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STS-77 Mission Insignia
| Name of Image |
STS-77 Mission Insignia |
| Date of Image |
1996-02-01 |
| Full Description |
The STS-77 crew patch displays the Shuttle Endeavour in the lower left and its reflection within the tripod and concave parabolic mirror of the SPARTAN Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE). The center leg of the tripod also delineates the top of the Spacehab's shape, the rest of which is outlined in gold just inside the red perimeter. The Spacehab was carried in the payload bay and housed the Commercial Float Zone Furnace (CFZF). Also depicted within the confines of the IAE mirror are the mission's rendezvous operations with the Passive Aerodynamically-Stabilized Magnetically-Damped satellite (PAM/STU) appears as a bright six-pointed star-like reflection of the sun on the edge of the mirror with Endeavour in position to track it. The sunlight on the mirror's edge, which also appears as an orbital sunset, is located over Goddard Space Flight Center, the development facility for the SPARTAN/IAE and Technology Experiments Advancing Missions in Space (TEAMS) experiments. The reflection of the Earth is oriented to show the individual countries of the crew as well as the ocean which Captain Cook explored in the original Endeavour. The mission number 77 is featured as twin stylized chevrons and an orbiting satellite as adapted from NASA's logo. The stars at the top are arranged as seen in the northern sky in the vicinity of the constellation Ursa Minor. The field of 11 stars represents both the TEAMS cluster of experiments (the four antennae of GPS Attitude and Navigation Experiment (GANE), the single canister of Liquid Metal Thermal Experiment (LMTE), the three canisters of Vented Tank Resupply Experiment (VTRE), and the three canisters of PAM/STU) and the 11th flight of Endeavour. The constellation at the right shows the fourth flight of Spacehab Experiments. |
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Vintage Gamma-Rays
| Title |
Vintage Gamma-Rays |
| Explanation |
Gamma-rays [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l2/ history_gamma.html ] are the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/ emspectrum.html ]. But these high energy photons penetrate and interact in normal materials and cannot be focused by lenses and mirrors like those in optical telescopes. So how do you make an image in gamma-ray light [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/how_l1/ gamma_detectors.html ]? One way is to use a patterned mask of material which can cast gamma-ray shadows [ http://home.iae.nl/users/ferdv/shadow.htm ] on a digital detector array. The mask is called a coded aperture [ http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/cai/coded.html ] and the resulting shadow patterns can be used to construct a gamma-ray image of the source. For example, consider the picture above [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/objects/heapow/archive/ technology/isgri_first_image.html ]. In place of a coded mask [ http://swift.sonoma.edu/instruments/bat.html ], familiar objects were positioned in front of a detector array and illuminated with gamma-rays in a laboratory test. Do you recognize the shadow [ http://www.shadowradio.org/ ] image? (Click on the picture for the focused visible light image.) Destined to fly on the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory [ http://astro.estec.esa.nl/SA-general/Projects/Integral/ integral.html ] (INTEGRAL [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/integral/ integralgof.html ]) satellite scheduled for launch in 2002, the detector array will be part of the imaging gamma-ray telescope, IBIS [ http://astro.estec.esa.nl/SA-general/Projects/Integral/ integ_payload_imager.html ]. |
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Vintage Gamma Rays
| Title |
Vintage Gamma Rays |
| Explanation |
Gamma-rays [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l2/ history_gamma.html ] are the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation [ http://imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/index.html ]. But these high energy photons penetrate and interact in normal materials and cannot be focused by lenses and mirrors like those in optical telescopes. So how do you make an image in gamma-ray light [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/how_l1/ gamma_detectors.html ]? One way is to use a patterned mask of material which can cast gamma-ray shadows [ http://home.iae.nl/users/ferdv/shadow.htm ] on a digital detector array. The mask is called a coded aperture [ http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/cai/coded.html ] and the resulting shadow patterns can be used to construct a gamma-ray image of the source. For example, consider the picture above [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/objects/heapow/archive/ technology/isgri_first_image.html ]. In place of a coded mask [ http://swift.gsfc.nasa.gov/scitech/instruments/ bat.html ], familiar objects were positioned in front of a detector array and illuminated with gamma-rays in a laboratory test. Do you recognize the shadow [ http://www.shadowradio.org/ ] image? (Click on the picture for the focused visible light image.) Destined to fly on the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory [ http://astro.estec.esa.nl/SA-general/Projects/Integral/ integral.html ] (INTEGRAL [ http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/integral/ integralgof.html ]) satellite scheduled for launch in October of this year, the detector array [ http://www-dapnia.cea.fr/Phys/Sap/Actualites/ISGRI/ isgriang.shtml ] is part of the imaging gamma-ray telescope, IBIS [ http://astro.estec.esa.nl/Integral/ integ_payload_imager.html ]. |
