STS-68

STS-68 was a Space Shuttle Endeavour mission flown in September and October 1994 as the second Space Radar Laboratory flight. The mission followed STS-59, repeating radar observations in a different season so researchers could compare changes in Earth's surface, vegetation, oceans, atmosphere, and geologic activity. Michael Baker commanded the six-person crew, with Terrence Wilcutt as pilot, Thomas Jones as payload commander, and Steven Smith, Daniel Bursch, and Peter Wisoff as mission specialists. Working in two shifts, the crew operated the Shuttle Imaging Radar-C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar and the Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellites instrument around the clock, collecting data on targets that included volcanoes, earthquake-affected regions, forests, oceans, and areas affected by human activity. The flight also demonstrated radar interferometry techniques by flying repeat passes over selected sites, building experience for later topographic and change-detection work. Endeavour launched from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A on September 30, 1994 and landed at Edwards Air Force Base on October 11 after more than eleven days in orbit.