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Mission

A publication of the
Highlights
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration STS-87 IS-1997-11-001.087JSC
November-December 1997

Two EVAs salvage


satellite and mission
Space Shuttle Columbia and its
crew concluded a 16-day science mis-
sion on Dec. 5, 1997, which included
an unplanned but dramatic retrieval
of the Spartan satellite.
“It was an action-packed flight,”
Commander Kevin Kregel said. “We
had a little more action than we antic-
ipated, but with a lot of help from
folks here on the ground we managed
to take a lemon and make lemonade
out of it.”
“We did a great space walk,” he
added. “First to capture a satellite
which I think is pretty spectacular. If
it had been an unmanned vehicle, any
kind of problem, whether technical or
procedural, it would have been gone.
It would have been junk. We man- Astronauts Winston Scott (left) and Takao Doi (partially obscured in the shad-
aged to pick up the satellite and bring ows) await the right opportunity to grab onto the SPARTAN satellite.
it back so it will fly another day.”
In addition to their microgravity
experiments, the STS-87 crew per-
formed two EVAs to test tools and
equipment planned for the
Space Shuttle Columbia
International Space Station. Nov. 19 – Dec. 5, 1997
Mission Events
The six member STS-87 crew lifted Commander: Kevin Kregel
off from Kennedy Space Center at 1:46
p.m. CST on November 19, 1997, to
Pilot: Steven Lindsey
begin a 16-day flight devoted to micro-
gravity science, satellite-based studies
Mission Specialists: Kalpana Chawla
of the sun and a space walk to prepare Winston Scott
for the assembly of the International
Space Station.
Takao Doi
On the first full day on orbit the
crew activated the United States
Payload Specialist: Leonid Kadenyuk
Microgravity Payload (USMP) and
Johnson Space Center Office of Public Affairs Education and Information Services Branch / AP2
investigators for the AADSF were
NASA Langley Research Center,
Hampton, VA; and NASA Marshall
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL.
The Confined Helium Experi-
ment (CHeX) was designed to better
understand the effects of miniaturiza-
tion on material properties which
should lead to even smaller and even
more efficient electronic devices,
including computers of the future,
with reduced costs for the consumer.
Researchers hope to understand the
size-dependent changes that take
place in various material properties
through ultra-precise measurements
in cooled liquid helium. The principal
investigator for CHeX was Stanford
Mission Commander Kevin Kregel sets up the mid-deck glove box.
University, Stanford, CA.
Isothermal Dendritic Growth
Experiment (IDGE) aided
researchers in understanding the
began a checkout of the robot arm. tunity to complete due to the retrieval
process of solidification and to
Mission Specialist Kalpana of the SPARTAN satellite.
improve metal manufacturing tech-
Chawla released SPARTAN from the At 3:09 a.m. CST astronauts Scott
niques. The experiment may improve
robot arm on November 21, at 3:04 and Doi began their second space
manufacturing processes involved in
p.m. CST, but the satellite indicated walk of the mission. During the EVA
the production of steel, aluminum and
problems with its attitude control sys- the crew tested the Aercam Sprint, the
superalloys used in the production of
tem. The effort to regrapple the ailing free-flying video camera.
automobiles and airplanes. The prin-
satellite was called off for the day and The four hour, fifty nine minute
cipal investigator for IDGE was the
Commander Kregel placed Columbia space walk ended at 8:09 a.m. CST.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
in a position to re-rendezvous with Space Shuttle Columbia glided to
Troy, NY.
SPARTAN later in the mission. a smooth touchdown at the Kennedy
The Materials for the Study of
Unaffected by the SPARTAN Space Center at 6:20 a.m. CST, on
Interesting Phenomena of
activity, the scientific data being col- December 5, 1997.
