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Shuttle Payloads

Shuttle payloads

Overview:

In addition to the Shuttle Imaging Radar series, a number of JPL payloads have flown over the years in the cargo bay of NASA space shuttles. These have included the following major payloads: Payload Name; Shuttle Flight; Launch/Landing Dates; Purpose

- Shuttle Multispectral Infrared Radiometer; STS-2; November 12-14, 1981; remote identification of rock-forming minerals

- Fiber Optic Data Transmission Experiment; STS-41C; April 6-13, 1984; measure long-term radiation effects on communication systems in experiment on Long Duration Exposure Facility deployed on this mission; retrieved on mission STS-32, January 9-20, 1990

- Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy Experiment; STS-51B, April 29-May 6, 1985; STS-45, March 24-April, 1992; STS-56, April 8-17, 1993; STS-66, November 3-14, 1994; measurement of trace and minor gases in Earth's atmosphere

- Dexterous End Effector Experiment; STS-62; March 4-18, 1994; to test sensor on shuttle robotic arm

- Cryo System Experiment; STS-63; February 3-11, 1995; test cryocooler and heat pipe

- Brilliant Eyes Ten-kelvin Sorption Cryocooler Experiment; STS-77; May 19-29, 1996; advanced cryocooler technology demonstration, enabled sensor cooling technique for Plank mission

- KidSat; STS-76, March 22-31, 1996; STS-81, January 12-22, 1997; STS-86, September 25-October 6, 1997; sharing Earth images online with schools

- Inflatable Antenna Experiment; STS-77; May 19-29, 1996; test antenna structure designed to be inflated in orbit

- Confined Helium Experiment; STS-87; November 19-December 5, 1997; high-resolution test of the theory of confined systems

- Electronic Nose (E-nose); STS-95; October 29-November 7, 1998; air quality technology inspired by human nose architecture