Jan 22 1992
From The Space Library
Amid concerns over cold weather, the Shuttle Discovery was pre-pared for launch from Cape Canaveral at 8:53 a.m. EDT. (USA Today, Jan 22/92)
The flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, carrying seven astronauts from three countries, was the second Shuttle mission in a row to carry an array of life science experiments focusing on the effects of space travel on humans and other organisms, with an eye toward preparing to send astronauts on interplanetary flights, specifically, NASA's proposed manned mission to Mars. The astronauts split 12-hour work shifts so experiments including a battery of medical tests could be conducted non-stop. Researchers hoped to team more about space motion sickness and back pain, common ailments among astronauts in orbit. Experiments were also to be conducted in the cargo bay to measure effects of zero gravity, fertilization of eggs, and cartilage formation in various organisms. The Shuttle would also study the effect of bombardment by high-energy cosmic rays on living tissue. (B Sun, Jan 22/92; NY limes, Jan 23/92)
J.P. Mitchell, Pratt & Whitney's Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) Alternate Turbopump Development project manager, reported that a pair of Pratt & Whitney designed high-pressure turbopumps had been tested successfully at 100 percent rated power on a SSME at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. (PR Newswire, Jan 23/92)
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