Editing STS-38

{{Infobox spaceflight
| name                  = STS-38
| image                 = STS-38 launch.jpg
| image_caption         = ''Atlantis'' launches on STS-38
| insignia              = STS-38 patch.svg

| spacecraft            = {{OV|104}}
| mission_type          = Satellite deployment
| operator              = [[NASA]]
| COSPAR_ID             = 1990-097A
| SATCAT                = 20935
| orbits_completed      = 79
| distance_travelled    = {{convert|2045056|mi|km|disp=flip}}
| mission_duration      = 4&nbsp;days, 21&nbsp;hours, 54&nbsp;minutes, 31&nbsp;seconds
| launch_mass           = 
| landing_mass          = 
| payload_mass          =

| launch_site           = [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]] [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39|LC-39A]]
| launch_date           = {{start-date|15 November 1990, 23:48:13|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC

| landing_date          = {{end-date|20 November 1990, 21:42:42|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| landing_site          = [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]] [[Shuttle Landing Facility|SLF Runway&nbsp;33]]

| crew_size             = 5
| crew_members          = [[Richard O. Covey]]<br/>[[Frank L. Culbertson, Jr.]]<br/>[[Carl J. Meade]]<br/>[[Robert C. Springer]]<br/>[[Charles D. Gemar]]
| crew_photo            = Sts-38 crew.jpg
| crew_photo_caption    = Left to right - Seated: Culbertson, Covey; Standing: Gemar, Springer, Meade

| apsis                 = gee
| orbit_epoch           = 17 November 1990<ref name="SATCAT">{{cite web|url=http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt|title=Satellite Catalog|first=Jonathan|last=McDowell|work=Jonathan's Space Page|accessdate=24 May 2013}}</ref>
| orbit_reference       = [[geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime          = [[Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis       = {{convert|260|km}}<ref name="SATCAT"/>
| orbit_apoapsis        = {{convert|269|km}}<ref name="SATCAT"/>
| orbit_period          = 89.79 minutes<ref name="SATCAT"/>
| orbit_inclination     = 28.4 degrees<ref name="SATCAT"/>

| programme             = [[Space Shuttle program]]
| previous_mission      = [[STS-41]]
| next_mission          = [[STS-35]]
}}
'''STS-38''' was a [[Space Shuttle]] mission by [[NASA]] using the [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'']]. It was the 37th shuttle mission, and carried a [[classified information in the United States|classified]] payload for the [[U.S. Department of Defense]]. It was the 7th flight for ''Atlantis'' and the 7th flight dedicated to the Department of Defense. The mission was a 4-day mission that traveled more than 2 million miles and completed 79 revolutions. ''Atlantis'' landed at [[Kennedy Space Center]]'s [[Shuttle Landing Facility]]'s runway 33. The launch was originally scheduled for July 1990, but was rescheduled due to a hydrogen leak found on {{OV|102}} during the [[STS-35]] countdown. During a rollback to the [[Orbiter Processing Facility]] ''Atlantis'' was damaged during a hail storm. The eventual launch date of 15 November 1990 was set due to a payload problem. The launch window was between 18:30 and 22:30 EST. The launch occurred at 18:48 EST.

==Crew==
{{Spaceflight crew
|terminology       = Astronaut
|position1         = Commander
|crew1_up          = [[Richard O. Covey]]
|flights1_up       = Third
|position2         = Pilot
|crew2_up          = [[Frank L. Culbertson, Jr.]]
|flights2_up       = First
|position3         = Mission Specialist 1
|crew3_up          = [[Carl J. Meade]]
|flights3_up       = First
|position4         = Mission Specialist 2
|crew4_up          = [[Robert C. Springer]]
|flights4_up       = Second
|position5         = Mission Specialist 3
|crew5_up          = [[Charles D. Gemar]]
|flights5_up       = First
}}

===Crew seating arrangements===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Seat<ref>{{cite web|title=STS-38|url=http://spacefacts.de/mission/english/sts-38.htm|publisher=Spacefacts|accessdate=26 February 2014}}</ref> 
! Launch
! Landing
| rowspan="6" style="text-align: center;" | [[File:STS-121 seating assignments.png|225px]]<br>Seats 1–4 are on the Flight Deck. Seats 5–7 are on the Middeck.
|-
! S1
| Covey
| Covey
|-
! S2
| Culbertson
| Culbertson
|-
! S3
| Meade
| Gemar
|-
! S4
| Springer
| Springer
|-
! S5
| Gemar
| Meade
|-
|}

