S85-29954 (8 April 1985) --- Astronaut Mary L. Cleave.

NASA Associate Administrator for Science Mary Cleave answers reporters questions during the fiscal year 2007 news conference, Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin was joined by the heads of NASA's four mission directorates to explain how the proposed $16.8 billion dollar budget supports the Vision for Space Exploration. The budget represents a 3.2% increase above the fiscal year 2006 appropriated budget. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave speaks during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden, right, reacts to something former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave says, during an astronaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin outlines the President's budget for fiscal year 2007 during a news conference, Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Griffin was joined by the heads of NASA's four mission directorates to explain how the proposed $16.8 billion dollar budget supports the Vision for Space Exploration. Seated left to right: Scott Horowitz, NASA Associate Administrator for Exploration Systems, William Gerstenmaier, NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations, Lisa Porter, NASA Associate Administrator for Aeronautics Research and Mary Cleave, NASA Associate Administrator for Science. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

KC-135 inflight training of the STS-30/61B Crew for suit donning doffing and Zero-G orientation for Rudolfo Neri, Astronaut Mary Cleave, and Ricardo Peralta, Backup Neri. 1. Astronaut Cleave, Mary - Zero-G 2. Neri, Rodolfo - Zero-G 3. Peralta, Ricard - Zero-G

KC-135 inflight training of the STS-30/61B Crew for suit donning doffing and Zero-G orientation for Rudolfo Neri, Astronaut Mary Cleave, and Ricardo Peralta, Backup Neri. 1. Astronaut Cleave, Mary - Zero-G 2. Neri, Rodolfo - Zero-G 3. Peralta, Ricard - Zero-G

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, left, moderates a panel with, from left to right, Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev; former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave; former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers; and European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald, during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, left, moderates a panel with, from left to right, Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev; former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave; former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers; and European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald, during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin, left, moderates a panel with, from left to right, Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev; former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave, former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers (not pictured); and European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald, during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

Members of the astronaut panel discussion, from left to right, Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev; former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin; former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave; former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden; former Cosmonaut Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu; ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers; and European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald, pose while the audience takes photos, at the conclusion of the event; during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

STS030-S-109 (4 May 1989) --- Moments after ignition, Space Shuttle Atlantis heads for a four-day mission in Earth-orbit with five astronaut crew members aboard. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald. J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee. Launch occurred at 2:46:58 p.m. (EDT), May 4, 1989.

STS030-S-127 (8 May 1989) --- The space shuttle Atlantis, as seen in a low angle view on its glide in from Earth orbit, heads toward a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, STS-30 commander; Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; and astronauts Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee ? all mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA

STS030-S-129 (8 May 1989) --- Astronaut crew members who manned the Space Shuttle Atlantis for just over four days pose with NASA officials following the safe landing of their spacecraft (which forms the backdrop for the picture). Left to right are Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly, acting NASA Administrator; astronauts David M. Walker, Mark C. Lee, Mary L. Cleave, Ronald J. Grabe and Norman E. Thagard; and Dale D. Myers, NASA Deputy Administrator.

STS030-S-139 (4 May 1989) --- The five astronaut crewmembers of STS-30 leave the operations and checkout building en route to a transfer van that will take them to Pad 39B for a date with the Space Shuttle Atlantis. From front to back are Astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mark C. Lee (aside) and Mary L. Cleave.

S89-30260 (31 March 1989) --- The five astronaut crewmembers for NASA's STS-30 mission conduct a bench review of the actual supplies they will be depending on for use aboard the Atlantis when they spend four days in space later in the spring. Left to right are Astronauts Mark C. Lee, mission specialist; Norman E. Thagard, mission specialist; David M. Walker, mission commander; and Mary L. Cleave, mission specialist. Ronald J. Grabe, pilot, is at far right.

