'Cutting Edge': Remembering STS-62, 25 Years On

By Ben Evans, on March 10th, 2019

Tropical Storm Owen vividly backdrops Columbia’s silhouetted payload bay, aft bulkhead and vertical stabilizer during STS-62. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

A quarter-century ago, this week, five astronauts aboard shuttle Columbia sailed through a mission which their launch announcer had earlier described as “the cutting edge of microgravity research”. STS-62 Commander John […]

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'Broken at the Boom': 20 Years Since STS-75 (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on March 6th, 2016

Spectacular view of Columbia’s payload bay and aft compartment, during STS-75. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

Two decades ago, Space Shuttle Columbia rocketed into orbit carrying one of the most unusual experiments on record: the reflight of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1R). It was intended to demonstrate the “electrodynamics” of a conducting […]

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'A Little Adrenaline Rush': 20 Years Since STS-75 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on March 5th, 2016

The STS-75 crew pose for their official portrait. Seated are Pilot Scott “Doc” Horowitz, Commander Andy Allen, and Payload Commander Franklin Chang-Diaz, with Maurizo Cheli, Umberto Guidoni, Jeff Hoffman, and Claude Nicollier standing. Photo Credit: NASA

Twenty years ago, Space Shuttle Columbia rocketed into orbit carrying one of the most unusual experiments on […]

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'The Tether Is Broken': The Second Flight of the Tethered Satellite (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on February 23rd, 2014

The Tethered Satellite System (TSS) begins its deployment from the payload bay mast on STS-75. Photo Credit: NASA

Eighteen years ago this week, Space Shuttle Columbia rocketed into orbit carrying one of the most unusual experiments on record: the reflight of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1R). Originally conceived by the late Professor Guiseppe […]

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'Rock Solid': The Second Flight of the Tethered Satellite (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on February 22nd, 2014

Columbia thunders into orbit on 22 February 1996, 18 years ago today. Her launch sent hearts leaping into throats within seconds of liftoff. Photo Credit: NASA

Eighteen years ago today (22 February), Space Shuttle Columbia rocketed into orbit carrying one of the most unusual experiments on record: the Tethered Satellite System (TSS). Originally […]

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Satellite on a String: The “Weird Science” of STS-46

By Ben Evans, on October 27th, 2012

Twenty years ago, International Space Year 1992 saw representatives of nine discrete nations visit low-Earth orbit. Among them was the first Italian national, Franco Malerba, who rode STS-46 to participate in the deployment of his country’s ambitious Tethered Satellite System (TSS). In this view, the satellite inches its way into space from its […]

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