19973

This page no longer updated from 31 October 2001. Latest version can be found at www.astronautix.com

Chronology - 1997 - Quarter 3

- 1997 Jul 1 - - 18:02 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC39A. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. LV Configuration: STS-94.

EDO Program: STS. COSPAR: 1997-032xx. References: 279 .
Spacelab Long Module 1 Program: Spacelab. Payload: Spacelab Long Module. Class: Manned. Type: Spacelab. Spacecraft: Spacelab. COSPAR: 1997-032xx. References: 279 .
Spacelab MSL-1R Program: Spacelab. Payload: Columbia F / Spacelab LM Unit 1 / EDO. Class: Manned. Type: Spacelab. Spacecraft: Spacelab. Agency: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville. Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Bremen (formerly ERNO). Perigee: 296 km. Apogee: 300 km. Inclination: 28.5 deg. Period: 90.5 min. COSPAR: 1997-032A.
Remained attached to OV-102 References: 4 , 276 .
STS-94 Program: STS. Payload: Columbia F23 / Spacelab LM Unit 1 / EDO. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Columbia. Agency: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston. Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Bremen (formerly ERNO). Perigee: 296 km. Apogee: 300 km. Inclination: 28.5 deg. Period: 90.5 min. COSPAR: 1997-032A. Duration: 15.70 days. Flight Crew: Halsell, Kilrain, Voss Janice, Gernhardt, Thomas, Crouch, Linteris. Manned flight: STS-94.
STS-94 was the reflight, with the same equipment and crew, of the curtailed STS-83 mission. Cargo Bay Payloads:
- MSL-1: The Microgravity Science Laboratory included the first test of the International Space Station’s EXPRESS Rack. MSL-1 also contained numerous other experiment payloads to test materials and combustion processes in zero gravity.
- CRYOFD: The Cryogenic Flexible Diode (CRYOFD) heat pipe was a Hitchhiker payload.
- OARE: The Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment was a self-calibrating instrument that monitored extremely small accelerations and vibrations experienced during orbit of the Shuttle.
  In-Cabin Payloads: SAREX, MSX
  The mission this time went for its full two week duration and the crew completed the full list of experiments. The deorbit burn was on July 17, 1997 at 09:44 GMT and Columbia landed on KSC's Runway 33 at 10:46:34 GMT. Additional Details: STS-94. References: 4 , 7 , 276 .
- 1997 Jul 5 - - 04:11 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U.
- Progress M-35 Program: Mir. Payload: Progress M s/n 235. Mass: 7,150 kg. Class: Manned. Type: Logistics. Spacecraft: Progress M. Agency: Russian Space Agency. Manufacturer: RKK Energiya im. S.P. Korolyov, Kaliningrad-Korolyov. Perigee: 383 km. Apogee: 391 km. Inclination: 51.7 deg. Period: 92.3 min. COSPAR: 1997-033A. Duration: 82.50 days.
  Unmanned resupply vessel to Mir. Docked with Mir on 7 Jul 1997 05:59:24 GMT. Undocked on 6 Aug 1997 11:46:45 GMT. Redocked with Mir on 18 Aug 1997 12:52:48 GMT. Final undocking on 7 Oct 1997 12:03:49 GMT. Destroyed in reentry on 7 Oct 1997 17:23:00 GMT. Total free-flight time 2.30 days. Total docked time 80.21 days. References: 4 , 275 , 276 .
- 1997 Jul 9 - - 13:04 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925. LV Configuration: Delta 7920-10C / Delta s/n 244.
- Iridium 15 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV015. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 778 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-034A.
  Plane 6. Ascending node 325.8 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 17 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV017. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 778 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-034B.
  Plane 6. Ascending node 325.8 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 18 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV018. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 778 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-034D.
  Plane 6. Ascending node 325.8 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 20 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV020. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 768 km. Apogee: 784 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-034C.
  Plane 6. Ascending node 325.7 degrees. Failed. References: 4 .
