Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from beak.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl@andrew.cmu.edu (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests) ID ; Fri, 7 Dec 1990 02:08:49 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Fri, 7 Dec 1990 02:07:56 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #631 SPACE Digest Volume 12 : Issue 631 Today's Topics: Astro-1 Status for 12/02/90 (Forwarded) Administrivia: Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to space+@andrew.cmu.edu. Other mail, esp. [un]subscription notices, should be sent to space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu, or, if urgent, to tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 4 Dec 90 23:39:22 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: Astro-1 Status for 12/02/90 (Forwarded) Following 22 status reports represent Flight Day 1 activities on Columbia and with the Astro-1 payload - including a new mission TV timeline. MSFC will regularly post these to P Bulletin Board beginning today. Forwarded message: Posted: Sat, Dec 1, 1990 9:18 PM PST Msg: CJJA-2920-2489 >From: PAO.KSC To: P, PAO.LOOP, (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF), DRYDENTV, JTCONWAY, GSNYDER Subj: ASTRO PAYLOAD READY FOR LAUNCH Patricia E. Phillips Dec. 1, 1990 407-867-2468 KSC Release No. 194-90 STS-35 PAYLOAD TEAM READY FOR DEC. 2 LAUNCH OF ASTRO-1 As the Kennedy Space Center launch team continues to count down toward the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia at 1:28 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, another team continues its own countdown toward a history-making launch of a unique orbiting astronomy. This countdown has been measured in years as well as months, weeks, and, now, finally, hours, minutes, and seconds. In its path to the stars, ASTRO-1 and its payload processing team, as well as astronomers, scientists, and managers, have marked off milestone after milestone to the specialized flight. ASTRO-1 will make history for many reasons. It is the first payload dedicated to a single scientific discipline, astrophysics. It carries four unique, yet complementary, tele- scopes that can capture the story of the universe, from the death of the Vela supernova about 30,000 years ago to the galactic "nursery" in the spiral arms Galaxy M83. Studies of white dwarf stars, binary stars, Centaurus A, and X-ray binary stars, among others, have led scientists to expect "major discoveries," ac- cording to Dr. Lennard Fisk, Associate Adminstrator for Space Science and Applications at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Fisk has also pointed out that the mission also signals the resumption of Spacelab flights, since ASTRO-1 uses two Spacelab pallets, an instrument pointing system (IPS), and an "igloo" as part of its support hardware. In addition, ASTRO-1 marks the return to flight of primary horizontal payloads. The last horizontal payload flown was Mission 61-A, the German Spacelab (D-1), in October/November, 1989. (more) 1 ASTRO-1's processing story began in 1985. When the payload was remanifested to this year, the Broad Band X-Ray Telescope was added to the configuration, and the Wide Field Planetary Camera was removed. In l989, team members began assembling the new ASTRO-1 payload at the Operations and Checkout Building at KSC. The payload was installed in Columbia's payload bay in the Orbiter Processing Facility on Mar. 20, where it has been since. Despite the delays caused by the orbiter's hydrogen leaks, the team has remained upbeat and dedicated to keeping ASTRO-1 in good health. "The team has shown patience, flexibility, and dedication. ASTRO-1 is ready to go fly -- and its team deserves a lot of credit," said John Conway, KSC's Director of Payload Management and Operations. The final major prelaunch milestones have been completed. On Thursday, the team serviced the Broad Band X-Ray Telescope with frozen argon. Since its arrival at KSC, the telescope has re- quired periodic replenishments of argon, either in liquid or frozen form, to maintain the cooling required for BBXRT. Last night, BBXRT was powered up shortly before 9 p.m. and is performing well. Routine health checks of the other telescopes-- the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, and the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo- Polarimeter Experiment--also show that the payload is ready for launch. "The hard work of all elements of the team has been proven in the continued health of ASTRO-1 over the past few months," Conway noted. Team members from several NASA centers, including Goddard and Marshall Space Flight Centers, have worked side by side with the KSC team. "Across the board, we've got a great team, and a great payload. There'll be a lot of people cheering for ASTRO-1, know- ing that their months of hard work have opened the door to a pre- viously unseen universe," Conway added. After the mission, ASTRO-1 will return to KSC for deintegra- tion. Spacelab components such as the pallets will remain at KSC for future use, while the telescopes will be returned to the principal invesigators or sponsoring agency. ##### 2 Forwarded message: Posted: Sat, Dec 1, 1990 11:50 PM PST Msg: MJJA-2920-2521 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO STATUS REPORT #1 Astro 1 Mission Report #01 12:54 a.m. CST, December 2, 1990 00/00:05 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center The Space Shuttle Columbia carried the Astro-1 payload into orbit at 12:49 a.m. CST, Sunday morning. Preparations are underway for the inauguration of NASA's new Spacelab Mission Operations Control facility at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. About 3 1/2 hours into the mission, science astronauts, using "Huntsville" as their call sign, will make their first call to Marshall's new control center. They will use a separate air to ground channel from that used by Mission Control in Houston. Teams of controllers and researchers at the Huntsville facility stand ready to oversee all science operations involving Spacelab's three ultraviolet telescopes. The Broad Band X-ray Telescope will be commanded from the Goddard Space Flight Center in coordination with the X-ray telescope team at Marshall. As the mission gets underway, the Huntsville teams will send commands directly to the spacecraft, receive and analyze data from experiments aboard the vehicle, adjust mission schedules if necessary, and will work with crew members to resolve any problems with their experiments. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 2:32 AM PST Msg: NJJA-2920-2544 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO STATUS REPORT #2 Astro 1 Mission Report #02 03:49 a.m. CST, December 2, 1990 0/03:00 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center Three hours into the STS-35/Astro-1 mission, Mission Scientist Gene Urban had these comments: "We have an excellent orbit. We have planned for changes in the science observations that have put us right on the timeline. Unless there is a problem with any of the instruments, it looks like we are in good condition to get all the science that we have expected to get. So, we are really ready to go here." Mission Specialist Bob Parker turned on the power busses of the Broad Band X-ray Telescope at 2:57 a.m. CST, initiating the first phase of Spacelab activation activities. The X-ray telescope, designed and developed at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, will study an invisible form of energy that comes from the deepest reaches of the universe, X-rays. Scientists hope this telescope will help explain the existence of black holes, the expansion of the universe, and the forces that formed Earth. Also expected is an increased understanding of active galactic nuclei and quasars, as well as binary star systems in the Milky Way and young supernova remnants. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 3:47 AM PST Msg: VJJA-2920-2552 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO SHIFT SUMMARY 1 Astro 1 Shift Summary #01 5:20 a.m. CST, December 2, 1990 0/04:30 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center At 4:56 a.m. CST, Mission Specialist Robert Parker initiated the first conversation with NASA's new Spacelab Mission Operations Control in Huntsville, officially opening the control center for business. For the first time, "Huntsville" joins "Houston" as a call sign from space for major Space Shuttle science missions. "Huntsville, this is Astro," said Parker to Michelle Snyder, crew interface coordinator at the Huntsville control center. "We've got a lot of smiles," said Snyder. "Let's get this show on the road," replied Payload Specialist Ron Parise. The Space Shuttle Columbia carried the Astro-1 payload into orbit at 12:49 a.m. CST, Sunday morning. The astronauts and controllers on the ground have begun activation of the Broad Band X-ray Telescope, the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, and the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment. Mission Specialist Bob Parker turned on the power busses of the Broad Band X-ray Telescope at 2:57 a.m. CST, initiating the first phase of Spacelab activation activities. The X-ray telescope is being commanded from the Goddard Space Flight Center in coordination with a Goddard X-ray telescope team at Marshall. Once observations begin, the Huntsville teams will send commands directly to the spacecraft, receive and analyze data from experiments aboard the vehicle, adjust mission schedules if necessary, and will work with crew members to resolve any problems with their experiments. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 5:30 AM PST Msg: EJJA-2920-2557 >From: PAOJSC To: pao.loop Subj: MISSION CONTROL STATUS #1 MISSION CONTROL STATUS REPORT REPORT 1 Sunday, Dec. 2, 1990, 1:45 a.m. Space Shuttle Columbia was launched into a 210-mile orbit at 12:49 a.m. CST this morning. It is the tenth flight for Columbia and the sixth night launch in the program. The launch was delayed about 20 minutes at the T-minus 9 minute mark while Air Force range safety officers evaluated a cloud deck near the launch site that restricted visibility. No problems were reported during the ascent phgase of the flight and the crew performed a nominal orbital maneuvering system engine burn minutes later to circularize Columbia's orbit. Early post-launch activities include activation of the instrument pointing system in preparation for beginning observations with the astonomy and X-ray telescopes in the payload bay. The 10-day mission is scheduled to conclude Tuesday, Dec. 11, with landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 5:56 AM PST Msg: FJJA-2920-2558 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: PAO.LOOP Subj: ASTRO-1 MISSION REPORT 03 Astro 1 Mission Report #03 05:50 a.m. CST, December 2, 1990 0/05:00 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center "Huntsville, this is Astro," said Mission Specialist Bob Parker to Crew Interface Coordinator Michelle Snyder at Huntsville's new Spacelab Mission Operations Control. "Bob, we just want to let you guys know that everyone here in the Huntsville Operations Support Center is really excited, and we're looking forward to a great 10-day mission and a lot of terrific astronomy. And we've got a lot of smiles. Everything is going really, really well," replied Snyder. "Michelle, this is Ron," added Payload Specialist Ron Parise, "We know there's a lot of people down there that did a lot of work on this mission, and we're hoping to make it a real success for everybody. So let's get this show on the road!" With that historic call at 4:56 a.m. CST from Parker to Snyder, the Huntsville control center is now officially open for business. For the first time, "Huntsville" joins "Houston" as a call sign from space for major Space Shuttle science missions. Now, controllers and researchers in the Spacelab Mission Operations Control facility will work with astronomers aboard Columbia to begin activating Astro's ultraviolet telescopes and the Spacelab pointing system's Image Motion Compensation System. Astro-1 Assistant Mission Manager Stu Clifton spoke of the mood in the control center as one of optimistic expectation. "It's kind of like right before Christmas, when you are getting ready," Clifton said. "Everyone is gathering around the Christmas tree. People have waited a long, long time to develop their experiments. Now they are ready to see the results of all their efforts." Once activation is completed (planned for just over 22 hours into the mission at approximately 10:38 p.m. CST), the team will begin nine days of intensive astronomical observations, expected to greatly enlarge our understanding of the universe in the field of astrophysics. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 6:12 AM PST Msg: IJJA-2920-2561 >From: BILLROBBINS To: TVWG, PAO.LOOP Subj: ASTRO TV SKED POST-LAUNCH REV 1 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NASA SELECT FINAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE STS-35/ASTRO REV L 12/2/90 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> NASA Select programming can be accessed through RCA Satcom F2R transponder 13 The frequency is 3960 MHz with a look angle of 72 degrees West Longitude. This is a full transponder service and will be operational 24 hours a day. NASA Select transmissions are in the public domain. *** The Astro-1 Mission contains many scientific television *** *** downlink opportunities. These targets of opportunity *** *** exist during otherwise assigned times of TDRS coverage *** *** and will not be listed in this television schedule. *** ---------------------------- Sunday, December 2 ----------------------------- FD 1 ORBIT SUBJECT SITE FD MET CDT ----- ------------- ---- -- ----- -------- 7 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING MSFC 00/08:41 09:30 AM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 7 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED TO KSC KSC 00/09:32 10:21 AM 7 LAUNCH