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USE OF SPACE SHUTTLE AND SPACELAB The space shuttle and spacelab will be useful for three kinds of activity important to meteorology and climate: l. As a convenient test bed for very exploratory experiments, such as high-power laser Raman spectroscopy to determine the gas composition of the stratosphere, high-power laser experi- ments to map stratospheric aerosol layers, and active radar experiments to map precipitation intensity. 2. As the only way now contemplated of providing means to obtain accurate absolute calibration of radiation sensors observing both incoming solar and out-going terrestrial radiation. Secondary or even primary laboratory-type radiation standards can be carried, perhaps once per year, on space-shuttle flights to obtain accurate observations against which to calibrate the satellite instruments. 3. As a means of conducting zero-g experiments. A series of specialized zero-g cloud-physics experiments has been proposed, which is the subject of a current feasibility study. These experiments look promising but it is premature to draw any firm conclusions concerning their importance to cloud-physics problems and their desirability for inclusion in the spacelab program. In addition, the space shuttle is expected to have adequate performance for emplacement, servicing and replacement of operational low-altitude weather satellites. Tug service is required for emplacement of geostationary weather satellites. These services will be viable only if means can be provided to share shuttle and tug payload-space and costs so that services are affordable. l9
