STS-80
Report # 15 
Monday, November 25, 1996 9 p.m. CST 
 
  Securing its precious cargo of advanced semiconductor materials for
awaiting scientists on Earth, Columbia today recaptured the Wake
Shield Facility, one of two science satellites that had been flying in
orbital formation with the shuttle.

  Commander Ken Cockrell flawlessly took the shuttle to within 35 feet
of the satellite and Astronaut Tom Jones latched the mechanical arm
onto the Wake Shield at about 8:01 p.m.  CST, as the shuttle flew 220
miles above South America. At the time Wake Shield was captured, the
ORFEUS-SPAS astronomy satellite was continuing to study the origin and
makeup of stars 14 nautical miles away. During the rendezvous,
Columbia's closest approach to ORFEUS-SPAS was about six nautical
miles, exactly as had been predicted by flight controllers and well
within the shuttle limits. ORFEUS-SPAS will remain flying free from
Columbia for another week before it is recaptured.

  Wake Shield Facility scientists reported they completed seven thin
film growths of semiconductor materials, the maximum capability for
the satellite. The satellite performed almost flawlessly throughout
its free-flying mission, and it will be unberthed from Columbia again
tomorrow for further science activities attached to the end of the
shuttle's robotic arm.

  Columbia will fire its steering jets briefly at about 3 a.m. to
maintain formation with the ORFEUS-SPAS, moving out to a distance of
around 25 nautical miles from the satellite.  The crew will begin a
sleep period at 5:56 a.m. Tuesday and awaken for Day 8 of STS-80 at
1:56 p.m. Columbia is in a 221 by 214 statute mile orbit.

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