51-L was designated STS-33, future flights with the STS-26 through STS-33 designators would require the R in their documentation to avoid conflicts in tracking data from one mission to another.

Crew

[edit]
Position Astronaut
Commander David M. Walker
Second spaceflight
Pilot Ronald J. Grabe
Second spaceflight
Mission Specialist 1 Mark C. Lee
First spaceflight
Mission Specialist 2
Flight Engineer 		Norman Thagard
Third spaceflight
Mission Specialist 3 Mary L. Cleave
Second and last spaceflight

Crew seat assignments

[edit]
Seat[1] Launch Landing
Seats 1–4 are on the flight deck.
Seats 5–7 are on the mid-deck.
1 Walker
2 Grabe
3 Lee Cleave
4 Thagard
5 Cleave Lee
6 Unused
7 Unused

Shuttle processing

[edit]

Atlantis spent three months in the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF-2) after returning to the Kennedy Space Center at the end of STS-27.[2] During this period technicians got to work removing and replacing all of the damaged Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles that Atlantis sustained during her prior flight. They also took detailed inspections of the shuttle while simultaneously preparing Atlantis for STS-30R. The shuttle was rolled over to the Vehicle Assembly Building and mated with ET-29 and an SRB set on March 11, 1989. Eleven days later on March 22, 1989, Atlantis was rolled out to launch pad 39B.[3]

Mission summary

[edit]
The launch of Atlantis on STS-30
Atlantis deploys its landing gear before landing at the end of STS-30.
Attempt Planned Result Turnaround Reason Decision point Weather go (%) Notes
1 28 Apr 1989, 2:29:00 pm Scrubbed — Technical 28 Apr 1989, 2:30 pm ​(T−00:00:31) Failure of circulation pump in Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) No. 1.[4]
2 4 May 1989, 2:46:59 pm Success 6 days 0 hours 18 minutes 60[5] Countdown held at T−5 minutes due to unacceptable cloud cover and excessive crosswinds at the Shuttle Landing Facility, which cleared in time for launch.[4]

Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, at 14:46:59 EDT on May 4, 1989.[3] The primary payload, the Magellan spacecraft with its attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS), was successfully deployed later that day.[4][6] Magellan was the first American planetary mission in 11 years.

The launch was originally scheduled for April 28, 1989, the first day of a 31-day launch period when Earth and Venus were properly aligned. However, the liftoff was scrubbed at T−31 seconds because of a problem with the liquid hydrogen recirculation pump on Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) No. 1, and a vapor leak in the liquid hydrogen recirculation line between the orbiter and external tank (ET).[4][7] On the rescheduled liftoff date of May 4, 1989, the launch was again delayed until the final five minutes of the launch window due to cloud cover and excessive crosswinds at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF).[4][8] Good landing conditions were required at the SLF in case of a Return To Launch Site (RTLS) abort early in the flight.

The only major glitch during the flight occurred on May 7, 1989, when one of the four general-purpose computers programmed to operate the orbiter failed.[9] The shuttle crew replaced the computer, part of a redundant set, with a backup one. It was the first time a computer had been replaced while in orbit.[9] The glitch had no impact on the crew's safety or the primary objectives of the mission, although some of the activities involved in conducting experiments had to be canceled while the crew was replacing the computer. There also was no impact to the mission when one of the three thrusters on Atlantis' aft right-hand Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod failed during ascent.[10]

However, the STS-30 crew experienced several minor annoyances. A Hasselblad camera used to photograph sites on Earth had to be stowed for the remainder of the mission after a shutter stuck during the crew's third day in space. The Text and Graphics Systems (TAGS), a device to send images and graphics to the orbiter from Mission Control Center, had to be turned off on Flight Day 2 because of a paper jam. Commander Walker and Pilot Grabe had problems with a device used to take measurements of central venous pressure to determine the effects of microgravity on the cardiovascular system. On the second full day in space, the water dispensing system in the galley malfunctioned, causing some difficulties for the crew in preparing meals.

Atlantis touched down at Runway 22, Edwards Air Force Base, California, on May 8, 1989, at 15:43:27 EDT. Minutes before landing, the runway had to be switched from 17 to 22 due to high crosswinds. The mission lasted a total of 4 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes, and 28 seconds.