REPLAYS KSC 00/09:32 10:21 AM T=30:00 7 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED TO JSC JSC 00/10:02 10:51 AM 7 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 00/10:15 11:04 AM 9 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 00/12:40 01:29 PM T=20:00 10 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 00/13:11 02:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 10 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 00/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 11 P/TV05 HUT SCIENCE TV TDRE 00/15:13 04:02 PM T=8:00 11 P/TV05 HUT SCIENCE TV TDRW 00/16:02 04:51 PM T=41:00 11 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC OO/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 12 P/TV05 HUT SCIENCE TV TDRW 00/17:13 06:02 PM NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 2 T=37:00 12 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 00/17:35 06:24 PM T=10:00 13 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 00/18:18 07:07 PM T=3:45 13 P/TV05 HUT SCIENCE TV TDRE 00/18:22 07:11 PM T=13:00 13 P/TV05 HUT SCIENCE TV TDRW 00/18:50 07:39 PM T=17:00 13 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 00/19:27 08:16 PM T=4:00 14 P/TV06 WUPPE SCIENCE TV TDRW 00/20:30 09:19 PM T=19:00 15 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 00/21:21 10:10 PM T=4:00 15 P/TV05 HUT SCIENCE TV TDRE 00/21:25 10:14 PM T=18:00 15 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 00/21:45 10:34 PM 15 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 00/22:11 11:00 PM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 16 P/TV05 HUT SCIENCE TV TDRW 00/23:02 11:51 PM T=13:00 (JOINED IN PROGRESS) ----------------------------- Monday, December 2 ---------------------------- FD 2 17 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 01/00:19 01:08 AM T=2:00 17 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRE 01/00:31 01:20 AM T=10:00 17 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 01/03:23 04:12 AM T=4:00 21 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 01/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 22 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 01/08:41 09:30 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 23 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 01/09:15 10:04 AM NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 3 24 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 01/11:45 12:34 PM T=15:00 24 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 01/12:20 01:09 PM T=4:00 25 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 01/13:17 02:06 PM T=1:39 26 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 01/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 27 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 01/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 28 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 01/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 30 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 01/19:57 08:46 PM T=4:00 30 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 01/20:30 09:19 PM 30 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 01/21:07 09:56 PM T=4:00 32 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 01/23:04 11:53 PM T=3:07 ------------------------------ Tuesday, December 4 -------------------------- FD 3 32 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 01/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 33 REPLAY OF P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES JSC 01/23:31 12:30 AM T=10:00 33 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 02/00:53 01:42 AM T=4:00 34 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 02/02:03 02:52 AM T=4:00 37 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 02/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 37 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 02/08:29 09:18 AM T=4:00 38 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 02/08:35 09:24 AM NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 4 38 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 02/08:41 09:30 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 39 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 02/09:54 10:43 AM T=4:00 40 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 02/12:11 01:00 PM T=10:00 41 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 02/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 42 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 02/15:02 03:51 PM T=4:00 42 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 02/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 43 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 02/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 44 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 02/17:32 06:21 PM T=4:00 46 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 02/20:15 09:04 PM T=1:46 46 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 02/20:30 09:19 PM --------------------------- Wednesday, December 5 --------------------------- FD 4 48 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 02/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 48 REPLAY OF P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES JSC 02/23:41 12:30 AM T=10:00 49 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 03/01:20 02:09 AM T=4:00 51 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 03/03:58 04:47 AM T=4:00 51 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 03/05:45 06:34 AM T=4:00 52 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 03/06:44 07:33 AM T=4:00 53 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 03/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 54 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 03/08:30 09:19 AM NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 5 54 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 03/08:41 09:30 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 54 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 03/09:52 10:41 AM T=4:00 56 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED TO JPL JPL 03/11:26 12:15 PM 56 MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT JPL 03/11:26 12:15 PM T=15:00 56 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED TO JSC JSC 03/11:41 12:30 PM 56 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 03/12:57 01:46 PM T=4:00 57 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 03/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 58 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 03/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 59 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 03/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 59 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 03/17:26 06:15 PM T=4:00 61 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 03/19:08 07:57 PM T=4:00 61 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 03/20:30 09:19 PM 62 