The Shuttle first demonstrated the capability to perform precision proximity flying in 1983 when the SPAS-01 satellite was deployed and subsequently retrieved. This flight was intended to validate the capability of the Shuttle to perform proximity operations with a co-orbiting vehicle in preparation for the Solar Maximum Repair mission of the next year.
Realtime Operations of the Space Shuttle Orbiter During Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (Abstract Only)
1991
2 pages
Report
No indication
English