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Space Shuttle Atlantis launched on November 3, 1994, on a 10-day flight designated as STS-66. The primary payload was the ATLAS-3 (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) laboratory. Seven instruments on the ATLAS-3 also flew on the first two ATLAS flights. The core instruments consisted of:

  • Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM)
  • Measurement of the Solar Constant (SOLCON)
  • Solar Spectrum Measurement (SOLSPEC)
  • Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM)
  • Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS)
  • Millimeter-Wave Atmospheric Sounder (MAS)

The STS-66 payload bay also included the seventh Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet Spectrometer experiment (SSBUV-7). 

The science payload included the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite (CRISTA-SPAS), continuing joint NASA-German Space Agency (DARA) series of scientific missions. ATLAS-3 and CRISTA-SPAS were considered a joint mission with a single set of science objectives. CRISTA-SPAS included the CRISTA instrument and the Middle Atmosphere High Resolution Spectrograph Investigation (MAHRSI).

Data

9 Datasets
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Type

Space Stations/Crewed Spacecraft

Objective

Conduct atmospheric and solar studies

Launch

November 3, 1994

Data Center

GES DISC

Instruments Aboard STS-66

Instrument Name Operational Date(s) Spectral Resolution Type of Instrument
Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy Experiment (ATMOS) 1985 to 1994

0.01 cm2

 Spectrometers/Radiometers

Related Platforms

STS-45

Space Shuttle Atlantis was launched on March 24, 1992, on an eight day mission designated as STS-45.
STS-51B

Space Shuttle Challenger launched on April 29, 1985, for a seven day mission designated as STS-51B.
STS-56

Space Shuttle Discovery was launched on April 8, 1993, on a nine-day flight designated as STS-56.

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