Andrew Gray wrote:

Derek and I discussed this on alt.folklore.urban earlier in the year; I
emailed JimO about it, and he replied:

I've nosed around this story, talked to two crewmembers
I trusted, and they were baffled by anything that might
have set off the story. Lasers don't upset on-board
equipment anyhow. So far it looks 'space-urban-legendary'.

Another flight, STS-3, WAS tracked by Russian radar so strong they
got EMI in their intercom headsets, and that's never been
widely discussed.

I recall a news report about this at the time, but
I remember it being reported as having happened
while the orbiter was passing over China. The
report included the crackling, hissing sound of
interference on an audio channel. Perhaps it was
a Russian radar near the China border?

- Ed Kyle