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 03/21:17 10:06 PM T=4:00 62 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 03/22:23 11:12 PM T=10:00 --------------------------- Thursday, December 6 ---------------------------- FD 5 63 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 03/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 64 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 04/01:25 02:14 AM T=4:00 67 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 04/06:02 06:51 AM T=4:00 69 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 04/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 6 70 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 04/08:41 09:30 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 71 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 04/10:35 11:24 AM T=10:00 72 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 04/11:58 12:47 PM T=4:00 73 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 04/13:41 02:30 PM DR FRANK SIX-HOST 73 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 04/14:46 03:35 PM T=4:00 74 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 04/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 75 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 04/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 75 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 04/17:49 06:38 PM T=4:00 76 P/TV09 MIDDECK ACTIVITIES (SAREX) TDRW 04/19:15 08:04 PM T=30:00 77 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 04/20:30 09:19 PM 77 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 04/20:47 09:36 PM T=4:00 79 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 04/22:50 11:39 PM T=10:00 ---------------------------- Friday, December 7 ----------------------------- FD 6 79 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 04/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 82 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 05/03:15 04:04 AM T=4:00 84 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 05/06:41 07:30 AM T=4:00 84 P/TV99 SPACE CLASSROOM VOICE CHECKS TDRE 05/07:07 07:56 AM T=5:00 84 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 05/07:33 08:22 AM T=4:00 NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 7 84 P/TV99 SPACE CLASSROOM TDRE 05/08:00 08:49 AM ON-ORBIT LESSON T=29:00 85 P/TV99 SPACE CLASSROOM MSFC 05/08:29 09:18 AM GROUND-BASED LESSON; KAREN WIDENHOFER-TEACHER T=30:00 85 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 05/08:45 09:34 AM 85 P/TV99 SPACE CLASSROOM TDRW 05/09:00 09:49 AM Q & A WITH MSFC/GSFC CLASSROOMS T=26:00 86 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 05/09:54 10:43 AM T=4:00 86 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 05/10:11 11:00 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 89 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 05/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 90 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 05/15:18 04:07 PM T=4:00 90 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 05/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 90 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 05/16:08 04:57 PM T=4:00 90 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 05/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 91 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 05/18:11 07:00 PM T=4:00 92 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRE 05/19:00 07:49 PM T=10:00 93 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 05/19:52 08:41 PM T=4:00 93 BLUE/RED HANDOVER 05/20:30 09:19 PM 94 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 05/21:48 10:37 PM T=4:00 NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 8 ----------------------------- Saturday, December 8 -------------------------- FD 7 95 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 05/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 95 REPLAY OF P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES JSC 05/23:32 12:30 AM T=10:00 95 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 06/00:33 01:22 AM T=4:00 97 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 06/02:34 03:23 AM T=4:00 99 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 06/05:42 06:31 AM T=4:00 100 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 06/06:35 07:24 AM 100 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 06/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 101 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 06/08:29 09:18 AM T=4:00 101 MISSION SCIENTIST BRIEFING MSFC 06/08:41 09:30 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 101 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 06/09:30 10:19 AM T=4:00 102 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 06/10:17 11:06 AM T=4:00 102 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/10:35 11:24 AM T=10:00 104 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 06/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 105 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED TO JPL JPL 06/14:41 03:30 PM 105 GALILEO EARTH FLY-BY PRESS CONFERENCE JPL 06/14:41 03:30 PM 105 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED TO JSC JSC 06/15:11 04:00 PM 105 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 06/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 105 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 06/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 9 107 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 06/17:22 06:11 PM T=4:00 107 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 06/18:18 07:07 PM T=4:00 108 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 06/18:55 07:44 PM T=4:00 109 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 06/20:30 09:19 PM 109 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 06/20:34 09:23 PM T=4:00 --------------------------- Sunday, December 9 ------------------------------ FD 8 111 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 06/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 111 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 07/01:10 01:59 AM T=10:00 114 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 07/04:18 05:07 AM T=4:00 115 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 07/05:52 06:41 AM T=4:00 115 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 07/06:47 07:36 AM T=4:00 116 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 07/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 116 REPLAY OF P/TV09 MIDDECK ACTIVITIES JSC 07/07:41 08:30 AM T=30:00 117 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 07/08:30 09:19 AM 118 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 07/08:41 09:30 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 118 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 07/09:55 10:44 AM T=4:00 118 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 07/10:27 11:16 AM T=1:48 118 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 