Descrizione : 2 covers. Dunbar retrieved the LDEF on the fourth day of the flight using the shuttle`s Remote Manipulator System. The timeliness of the retrieval was of critical importance, because a high rate of solar flux had increased the density of the LDEF`s orbital environment and accelerated its rate of orbital decay. Specialists who carefully monitored the stability of the craft`s orbit had anticipated that if the LDEF was not retrieved in time, it would pass too low for the shuttle to safely reach, and could be destroyed during re-entry in February 1990.
The crew performed a 41⁄2-hour photographic survey of the free-flying structure, which held 57 science, technology and applications experiments.
Greenbelt post stamp.

USA 2229 L - picture enhanced ?

Pagina : future · Ref: USA 2229 L

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STS 32 (COLUMBIA) · LEASAT 5 (SYNCOM 4 5) (SATELLITE)