Word: stinger
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...Wednesday morning the other rogue canister was in view; an awestruck Gardner exclaimed, "Look at that satellite!" This time it was his turn to sail forth in the Buck Rogers backpack, his body silhouetted against the Gulf of Mexico. And when he, too, easily pierced Westar with his stinger, he radioed over to his partner, "Joe, it's just like you said...
...mounted on the arms of his backpack. An alternate technique worked, but the failed grappler plan had to be abandoned. In June, Astronaut Dale Gardner, who would be part of last week's mission, sketched out an alternative idea on the back of an envelope. The now famous stinger was born...
Solar Max had been built with retrieval in mind; it had a grappling pin in the middle of its belly. Palapa-B2 and Westar6 are of the old-fashioned expendable variety, with smooth sides and no handles. The stinger, measuring 64 in. and consisting of a pole mounted on a round base, solved the problem neatly. It would inject an expanding prong into the satellite's rear motor, locking on to it and providing a grip for the wrangler-astronauts. As Allen explained, "It's like opening an umbrella inside a chimney." In practice sessions Allen could...
...crew's involvement in mission planning was not limited to the stinger. Hauck suggested that the shuttle close to within 35 ft. of the satellites, instead of the 200-ft. distance maintained with Solar Max. The reason: to save the backpack's propulsion fuel. Meanwhile, ground controllers made plans to slow the satellites' spin from 22 to two rotations a minute. They prepared to send signals, putting the two satellites in the same orbital plane, 690 miles apart...
...Westar with his right hand, while his left gripped the antenna support. Gardner cut loose, thrust over to the bay, stored his pack and tethered himself to the cargo bay. Meantime, Fisher gingerly began to reel in Allen and the satellite until Gardner could reach up to remove the stinger. He could then proceed directly to the remaining berthing steps. The only newly tricky part was in keeping the second satellite from banging into the first. "Stop it now, but stop it gently," Gardner cautioned. Answered Allen: "Believe me, brother, there's no other way to stop...