Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1984)
Thursday, April 12, 1984/The Battalion/Page 15 ipace mechanics get Max running United Press International CAPE CANAVERAL — Two mechanics fixed Solar ix in Challenger’s zero-grav- jarage Wednesday and the jrbished sun sentry was I on the shuttle’s arm to it can be returned to orbit, jf the checkout goes OK, lenger’s crewmen will com- their historic rescue and rmission by putting Solar back in orbit today and mg in Florida Friday, lier permitting. Asuccessful redeployment of most sophisticated sun- ting satellite would pro- proof that astronauts Rob- Crippen, Dick Scobee, ge “Pinky” Nelson, James van Hoften and Terry have moved the American :program into a new era. jmtrollers at the National Imautics and Space Agency led referring to the crew as SDAm some the “Ace Satellite Repair Co.” after their mission was salvaged by the arm’s capture of Solar Max on Tuesday. Despite the cumbersome gloves on their bulky pressure suits and the tiny screws on (he satellite, Nelson and van Hof ten breezed through the satellite tu- neup in less time than expected. They were tethered 300 miles above Earth in Challenger’s cargo bay. They laughed and joked in their workshop, cluttered with glittering bits of insulation. “Take a bow, Pinky, lake a bow,” said Crippen, as the fix-it men finished their chores. They were done far enough ahead of schedule to allow van Hoften time for a test flight with one of the jet backpacks known as a manned maneuver ing unit. He took the jetpack through a series of turns and rolls but stayed within the bay because Challenger is short on maneuvering fuel. The spacewalkers also re ported that a small stud not shown in design drawings of So lar Max may have been the rea son that Nelson failed in his free-flight attempts to dock with the satellite Sunday. Scientists estimated ,the satel lite repair bill would cost $50 million. Solar Max was built and launched at a cost of $77 mil lion, but at current prices a re placement would cost $235 mil lion. The spacewalkers used spe cial tools — a power screwdriver and what van Hoften called a “million dollar wrench” — to re place two broken parts in the sa tellite. They also placed a cover on another instrument. Nelson and van Hoften took turns standing on a work plat form at the end of the shuttle’s 50-foot robot arm to be hoisted to the different parts of the sa tellite. Solar Max was held in a special cradle at the back of the bay near Challenger’s tail. When the space “cherry picker” swung van Hoften over the Earth gbout 300 miles up, he said it made him feel uncom fortable. “I feel like I’m going to fall,” he said. Van Hoften, who considers himself a pretty good home handyman, used the wrench to replace Solar Max’s attitude control module, which had been on the blink since three fuses blew in November 1980. He removed two bolts, slid the 500-pound module out, and slipped in a new one that scien tists hope will allow the precise positioning necessary for Solar Max to carry out its studies of sun flares. The space wrench was used because an ordinary one would have sent the astronaut turning instead of the bolts. After van Hoften replaced the control system — the main goal of the repair mission — he and Nelson took on the more ticklish task of repairing the main electronics box on the sa tellite’s coronagraph, used to study the sun’s outer atmo sphere. Unlike the attitude control system, the main electronics box on the coronagraph was not de signed with space repair in mind. The astronauts used surgical scissors to cut through insula tion protecting the electronics box. They also had to cut some wires and use a screwdriver to disconnect 11 electrical connec tors with 22 screws no bigger than a match head. {Pmftway APARTMENTS 693-6540 )ourt-martial held br 17-year veteran There’s No Need to Wonder Where You’ll Live Next Semester Summer & Fall Preleasing in progress on all of our beauti ful, spacious 1,2 & 3 Bedroom