Payload and experiments

[edit]

The Magellan spacecraft was deployed from the shuttle's payload bay six hours and 14 minutes into the mission.[10] Two successive IUS propulsion burns placed the spacecraft on its trajectory to Venus about an hour later. Magellan arrived at Venus in August 1990 and began a 243-day mission of mapping the planet's surface with radar.

Three mid-deck experiments were included on the mission. All had flown before. Mission Specialist Cleave used a portable laptop computer to operate and monitor the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA).[10] An 8 mm (0.31 in) video camcorder, flown for the first time on the Shuttle, provided the opportunity for the crew to record and downlink on-orbit activities such as the FEA, which was a joint endeavor between Rockwell International and NASA. Payload bay video cameras were used to record storm systems from orbit as part of the Mesoscale Lightning Experiment.[10]

Wake-up calls

[edit]

NASA began a tradition of playing music to astronauts during the Project Gemini, and first used music to awaken a flight crew during Apollo 15.[11] Each track is specially chosen, often by the astronauts' families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.

Flight Day Song Artist/Composer
Day 2 Theme from the film "Superman"
Day 3 Anchors Aweigh

The Wild Blue Yonder
Colorado State University Fight Song
Florida State University Fight Song

Day 4 "Gonna Fly Now" - Theme from Rocky Bill Conti
Day 5 "A Hard Day's Night" The Beatles
[edit]
  • The Magellan probe being tested at Kennedy Space Center.
    The Magellan probe being tested at Kennedy Space Center.
  • The probe imaged aboard Atlantis.
    The probe imaged aboard Atlantis.
  • Magellan in its stowed position.
    Magellan in its stowed position.
  • Magellan passes overhead.
    Magellan passes overhead.
  • Thunderstorms imaged from orbit.
    Thunderstorms imaged from orbit.
  • Ocean waves off the coast of Mexico imaged from orbit.
    Ocean waves off the coast of Mexico imaged from orbit.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

STS-30

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
STS-30 was the 30th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program and the fourth flight for the orbiter Atlantis, launching on May 4, 1989, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39B to deploy the Magellan spacecraft, the first American deep-space probe since the Voyager missions of the late 1970s. The five-member crew, commanded by David M. Walker with pilot Ronald J. Grabe and mission specialists Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave, and Mark C. Lee, successfully released the Magellan Venus radar mapper—attached to an Inertial Upper Stage booster—just six hours and 14 minutes after liftoff, initiating the probe's 15-month journey to orbit Venus and map over 98% of its cloud-shrouded surface using synthetic aperture radar. The mission, lasting four days, 56 minutes, and 27 seconds across 65 orbits at an altitude of 184 nautical miles and 28.8-degree inclination, also carried secondary payloads including the Fluids Experiment Apparatus for microgravity fluid behavior studies, the Mesoscale Lightning Experiment to observe atmospheric electricity, and the Air Force Maui Optical Site experiment for satellite tracking. Notable during the flight was the first on-orbit replacement of a Space Shuttle General Purpose Computer after a failure, demonstrating enhanced redundancy capabilities in the post-Challenger era. Atlantis landed safely on May 8, 1989, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, marking a pivotal step in reuniting NASA's human spaceflight and planetary exploration programs, as Magellan's data revolutionized understanding of Venusian geology over the course of its mission until 1994.

Mission Background

Objectives

The primary objective of STS-30 was the successful deployment of the Magellan spacecraft, a Venus radar mapper, into low Earth orbit, from where it would be boosted by the attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) into a transfer orbit toward Venus. This marked the first U.S. planetary science mission in over a decade, aimed at mapping at least 70% of Venus's surface using synthetic aperture radar to penetrate its thick atmosphere. Secondary objectives included conducting middeck experiments to advance microgravity research and atmospheric observations. The Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA) investigated fluid behavior in microgravity, focusing on and purification through floating zone techniques to support materials processing for future space applications. The Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE) captured nighttime images of lightning in large storm complexes to study their effects on upper and inform the design of satellite-based lightning mappers. The Air Force Maui Optical Site () experiment facilitated satellite tracking using ground-based optical telescopes on . The mission was planned for a duration of 4 days, involving 65 orbits at an inclination of 28.8 degrees and an altitude of approximately 184 nautical miles, covering a total distance of about 1.7 million miles. Specific success criteria for the primary objective encompassed the Magellan spacecraft's separation from the , deployment and latching of its solar arrays, and execution of the 's initial trajectory insertion burn to place the probe on course for arrival after 15 months.

