Jeff Hoffman's long segment of flown electrically conductive tether carried on STS-46 and STS-75 as part of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) experiment, featuring an insulated copper conductor wrapped in a white braided Nomex sheath. In fine condition. The Tethered Satellite System was first flown on STS-46 as TSS-1: during deployment, the satellite reached a distance of only 860 feet from the orbiter instead of the planned 20.7 kilometers due to a jammed tether line. When the tether could not be freed over the course of several days, TSS operations were curtailed, and the satellite was stowed for return to Earth. It was reflown as the primary payload of STS-75, under the name TSS-1R, but the tether broke after being deployed 19 kilometers. After the mission, the Tethered Satellite Project cut up segments of the tether and gave them out as mementos of the mission. As Hoffman flew on both STS-46 and STS-75, he received this fairly long piece of the tether.
Provenance: From the personal collection of Jeff Hoffman, and accompanied by a signed portrait and letter of provenance.
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