Astronauts give GRO a helping hand

Abstract

The eighth mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, during which an emergency spacewalk was performed to help deploy the Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO), is described and illustrated with extensive photographs. The countdown and liftoff are recalled, and a day-by-day history of the mission is provided. Particular attention is given to the Extravehicular Activity Development Flight Experiment, designed to obtain data for future spacewalks, and the Crew and Equipment Translation Aid, aimed at testing carts that spacewalking astronauts could use to move along the truss structure of the Space Station.