The spacecraft was originally named Odysseus, because of its lengthy and indirect trajectory to study the solar poles. It was renamed "Ulysses", the Latin translation of "Odysseus", at ESA's request in honor not only of Homer's mythological hero but also of Dante's character in the "Inferno". "Ulysses" was originally scheduled for launch in May 1986 aboard the Space Shuttle "Challenger" on STS-61-F. Due to the loss of "Challenger", the launch of "Ulysses" was delayed until October 6, 1990 aboard "Discovery" (mission STS-41).