OAST in space

U.S. science satellite deployed

January 14, 1996
Web posted at: 10:30 a.m. EST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (CNN) -- A U.S. science satellite was released into orbit Sunday from space shuttle Endeavour (417K QuickTime movie), one day after astronauts retrieved a Japanese satellite. Shuttle crane operator Koichi Wakata set loose the American satellite as Endeavour soared nearly 200 miles above the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil.

The satellite, known as OAST-Flyer, contains experiments involving space contamination, lasers and amateur radio. It will fly free of the shuttle for two days; the crew then will pick it up for the ride home. Wakata, a Japanese astronaut, also used the shuttle robot arm to capture his country's science satellite on Saturday. Up next for the crew is a spacewalk Monday to test tools and techniques for building an international space station. The nine-day mission is due to end Saturday.

Related Sites

• CNN's STS-72 Endeavour mission page

Related Stories

• Endeavour retrieves Japanese satellite
• Rats in space commence long-term experiment
• Endeavour launched

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Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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