Spartan 201-4
From The Space Library
 | |
| Organization | Unknown (United States) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Astronomy |
| Launch date | November 21, 1997 |
| Launch vehicle | STS-87 |
| Carrier rocket | Space Shuttle |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral, United States |
| COSPAR ID | 1997-073B |
| Mass | 1354 kg |
| Alternate Names | 25062 |
| Additional Information | Here |
| PDMP Information | Here |
| Telecommunications Information | Here |
Spartan 201-4 is a reusable American solar observatory module that was released from STS 87. A computer glitch made it unable to obtain attitude control; an effort to recapture it robotically introduced a hazardous spin motion, also. Ultimately, it had to be recaptured by a space walk by two astronauts. During the three days of free-flying, its orbital parameters remained close to that of STS 87.
