December 1985
From The Space Library
NASA scheduled for launch on December 18 the Space Shuttle Columbia, making its first journey into space in two years, on mission 61-C, the 24th flight of the U.S. Space Transportation System. Robert Gibson would command the flight, his second trip into space. Charles Bolden, on his first spaceflight, would pilot; mission specialists would be Franklin Chang-Diaz, a physicist born in Costa Rica and the first American of Hispanic origin to fly in space, and Steven Hawley and George Nelson, both making their second spaceflight; and payload specialists would be Robert Cenker of RCA and U.S. Rep. Bill Nelson of Florida, chairman of the House subcommittee on space science and applications and the second congressional observer to fly in space.
During the mission, the crew would deploy RCA's Satcom KU-2 communications satellite, the second in a series of three, with its payload assist module D-2 (PAM D-2) upper stage. The crew on mission 61-C in November deployed Satcom KU-1.
Also onboard Columbia in the payload bay would be the Materials Science Lab-2 (MSL-2) [see Space Transportation System/Scientific Research, Dec. 18], the first Hitchhiker (HHG-1) payload, the RCA Infrared-Imaging Experiment (IR-IE), and 12 Get Away Special (GAS) experiments in specialized canisters mounted to a GAS beam attached to the payload bay.
Hitchhiker G-1, a more sophisticated version of the GAS concept, consisted of a baseplate on which small payloads were mounted directly or enclosed in canisters. The carrier for the first time provided small payloads with access to the orbiter's 1400-watt power supply and to ground communications.
Hitchhiker G-1 experiments would study experimental capillary pumped loop heat transport systems (sponsored by Goddard Space Flight Center GSFC), provide film images of the environment around the Space Shuttle (Air Force Geophysics Laboratory), and study the effect of the Space Shuttle environment on coated mirrors (Perkin-Elmer Corp.).
The GAS Bridge was a beam supporting 12 GAS canisters that were mounted across the orbiter's cargo bay. The beam consolidated the canisters into a single easy-to-load and unload unit. Experiments in the GAS canisters would: * measure the effect convection had on heat flow in a liquid (General Electric/Penn State University); * determine the behavior and physiological effects of microgravity on brine shrimp cysts (Booker T. Washington Senior High School, Houston, Texas); * measure the 0 and 02 terrestrial nightflow emissions (National Research Council of Canada); * measure the dynamics of a vibrating beam in the zero-gravity environment (U.S. Air Force Academy); * determine how unprimed canvas, prepared linen canvas, and portions of painted canvas reacted to space travel (Vertical Horizons); a determine the biological effects of neodymium and helium-neon laser light on desiccated human tissue undergoing cosmic radiation bombardment, determine cosmic radiation effects on medications and medical/surgical materials, perform analysis of contingencies that developed due to zero gravity in blood typing, and evaluate laser optical protective eyeware materials that were exposed to cosmic radiation (St. Mary's Hospital, Laser Laboratory, Milwaukee); * measure galactic and extragalactic contributions to the diffuse ultraviolet background radiation, and develop and demonstrate an advanced Get Away Special carrier system capable of providing data and power services to Space Shuttle attached sounding rocket class instruments (GSFC); * measure the effect of gravity on particle dispersion of packing materials in HPLC analytical columns (All Tech Associates, Inc.) study the solidification of alloys for lead-antimony and an aluminum-copper combination, study the comparative morphology and anatomy of the primary root system of radish seeds, study crystal growth of metallic appearing needle crystals in an aqueous solution of potassium tetracyanoplatinate, and provide information on the “project-explorer-payload-elapsed-time” and the operational status of experiments during flight to all amateur radio stations and short-wave listeners around the world (Alabama Space and Rocket Center); * expose wild and lab research gypsy moth eggs and engorged female American dog ticks to weightlessness (GSFC/U.S. Department of Agriculture); and * measure the response of the GAS Bridge to the Space Shuttle environment during liftoff, orbit, and landing (GSFC).
RCA developed the IR-IE infrared camera, and during the mission payload specialist Rober Cenker would supervise its operation to acquire radiometric information that appeared within the field of view of the self-contained optical system. RCA hoped it might photograph storms, volcanic activity, or other natural occurrences.
Middeck payloads would include the Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program (CHAMP) [see Astronomy, Dec. 17], Initial Blood Storage Experiment (IBSE), Protein Crystal Growth (PC 6), and three student experiments.
IBSE, funded by Johnson Space Center and led by the Center for Blood Research, would study blood storage and sedimentation characteristics in microgravity.
Rep. Bill Nelson would assist with an experiment sponsored by the University of Alabama, Marshall Space Flight Center, and the Comprehensive Cancer Center to try to grow crystal proteins in space for cancer research.
There would be three Shuttle Student Involvement Project (SSIP) experiments on board Columbia. In the Measurement of Auxin Level and Starch Grains in Plant Roots experiment, bean plants would be grown and frozen in space. Researchers would analyze the plant roots after the flight for auxin location and concentration and correlation with statolith in the cells. The Air Injection as an Alternative To Honeycombing experiment would investigate the feasibility of producing a high stiffness, density ratio, low-weight casting with an internal framework. And the Study of Paper Fiber Formation in Microgravity experiment would further increase basic papermaking knowledge through a drainage study of paper fiber formation in microgravity and later comparison to this same formation on earth.
NASA scheduled Columbia to land on the sixth day of the flight at KSC, the first landing there since mission 51-D on April 19, 1985. (NASA Release 85107; NASA FOR M-989-61-C [prelaunch] Dec 16/85; Spaceport News, Dec 6/85, 4; Goddard News, Dec 85, 1)
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