STS-51-J
1985 American crewed spaceflight for the DoD, and maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis
title: "STS-51-J" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["space-shuttle-missions", "edwards-air-force-base", "1985-in-spaceflight", "1985-in-the-united-states", "spacecraft-launched-in-1985", "spacecraft-which-reentered-in-1985", "department-of-defense-space-shuttle-missions", "october-1985"] description: "1985 American crewed spaceflight for the DoD, and maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-51-J" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1985 American crewed spaceflight for the DoD, and maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | STS-51-J |
| names_list | Space Transportation System-21 |
| image | DSCS-III STS-51-J.jpg |
| image_caption | DSCS-III satellites in Atlantis payload bay |
| image_upright | yes |
| mission_type | Satellite deployment |
| operator | NASA / U.S. DoD |
| mission_duration | |
| distance_travelled | 2707948 km |
| orbits_completed | 64 |
| spacecraft | |
| launch_mass | N/A |
| landing_mass | 86400 kg |
| payload_mass | 19968 kg |
| crew_size | 5 |
| crew_members | |
| launch_date | UTC (11:15:30amEDT) |
| launch_site | Kennedy, LC-39A |
| launch_contractor | Rockwell International |
| landing_date | UTC (10:00:08amPDT) |
| landing_site | Edwards, Runway23 |
| orbit_reference | Geocentric orbit |
| orbit_regime | Low Earth orbit |
| orbit_periapsis | 475 km |
| orbit_apoapsis | 484 km |
| orbit_inclination | 28.50° |
| orbit_period | 94.20 minutes |
| apsis | gee |
| insignia | Sts-51-j-patch.png |
| insignia_caption | STS-51-J mission patch |
| crew_photo | STS-51-J crew.jpg |
| crew_photo_caption | From left: Stewart, Hilmers, Bobko, Pailes and Grabe |
| programme | Space Shuttle program |
| previous_mission | STS-51-I (20) |
| next_mission | STS-61-A (22) |
| :: |
| name = STS-51-J | names_list = Space Transportation System-21 | image = DSCS-III STS-51-J.jpg | image_caption = DSCS-III satellites in Atlantis payload bay | image_upright = yes | mission_type = Satellite deployment | operator = NASA / U.S. DoD | mission_duration = | distance_travelled = 2707948 km | orbits_completed = 64 | spacecraft = | launch_mass = N/A | landing_mass = 86400 kg | payload_mass = 19968 kg | crew_size = 5 | crew_members = | launch_date = UTC (11:15:30amEDT) | launch_site = Kennedy, LC-39A | launch_contractor = Rockwell International | landing_date = UTC (10:00:08amPDT) | landing_site = Edwards, Runway23 | orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit | orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit | orbit_periapsis = 475 km | orbit_apoapsis = 484 km | orbit_inclination = 28.50° | orbit_period = 94.20 minutes | apsis = gee | instruments = | insignia = Sts-51-j-patch.png | insignia_caption = STS-51-J mission patch | crew_photo = STS-51-J crew.jpg | crew_photo_caption = From left: Stewart, Hilmers, Bobko, Pailes and Grabe | programme = Space Shuttle program | previous_mission = STS-51-I (20) | next_mission = STS-61-A (22)
STS-51-J was NASA's 21st Space Shuttle mission and the maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis. It launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 3, 1985, carrying a payload for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on October 7, 1985.
Crew
| terminology = Astronaut | position1 = Commander | crew1_up = Karol J. Bobko | flights1_up = Third and last | position2 = Pilot | crew2_up = Ronald J. Grabe | flights2_up = First | position3 = Mission Specialist 1 | crew3_up = David C. Hilmers | flights3_up = First | position4 = Mission Specialist 2 Flight Engineer | crew4_up = Robert L. Stewart | flights4_up = Second and last | position5 = Payload Specialist 1 | crew5_up = William A. Pailes, MSE | flights5_up = Only |notes=All five astronauts on the secret mission were active-duty military officers. Before William A. Pailes was assigned to the STS-51-J flight, Mike Mullane was rumored to have been assigned as mission specialist 3 on his second trip to space.}}
Backup crew
| terminology = Astronaut | position5 = Payload Specialist 1 | crew5_up = Michael W. Booen, MSE
Crew seat assignments
::data[format=table]
| Seat | Launch | Landing | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:Space Shuttle seating plan.svg | 150px]] | ||||||||
| Seats 1–4 are on the flight deck. | |||||||||
| Seats 5–7 are on the mid-deck. | |||||||||
| Bobko | |||||||||
| Grabe | |||||||||
| Hilmers | |||||||||
| Stewart | |||||||||
| Pailes | |||||||||
| Unused | |||||||||
| Unused | |||||||||
| :: |
Mission summary
STS-51-J launched on October 3, 1985, at 15:15:30 UTC (11:15:30 a.m. EDT), from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The launch was delayed by 22 minutes and 30 seconds due to a problem with a main engine liquid hydrogen prevalve close remote power controller; the controller was showing a faulty "on" indication.
The mission was the second shuttle flight totally dedicated to deploying a United States Department of Defense payload, after STS-51-C. Its cargo was classified, but it was reported that two (USA-11 and USA-12) DSCS-III (Defense Satellite Communications System) satellites were launched into geostationary orbits by an Inertial Upper Stage (IUS). The DSCS satellites used X-band frequencies (8/7 GHz). Each DSCS-III satellite had a design life of ten years, although several of the DSCS satellites have far exceeded their design life expectancy.
The mission was deemed successful. After a flight lasting 4 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes and 38 seconds, Atlantis landed on Runway 23 at Edwards Air Force Base at 17:00:08 UTC (13:00:08 EDT) on October 7, 1985. During STS-51-J, mission commander Bobko became the first astronaut to fly on three different shuttle orbiters, and the only astronaut to fly on the maiden voyages of two different orbiters.
| date1 = 1985-10-03, 11:15:30 | result1 = Success | reason1 = Technical | decision_date1 = | decision_clock1 = | weathergo1 = | notes1 = Delayed due to faulty indication from main engine liquid hydrogen prevalve close remote power controller.
Mission insignia
The 51-J mission insignia, designed by Atlantiss first crew, pays tribute to the Statue of Liberty and the ideas it symbolizes, but also as not to emphasize the "classified" nature of the mission like the first one did. The historical gateway figure bears additional significance for astronauts Karol J. Bobko, mission commander; and Ronald J. Grabe, pilot, both New York City natives.
Gallery
File:STS51J First Flight of Atlantis.jpg|Atlantis lifting off the pad.
References
References
- "STS-51J". Spacefacts.
- Blakeslee, Sandra. (October 8, 1985). "ASTRONAUTS RETURN FROM SECRET [sic]". The New York Times.
- Day, Dwayne. (January 4, 2010). "A lighter shade of black: the (non) mystery of STS-51J". The Space Review.
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