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Polystyrene Spheres Mission: STS-6 Challenger   Crew: Paul J. Weitz Karol J. Bobko Donald H. Peterson F. Story Musgrave Launch: April 4, 1983   Landing: April 9, 1983   Duration: 5 days, 2 hours   Comment: Maiden flight of Space Shuttle Challenger These polystyrene spheres were the the first true product made in space. They were created on-board STS-6 as the result of an experiment developed by Lehigh University to produce a Standard Reference Material used in calibrating particle size measuring instruments (for example, optical and electron microscopes). The spheres are so small - 10 micrometers in diameter - that 18000 could fit on the head of a pin. The beads were first offered to the public in 1985. back to Artifacts © 1999-2008 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Questions? E-mail contact@collectspace.com