- Iridium 21 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV021. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 626 km. Apogee: 640 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 97.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-034E.
  Plane 6. Ascending node 310.4 degrees. Failed in low orbit. References: 4 .
- 1997 Jul 23 -
- Astronaut Paul Andrew Sefchek dies at age of 51 -- Natural causes
- 1997 Jul 23 - - 03:43 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925. LV Configuration: Delta 7925 / Delta s/n 245.
- GPS 43 Program: Navstar. Payload: Navstar SVN 43. Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2 and 2A. Agency: United States Air Force. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin, Valley Forge (formerly GE). Perigee: 20,131 km. Apogee: 20,237 km. Inclination: 55.0 deg. Period: 718.0 min. COSPAR: 1997-035A. References: 4 .
- 1997 Jul 28 - - 01:15 GMT. Nation: Japan. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC36B. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIAS. LV Configuration: Atlas IIAS (1N) s/n AC-133.
- Superbird C Program: Superbird. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: Space Communications Corp, Tokyo. Manufacturer: Hughes Space and Communications, El Segundo. Perigee: 35,780 km. Apogee: 35,793 km. Inclination: 0.0 deg. Period: 1,436.1 min. COSPAR: 1997-036A.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 144.0E Launch vehicle put payload into supersynchronous earth orbit with IFR/MRS trajectory option. References: 4 , 278 .
- 1997 Aug 1 - - 20:20 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: RW30/12 . Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL. LV Configuration: Pegasus XL s/n F16.
- Orbview-2 Payload: Seastar. Class: Surveillance. Type: Civilian. Spacecraft: Orbview-2. Agency: Orbital Imaging Corp., Dulles. Manufacturer: Orbital Sciences Corp., Germantown (formerly Fairchild). Perigee: 707 km. Apogee: 708 km. Inclination: 98.2 deg. Period: 98.9 min. COSPAR: 1997-037A. References: 4 .
- 1997 Aug 5 - - 15:36 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U.
- Soyuz TM-26 Program: Mir. Payload: Soyuz TM 11F732 s/n 75. Class: Manned. Type: Spacecraft. Spacecraft: Soyuz TM. Agency: Russian Space Agency. Manufacturer: RKK Energiya im. S.P. Korolyov, Kaliningrad-Korolyov. Perigee: 378 km. Apogee: 385 km. Inclination: 51.7 deg. Period: 92.2 min. COSPAR: 1997-038A. Duration: 197.73 days. Flight Crew: Solovyov, Vinogradov. Manned flight: Soyuz TM-26.
  Mir Expedition EO-24. The Soyuz docked manually at 17:02 GMT August 7. Over the next six months the crew undertook seven internal and external spacewalks to repair the crippled space station. Solovyov and Vinogradov together with French astronaut Eyharts (launched aboard Soyuz TM-27) undocked from the forward port on Mir at 05:52 GMT on February 19, 1998, fired their deorbit engines at 08:16 GMT and landed in Kazakstan at 50 deg 11 N, 67 deg 31 E at 09:10 GMT. Additional Details: Soyuz TM-26. References: 4 , 9 , 51 , 276 .
- 1997 Aug 7 - - 14:41 GMT. Nation: Germany. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC39A. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. LV Configuration: STS-85.
- CRISTA Payload: ASTRO-SPAS. Class: Earth. Type: Atmosphere. Spacecraft: SPAS. Agency: Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt, Koln. Manufacturer: Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Bremen (formerly ERNO). Perigee: 282 km. Apogee: 296 km. Inclination: 57.0 deg. Period: 90.3 min. COSPAR: 1997-039B.
  Recaptured August 16. References: 4 , 276 .
- IEH-2 Program: STS. COSPAR: 1997-039xx. References: 279 .
- MFD Program: STS. COSPAR: 1997-039xx. References: 279 .
