Mission type | Crew rescue |
---|---|
Mission duration | 4 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | Space Shuttle |
Crew | |
Crew size | 4 |
Members | None assigned |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | Flight Day 45 Relative to original mission |
Launch site | Kennedy LC-39 |
End of mission | |
Landing date | Flight Day 49 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Inclination | 51.6 degrees |
Docking with ISS | |
Docking date | Flight Day 47 |
Undocking date | Flight Day 48 |
Time docked | < 1 day |
Space Shuttle missions designated STS-3xx (officially called Launch On Need (LON) missions) were rescue missions which would have been mounted to rescue the crew of a Space Shuttle if their vehicle was damaged and deemed unable to make a successful reentry. Such a mission would have been flown if Mission Control determined that the heat shielding tiles and reinforced carbon-carbon panels of a currently flying orbiter were damaged beyond the repair capabilities of the available on-orbit repair methods. These missions were also referred to as Launch on Demand (LOD) and Contingency Shuttle Crew Support. The program was initiated following loss of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. No mission of this type was launched during the Space Shuttle program.