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The Shuttle Launches an Infl
…
| Title |
The Shuttle Launches an Inflatable Antenna |
| Explanation |
High above the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950622.html ] the Space Shuttle Endeavor [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950807.html ] launches a new type of instrument - an inflatable antenna. The officially designated Inflatable Antenna Experiment [ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/iae/iae_indx.html ] was released Monday, May 20th, as part of a Spartan [ http://sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov/sp207.html ] satellite - which contains many scientific experiments. The antenna is roughly the size of a tennis court and is even visible from Earth [ http://shuttle.nasa.gov/sts-77/orbit/orbiter/sighting/ ]. At the end of the mission, the antenna will be jettisoned while the rest of the Spartan is recovered by the Shuttle. The function of an antenna is to broadcast radio messages, and the large dish at the end helps focus radio waves into a narrow beam which can be detected over long distances. |
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Views of the OSS-1 pallet
| Title |
Views of the OSS-1 pallet |
| Description |
Views of the OSS-1 pallet. Photos includes close-up view of the OSS-1 pallet at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. Visible in the picture are the different experiment packages. In the upper right hand corner on a table is a portion of the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) and the Contamination Monitor Package. In front of the table is the Vehicle Charging and Potential Experiment. The first round object in the center of the pallet is the PDP antenna. Beside it is the Solar Flare X-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (round container) and below that is the Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor. The grate like object is the Thermal Canister experiment. On the lower left of the pallet is part of the Induced Atmosphere Experiment (IAE). On the upper left of the pallet is the rest of the IAE and the Vehicle Charging and Potential experiment (26354), Technicians at Goddard check out the installation of some of the experiments aboard the OSS-1 (26355). |
| Date Taken |
1982-02-01 |
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Views of the OSS-1 pallet
| Title |
Views of the OSS-1 pallet |
| Description |
Views of the OSS-1 pallet. Photos includes close-up view of the OSS-1 pallet at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. Visible in the picture are the different experiment packages. In the upper right hand corner on a table is a portion of the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) and the Contamination Monitor Package. In front of the table is the Vehicle Charging and Potential Experiment. The first round object in the center of the pallet is the PDP antenna. Beside it is the Solar Flare X-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (round container) and below that is the Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor. The grate like object is the Thermal Canister experiment. On the lower left of the pallet is part of the Induced Atmosphere Experiment (IAE). On the upper left of the pallet is the rest of the IAE and the Vehicle Charging and Potential experiment (26354), Technicians at Goddard check out the installation of some of the experiments aboard the OSS-1 (26355). |
| Date Taken |
1982-02-01 |
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Following its deployment fro
…
| Title |
Following its deployment from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the Spartan 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) payload is backdropped over clouds and water. |
| Description |
STS-77 ESC VIEW --- Following its deployment from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the Spartan 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) payload is backdropped over clouds and water. The view was photographed with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and downlinked to flight controllers on the first full day of orbital operations by the six-member crew. Managed by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Spartan is designed to provide short-duration, free-flight opportunities for a variety of scientific studies. The Spartan configuration on this flight is unique in that the IAE is part of an additional separate unit which is ejected once the experiment is completed. The IAE experiment will lay the groundwork for future technology development in inflatable space structures, which will be launched and then inflated like a balloon on-orbit. GMT: 08:12:50. |
| Date Taken |
1996-05-20 |
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Following its deployment fro
…
| Title |
Following its deployment from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the Spartan 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) payload is backdropped against a wall of grayish clouds. |
| Description |
