NEWS5 # From Date Subject 1 23-AUG-1991 Daily News in Brief 8/21/91 2 23-AUG-1991 STS-48 PRESS KIT {long} 3 23-AUG-1991 HQ 91-135/GALILEO ANTENNA 4 26-AUG-1991 Daily News in Brief 8/22/91 5 26-AUG-1991 HQ 91-139/AA FOR EXPLORATION 6 26-AUG-1991 HQ 91-138/AA FOR H.R. & ED 7 26-AUG-1991 IMDISP 7.4 - Image Processing Software 8 26-AUG-1991 Magellan Update - 08/22/91 9 26-AUG-1991 Galileo Update #2 - 08/22/91 10 26-AUG-1991 Ulysses Update - 08/22/91 11 26-AUG-1991 Galileo Update - 08/23/91 12 26-AUG-1991 Magellan Update - 08/23/91 13 26-AUG-1991 HQ 91-137/ASTRONAUT CREWS 14 27-AUG-1991 Galileo Update - 08/26/91 15 27-AUG-1991 Magellan Update - 08/26/91 16 27-AUG-1991 Daily News in Brief 8/26/91 17 3-SEP-1991 Magellan Update #2 - 08/27/91 18 3-SEP-1991 Magellan Update - 08/27/91 19 3-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 08/28/91 20 3-SEP-1991 Ulysses Update - 08/26/91 21 3-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 08/28/91 22 3-SEP-1991 Magellan Update - 08/28/91 23 3-SEP-1991 Daily News in Brief 8/27/91 {Oops!!} 24 3-SEP-1991 HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/27/91 {Big OOPS!!!} 25 3-SEP-1991 Daily News in Brief 8/28/91 26 3-SEP-1991 STS-48 LAUNCH ADVISORY 27 3-SEP-1991 HQ 91-141/Magellan Status 28 3-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 08/29/91 29 3-SEP-1991 Magellan Update - 08/29/91 30 3-SEP-1991 Galileo Update #2 - 08/29/91 31 3-SEP-1991 Solar-A Update - 08/30/91 32 3-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 08/30/91 33 3-SEP-1991 HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/30/91 34 5-SEP-1991 Magellan Discovers Landslide 35 5-SEP-1991 Re: A SETI puzzle (SPOILER) 36 5-SEP-1991 Magellan Landslide Images 37 9-SEP-1991 Re: Magellan Landslide Images 38 10-SEP-1991 Magellan Landslide Images 39 10-SEP-1991 SU drops Mt.Graham 40 11-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 09/03/91 41 11-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 09/03/91 42 11-SEP-1991 Magellan Update - 09/03/91 43 11-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 09/04/91 44 11-SEP-1991 Magellan Update - 09/04/91 45 11-SEP-1991 Magellan Update - 09/05/91 46 11-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 09/05/91 47 11-SEP-1991 Galileo Update #2 - 09/05/91 48 11-SEP-1991 Galileo Update - 09/06/91 49 11-SEP-1991 Galileo Update #3 - 09/05/91 50 11-SEP-1991 Ulysess Update - 09/06/91 51 11-SEP-1991 Ulysses Update - 09/02/91 52 11-SEP-1991 Daily News in Brief 9/4-5/91 53 11-SEP-1991 HQ RELEASE 91-142/EDUCATION TELECAST - SEI 54 11-SEP-1991 HQ91-143/TITAN Greenhouse 55 11-SEP-1991 L-2 DAY WEATHER FORECAST FOR LAUNCH 56 11-SEP-1991 HQ 91-144/Spacelab Payload Specialist 57 (Deleted) 58 11-SEP-1991 HQRELEASE 91-146/BUSH ON SELECT 59 11-SEP-1991 HQ 91-145/AXAF CORRECTION 60 11-SEP-1991 SHUTTLE STATUS From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 23-AUG-1991 22:47:44.34 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Daily News in Brief 8/21/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 23-AUG-1991 22:47:19.30 Date: Fri, 23 Aug 1991 20:44:29 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910823204429.28e00c88@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Daily News in Brief 8/21/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:182 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:Daily News in Brief 8/21/91 Date: Wed, 21 Aug 91 10:47 PDT Message-ID: This is DAILY NEWS IN BRIEF for 8/21/91 It is intended for internal agency use only. --------------------------------------------------- Daily News in Brief is an abstract of media stories about the Space Program and other related items. --------------------------------------------------- . . . What the Fourth Estate is saying about air & space . . . New York Times -- 8/21/91 "Third Attempt Fails to Free Antenna on Spacecraft" By William Broad "The third attempt to fix a balky antenna on the Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft was pronounced a failure yesterday by mission managers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California." The Times reports that the setback cast new doubt on the fate of the $1.4 billion mission, the most ambitious American planetary expedition now under way and that the rescue attempt was aimed at freeing the craft's jammed antenna by causing its parts to shrink in the cool shade provided by an earlier maneuver. After tests and analysis, the Times says JPL engineers announced the tactic didn't work as planned and that the temperatures apparently weren't "cool" enough to release the few antenna ribs apparently bound by friction to the antenna's central support tower. The Times says that NASA hasn't given up hope and quotes Galileo project manager Bill O'Neill as saying "I'm determined that we'll succeed at this. We'll keep doing these exercised and doing everything we possibly can to make it release. In this turn we did last week, we were hoping to get the craft 20 degrees cooler than we actually did. So we know the antenna tower didn't shrink as much as we wanted." The paper says the project office plans another cooling procedure this December, following the planned October flyby of the asteroid Gaspra. ------------------------ United Press International -- 8/21/91 "Fix for Jammed Antenna Fails" By William Harwood "A third attempt to free a jammed antenna crippling NASA's $1.4 billion Galileo Jupiter probe failed, officials, said, but engineers vowed to keep trying to fix the costly spacecraft before it reaches its target in 1995." UPI reports that Galileo's $3.7 million high gain antenna failed to open properly on April 11 and that without the antenna the spacecraft will not be able to transmit more than a fraction of the data it was to collect about the solar system's largest planet. The story says an attempt to free the antenna in June by warming it in direct sunlight failed and that since then engineers have been trying to chill the antenna, hoping critical portions of the antenna's central support mast would shrink and thereby free the three or four stuck ribs which are preventing it from opening properly. The report quotes project manager Bill O'Neill as saying "we didn't get cold enough. We have now processed out diagnostic tests on the spacecraft and determined that there's been no change in the antenna configuration. We didn't get nearly as cold as we had hoped. It's a disappointment that it didn't work this time. We've just got to get it colder." The UPI reports that the efforts to unstick the antenna will go on hold for the next couple of months as the spacecraft and ground team gear up for the first-ever encounter of an asteroid -- planned for the rocky object Gaspra on October 29. The story says that if the stuck ribs refuse to budge, even after further attempts to free them occur in December, NASA would be faced with a potential space failure more devastating than the well- publicized optical flaws hobbling the $1.5 billion Hubble Space Telescope. ------------------------ Washington Post -- 8/21/91 "Another of Orbital's Rocket's Destroyed" By Kirstin Downey "It was another bad day yesterday for Orbital Sciences Corp." The Post reports that a rocket made by the Fairfax, Va., company was destroyed only seconds after its launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla. after the vehicle veered off course. The story says the 29-foot Aries rocket took off on time at 5:45 am and immediately veered off course, causing the range safety officer to destroy it and the Strategic Defense Initiative payload it carried. The paper says the cost to taxpayers for the mission, excluding the cost of the experiments, was $10 million. The paper also reports that OSC's stock fell one dollar to $14.75 following news of the mishap. -------------------------------------------------------- This concludes Daily News in Brief. Comments and suggestions are appreciated as is news from your area which you think should be included here, please fax a copy of the story to 202/755-3605 (FTS 755-3605) or contact Beth Schmid, Les Reinertson or Charles Redmond at 202/453-8425 (FTS 453-8425) or NASAmail: ESCHMID, LREINERTSON, EDITOR or CREDMOND. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 23-AUG-1991 22:52:28.23 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: STS-48 PRESS KIT {long} Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 23-AUG-1991 22:50:48.45 Date: Fri, 23 Aug 1991 20:47:57 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910823204757.28e00c8c@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: STS-48 PRESS KIT {long} To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:186 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:STS-48 PRESS KIT Date: Thu, 22 Aug 91 08:35 PDT Message-ID: 1 SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION STS-48 PRESS KIT SEPTEMBER 1991 PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTS Mark Hess/Jim Cast/Ed Campion Office of Space Flight NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/453-8536) Paula Cleggett-Haleim/Brian Dunbar Office of Space Science and Applications NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/453-1547) Drucella Andersen Office of Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/453-2754) Lisa Malone Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (Phone: 407/867-2468) Mike Simmons Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. (Phone: 205/544-6537) James Hartsfield Johnson Space Center, Houston (Phone: 713/483-5111) Jane Hutchison Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. (Phone: 415/604-9000) Myron Webb Stennis Space Center, MS (Phone: 601/688-3341) Nancy Lovato Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif. (Phone: 805/258-3448) Jean W. Clough Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. (Phone: 804/864-6122) CONTENTS GENERAL RELEASE........................................................ 4 MEDIA SERVICES....................................................... STS-48 QUICK-LOOK FACTS................................................6 SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES............................................7 VEHICLE AND PAYLOAD WEIGHTS............................................8 SPACE SHUTTLE ABORT MODES..............................................9 TRAJECTORY SEQUENCE OF EVENTS..........................................10 STS-48 ON-ORBIT EVENTS.................................................11 PRELAUNCH PROCESSING...................................................12 UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH SATELLITE (UARS).............................13 PROTEIN CRYSTAL GROWTH-II-2 (PCG-II- 2).................................19 MIDDECK 0-GRAVITY DYNAMICS EXPERIMENT (MODE)...........................21 COSMIC RADIATION EFFECTS AND ACTIVATION MONITOR (CREAM)................23 RADIATION MONITORING EQUIPMENT-III (RME- III)...........................24 AIR FORCE MAUI OPTICAL SYSTEM (AMOS)...................................24 SHUTTLE ACTIVATION MONITOR (SAM).......................................24 INVESTIGATIONS INTO POLYMER MEMBRANE PROCESSING (IPMP).................25 ELECTRONIC STILL PHOTOGRAPHY TEST......................................25 PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL EXPERIMENT (PARE).........................27 STS-48 CREW BIOGRAPHIES................................................28 STS-48 MISSION MANAGEMENT..............................................30 RELEASE: 91-136 STS-48 DISCOVERY TO LOFT SATELLITE TO STUDY ATMOSPHERE, OZONE Discovery will deploy the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) 350 statute miles above Earth to study mankind's effect on the planet's atmosphere and its shielding ozone layer as the highlight of Space Shuttle mission STS-48. Once deployed, UARS will have two opportunities to study winters in the northern hemisphere and one opportunity to study the Antarctic ozone hole during the satellite's planned 20-month life. The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is the first major flight element of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, a multi-year global research program that will use ground-based, airborne and space-based instruments to study the Earth as a complete environmental system. Mission to Planet Earth is NASA's contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, a multi-agency effort to better understand, analyze and predict the effect of human activity on the Earth's environment. UARS is designed to help scientists learn more about the fragile mixture of gases protecting Earth from the harsh environment of space. UARS will provide scientists with their first complete data set on the upper atmosphere's chemistry, winds and energy inputs. Discovery is planned to launch into a 57-degree inclination polar orbit at 6:57 p.m. EDT, Sept.. 12, from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A on STS-48, Discovery's 13th flight and the 43rd Shuttle mission. Secondary objectives on the flight include Protein Crystal Growth-7, the seventh flight of a middeck experiment in growing protein crystals in weightlessness; the Middeck 0-Gravity Dynamics Experiment, a study of how fluids and structures react in weightlessness; the Investigations into Polymer Membrane Processing-4, research into creating polymer membranes, used as filters in many industrial refining processes, in space; the Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment, a