Astronauts Snag Solar Data Satellite They Had Freed

Discovery’s astronauts captured a small shiny satellite loaded with solar data Tuesday, two days after setting it free to study the sun’s flaming corona.

The shuttle moved to within 35 feet of the Spartan satellite as the two spacecraft sped over the South Pacific. Astronaut Ellen Ochoa grabbed the satellite with the ship’s robot arm and nudged the craft into the cargo bay.

“Great work, Ellen,” said mission control’s Kevin Chilton. “There are a lot of smiles in the room down here. Congratulations on a fantastic rendezvous and grapple.”

The $6-million satellite--about the size of a large air conditioner and weighing 2,800 pounds--was released from Discovery on Sunday. Scientists in charge of Spartan’s two telescopes wanted an orbital platform free of shuttle contamination and bumps for viewing the sun’s corona and solar wind.

All of those readings would have been lost if the astronauts had not retrieved Spartan.

“We’re really glad to see that thing back locked down in the bay,” shuttle commander Kenneth Cameron said.

Scientists won’t know how much data was collected--or how good it is--until Discovery returns Spartan to Earth. The eight-day atmospheric research mission is scheduled to end Friday with a landing at the space center.

After the rendezvous, the crew members began the third of four solar-observing sessions. Discovery is carrying four instruments to measure solar energy and three others to scour the atmosphere.