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 Space shuttle: Return to flight

Image showing orbital boom Orbital boom system (OBSS)

A 15m (50ft) long boom is designed to fit on to the shuttle's Remote Manipulator System ('Robot Arm') and allow the crew to inspect critical, damage-prone areas of its body, including the leading edges of the wings and the underbelly.

The boom carries 3-D imaging equipment and a video camera, which feed images into the shuttle's flight deck, and from there to Mission Control on Earth for further analysis.

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