STS-77 ESC VIEW --- Following its deployment from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the Spartan 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) payload is backdropped against a wall of grayish clouds. The view was photographed with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and downlinked to flight controllers on the first full day of orbital operations by the six-member crew. Managed by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Spartan is designed to provide short-duration, free-flight opportunities for a variety of scientific studies. The Spartan configuration on this flight is unique in that the IAE is part of an additional separate unit which is ejected once the experiment is completed. The IAE experiment will lay the groundwork for future technology development in inflatable space structures, which will be launched and then inflated like a balloon on-orbit. GMT: 08:14:57. |
| Date Taken |
1996-05-20 |
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Following its deployment fro
…
| Title |
Following its deployment from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the Spartan 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) payload is backdropped over clouds and water. |
| Description |
STS-77 ESC VIEW --- Following its deployment from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, the Spartan 207/Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE) payload is backdropped over clouds and water. The view was photographed with an Electronic Still Camera (ESC) and downlinked to flight controllers on the first full day of orbital operations by the six-member crew. Managed by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Spartan is designed to provide short-duration, free-flight opportunities for a variety of scientific studies. The Spartan configuration on this flight is unique in that the IAE is part of an additional separate unit which is ejected once the experiment is completed. The IAE experiment will lay the groundwork for future technology development in inflatable space structures, which will be launched and then inflated like a balloon on-orbit. GMT: 08:04:38. |
| Date Taken |
1996-05-20 |
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With a cloudy horizon scene
…
| Title |
With a cloudy horizon scene as a backdrop, the Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in the grasp of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) following its re-capture on May 21, 1996. |
| Description |
STS-77 ESC VIEW --- With a cloudy horizon scene as a backdrop, the Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in the grasp of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) following its re-capture on May 21, 1996. The view was captured with an onboard Electronic Still Camera (ESC). The six-member crew has spent a portion of the early stages of the mission in various activities involving the Spartan 207 and the related Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE). The Spartan project is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. GMT: 09:39:35. |
| Date Taken |
1996-05-21 |
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In this medium close-up view
…
| Title |
In this medium close-up view, captured by an Electronic Still Camera (ESC), the Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in the grasp of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) following its re-capture on May 21, 1996. |
| Description |
STS-77 ESC VIEW --- In this medium close-up view, captured by an Electronic Still Camera (ESC), the Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in the grasp of the Space Shuttle Endeavour's Remote Manipulator System (RMS) following its re-capture on May 21, 1996. The six-member crew has spent a portion of the early stages of the mission in various activities involving the Spartan 207 and the related Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE). The Spartan project is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. GMT: 09:38:05. |
| Date Taken |
1996-05-21 |
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The Spartan 207 free-flyer i
…
| Title |
The Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in a low-hover mode above its berth in the Space Shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay in the grasp of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). |
| Description |
STS-77 ESC VIEW --- The Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in a low-hover mode above its berth in the Space Shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay in the grasp of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The Spacehab module can be seen in the foreground. The free-flyer was re-captured by the six crew members on May 21, 1996. The crew has spent a portion of the early stages of the mission in various activities involving the Spartan 207 and the related Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE). The Spartan project is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. GMT: 09:51:50. |
| Date Taken |
1996-05-21 |
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The Spartan 207 free-flyer i
…
| Title |
The Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in a low-hover mode above its berth in the Space Shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay in the grasp of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). |
| Description |
STS-77 ESC VIEW --- The Spartan 207 free-flyer is held in a low-hover mode above its berth in the Space Shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay in the grasp of the Remote Manipulator System (RMS). The free-flyer was re-captured by the six crew members on May 21, 1996. The crew has spent a portion of the early stages of the mission in various activities involving the Spartan 207 and the related Inflatable Antenna Experiment (IAE). The Spartan project is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. GMT: 09:51:29. |
| Date Taken |
1996-05-21 |
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