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.