What sorts of experiments did the astronauts do on board Columbia?
Once they were 240 kms above the Earth, the shuttle crew divided in to 2 teams, to conduct over 140 different scientific experiments. For this they needed nearly 4 tonnes of scientific equipment. The crew worked on a wide range of studies, from cancer cells to novel fragrances, from many scientific disciplines. In one of the experiments, the astronauts were monitored to measure the effects of spaceflight on the human respiratory system. In another experiment the astronauts tested a new system designed to extinguish fires with a fine water vapour. And in another, the crew tested the effect of microgravity on the webs spun by Australian spiders. All of the experiments are considered important in their contributions to scientific research. What is space junk? There are thousands of pieces of debris from space missions and old satellites which are all part of an enormous orbiting rubbish dump, whizzing around the Earth at tremendous speeds. It presents a very real and serious hazard to spa
