Launch from Cape Canaveral (
KSC); landing on
Edwards
AFB. The launch
was originally planned for October 14, 1993. Due to a computer failure this
attempt was cancelled. The second attempt one day later was cancelled again -
this time due to a S-Band transponder failure.
It was the second
Spacelab Life Science mission. The crew performed life sciences research. The
experiments focused on cardiovascular, regulatory, neurovestibular and
musculoskeletal systems of the body. They made experiments on the crew and on
laboratory animals (48 rats).
Crew members conducted experiments aimed
at understanding bone tissue loss and the effects of microgravity on sensory
perception. Two neurovestibular experiments investigating space motion sickness
and perception changes were performed on the 2nd day as well. Astronauts
Lucid and
Fettman wore a headset, called an Accelerometer recording
Unit, designed to continually record head movements throughout the
day.
It was the longest shuttle mission to date.