[net.columbia] Science Abounds on Challenger

alb@alice.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (08/01/85)

The Challenger crew today plucked the plasma diagnostics
package from the cargo bay with the RMS and moved it around
the ship.  The device is to take readings aimed at explaining
the mysterious glowing phenomena seen around most shuttle
flights to date.  Later in the mission, the PDP will be released
and then picked up again after that.

Meanwhile, a $60 German-built telescope pointing system
continued to fail, despite two attempts to fix it.  The device
locked onto the sun for brief periods but then lost track
of it.  The test is important, as the palate is to be used
during the Halleys comet mission next spring.  Three of the
four telescopes on the platform are working individuallay;
the fourth lost power and is not functioning.