==Preparations and launch==
[[File:1990 s35-s38 Passing in the Night.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Atlantis'' and ''Columbia'' pass.]]
[[File:STS038-84-23 Atlantis.jpg|thumb|right|250px|''Atlantis'' in orbit.]]
[[File:ISD highres STS038 STS038-76-68.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Sunlight on the ocean.]]
The launch occurred on 15 November 1990, 18:48:13 EST. It was originally scheduled for July 1990, however, a liquid hydrogen leak found on [[Space Shuttle Columbia|''Columbia'']] during the [[STS-35]] countdown prompted three precautionary tanking tests on ''Atlantis'' at the pad on 29, 13 June July – 25 July 1990. Tests confirmed the hydrogen fuel leak on the external tank side of the external tank/orbiter {{convert|432|mm}} quick disconnect umbilical. 
This could not be repaired at the pad and ''Atlantis'' was rolled back to the VAB on 9 August, demated, then transferred to the [[Orbiter Processing Facility]] (OPF). During rollback, the vehicle remained parked outside the VAB for about a day while the ''Columbia''/STS-35 stack was transferred to the pad for launch. While outside, ''Atlantis'' suffered minor hail damage to its tiles during a thunderstorm. After repairs were made in the OPF, ''Atlantis'' was transferred to the VAB for mating on 2 October. During hoisting operations, the platform beam that was to have been removed from the orbiter's aft compartment fell and caused minor damage, which was repaired. The vehicle rolled out to Pad A on 12 October 1990. The fourth mini-tanking test was performed on 24 October, with no excessive hydrogen or oxygen leakage detected. During the Flight Readiness Review, the launch date was set for 9 November 1990. The launch was reset for 15 November due to payload problems. Liftoff occurred during a classified launch window lying within a launch period extending from 18:30 to 22:30 EST on 15 November.

==Classified payload==
During STS-38, Atlantis deployed USA-67.<ref>[http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=1990-097B NASA Space Data Center: NSSDC ID: 1990-097B USA-67] ELINT Program</ref>  According to [[Aviation Week]], this was a secret [[Magnum (satellite)|Magnum]] [[ELINT]] (ELectronic INTtelligence) gathering satellite headed for [[geosynchronous orbit]] like those launched by [[STS-51-C]] and [[STS-33]], launched to monitor the events during the first [[Gulf War]] in 1990. Also according to Aviation Week, the shuttle initially entered a {{convert|204|km}} x {{convert|519|km}} orbit at an inclination of 28.45° to the equator. It then executed three OMS (orbital maneuvering system) burns, the last on orbit #4. The first of these circularized the orbit at {{convert|519|km}}. Later observers have speculated that USA-67 was instead a secret [[Satellite Data System|SDS-2]] military communications satellite, like those deployed on [[STS-28]] and [[STS-53]].<ref>[http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Mar-2000/0378.html Satobs.org: ''USA-67 observations'' ]</ref><ref>[http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/sigint/prowler.htm FAS.org: ''GEO SIGINT Satellite'']</ref> A publicly released image of the vertical stabilizer and upper aft bulkhead, similar to the one released from STS-53, confirms that the ASE (Airborne Support Equipment) for the [[Inertial Upper Stage|IUS]] was absent from this flight.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/QuickView.pl?directory=ISD&ID=STS038-84-23 |title=The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth |publisher=Eol.jsc.nasa.gov |accessdate=12 August 2010}}</ref> The satellite was deployed on the 7th orbit and then ignited its rocket motor at the ascending node of the 8th orbit, to place it in a geo-synchronous transfer orbit.

Rumors that now appear to have been substantiated by the identification of an "unknown" geostationary satellite by amateur observers, SDS-2.<ref>[http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/STS_38/Unknown_GEO_Object_2000-653A_-_90007_Identified_as_Prowler.pdf Ted Molczan, satobs.org: Unknown GEO Object 2000-653A / 90007 Identified as Prowler]</ref><ref>[http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/STS_38/Evaluation_of_the_Opportunity_to_Launch_Prowler_on_STS_38.pdf Ted Molczan, satobs.org: Evaluation of the opportunity to launch Prowler on STS-38]</ref> insist that a second secret payload was deployed known as Prowler, reportedly a stealth satellite intended to covertly inspect other nation's geostationary satellites.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6687654/ns/us_news-security/t/what-americas-top-secret-spy-program/ Robert Windrem, NBC News: What is America's top-secret spy program?]</ref>

==Landing==
The mission was extended by one day due to unacceptable crosswinds at the original planned landing site of Edwards Air Force Base. Continued adverse conditions led to a decision to shift the landing to KSC. Landing occurred on November 20, 1990, 16:42:42 EST, Runway 33, at the [[Kennedy Space Center]]. The rollout distance was {{convert|9032|ft}} and rollout time was 57 seconds. STS-38 marked the first KSC landing for ''Atlantis'', and the first shuttle landing at KSC since April 1985 (the last being [[STS-51-D]]). ''Atlantis'' weighed {{convert|191,091|lb|kg}} at landing.

==See also==
* [[List of human spaceflights]]
* [[List of Space Shuttle missions]]
* [[Outline of space science]]
* [[Space Shuttle]]

==References==
{{Include-NASA}}
{{reflist}}
*[http://www.astronautix.com/flights/sts38.htm Astronatix: ''STS-38'']

==External links==
* [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-38/mission-sts-38.html NASA mission summary]
* [http://www.nss.org/resources/library/shuttlevideos/shuttle37.htm STS-38 Video Highlights]

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{{Space Shuttle Atlantis}}

{{Wikipedia|STS-38}}

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[[Category:Space Shuttle missions]]
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1990]]
[[Category:Department of Defense Space Shuttle missions]]