The Microgravity Measurement and Analysis Project (MMAP) at the NASA GlennResearch Center manages the Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) and the Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE) instruments to measure the microgravity environment on orbiting space laboratories.
These laboratories include the Spacelab payloads on the shuttle, the SPACEHAB module on the shuttle, the middeck area of the shuttle, and Russias Mir space station. Experiments are performed in these
laboratories to investigate scientific principles in the near-absence of gravity.

The microgravity environment desired for most experiments would have zero acceleration across all frequency bands or a true weightless condition. This is not possible due to the nature of spaceflight where there are numerous factors which introduce accelerations to the environment.

This handbook presents an overview of the major microgravity environment disturbances of these laboratories. These disturbances are characterized by their source (where known), their magnitude, frequency and duration, and their effect on the microgravity environment. Each disturbance is
characterized on a single page for ease in understanding the effect of a particular disturbance. The handbook also contains a brief description of each laboratory.