Artist's impression of Leasecraft, a space platform for lease to research and industry. Leasecraft is being developed by the Fairchild Space Company under a 'Joint Endeavor Agreement' with NASA. The Leasecraft platform will be about 4. 5 metres across and will be equipped with modules supplying power, command, data handling and other utilities required by the payload modules which will be mated to the platform in orbit. It was due to be launched by the Shuttle in 1988. The Shuttle will rendezvous with Leasecraft about once every six months to exchange new materials for finished products in manufacturing operations or to change scientific instruments See p 41 of the NASA publication 'spinoff 85)