The Get Away Special (GAS)

The Get Away Special (GAS) project is a concept organised by NASA to make use of remaining payload mass in the Shuttle. GAS cannisters are self contained experiments stored in the payload bay of the orbiter.

GAS cans are a relatively cheap way for organisation such as UKSEDS to fly payloads in orbit. There are very strict requirements on the interface between the shuttle and the experiment. Only power and a simply on/off command are provided.

There are various sizes of can available (with varying pricing of course!).

There have been various suggestions for experiments, with one proposed by Sean Bennett, UKSEDS ex-Chair to demonstrate a novel form of micrometeorite protection.

Unfortunately, none of these have reached the flight stage.