the L def structure was built at NASA
Langley Research Center and shipped to
Kennedy Space Center in 1983 where
experiments were mounted to it in
preparation for launch these experiments
and the structure itself were designed
to better define and determine the
effects of the low Earth orbit
environment where man may someday live
as he extends his exploration of the
solar system
quantum NFL death NASA's long-duration
exposure facility took place in April of
1984 it would become one of NASA's most
successful satellites the first
spacecraft ever to take advantage of the
space shuttles unique capability to
deploy experiments in space for long
exposure times and then return them
safely to earth for laboratory analysis
using a remote manipulator arm Terry
Hart lifted the LD from the shuttle
cargo bay and placed it in the proper
position for free flight in space the L
Deaf's initial orbit was 257 nautical
miles above the earth and inclination at
28 and 1/2 degrees as it orbited in free
flight one end always pointed toward
space the other always pointed toward
the center of the earth for 5 and 1/2
years l def would carry 57 experiments
in 86 trays mounted on its exterior it
would be the only source of data to
measure the effects of prolonged space
exposure on spacecraft materials and
living organisms the retrieval of L def
in January of 1990 marked the beginning
of scientific investigation for the more
than 200 researchers and scientists who
had launched their experiments 5 and 1/2
years earlier
this time astronaut Bonnie Dunbar
operated the manipulator arm while
astronaut Marsha Ivins took the first
investigative photographs 10,000
specimens and virtually every part of
the facility will provide information
about what happens when things stay in
space for long periods of time the
facility and experiments will provide
unprecedented data on the magnitude of
induced radioactivity in materials
during prolonged exposure in space the
interstellar gas experiment will provide
insight into the formation of the
galaxies as captured interstellar gas
atoms are analyzed cosmic dust
experiments will provide insight into
the evolution of the solar system
through studies of the unparalleled
quantity of captured micrometeoroid
material radiation experiments will
provide data on radiation intensity and
its effects on living organisms studies
of thousands of materials associated
with design of spacecraft structures
thermal control systems power systems
optics electronic systems and propulsion
systems will be analyzed for
environmental effects of radiation
vacuum extreme temperature variations
atomic oxygen and collision with space
materials eventually all spacecraft and
spacecraft systems will be designed
using materials that have been validated
for long-duration space exposure for the
remainder of the mission l def was
safely tucked away in the space shuttles
cargo bay it remained there through the
shuttle landing at Edwards Air Force
Base and the piggyback ride to the
Kennedy Space Center in the orbiter
processing facility investigators got
their first glimpse of L dev initial
examinations focused on the
interrelationship of all experiments and
the L def structure then the
experimental trays were removed
and distributed to investigators for
data analysis the science experiments
hold exciting revelations regarding the
evolution of the Kosmos and biological
effects on long duration space exposure
as they relate to the presence of humans
in space l def technology experiments
will establish a database for use in
designing spacecraft such as Space
Station the most publicized experiment
is seeds which offers a wide variety of
opportunities for student experiments 12
and 1/2 million seed packages were
distributed to upper elementary through
University level students American
students and students of foreign
countries have become interested in
science and the scientific method of
Investigation by growing and comparing
tomato plants from control seeds which
are kept on earth and experimental seeds
which are housed on L def as it orbited
the earth L Daffy and his experiments
are just beginning to define and
determine the effects of the lower Earth
orbit environment as investigators
interpret their data they grow
confidence in the models they are using
to accurately predict this environment
all space vehicles that fly in low Earth
orbit will benefit from L Dell Space
Station freedom will be its first major
benefactor the L dev structure designed
for reuse may be available for use on
future L duck missions