STS-37, the eighth launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, was a six-day mission with a primary objective to launch the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), the second of the Great Observatories program which included the visible-spectrum Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the infrared Spitzer Space Telescope.
April 5, 1991, 9:22:44 a.m. EST. Launch set for 9:18 a.m., April 5. Was briefly delayed due to low-level clouds in ar...
more
STS-37, the eighth launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, was a six-day mission with a primary objective to launch the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), the second of the Great Observatories program which included the visible-spectrum Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the infrared Spitzer Space Telescope.
April 5, 1991, 9:22:44 a.m. EST. Launch set for 9:18 a.m., April 5. Was briefly delayed due to low-level clouds in area. Launch weight: 255,824 lb (116,040 kg).
Primary payload, Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO), deployed on flight day three. GRO high-gain antenna failed to deploy on command; finally freed and manually deployed by Ross and Apt during unscheduled contingency space walk, first since April 1985. Following day, two astronauts performed first scheduled space walk since November 1985 to test means for astronauts to move themselves and equipment about while maintaining planned Space Station Freedom. GRO science instruments were Burst and Transient Source...
less
