STS-75 Mission Control Center 
Status Report # 17

Friday, March 1, 1996, 8 a.m. CST

Columbia's astronauts had a clear view of the Tethered Satellite as
the two spacecraft passed within about 46 nautical miles
overnight. The closest approach occurred at 11:17 central time last
night (approximately 7/08:59 MET), and was captured on videotape as
the satellite and its 12-mile tether came into view.

Meanwhile, flight controllers monitored the Tethered Satellite through
ground stations as its batteries drained, but not before holding in
for last night's fly-by.

About 6 a.m. today, weak signals from the satellite, indicating its
battery life was waning, were observed through the Merritt Island
tracking station and the Bermuda tracking station.  During a second
pass across the southern United States about 7:30 a.m. today (7/17:12
mission elapsed time), ground controllers confirmed there was no
acquisition of signal from the satellite, effectively ending its
mission.

Three in-flight special events are planned for the crew this morning
and early afternoon.  An Italian media interview is set for about 10
a.m.; an Italian VIP call to crewmembers Maurizio Cheli and Payload
Specialist Umberto Guidoni is set for 11:50 this morning and a Swiss
educational event with Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier is
scheduled for 2:48 this afternoon.

Columbia is continuing to provide a stable platform for microgravity
investigations as Columbia sails 180 statute miles above the Earth,
circling the globe every 90 minutes.

The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 8
a.m. Saturday.  Weekend hours are 8 am. to 2 p.m.