STS investigators' guide

The capability of the Space Transportation System (STS), the Space Shuttle, to support crew tended and free flyer research in low Earth orbit has opened new possibilities for science in space. For the first time, research equipment can be put into orbit routinely, operated in either a shirtsleeve environment or exposed to space, and then returned to the investigator. NASA, operator of the Shuttle, has implemented a variety of programs to ensure that anyone with a worthy research idea can take advantage of this opportunity. Investigators ranging from high school students to renowned space scientists have already used the Shuttle as a platform for making Earth, atmospheric, and astronomical observations; for performing space plasma physics measurements; and for exploring the effects of microgravity on living organisms and physical processes. For investigators considering a flight experiment for the first time, this guide explains what the Shuttle has to offer, how to arrange to fly an experiment, and what to expect once preparations for the flight are under way.