[NASA STS-41-D SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY POST FLIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE 1984]

Year Published: 1984

Creator: Natl Aeronautics And Space Administration

Description: This color film depicts the STS-41-D mission post-flight crew press conference and provides an in-depth look at NASA's historic maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched on August 30, 1984. Commanded by Henry Hartsfield and piloted by Michael Coats, the mission featured a diverse crew, including Judith Resnik, Richard Mullane, Steven Hawley, and Charles Walker. The film highlights key moments, such as the deployment of three commercial and communications satellites—SBS-D, Telstar 302, and Syncom IV-2—demonstrating Discovery's critical role in advancing satellite technology. It also documents experiments, including tests on a Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA), inflight maintenance tasks, and fluid dynamics studies. Film opens; Opening credits (0:08). NASA STS-41-D Shuttle Discovery Patch (0:11). (0:22). Camera zooms into Henry Hartsfield on panel, addresses audience and introduces other panelists (0:35). Pilot Michael Coats (0:46). Mission Specialist 1 (MS1) Richard M. Mullane (0:53). MS2 Steven A. Hawley (0:55). MS3 Judith A. Resnik (0:59). Payload Specialist 1 Charles D. Walker (1:02). Film depicting highlights from mission begins: Night view of Space Shuttle Discovery at launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Florida before start of mission (1:21). Mission crew wearing blue uniforms walk out to shuttle (1:26). Back of Astrovan (astronaut transfer van) used at the Kennedy Space Center (1:33). Daytime view of Space Shuttle Discovery at launch pad; Main engines igniting, letting out billowing clouds of smoke (1:41). Close-up as space shuttle launches into space (2:28). View of earth from shuttle in orbit (3:18). Crew at work inside shuttle experiencing zero-gravity, views of control panels and equipment (3:21). Deployment of satellite load 1 (SBS-D); View of sun shield opening revealing satellite in cargo bay (3:32). Hawley in commander’s seat using forward display tubes to facilitate deployment of satellite (3:48). Spin table in orbiter’s payload bay spins satellite (4:06). Mullane uses special camera to capture deployment (4:26). View of satellite launching into orbit, view of earth below (4:48). Mullane at standard switch panel, Hawley in controller’s seat for launch of satellite load 2 (Syncom IV-2) (5:14). View of Syncom IV-2 rolling out of payload bay (5:35). Bright blue light contrasts black skies as engine ignited by Coats (6:58). Hartsfield inspects large format IMAX camera (7:14). Deployment of satellite load 3 (Telstar 302 for AT&T); Footage of satellite rotating in orbit captured by RMS Wrist Camera (7:38). Lightening in clouds captured on film, lighting up payload bay (8:13). Part of Constellation Orion (8:51). Walker working on payload: Walker uses microcomputer in electronics center of payload (9:01). Walker working on fluids system module, conducts testing i.e. fluid sample collections (9:21). View of Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) being extended; Resnik controlling extension of panels (10:05). Scan from AFT window and overhead window (10:49). Array extended above Baja, Mexico (11:27). Sunset reflecting on the extended Array (12:26). Equipment failure: Mullane and Reznik carry out inflight maintenance (IFM) on three forward display units; Discuss difficulties of IFM at zero-gravity (12:45). Shot of icicle that had formed on dump port (14:15). After facing dump port towards sun, shot of icicle after shrinking dramatically in size; Removed from dump port (15:11). View of ice chunk floating by in orbit (15:52). Reznik and Hawley play zero-gravity handball to pass time (16:02). Hawley and Mullane demo frisbee deploy used on Syncom with hatch window filter (16:12). Food preparation on board: Package of dehydrated strawberries; Walker uses water dispenser to rehydrate food (16:59). Crew sits down for group supper (17:41). Reznik uses treadmill to keep up with physical activity (18:14). Sleeping arrangements: Crew sleep in sleeping bags on bunks, against wall (18:28). View of sunset on earth’s horizon from space craft (19:00). RCS Jets help assist shuttle with landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California (19:20). Crew wearing blue suits exit shuttle after landing (21:07). Closing credits (21:32). Film ends (21:43).

