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STS-9: The First Spacelab Mission

Columbia's STS-9 mission, November 28, 1983 to December 8, 1983. Preserved in the spacearchive.ai collection.

OrbiterColumbia
LaunchedNovember 28, 1983
LandedDecember 8, 1983
Records in archive16

Mission Overview

STS-9 flew the first Spacelab, the pressurized laboratory carried in the Shuttle's payload bay, and the first European Space Agency astronaut, Ulf Merbold. Columbia launched on November 28, 1983, for a ten-day science mission, the longest Shuttle flight to that point.

Spacelab turned the orbiter into a working laboratory in space and opened a long era of international science partnerships aboard the Shuttle.

The spacearchive.ai STS-9 collection brings together 16 records from the mission, including mission commentary, press conferences, launch coverage, and highlights reels.

Together they preserve the primary-source record of the mission as it was captured at the time, for research and historical study.

STS-9 in the Archive

A working snapshot of what the collection holds today. The public catalog shows descriptive metadata; full media and transcripts are available through research access.

16Records
9Video
6Audio
9Transcribed
56%Transcribed & indexed

All records in this collection

AST-00626Video · Nov 1983 (est.)

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-00627Highlights Reel · 1983-11-28

This highlights reel captures the launch and first moments of STS-9, featuring Commander John Young and the first European astronaut, Ulf Merbold. Key moments include the liftoff at T minus 1 hour, 42 minutes, and 45 seconds, and the activation of the Space Lab module, marking the first use of the European Space Agency's Space Lab. The crew's successful entry into the Space Lab and the deployment of experiments are also prominently featured.

AST-00628Video · 1983-11-28

KSC - STS-9 Launch and Track: Engineering Cameras of Launch, Track and SRB Separation

AST-00906Video · 1983-11-28

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-00907Video · Nov 1983 (est.)

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-01129Video · 1983-11-03

KSC - STS-9 Documentary Coverage of Orbiter Return to LC 39A from VAB

AST-01590Archive record · Nov 1983 (est.)

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-01591Mission Commentary · Date TBD

This recording captures communications during STS-9's mission elapsed time of 3 days, 21 hours, focusing on the ongoing FO2 vestibular experiment with Dr. Larry Young, Ulf Merbold, and Bob Parker. Notably, the isothermal heating facility was converted to gradient mode, and there was a light-hearted exchange about meal preparations led by Commander John Young. Additionally, troubleshooting procedures for the high data rate recorder were discussed due to its apparent loss, impacting data transmission capabilities.

AST-01673Press Conference · Dec 1983 (est.)

This press conference features John Young, Bob Parker, and Owen Garriott discussing their experiences during STS-9, including the high roll rate of 15 degrees per second during ascent and the challenges of managing Space Adaptation Syndrome. They highlight the successful deployment of experiments, such as the Japanese plasma diagnostics and the fluid physics module, and share insights on the ease of operating in weightlessness. The crew also reflects on their landing approach and the effective handling of the orbiter upon return.

AST-01685Launch Coverage · 1983-11-28

This recording features the launch coverage of STS-9, highlighting the terminal countdown and ascent milestones. The countdown window includes T-minus 2 hours, 29 minutes, and T-minus 1 minute, leading to liftoff at 11 a.m. The ascent milestones include solid rocket booster separation and main engine cutoff (MECO), marking the first flight of the European Space Agency's Space Lab with astronaut Wolf Merbold aboard, the first European astronaut to fly on an American spacecraft.

AST-01793Mission Commentary · Nov 1983 (est.)

This recording captures on-orbit mission commentary for STS-9, highlighting the conversion of the isothermal heating facility to gradient mode at 3 days, 21 hours, 29 minutes, with Bob Parker involved in the operation. The crew also discusses the status of the AEPI experiment, which remains locked for safety due to backup system issues. Additionally, there are light exchanges between Commander John Young and Mission Control regarding meal preparations and crew activities in the Space Lab module.

AST-01797Press Conference · Nov 1983 (est.)

This press conference features Bob Parker and Owen Garriott discussing the management of Space Adaptation Syndrome and the crew's preparedness for the upcoming mission. They address the operational aspects of the Imaging Spectrographic Observatory and the metric camera, emphasizing the crew's ability to intervene if automated systems fail. The alignment of the red and blue payload specialist teams is also clarified, with specific roles outlined for John Young, Bob Parker, Wolf Merbold, Brewster Shaw, Owen Garriott, and Byron Lichtenberg.

AST-01870Mission Commentary · Date TBD

This recording captures on-orbit mission commentary for STS-9, focusing on the crew's discussions regarding the status of the cuvettes, with Dr. Carolyn Leach providing updates on broken cuvettes and their impact on experiments at 1 hour 18 minutes. Additionally, there are exchanges about the operation of the mirror heating facility and the crew's preparations for upcoming tasks, including a model box run scheduled for 2 hours 5 minutes. The commentary also features interactions between crew members and Mission Control regarding equipment and operational status.

AST-01871Mission Commentary · Date TBD

This recording features on-orbit mission commentary for STS-9, highlighting the ham radio operations conducted from the spacecraft Columbia. At 8 hours, 7 minutes, the crew engages in a series of calls, including a notable exchange with W5HTK in Enid, Oklahoma, where they discuss the view of Alaska and the successful operation of the ham equipment. The commentary also captures interactions with various stations across North America and Europe, emphasizing the crew's communication efforts during the mission.

AST-01900Launch Coverage · 1983-11-28

Launch coverage of STS-9, featuring the terminal countdown window from T-minus 2 hours, 29 minutes to T-minus 1 minute. Key ascent milestones include liftoff, roll program initiation, solid rocket booster separation, and main engine cutoff (MECO). The recording highlights the first flight of the European Space Agency's Space Lab with astronaut Wolf Merbold aboard, marking a significant milestone in international collaboration in space exploration.

AST-02960Video · Date TBD

Descriptive summary pending processing.

Open STS-9 in the catalog →

Notable Spoken History

Much of the STS-9 collection has been transcribed and speaker-labeled. Timestamped transcript excerpts will be featured here. Full transcripts are available through research access.

Official Sources

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