The Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. € Space shuttle Columbia's astronauts got another look at their lost satellite-on-a-cord as the two craft sped within about 50 miles of one another early today.

Astronaut Jeffrey Hoffman used a camera to spot the satellite and its 12 miles of dangling cable from a distance of 172 miles late yesterday, and kept an eye on it as the gap narrowed.

''I can definitely see the tether in the viewfinder,'' Hoffman said.

The approaching satellite resembled a bright, white mushroom at times in video beamed down by the crew. At other times, it looked like a moth and even a flying saucer as it wobbled in the sunlight.

The two spacecraft passed within about 50 miles of one another early today before drawing apart again. It was their closest approach since Sunday, when the electrical cable connecting them snapped, but there was no way for astronauts to get any closer, let alone snag the errant sphere, because of their different orbital paths and limited fuel in the shuttle.

The crew was instructed to fire Columbia's electron guns so scientists could see whether the tethered satellite detected the ensuing electric and magnetic waves.

Earlier, to conserve battery power on the satellite, ground controllers turned off all but the most essential systems on the craft for roughly 12 hours. The science instruments later were activated so researchers could coax a few remaining bits of data from the satellite, the heart of the $400 million-plus electrical experiment.

Once the satellite batteries die € expected to occur soon after the close approach € the Italian craft will become mute. It will continue to orbit silently until it re-enters the atmosphere and burns up in three to four weeks.

''Some people are attached to the satellite, emotionally. They built it,'' said NASA mission scientist Nobie Stone. ''But to me, it's kind of like scaffolding on a building. When it's served its purpose, it's not a great loss when it goes away. ... It served us well.''

One bright note: Hoffman yesterday became the first person to spend 1,000 hours aboard orbiting shuttles. This is his fifth shuttle flight.

''It sure has been fun getting here,'' Hoffman said.