Spacelab Mission 2 pallet-only mode verification flight

Abstract

The first two flights of Spacelab are intended to verify the utility and flexibility of all elements of the Spacelab inventory, incorporating an array of interchangeable components including pressurized manned laboratories, unpressurized platforms, and related support systems, which can be assembled in several different configurations of pallets and pressurized modules depending on the specific requirements of the mission. System performance will be monitored by flight instrumentation. Attention is given to Mission 2's unique payload-integration equipment and the general problem of mission planning.