07/11:05 11:54 AM T=10:00 120 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 07/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 10 121 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 07/14:48 03:37 PM T=4:00 121 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 07/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 122 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 07/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 123 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 07/18:43 07:32 PM T=4:00 124 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 07/19:33 08:22 PM T=4:00 125 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 07/21:30 10:19 PM 125 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 07/22:01 10:50 PM T=4:00 126 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRE 07/23:04 11:53 PM T=10:00 ---------------------------- Monday, December 10 ---------------------------- FD 9 126 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 07/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 127 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 07/23:57 12:46 AM T=4:00 129 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/03:08 03:57 AM T=4:00 129 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/03:27 04:16 AM T=4:00 130 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 08/04:32 05:21 AM T=4:00 132 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 08/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 132 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 08/07:52 08:41 AM T=4:00 133 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 08/08:41 09:30 AM TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 133 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 08/09:30 10:19 AM NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 11 133 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/10:19 11:08 AM T=4:00 134 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRE 08/11:33 12:22 PM T=10:00 135 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/13:03 01:52 PM T=4:00 136 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/13:34 02:23 PM T=4:00 136 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 08/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 137 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 08/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 138 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 08/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 138 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/17:57 06:46 PM T=4:00 139 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/18:24 07:13 PM T=4:00 140 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 08/20:41 09:30 PM T=4:00 141 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 08/21:18 10:07 PM T=4:00 141 BLUE/RED CREW HANDOVER 08/21:30 10:19 PM 142 P/TV08 FLIGHT DECK ACTIVITIES TDRE 08/22:52 11:41 PM T=10:00 ---------------------------- Tuesday, December 11 --------------------------- FD 10 142 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 08/23:11 12:00 AM GARY COEN-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 144 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRW 09/01:51 02:40 AM T=4:00 145 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 09/03:36 04:25 AM T=4:00 146 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 09/05:24 06:13 AM T=4:00 NASA SELECT TELEVISION STS-35 SCHEDULE PAGE 12 146 IDOP SCIENCE TV TDRE 09/06:02 06:51 AM T=4:00 147 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 09/07:11 08:00 AM BOB CASTLE-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 147 P/TV03 IPS DEACTIVATE AND STOW TDRE 09/07:25 08:14 AM T=16:36 148 RED/BLUE CREW HANDOVER 09/08:30 09:19 AM 148 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 09/08:41 09:30 AM DR. TED GULL-ASTRO MISSION SCIENTIST 152 "TODAY IN SPACE" SUMMARY PROGRAM MSFC 09/13:41 02:30 PM DR. FRANK SIX-HOST 153 CHANGE OF SHIFT BRIEFING JSC 09/15:11 04:00 PM AL PENNINGTON-FLIGHT DIRECTOR 153 MISSION MANAGER BRIEFING MSFC 09/16:11 05:00 PM JACK JONES-ASTRO MISSION MANAGER 154 Ku BAND STOW (NOT TELEVISED) 09/17:50 06:39 PM 156 DE-ORBIT BURN (NOT TELEVISED) 09/20:58 09:47 PM 156 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED TO DFRF DFRF 09/21:36 10:25 PM 157 EDWARDS LANDING DFRF 09/21:58 10:47 PM POST-LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE DFRF 11:45 PM Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 8:03 AM PST Msg: NJJA-2920-2566 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: PAO.LOOP, (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF) Subj: ASTRO-1 MISSION REPORT 04 Astro 1 Mission Report #04 08:39 a.m. CST, December 2, 1990 0/07:50 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center "Everything looks fine, just like the book says," reported Payload Specialist Ron Parise on the activation of the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment aboard the Astro Spacelab observatory. "What I'm supposed to see, I see; and what I'm not, I don't" "That's great! We love it," replied Ken Nordsiek, Alternate Payload Specialist, as he monitored the activation from Huntsville's Spacelab Mission Operations Control. The smoothness of the procedure has been typical of the activation of all three Astro ultraviolet telescopes. The only surprise was when a small door on the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope opened unexpectedly at 6:37 MET. However, it was closed within minutes, with no apparent ill effects. Astronomers on-board the Shuttle Columbia have been proceeding with the methodical steps required for activation and checkout since about three and a half hours into the mission. Science teams and controllers at Spacelab Mission Operations Control are guiding them in executing those steps and are monitoring their progress. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 11:43 AM PST Msg: MJJA-2920-2631 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: PAO.LOOP, (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF) Subj: ASTRO-1 MISSION REPORT 05 Astro 1 Mission Report #05 11:48 a.m. CST, December 2, 1990 0/10:59 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center Payload Specialist Sam Durrance, who just came on duty after the first Astro crew handover, is working with payload controllers and the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment science team stationed in Huntsville to check out a problem with one of the telescope's two Dedicated Experiment Processors. The processer, a computer on board the Shuttle which controls the telescope, apparently failed during the handover. Currently, a standard malfunction procedure is being followed to reload the software and bring the computer back on line. The science team will do a complete analysis in order to understand the cause of the failure before attempting to bring the computer back up. In the meantime, the second computer is operating without problems. