![]() When Commander Dan Brandenstein and his six crewmates-spacewalkers Hieb, Pierre Thuot, Kathy “K.T.” Thornton and Tom Akers, robotic arm operator Bruce Melnick and pilot Kevin Chilton-were assigned to STS-49 in December 1990, their mandate was to recover the Intelsat 603 communications satellite. Video Credit: National Space Society (NSS) The nine days of STS-49 was arguably the most visible shuttle flight of 1992, amply demonstrating that human spaceflight always retained the ability to deliver unexpected surprises. In fact, having so many people outside on a spacewalk has never since been equaled, much less surpassed. Not only was STS-49 the first flight of NASA’s newest shuttle, built to replace the fallen Challenger, but it also saw the first Extravehicular Activity (EVA) to feature as many as three spacewalkers. ![]() The view through Space Shuttle Endeavour’s aft flight deck windows on the evening of -three decades ago, this week-was quite different from anything seen before. The words of Rick Hieb echoed through the silent Mission Control Center (MCC) at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. STS-49 marked the first mission in which three people ventured outside on a spacewalk. Spacewalkers (from right) Pierre Thuot, Tom Akers and Rick Hieb grasp the enormous hulk of Intelsat 603 after multiple fruitless attempts.
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