sjb (11/20/82)
The sponge experiment aboard STS-5 was returned to its designer, Aaron K. Gillette, for study. He said the mere fact that the sponges were alive meant the experiment, to observe sponge growth in micro-g, was successful. He will now study the sponges for about a month and then submit a research paper to NASA. Meanwhile, trouble with the Challenger's landing gear hydraulic lines again delayed the movement of the second orbiter to the VAB. NASA says that rollout, scheduled to have already been performed, is now set for 0600 EST on Monday (22 November), with rollout to pad 39A still set to 29 November. They did not say whether or not the launch, scheduled for 24 January, will be affected.