# STS-72 (Space Shuttle Endeavour)
*missions*

## Specifications
- **operator**: nasa
- **actual launch**: 1996-01-11
- **actual end of life**: 1996-01-20
- **current status**: ended
- **orbit type**: LEO, 296 km, 28.45 degrees inclination
- **tasking supported**: false
- **entity type**: mission
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-05
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: unclaimed
- **provider**: nasa
- **attributes**: {"operator":"nasa","actual_launch":"1996-01-11","actual_end_of_life":"1996-01-20","current_status":"ended","orbit_type":"LEO, 296 km, 28.45 degrees inclination","tasking_supported":false}
- **relevance**: ancillary

## Editorial
STS-72 was a Space Shuttle Endeavour mission flown January 11-20, 1996, operated by NASA. Its primary science payload was the Shuttle Laser Altimeter 1 (SLA-01), a 1064 nm pulsed laser altimeter designed to measure surface elevation and vegetation canopy structure from orbit. SLA-01 was a pathfinder for space-based laser altimetry within a planned multi-flight SLA series.[^sla-ntrs-pathfinder][^sla-gsfc-results] The mission flew at 28.45 degrees inclination. Orbit altitude is recorded as 296 km in mission records[^sla-ntrs-pathfinder]; NASA mission documentation lists 250 nautical miles (approximately 463 km),[^nasa-sts72-mission] with the discrepancy unresolved against primary ephemeris data.

## Compositional position
- STS-72 (Space Shuttle Endeavour) --[mission_payloads]--> sla-01 (products)

## Sources
- [nasa-sts72-mission] | STS-72 Mission Overview - NASA | https://www.nasa.gov/mission/sts-72/ | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-05
- [sla-ntrs-pathfinder] | Shuttle Laser Altimeter (SLA): A pathfinder for space-based laser altimetry and lidar - NASA NTRS | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19960003752 | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-05
- [sla-gsfc-results] | SHUTTLE LASER ALTIMETER Mission Results and Pathfinder Accomplishments - NASA GSFC | https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19990087525/downloads/19990087525.pdf | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-05

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/missions/sts-72
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)