study of the effects of weightlessness on rodents; the Shuttle Activation Monitor, a device that will measure the amounts of gamma rays in the Shuttle's crew cabin; the Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor, a study of cosmic radiation in the orbiter environment; the Radiation Monitoring Experiment, an often flown device that monitors the amounts of radiation inside the Shuttle; and the Air Force Maui Optical System, a use of the Shuttle's visibility in orbit to calibrate Air Force optical instruments in Hawaii. Also, in the payload bay with UARS, the Ascent Particle Monitor will measure any contaminants that enter the cargo bay during launch. - more - Commanding Discovery will be Navy Capt. John Creighton. Navy Cmdr. Ken Reightler, making his first space flight, will serve as pilot. Mission Specialists will be Marine Corps Col. Jim Buchli, Army Lt. Col. Sam Gemar and Air Force Col. Mark Brown. The 5-day mission is scheduled to land at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility at about 1:55 a.m. EDT Sept. 18, 1991. - end general release - MEDIA SERVICES NASA Select Television Transmission NASA Select television is available on Satcom F-2R, Transponder 13, located at 72 degrees west longitude; frequency 3960.0 MHz, audio 6.8 MHz. The schedule for television transmissions from the orbiter and for change-of-shift briefings from Johnson Space Center, Houston, will be available during the mission at Kennedy Space Center, Fla; Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.; Johnson Space Center; and NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The television schedule will be updated to reflect changes dictated by mission operations. Television schedules also may be obtained by calling the Johnson TV schedule bulletin board, 713/483-5817. The bulletin board is a computer data base service requiring the use of a telephone modem. A voice update of the television schedule may be obtained by dialing 202/755-1788. This service is updated daily at noon ET. Status Reports Status reports on countdown and mission progress, on-orbit activities and landing operations will be produced by the appropriate NASA news center. Briefings A mission briefing schedule will be issued prior to launch. During the mission, change-of-shift briefings by an off- going flight director will occur at least once a day. The updated NASA Select television schedule will indicate when mission briefings are planned to occur. STS-48 QUICK LOOK Launch Date: September 12, 1991 Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Pad 39A Launch Window: 6:57 p.m.- 7:41 p.m. EDT Orbiter: Discovery (OV-103) Orbit: 351 x 351 statute miles, 57 degrees inclination Landing Date/Time: Sept. 18, 1991, 1:55 a.m. EDT Primary Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Abort Landing Sites Return to Launch Site - Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Transoceanic Abort Landing - Zaragosa, Spain Alternate Transoceanic Abort Landing - Moron, Spain; Ben Guerir, Morocco Abort Once Around - Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Crew Members: John Creighton, Commander Kenneth Reightler, Jr., Pilot Charles D. Gemar, Mission Specialist 1 James F. Buchli, Mission Specialist 2 Mark N. Brown, Mission Specialist 3 Cargo Bay Payloads: UARS (Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite) APM-03 (Atmospheric Particle Monitor-3) Middeck Payloads: RME-III-06 (Radiation Monitoring Experiment-III) PCG-07 (Protein Crystal Growth-7) MODE-01 (Middeck 0-Gravity Dynamics Experiment-1) IPMP-04 (Investigations into Polymer Membrane Processing-4) PARE-01 (Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment-1) SAM-03 (Shuttle Activation Monitor-1) CREAM-01 (Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor-1) AMOS (Air Force Maui Optical System-12) Electronic Still Photography Camera SUMMARY OF MAJOR ACTIVITIES DAY ONE Ascent OMS 2 RCS-1 RCS-2 UARS on-orbit checkout PCG activation DAY TWO Middeck 0-Gravity Dynamics Experiment Extravehicular Mobility Unit checkout Depressurize cabin to 10.2 psi DAY THREE UARS deploy Repressurize cabin to 14.7 psi Medical DSOs DAY FOUR Middeck 0-Gravity Dynamics Experiment Shuttle Activation Monitor DAY FIVE Protein Crystal Growth deactivation Shuttle Activation Monitor stow Flight Control Systems checkout Reaction Control System hot-fire Cabin stow DAY SIX Deorbit preparation Deorbit Landing VEHICLE AND PAYLOAD WEIGHTS Pounds Orbiter (Discovery) empty and 3 SSMEs 72,651 Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS) 14,419 UARS Airborne Support Equipment 2,164 Ascent Particle Monitor 22 Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor 48 Radiation Monitoring Experiment 7 Investigations into Polymer Membrane Processing 41 Protein Crystal Growth 89 Middeck 0-Gravity Dynamics Experiment 130 Shuttle Activation Monitor 90 Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment 70 Detailed Supplementary Objectives (DSOs) 215 Detailed Test Objectives 45 Total Vehicle at SRB Ignition 4,507,348 Orbiter Landing Weight 92,507 SPACE SHUTTLE ABORT MODES Space Shuttle launch abort philosophy aims for a safe and intact recovery of the flight crew, orbiter and its payload. Abort modes include: * Abort-To-Orbit (ATO) -- Partial loss of main engine thrust late enough to permit reaching a minimal 120 statute mile orbit with orbital maneuvering system engines. * Abort-Once-Around (AOA) -- Earlier main engine shutdown with the capability to allow one orbit around before landing at either Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.; the Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; or White Sands Space Harbor (Northrup Strip), N.M. * Trans-Atlantic Abort Landing (TAL) -- Loss of one or more main engines midway through powered flight would force a landing at either Zaragosa, Spain; Moron, Spain or Ben Guerir, Morocco. * Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) -- Early shutdown of one or more engines without enough energy to reach Zaragosa would result in a pitch around and thrust back toward KSC until within gliding distance of the SLF. STS-48 contingency landing sites are Edwards AFB, Kennedy Space Center, White Sands, Zaragosa, Moron and Ben Guerir. STS-48 TRAJECTORY SEQUENCE OF EVENTS _______________________________________________ ___________ RELATIVE EVENT MET VELOCITY MACH ALTITUDE (d:h:m:s) (fps) (ft) _______________________________________________ ___________ Launch 00/00:00:00 Begin Roll Maneuver 00/00:00:10 191 .17 813 End Roll Maneuver 00/00:00:19 434 .39 3,710 SSME Throttle Down to 89% 00/00:00:22 517 .46 4,999 SSME Throttle Down to 67% 00/00:00:30 719 .65 9,362 SSME Throttle Up to 104% 00/00:01:02 1,470 1.49 39,013 Max. Dyn. Pressure (Max Q) 00/00:01:05 1,573 1.63 42,512 SRB Staging 00/00:02:04 4,162 3.86 153,823 Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) 00/00:08:37 25,241 22.14 373,714 Zero Thrust 00/00:08:43 25,255 N/A 377,239 ET Separation 00/00:08:55 OMS-2 Burn 00/00:43:41 Landing (orbit 81) 05/08:31:00 Apogee, Perigee at MECO: 287 x 35 nautical miles Apogee, Perigee post-OMS 2: 291 x 293 nautical miles STS-48 ON-ORBIT EVENTS _______________________________________________ ___________ APOGEE EVENT MET PERIGEE ORBIT DELTA V (d:h:m:s) (n.m.) fps) _______________________________________________ ___________ OMS-2 00/00:48:00 291x293 1 448.1 RCS-1 (forward) 00/06:42:00 292x305 5 23.5 RCS-2 (aft) 00/07:29:00 305x306 5 22.4 UARS Deploy 02/04:35:00 305x306 33 n/a RCS-3 (separation 1) 02/04:36:00 306x308 33 2 RCS-4 (separation 2) 02/04:53:00 303x306 34 5.5 Deorbit 05/07:18:00 n/a 80 501 STS-48 PRELAUNCH PROCESSING Flight preparations on Discovery for the STS-48 mission began May 7 following its last mission, STS-39, which ended with a landing at KSC's Shuttle Landing Facility. Discovery was towed from the runway to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) to start operations for its 13th flight. Discovery's systems were fully tested while in the OPF including the orbital maneuvering system pods and the forward reaction control system. Space Shuttle main engine locations for this flight are as follows: engine 2019 in the No. 1 position, engine 2031 in the No. 2 position and engine 2107 in the No. 3 position. These engines were installed in June. The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite arrived at the Kennedy Space Center by barge on May 13 and was taken to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility for final installation of the flight components and spacecraft checkout. On July 27 it was transfered to the Vertical Processing Facility for testing to verify its compatability and readiness to be integrated with the Space Shuttle. UARS was moved to Pad 39-A on Aug. 10 and installed into the payload bay of Discovery on Aug. 14. Integrated testing, communications checks and a Launch Readiness Test were scheduled to verify that UARS was ready for the pending deployment and its mission. Booster stacking operations on mobile launcher platform 3 began June 27 with the right aft booster. Stacking of all booster segments was completed by July 20. The external tank was mated to the boosters on July 24 and the Orbiter Discovery was transferred to the Vehicle Assembly Building on July 25. The orbiter was mated to the external tank and solid rocket boosters on Aug. 2. The STS-48 vehicle was rolled out to Launch Pad 39-A on Aug. 12. A dress rehearsal launch countdown was held Aug. 19-20 at KSC. A standard 43-hour launch countdown is scheduled to begin 3 days prior to launch. During the countdown, the orbiter's onboard fuel and oxidizer storage tanks will be loaded and all orbiter systems will be prepared for flight. About 9 hours before launch the external tank will be filled with its flight load of a half a million gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants. About 2 and one-half hours before liftoff, the flight crew will begin taking their assigned seats in the crew cabin. The first night landing is planned at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the conclusion of this 5-day mission. KSC's landing convoy teams will safe the vehicle on the runway and tow it into the new Orbiter Processing Facility. This will mark the first use of OPF bay 3 where Discovery will be prepared for its 14th space flight, Mission STS-42 with the International Microgravity Laboratory. UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH SATELLITE The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is the first major flight element of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, a multi-year global research program that will use ground-based, airborne and space-based instruments to study the Earth as a complete environmental system. Mission to Planet Earth is NASA's contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, a multi-agency effort to better understand, analyze and predict the effect of human activity on the Earth's environment. UARS is designed to help scientists learn more about the fragile mixture of gases protecting Earth from the harsh environment of space. UARS will provide scientists with their first complete data set on the upper atmosphere's chemistry, winds and energy inputs. One of UARS' focuses will be an area in which humanity's technological advancement is changing the Earth on a global scale -- depletion of ozone in the stratosphere, or upper atmosphere. The stratosphere ranges from approximately 9 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface. Ozone, a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms, blocks ultraviolet light that can cause skin cancer and damage food crops. Although there are some natural causes of stratospheric ozone depletion, such as volcanic eruptions, the "ozone hole" that forms over Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere's spring season and the 5 percent depletion observed over northern mid-latitudes in the last decade are a direct consequence of human activity. These long-term ozone trends are caused by chlorine compounds released into the atmosphere as byproducts of industry, including refrigeration and the making of plastic foam. To study ozone depletion more completely and to better understand other aspects of Earth's fragile atmosphere, scientists need the global perspective available from an orbiting satellite, one that makes simultaneous measurements of all the factors of ozone depletion with state-of-the-art instruments. To that end, the UARS science program has been designed as a single experiment with nine component instruments that will study the upper atmosphere's chemical, dynamic and energy systems. In addition to the UARS instrument science teams, 10 other teams will use the data to improve theoretical models of the upper atmosphere and consequently, scientists' ability to predict the effects of change in the atmosphere. An extensive program of correlative investigations using ground-based, aircraft and balloon-carried instruments is also planned. As a whole, the UARS program is designed to give scientists the data they need to address the challenge of Mission to Planet Earth -- to understand and predict the effect of human activity on the environment. UARS's nine complementary scientific instruments each provide measurements critical to a more complete understanding of the upper atmosphere, concentrating their observations in chemistry, dynamics and energy input. UARS carries a 10th instrument, the Active Cavity Radiometer II (ACRIM II), that is not technically part of the UARS mission. ACRIM II will take advantage of a flight opportunity aboard UARS to study the Sun's energy output, an important variable in the study of the Earth's climate. Chemistry Studies Four of UARS' instruments will measure the concentrations and distribution of gases important to ozone depletion, climate change and other atmospheric phenomena. Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer Like all spectrometers, the Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES) will search for the tell-tale spectra that indicate the presence of certain chemicals. In particular, CLAES will determine concentrations and distributions by altitude of nitrogen and chlorine compounds, ozone, water vapor and methane, all of which take part in the chemistry of ozone depletion. Principal Investigator for CLAES is Dr. Aidan E. Roche, Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory, Palo Alto, Calif. Dr. John Gille of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo., is a collaborative investigator. Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder The Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS) will study atmospheric water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, nitric acid, ozone, methane and carbon monoxide. Like CLAES, ISAMS detects infrared radiation from the atmosphere and uses it to derive information on atmospheric temperature and composition. Principal Investigator for ISAMS is Dr. Fred W. Taylor, University of Oxford, Department of Atmospheric Physics, Oxford, United Kingdom. Dr. James M. Russell III of NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., is a collaborative investigator. Microwave Limb Sounder The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) will provide, for the first time, a global data set on chlorine monoxide, the key intermediate compound in the ozone destruction cycle. MLS data also will be used to generate three-dimensional maps of ozone distribution and to detect water vapor in the microwave spectral range. Principal Investigator for MLS is Dr. Joseph W. Waters, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Halogen Occultation Experiment The Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) will observe the vertical distribution of hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acid, methane, carbon dioxide, ozone, water vapor and members of the nitrogen family. Each day, HALOE will observe 28 solar occultations, that is, it will look through Earth's atmosphere toward the sun to measure the energy absorption of the Sun's rays by these gases. Principal Investigator for HALOE is Dr. James M. Russell III, NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va. Dynamics Two instruments, the High Resolution Doppler Imager and the Wind Imaging Interferometer, will provide scientists with the first directly measured, global picture of the horizontal winds that disperse chemicals and aerosols through the upper atmosphere. High Resolution Doppler Imager By measuring the Doppler shifts of atmospheric chemicals, the High Resolution Doppler Imager (HRDI) will measure atmospheric winds between 6.2 and 28 miles and above 34 miles. These data are important to understanding the essential role of atmospheric motion on the distribution of chemicals in the upper atmosphere. Principal Investigator for HRDI is Dr. Paul B. Hays, University of Michigan, Space Physics Research Laboratory, Ann Arbor. Wind Imaging Interferometer The Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) also will use the Doppler shift measurement technique to develop altitude profiles of horizontal winds in the upper atmosphere. WINDII's measurements will tell scientists about the winds at and above 49 miles. Principal Investigator for WINDII is Dr. Gordon G. Shepherd, York University, Ontario, Canada. The investigation is provided by a partnership between Canada and France, with the latter making important contributions to the data analysis software. Energy Inputs Three instruments, the Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor, the Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment, and the Partial Environment Monitor, will measure solar energy that reaches the Earth and study its effect on the atmosphere. Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor Ultraviolet light from the Sun is the driver of the ozone cycle, dissociating chlorine compounds into reactive chlorine atoms that in turn break up ozone molecules . The Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM) will measure solar ultraviolet energy, the most important spectral range in ozone chemistry. Principal Investigator for SUSIM is Dr. Guenter E. Brueckner, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment Like SUSIM, the Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) will conduct in-depth ultraviolet studies of the Sun. SUSIM will compare the Sun's ultraviolet energy to the UV radiation of bright blue stars, providing a standard against which the solar energy level can be measured in future long-term monitoring of the Sun. Principal Investigator for SOLSTICE is Dr. Gary J. Rottman, University of Colorado, Boulder. Particle Environment Monitor The Particle Environment Monitor (PEM) will help to answer questions about the effect of energetic particles from the Sun on the upper atmosphere, detecting and measuring the particles as they enter the atmosphere. PEM uses four primary instrument subunits to take detailed particle measurements in different energy ranges. Principal Investigator for PEM is Dr. J. David Winningham, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas. Solar Constant Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor The Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM II) will provide accurate monitoring of total solar activity for long-term climate studies. ACRIM II is an instrument of opportunity, added to the UARS spacecraft after the engineering team determined that the spacecraft could fly a 10th instrument. Though not a part of the UARS program, ACRIM II data is important to other studies within Mission to Planet Earth. Principal Investigator for ACRIM II is Dr. Richard D. Willson, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Propulsion The UARS observatory consists of a standard design Multi-mission Modular Spacecraft (MMS), coupled to a module that includes the 10 instruments. The MMS Hydrazine Propulsion Module will power orbit adjustment maneuvers for the initial boost to orbit and maintain the required altitude. The system consists of four 5-pound thrusters and 12 small 0.2-pound attitude control thrusters. The MMS was built by Fairchild, Inc., Germantown, Md. Modular Attitude Control System For UARS to make the minute changes in its orientation toward the Earth needed for the long-duration measurements of the atmosphere, the spacecraft must know at all times where it is pointed. To do this, UARS uses a system known as the Modular Attitude Control System (MACS). The MACS subsystem is a three-axis system made up of many flight- proven NASA components contained within the MMS. The system contains sensors that tell UARS where it's pointed and actuators that can point the spacecraft as required. The MACS module originally flew aboard the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM). It was returned to Earth as part of the 1984 SMM repair mission and refurbished for flight aboard UARS. Communications and Data Handling The Communications and Data Handling (CADH) system uses software based on proven modular technology that flew on the Solar Maximum Mission and Landsat 4 and 5. The modular programming allows sections of the software to be rewritten or repaired without requiring end-to-end verification of an entire new program. The CADH system consists of the CADH module, a high-gain antenna and two omni-directional low-gain antennas. The CADH also has a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) transponder for communications between UARS and TDRSS. UARS uses a NASA standard spacecraft computer which provides for some autonomous operation of the spacecraft. It will perform such tasks as command processing, attitude determination computations and power management. Payload Operation and Control Center Instructions to UARS during its space voyage begin with the controllers at computer terminals located in the UARS Payload Operations Control Center (POCC) at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. The POCC is the focal point for all UARS pre-mission preparations and on- orbit operations. For the UARS mission, the POCC is part of the Multi-satellite Operations Control Center (MSOCC) at Goddard that provides mission scheduling, tracking, telemetry data acquisition, command and processing required for down linked data. UARS Ground Data System A dedicated Central Data Handling Facility (CDHF), located at the Goddard Space Flight Center, will process the UARS scientific data. The CDHF is linked to 20 Remote Analysis Computers at the instrument and theoretical principal investigator's home institutions via an electronic communications system. This will make all UARS data available to all investigators. The CDHF also is designed to encourage frequent interactions between the different investigation groups and facilitate quick response to unusual events, such as solar flares and volcanic eruptions. UARS scientific data will be continuously recorded on two alternating onboard tape recorders at the rate of 32 kilobits per second. Upon acquiring contact with the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, the UARS data will be transmitted via the NASA Communications Network to the Data Capture Facility (DCF), located at Goddard. The DCF will perform telemetry preprocessing, which includes time- ordering, merging, editing and sorting of the data stream. The output will be transferred to the UARS CDHF. Thermal Subsystems Thermal control of UARS during launch and orbital operation will be largely through passive means -- paint, blankets, coatings and temperature sensors augmented by electrical heaters. The CLAES and ISAMS instruments have special cooling requirements met by subsystems within the instruments. UARS was built and integrated by General Electric Astro-Space Division, Valley Forge, Penn., and East Windsor, N.J. The UARS project is managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications. PROTEIN CRYSTAL GROWTH (PCG) In collaboration with a medical researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, NASA is continuing a series of experiments in protein crystal growth that may prove a major benefit to medical technology. These experiments could improve food production and lead to innovative new pharmaceutical agents to combat cancer, immune system disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, emphysema and many other diseases. Background In a protein crystal, individual protein molecules occupy locations in a repeating array. With a good crystal roughly the size of a grain of table salt, scientists are able to determine, using a technique known as X-ray diffraction, the structure of protein molecules. Determining a protein crystal's molecular shape is an essential step in several phases of medical research. Once the three-dimensional structure of a protein is known, it may be possible to design drugs that will either block or enhance the protein's normal function within the body. Though crystallographic techniques can be used to determine a protein's structure, this powerful technique has been limited by problems encountered in obtaining high-quality crystals well ordered and large enough to yield precise structural information. Protein crystals grown on Earth are often small and flawed. One hypothesis for the problems associated with growing these crystals can be understood by imagining the process of filling a sports stadium with fans who all have reserved seats. Once the gate opens, people flock to their seats and, in the confusion, often sit in someone else's place. On Earth, gravity-driven convection keeps the molecules crowded around the "seats" as they attempt to order themselves. Unfortunately, protein molecules are not as particular as many of the smaller molecules and are often content to take the wrong places in the structure. As would happen if you let the fans into the stands slowly, microgravity allows the scientist to slow the rate at which molecules arrive at their seats. Since the molecules have more time to find their spot, fewer mistakes are made, creating better and larger crystals. During STS-48, 60 different protein crystal growth experiments will be conducted simultaneously. Though there are four processes used to grow crystals on Earth -- vapor diffusion, batch process, liquid diffusion and dialysis -- only vapor diffusion will be used in this set of experiments. Shortly after achieving orbit, either Mission Specialist Kenneth Reightler or Charles D. Gemar will combine each of the protein solutions with other solutions containing a precipitation agent to form small droplets on the ends of double-barreled syringes positioned in small chambers. Water vapor will diffuse from each droplet to a solution absorbed in a porous reservoir that lines each chamber. The loss of water by this vapor diffusion process will produce conditions that cause protein crystals to grow in the