Friday, October 6, 2023

Day 2: STS-41-G crew begin experiments 1984

Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau with the Sunphotometer

The second day of flight STS-41-G, the Challenger crew woke up to Irene Cara’s Flashdance…What a Feeling.  Starting with Apollo 15, NASA started playing music to wake up the flight crew.  Each song is chosen specifically by the astronauts’ families and typically has a special meaning to their family member or the crew.  Or it can be applicable to their daily activities.  I haven’t found which astronaut is connected to this song.

The crew lowered the Challenger’s orbit to an altitude of 151 miles, down from 218 miles the day before. Marc Garneau began the Canadian experiments (CANEX), sponsored by the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada.  His experiments included investigations into medical, atmospheric, climatic, materials, and robotic sciences.  One piece of equipment Garneau used was the Sunphotometer, a handheld instrument which measures solar radiation at several wavelengths.  The Canadian Atmospheric Environment Service used the readings to measure local atmospheric constituents and to monitor acidic haze.

Paul Scully-Power (Australian-American astronaut) began oceanographic observations, and successfully photographed spiral eddies in the world’s oceans.

David Leestma completed tests on the Orbital Refueling System remote-controlled hydrazine fuel transfer. The structure was designed to develop and demonstrate equipment and techniques for refueling satellites in orbit.


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