lipman@decwrl.UUCP (02/27/84)
From: dvinci::fisher (Burns Fisher, MRO3-1/E13, 231-4108) I have heard in several places that during the last shuttle flight, the one of the remote manipulator system cameras was pointed at Palapa when its PAM engine fired. (The firing cannot be seen directly because NASA insists on turning the shuttle belly toward the PAM to avoid window abrasion.) What I have NOT seen nor heard anywhere is what was seen by this camera? Has any one seen pictures or descriptions? Thanks, Burns UUCP: ... decvax!decwrl!rhea!dvinci!fisher or ...allegra!decwrl!rhea!dvinci!fisher or ... ucbvax!decwrl!rhea!dvinci!fisher ARPA: decwrl!rhea!dvinci!fisher@Berkeley or decwrl!rhea!dvinci!fisher@SU-Shasta
alb@alice.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (02/28/84)
The pictures were shown on all the network news programs the night of the firing (surprisingly, I did not see them on CNN!) It was not as spectacular as the event really is. Since, the camera was directed up at the PAM, no rocket plume (the spectacular part) was seen. What you could see was a flash followed by a bright ring of material which quickly descended and widened as the satellite moved away. The satellite/PAM could only be seen for about 10 to 15 seconds, further leading officials to believe that the motors shut down early.