Thermal attitudes and the plasma environment

The orbiter’s orientation and robotic arm became tools for a combined test and research programme.

Columbia was held in different orientations relative to the Sun to expose its surfaces to varied thermal conditions. Measuring the response of the spacecraft helped define how its systems behaved during extended periods of heating and cooling. [1, 3]

The crew also used Canadarm to position the Plasma Diagnostics Package. Its electromagnetic and particle sensors investigated the environment around the orbiter, while the arm itself underwent further operational tests. This was an instrument-handling task rather than deployment of a communications satellite. [1, 4]

◉ Real photograph