LDEF (Postflight), NASA history collection

LDEF (Postflight) An overall view of the Space End of the LDEF taken from the Orbiter cargo bay access hatch after landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The cargo bay liner is in the left side of the photograph and the radiators located on the inside of the Orbiter payload bay doors are in the right side. Note the three yellow balls on aluminum support rods (whiskers) fixed in the cargo bay that were used as berthing aids during the LDEF retrieval operations. A brown discoloration appears to be spread over the LDEF space end surface. The discoloration appears to be lighter on the anodized aluminum thermal panel surfaces and darker on the experiment surfaces coated with the Chemglaze A276 white thermal control paint and on uncoated aluminum hardware such as the end frame splice plates. The amber and red reflectors appear to be intact with little degradation apparent.
NASA Identifier: L92-21201 S32-S-294