- STS-85 Program: STS. Payload: Discovery F23 / CRISTA-SPAS-2. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Discovery. Agency: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston. Manufacturer: Boeing North American, Palmdale (formerly Rockwell). Perigee: 249 km. Apogee: 261 km. Inclination: 57.0 deg. Period: 89.6 min. COSPAR: 1997-039A. Duration: 11.85 days. Flight Crew: Brown, Rominger, Davis, Curbeam, Robinson, Tryggvason. Manned flight: STS-85.
  Deployed and retrieved the CRISTA-SPAS-2 (the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2) designed to study Earth's middle atmosphere. The CRISTA-SPAS-2 was making its second flight on the Space Shuttle and represented the fourth mission in a cooperative venture between the German Space Agency (DARA) and NASA.
  CRISTA-SPAS was deployed by the RMS arm at 22:27 GMT on August 7 and was recaptured by Discovery's RMS arm at 15:14 GMT on August 16. Because of unfavorable weather conditions at the primary shuttle landing site at the Kennedy Space Center, Discovery was waved off for its scheduled August 18 landing. STS-85 landed the next day, at Kennedy Space Center at 11:08 GMT. Additional Details: STS-85. References: 4 , 7 , 276 .
- TAS-1 Program: STS. COSPAR: 1997-039xx. References: 279 .
- 1997 Aug 8 - - 06:46 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Complex: ELA2. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44P. LV Configuration: Ariane 44P s/n V98.
- Panamsat 6 Program: Panamsat. Payload: PAS 6. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: Panamsat Inc. Greenwich, Connecticut. Manufacturer: Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto. Perigee: 35,776 km. Apogee: 35,797 km. Inclination: 0.1 deg. Period: 1,436.2 min. COSPAR: 1997-040A.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 43.2W References: 4 .
- 1997 Aug 14 - - 20:49 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC200L. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K s/n 381-01 / 11S861 .
- Cosmos 2345 Payload: SPRN No. 11. Mass: 2,500 kg. Class: Early Warning. Spacecraft: SPRN. Agency: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Manufacturer: NPO Lavochkin, Moskva. Perigee: 35,037 km. Apogee: 36,534 km. Inclination: 1.1 deg. Period: 1,440.0 min. COSPAR: 1997-041A.
  Geosynchronous ballistic missile early warning satellite. Stationed at 26.0W References: 4 , 107 , 274 .
- 1997 Aug 19 - - 17:50 GMT. Nation: Philippines. Launch Site: Xichang . Launch Complex: LC2. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3B. LV Configuration: Chang Zheng 3B s/n CZ3B-2.
- Agila 2 Payload: Mabuhay. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Agency: Mabuhay Comms Corp, Manila. Manufacturer: Space Systems/Loral, Palo Alto. Perigee: 35,771 km. Apogee: 35,803 km. Inclination: 0.0 deg. Period: 1,436.2 min. COSPAR: 1997-042A.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 146.0E References: 4 .
- 1997 Aug 21 - - 00:38 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925. LV Configuration: Delta 7920-10C / Delta s/n 246.
- Iridium 22 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV022. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-043E.
  Plane 2. Ascending node 199.3 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 23 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV023. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-043D.
  Plane 2. Ascending node 199.4 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 24 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV024. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 769 km. Apogee: 785 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-043C.
  Plane 2. Ascending node 199.3 degrees. Should be 24905, failed. References: 4 .
- Iridium 25 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV025. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 775 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-043B.
  Plane 2. Ascending node 199.4 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 26 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV026. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-043A.
  Plane 2. Ascending node 199.4 degrees. References: 4 .
- 1997 Aug 22 - Nation: Russia.
- EVA Soyuz TM-26-1 Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Space station. Spacecraft: Mir. Flight Crew: Solovyov, Vinogradov.
  Connected Spektr power cables. Surveyed interior of depressurised Spektr module. Retrieved equipment and belongings from module. References: 66 .
- 1997 Aug 23 - - 06:51 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: SLC6. Launch Vehicle: Athena-1. LV Configuration: LMLV-1 s/n LM-002?.
