Launched 14:22 local time. Reached 142.7 km. Carried pressure, temperature (Signal Corps Engineering Lab, University of Michigan) experiments for General Electric.

Cuba invaded at Bay of Pigs by an estimated 1,200 anti-Castro exiles aided by U.S.; invasion crushed

At a mechanical systems meeting at MSC, customer and contractor achieved a preliminary configuration freeze for the LEM. Several features of the design of the two stages were agreed upon:

Descent

four cylindrical propellant tanks (two oxidizer and two fuel); four- legged deployable landing gear

Ascent

a cylindrical crew cabin (about 234 centimeters (92 inches) in diameter) and a cylindrical tunnel (pressurized) for equipment stowage; an external equipment bay.

Grumman conducted manned drop tests to determine the LEM crew's ability to land the spacecraft from a standing position. All tests were run with the subject in an unpressurized suit in a "hands off" standing position with no restraint system or arm rests. References: 16 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; also carried weather experiments. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Last Emergency Rocket Communications Satellite test

Soft landed on Moon; perrformed soil sample tests and imaged lunar surface. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 278 .

KH-8 type satellite. Space craft engaged in investigation of spaceflight techniques and technology (US Cat A). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

3 chambers. Maximum Speed - 973 kph. Maximum Altitude - 16070 m. Flight Time - 400 sec. References: 49 , 97 .

Glide. Maximum Speed - 763 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13720 m. Flight Time - 217 sec. References: 49 , 97 .

NASA Hq. established an Apollo 13 Review Board to investigate the Apollo 13 accident. References: 16 .

Acquisition of meteorological information needed for use by the weather service. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

High resolution photo reconnaissance satellite; returned film capsule; maneuverable. References: 1 , 2 , 6 .

Rohini satellite D-2. Second developmental flight of an SLV-3 launch vehicle. The Rohini satellite D-2 carried a sensor payload for conducting remote-sensing experiments and for accurate orbit and attitude determination. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

KH-8 type satellite. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Suborbital test of 1/8 scale model of Buran. Typical trajectory: ascent to 120 km; pitch down to drive model in atmosphere at 45 degree at Mach 18.5. None were reflown but at least 4 were recovered. References: 81 .

Military cartographic satellite; returned film capsule. References: 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 .

Military navigation satellite. Positioned in plane 2 of constellation. Signals at 149.91 and 399.76 MHz. References: 4 , 107 .

Installation of the new VDU station orientation engine assembly was completed at the end of the Sofora boom.

Columbia rolled out to pad 39B on March 23. Payloads:

• Spacelab transfer tunnel
• Spacelab Long Module, with Neurolab experiments for the following life science studies:
  • Chronic Recording of Otolith Nerves in Microgravity
  • Development of the Aortic Baroreflex under Conditions of Microgravity
  • Neural-Thyroid Interaction on Skeletal Isomyosin Expression in OG
  • Spatial Orientation of the Vestibulo-Ocular Reflex and Velocity Storage
  • Autonomic Neuroplasticity in Weightlessness

• Extended Duration Orbiter pallet
• Two Get Away Special beams with canisters G-197, G-467, G-772 (Colorado's COLLIDE experiment, which collided small particles into each other to simulate the formation of planets and rings).

The Neurolab mission was managed by NASA-Johnson at Houston, unlike earlier Spacelab flights which were NASA-Marshall/Huntsville's responsibility. Landed at Kennedy Space Center May 3 1998. References: 4 , 7 .

Sesat (Siberia-Europe Satellite) used an MSS-2500-GSO (Gals/Ekspress) satellite bus built by NPO PM of Krasnoyarsk, with an Alcatel Espace France payload of 18 Ku-band transponders. The satellite had 8 Fakel SPD-100 plasma thrusters for stationkeeping. Eutelsat operated their Hot Bird fleet of European television broadcast satellites since the 1980's, but the venture into broadcasting to Siberia represented a new step for them. Stationed at 36 deg E.