STS-40


STS-40, the eleventh launch of Space Shuttle Columbia, was a nine-day mission in June, 1991. It carried the Spacelab module for Spacelab Life Sciences 1, the fifth Spacelab mission and the first dedicated solely to biology. STS-40 was the first spaceflight that included three women crew members.

Crew

Backup crew

Crew seating arrangements

Mission highlights

Launch originally set for 22 May 1991. Mission postponed less than 48 hours before launch when it became known that a leaking liquid hydrogen transducer in orbiter main propulsion system which was removed and replaced during leak testing in 1990, had failed an analysis by vendor. Engineers feared that one or more of the nine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen transducers protruding into fuel and oxidizer lines could break off and be ingested by the engine turbopumps, causing engine failure.
In addition, one of orbiter five general purpose computers failed completely, along with one of the multiplexer demultiplexers that control orbiter hydraulics ordinance and orbiter maneuvering system / reaction control system functions in the aft compartment.
A new general purpose computer and multiplexer demultiplexer were installed and tested. One liquid hydrogen and two liquid oxygen transducers were replaced upstream in propellant flow system near the 17-inch disconnect area, which is protected by internal screen. Three liquid oxygen transducers replaced at engine manifold area, while three liquid hydrogen transducers here were removed and openings plugged. Launch reset for 8 am EDT, 1 June, but postponed again after several attempts to calibrate inertial measurement unit 2 failed. Unit was replaced and retested, and launch was rescheduled for 5 June. Launched successfully on 5 June 1991, at 9:24:51 am EDT., the mission had a launch Weight:.
It was the fifth dedicated Spacelab mission, Spacelab Life Sciences-1, and first dedicated solely to life sciences, using the habitable module. Mission featured most detailed and interrelated physiological measurements in space since 1973-1974 Skylab missions. Subjects were humans, 30 rodents and thousands of tiny jellyfish. Primary SLS-1 experiments studied six body systems; of 18 investigations, ten involved humans, seven involved rodents, and one used jellyfish.
Six body systems investigated were cardiovascular/cardiopulmonary ; renal/endocrine ; blood ; immune system ; musculoskeletal ; and neurovestibular. Other payloads included twelve Getaway Special canisters installed on GAS bridge in cargo bay for experiments in materials science, plant biology and cosmic radiation ; Middeck Zero-Gravity Dynamics Experiment ; and seven Orbiter Experiments.
Landing was on 14 June 1991, at 8:39:11 am PDT, on Runway 22, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Rollout distance:. Rollout time: 55 seconds. Orbiter returned to KSC 21 June. Landing Weight:.

Wake-up calls

NASA began its longstanding tradition of waking up astronauts with music during Apollo 15. Each track is specially chosen, often by the astronauts' families, and usually has a special meaning to an individual member of the crew, or is applicable to their daily activities.
DaySongArtist/ComposerPlayed For
Day 2Great Balls of FireJerry Lee Lewis
Day 3A Military medleyO'Connor, Gutierrez
Day 4Yakety YakThe Coasters
Day 5Greetings from the crews' children
Somewhere out there from the film An American Tail
Day 6"Cow Patty"Tammy Jernigan
Day 7"Shout - The Faber College Theme" from the movie "Animal
House"		Otis Day and the Knights
Day 8"Twistin' the Night Away" from the movie, "Animal House"Sam Cooke
Day 9Chain GangThe Nylons
Day 10What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong