Crew & Mission

(STS050-S-002 -) --- STS-50 United States Microgravity Laboratory 1 (USML-1) crewmembers pose for their official portrait in front of Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, at Rockwell International (RI), Palmdale, California. The crew was at the Rockwell facility for OV-102's extended duration orbiter (EDO) modifications rollout. Left to right, wearing navy blue flight suits, are Mission Specialist (MS) Ellen S. Baker, Pilot Kenneth D. Bowersox, MS and Payload Commander (PLC) Bonnie J. Dunbar, Commander Richard N. Richards, MS Carl J. Meade, Payload Specialist Eugene H. Trinh, and Payload Specialist Lawrence J. DeLucas.

The Artwork

(STS050-S-001 -) --- Designed by the flight crew, the insignia for STS-50, United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-l), captures a Space Shuttle traveling above Earth while trailing the USML banner. The orbiter is oriented vertically in a typical attitude for microgravity science and in this position represents the numeral 1 in the mission's abbreviated title. This flight represents the first in a series of USML flights on which the primary objective is microgravity science, planned and executed through the combined efforts of America's government, industry and academia. Visible in the payload bay are the Spacelab module, and the extended duration orbiter "cryo" pallet which will be making its first flight. The small g and Greek letter mu on the Spacelab module symbolize the microgravity environment being used for research in the areas of materials science and fluid physics. The large block letter U extends outside the patch perimeter, symbolizing the potential for the experiments on this flight to expand the current boundaries of knowledge in microgravity science. The Stars and Stripes of the USML block letters and the U.S. landmass in the Earth scene below reflect the crew's pride in the U.S. origin of all onboard experiments.

Related

(S90-39797 - June 6, 1990) --- Extended duration orbiter (EDO) insignia incorporates a space shuttle orbiter with payload bay doors (PLBDs) open and a spacelab module inside. Trailing the orbiter are the initials EDO. The EDO-modified Columbia, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 102, will be flown for the first EDO mission, STS-50.