NASA's first test flight of the $3 million spherical Aercam Sprint robotic camera has been completed from the Space Shuttle Columbia STS87. Like the German-built Inspector craft which will be evaluated outside the Russian Mir space station this month, an uprated version of the Sprint will be used during International Space Station operations to provide routine surveillance of the exterior of the station. The Columbia landed on 5 December. An investigation has been ordered into the failed flight of the Spartan free-flying satellite, which did not receive a vital signal before it was deployed, and was knocked out of control by the Shuttle's robot arm during an attempt to retrieve it.
Source: Flight International
