Mission STS-61-C on the Space Shuttle Columbia marked the final flight before the Challenger disaster, carrying Robert J. Cenker as a payload specialist. Tasked with representing RCA Astro-Electronics, Cenker played a key role in launching the Satcom Ku-1 satellite, a commercial operation that underscored the evolving relationship between private industry and the federal space agency during the mid-1980s.
Academic Background
Born in 1948 in Uniontown and raised in Menallen Township, Pennsylvania, Cenker began his formal education at the St. Fidelis College Seminary in Herman. In 1970, he enrolled at Pennsylvania State University, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in aerospace engineering. He added a second Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Rutgers University in 1977.
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Cenker spent 18 years working for RCA Astro-Electronics and its successor, GE Astro Space. His responsibilities spanned hardware and systems design, with a focus on satellite attitude control and in-orbit operations. He served as the integration and test manager for the Satcom D and E spacecraft and acted as bus manager for the Spacenet and GStar programs, ensuring compatibility with Delta, Ariane, and Space Shuttle launch vehicles.
The STS-61-C Mission
Selected as a payload specialist to accompany the Satcom Ku-1 satellite, Cenker trained alongside professional astronauts. The mission faced significant technical hurdles, requiring eight launch attempts before Columbia lifted off on January 12, 1986. Over a six-day period, the crew logged more than 146 hours in space, covering 2.5 million miles across 98 orbits. Beyond deploying the satellite, Cenker conducted physiological tests and operated an infrared imaging camera.
Impact and Legacy
The successful deployment of Satcom Ku-1 proved to be the final major commercial satellite launch facilitated by the Space Shuttle program. Returning to Earth on January 18, 1986, just ten days before the Challenger disaster, Cenker's mission gained historical significance as the end of an era for commercial payload participation. He subsequently transitioned back to the commercial aerospace sector, remaining active as a consultant and representative for the Shuttle program.
Fast facts
- Born: 1948, Uniontown
- Education: Pennsylvania State University, Rutgers University
- Spacecraft: Space Shuttle Columbia
- Mission: STS-61-C
- Primary Role: Payload Specialist
- Flight Duration: 146 hours
- Career: RCA Astro-Electronics, GE Astro Space
Questions readers ask
What was the primary objective of Cenker's spaceflight?
His primary objective was to assist in the deployment of the RCA Americom Satcom Ku-1 satellite.
Did Cenker continue working in space exploration after his mission?
Following his Shuttle mission, he returned to the commercial aerospace field and made numerous public appearances representing NASA.
Achievements
- Recorded as astronaut