Historical Context

STS-30, the 30th mission in NASA's Space Shuttle program and the fourth flight for the orbiter Atlantis, took place from May 4 to 8, 1989. This mission occurred during the program's recovery phase following the tragic loss of Challenger on STS-51-L in January 1986, which imposed a 32-month hiatus on crewed launches. After implementing extensive safety enhancements, including redesigned solid rocket boosters and improved escape systems, NASA resumed operations with STS-26 in September 1988, followed by STS-29 in March 1989, the first post-hiatus mission to achieve an extended five-day duration. STS-30 represented a key step in restoring flight cadence, featuring a five-person crew that included Mary L. Cleave as the first female astronaut to fly since the Challenger disaster, underscoring NASA's commitment to diverse teams amid heightened safety protocols. The mission highlighted NASA's renewed focus on scientific objectives, particularly planetary exploration, after the grounding redirected resources toward investigations and vehicle modifications. Atlantis's crew deployed the Magellan spacecraft, a radar mapper destined for Venus, marking the first U.S. planetary probe launch since Pioneer Venus in 1978 and the inaugural interplanetary mission deployed from the Shuttle. This deployment signified a return to deep space endeavors, building on the legacy of Voyager 2's Uranus encounter in January 1986 while addressing the long gap in American-led Venus studies. By prioritizing such payloads, STS-30 advanced NASA's strategic goals of resuming robust science missions, demonstrating the Shuttle's versatility in supporting unmanned explorers after the operational pause.

Crew

Crew Members

The crew of STS-30 consisted of five American astronauts who launched aboard on May 4, 1989, marking the program's fourth mission following . Commander David M. Walker, a 44-year-old U.S. Navy Captain from the 1978 astronaut class, led the team on his third spaceflight after serving as pilot on (1984) and commander on (1985); he had accumulated over 7,500 flight hours as a naval aviator flying F-4 Phantoms and F-14 Tomcats. Pilot Ronald J. Grabe, a 43-year-old U.S. Colonel from the 1980 astronaut class, flew his second mission after piloting (1985); a veteran with more than 5,500 flight hours in aircraft including the F-100, A-7, and F-111, he had also served as chief verification pilot for early Shuttle test flights. The mission specialists included 36-year-old U.S. Air Force Captain from the 1984 astronaut class, on his first ; Lee, with 4,500 hours in T-38, F-4, and F-16 jets, had trained in and operations. Norman E. Thagard, a 45-year-old U.S. Marine Corps Captain and physician from the 1978 astronaut class, was on his third flight after (1983) and (1985); a Vietnam combat veteran with 163 missions in F-4 Phantoms, he logged over 2,200 flight hours. Mary L. Cleave, a 42-year-old civilian engineer from the 1980 astronaut class, flew her second mission after (1985) and became the first woman to fly on a mission post-Challenger; holding a Ph.D. in , she had worked on Shuttle avionics integration and flight at NASA's . Cleave died on November 27, 2023. NASA announced the crew in March 1988, prioritizing seasoned pilots and veterans to bolster safety in the return-to-flight era, with the group representing three military branches (Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps) and one civilian, all U.S. citizens whose prior missions totaled six Shuttle flights.