droplets. Protein crystal growth experiments were first carried out by the investigating team during STS 51-D in April 1985. These experiments have flown a total of 10 times. The first four flights of hand-held protein crystal growth were primarily designed to develop space crystal growing techniques and hardware. The next four flights were scientific attempts to grow useful crystals by vapor diffusion in microgravity, and on the last two flights (STS- 37 and STS-43), crystals of bovine insulin were grown using the batch method. The six most recent flight experiments have had temperature control. The results from these experiments show that microgravity-grown crystals have higher internal molecular order than their Earth-grown counterparts. In the three 20-chambered, 15" x 10" x 1.5" trays of the STS-48 experiment, crystals will be grown at room temperature (22 degrees Celsius). After experiment activation and just before deactivation, the mission specialist will videotape with a camcorder the droplets in the chambers. Then all the droplets and any protein crystals grown will be drawn back into the syringes. The syringes will then be resealed for reentry. Upon landing, the hardware will be turned over to the investigating team for analysis. The protein crystal growth experiments are sponsored by NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications Microgravity Science and Applications Division and the Office of Commercial Programs. The principal investigator is Dr. Charles Bugg of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., is managing the flight of the experiments. Blair Herren is the experiment manager and Richard E. Valentine is the mission manager for the PCG experiment at the center. Julia Goldberg is the integration engineer, and Dr. Daniel Carter is the project scientist for the PCG experiment at Marshall. PROTEINS SELECTED TO FLY ON STS-48 Protein Investigator Fc fragment of mouse immunoglobin A Dr. George Birnbaum Fab YST9-1 Dr. George Birnbaum Anti-HPr Fab fragment Dr. Louis Delbaere 2 domain CD4 (1-183) Dr. Howard Einspahr Beta-Lactamase (Entero-c-P99) Dr. James Knox Canavalin Satellite Dr. Alex McPherson Satellite Tobacco Mosaic Virus Dr. Alex McPherson Interleukin-4 Dr. T.L. Nagabhushan Bovine Proline Isomerase Dr. Manuel Navia Thermolysin Dr. Manuel Navia Recombinant Bacterial Luciferase Dr. Keith Ward Apostreptavidin Dr. Pat Weber MIDDECK 0-GRAVITY DYNAMICS EXPERIMENT Discovery's STS-48 mission carries one of the more complex experiments ever to be tested in the orbiter's middeck cabin area. MODE -- for Middeck 0-gravity Dynamics Experiment -- will study mechanical and fluid behavior of components for Space Station Freedom and other future spacecraft. MODE, developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is the first university experiment to fly in the NASA Office of Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology's In-Space Technology Experiment and Technology program. IN-STEP, an outreach effort that began in 1987, allows universities, industry and the government to develop small, inexpensive technology flight experiments. Testing space structures in the normal 1g environment of Earth poses problems because gravity significantly influences their dynamic response. Also, the suspension systems needed for tests in 1g further complicate the gravity effects. Models of space structures intended for use in microgravity can be tested more realistically in the weightlessness of space. The MODE experiment consists of special electronically- instrumented hardware that Discovery's astronauts will test in the craft's pressurized middeck section. MODE will study the sloshing of fluids in partially-filled containers and the vibration characteristics of jointed truss structures. MODE occupies 3 1/2 standard Shuttle middeck lockers. One locker contains an experiment support module that controls the experiment. The module contains a special purpose computer, high speed input/output data and control lines to the test articles, a power conditioning system, signal generator, signal conditioning amplifiers and a high capacity optical disk data recording system. The other middeck lockers accommodate fluid test articles (FTA), a partially-assembled structural test article (STA), optical data storage disks and a shaker that mounts to the experiment support module. The FTAs and shaker attach to the support module for testing. The STA floats free in the weightlessness of the middeck, but connects to the support module with an umbilical through which excitation and sensor signals travel. In orbit, the astronauts command the computer via a keypad to execute test routines stored on the optical recorder before launch. Once a test routine begins, the computer and associated control circuits energize the containers or the truss with precisely controlled forces and then measure the response. The Shuttle crew members use an alpha-numeric display to monitor the status and progress of each test. The four fluid test articles are Lexan cylinders -- two containing silicon oil and two containing water. Silicon oil has dynamic properties that approximate those of typical spacecraft fluid propellants. Water is more likely than the silicon oil to stay together at one end of the cylinder, an important test condition. The same basic dynamic information will be obtained for both fluids. The cylinders mount one at a time to a force balance that connects to a shaker on the support module. The balance will measure the forces arising from the motion of the fluid inside the tanks. These forces, with other data such as test article accelerations and the ambient acceleration levels of the entire assembly, will be recorded in digital form on an optical disk. The structural test article is a truss model of part of a large space structure. It includes 4 strain gauges and 11 accelerometers and is vibrated by an actuator. When deployed in the Shuttle orbiter's middeck, the test device is about 72 inches long with an 8-inch square cross section. There are two types of trusses, deployable and erectable. The deployable structures are stored folded and are unhinged and snapped into place for the tests. The erectable structure is a collection of individual truss elements that screw into round joints or "nodes." Four different truss configurations are slated for testing. First, the basic truss will be evaluated. It is an in- line combination of truss sections, with an erectable module flanked by deployable modules mounted on either end. Next, a rotary joint, similar to the Space Station Freedom "alpha joint" that will govern the orientation of the station's solar arrays, will replace the erectable section. The third configuration will be L-shaped combination of a deployable truss, rotary joint and erectable module (all mounted in-line) and another deployable section mounted at a 90-degree angle to the end of the erectable truss. The final arrangement will mount a flexible appendage simulating a solar panel or a solar dynamic module to the elbow of the L-shaped third configuration. Both test articles will be tested using vibrations over a specified frequency range. On-orbit experiment operations with both devices will include assembly, calibration, performance of test routines and stowage. MODE requires two 8-hour test periods in orbit. Researchers expect to obtain more than 4 million bits of digital data, about 4 hours of video tape and more than 100 photographs. The space-based data will be analyzed and detailed comparisons made with pre- and post-flight measurements done on the flight hardware using laboratory suspension systems. The results also will refine numerical models used to predict the dynamic behavior of the test articles. This low-cost experiment will provide better understanding of the capabilities and limitations of ground- based suspension systems used to measure the dynamic response of complex structures. It should lead to more sophisticated computer models that more accurately predict the performance of future large space structures and the impact of moving liquids in future spacecraft. In response to the 1987 IN-STEP program solicitation, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Space Engineering Research Center developed MODE and received a NASA contract in 1987. MIT selected Payload Systems Inc., Cambridge, Mass., as the prime subcontractor responsible for hardware fabrication, certification and mission support. McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Co., Huntington Beach, Calif., joined the program in 1989 using its own funds to support design and construction of part of the structural test article. NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., manages the contract. With NASA Headquarters, Langley also provides technical and administrative assistance to integrate the payload into Discovery for STS-48. Sherwin M. Beck is the NASA MODE Project Manager at Langley. MIT Professor Edward F. Crawley is the experiment's Principal Investigator. Edward Bokhour is Hardware Development Manager at Payload Systems, Inc., and Dr. Andrew S. Bicos is the Project Scientist at McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Company. COSMIC RADIATION EFFECTS AND ACTIVATION MONITOR The Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM) experiment is designed to collect data on cosmic ray energy loss spectra, neutron fluxes and induced radioactivity. The data will be collected by active and passive monitors placed at specific locations throughout the orbiter's cabin. CREAM data will be obtained from the same locations that will be used to gather data for the Shuttle Activation Monitor experiment in an attempt to correlate data between the two. The active monitor will be used to obtain real-time spectral data, while the passive monitors will obtain data during the entire mission to be analyzed after the flight. The flight hardware has the active cosmic ray monitor, a passive sodium iodide detector, and up to five passive detector packages. All hardware fits in one locker on Discovery's middeck. Once in orbit the payload will be unstowed and operated by the crew. A crew member will be available at regular intervals to monitor the payload/experiment. CREAM is sponsored by the Department of Defense. RADIATION MONITORING EQUIPMENT-III The Radiation Monitoring Equipment-III measures ionizing radiation exposure to the crew within the orbiter cabin. RME-III measures gamma ray, electron, neutron and proton radiation and calculates, in real time, exposure in RADS- tissue equivalent. The information is stored in memory modules for post-flight analysis. The hand-held instrument will be stored in a middeck locker during flight except for activation and memory module replacement every 2 days. RME-III will be activated by the crew as soon as possible after reaching orbit and operated throughout the mission. A crew member will enter the correct mission elapsed time upon activation. RME-III is the current configuration, replacing the earlier RME-I and RME-II units. RME-III last flew on STS-31. The experiment has four zinc-air batteries and five AA batteries in each replaceable memory module. RME-III is sponsored by the Department of Defense in cooperation with NASA. AIR FORCE MAUI OPTICAL SYSTEM The Air Force Maui Optical System (AMOS) is an electrical-optical facility located on the Hawaiian island of Maui. The facility tracks the orbiter as it flies over the area and records signatures from thruster firings, water dumps or the phenomena of shuttle glow, a well-documented glowing effect around the Shuttle caused by the interaction of atomic oxygen with the spacecraft. The information obtained is used to calibrate the infrared and optical sensors at the facility. No hardware onboard the Shuttle is needed for the system. SHUTTLE ACTIVATION MONITOR The Shuttle Activation Monitor (SAM) is designed to measure gamma ray data within the orbiter as a function of time and location. Located in the middeck, the crew will install a foil packet at four locations onboard. A tape recorder and two detector assemblies will record the information. Each activation of the experiment will last about 12 hours and will record information from a different location of the cabin. SAM is sponsored by the Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles, Calif. INVESTIGATIONS INTO POLYMER MEMBRANE PROCESSING The Investigations into Polymer Membrane Processing (IPMP), a middeck payload, will make its fourth Space Shuttle flight for the Columbus, Ohio-based Battelle Advanced Materials Center, a NASA Center for the Commercial Development of Space (CCDS), sponsored in part by the Office of Commercial Programs. The objective of the IPMP is to investigate the physical and chemical processes that occur during the formation of polymer membranes in microgravity such that the improved knowledge base can be applied to commercial membrane processing techniques. Supporting the overall program objective, the STS-48 mission will provide additional data on the polymer precipitation process. Polymer membranes have been used by industry in separation processes for many years. Typical applications include enriching the oxygen content of air, desalination of water and kidney dialysis. Polymer membranes frequently are made using a two- step process. A sample mixture of polymer and solvents is applied to a casting surface. The first step involves the evaporation of solvents