STS030-21-008 (4-8 May 1989) --- A traditional in-space crew portrait for STS-30 aboard the Atlantis. Astronaut Mary L. Cleave is in front. Others pictured, left to right, are astronauts Norman E. Thagard, Ronald J. Grabe, David M. Walker and Mark C. Lee. An automatic, pre-set 35mm camera using color negative film recorded the scene.

STS030-10-003 (4-8 May 1989) --- An overall scene of the onboard materials science project for STS-30. Seen is the fluids experiment apparatus, supported by an accompanying computer and an 8mm camcorder for its operation. Another major component of the project-- Astronaut Mary L. Cleave, who devoted a great deal of STS-30 monitoring various experiments--is out of frame.

The STS-30 mission launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on May 4, 1989 at 2:46:59pm (EDT) carrying a crew of five. Aboard were Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; David M. Walker, commander; and mission specialists Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave, and Mark C. Lee. The primary payload for the mission was the Magellan/Venus Radar mapper spacecraft and attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).

Former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin moderates a panel with former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden; former NASA astronaut Mary Cleave, European astronaut and professor, Institute of Space Systems, Reinhold Ewald; Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev; and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut, André Kuipers during the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

The STS-30 mission launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on May 4, 1989 at 2:46:59pm (EDT) carrying a crew of five. Aboard were Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; David M. Walker, commander; and mission specialists Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave, and Mark C. Lee. The primary payload for the mission was the Magellan/Venus Radar mapper spacecraft and attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).

61B-S-067 (26 Nov 1985) --- Space Shuttle Atlantis ascends into the night sky at 7:29 p.m. (EST), November 26, with a seven member crew and three communications satellites aboard. The STS 61-B crewmembers are Brewster Shaw Jr., Bryan D. O?Connor, Mary L. Cleave, Sherwood C. Spring, Jerry L. Ross and Payload Specialists Rodolfo Neri of Mexico (Morelos) and Charles D. Walker of McDonnell Douglas.

S88-52187 (22 Nov 1988) --- Five astronauts pause from their training schedule to pose for a photograph. Pictured, left to right, are astronauts David M. Walker, mission commander; Mark C. Lee, Mary L. Cleave, Ronald J. Grabe and Norman E. Thagard. They are on the middeck section of the Shuttle mission simulator (fixed base) in the Johnson Space Center's mission simulation and training facility.

61B-21-008 (26 Nov-1 Dec 1985) --- A fish-eye lens allows for the seven-member STS 61-B crew to be photographed on the flight deck of the earth-orbiting Atlantis. Left to right, back row, are astronauts Jerry L. Ross, Brewster Shaw Jr., Mary L. Cleave, and Bryan D. O'Connor; and payload specialist Rodolfo Neri. Front row, left to right, payload specialist Charles D. Walker and astronaut Sherwood C. Spring.

The STS-30 mission launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on May 4, 1989 at 2:46:59pm (EDT) carrying a crew of five. Aboard were Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; David M. Walker, commander; and mission specialists Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave, and Mark C. Lee. The primary payload for the mission was the Magellan/Venus Radar mapper spacecraft and attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).

STS030-S-108 (4 May 1989) --- Backdropped against slight gray Florida skies, Space Shuttle Atlantis heads for a four-day mission in earth orbit with five astronaut crewmembers aboard. Onboard were astronauts David. M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee. Launch occurred at 2:46:58 P.M. (EDT), May 4, 1989.

STS030-S-124 (8 May 1989) --- Its landing gear fully deployed, Space Shuttle Atlantis is lined up for its approach to Runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Minutes later, at 12:44:33 (PDT), the spacecraft's wheels had come to a complete stop, marking the successful conclusion for the four-day STS-30 mission. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee.

S89-28536 (March 1989) --- These five astronauts have been assigned to fly aboard Atlantis for the STS-30 mission. Astronaut David M. Walker, standing at left, is mission commander. Others are, left to right, Astronauts Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee, all mission specialists.

Five astronauts composed the STS-30 crew. Pictured (left to right) are Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; David M. Walker, commander; and mission specialists Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave, and Mark C. Lee. The STS-30 mission launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis on May 4, 1989 at 2:46:59pm (EDT). The primary payload was the Magellan/Venus Radar mapper spacecraft and attached Inertial Upper Stage (IUS).