Roles and Responsibilities

The STS-30 crew consisted of five astronauts, each assigned specific roles aligned with their positions to ensure the successful deployment of the Magellan spacecraft and execution of secondary experiments during the mission's four-day duration. David M. Walker, as Commander, held overall responsibility for mission command, including oversight of ascent and entry piloting, as well as contingency decision-making throughout the flight phases. He directed crew activities during the critical Magellan deployment on orbit 5 and managed the mission's progression to a successful landing after 65 orbits. Ronald J. Grabe, serving as Pilot, acted as the primary pilot for ascent and entry, handling the orbiter's controls during launch from and the crosswind landing at . He also managed rendezvous maneuvers and attitude control systems to position the orbiter optimally for Magellan deployment and (IUS) operations. Mark C. Lee, designated 1, led the operation of the remote manipulator system (RMS) arm for the Magellan deployment, ensuring precise release of the approximately six hours into the flight. He maintained readiness for (EVA) as a contingency for issues and supported operations for secondary experiments, including life sciences and activities in the middeck. Norman E. Thagard, as 2 and primary payload commander, coordinated the activation and deployment sequence for Magellan and its , monitoring the spacecraft's separation and initial trajectory to . In addition, he served as the crew medical officer, conducting physiological monitoring and medical tests to assess astronaut adaptation to microgravity during the 97-hour mission. Mary L. Cleave, functioning as 3, led in-flight experiments including the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA) for research and the Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE) for observing electrical storms from orbit. She managed middeck operations for secondary integration and performed extensive Earth photography to document environmental phenomena and support data analysis. Crew seat assignments were as follows: Walker in the commander's seat (CDR, seat 1), Grabe in the pilot's seat (PLT, seat 2), Lee as MS1 in seat 3, Thagard as MS2 in seat 4, and Cleave as MS3 in seat 5. These positions facilitated optimal control and payload access during ascent, orbital operations, and reentry.

Vehicle and Payload Preparation

Orbiter Processing

Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) returned to NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on December 13, 1988, following its previous mission, STS-27, which had landed on December 6, 1988, at Edwards Air Force Base. The orbiter was towed to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) the following day, December 14, 1988, to begin a comprehensive turnaround process that lasted approximately three months. This preparation phase involved detailed post-flight inspections, maintenance, and refurbishment to ready Atlantis for the STS-30 mission, adhering to stringent safety protocols established after the Challenger accident in 1986. A primary focus of the OPF work was the inspection and repair of the orbiter's Thermal Protection System (TPS), which had sustained significant damage during STS-27 reentry. More than 700 tiles were damaged, including one completely missing that exposed and partially melted the underlying aluminum structure; technicians meticulously removed and replaced these affected tiles to ensure the orbiter's integrity for atmospheric reentry. Additional activities included general systems checks, such as avionics and propulsion verifications, though no major anomalies beyond the TPS issues were reported during this phase. The processing emphasized enhanced fault tolerance measures, reflecting ongoing improvements in shuttle reliability post-1986. On March 11, 1989, was rolled from the OPF to the (VAB) for mating with External Tank ET-29 and a set of redesigned Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), which featured reinforced attachments as part of program-wide safety upgrades implemented since STS-26. The stack was completed and moved to Launch Pad 39B on March 22, 1989, marking the transition from orbiter-specific processing to full vehicle integration. This timeline represented a standard post-Challenger turnaround, balancing thorough refurbishment with mission readiness.

Payload Integration

The primary payload for STS-30 consisted of the Magellan Venus radar mapper spacecraft integrated with Inertial Upper Stage (IUS)-14, with a total mass of 20,833 kg. The Magellan spacecraft itself had a launch mass of 3,449 kg and was designed to conduct high-resolution radar mapping of Venus' surface. Processing began upon arrival at Kennedy Space Center on October 8, 1988, where the spacecraft underwent initial assembly and testing in a clean room at the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility (SAFE). On February 15, 1989, the Magellan spacecraft was transferred to the Vertical Processing Facility for vertical mating with the IUS-14 solid rocket motor assembly inside a payload canister, allowing for precise alignment and encapsulation. This integration included verification of electrical connections, thermal protection systems, and compatibility with orbiter interfaces for power, data, and command links. The mated payload stack, including the canister, was then transported to Launch Pad 39B on March 17, 1989, and installed into the Atlantis orbiter's payload bay on March 25, 1989. Secondary payloads included the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA), a 68 kg modular facility for microgravity fluid physics research involving and studies; the Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE), a 4 kg sensor package to capture imagery of atmospheric phenomena; the Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) experiment for satellite tracking; and five Get Away Special (GAS) canisters containing various small experiments. These were loaded into the payload bay during orbiter processing, with interface checks ensuring secure mounting and electrical integration without interfering with the primary payload. Verification activities encompassed end-to-end simulations of the deployment sequence, including canister door opening, spring-driven ejection of the Magellan/IUS stack from the bay, and post-deployment IUS ignition for Venus transfer orbit insertion. Additional tests confirmed IUS spin balance for stability during motor firing and safe arming of pyrotechnic devices, with no unresolved anomalies noted prior to launch. A Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test on April 6-7, 1989, validated the full integrated payload configuration under simulated launch conditions.