from the mixture. In the second step, the remaining sample is immersed in a fluid (typically water) bath to precipitate the membrane from the solution and complete the process. On the STS-48 mission, Commander John Creighton will operate the IPMP experiment. He will begin by removing the units from their stowage location in a middeck locker. By turning the unit's valve to the first stop, the evaporation process is initiated. After a specified period consisting of several minutes, a quench procedure will be initiated. The quench consists of introducing a humid atmosphere which will allow the polymer membrane to precipitate out. Ground-based research indicates that the precipitation process should be complete after approximately 10 minutes, and the entire procedure is at that point effectively quenched. The two units remain stowed in the locker for the flight's duration. Following the flight, the samples will be retrieved and returned to Battelle for testing. Portions of the samples will be sent to the CCDS's industry partners for quantitative evaluation consisting of comparisons of the membranes' permeability and selectivity characteristics with those of laboratory-produced membranes. Lisa A. McCauley, Associate Director of the Battelle CCDS, is program manager for IPMP. Dr. Vince McGinness of Battelle is principal investigator. ELECTRONIC STILL PHOTOGRAPHY TEST Electronic still photography is a new technology that enables a camera to electronically capture and digitize an image with resolution approaching film quality. The digital image is stored on removable hard disks or small optical disks, and can be converted to a format suitable for downlink transmission or enhanced using image processing software. The ability to enhance and annotate high-resolution images on orbit and downlink them in realtime is expected to greatly improve photo-documentation capabilities in Earth observations and on-board activity on the Space Shuttle as well as future long-duration flights such as Space Station Freedom or a human mission to Mars. During the STS-48 mission, NASA will evaluate the on- orbit and downlinking performance and capabilities of the Electronic Still Camera (ESC), a handheld, self-contained digital camera developed by the Man-Systems Division at Johnson Space Center. The ESC is the first model in a planned evolutionary development leading to a family of high-resolution digital imaging devices. Additionally, through a Technical Exchange Agreement with NASA's Office of Commercial Programs, Autometric, Inc., Alexandria, Va., will assess the utility of the camera for commercial applications in close range photogrammetry, terrestrial monitoring and near realtime capabilities. The basic photographic platform is a Nikon F4 35mm film camera converted to a digital image storing device by placement of a 1 million picture element (pixel) charge coupled device (CCD) at the film plane. The battery-operated ESC retains all the available features of the F4 and will accept any lense or optics with a Nikon mount. Lenses used on STS-48 will include the 20mm AF Nikkor, 35-70mm zoom AF Nikkor, 50mm f/1.2 AF Nikkor and 180mm AF Nikkor. Images obtained during the STS-48 mission will be monochrome with 8 bits of digital information per pixel (256 gray levels) and stored on a removable computer hard disk. The images may be viewed and enhanced on board using a modified lap-top computer before being transmitted to the ground via the orbiter digital downlinks. During STS-48, the ESC will be used to image areas of interest to commercial remote sensing users. Scenes of Earth, such as major cities and geological formations will be used to compare the ESC to other Earth-looking sensors. Images of Shuttle crew member tasks in the middeck and payload bay will be taken to test the camera's use for documentation and support to missions. Attempts will be made to collect stereo pairs at close and far ranges to test the camera's photogrammetric capabilities. In addition to imagery collection by the Shuttle crew, three ground-based tasks will be employed to demonstrate the advantages of a digital system. The first will provide hard-copy prints of the downlinked images during the mission. Upon receipt at the Mission Control Center, the images will be processed on a workstation and stored on disks for transfer to JSC's Electronic Still Camera Laboratory. There, the images will be processed by Autometric and printed with the 3M Color Laser Imager, an advanced 300 dpi color output device capable of printing over 170 photographic quality originals an hour. The goal is to have hard-copy images within 1 hour after the image is received in Mission Control. The second demonstration will be performed in conjunction with the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS). To provide additional imagery to compare with the ESC data, VIMS will conduct a simultaneous collection of imagery with an airborne sensor of the Colonial National Historic Park and the Middle Peninsula of Virginia. The third task will test the ability to respond to ad hoc imaging requirements which could provide critical support to management of natural disasters and other crises. After the mission commences, an area of interest will be named, it's location precisely defined and collection times identified. The imagery then will be downlinked to and printed at JSC. H. Don Yeates, Man-Systems Divison, Johnson Space Center, is program manager for the Electronic Still Camera. Jennifer Visick is the program manager for Autometric, Inc. PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL RODENT EXPERIMENT The Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment (PARE-01) is the first in a series of planned experiments that focuses on physiological and developmental adaptation to microgravity. The PARE-01 experiment will examine changes caused by exposure to microgravity in anti-gravity muscles (those used for movement) and in tissues not involved in movement. Previous experience has indicated that muscle atrophy resulting from exposure to the weightlessness of space is a serious consideration, particularly for missions of extended duration. This and similar research may ultimately lead to a better understanding of muscle wasting, which could lead to development of treatments for muscle atrophy in patients confined to bed for long periods of time, as well as for astronauts. Through previous ground-based research, the principal investigator has identified glucose transport as one important factor in muscle atrophy and the breakdown of muscle proteins. The objectives of this flight experiment are to determine whether microgravity affects insulin control of glucose transport in an anti-gravity muscle (the soleus); to confirm that in microgravity, non-load-bearing tissues (the heart, liver and adipose tissue) store additional amounts of glycogen as a result of altered regulation of glucose metabolism; and to provide the first data regarding changes in muscle mass and protein content in developing mammals exposed to microgravity. In this experiment, eight young, healthy rats will fly on the Space Shuttle. After flight, full ground studies housing an identical group of animals under identical conditions (except for the presence of gravity) will be conducted. Both groups will be housed in self-contained animal enclosure modules that provide food, water and environmental control throughout the flight. The experiment's design and intent have received the review and approval of the animal care and use committees at both NASA and the University of Arizona. Laboratory animal veterinarians will oversee the selection, care and handling of the rats. Following the flight, the rat tissues will be thoroughly evaluated by Dr. Marc Tischler of the College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, the principal investigator. Payload and mission integration support is provided by NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif. STS-48 CREW BIOGRAPHIES John O. Creighton, 48, Capt., USN, will serve as Commander of STS-48 and will be making his third space flight. Creighton, from Seattle, Wash., was selected as an astronaut in January 1978. Creighton graduated from Ballard High School in Seattle in 1961; received a bachelor of science from the United States Naval Academy in 1966 and a masters of science in administration of science and technology from George Washington University in 1978. Creighton received his wings in October 1967. From July 1968 to May 1970, he flew F-4Js and made two combat deployments to Vietnam aboard the USS Ranger. In June 1970, he attended the Naval Test Pilot School. After graduation, he served as the F-14 engine development project officer with the Service Test Division at the Naval Air Station in Patuxent River, Md. He later became a member of the first F-14 operational squadron. At the time of his selection by NASA, he was assigned as an operations officer and an F-14 program manager in the Naval Air Test Center's Strike Directorate. Creighton first flew as pilot aboard Shuttle mission STS- 51G in June 1985, a mission that deployed communications satellites for Mexico, the Arab League, and the U.S. Creighton next flew as Commander of STS-36, a March 1990 Department of Defense-dedicated Shuttle flight. He has logged 276 hours in space. Kenneth S. Reightler, Jr., 40, Cmdr., USN, will serve as pilot. Selected as an astronaut in June 1987, Reightler considers Virginia Beach, Va., his hometown and will be making his first space flight. He graduated from Bayside High School in Virginia Beach in 1969; received a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering from the Naval Academy in 1973; and received a masters of science in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a masters in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1984. Reightler was designated a naval aviator at Corpus Christi, Texas., in 1973, and then served as Mission Commander and Patrol Plane Commander to Patrol Squadron 16 in Jacksonville, Fla. Reightler graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School in 1978, and he served as a senior airborne systems instructor pilot and later as a chief flight instructor there until his selection by NASA. Charles D. (Sam) Gemar, 36, Major, USA, will be Mission Specialist 1. Selected as an astronaut in June 1985, Gemar will be making his second space flight and considers Scotland, S.D., his hometown. Gemar graduated from Scotland Public High School in 1973 and received a bachelor of science in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy in 1979. Gemar was assigned to the 18th Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, N.C., in November 1973. After attending the Military Academy, he studied entry rotary wing aviation and fixed- wing, multi-engine aviation. Until his selection by NASA, he was assigned with the 24th Infantry Division, where he served as Wright Army Airfield Commander, among other duties. Gemar served as a mission specialist on STS-38, a Department of Defense-dedicated flight in November 1990. Gemar has logged 117 hours in space. James F. Buchli, 46, Col., USMC, will be Mission Specialist 2. Selected as an astronaut in August 1979, Buchli considers New Rockford, N.D., his hometown and will be making his fourth space flight. Buchli graduated from Fargo Central High School, Fargo, N.D., in 1973; received a bachelor of science in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Academy in 1967.and received a masters of science in aeronautical engineering systems from the University of West Florida in 1975. Buchli served as Platoon Commander of the 9th Marine Regiment and later as a Company Commander and Executive Officer of "B" Company, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, in Vietnam. In 1969, he went through naval flight officer training at Pensacola, Fla. After graduation, he was assigned to various fighter attack squadrons in Hawaii, Japan and South Carolina. Buchli first flew as a mission specialist on STS-51C, the first Department of Defense-dedicated Shuttle mission in January 1985. He next flew on STS-61A, a German Spacelab flight, as a mission specialist in November 1985. His third flight was mission STS-29 in March 1989, a flight that deployed the third Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. Buchli has logged 362 hours in space. Mark N. Brown, 40, Col., USAF, will be Mission Specialist 3. Selected as an astronaut in May 1984, Brown considers Valparaiso, Ind., his hometown and will be making his second space flight. Brown graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1969; received a bachelor of science in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University in 1973; and received a masters of science in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1980. Brown received his pilot wings at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, in 1974, and was assigned to the 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Mich. In 1979, Brown was transferred to the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Brown was employed by NASA's Johnson Space Center at the time of his selection as an astronaut, with duties that included a Flight Activities Officer in Mission Control and development of many contingency procedures for the Shuttle. Brown first flew on STS-28, a Department of Defense- dedicated flight in August 1989. He has logged a total of 121 hours