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 2:56 PM PST Msg: UJJA-2920-2661 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: pao.loop, (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF) Subj: ASTRO MISSION REPORT #05 Astro 1 Mission Report #06 1:58 p.m. CST, December 2, 1990 12:32:00 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center "We love it," responded members of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope Science Team at Spacelab Mission Operations Control in Huntsville, Alabama as they began receiving video downlink data as part of the activation process of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. "We're glad to send the information," replied Payload Specialist Sam Durrance, as the crew began initial tests of the HUT's spectrometer and other instruments to prepare the telescope for upcoming target observations. As raw data is compiled by the telescope, the spectrometer will begin recording information from the calibration source. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 4:08 PM PST Msg: TJJA-2920-2704 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: PAO.LOOP CC: (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF) Subj: MSFC CHANGE OF SHIFT REPORT 2 Astro 1 Shift Summary #02 12:00 noon CST, December 2, 1990 0/11:10 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center After "first call" at 4:56 a.m. CST, when the Spacelab Mission Operations Control Center officially opened with voice-link with the Astro crew earlier this morning, Payload Specialist Ron Parise and Mission Specialist Bob Parker set to work to begin activation of the various Spacelab systems. At 5:23 a.m., Parise took the first steps of activation with the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE), while the Instrument Pointing System (IPS) was still in the stowed position. Parker began the necessary steps to bring the IPS out of its latched mode, including reloading software into the Optical Sensor Package (OSP). At 6:36 a.m., he was given the go-ahead to unlatch the system and bring it to full upright position. By 6:43 a.m., the IPS was standing 90 degrees to the payload bay deck. Initial activation steps for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT) were completed at 7:11 a.m., and approximately 15 minutes afterward the WUPPE was undergoing its South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) tests, in which the instrument was measuring the strength and parameters of the magnetospheric phenomenon. The SAA would play havoc with the sensitive instruments of Astro unless actions were taken by crewmen to protect the observatories from its influence. Activation of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope (HUT) proceeded well. At 7:27 a.m. there was an indication that the small aperture door was open, when it was supposed to be closed. The crew was advised to close it, and they did so minutes afterward. At 7:40 a.m., the WUPPE SAA tests were completed, and two minutes later the crew began an procedure to outgas the HUT. The purging of extraneous gaseous elements is necessary to allow the HUT to view the heavens without interference with the incoming ultraviolet rays. During the outgassing it was noted at 8:31 a.m. that the large door of the HUT was open, and Spacelab Mission Operations Control ordered it closed. Shortly after 8:00 a.m., the procedure to de-ice the detectors of the Broad Band X-Ray Telescope (BBXRT) was scheduled to begin, but the procedure was delayed until about 11 a.m. Warming of the detectors was initiated, but a number of hours must pass to allow them to re-cool to avoid interference with data-taking. The procedure should be completed by later tonight. At 8:34 a.m., Spacelab Mission Operations Control began receiving live downlink of the WUPPE activation and verification of its detectors. A test lamp inside the observatory itself was used for an initial calibration of the instrument. During the morning the BBXRT experienced spotty communication over several orbits, and calibration was delayed until the problem could be corrected. At 11:05 a.m., its Bright Object Sensor test was completed. The test was to determine if the sensor would perform its protective function of alerting the instrument should its attitude point it too closely to an object bright enough to overwhelm its data-taking. At 10:35 a.m., the Astro crew reported a "no-op" condition with the WUPPE. It was traced to a computer failure -- specifically, the Dedicated Experiment Processor -- and standard malfunction procedures were undertaken to reload the computer to allow activation of WUPPE to continue. Payload Specialist Sam Durrance, who relieved Ron Parise at the handover just before noon, began working with payload controllers to resolve the problem. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 4:35 PM PST Msg: FJJA-2920-2712 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: pao.loop, (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF) Subj: WUPPE STATUS REPORT 1 WUPPE Status Report #01 5:00 p.m. CST Dec. 2, 1990 Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL Activation of the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo Polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE) this morning proceeded smoothly through the various power turn-on sequences, detector and spectrometer operation, and acquisition and measurements of the instrument's test lamp. A problem was later encountered with one of WUPPE's two Dedicated Experiment Processors (DEP), onboard computers that control the Wisconsin instrument. In attempting to load targeting sequence software, the computer became stuck in a load mode. At this time the cause of the problem remains unknown and efforts to fix the DEP by modifying software codes are continuing. WUPPE has now switched over to its backup DEP and this computer appears to be working well as of 5 p.m. CST. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 4:49 PM PST Msg: JJJA-2920-2716 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: pao.loop, (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF) Subj: BBRXT STATUS REPORT NO. 1 BBXRT Status Report #01 4 p.m. CST Dec. 2, 1990 Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL Activation procedures are continuing normally for the Broad Band X-Ray Telescope (BBXRT). "Everything's functioning properly," said Dr. Peter Serlemitsos of Goddard Space Center, principal investigator. "We know of no major or even minor problems at this point." The power busses were turned on at 2:57 a.m. CST, initiating the first phase of Spacelab activation activities. Currently the team is warming the solid state detectors to drive off any frost accumulated while waiting for the launch. The detectors are used as spectrometers measuring the energy of individual x-ray photons. These energies produce a spectrum that reveals the chemistry, structure and dynamics of a source. The BBXRT is attached directly to the Two Axis Pointing System (TAPS) which was aligned at 11:30 a.m. CST. One of BBXRT's first