Solidification on Earth and in
lected by the suite of experiments
Orbit (MEPHISTO) is an interna-
comprising the USMP continued
throughout the flight. CARGO BAY tional cooperative program between
NASA, the French Space Agency, the
Astronauts Winston Scott and PAYLOADS French Atomic Energy Commission
Takao Doi began their space walk at and the University of Florida. The goal
6:02 p.m. CST, November 25. The UNITED STATES of the experiment was to understand
two astronauts captured the SPAR- MICROGRAVITY how gravity-driven convection affects
TAN satellite by hand at 8:09 p.m. PAYLOAD-4 (USMP-4) the production of metals, alloys and
CST, and carefully lowered it onto its The Advanced Automated electronic materials. The research may
support structure, latching it into Directional Solidification Furnace improve products ranging from alloys
place at 9:23 p.m. CST. (AADSF) processed two different for airplane turbine blades to everyday
After completing the retrieval, the alloys that are used to make infrared electronic materials. The principal
two astronauts turned their efforts detectors and lasers. The goal was to investigator was the University of
towards setting up and testing equip- understand how to develop better Florida, Gainesville, FL.
ment which will be used during the material processes, material perfor-
assembly and maintenance of the mance and to reduce production MICROGRAVITY GLOVEBOX
International Space Station. The 7 costs. Advances in the quality of crys- FACILITY (MGBX) EXPERI-
hour, 43 minute spacewalk ended at tals for semiconductor materials may MENTS
1:45 a.m. CST. impact consumer products such as The Enclosed Laminar Flames
A second EVA was added to the computers, calculators and high-tech- (ELF) experiment examined the
mission to conduct experiments that nology applications such as infrared effect of different air flow velocities
the first EVA had not had the oppor- detectors and lasers. The principal on the stability of laminar—or non-
turbulent—flames. Enclosed laminar travels very rapidly through this tenu- provide the intelligence to complete
flames are commonly found in com- ous, near-vacuum atmosphere. But docking maneuvers through auto-
bustion systems such as power plant the shuttle is slightly slowed, or mated operations.
and gas turbine combustors, and jet decelerated, by friction with the gas
engine afterburners. Results of this molecules. Because the density of the EXTRAVEHICULAR EVALUA-
investigation may help to optimize the atmosphere changes from day to TION ACTIVITIES
performance of industrial combustors, night, the amount of friction varies Crane: The crane is designed to
including pollutant emissions and heat proportionally. OARE makes aid space walkers in transporting
transfer. The principal investigator was extremely accurate measurements of Large Orbital Replacement Units
the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. these variations and other distur- (ORUs) with a mass as great as 600
The Wetting Characteristics of bances, using a sensor called an pounds from translation carts on the
Immiscibles (WCI). Special metal accelerometer, and records them for exterior of the International Space
alloys—known as immiscibles— later analysis. The project scientist for Station to various work sites on the
contain components that do not mix OARE is Lewis Research Center, truss structure.
in the liquid melt before solidifica- Cleveland, OH. Battery Orbital Replacement
tion. Potential applications of these Unit (ORU): A simulated battery for
metal alloys include ball-bearing, SPARTAN 201-04 the International Space Station was
electronic and semiconductor materi- The Spartan spacecraft was a car- used for evaluations performed dur-
als. The Wetting Characteristics of rier for two instruments that were ing STS-87 because the batteries
Immiscibles experiment was designed designed to investigate the heating of were among the most massive station
to study ways to control wetting the solar corona and the acceleration ORUs. The ORU carrier simulates a
behavior and ultimately result in of the solar wind that originates in the standard International Space Station
improved materials processing on corona. work site.
Earth for this potentially important Automated Rendezvous and Cable Caddy: A small carrier
class of alloys. The principal investi- Capture Video Guidance Sensor device planned to hold about 20 feet
gator for WCI was the University of Flight Experiment. The cost of mis- of replacement electrical line for the
Alabama at Birmingham. sion operations could be reduced sig- space station.
The Particle Engulfment and nificantly if rendezvous operations Body Restraint Tether (BRT):
Pushing by a Solid/Liquid Interface were automated. The Automated Designed to provide a quick method
(PEP) allowed investigators to study Rendezvous and Capture technology of supplying stability for a space
the behavior and movement of parti- under development at the Marshall walker in a variety of locations where
cles as the sample is solidified from Space Flight Center in Huntsville, a foot restraint is not available.
one end to the other in a convection- AL, requires little or no ground sup- Multi-Use Tether: A device simi-
free microgravity environment. This port. Onboard sensors, computers and lar to the BRT, but it has the capabil-
research could lead to improved navigation inputs from satellites ity to perform a greater variety of
materials processing to benefit the
automotive and aerospace industries.