in space. STS-48 MISSION MANAGEMENT NASA HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON, D.C. Richard H. Truly - NASA Administrator J. R. Thompson - Deputy Administrator Office of Space Flight Dr. William Lenoir - Associate Administrator, Office of Space Flight Robert L. Crippen - Director, Space Shuttle Leonard S. Nicholson - Deputy Director, Space Shuttle (Program) Brewster H. Shaw - Deputy Director, Space Shuttle (Operations) Office of Space Science Dr. L. A. Fisk, Associate Administrator, Space Science and Applications Alphonso V. Diaz, Deputy Associate Administrator, Space Science and Applications Dr. Shelby G. Tilford, Director, Earth Science and Applications Division Michael R. Luther, Program Manager Dr. Robert J. McNeal, Program Scientist Office of Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology Arnold D. Aldrich, Associate Administrator for Aeronautics, Exploration and Technology Gregory S. Reck, Director for Space technology Jack Levine, Director, Flight Projects Division Jon S. Pyle, Manager, IN-STEP Lelia Vann, MODE Program manager Office of Commercial Programs James T. Rose, Assistant Administrator for Commercial Programs J. Michael Smith, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Commercial Programs (Program Development) Richard H. Ott, Director, Commercial Development Division Garland C. Misener, Chief, Flight Requirements and Accommodations Ana M. Villamil, Program Manager, Centers for the Commercial Development of Space John L. Emond, Agreements Coordinator Office of Safety and Mission Quality George A. Rodney, Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Quality James H. Ehl, Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety and Mission Quality Richard U. Perry, Director, Programs Assurance Division GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, GREENBELT, MD. Dr. John M. Klineberg, Director Charles E. Trevathan, Project Manager Dr. Carl A. Reber, Project Scientist John L. Donley, Deputy Project Manager Richard F. Baker, Deputy Project Manager/Resources John Pandelides, Ground and Mission Systems Manager KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. Forrest S. McCartney, Director Jay Honeycutt, Director, Shuttle Management and Operations Robert B. Sieck, Launch Director John T. Conway, Director, Payload Management and Operations Joanne H. Morgan, Director, Payload Project Management Roelof Schuiling, STS-48 Payload Manager MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, HUNTSVILLE, ALA. Thomas J. Lee, Director Dr. J. Wayne Littles, Deputy Director G. Porter Bridwell, Manager, Shuttle Projects Office Dr. George F. McDonough, Director, Science and Engineering Alexander A. McCool, Director, Safety and Mission Assurance Victor Keith Henson, Manager, Solid Rocket Motor Project Cary H. Rutland, Manager, Solid Rocket Booster Project Jerry W. Smelser, Manager, Space Shuttle Main Engine Project Gerald C. Ladner, Manager, External Tank Project JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, HOUSTON, TEX. Aaron Cohen, Director Paul J. Weitz, Deputy Director Daniel Germany, Manager, Orbiter and GFE Projects Donald Puddy, Director, Flight Crew Operations Eugene F. Kranz, Director, Mission Operations Henry O. Pohl, Director, Engineering Charles S. Harlan, Director - Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance Robert Stuckey, MODE Payload Integration Manager STENNIS SPACE CENTER, BAY ST. LOUIS, MISS. Roy S. Estess, Director Gerald W. Smith, Deputy Director J. Harry Guin, Director, Propulsion Test Operations AMES-DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH FACILITY, EDWARDS, CALIF. Kenneth J. Szalai, Director T. G. Ayers, Deputy Director James R. Phelps, Chief, Shuttle Support Office AMES RESEARCH CENTER, MOFFETT FIELD, CALIF. Dr. Dale L. Compton, Director Victor L. Peterson, Deputy Director Dr. Steven A. Hawley, Associate Director Dr. Joseph C. Sharp, Director, Space Research LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER, HAMPTON, VA Richard H. Petersen, Director W. Ray Hook, Director for Space Joseph B. Talbot, Manager, Space Station Freedom Office Lenwood G. Clark, Manager, Experiments Office Robert W. Buchan, NASA MODE Experiment Manager Sherwin M. Beck, NASA MODE Project Manager From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 23-AUG-1991 23:14:58.18 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQ 91-135/GALILEO ANTENNA Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 23-AUG-1991 23:14:36.76 Date: Fri, 23 Aug 1991 20:41:47 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910823204147.28e00c85@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ 91-135/GALILEO ANTENNA To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:178 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ 91-135/GALILEO ANTENNA Date: Tue, 20 Aug 91 11:26 PDT Message-ID: Paula Cleggett-Haleim Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 20, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-1548) James H. Wilson Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. (Phone: 818/354-5011) RELEASE: 91-135 NASA PLANS ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE GALILEO ANTENNA PROBLEM The cooling turn performed last week by the Galileo spacecraft did not result in low enough temperatures to release the few antenna ribs apparently bound by friction to the antenna's central tower, Galileo project officials said today. Another cooling turn is being planned for December 1991 when Galileo is farther from the sun. Additional actions will be taken at that time to cool the antenna tower further. These cooling turns are part of a series of steps project officials believe will be required ultimately to deploy the antenna. The officials said each step yields valuable data to help with the design of spacecraft actions in the next step. For the next 2 months, the Galileo flight team will concentrate on the final preparations for Galileo's Oct. 29 encounter with the asteroid Gaspra. This will be the first spacecraft asteroid encounter. Galileo's high-gain antenna is not essential for mission operations until the spacecraft is in orbit around Jupiter in December 1995, project officials said. Galileo is managed for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:02:54.73 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Daily News in Brief 8/22/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:02:22.51 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 8:59:25 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826085925.28e00e4f@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Daily News in Brief 8/22/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:187 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:Daily News in Brief 8/22/91 Date: Thu, 22 Aug 91 14:47 PDT Message-ID: This is DAILY NEWS IN BRIEF for 8/22/91 It is intended for internal agency use only. --------------------------------------------------- Daily News in Brief is an abstract of media stories about the Space Program and other related items. --------------------------------------------------- . . . What the Fourth Estate is saying about air & space . . . Washington Times -- 8/22/91 "Tiny Diamonds Evidence of Killer Meteorite" "A cache of tiny diamonds is the latest evidence that a meteorite smashed into Earth about 65 million years ago, an event some scientists say led to extinction of the dinosaurs." The Times reports that Nature magazine features an article by researchers David Brez Carlisle and Dennis Braman in this week's issue wherein the pair report that a certain type of diamond, some smaller than viruses, appear in meteorites and that these same kind of diamonds have been found in sediment associated with the period when the dinosaurs are known to have vanished. ------------------------ Washington Post -- 8/22/91 "A Stellar Fountain of Youth" By Kathy Sawyer "The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered a fountain of youth for stars." The Post's principal science writer reports that working around its flaws, the Hubble has produced new evidence that dying stars can rejuvenate themselves when they collide with and capture each other. The report says that the violent collisional process, according to astrophysical theory, causes the thermonuclear furnaces of remnant stars to be restoked, enabling them to be reborn as the equivalent of a younger star -- burning brighter and hotter than before. The story says that scientists have been puzzled for nearly 40 years by evidence of hot, young stars, known as "blue stragglers," hanging around in places where star formation was thought to have ceased 15 billion years ago and only ancient red giants should reside. The story says ground-based observations have produced scenes showing only a few dozen stars in the overcrowded cores of these, as the Post puts it, stellar old age homes. The story says a team of astronomers, led by Francesco Paresce of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore and using data supplied by Hubble Faint Object Camera, have peered straight into the heart of one such old age home -- a globular cluster known as 47 Tucanae. The Post says the team discovered a field of more than 600 stars and among them more than 20 blue stragglers, eight within a distance of only one-half a light year. The story says the location of the blue stragglers, heavily concentrated at the core of the ancient cluster, lends weight to the hypothesis they are the product of collisions, mergers and other forms of close encounter. ------------------------ Space Fax Daily -- 8/22/91 "German/Japanese Team to Begin Work on Joint Venture" "A joint German-Japanese research team will begin collaboration in September on a materials research project that will employ an unmanned capsule scheduled to be launched into space aboard a Japanese M-3S-II rocket in January 1994 and recovered a week later in Australia." The newsletter says the experiments under consideration include studies of an oil refinery catalyst called zeolite. The story says the project is estimated to cost about $100,000. ------------------------ Space Fax Daily -- 8/22/91 "British, French Firms Plan Australia Launches" "British Aerospace Plc, Hawker Siddeley Plc, and France's Matra Group have joined forces to build a commercial launch service for small satellites to be lofted into low Earth orbit from the currently unused Woomera rocket base in Australia." The story says the new launch site would be specifically developed to be able to launch the 77 Iridium satellite constellation which Motorola Inc. is planning to manufacturer, it could serve an emerging international market for small spacecraft as well. ------------------------ Time Magazine -- August 26, 1991 issue "Crisis in The Labs" By Leon Jaroff with reports from Madeleine Nash in Chicago and Dick Thompson in Washington "Beset by a budget squeeze, cases of fraud, relentless activists and a skeptical public, American researchers are under siege." Time, in this week's cover story, spends seven pages to describe the current state of affairs associated with American university, private and governmental science activities, endeavors and desires and the current state of shock of many of those engaged in these activities as the American Congress, public and media reflect a new cynicism toward what the cover piece describes as the once darling trust of the American society. The article details, in interviews with scientists, heads of laboratories, chancellors of universities and outside pundits, the demoralized psyche of the group who had harnessed the atom, discovered the Earth's radiation belt, conquered polio, created the laser, the transistor, the microchip and computer, broken the genetic code and in general been held in high esteem by an entire nation and which had become the coveted role model of all of Western Society. The article also details, by giving specific examples and citing specific instances, the foibles of that same group of scientists and their governing laboratories, universities or government agencies -- including a large series of references to NASA projects. Time says the federal researcher who -- it now turns out prematurely and probably erroneously -- closed Times Beach, Missouri, because of a dioxin scare is one of the reasons for the new-found accountability being required of scientists and the new-found jaundice of the public at large. Time says also that the Hubble Space Telescope mirror problem, the circus atmosphere which surrounded the announcement, withdrawal, re-announcement and re- withdrawal of the discovery of cold fusion, the activities of MIT researchers concerning unethical activities they were discovered to have engaged in and the fact that Stanford University was bilking the government for such things as fruitwood commodes in the university president's house all contribute to this new skepticism. Time continues their portrayal of the state of American Science by noting that even in those biomedical fields where the use of laboratory animals or fetal tissue has produced profound and efficacious cures for such human diseases as cystic fibrosis, the attitude of the scientists involved has prevented their side from being properly aired -- if aired at all. The story also discusses the infighting which has been occurring more and more frequently among scientific groups to secure funding for diverse projects such as the superconducting