targets will be The Crab Nebula, a bright source important for calibrations, Serlemitsos said. That observation is scheduled for 18 hours MET (6:49 p.m. CST). More than 230 observations with BBXRT are scheduled during the 10-day mission. The BBRXT and its TAPS are controlled remotely from a Payload Operations Control Center (POCC) located at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 5:50 PM PST Msg: PJJA-2920-2722 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO STATUS REPORT #7 Astro 1 Mission Report #07 6:30 p.m. CST, December 2, 1990 17:40 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center Activation, calibration and checkout procedures for the three ASTRO telescopes aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia were successfully completed throughout the first 16 hours of the mission. The Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope and Broad Band X-Ray Telescopes are working fine and being prepared to begin observations. The Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment continues to challenge Payload Specialist Sam Durrance and members of the WUPPE science team at Spacelab Mission Operations Control in Huntsville, Alabama. Earlier, WUPPE experienced problems with one of its Dedicated Experiment Processors, which occurred as target information was loading. The telescopes are being prepared for the Joint Focus and Alignment Process, an activity which focuses on a specific target (star) and allows the crew and instruments to prepare for the upcoming science observations. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 5:56 PM PST Msg: QJJA-2920-2723 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: pao.loop Subj: WUPPE Status Report #2 WUPPE STATUS REPORT #02 7 P.M. CST, DEC. 2, 1990 SPACELAB MISSION OPERATIONS CONTROL MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, HUNTSVILLE, AL Because of the loss of one of its onboard computers, the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment (WUPPE) is not participating in tonight's Joint Focus and Alignment exercise. Although scientists and engineers continue to look for the cause of the problem with one of WUPPE's Dedicated Experiment Processors (DEP), the computers that control the instrument, the cause of the problem has not been determined. The backup DEP appears to be functioning well, but there is a concern that attempts to load targeting software might trigger a similar problem with the backup computer. Should the DEP problem be solved in time, it will be possible for WUPPE to participate in the Joint Focus and Alignment exercise. Moreover, even if WUPPE is not able to take part in the joint aligning and focusing of the telescopes, it may still be possible for the instrument to participate in the Astro science program. ### Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 7:35 PM PST Msg: BJJA-2920-2752 >From: SNESBITT To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MCC IPS Status Rport Sunday 12/2 at 9:30 p.m. STS-35/Astro-1 IPS Status Report Mission Control Center, Houston 9:30 p.m. CST, Sunday, Dec. 2, 1990 Flight controllers were in the final stages this evening of verifying a software patch that will set the stage for automated target acquisition with the Instrument Pointing System. That device, which goes by the acronym IPS, houses several of the primary astronomical instruments being trained toward deep space on this science flight. The IPS uses star trackers and gyroscopes in its automatic mode in order to lock on to pre-programmed stars. During the initial attempts to calibrate the system and begin taking science data in the automatic mode, controllers found that one of the IPS star trackers would not recognize and lock on to dimmer stars, as it had been programmed. The software patch therefore became necessary in order to direct the device to lock onto brighter--or higher magnitude--stars. Meanwhile, the Orbiter Columbia itself continues to perform flawlessly, with no systems problems currently being tracked by flight controllers in Houston. The vehicle is in a 190 by 188 nautical mile orbit inclined 28.5 degrees to the equator. The Columbia completes one orbit of the Earth every 1 hour and 31 minutes. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 8:06 PM PST Msg: LJJA-2920-2762 >From: PUBINFO.MSFC To: pao.loop, (C:USA, ADMD:TELEMAIL, PRMD:GSFC, O:GSFCMAIL, UN:JRUFF) Subj: MSFC ASTRO STATUS REPORT #8 Astro 1 Mission Report #08 7:52 p.m. CST, December 2, 1990 18:59 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center "That is a real star folks," proclaimed Columbia Payload Specialist Sam Durrance as he described "first light" from the first stellar observation, Beta Doradas, through the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. The sighting was part of the Joint Focus and Alignment Process, a lengthy procedure which allows the ultraviolet telescopes to focus on a specific target as a prelude to the upcoming science observations. Members of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope science team at Spacelab Mission Operations Control in Huntsville, Alabama were beaming with smiles and anticipation as early images of the star Beta Duradas came into view. The Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment telescope continues to have problems with the Dedicated Experiment Processor A. Scientists are busy performing diagnostic tests on the telescope to correct its status. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 8:49 PM PST Msg: VJJA-2920-2794 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: REVISED-MSFC ASTRO STATUS REPORT #8 Astro 1 Mission Report #08 7:52 p.m. CST, December 2, 1990 18:59 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center "That is a real star, folks," proclaimed Columbia Payload Specialist Sam Durrance as he described "first light" from the first stellar observation, Beta Doradus, through the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. The sighting was part of the joint focus and alignment process, a lengthy procedure which allows the ultraviolet telescopes to focus on a common area as a prelude to the upcoming science observations. Members of the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope science team at Spacelab Mission Operations Control in Huntsville, Alabama were beaming with smiles and anticipation as early images of the star Beta Doradus came into view. The Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment telescope continues to have problems with Dedicated Experiment Processor A. Scientists are busy performing diagnostic tests on the telescope to better understand the issue. Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 9:00 PM PST Msg: AJJA-2920-2795 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO SHIFT SUMMMARY #4 Astro 1 Shift Summary #03 10:00 p.m. CST, December 2, 1990 0/21:00 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center The Astro-1 crew and ground support team members achieved a number of important milestones in the instrument activation process during the eight-hour period ending at approximately 19 hours into their mission. Overall, the activities brought the mission close to the point of readiness to begin science observations. Just before the end of this period, at 7:46 p.m. CST, Payload Specialist Sam Durrance reported a key accomplishment when he was successful in acquiring the first "real star" with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope. By "real star," he was underscoring the fact that previous activation steps had involved either simulated targets such as calibration lamps within the instruments themselves, or involved simply monitoring data readouts during procedures. The acquisition which resulted in "first light" for the Hopkins telescope was of a star known as Beta Doradus -- so designated because it is the second brightest star in the constellation Dorado, "the Swordfish." The star was selected for observation in this early stage of the Astro-1 mission because of its suitability for focusing and aligning the ultraviolet instruments, rather than for scientific reasons. With that acquisition, the Astro-1 crew was able to begin the fairly lengthy process of checking the Hopkins instrument -- and adjusting where necessary -- to ensure that it is in top condition when the science observation phase of the mission begins. The "joint focus and alignment" process would normally involve both the Hopkins telescope and the companion Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photopolarimeter Experiment. However, this phase of activation for the Wisconsin experiment was postponed after a problem was encountered in loading software in one of the Dedicated Experiment Processors for the Wisconsin instrument. Members of the Wisconsin experiment principal investigator team began troubleshooting the computer glitch and assessing options for dealing with it. When that problem has been resolved, replanning efforts will be undertaken to address the best course for bringing the Wisconsin instrument back into the overall timeline. The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center, has the shortest and simplest set of activation 2 procedures, which were proceeding with no significant anomalies during this period. Likewise, activation and checkout of the Broad Band X-ray Telescope and its separate pointing system went ahead with relatively little in the way of anomalies. By the end of the period, the X-ray telescope's control team at the Goddard Center was approaching readiness for initial data acquisition. ### Forwarded message: Posted: Sun, Dec 2, 1990 11:53 PM PST Msg: AJJA-2920-2839 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO STATUS REPORT #9 Astro 1 Mission Report #09 12:20 a.m. CST, December 2, 1990 0/23:30 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center According to Mission Scientist Gene Urban: "The mission is poised to do extremely good science. We're in an extremely good orbit. Three of the experiments have activated almost completely." The X-ray telescope was realigned with its Two Axis Pointing System during the last night pass. At 11:40 p.m. CST, the payload specialists were working on a joint focus and alignment that involve the three ultraviolet telescopes. There have been no problems with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope, and all procedures to activate the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope were excellent. Also, the spectrograph has been activated on the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, although the second part of spectrograph focus procedures was not accomplished because no stars passed into the telescopes field of view. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment telescope team is waiting for word on diagnostics tests on a software patch between Dedicated Experiment Processor A and Spacelab. Those diagnostics will give them a better idea of the state of that onboard computer system which has delayed the activation of WUPPE. All systems are working well with the Broad Band X-ray Telescope. Forwarded message: Posted: Mon, Dec 3, 1990 3:29 AM PST Msg: AJJA-2920-2883 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO STATUS REPORT #10 Astro 1 Mission Report #10 5:00 a.m. CST, December 3, 1990 1/0:09 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center As of 5:00 a.m. CST, three of the four telescopes appear to be fully operational and ready to begin observing. Both the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope and Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope are fully functional. Independently, the Broad Band X-ray Telescope and its Two Axis Pointing System are functioning well, but procedures have yet to take place that will coalign the two systems to effectively track scheduled stars. The Wisconsin Ultraviolet Telescope has begun to catch up on activation procedures delayed yesterday evening when problems developed in one of the telescope's Dedicated Experiment Processors. "There's no way to know exactly yet when the first science will come," said Gene Urban, Astro mission scientist. According to Urban, the delay is "probably a matter of working out software problems. We went through this on Spacelab 2. It took several days when the IPS was first being checked out to find how it worked best, and these are some related kinds of problems. We will work them out." Forwarded message: Posted: Mon, Dec 3, 1990 4:11 AM PST Msg: GJJA-2920-2889 >From: MSIMMONS To: PAO.LOOP Subj: MSFC ASTRO SHIFT SUMMARY #4 (NOTE PREVIOUS WAS #3) Astro 1 Shift Summary #04 5:30 a.m. CST, December 3, 1990 1/04:39 MET Spacelab Mission Operations Control Marshall Space Flight Center As of 5:00 a.m. CST, three of the four telescopes appear to be fully operational and ready to begin observing. Both the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope and Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope are fully functional. Independently, the Broad Band X-ray Telescope and its Two Axis Pointing System are functioning well, but procedures have yet to take place that will coalign the two systems to effectively track scheduled stars. The Wisconsin Ultraviolet Telescope has begun to catch up on activation procedures delayed yesterday evening when problems developed in one of the telescope's Dedicated Experiment Processors. Earlier in the mission, the WUPPE had experienced an apparent software problem with one of its Dedicated Experiment Processors. Diagnostics later pointed to an unactivated switch that controlled heater functions to one of the Spacelab remote acquisition units. Once the heater was switched on, commanding began to complete the WUPPE activation procedures. This activation has been slowed somewhat because of the coordinated timing needed to correlate the procedures with other telescope activities, passes through the South Atlantic Anomaly, and the availability of time shared on the orbiter's Digital Display Unit. ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V12 #631 *******************