- Lewis Payload: SSTI/Lewis. Class: Earth. Type: Landsat. Spacecraft: Lewis. Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA. Manufacturer: TRW, Chantilly. Perigee: 124 km. Apogee: 134 km. Inclination: 97.5 deg. Period: 87.1 min. COSPAR: 1997-044A.
  Reentered Sep 28 References: 4 , 276 .
- 1997 Aug 25 - - 14:39 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925. LV Configuration: Delta 7920-8 / Delta s/n 247.
- ACE Payload: ACE. Class: Earth. Type: Magnetosphere. Spacecraft: ACE. Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA / Applied Physics Lab, Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD. Manufacturer: Applied Physics Lab, Johns Hopkins Univ., Laurel, MD. COSPAR: 1997-045A.
  Earth-Sun L1 point References: 4 .
- 1997 Aug 28 - - 00:33 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC81L. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / DM3. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K s/n 387-02 / DM3 s/n 3L.
- Panamsat 5 Program: Panamsat. Payload: PAS 5. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: Panamsat Inc. Greenwich, Connecticut. Manufacturer: Hughes Space and Communications, El Segundo. Perigee: 35,769 km. Apogee: 35,803 km. Inclination: 0.0 deg. Period: 1,436.2 min. COSPAR: 1997-046A.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 58.0W. Used HS-601 XIPS ion engine for station keeping. References: 4 , 274 .
- 1997 Aug 29 - - 15:02 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: RW30/12 . Launch Vehicle: Pegasus XL. LV Configuration: Pegasus XL s/n 019/F17.
- FORTE Class: Technology. Spacecraft: FORTE. Agency: United States Air Force. Manufacturer: Los Alamos National Labs. Perigee: 799 km. Apogee: 833 km. Inclination: 70.0 deg. Period: 101.2 min. COSPAR: 1997-047A.
  FORTE - 'Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events' - was a US Los Alamos National Laboratory satellite designed to study natural and artificial radio emissions from the ionosphere. This data was needed to develop technology for monitoring nuclear test ban treaties. References: 4 .
- 1997 Sep 1 - - 14:00 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Taiyuan . Launch Vehicle: CZ-2C/SD. LV Configuration: Chang Zheng 2C-III/SD s/n CZ2C-15.
- Iridium Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n MFS 1. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Tech., Beijing. Perigee: 620 km. Apogee: 633 km. Inclination: 86.3 deg. Period: 97.3 min. COSPAR: 1997-048A.
  Plane 5. Ascending node 271.9 degrees. Dummy satellite. References: 4 .
- Iridium Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n MFS 2. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Tech., Beijing. Perigee: 620 km. Apogee: 634 km. Inclination: 86.3 deg. Period: 97.3 min. COSPAR: 1997-048B.
  Plane 5. Ascending node 272 degrees. Dummy satellite. References: 4 .
- 1997 Sep 2 - - 22:21 GMT. Nation: Europe. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Complex: ELA2. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 44LP. LV Configuration: Ariane 44LP s/n V99.
- Hot Bird 3 Program: Eutelsat. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Eurostar 2000. Agency: European Telecommunications Sat. Org. Manufacturer: Matra Marconi Space-France, Toulouse. Perigee: 35,762 km. Apogee: 35,806 km. Inclination: 0.1 deg. Period: 1,436.0 min. COSPAR: 1997-049A.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 13.3E References: 4 .
- Meteosat 7 Payload: MTP 1. Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: Meteosat. Agency: European Meteorological Sat. Org. Manufacturer: Aerospatiale, Cannes, France. Perigee: 35,770 km. Apogee: 35,802 km. Inclination: 1.6 deg. Period: 1,436.2 min. COSPAR: 1997-049B.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 10.2W References: 4 .
- 1997 Sep 4 - - 12:03 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC36A. Launch Vehicle: Atlas IIAS. LV Configuration: Atlas IIAS (1N) s/n AC-146.
- GE 3 Program: GE. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 2100. Agency: GE American Communications. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Telecommunications, East Windsor (formerly RCA). Perigee: 35,776 km. Apogee: 35,797 km. Inclination: 0.0 deg. Period: 1,436.1 min. COSPAR: 1997-050A.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 87.1W Launch vehicle put payload into supersynchronous earth orbit with IFR/MRS trajectory option. References: 4 , 278 .
