June 8, 2011
Astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, payload commander, inputs data on a laptop computer associated with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) hardware located in the aft cargo bay. Reference JSC photo number STS091-367-033, which shows the hardware as seen from Russia's Mir space station, which was docked with Discovery at the time. AMS is the first large magnet experiment ever placed in Earth orbit. The scientific goal of this high-energy physics experiment is to increase our understanding of the composition and origin of the universe. It is designed to search for and measure charged particles, including antimatter, outside Earth's atmosphere. The charge of such particles can be identified by their trajectories in a magnetic field.
Topics: Technology Internet, Environment, Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, Particle physics, Physics, Antimatter, Mir, International Space Station