STS030-S-126 (8 May 1989) --- The space shuttle Atlantis, as seen in a low angle view on its glide in from Earth orbit, heads toward a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Onboard were astronauts David M. Walker, STS-30 commander; Ronald J. Grabe, pilot; and astronauts Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee ? all mission specialists. Photo credit: NASA

STS030-S-130 (8 May 1989) --- Astronaut crew members who manned the Space Shuttle Atlantis for just over four days pose with NASA officials following the safe landing of their spacecraft (which forms the backdrop for the picture). Left to right are Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly, acting NASA Administrator; astronauts David M. Walker, Mark C. Lee, Mary L. Cleave, Ronald J. Grabe and Norman E. Thagard; and Dale D. Myers, NASA Deputy Administrator.

61B-S-071 (3 Dec 1985) --- George W.S. Abbey, director of flight crew operations at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), shakes hands with astronaut Brewster Shaw Jr., STS 61-B mission commander, as the seven-member crew descends the steps from its space-bound "home" for the last week. Following Shaw down the steps (bottom to top) were astronauts Bryan D. O'Connor, Sherwood C. Spring, Mary L. Cleave, Jerry L. Ross and Payload Specialists Charles D. Walker and Rodolfo Neri.

STS030-S-128 (8 May 1989) --- Space Shuttle Atlantis? landing gear has just appeared and the spacecraft, with five astronaut crewmembers aboard, heads for a smooth landing on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Onboard the spacecraft were astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee. The crew spend just over four full days in space, having released the Magellan spacecraft toward Venus on the first day.

STS030-S-123 (8 May 1989) --- The Space Shuttle Atlantis glides toward a landing on the Mojave Desert after spending just over four full days in space. Aboard were astronauts David. M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee. Moments later, the spacecraft?s landing gear came to a stop at 12:44:33 P.M. (PDT), 8 May 1989. It landed on runway 22, a concrete facility, like a number of other NASA flights. Still others have landed on unpaved dry lakebed strips.

STS030-S-132 (8 May 1989) --- Crewmembers who spent just over four full days in space aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis egress their temporary home for a welcome meeting with terra firma. Pictured, from bottom of steps to top, are astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee. Minutes earlier, the spacecraft?s landing gear came to a stop at 12:44:33 P.M. (PDT), 8 May 1989. It landed on runway 22, a concrete facility, like a number of other NASA flights. Still others have landed on unpaved dry lakebed stripes.

STS030-02-018 (4-8 May 1989) --- A 35mm overall scene of the operations devoted to the fluids experiment apparatus (FEA) aboard Atlantis for NASA’s STS-30 mission. Astronaut Mary L. Cleave, mission specialist, is seen with the computer which is instrumental in the carrying out of a variety of materials science experiments. Rockwell International is engaged in a joint endeavor agreement with NASA’s Office of Commercial Programs in the field of floating zone crystal growth and purification research. The March 1987 agreement provides for microgravity experiments to be performed in the company’s Microgravity Laboratory, the FEA. An 8 mm camcorder which documented details inside the apparatus is visible at bottom of the frame.

STS030-01-015 (4-8 May 1989) --- A 35mm close-up view of the Fluids Experiment Apparatus (FEA) aboard Atlantis for NASA’s STS-30 mission. Rockwell International is engaged in a joint endeavor agreement with NASA’s Office of Commercial Programs in the field of floating zone crystal growth and purification research. The March 1987 agreement provides for microgravity experiments to be performed in the company’s Microgravity Laboratory, the FEA. Crewmembers, especially Mary L. Cleave, devoted a great deal of onboard time to the monitoring of various materials science experiments using the apparatus.