Complete Record: This color film depicts the STS-41-D mission post-flight crew press conference and provides an in-depth look at NASA's historic maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery, which launched on August 30, 1984. Commanded by Henry Hartsfield and piloted by Michael Coats, the mission featured a diverse crew, including Judith Resnik, Richard Mullane, Steven Hawley, and Charles Walker. The film highlights key moments, such as the deployment of three commercial and communications satellites—SBS-D, Telstar 302, and Syncom IV-2—demonstrating Discovery's critical role in advancing satellite technology. It also documents experiments, including tests on a Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA), inflight maintenance tasks, and fluid dynamics studies. Film opens; Opening credits (0:08). NASA STS-41-D Shuttle Discovery Patch (0:11). (0:22). Camera zooms into Henry Hartsfield on panel, addresses audience and introduces other panelists (0:35). Pilot Michael Coats (0:46). Mission Specialist 1 (MS1) Richard M. Mullane (0:53). MS2 Steven A. Hawley (0:55). MS3 Judith A. Resnik (0:59). Payload Specialist 1 Charles D. Walker (1:02). Film depicting highlights from mission begins: Night view of Space Shuttle Discovery at launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Florida before start of mission (1:21). Mission crew wearing blue uniforms walk out to shuttle (1:26). Back of Astrovan (astronaut transfer van) used at the Kennedy Space Center (1:33). Daytime view of Space Shuttle Discovery at launch pad; Main engines igniting, letting out billowing clouds of smoke (1:41). Close-up as space shuttle launches into space (2:28). View of earth from shuttle in orbit (3:18). Crew at work inside shuttle experiencing zero-gravity, views of control panels and equipment (3:21). Deployment of satellite load 1 (SBS-D); View of sun shield opening revealing satellite in cargo bay (3:32). Hawley in commander’s seat using forward display tubes to facilitate deployment of satellite (3:48). Spin table in orbiter’s payload bay spins satellite (4:06). Mullane uses special camera to capture deployment (4:26). View of satellite launching into orbit, view of earth below (4:48). Mullane at standard switch panel, Hawley in controller’s seat for launch of satellite load 2 (Syncom IV-2) (5:14). View of Syncom IV-2 rolling out of payload bay (5:35). Bright blue light contrasts black skies as engine ignited by Coats (6:58). Hartsfield inspects large format IMAX camera (7:14). Deployment of satellite load 3 (Telstar 302 for AT&T); Footage of satellite rotating in orbit captured by RMS Wrist Camera (7:38). Lightening in clouds captured on film, lighting up payload bay (8:13). Part of Constellation Orion (8:51). Walker working on payload: Walker uses microcomputer in electronics center of payload (9:01). Walker working on fluids system module, conducts testing i.e. fluid sample collections (9:21). View of Roll Out Solar Array (ROSA) being extended; Resnik controlling extension of panels (10:05). Scan from AFT window and overhead window (10:49). Array extended above Baja, Mexico (11:27). Sunset reflecting on the extended Array (12:26). Equipment failure: Mullane and Reznik carry out inflight maintenance (IFM) on three forward display units; Discuss difficulties of IFM at zero-gravity (12:45). Shot of icicle that had formed on dump port (14:15). After facing dump port towards sun, shot of icicle after shrinking dramatically in size; Removed from dump port (15:11). View of ice chunk floating by in orbit (15:52). Reznik and Hawley play zero-gravity handball to pass time (16:02). Hawley and Mullane demo frisbee deploy used on Syncom with hatch window filter (16:12). Food preparation on board: Package of dehydrated strawberries; Walker uses water dispenser to rehydrate food (16:59). Crew sits down for group supper (17:41). Reznik uses treadmill to keep up with physical activity (18:14). Sleeping arrangements: Crew sleep in sleeping bags on bunks, against wall (18:28). View of sunset on earth’s horizon from space craft (19:00). RCS Jets help assist shuttle with landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California (19:20). Crew wearing blue suits exit shuttle after landing (21:07). Closing credits (21:32). Film ends (21:43).