STS-54
1993 American crewed spaceflight to deploy TRDS-6
title: "STS-54" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["space-shuttle-missions", "spacecraft-launched-in-1993"] description: "1993 American crewed spaceflight to deploy TRDS-6" topic_path: "general/space-shuttle-missions" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-54" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary 1993 American crewed spaceflight to deploy TRDS-6 ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox spaceflight"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | STS-54 |
| names_list | Space Transportation System-54 |
| image | 1993 s54 TDRS-F.jpg |
| image_caption | Endeavour deploys the TDRS-F satellite. |
| mission_type | TDRS-F satellite deployment |
| Technology research | |
| operator | NASA |
| mission_duration | |
| distance_travelled | 2,501,277 mi |
| orbits_completed | 96 |
| spacecraft | |
| landing_mass | 92988 kg |
| payload_mass | 18559 kg |
| crew_size | 5 |
| crew_members | |
| launch_date | UTC (8:59:30amEST) |
| launch_site | Kennedy, LC-39B |
| launch_contractor | Rockwell International |
| landing_date | UTC (8:37:47amEST) |
| landing_site | Kennedy, SLF Runway 33 |
| orbit_reference | Geocentric orbit |
| orbit_regime | Low Earth orbit |
| orbit_periapsis | 302 km |
| orbit_apoapsis | 309 km |
| orbit_inclination | 28.45 degrees |
| orbit_period | 90.60 minutes |
| apsis | gee |
| instruments | |
| insignia | Sts-54-patch.png |
| insignia_caption | STS-54 mission patch |
| crew_EVAs | 1 |
| crew_EVA_duration | 4h, 28m |
| crew_photo | Sts-54 crew.jpg |
| crew_photo_caption | From left: Runco, Casper, McMonagle, Helms and Harbaugh |
| programme | Space Shuttle program |
| previous_mission | STS-53 (52) |
| next_mission | STS-56 (54) |
| :: |
| name = STS-54 | names_list = Space Transportation System-54 | image = 1993 s54 TDRS-F.jpg | image_caption = Endeavour deploys the TDRS-F satellite. | mission_type = TDRS-F satellite deployment Technology research | operator = NASA | mission_duration = | distance_travelled = 2,501,277 mi | orbits_completed = 96 | spacecraft = | launch_mass = | landing_mass = 92988 kg | payload_mass = 18559 kg | crew_size = 5 | crew_members = | launch_date = UTC (8:59:30amEST) | launch_site = Kennedy, LC-39B | launch_contractor = Rockwell International | landing_date = UTC (8:37:47amEST) | landing_site = Kennedy, SLF Runway 33 | orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit | orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit | orbit_periapsis = 302 km | orbit_apoapsis = 309 km | orbit_inclination = 28.45 degrees | orbit_period = 90.60 minutes | apsis = gee | instruments = | insignia = Sts-54-patch.png | insignia_caption = STS-54 mission patch | crew_EVAs = 1 | crew_EVA_duration = 4h, 28m | crew_photo = Sts-54 crew.jpg | crew_photo_caption = From left: Runco, Casper, McMonagle, Helms and Harbaugh | programme = Space Shuttle program | previous_mission = STS-53 (52) | next_mission = STS-56 (54)
STS-54 was a NASA Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle) mission using Space Shuttle Endeavour. This was the third flight for Endeavour, and was launched on January 13, 1993, with Endeavour returning to the Kennedy Space Center on January 19, 1993.
Crew
| terminology = Astronaut
| position1 = Commander | crew1_up = John Casper | flights1_up = Second
| position2 = Pilot | crew2_up = Donald R. McMonagle | flights2_up = Second
| position3 = Mission Specialist 1 | crew3_up = Mario Runco Jr. | flights3_up = Second
| position4 = Mission Specialist 2 Flight Engineer | crew4_up = Gregory J. Harbaugh | flights4_up = Second
| position5 = Mission Specialist 3 | crew5_up = Susan Helms | flights5_up = First
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. | |||||||||
| Casper | |||||||||
| McMonagle | |||||||||
| Runco | Helms | ||||||||
| Harbaugh | |||||||||
| Helms | Runco | ||||||||
| Unused | |||||||||
| Unused | |||||||||
| :: |
Mission highlights
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/STS-54_Harbaugh_carries_Runco.jpg" caption="Harbaugh and Runco during the EVA"] ::
The primary payload was the fifth TDRS satellite, TDRS-F, which was deployed on day one of the mission. It was later successfully transferred to its proper orbit by the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS). Also carried into orbit in the payload bay was a Hitchhiker experiment called the Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS). This instrument collected data on X-ray radiation from diffuse sources in deep space.
Other middeck payloads to test the effects of microgravity included the Commercial General Bioprocessing Apparatus (CGPA) for-life sciences research; the Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space Experiment (CHROMEX) to-study plant growth; the Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE) to examine the skeletal system and the adaptation of bone to space flight; the Space Acceleration Measurement Equipment (SAMS) to measure and record the microgravity acceleration environment of middeck experiments; and the Solid Surface Combustion Experiment (SSCE) to measure the rate of flame spread and temperature of burning filter paper.
Also, on day five, mission specialists Mario Runco Jr. and Gregory J. Harbaugh spent nearly 5 hours in the open cargo bay performing a series of space-walking tasks designed to increase NASA's knowledge of working in space. They tested their abilities to move about freely in the cargo bay, climb into foot restraints without using their hands and simulated carrying large objects in the microgravity environment. The EVA completed after 4 hours, 28 minutes.
The EVA was a late addition to the mission plan as part of NASA's objectives to hone EVA skills required for hardware assembly anticipating the International Space Station.
The mission completed on January 19, 1993, with a landing at Kennedy Space Center.
References
References
- "TDRS-F".
- "Space Shuttle STS-54 Mission Archives". NASA.
- "Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS)".
- "STS-54 Endeavour". Spacefacts.de.
- Evans, Ben. (January 15, 2018). "'Tumbling Off Into Space': 25 Years Since Endeavour's Vanilla-to-Chocolate STS-54 Mission". AmericaSpace.
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