October 3, 1995. Copyright, 1995, Graphic News. All rights reserved.


SHUTTLE SET FOR LIFT-OFF
by Nicholas Booth, Science Editor

LONDON, October 3, Graphic News Ð The American Space Shuttle Columbia is due for lift-off later today (Thursday, October 5) and will spend over two weeks in space. The crew of seven will perform $100 million worth of experiments in the weightlessness of space and test new remote control techniques which will be used on board the international space station, whose construction will begin in two years time. Two of the crew may make spacewalks if there are any problems with the equipment exposed to space in the cavernous payload bay of the Shuttle.

Columbia will orbit at an altitude of 147 nautical miles (272 km) and will provide a stable platform for some 40 experiments which make up the second flight of a module known as the U.S. Microgravity Laboratory. In the absence of gravity, scientists are interested to see how fluids flow and crystals form in space. To avoid disturbances, the Shuttle will not trim its orbit or make any additional engine firings. Even the crewÕs daily exercise routine has been modified as has their exercise bicycle Ð which each of the crew member uses for an hour a day Ð which is mounted on a rig designed to isolate vibrations.

For the first time, the crew will explore means of remotely manipulating experiments, seen as a key to construction of the international space station. ÔWeÕre building up toward the space station,Õ says NASAÕs Al Pennington, flight director for the mission. ÔA lot of that work is going to have to do with the transfer of information. WeÕre transferring a lot of information, both up and down, on our video and data links on this flight.Õ The crew will use a new high-definition video link with the ground, receiving pictures from Mission Control for the first time ever.

This latest flight of the Shuttle follows on from last monthÕs flight of Endeavour and the next planned docking of Atlantis with the Russian Mir space station. The fleet of four Shuttle orbiters was temporarily grounded this summer due to safety concerns over the joints within its twin solid rocket boosters. These boosters provide the thrust needed to launch the whole vehicle into space and like giant fireworks, once lit, they cannot be switched off. Each booster comes in four sections which are assembled together at Cape Canaveral.

To keep these sections in place, a system of small sockets are used which involve rubber balls known as ÔOÕ-rings. Challenger was lost in January 1986 when an ÔOÕ-ring burnt through, so the sockets have been totally redesigned. This year, however, there have been concerns about the booster nozzles directing their exhaust plumes towards the ÔOÕ-rings, thereby endangering the crew. Extensive redesigns have taken place, temporarily grounding the Shuttles.

Columbia is the oldest Shuttle and flew first in 1981. This is its eighteenth flight, and thanks to new power and water provisions, can remain in orbit for up to sixteen days. It is scheduled to be launched at 2.40pm on October 5 and will return at 12:35pm  on October 21.This is the 72nd flight of the Shuttle series and the sixth in 1995.


Sources: NASA, Aviation Week & Space Technology.