STS-49 Mission

Launch Service Provider

Lockheed Space Operations Company

Vehicle

Space Shuttle

Crew

Daniel Brandenstein

Kevin P. Chilton

Bruce E. Melnick

Pierre J. Thuot

Richard Hieb

Kathryn C. Thornton

Thomas Akers

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).