supercollider -- supported by the physics community, and the human genome project -- supported by the bioscience community. The magazine says that both the public and the national political institutions see such infighting as being tantamount to spoiled brats each crying over who has the largest piece of pie. Time also contrasts the period, only a decade ago, when scientists could essentially pick their field of interest and research and expect both funding and a steady supply of graduate assistants and the increasingly pervasive reality found today where more and more fields are being abandoned by graduate assistants who see no future funding security. The magazine points out that the infighting, the separationist activities between the various scientific discipline organizations (such as American Physical Society, IEEE, AGU, and others) and the increasingly and obvious political naivete and spoiled brat attitude of the scientists and their representative organizations are becoming the core of the problem rather than merely a symptom of a state of underfunding or sloppy ethics and methodology. The magazine does caution that a "pay as you go" science program or a science program situated toward applications rather than basic research is neither wanted nor would it produce an solution to the problem seen by the scientists themselves. Such solutions, the magazine says, would also do little to ameliorate the congressional and public outcries for more accountability on behalf of the scientific community. In sum, the magazine reminds the reader that this nation has both a history of support for and benefit from the basic research activities of its various scientists -- university, public, private and government. The magazine also admonishes those in the science fields, the administrators as well as the scientists and the would-be scientists, that this problem is not one which is the public's alone, that the solution must come from an awakening attitude on behalf of science itself -- for more ethical internal examinations of the behavior and activities of the scientists and for a more egalitarian approach in their funding requirements. The magazine does conclude by noting that these changes must come about because the nation's future, as with its past, lay with the genius of its populace, both in their scientific endeavors and in their management of society's allocation of resources. (Editor's note: It should also be noted that Time Magazine has been an unusually staunch supporter of NASA programs and that Madeleine Nash and Dick Thompson are both long-time science reporters who have shown unusual insight in understanding the problems of Federally-managed science programs and have written many favorable pieces about NASA, NSF and NIH programs.) -------------------------------------------------------- This concludes Daily News in Brief. Comments and suggestions are appreciated as is news from your area which you think should be included here, please fax a copy of the story to 202/755-3605 (FTS 755-3605) or contact Beth Schmid, Les Reinertson or Charles Redmond at 202/453-8425 (FTS 453-8425) or NASAmail: ESCHMID, LREINERTSON, EDITOR or CREDMOND. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:10:24.57 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQ 91-139/AA FOR EXPLORATION Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:10:00.82 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:07:09 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826090709.28e0045b@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ 91-139/AA FOR EXPLORATION To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:191 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ 91-139/AA FOR EXPLORATION Date: Fri, 23 Aug 91 09:39 PDT Message-ID: David Garrett Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 23, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-8400) RELEASE: 91-139 NASA ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR EXPLORATION APPOINTED NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly announced today the selection of Dr. Michael D. Griffin for the newly established position of Associate Administrator for Exploration. In this position, he will provide direction, integration and oversight of activities involving NASA exploration goals, including program, technical and fiscal management for matters relating to the Office of Exploration. Griffin is currently the Deputy for Technology, Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO), U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for all technical research within the program. Prior to his current position, he played a key role in defining and technically directing the SDIO "Delta series" of space missions for which he was awarded the Defense Department's Distinguished Public Service Medal. He also has worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., participating in advanced studies on the Mars Sample Return and Mars Rover programs. His earlier work also included experience in spacecraft mission operations at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Griffin received his B.A. in Physics from Johns Hopkins University and holds Master's degrees in Aerospace Science from Catholic University, in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, in Applied Physics from Johns Hopkins University and in Business Administration from Loyola College of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland and is a registered professional engineer in Maryland and California. In announcing the selection, Truly said, "NASA is very fortunate to have Mike Griffin on the NASA team. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and dedication that will be instrumental in leading NASA's efforts to expand exploration beyond Earth orbit into the solar system." - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:11:47.48 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQ 91-138/AA FOR H.R. & ED Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:11:24.62 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:08:33 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826090833.28e0045d@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ 91-138/AA FOR H.R. & ED To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:192 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ 91-138/AA FOR H.R. & ED Date: Fri, 23 Aug 91 09:38 PDT Message-ID: David Garrett Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 23, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-8400) RELEASE: 91-138 NASA AA FOR HUMAN RESOURCES AND EDUCATION APPOINTED NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly announced today the selection of Lieutenant General Spence (Sam) M. Armstrong , USAF (Ret.), for the newly established position of Associate Administrator for Human Resources and Education. Armstrong is a native of Columbia, Tenn. He is a 1956 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he received a B.S. in Engineering. He earned a M.S. in Astronautical Engineering and a M.S. in Instrumentation Engineering, both from the University of Michigan. In addition, he attended Columbia University's Executive Program in Business Administration and the Senior Managers in Government program at Harvard University. In April 1990, Armstrong retired from the U.S. Air Force after nearly 34 years of service. His last assignment with the Air Force was Vice Commander, U.S. Air Force Systems Command. Prior to that, he held such notable positions as Vice Commander-in-Chief, USAF Military Airlift Command; Chief, U.S. Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Central Command; and Commander, Air Force Military Training Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Following retirement, he served as Director, Program Architecture for the Synthesis Group, in support of the President's Space Exploration Initiative. Truly said, "This new Associate Administrator will be responsible for developing NASA's human resources strategic plan and for furthering NASA's emphasis on national education goals. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to appoint an individual with the extensive qualifications of General Armstrong to this very important position." - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:24:47.64 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: IMDISP 7.4 - Image Processing Software Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:24:16.41 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:18:58 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826091858.28e00e64@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: IMDISP 7.4 - Image Processing Software To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.general:31 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:IMDISP 7.4 - Image Processing Software Date: 24 AUG 91 03:08:03 Message-ID:<1991Aug24.030512.2908@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> ================== IMDISP 7.4 August 23, 1991 ================== Version 7.4 of the IMDISP program has now been released. IMDISP is an interactive image processing program that runs on an IBM PC computer. It was written to be used with the Voyager and Magellan images which are available on CDROM. IMDISP has appeared on the GRIPS CDROM (version 4.4) and the GRIPS 2 CDROM (version 5.6), and is currently being distributed with all of the planetary image CDROMs. IMDISP 7.4 is a test version and is being released for evaluation. IMDISP 7.4 is available via anonymous ftp at ames.arc.nasa.gov [128.102.18.3] in the file imdisp74.zip in the pub/SPACE/SOFTWARE subdirectory. It will also be available soon at wsmr-simtel20.army.mil [192.88.110.20] as PD1:IMDISP74.ZIP. IMDISP74.ZIP consists of the following files: IMDISP.EXE - IMDISP program version 7.4 IMDISP.DOC - User's Guide for IMDISP 7.4 PALETTES.ZIP - Color palette collection PAL.BAT - Batch file to display each color palette CYCLE.BAT - Batch file to color cycle each color palette Also included in a separate file, imdispd.zip, is a collection of images and batch files which are used to perform a demo for IMDISP. This demo is similiar to the one I gave during the JPL Expo on August 3-4, 1991. The demo requires a minimum of a 800x600 graphics display, 2MB of memory and a little over 3MB of hard disk space. File sizes: IMDISP74.ZIP 207,710 bytes IMDISPD.ZIP 1,611,511 bytes Note: don't forget to be in binary mode when ftping these files. Since I am one of the programmers for IMDISP, I would appreciate any feedback on IMDISP, including any problems encountered and suggestions for improvement. The features of IMDISP 7.4 are listed below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMDISP 7.4 features (new features denoted by **) o Basic Operations Image Display Image Sub Sampling Image Zooming **Image Buffering **Image Merging & Subtraction **Image Darkening & Brightening Image Flipping Histograms Image Browsing of CDROMs Text Display Profiling o Image Processing Contrast Enhancement **Smoothing **Edge Enhancement **Sharpening **Convolutions **3D Perspective **Smearing **Power Filtering **Image Masking o Color Palettes Load & Save Pseudo Coloring **Color Cycling Built-in Color Palettes o Graphics Support CGA EGA VGA Super VGA: ATI VGA Wonder Everex Orchid (ET3000 & **ET4000 versions) Paradise PGA **Trident o File Formats Supported: Input: VICAR PDS FITS **GIF raw Output: PDS **GIF o Miscellaneous Features **Extended and Expanded Memory Support **Command Logging **Mouse Support Batch File Support ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:25:13.02 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 08/22/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:24:25.94 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:21:27 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826092127.28e00e6b@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 08/22/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:123 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 08/22/91 Date: 22 AUG 91 19:07:16 Message-ID:<1991Aug22.190407.21809@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT August 22, 1991 Magellan spacecraft performance continues to be excellent. Temperatures on the Propulsion Equipment Plate went to a maximum of 81.2 degrees C and leveled off. The stop mapping limit is currently 85 degrees C. A mapping quaternion to point the High Gain Antenna at the Sun instead of Venus was prepared as a contingency maneuver. The spacecraft continues its series of over 171 successful star calibrations. As of noon (PDT) today, Magellan has completed 2774 orbits and has performed radar mapping of the surface on 2398 orbits. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:32:46.45 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update #2 - 08/22/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:32:19.15 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:29:27 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826092927.28e00e6e@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update #2 - 08/22/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:124 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update #2 - 08/22/91 Date: 23 AUG 91 02:11:10 Message-ID:<1991Aug23.020811.550@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Neil Ausman, Galileo Mission Director GALILEO MISSION DIRECTOR STATUS REPORT POST-LAUNCH August 16 - 22, 1991 SPACECRAFT 1. A mini-sequence of commands was sent on August 17 to collect wobble angle information and perform a 2.7 degree SITURN to permit sun gate obscuration data collection. These data are the most reliable information to determine if the antenna ribs released during last week's cooling turn. Analysis of the flight data indicate that the wobble angle and sun gate signal obscuration information did not change as a result of the cooling turn; no evidence of rib release was observed. 