STS030-10-002 (8 May 1989) --- STS-30 Mission Specialist Mary L. Cleave operates 8mm video camcorder at Fluids Experiment Apparatus 2 (FEA-2) (SK73-000102) unit located in aft middeck locker onboard Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 103. Two 8mm video camcorders are positioned above FEA-2 unit to record experiment titled "Floating Zone Crystal Growth and Purification". Rockwell International (RI) through its Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, California, is engaged in a joint endeavor agreement (JEA) with NASA's Office of Commercial Programs in the field for floating zone crystal growth research. Utah State University Aggies decal appears on aft bulkhead above FEA-2 unit.

S85-36635 (October 1985) --- This is the insignia designed by the STS-61B crew members to represent their November 1985 mission aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, depicted here in Earth orbit, making only its second spaceflight. The design is surrounded by the surnames of the seven crew members. They are astronauts Brewster Shaw Jr., commander; Bryan D. O'Conner, pilot; Mary L. Cleave, Jerry L. Ross and Sherwood C. Spring, all mission specialists; and payload specialists Charles D. Walker, representing McDonnell Douglas, and Rodolfo Neri, representing Morelos of Mexico (note flag). The NASA insignia design for space shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the forms of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, the change will be publicly announced. Photo credit: NASA

NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down on the lakebed runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert Tuesday, 3 December 1985 at 1:33:49 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, concluding the STS 61-B international mission. The eight-day mission successfully deployed three communications satellites including the Mexican Morelos B, the Australian Aussat 2 and an RCA Satcom K-2 satellite. In addition, two spacewalks were performed to experiment with construction of structures in space. Crew of the 61-B mission included Commander Brewster H. Shaw, Jr.; Pilot Bryan D. O'Connor; Mission Specialists Mary L. Cleave, Sherwood C. Spring and Jerry L. Ross; and Payload Specialists Rudolfo Neri Vela of Mexico and Charles Walker of McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co.

STS030-S-131 (8 May 1989) --- Crewmembers who spent just over four full days in space aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis egress their temporary home for a welcome meeting with terra firma. Astronaut David M. Walker, mission commander, shakes hands with Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly, acting NASA Administrator. Astronaut Ronald J. Grabe (center frame), pilot, is greeted by Dale D. Myers, Deputy Administrator. Pictured behind Grabe, from bottom of steps to top, are astronauts Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee, all mission specialists. Minutes earlier, the spacecraft?s landing gear came to a stop at 12:44:33 P.M. (PDT), 8 May 1989. It landed on runway 22, a concrete facility, like a number of other NASA flights. Still others have landed on unpaved dry lakebed stripes.

STS030-S-137 (8 May 1989) --- Crewmembers who spent four full days in space aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis egress their temporary home for a welcome meeting with terra firma. Pictured, from bottom of steps to top, are Astronauts David M.Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee. Rear Admiral Richard H. Truly (foreground), acting NASA Administrator, and Dale D. Myers, Deputy Administrator of NASA, await to greet the crewmembers. Minutes earlier, the spacecraft's landing gear came to a stop at 12:44:33 p.m. (PDT), 8 May 1989. It landed on Runway 22, a concrete facility, like a number of other NASA flights. Still others have landed on unpaved dry lake bed strips.

The STS-30 patch depicts the joining of NASA's manned and unmanned space programs. The sun and inner planets of our solar system are shown with the curve connecting Earth and Venus symbolizing the shuttle orbit, the spacecraft trajectory toward Venus, and its subsequent orbit around our sister planet. A Spanish caravel similar to the ship on the official Magellan program logo commemorates the 16th century explorer's journey and his legacy of adventure and discovery. Seven stars on the patch honor the crew of Challenger. The five-star cluster in the shape of the constellation Cassiopeia represent the five STS-30 crewmembers - Astronauts David Walker, Ronald Grabe, Norman Thagard, Mary Cleave and Mark Lee - who collectively designed the patch.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin, seated center, outlines the President's budget for fiscal year 2007 during a news conference, Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at NASA Headquarters in Washington. The administrator was joined by the heads of NASA's four mission directorates to explain how the proposed $16.8 billion dollar budget supports the Vision for Space Exploration. The budget represents a 3.2% increase above the Fiscal Year 2006 appropriated budget. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Roscosmos cosmonaut and executive director for piloted spaceflights, Sergey Krikalev speaks to former NASA Administrator and astronaut, Charlie Bolden during an astronaut and cosmonaut panel discussion at the 70th International Astronautical Congress, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington. Photo credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)