floorplans. * Next to Bee Creek Park * On shuttle route * Last year’s summer rates and current spring rates being offered. * Basketball court, two pools. * Sauna * 24-hour security Come See Us Soon — We’d Love to Have You! OPEN DAILY 1600 S.W. Parkway Managed by Brentwood Properties a n filed asi] se the .o the p give prolt of cases' linked Press International |)RT HOOD — Army pros- rs conducted court-mar- earings Wednesday for a ar Army veteran who re- to obey an order to work Saturday because it vio- the taws ot the Seventh- dventist church. L 1st Class George M. Des- ,36, was charged with fail- oobey a direct order dur- m NCO leadership course 10at Fort Hood. his lawsoi ay his kii an beatini ie hospiti i (ki^aiK y receives nd arm,of- Roman H (ex^ensai mages. >n he Seventh-day Adventist ion prohibits work between lown Friday and sundown rday, so Dessauer walked f from the conference at lown Friday, sauer, who is originally Cincinnati, said he had eevery effort to explain his ton to his superior officers m (old he would have to id the conference anyway. Police Beat The court-martial began Tuesday and a decision was ex pected by today, officials said. At Tuesday’s hearing, Army prosecutor Capt. Keith Romich asked the married father of three: “Didn’t you realize when you re-enlisted that you could not serve the military and your God, too?” “No, I did not think about it,” Dessauer replied. “I thought I was protected by the First Amendfnent, guaranteed free dom of religion.” Dessauer is being defended at tliQ court-martial by attorney Randy Elkins of Minden, La. If convicted he Faces six months of hard labor at a federal military prison, a dishonorable dis charge and loss of six months of pay. Dessauer became a Sevench- day Adventist two years ago. ProBLeM PREqNANCy? We Can HeLp Free Pregnancy Testing Personal Counseling Pregnancy Terminations Completely Confidential Call Us P irst - We Care (713) 774-9706 6420 Hillcroft, Houston, Texas lS i he following incidents were irted to the University Po- Department through Inesday. BISDEMEANOR THEFT: • Two signs belonging to the i maniMj L were stolen from ncerx liCmavvA Student Center on, bumlmeni a nd from the cross- r. | area between the MSC and idge b idder Tower. • A J.V.C. AM/FM cassette Iponent stereo system was me (M la fern 1 VsQ MSC. IN THE a silenffl r weapon I everyom ise undei WM7 Aggies, with current I.D., don't forget about your 15% discount on all mer chandise (excluding Lorus Watches) Thru April 30, 1984, bring in this coupon and receive an additional 5% off. Total 20% off Discounts do not apply to sale items Layaways Invited Douglas Jewelry 212 N. Main Downtown Bryan 822-3119 ?■■■■■■■■■ 1623 Texas Ave. College Station 693-0677 FREE DRINKS ON PIZZA HUT Free Quart of Soft Drink with any Pizza delivered thru Easter! PIZZA HUT DELIVERS! ZZfilXrSSP' pfUVFRY RiOT -Hut. now DELivERina at Luncm JUST GIVE US A CALL! [North Campus 260-9060 501 University Dr. (tXorthfjate) South College Station 693-9393 1 103 Anderson (at ttolleman) NORTH/SOUTH 260-9060 693-9393 $2 OFF , Sf^ClAjL Any 15" Pizza FREE DELIVERY! -Hit Limited Delivery area Not Valid with other Specials | m 1984 PiimHut inc Expires April 19. 1984 — — M — ! NORTH/SOUTH 260 9060 693-9393 $1 OFF Any 13" Pizza L FREE DELIVERY! V ^-Hut Sat. I lam 2am I 2 noon-midniaht edia. ree of th (erneafit i A blue Schwinn ten-speed was stolen from a G. pe Wbilfc Cxdv&euvn VAVe n. Mays oorway “• \ yellow Raleigh ten-speed , aboul Jjjde was stolen from in front lerlingC. Evans Library. ieriffJa«»A 1979 Honda XL-100-S jpparentlf fcrcycle was stolen from was shS |ing Annex 30. • A Randex AM/FM stereo I radio with detachable Ikers was stolen from 361A automat lical Science. recovered I : said mw ises wen indicatin! be t :le the 41; ir, /ocate*! .larteroit e cornn" 1 : north WHEN OVER 30,000 PEOPLE Battalion Classified 845-2611 For the biggest selections of anything you could pos sibly want to buy . . . read our classifieds. You’re bound to find it!