[net.columbia] Challenger Nears Solar Max

alb@alice.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (04/07/84)

The Challenger today closed to within 1000 miles of
the crippled Solar Maximum Mission satellite and is
continuing to close at about 60 mph.  Tomorrow (Sunday),
the Challenger will park about 300 feet away from the
satellite, and mission specialist Nelson will fly to
it via MMU, stop it from spinning, and help to attach
it to the RMS (after he stops the spin, the shuttle will
move to within 50 feet.)  Once the satellite is in the
cargo bay, Nelson and van Hoften will replace a control
system in the satellite.  On Tuesday, Nelson and van
Hoften will replace a failed electronics box, and, if
the satellite thens works properly, it will be redeployed
on Wednesday.