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STS-41D's Solar Array Experiment

One of the crewmembers of STS-41D, the first flight of Space Shuttle Discovery, captured this photo of the Solar Array Experiment (SAE) deployed during the mission's OAST-1 experiment. The OAST-1 payload, which stood for NASA's "Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology" included three major experiments. The SAE, Dynamic Augmentation Experiment (DAE), and the Solar Cell Calibration Facility (SCCF). The components were mounted on a platform in the orbiter's cargo bay.

 

One of the main objectives of OAST-1 was to demonstrate the performance of a large, low-cost, lightweight deployable and retractable solar array for use on future installations such as the International Space Station. Fully extended, the array was 31 meters (102 feet) long.

 

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Credit: NASA

Image Number: 41d-01-0021

Date: September 2, 1984

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Uploaded on September 5, 2024
Taken on September 2, 1984