STS044-24-005 - STS-044 - STS-44 DSP / IUS spacecraft tilted to deployment position in OV-104's PLB

The original finding aid described this as:

Description: STS-44 Defense Support Program (DSP) / Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) spacecraft, with forward airborne support equipment (ASE) payload retention latch actuator and umbilical boom released, is raised to a 58 degree deployment position by the ASE aft frame tilt actuator (AFTA) table in the payload bay (PLB) of Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104. The IUS is supported in the ASE AFTA table and is inscribed with USAF. Above the IUS is the DSP satellite with stowed solar paddles (box-like structure) visible just above the DSP/IUS interface. The cylinder at the very top of the DSP satellite is the Infrared (IR) Sensor. Lights illuminate the PLB and highlight the IUS and some DSP components against the blackness of space. Image 006 was selected by the Public Affairs Office (PAO) for public release.

Subject Terms: STS-44, ATLANTIS (ORBITER), ANTIMISSILE DEFENSE, ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES, PAYLOAD BAY, DEFENSE PROGRAM, INERTIAL UPPER STAGE

Date Taken: 11/24/1991

Original: Film

Preservation File Format: TIFF
STS-44