Flown Space Shuttle Columbia Cable Tray

Removed after STS-5, it might have flown on the first five flights of the Space Shuttle. This tray was used to support wires installed along the payload bay of the orbiter. Over 8′ tall, it looms behind me at work.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the first shuttle flight, which NASA described as “the boldest test flight in history.”

100″ long, 9″ wide at one end, tapering to 4.5″ wide at the other end. Tray is stencilled with a Rockwell part number V070-340395-001, and is serial number 03593-274095. Three different tags are affixed to tray as well: a red and white “Flown Hardware” tag, dated July 18, 1983; a green “unserviceable” tag, stamp-dated August 1, 1983, with “OV-102-STS-5,” written in the ‘removed from” box in a technician’s hand; and a beige parts tag. Provenance: Charles Bell collection. Details below.