Scientists
look on as their experiments launches towards space atop a Maxus 7 rocket.
Lofted May
2 from the Sweden Space Corporation’s Esrange
launch site near Kiruna, the Maxus 7 rocket carried a suite of microgravity
experiments to an altitude of 436 miles (702 kilometers) on a ballistic
trajectory that experienced 12 minutes of weightless before the science package
returned to Earth.
Among the
five experiments onboard were biological samples that were later recovered by
helicopter about one hour and 25 minutes after the early morning launch.
The science
program is part of a European Space Agency effort to offer researchers
additional access to space. The next Esrange launch is slated to loft a Texus
43 sounding rocket on May 8, launch officials said.
-- Tariq Malik
Credit: SSC.
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