# SPARTAN 207

> platform deployed by STS-77 to launch the Inflatable Antenna Experiment

**Wikidata**: [Q111858874](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111858874)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spartan-207

## Summary
SPARTAN 207 is an orbital platform that was deployed by Space Shuttle mission STS-77 to launch the Inflatable Antenna Experiment. It is part of the SPARTAN series of free-flying space platforms carried by NASA's Space Shuttle. Operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center, SPARTAN 207 had a mass of 850 kilograms.

## Key Facts
*   SPARTAN 207 is an orbital platform.
*   It was deployed by Space Shuttle mission STS-77.
*   Its primary purpose was to launch the Inflatable Antenna Experiment.
*   It was launched on May 19, 1996, at 10:30:00 UTC.
*   The launch vehicle was the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
*   It is part of the SPARTAN series of free-flying space platforms.
*   SPARTAN 207 was operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center.
*   It has a mass of 850 kilograms.
*   Its country of origin is the United States.
*   It landed on May 29, 1996, as part of STS-77.

## FAQs
### Q: What is SPARTAN 207?
A: SPARTAN 207 is an orbital platform that was deployed by Space Shuttle mission STS-77. Its primary mission was to launch the Inflatable Antenna Experiment.

### Q: When was SPARTAN 207 launched?
A: SPARTAN 207 was launched on May 19, 1996, at 10:30:00 UTC. It was deployed from the Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-77 mission.

### Q: What was the purpose of SPARTAN 207?
A: The purpose of SPARTAN 207 was to launch the Inflatable Antenna Experiment. This experiment likely involved testing new antenna technology in space.

### Q: Who operated SPARTAN 207?
A: SPARTAN 207 was operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center, which is a NASA space research laboratory.

### Q: What was the launch vehicle for SPARTAN 207?
A: The launch vehicle for SPARTAN 207 was the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which carried it as part of the STS-77 mission.

## Why It Matters
SPARTAN 207 played a crucial role in advancing space technology by serving as a dedicated platform for the Inflatable Antenna Experiment. As part of the SPARTAN series, it exemplified the utility of free-flying space platforms deployed by the Space Shuttle to conduct specialized scientific research and technology demonstrations in orbit. Its mission contributed to the development and testing of innovative space hardware, specifically inflatable structures, which can offer significant advantages in terms of mass and volume for future spacecraft designs. The successful deployment and operation of SPARTAN 207, managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center, underscored NASA's capability to facilitate complex orbital experiments and push the boundaries of space exploration and engineering.

## Notable For
*   Being deployed by Space Shuttle mission STS-77.
*   Serving as the launch platform for the Inflatable Antenna Experiment.
*   Its role as a free-flying platform within the SPARTAN series, enabling autonomous orbital experiments.
*   Having a specific mass of 850 kilograms.

## Body

### Overview
SPARTAN 207 is classified as an orbital platform and is part of the SPARTAN series of free-flying space platforms. These platforms are designed to be carried and deployed by NASA's Space Shuttle for various missions. SPARTAN 207 has several aliases, including SPTN-207-IAE, SPARTAN 207-F1, and SPARTAN207. Its country of origin is the United States.

### Deployment and Mission
SPARTAN 207 was deployed during the STS-77 mission. The launch occurred on May 19, 1996, at 10:30:00 UTC, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B. The launch vehicle was the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The primary objective of SPARTAN 207's mission was to launch the Inflatable Antenna Experiment. Following its mission, SPARTAN 207 landed on May 29, 1996, at the Launch and Landing Facility, as part of the STS-77 mission.

### Specifications and Identifiers
*   **Mass:** 850 kilograms
*   **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 23871
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1996-032B
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1996-032B

### Operator
SPARTAN 207 was operated by the Goddard Space Flight Center. The Goddard Space Flight Center is a NASA space research laboratory established in 1959 as NASA's first space flight center.

### Image
An image of SPARTAN 207 with the Inflatable Antenna Experiment's support masts extending from it is available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/STS-77_Spartan_-_deployable_antenna_(cropped).jpg

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/spartan-207.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=1996-032B)