Launch and Ascent

Launch Sequence

The countdown for STS-30 began early on May 4, 1989, at Launch Complex 39B, following a scrub of the previous attempt on due to a malfunction in the recirculation on one of the Main Engines. The crew entered the orbiter approximately three hours prior to the planned liftoff time, aligning with standard pre-launch procedures for the mission's terminal countdown sequence. Routine systems checks proceeded without significant issues, though the countdown experienced a 59-minute delay due to and high crosswinds that initially violated return-to-launch-site weather constraints; a brief hold occurred at T-43 seconds for final verifications, including weather assessments, before resuming. Liftoff occurred at 2:46:59 p.m. EDT (18:46:59 UTC), with rising from Pad 39B powered by the ignition of its two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and three Main Engines (SSMEs), generating approximately 6.8 million pounds of thrust at . The vehicle followed a nominal ascent targeted for a with a 28.8-degree inclination, passing through maximum (Max-Q) at approximately T+56 seconds, when aerodynamic forces on the stack peaked before the atmosphere thinned sufficiently. The initial ascent phase continued smoothly, with the SRBs providing the majority of thrust until their burnout. SRB separation was commanded at T+2 minutes 6 seconds, at an altitude of about 45 km and a velocity of roughly 4,800 km/h, allowing the external tank and orbiter to proceed under SSME power alone toward orbital insertion.

Ascent Anomalies

During the ascent phase of STS-30, the primary anomaly occurred immediately after external tank separation when one Reaction Control System (RCS) thruster (Jet R1U) in the aft right-hand Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) pod failed due to the oxidizer valve not opening. This failure was promptly resolved by activating a redundant thruster, ensuring no disruption to the planned attitude control maneuvers. Pilot Ronald J. Grabe responded to the RCS thruster failure by manually adjusting the vehicle's attitude control, maintaining the nominal trajectory without deviation. Mission Control provided continuous ground support, verifying all propulsion and structural systems integrity following solid rocket booster (SRB) jettison, and confirming external tank (ET) separation at T+8 minutes 28 seconds as planned. These resolutions ensured the ascent proceeded nominally, with no effects on subsequent orbital insertion.

Orbital Operations

Magellan Deployment

Following the successful ascent phase, achieved after main engine cutoff approximately 8 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff on May 4, 1989, at 2:46 p.m. EDT. The first (OMS) burn shortly thereafter achieved an initial elliptical insertion orbit with an apogee of around 160 nautical miles (296 km). The crew then performed the standard orbital maneuvering sequence, with the second OMS burn approximately 45 minutes later circularizing the orbit at an altitude of 184 nautical miles (341 km) and an inclination of 28.8 degrees. This circularization ensured a stable for the primary operations. The Magellan spacecraft, attached to its two-stage Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) booster and secured in Atlantis's payload bay, was deployed on Flight Day 1 at MET 6 hours and 14 minutes, corresponding to 9:00 p.m. EDT on May 4, 1989. The deployment sequence began with the opening of the payload bay doors, followed by the spring-ejection mechanism releasing the Magellan/IUS assembly from its cradle at a relative velocity sufficient to achieve safe separation from the orbiter, estimated at around 0.6 m/s initially but increasing with subsequent maneuvers. No Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm was required for this ejection, as the configuration allowed direct release from the bay. The orbiter's crew monitored the process via onboard cameras and telemetry, confirming initial separation without incident. Approximately one hour after deployment, at MET 7 hours and 17 minutes, the IUS first stage ignited for a 152-second burn, placing Magellan into a temporary slightly higher than Atlantis's to ensure clearance. This was followed approximately 25 minutes later by separation of the IUS second stage from the first at around MET 7 hours and 42 minutes, after which the second stage fired for about 108 seconds, boosting Magellan to a hyperbolic of approximately 11.5 km/s relative to Earth for its trajectory toward . The sequence achieved the required C3 energy of about 8.5 km²/s² for the 15-month cruise to arrival in 1990. Post-deployment verification proceeded via real-time from ground stations, including of Magellan's two solar array wings extending successfully 10 minutes after release to generate initial power of 1,200 watts. Atlantis performed an OMS burn to increase separation to over 300 feet (91 meters), ensuring no risk of collision during IUS ignition, with radar and optical tracking verifying the distance and relative motion. All systems on Magellan and the IUS performed nominally, with no anomalies reported during the separation or burn phases. On Flight Day 4, General Purpose Computer 4 (GPC-4) failed, prompting the crew—led by Commander and Pilot Ronald Grabe—to perform the first on-orbit replacement of a GPC using an onboard spare. The procedure, which took approximately 4 hours, successfully restored full redundancy but resulted in the cancellation of the final Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA) run. This event demonstrated enhanced onboard maintenance capabilities in the post-Challenger era.

