The primary objective of NASA space shuttle mission STS-87 was experiments in microgravity. Experimentsconducted ranged from combustion in low gravity to the more relative solidificationfurnace AADSF(Advanced Automated Directional Solidification Furnace). This mission grew three samples of Lead-Tin-Telluride (PbSnTe). Thiscompund semiconductor is extremely difficult to grow on Earth due to itssensitivity to motion.