PAMS-STU

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PAMS-STU
Organization National Aeronautics and Space Administration (United States)
Mission type Technology Applications
Launch date May 22, 1996 (1996-05-22)
Launch vehicle STS-77
Carrier rocket Space Shuttle
Launch site Cape Canaveral, United States
COSPAR ID 1996-032D
Mass 35.0 kg
Alternate Names 23876
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PAMS-STU was a NASA experimental spacecraft launched from STS 77 to test an attitude stabilization design. It had an unbalanced mass distribution and two magnetic rods. The interaction of the rods with Earth's magnetic field was expected to damp any wobble or spin. There were some problems in ascertaining the success fully because of the malfunction of the laser ranger. It reentered the atmosphere on October 26.