STS‑49

Mission

STS-49 was the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The primary goal of its nine-day mission was to retrieve an Intelsat VI satellite (Intelsat 603, which failed to leave low earth orbit two years before), attach it to a new upper stage, and relaunch it to its intended geosynchronous orbit. After several attempts, the capture was completed with a three-person extra-vehicular activity (EVA).

• Daniel BrandensteinCommander · NASA
• Kevin P. ChiltonPilot · NASA
• Bruce E. MelnickMission Specialist · NASA
• Pierre J. ThuotMission Specialist · NASA
• Richard HiebMission Specialist · NASA
• Kathryn C. ThorntonMission Specialist · NASA
• Thomas AkersMission Specialist · NASA