STS-58 Fact Sheet
Written and Edited by Cliff Lethbridge
STS-58 -- Columbia

58th Space Shuttle Mission 15th Flight of Columbia Crew: John E. Blaha, Commander Richard A. Searfoss, Pilot M. Rhea Seddon, Payload Commander William S. McArthur, Jr., Mission Specialist David A. Wolf, Mission Specialist Shannon W. Lucid, Mission Specialist Martin J. Fettman, Payload Specialist

Orbiter Preparations:

Tow to Orbiter Processing Facility - May 15, 1993
Rollover to Vehicle Assembly Building - August 11, 1993
Rollout to Launch Pad 39B - September 17, 1993

Launch:

October 18, 1993 - 10:53:10 a.m. EDT. Launch attempt on October 14, 1993 was scrubbed at T-31 seconds due to the failure of a range safety computer. Launch attempt on October 15, 1993 was scrubbed at T-9 minutes due to a failed S-band transponder aboard Columbia. October 18 launch was delayed several seconds to allow an unauthorized aircraft to move out of the launch area.

Landing:

November 1, 1993 - 7:05:42 a.m. PST at Runway 22, Edwards Air Force Base, California. Rollout distance was 9,640 feet. Rollout time was 62 seconds. Mission duration was 14 days, 0 hours, 12 minutes, 32 seconds. Landing occurred during the 255th orbit.

Mission Summary:

This was the second dedicated Spacelab Life Sciences mission (SLS-2), consisting of 14 experiments in regulatory physiology, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurological sciences. Eight of the experiments focused on the crew while six used 48 rodents.

The crew collected more than 650 samples from themselves and the rodents to accumulate data on human and animal adaptation to microgravity. Six rodents were killed and dissected during the mission in order to collect and analyze tissue samples not yet altered by a return to Earth's gravity.

Other experiments included Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) and Pilot Inflight Landing Operations Trainer (PILOT), a portable computer designed to aid the pilot's landing proficiency during extended duration missions.

Back to U.S. Space Shuttle Chronology Index

© Copyright 1998 by Clifford J. Lethbridge