CLICK ON ASTRONAUTS FOR BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

CREW:

HARDWARE:

ORBIT:

The STS-58 Shuttle Mission was the 4th longest mission in the United Sates manned in space history. It was dedicated to life sciences research. On October 14, 1993, the STS-58 shuttle launch attempt delayed 2 hours by bad weather. After it cleared out, the count resumed until T-31 seconds when a dilemma approached. One of the two TRW S-Band communication transponders failed to be onboard the shuttle when flight rules require that both transponders be functional for launch. The next attmpt launch was reschelduled. On October 18, 1993, the STS-58 shuttle was sucessfully launched 10:53 a.m. just ten seconds inside the scheduled liftoff, where they began their journey in space.

The crew (see list entitled "CREW") performed a series of experiments to gain knowledge on how the human body adapts to the weightless environment of space. These experients were focused on the systems of the body such as the cardiovascular, regulatory, neurovestibular and musculosketal. 48 rats and other laboratory animals were performed on for these experiments. The crew also used past data collected on the SLS-1 mission.

They aimed at understanding bone tissue loss and the effects of microgravity on sensory perception. They did many tests to uncover these issues and investigated motion sickness. Astronauts Lucid and Fettman wore an Accelerometer recording Unit which was a device for recording head movements on flight day 2. On flight day 3, Blaha and McArthur used the Lower Body Negative Pressure device which helps determine the effect of microgravity. The crew collected urine and saliva samples. They also kept logs of their exercise and food and fluid intakes.

The payload crew members were in the Spaclab science workshop where they devoted their time to metabolic studies of the 48 rats. They injected a apecial isotope into the rodents to measure the volume of their plasma. A blood draw was taken to measure how weightlessness mat be affecting red blood cells.

On Thursday, October 28,1993, collected scientiofic data on how humans anf animals adapt to the absence of Earth's gravity. During their last days in space, the crew took many various pictures which reached about 4000 frames that will be returned to Earth for meteorologists, geologists, ecologists and archeologists to study after the flight.

On November 1, 1993, 10:05:42 a.m. the STS-58 Shuttle, Columbia, landed on Earth, ending their mission.
To find out more about shuttle missions, click on the links below.