STS-80 Report # 01
November 19, 1996
2:30 p.m. Central 

The Space Shuttle Columbia returned to space for the 21st time, to
study stars, produce improved semiconductor films and practice
building the International Space Station.

Columbia and its crew of five-Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Kent
Rominger and Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan, Tom Jones and Story
Musgrave-left Launch Pad 39B at 1:55 CST on a 16-day mission to deploy
and retrieve two satellites and conduct two space walks.

Though weather, which delayed the mission by five days, was not a
factor, Columbia's departure was delayed about two minutes as
controllers monitored the hydrogen concentration in Columbia's aft
compartment. Once the hydrogen concentration reached an acceptable
level, controllers gave the go to launch and Columbia performed
flawlessly as it made its way above Earth's atmosphere

Now on orbit, Columbia's crew will busy themselves with preparations
to deploy the German-built ORFEUS-SPAS II satellite. ORFEUS-SPAS will
investigate the far- and extreme- ultraviolet regions of the universe
giving scientists more information about the evolution of stars, the
nature of interstellar medium and the structure of galaxies. The
satellite's 14-day mission will begin at 8:53 p.m. tonight.

Later this week, crew members will deploy the Wake Shield Facility for
three days of free-flying thin film growth operation, and next week
Mission Specialists Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones will perform two
spacewalks. Columbia is set to return to Earth on Dec. 5.

All system on-board the orbiter are performing as expected.


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