The Space Shuttle

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the different aspects of Space Shuttle. The Space Shuttle orbiter Columbia flew for the first time on April 12, 1981. The Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System performance during the STS-7 mission was flawless as it achieved the first deployment and retrieval of a spacecraft, the West German Shuttle Pallet Satellite from the cargo bay. Additional scientific experimentation was accomplished on STS-7 with NASA's office of Space and Terrestrial Applications payload that remained fixed inside the payload bay to perform materials processing experiments. While the Shuttle flights have been demonstrating a large number of engineering accomplishments, the capabilities of the shuttle to provide outstanding scientific benefits have also been illustrated. The Multipurpose Experiment Support Structure was used on the OAST-1 mission, an experiment involving deployment of large structures in space and the Large Format Camera. The Shuttle revolution has also made it possible to offer space experimentation opportunities to new classes of investigators through small Self Contained Payload Program better known as Getaway Specials.