The principal investigator was the
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
The Space Acceleration
Measurement System (SAMS) mea-
sured disturbances which occur when
crew members move about the shut-
tle, when onboard equipment is oper-
ated, or when thrusters are fired to
maneuver the shuttle to its proper
position. Even slight, atmospheric
drag on the shuttle can create distur-
bances that mimic gravity. Such
minute changes in the orbital environ-
ment of the shuttle can affect sensi-
tive experiments being conducted
onboard. The project scientist for
SAMS was located at NASA Lewis
Research Center, Cleveland, OH.
Orbital Acceleration Research Astronaut Winston Scott lets loose the prototype free- flying AERCam Sprint
Experiment (OARE). The shuttle television camera.
passive, two-phase flow device that
transports thermal energy through
semi-flexible tubes. The use of pas-
sive heat transport devices will
greatly enhance thermal management
on small satellites.
NaSBE, sponsored by USAF
Phillips Laboratory, Albuquerque,
NM, and managed by the Naval
Research Laboratory, Washington,
DC, studied the microgravity opera-
tion of sodium and sulfur liquid elec-
trodes. The reaction of the battery
cells in simulated geostationary and
low Earth orbits was investigated.
The Turbulent Gas-Jet Diffusion
Flames (TGDF) experiment studied
the interaction of a steady, laminar
flame with artificially-imposed flow
vortices in order to understand the
Astronauts Steven Lindsey and Kalpana Chawla check on an experiment in
the mid-deck glove box. combustion processes of turbulent
furnaces and engines to make the
design of these devises more efficient
for our use on Earth.
tasks. Different end effectors can be HITCHHIKER PAYLOADS
The TGDF experiment was pro-
attached to the tether to grip station The Shuttle Ozone Limb
posed by investigators at InnoTech,
ORUs, various space walking tools or Sounding Experiment (SOLSE),
Inc., and NYMA, Inc. The flight
handrails. which demonstrated that vertical pro-
hardware was designed, built, and
files of ozone can be measured with
Handling Aids: Two Scoops, functionally tested by the engineers
high resolution from solar ultraviolet
handholds designed to attach to and technicians of the NASA Lewis
(UV) scattering from the Earth's
square robotics fittings on the ORU, Research Center, Cleveland, OH.
atmospheric limb.
will be evaluated for use with the
simulated battery. Also, a D-handle, The Limb Ozone Retrieval GET AWAY SPECIAL (GAS)
which looks somewhat like a small, Experiment (LORE) demonstrated PAYLOAD
half steering wheel, may be attached that vertical profiles of ozone can be The Cement Mixing Experiment
to one of the Scoops and evaluated as measured with high resolution using (CME) allowed cement samples to
a tool to assist with manually maneu- sunlight scattered in the Earth's mix with water. These samples were
vering the ORU. atmospheric limb. then used to analyze the effects of
SOLSE and LORE generated microgravity on the combination of
Restraint Aids: An ORU Tether, a overall ozone coverage images and cement and water, as well as to study
flexible, spring-loaded, retracting cross sections of the atmosphere the potential of using cement or simi-
tether that automatically can hold an showing ozone concentrations at dif- lar materials in outer space.
ORU firmly against a steadying ferent altitudes. The ability to deter- Configuration Stability of Fluid
bracket, was attached to the crane. mine where ozone depletion has Experiment (CSFE) was a study
During the crane evaluations, the sim- occurred aids in determining man- designed to investigate the effects of
ulated battery was detached from its made versus natural causes that effect microgravity on the configuration sta-
carrier and attached to the ORU the ozone layer. bility of a two phase fluid system.
tether to evaluate it as a temporary Computer (Compact) Disc
restraint. LHP/NaSBE Evaluation Experiment (CDEE)
The Autonomous Extravehicular The LHP experiment, sponsored investigated the effects of the exos-
Activity Robotic Camera Sprint by the Center for Space Power (Texas phere, the outer fringe region of the
(AERCam Sprint) was an experi- A & M University in Corpus Christi, atmosphere of a planet, on the ability
ment planned to demonstrate the use TX) and managed by Dynatherm of discs to retain their information.
of a prototype free-flying television Corporation (Kelton, PA), investi- With CD-ROM’s becoming the wave
camera that could be used for remote gated a unique thermal energy man- of the future, experimenters want to
inspections of the exterior of the agement system using a loop heat know if they can be trusted to retain
International Space Station. pipe. The system is comprised of a their data in space.
