NASA STS-54 TDRS-F Deployment Archive Bundle: Endeavour Lithograph & Custom Hat
A core piece of 1990s NASA history! This bundle features the official mission documentation and custom gear from the flight that completed a vital link in the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system.
STS-54: Completing the Network
Launched in January 1993 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, STS-54 was a high-priority mission dedicated to enhancing NASA’s communication capabilities with orbiting spacecraft.
- TDRS-F Deployment: The primary goal was the successful deployment of the TDRS-F (Tracking and Data Relay Satellite), which became TDRS-6 once operational. This satellite provided the essential data link between the Space Shuttle, the future ISS, and ground control.
- Station Assembly Rehearsal: Mission Specialists Mario Runco and Gregory Harbaugh performed a nearly 5-hour spacewalk (EVA) to test "fine motor" tasks and move large objects in the cargo bay—critical data used to design the assembly procedures for the International Space Station.
- Physics of Toys: This mission famously filmed the "Physics of Toys" educational series, where the crew demonstrated how common toys like yo-yos and slinkies behave in microgravity for students across the globe.
- The Crew: Led by Commander John Casper and Pilot Donald McMonagle, featuring Mission Specialists Mario Runco, Jr., Gregory Harbaugh, and Susan Helms (her first spaceflight).
- WHAT’S IN THE BUNDLE:
- OFFICIAL NASA CREW LITHOGRAPH (Vintage Original 8"x10")
- Mission: STS-54 Endeavour
- Catalog Code: JSCCL-126 (Official NASA Johnson Space Center Identifier).
- Details: An official government-issued lithograph printed in 1993. The front features the portrait of the five-member crew in their blue flight suits. The reverse contains the full mission profile, crew biographies, and the mission insignia.
- Condition: Excellent "New Old Stock" condition.