In 1996, Columbia reeled out a satellite on a 19.7-km conducting tether; the line snapped after nearly 5 hours of data, but the system reached about 3,700 volts

The Space Shuttle Columbia embarked on an innovative mission, aiming to generate electricity through a tethered satellite system employing a long wire. This experiment yielded impressive voltage and current, albeit briefly. Unfortunately, a flaw in the tether's insulation led to an electrical arc and subsequent breakage. Yet, the mission provided essential insights into ionospheric electric fields, suggesting that electrodynamic tethers could play a crucial role in future explorations.