It was May 13, 1992 and astronauts Richard J. Hieb, Thomas D. Akers and Pierre J. Thuot were asked by NASA officials to come over, you know and hang out. “Oh it’ll be great,” NASA officials said, “We’ll get a pizza and have a few beers and the view is totally awesome!” they said.

The astronauts agreed and all seemed to be going well when out of nowhere the officials mentioned they might have this thing that needs to be moved. “I mean since you guys are all here and all,” the officials said, “It won’t be a big deal it’s just this tiny 4.5 ton communications satellite. Thanks you guys that’d be sooooo cool of you.”

Next thing you know everyone’s outside and lifting this huge thing, everyone except the NASA officials right? Takes all day and by the time its done the pizza is all cold and the beer is gone and NASA’s all with their feet up and saying they threw their back out a week ago or they would totally been out there helping and how cool you guys are for doing this and could you maybe come back next week? “I promise it will just be a chillax day seriously!” the officials said, “Even though the deck is looking a little worn out and could use replacing…”

The astronauts just nodded and wiped the sweat from their brows, “We’ll see,” they said.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s the way it happened.

May 13, 1992, Record-Setting Spacewalk on Shuttle Endeavour’s First Mission

On May 13, 1992, following the successful capture of the Intelsat VI satellite, three astronauts continue moving the 4.5 ton communications satellite into the space shuttle Endeavour’s cargo bay. A fellow crew member recorded this 70mm still frame from inside Endeavour’s cabin. Left to right, astronauts Richard J. Hieb, Thomas D. Akers and Pierre J. Thuot, cooperate on the effort to attach a specially designed grapple bar underneath the satellite. Thuot stands on the end of the Remote Manipulator System’s (RMS) arm while Hieb and Akers are on Portable Foot Restraints (PFR) affixed to Endeavour’s portside and the Multipurpose Support Structure (MPESS), respectively. The sections of Earth which form the backdrop for the scene are blanketed with thousands of square miles of clouds.

The Intelsat satellite, stranded in an unusable orbit since its launch aboard a Titan vehicle in March 1990, was equipped with a new perigee kick motor. The satellite was subsequently released into orbit and the new motor fired to put the spacecraft into a geosynchronous orbit for operational use. The capture required three spacewalks: a planned one by astronaut Pierre J. Thuot and Richard J. Hieb who were unable to attach a capture bar to the satellite from a position on the RMS; a second unscheduled but identical attempt the following day; and finally an unscheduled but successful hand capture by Pierre J. Thuot and fellow crewmen Richard J. Hieb and Thomas D. Akers as Commander Daniel C. Brandenstein delicately maneuvered the orbiter to within a few feet of the 4.5 ton communications satellite.

The STS-49 mission, the first flight of shuttle Endeavour, set records for the first (and only, to date) spacewalk involving three astronauts; first shuttle mission to feature four spacewalks; first shuttle mission requiring three rendezvous with an orbiting spacecraft; first attachment of a live rocket motor to an orbiting satellite and first use of a drag chute during a shuttle landing.

Image Credit: NASA | Cortesy of NASA.org