- 1997 Sep 6 - Nation: Russia.
- EVA Soyuz TM-26-2 Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Space station. Spacecraft: Mir. Flight Crew: Solovyov, Foale.
  Inspected exterior of Spektr. Moved solar arrays. References: 66 .
- 1997 Sep 14 - - 01:36 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Baikonur . Launch Complex: LC81L. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / DM2. LV Configuration: Proton 8K82K s/n 391-01 / DM2 s/n 2L.
- Iridium 27 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV027. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 542 km. Apogee: 553 km. Inclination: 86.7 deg. Period: 95.6 min. COSPAR: 1997-051D.
  Plane 3. Ascending node 223.2 degrees. Failed in low orbit. References: 4 , 274 .
- Iridium 28 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV028. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-051E.
  Plane 3. Ascending node 230.9 degrees. References: 4 , 274 .
- Iridium 29 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV029. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-051A.
  Plane 3. Ascending node 230.9 degrees. References: 4 , 274 .
- Iridium 30 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV030. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 775 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-051F.
  Plane 3. Ascending node 230.8 degrees. References: 4 , 274 .
- Iridium 31 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV031. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-051G.
  Plane 3. Ascending node 230.9 degrees. References: 4 , 274 .
- Iridium 32 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV032. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-051B.
  Plane 3. Ascending node 230.9 degrees. References: 4 , 274 .
- Iridium 33 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV033. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 776 km. Apogee: 778 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-051C.
  Plane 3. Ascending node 230.9 degrees. References: 4 , 274 .
- 1997 Sep 17 - Nation: USA. Launch Vehicle: Peacekeeper.
- Peacekeeper Test Launch
  GT-25PA
- 1997 Sep 23 - - 16:44 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC132. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M.
- Cosmos 2346 Mass: 825 kg. Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Parus. Agency: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki, Zhelenogorsk. Perigee: 937 km. Apogee: 997 km. Inclination: 82.9 deg. Period: 104.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-052A.
  Military navigation satellite. References: 4 .
- FAISAT-2V Payload: FAISAT 2V. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FAISAT. Agency: Final Analysis Inc., Greenbelt. Perigee: 937 km. Apogee: 997 km. Inclination: 82.9 deg. Period: 104.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-052B. References: 4 .
- 1997 Sep 23 - - 23:58 GMT. Nation: International. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Complex: ELA2. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 42L. LV Configuration: Ariane 42L s/n V100.
- Intelsat 803 Program: Intelsat. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 7000. Agency: Intelsat. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin. Perigee: 35,776 km. Apogee: 35,795 km. Inclination: 0.0 deg. Period: 1,436.1 min. COSPAR: 1997-053A.
  Geosynchronous. Stationed over 21.4W References: 4 .
- 1997 Sep 24 - - 21:32 GMT. Nation: Russia. Launch Site: Plesetsk . Launch Complex: LC43/4. Launch Vehicle: Molniya 8K78M. LV Configuration: Molniya 8K78M / ML.
- Molniya-1T Program: Molniya. Mass: 1,600 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Molniya-1T. Agency: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Manufacturer: NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki, Zhelenogorsk. Perigee: 580 km. Apogee: 39,771 km. Inclination: 62.9 deg. Period: 717.8 min. COSPAR: 1997-054A. References: 4 .
- 1997 Sep 26 - - 02:34 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Complex: LC39A. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. LV Configuration: STS-86.
- External Airlock/ODS Program: Mir. Payload: EAL/ODS. COSPAR: 1997-055xx. References: 279 .
- Spacehab Double Module Program: Mir. Class: Manned. Type: Spacelab. Spacecraft: Spacehab. COSPAR: 1997-055xx. References: 279 .
- Spacehab-DM Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Spacelab. Spacecraft: Spacehab. Agency: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston. Perigee: 354 km. Apogee: 381 km. Inclination: 51.6 deg. Period: 91.9 min. COSPAR: 1997-055A.