The Asphalt Evaluation With the completion of STS-87 engineering from Punjab Engineering
Experiment (AEE) was an investiga- Kregel has more than 994 hours in College, India, a master of science
tion that explored the effects of expo- space. degree in aerospace engineering from
sure to the exosphere on asphalt. University of Texas, and a doctorate
Investigators hope the experiment Pilot: Steven W. Lindsey (Major, of philosophy in aerospace engineer-
will help determine better, more USAF). Lindsey, 37, was born in ing from University of Colorado.
durable ways to make asphalt. The Arcadia, CA, and received a bachelor Chawla was hired by MCAT
results of AEE will be compared with of science degree in engineering sci- Institute, San Jose, CA, as a Research
an asphalt sample not exposed to the ences from the U.S. Air Force Scientist to support research in the area
exosphere to form a final conclusion. Academy, and a master of science of powered lift at NASA Ames
degree in aeronautical engineering Research Center, California, in 1988.
CREW BIOGRAPHIES from the Air Force Institute of She was responsible for simulation and
Commander: Kevin R. Kregel Technology. analysis of flow physics pertaining to
(USAF). Kregel, 42, grew up in Lindsey became an astronaut in the operation of powered lift aircraft
Amityville, NY, and received a bach- 1996, was initially assigned to flight such as the Harrier in ground effect. In
elor of science degree in astronautical software verification in the Shuttle 1993, Dr. Chawla joined Overset
engineering from the U.S. Air Force Avionics Integration Laboratory Methods Inc., Los Altos, CA, as Vice
Academy; master's degree in public (SAIL), Lindsey also served as the President and Research Scientist to
administration from Troy State Astronaut Office representative work- form a team with other researchers
University. ing on the Multifunction Electronic specializing in simulation of moving
Kregel was employed by NASA as Display System (MEDS) program, a multiple body problems. She was
an aerospace engineer and instructor glass cockpit Space Shuttle upgrade responsible for development and
pilot. Stationed at Ellington Field, program, and other advanced upgrade implementation of efficient techniques
Houston, TX, his primary responsibil- projects. to perform aerodynamic optimization.
ities included flying as an instructor With the completion of STS-87 Chawla became an astronaut in
pilot in the Shuttle Training Aircraft Lindsey has logged more than 376 1995, and was assigned to work tech-
(STA) and conducting the initial hours of space flight. nical issues for the Astronaut Office
flight test of the T38 avionics EVA/Robotics and Computer
upgrade aircraft. Mission Specialist: Kalpana Branches.
Kregel became an astronaut in Chawla (Ph.D.). Chawla was born in With the completion of STS-87
1992, and participated in two space Karnal, India, and received a bachelor Chawla has logged more than 376
flights prior to STS-87. of science degree in aeronautical hours of space flight.
STS-70 launched from the
Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on
July 13, 1995, and returned there July
22, 1995. The five-member crew
aboard Space Shuttle Discovery per-
formed a variety of experiments in
addition to deploying the sixth and
final NASA Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite. During this 8 day 22 hour
mission, the crew completed 142
orbits of the Earth, traveling 3.7 mil-
lion miles. STS-70 was the first mis-
sion controlled from the new com-
bined control center.
STS-78 launched June 20, 1996,
and landed July 7, 1996, becoming
the longest shuttle mission to date.
The Life and Microgravity Spacelab
mission served as a model for future
studies onboard the International
Space Station. The mission included
studies sponsored by ten nations, five
space agencies, and the crew included In-Flight portrait: Front, left to right, Steven Lindsey, Takao Doi and Winston
a Frenchman, a Canadian, a Spaniard Scott. Back, left to right, Kevin Kregel, Kalpana Chawla and Leonid
and an Italian. Kadenyuk.
With the completion of STS-87

STS-87 Scott has logged more than 590 hours


of space flight including 19 hours and
34 minutes of EVA.
