SCI-TECH S T O R Y   P A G E

Astronauts set to nab Wake Shield space factory

November 25, 1996
Web posted at: 3:30 p.m. EST

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Florida (CNN) -- Space shuttle Columbia's crew was preparing Monday for a nighttime pickup of the orbiting semi-conductor factory it deployed Friday.

NASA had initially worried that an orbiting telescope released earlier by Columbia would interfere with the retrieval of the Wake Shield Facility and considered sending the shuttle crew after the satellite a day early. (Astronaut Ken Cockrell -- 360K/33 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

But mission managers determined Sunday night that the two satellites would be 14 miles apart at rendezvous time -- providing ample room for Columbia to make a 9-mile swing around the satellite.

NASA safety rules specify that the space factory and the Orfeus-Spas satellite must be at least 12 and a half miles apart to minimize the risk of collision.

But to play it safe, the pickup time was moved ahead three hours, from early Tuesday to late Monday.

The astronauts are scheduled to attach Columbia's robot arm to the satellite just before 9 p.m. Monday evening and complete the retrieval just before 9:30 p.m.

The Wake Shield Facility set up a super-vacuum in its wake as it trailed the shuttle in orbit, and produced layers of ultra thin semi-conductor film for use in the electronics industry.

On Tuesday evening, the five-member crew plans to lift the satellite out of Columbia's cargo bay for a television examination and cleaning before it is locked back in the cargo bay for the ride back to Earth..

The astronauts will retrieve the Orfeus-Spas, which carries an ultraviolet telescope observing deep space phenomena, on December 3, two days before the shuttle's return to Earth.

Correspondent John Holliman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.  

Special section:

CNN Interactive's extended coverage

• CNN's Space Exploration Gallery

Related stories:

• Telescope alignment problem plagues Columbia mission - November 20, 1996
• Columbia sets off on 16-day flight - November 19, 1996
• Columbia flight will test space station equipment - November 19, 1996

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• NASA
• NASA Shuttle Web

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

Tell us what you think! You said it...

© 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.