In-Orbit Experiments

During the STS-30 mission, the crew conducted several secondary in-orbit experiments in the shuttle's middeck to investigate microgravity effects and atmospheric phenomena, complementing the primary Magellan deployment. These middeck payloads included the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA) for research, the Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE) for observations, and the Air Force Maui Optical Site () experiment for satellite tracking, all operated using portable equipment and cameras. The Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA) served as a modular for zero-gravity fluid physics and crystal growth studies, designed specifically for shuttle middeck use. Mission Specialists Mary Cleave and Mark Lee operated the FEA using a laptop computer for monitoring and an 8-millimeter for recording, processing samples of and to examine microgravity's impact on crystal formation. The experiment successfully produced indium crystals and conducted twenty runs analyzing interface tension, yielding data on bubble dynamics relevant to future systems. The Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE) aimed to capture direct observations of discharges from space, providing insights into and severe development as viewed by satellites. Cleave and Lee utilized the shuttle's payload bay color and a hand-held 35mm camera during nighttime passes over Earth's dark side to photograph in active below the orbiter. The experiment obtained nighttime images of activity, demonstrating its mesoscale nature—spanning extensive cloud systems—and facilitating correlations between space-based views and ground-based data for improved forecasting models. The Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) experiment involved ground-based optical and infrared telescopes on Maui tracking the shuttle, Magellan deployment, and other satellites to calibrate sensors and study orbital debris or phenomena. Observations were conducted passively from the ground during orbital passes over the site.

Reentry and Landing

Deorbit and Reentry

On May 8, 1989, the crew of STS-30 prepared Atlantis for deorbit from its near-circular orbit at approximately 296 km altitude. The (OMS) engines ignited at 18:09 UTC, performing a burn lasting about 166 seconds that reduced the vehicle's velocity by roughly 100 m/s (326 ft/s). This maneuver lowered the perigee sufficiently to initiate atmospheric reentry, targeting an entry interface at 121 km (400,000 ft) altitude over the . During reentry, followed a standard entry profile guided primarily by onboard computers, with the crew monitoring systems and prepared to intervene if needed. Acceleration forces peaked at 1.6 g as the orbiter decelerated through the denser atmosphere, remaining well within tolerance limits. A plasma blackout interrupted communications for approximately 15 minutes due to ionized gases enveloping the vehicle, beginning shortly after entry interface and ending with S-band signal reacquisition at around 30 km altitude. Thermal management proved nominal, with peak heating occurring at Mach 25 early in the descent, when aerodynamic generated intense heat on the orbiter's underside. The Thermal Protection System (TPS) tiles withstood surface temperatures up to 1,260°C without damage from reentry heating, preserving the aluminum structure beneath. Post-flight inspections confirmed the TPS integrity during this phase, with any minor issues attributed to landing rather than .

