February 1983:milestones

October 1982

15 The board of enquiry investigating the failure of the Ariane L5 launcher on 10 September concluded that the third stage engine turbopump was the most likely cause. Insufficient lubrication during ground testing might have damaged the gearing. Turbopumps of subsequent vehicles will now have to be modified; the launch of Ariane L6 is now scheduled for April with the ECS-1 communications and AMSAT radio amateur satellites.

18 It is reported that the Japanese space agency is studying the possibility of launching a 650 kg lunar orbiter to make a physical and chemical survey of the Moon. Both NASA and ESA have been studying similar missions but no firm decisions have been made.

21 One of the main engines due to be installed in the Shuttle Orbiter Challenger is shut down 51 seconds into a planned 250 seconds test firing because of excessive vibrations in a high-pres¬ sure liquid oxygen pump. The full firing is made on the 25th.

23 A more powerful version of the Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster is tested in Utah. It will allow future Shuttles to carry 1,400 kg more payload into orbit.

27 The Satcom 5 communications satellite is launched from Cape Canaveral by a Delta 3924 vehicle. It will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 140°W longitude to provide services for Alaska.

31 The unmanned Progress 16 spacecraft is launched to ferry supplies to the Salyut 7 space station, still manned by cosmonauts Berezevoi and Lebedev.

November 1982

11 Columbia is launched on its fifth orbital mission at 12.19 GMT with astronauts Brand, Overmyer, Allen and Lenoir aboard - the first ever four-man launch. Both Solid Rocket Boosters are recovered safely. The first satellite payload, SBS-3, is released from the cargo bay on its way to geostationary orbit.

12 The Anik-C3 communications satellite is released from Columbia. Each of the satellites carried $500 million in liability insurance.

15 The first Shuttle spacewalk, already delayed a day because of astronaut Lenoir's motion sickness, is cancelled after an oxygen-circulation fan fails in Allen's backpack. Columbia returns to Earth in the following day.