  Remained attached to OV-104 References: 4 , 276 .
- STS-86 Program: Mir. Payload: Atlantis F20 / Spacehab-DM. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Atlantis. Agency: NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston. Perigee: 354 km. Apogee: 381 km. Inclination: 51.6 deg. Period: 91.9 min. COSPAR: 1997-055A. Duration: 10.81 days. Flight Crew: Wetherbee, Bloomfield, Titov Vladimir, Parazynski, Chretien, Lawrence, Wolf. Manned flight: STS-86.
  Atlantis was launched on a mission to the Russian Mir space station. The TI rendevous terminal initiation burn was carried out at 17:32 GMT on September 27, and Atlantis docked with the SO (Docking Module) on the Mir complex at 19:58 GMT. The crew exchange was completed on September 28, with David Wolf replacing Michael Foale on the Mir crew. On October 1 cosmonaut Titov and astronaut Parazynski conducted a spacewalk from the Shuttle payload bay while Atlantis was docked to Mir. They retrieved four MEEP (Mir Environmental Effects Payload ) exposure packages from Mir's SO module and installed the Spektr solar array cap. The MEEP experiments had been attached to the Docking Module by astronauts Linda Godwin and Rich Clifford during Shuttle mission STS-76 in March 1996. In addition to retrieving the MEEP, Parazynski and Titov were to continue an evaluation of the Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER), a small jet-backpack designed for use as a type of life jacket during station assembly.
  Atlantis undocked from Mir at 17:28 GMT on October 3 and conducted a flyaround focused on the damaged Spektr Module to determine the location of the puncture in its hull. The Mir crew pumped air into the Spektr Module using a pressure regulator valve, and the Shuttle crew observed evidence that, as expected, the leak seemed to be located at the base of the damaged solar panel. Final separation of Atlantis from Mir took place around 20:28 GMT. After two landing attempts were waved off on October 5 due to heavy cloud cover, the crew fired the engines to deorbit at 20:47 GMT on October 6 and landed at Kennedy Space Center at 21:55. Additional Details: STS-86. References: 4 , 7 , 276 .
- 1997 Sep 27 - - 01:23 GMT. Nation: USA. Launch Site: Vandenberg . Launch Complex: SLC2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925. LV Configuration: Delta 7920-10C / Delta s/n 248.
- Iridium 19 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV019. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 775 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-056A.
  Plane 4. Ascending node 262.4 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 34 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV034. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 775 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-056E.
  Plane 4. Ascending node 262.5 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 35 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV035. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 775 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-056D.
  Plane 4. Ascending node 262.5 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 36 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV036. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 775 km. Apogee: 779 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-056C.
  Plane 4. Ascending node 262.4 degrees. References: 4 .
- Iridium 37 Program: Iridium. Payload: Iridium s/n SV037. Mass: 689 kg. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: LM 700. Agency: Iridium Inc., Washington DC. Perigee: 775 km. Apogee: 780 km. Inclination: 86.4 deg. Period: 100.4 min. COSPAR: 1997-056B.
  Plane 4. Ascending node 262.6 degrees. References: 4 .
- 1997 Sep 27 -
- Militant Taliban leaders seize Kabul
- 1997 Sep 29 - - 04:47 GMT. Nation: India. Launch Site: Sriharikota . Launch Vehicle: PSLV. LV Configuration: PSLV s/n PSLV-C1.
- IRS-1D Payload: IRS-P3. Class: Earth. Type: Landsat. Spacecraft: IRS. Agency: Indian Space Research Organization. Manufacturer: Indian Space Research Organization. Perigee: 737 km. Apogee: 827 km. Inclination: 98.6 deg. Period: 100.5 min. COSPAR: 1997-057A. References: 4 .
Previous Quarter Next Quarter

Back to Index

Last update 3 May 2001.
Contact Mark Wade with any corrections or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
© Mark Wade, 2001 .