Quick Look
Mission Specialist: Takao Doi
Launch Date: Nov. 19, 1997 (Ph.D.). Doi, 43, was born in
Time: 1:46 p.m. CST Minamitama, Tokyo, Japan. He
Site: KSC Pad 39B received a bachelor of engineering
degree from University of Tokyo, a
Orbiter: Columbia
OV-102—24th flight master of engineering degree from
University of Tokyo and a doctorate
Orbit/In.: 150 naut. miles
in aerospace engineering from
28.5 degrees
University of Tokyo. The STS-87 patch is shaped
Mission Duration: 15 days, 16 hrs, Takao Doi studied space propul- like a space helmet symbolizing
34 mns.
sion systems as a research student in the extravehicular activity on
Landing Date: Dec. 5, 1997 the Institute of Space and the mission in support of test-
Time: 6:20 a.m. CST Astronautical Science in Japan, and ing of tools for the assembly of
Site: Kennedy worked for NASA Lewis Research the International Space Station.
Space Center Center as a National Research Planet Earth is shown reflected
Crew: Kevin Kregel (CDR) Council research associate. He joined on the backside of the helmet.
Steven Lindsey (PLT) the National Space Development The Space Shuttle Columbia
Agency (NASDA) of Japan in 1985 forms the interface between the
Kalpana Chawla (MS1)
and has been working in the Japanese Earth and the heavens, the
Winston Scott (MS2) back and the front sides of the
Takao Doi (MS3) manned space program since then. He
helmet in profile. The three red
conducted research on microgravity
Leonid Kadenyuk (PS1) lines emerging from Columbia
fluid dynamics at the University of
represent the astronaut symbol
Cargo Bay Spartan 201-04, Colorado, and at the National as well as the robot arm which
Payloads: USMP-4, EDFT Aerospace Laboratory in Japan as a
equipment, SOLSE,
was used to deploy and
visiting scientist. retrieve the Spartan satellite.
NaSBE, OARE, LHP,
Doi was selected by NASDA in The letters “µg” represent the
TGDF, GAS-036
1985. He participated in payload spe- payloads studying microgravity
In-Cabin
cialist training from 1990 to 1992, in science in space on this USMP-
Payloads: Sprint/AERCAM
preparation for the Spacelab Japan 04 mission. Gold flames outlin-
mission. He reported to the Johnson ing the helmet visor represent
Space Center in March 1995. the corona of the sun, which
With the completion of STS-87 was studied by Spartan. The
Mission Specialist: Winston E. Doi has logged more than 376 hours flag of Ukraine is next to the
Scott (Captain, USN). Scott, 47, was of space flight including 12 hours and name of the payload specialist
born in Miami, FL, and received a 44 minutes of EVA. who was the first person from
bachelor of arts degree in music from that country to fly on the space
shuttle.
Florida State University and a master Payload Specialist: Leonid K.
of science degree in aeronautical Kadenyuk. Kadenyuk, 46, was born
engineering from the U.S. Naval in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine.
Postgraduate School. He graduated from the Chernihiv Colonel Kadenyuk has been a
Scott became an astronaut in 1992, Higher Aviation School in Chernihiv, member of the USSR Cosmonaut
and served as a mission specialist on Ukraine, the GNIKI VVS USSR Team since 1976. He underwent com-
STS-72. During the 9-day flight the (State Scientific Research Institute of plete engineering and flight training
crew aboard Endeavour retrieved the the Russian Air Forces Center for test for Soyuz, Soyuz-TM, orbital station
Space Flyer Unit (launched from pilot training), the Yuri Gagarin Salyut, orbital complex Mir, includ-
Japan 10-months earlier), deployed Cosmonaut Training Center and ing special training as a commander
and retrieved the OAST-Flyer, and earned a master of science in of Buran reentry space vehicle.
conducted two space walks to demon- mechanical engineering from the He is one of the first NSAU
strate and evaluate techniques to be Moscow Aviation Institute, Depart- Astronaut group selected in 1996 by
used in the assembly of the ment of Aircraft Construction, the National Space Agency of
International Space Station. Moscow, Russia. Ukraine.

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