S89-20025 (3 March 1989) --- The STS-30 patch depicts the joining of NASA's manned and unmanned space programs. The sun and inner planets of our solar system are shown with the curve connecting Earth and Venus symbolizing the shuttle orbit, the spacecraft trajectory toward Venus and its subsequent orbit around our sister planet. A Spanish caravel similar to the ship on the official Magellan program logo commemorates the 16th century explorer's journey and his legacy of adventure and discovery. Seven stars on the patch honor the crew of Challenger. The five-star cluster in the shape of the constellation Cassiopeia represent the five STS-30 crew members--astronauts David M. Walker, Ronald J. Grabe, Norman E. Thagard, Mary L. Cleave and Mark C. Lee-who collectively designed the patch. The NASA insignia design for space shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the forms of illustrations by the various news media. When and if there is any change in this policy, which is not anticipated, the change will be publicly announced. Photo credit: NASA

STS 61-B crewmembers training on the KC-135 in zero-G. Views include Payload specialist Charles D. Walker attempting to down the lower torso of his extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) in zero-G in the KC-135. He is being assisted by other participants in the training (39135); Payload specialist Rodolfo Neri floating in midair during training in the KC-135 (39136,39138); Mission specialist Mary L. Cleave floating in midair during her training aboard the KC-135 (39137); Astronaut Bryan D. O'Connor assists Astronaut Sherwood C. Spring in completing his donning of the EMU in the KC-135 (39139); Technicians aid Spring with his EMU in the KC-135 (39140); O'Connor appears to be leaping up in zero-G aboard the KC-135 (39141); Astronaut Brewster Shaw is assisted by a technician to don his EMU (39142); Shaw is attempting to don the EMU gloves while O'Connor watches (39143); Shaw does jumping jacks while Neri attempts to travel down a rope guideline (39144).

The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). The primary objective of this experiment was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction. In this STS-61B onboard photo, astronaut Ross was working on the ACCESS experiment during an Extravehicular Activity (EVA).

The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included (kneeling left to right) Bryan D. O’conner, pilot; and Brewster H. Shaw, commander. On the back row, left to right, are Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Autralia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom. Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA and Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structures (ACCESS) was developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). The primary objective of this experiment was to test the ACCESS structural assembly concept for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction.

The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). In this STS-61B onboard photo, astronaut Ross works on ACCESS high above the orbiter. The primary objective of these experiments was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction.

The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). In this STS-61B onboard photo, astronaut Spring was working on the EASE during an Extravehicular Activity (EVA). The primary objective of this experiment was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction.

The crew assigned to the STS-61B mission included Bryan D. O’Conner, pilot; Brewster H. Shaw, commander; Charles D. Walker, payload specialist; mission specialists Jerry L. Ross, Mary L. Cleave, and Sherwood C. Spring; and Rodolpho Neri Vela, payload specialist. Launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis November 28, 1985 at 7:29:00 pm (EST), the STS-61B mission’s primary payload included three communications satellites: MORELOS-B (Mexico); AUSSAT-2 (Australia); and SATCOM KU-2 (RCA Americom). Two experiments were conducted to test assembling erectable structures in space: EASE (Experimental Assembly of Structures in Extravehicular Activity), and ACCESS (Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structure). In a joint venture between NASA/Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia and the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), EASE and ACCESS were developed and demonstrated at MSFC's Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS). In this STS-61B onboard photo astronaut Ross, located on the Manipulator Foot Restraint (MFR) over the cargo bay, erects ACCESS. The primary objective of this experiment was to test the structural assembly concepts for suitability as the framework for larger space structures and to identify ways to improve the productivity of space construction.