Landing

Atlantis touched down on Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, at 12:43:26 p.m. PDT (19:43:26 UTC) on May 8, 1989, following a diversion from the primary landing site at Kennedy Space Center due to inclement weather conditions there. Pilot Ronald J. Grabe flew the unpowered glide approach in 10-knot crosswinds with gusts up to 16 knots, resulting in an 8-knot crosswind component from 270 degrees; the commander, David M. Walker, adjusted the navigation target to compensate. Speedbrake deployment was used during the descent to control airspeed and glide path. The main landing gear contacted the concrete runway first, followed by nose gear deployment, with the orbiter weighing 192,459 pounds at touchdown. The rollout covered 10,295 feet (3,138 meters) and lasted 64 seconds, bringing to a without the use of a drag chute, which was not yet operational for routine missions. During rollout, Walker manually activated nose wheel steering after an automatic software toggle issue. Minor tire shredding on the main gear tires caused some damage to thermal protection tiles aft of the gear wells, but the landing was otherwise nominal. The mission duration totaled 4 days, 56 minutes, and 27 seconds, encompassing 65 orbits of . Immediately after stopping, the five-member crew egressed the vehicle via the crew access arm and was transported to crew quarters for medical checks and debriefing. Orbiter safing procedures followed, including power-down, venting of residual propellants, and initial inspections for any flight-induced damage. Atlantis was then ferried atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft back to Kennedy Space Center, arriving on May 15, 1989, to begin post-mission refurbishment and processing for future flights.

Mission Outcomes

Achievements

The STS-30 mission achieved complete success in its primary objective by deploying the Magellan spacecraft, which successfully separated from the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) and embarked on its planned 15-month trajectory to Venus, arriving on August 10, 1990, to begin radar mapping operations. The Magellan probe operated productively for over five years, conducting its initial 243-day mapping cycle from August 1990 to May 1991, covering 83.7% of Venus's surface, followed by extended missions that achieved 98% coverage by September 1992 and additional gravity field measurements until aerobraking experiments in 1993–1994, with operations ceasing in October 1994 after intentional atmospheric entry tests. Operationally, the mission met 100% of its primary objectives across all phases, completing 65 orbits of over a duration of 4 days, 56 minutes, and 27 seconds, while traveling approximately 1.7 million miles without any violations or mission aborts. As the first U.S. planetary probe deployment since the 1986 Challenger disaster, STS-30 marked a critical milestone in restoring 's capability for interplanetary missions following the post-accident return-to-flight validations on STS-26 through STS-29. The crew effectively managed an in-flight anomaly when one aft (RCS) thruster in the right pod failed to fire initially, but redundancy from the remaining two same-direction thrusters allowed seamless continuation of orbital maneuvers without any delay to the timeline or additional risks, underscoring enhancements in shuttle system reliability. By demonstrating flawless payload deployment and contingency resolution under post-Challenger protocols, STS-30 significantly bolstered confidence in the program's manifest, directly facilitating subsequent high-profile missions such as STS-31's deployment in April 1990.

Scientific Impact

The Magellan spacecraft, deployed during STS-30, produced the first global radar map of Venus, covering 98% of the planet's surface at resolutions of approximately 100 to 300 meters. This dataset revealed extensive volcanic activity, including lava flows and vents indicative of recent geological processes, as evidenced by surface changes observed between imaging cycles. Additionally, the mapping highlighted tectonic features such as coronae—circular structures formed by upwelling mantle material—suggesting ongoing tectonic reshaping of the Venusian crust, with implications for understanding planetary evolution. Through 2025, Magellan data has informed numerous peer-reviewed publications, enabling analyses of Venus's geology and serving as a foundational resource for planetary science. The Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA), operated during STS-30, conducted microgravity studies on fluid behavior, including and containerless processing, to support fundamental research in space-based . These experiments advanced computational models for managing fluids in low-gravity environments, such as sloshing and , which directly influenced designs for long-duration space habitats. Specifically, FEA results contributed to the development of efficient recycling systems on the (ISS), where microgravity fluid management ensures reliable for crewed missions. The Mesoscale Lightning Experiment (MLE) on STS-30 captured video imagery of discharges, cataloging mesoscale patterns including stratospheric events extending 30–40 km above thunderstorms over land and ocean regions. These observations documented filamentary and broad vertical discharges, providing empirical data on propagation in the upper atmosphere and enhancing models of severe storm electrification. The findings improved algorithms for weather prediction by refining satellite-based detection of as a proxy for convective activity, laying groundwork for subsequent ISS investigations into and storm dynamics. Overall, STS-30's payloads reinvigorated the U.S. planetary exploration program in the post-Challenger era by demonstrating the feasibility of radar-based planetary mapping, which informed trajectory and instrumentation planning for missions like Cassini. As of 2025, Magellan datasets continue to integrate into AI-enhanced models for simulating Venus's geological and atmospheric processes, supporting preparations for future orbiters.

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