2. Another mini-sequence of commands was set on August 19 and August 22 to update several attitude control performance parameters. These software parameter updates are needed to meet the GASPRA encounter pointing accuracy requirements. The parameters were updated in the on-line and the off-line attitude control memory on August 19 and 22, respectively. 3. The RPM (Retro Propulsion Module) 10-Newton thrusters were "flushed" again on August 20 using a mini-sequence. All the thrusters except the P-thrusters were "flushed" during this activity. The P-thrusters were not exercised during this activity since they are used periodically for performing sun point and SITURN activities; spacecraft performance throughout the "flushing" activity was normal. 4. Commands were sent on August 21 to reposition the +x and -x RTG booms and measure the resultant wobble angle. This effort is the first of three planned opportunities to reduce the wobble to meet Gaspra pointing requirements; ultimately the wobble angle is expected to be reduced from about 3.5 mrad to near 0.5 mrad. Preliminary analysis of this first wobble reduction activity indicates the wobble was reduced to nearly 1 mrad. 5. The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements exhibited some minor change. The AC measurement fluctuated 2 DN and made 45.03 volts; the DC measurement remained steady at 16.6 volts. All other power telemetry and subsystem telemetry are normal. 6. The Spacecraft status as of end of day August 22 was as follows: a) System Power Margin - 56 watts b) Spin Configuration - Dual-Spin c) Spin Rate/Sensor - 3.15 rpm/star scanner d) Spacecraft Attitude Sun Point Angle - approximately 5.4 degrees (sun lagging) plus or minus 0.3 degree e) Downlink telemetry rate/antenna-40 bps (coded)/LGA-1 f) General Thermal Control - all temperatures within acceptable range g) RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range h) Orbiter Science- all powered on except EUV, PLS, PPR and NIMS i) Probe/RRH - powered off, temperatures within acceptable range j) CMD Loss Timer Setting - 240 hours Time To Initiation - 236 hours UPLINK GENERATION/COMMAND REVIEW AND APPROVAL: 1. Project reviewed and approved the preliminary sequence and command generation for the EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime sequence on August 20. The EE-2 prime sequence is planned to be sent to the spacecraft on August 28. The sequence will control spacecraft activities from September 3 to October 28. Major activities include four OPNAV observations, three SITURNs, three RPM flushing activities, sixteen SSI (Solid State Imaging instrument) MROs (Memory Readouts) and windows for TCM-11 (Trajectory Correction Maneuver 11) and TCM-12. GDS (Ground Data Systems): 1. The Project Change Board (PCB) approved a Software Change Request (SCR) to modify the DMS (Data Management Subsystem) Memory Readout (DMSMRO) processing algorithm in the MCCC Telemetry Subsystem (MTS). The DMSMRO algorithm will be used by the MTS to process and capture the Gaspra optical navigation pictures. This change provides a capability for retaining data that might otherwise be lost during marginal downlink conditions. Pending successful completion of the acceptance test and delivery reviews, the modified MTS software is tentatively scheduled for a waiver delivery on Friday, August 30. TRAJECTORY As of noon (PDT) Thursday, August 22, 1991, the Galileo Spacecraft status was as follows: Distance from Earth 167,212,530 miles Distance from Sun 187,694,620 miles (1.99 AU) Heliocentric Speed 40,000 miles per hour Distance from Gaspra 30,246,290 miles Round Trip Light Time 29 minutes, 46 seconds SPECIAL TOPICS 1. As of August 22, 1991, a total of 5711 real-time commands have been transmitted to Galileo. Of these, 1911 have been pre-planned in the sequence design and 3800 were not. In the past week, a total of 139 real time commands were transmitted; none were pre-planned. In addition 1809 mini-sequence commands have been transmitted since March 1991, including 99 this week. Major commanding activities this week included Star Scanner checkout, star shutter open, post HGA turn wobble identification and SITURN, attitude control parameter updates (SCALPS), RPM flushing, and a wobble compensation and identification. 2. The fifth meeting of the special HGA anomaly review board was held on August 22, 1991. Results from the last cooling turn were presented and reviewed. Additionally, results of the "cold box" test, friction tests, and further rib deployment tests were presented. As a consequence of the modeling and antenna testing completed, the most likely condition is that 3 ribs are "stuck" in the stow position, no damage has occurred to the motor drive mechanism, and no structural failure has occurred in the drive train. Therefore, if the ribs can be "freed", full capability to open the HGA is available. HGA preliminary action plan options were discussed; the next contemplated action with the spacecraft will be post-Gaspra and include performing another cooling turn near aphelion in December 91 and possibly inducing mechanical shock via retraction/deployment of the LGA-2 (Low Gain Antenna-2) boom. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:33:18.07 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Ulysses Update - 08/22/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:32:54.36 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:30:02 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826093002.28e00e6f@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Ulysses Update - 08/22/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:125 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Ulysses Update - 08/22/91 Date: 23 AUG 91 15:24:18 Message-ID:<1991Aug23.152107.16974@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from the JPL Public Information Office ULYSSES MISSION STATUS August 22, 1991 Ulysses' radio science experiment to study the fiery outer atmosphere of the sun, known as the corona, probed the solar atmosphere at close range on Wednesday, August 21, when the spacecraft passed nearly behind the sun as seen from Earth. Radio signals passed through the corona at closest approach of about four solar radii -- 2.9 million kilometers or 1.8 million miles -- from the center of the sun at 12:38 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The radio experiment was able to probe a region of the sun's corona in which the solar wind is thought to originate. The mission operations team was pleased with the quality of the radio science data received Wednesday from the spacecraft's two radio transmitters. Signals from the spacecraft will continue to be distorted for several more days as the spacecraft moves away from the sun. Ground controllers will monitor the signal until it is clear enough to begin returning other science data. They expect to begin switching the other science instruments back on sometime in the next five days. The spacecraft, however, will continue to operate on an autonomous flight program that allows it to maneuver automatically and carry out pre-programmed computer instructions necessary to maintain on-board operations. The spacecraft will not be returned to normal maneuvering until September 5. Today Ulysses is approximately 745 million kilometers (463 million miles) from Earth, traveling at a heliocentric velocity of about 65,000 kilometers per hour (42,000 miles per hour). The spacecraft is on its way to a February 8, 1992 rendezvous with Jupiter. ##### ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:34:05.81 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 08/23/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:33:40.76 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:30:49 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826093049.28e00c75@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 08/23/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:126 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 08/23/91 Date: 23 AUG 91 16:39:40 Message-ID:<1991Aug23.163632.19762@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT August 23, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Yesterday, attitude control software parameter updates to support the GASPRA encounter were completed in the off-line memory. Memory parameter updates are now complete in both memories and full functional redundancy is available. Tomorrow, commands will be sent to alternately change the telemetry modulation unit between high and low frequency subcarrier to characterize the spacecraft DSN (Deep Space Network) downlink end-to-end system performance at 10 bps and 40 bps. This mode will be used during the GASPRA encounter. On Sunday, a SITURN is scheduled to orient the spacecraft about 3 degrees off sun point in preparation for the SSI (Solid State Imagine) cover deployment planned for September 5. Also, on Sunday the EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer) instrument will be powered on. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:35:01.84 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 08/23/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:34:39.21 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:31:47 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826093147.28e00c78@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 08/23/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:127 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 08/23/91 Date: 23 AUG 91 21:30:38 Message-ID:<1991Aug23.212726.26934@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT August 23, 1991 Magellan spacecraft performance continues to be excellent. Temperatures on the Propulsion Equipment Plate went to a maximum of 81.9 degrees C and leveled off. After re-examining ground test information the stop mapping limit has been raised to 90 degrees C. The sequence that becomes active today at noon local time contains the Flip-Flop method of controlling temperature which should decrease the Propulsion Equipment Plate temperatures. The spacecraft continues its series of over 186 successful star calibrations. As of noon today, Magellan has completed 2783 orbits and has performed radar mapping of the surface on 2405 orbits. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 26-AUG-1991 11:54:53.79 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQ 91-137/ASTRONAUT CREWS Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 26-AUG-1991 11:54:15.55 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 1991 9:16:22 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910826091622.28e00e62@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ 91-137/ASTRONAUT CREWS To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:193 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ 91-137/ASTRONAUT CREWS Date: Fri, 23 Aug 91 11:01 PDT Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mark Hess Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 23, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-4164) Barbara Schwartz Johnson Space Center, Houston (Phone: 713/483-5111) RELEASE: 91-137 NASA ANNOUNCES CREW MEMBERS FOR FUTURE SHUTTLE FLIGHTS NASA today announced crew members and changes to crew assignments for eight future Space Shuttle missions. The STS-50 U.S. Microgravity Laboratory mission, scheduled for May 1992, is a complement of microgravity materials processing technology experiments to be flown on the first extended duration orbiter mission aboard Columbia. The 13-day flight will be the longest Shuttle mission to date. Crew members are: Richard N. Richards, Capt. U.S. Navy, Commander Kenneth D. Bowersox, Lt. Cdr. U.S. Navy, Pilot Carl J. Meade, Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force, Mission Specialist Ellen S. Baker, M.D., Mission Specialist Bonnie J. Dunbar, Ph.D., Payload Commander Lawrence J. DeLucas, Ph.D., University of Alabama, Payload Specialist Eugene H. Trihn, Ph.D., Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Payload Specialist Baker is an addition to this crew which was named earlier. Bowersox, a pilot astronaut previously assigned as a mission specialist, is reassigned as pilot in place of John H. Casper who has been named commander of STS-54. Baker, 38, born in Fayetteville, N.C., was selected in 1984. She flew on STS-34. She has a B.A. in geology from the State University of New York at Buffalo and an M.D. from Cornell University. - more - - 2 - The STS-46 Tethered Satellite Systems mission, scheduled for June 1992, features a satellite to be deployed from the orbiter payload bay on a 12-mile tether to collect electrodynamic data in the upper reaches of the Earth's atmosphere. Also, the European Retrievable Carrier, a free-flying reusable platform dedicated to materials science and life science experiments, will be deployed. Crew members are: Loren J. Shriver, Col. U.S. Air Force, Commander Andrew M. Allen, Maj. U.S. Marine Corps, Pilot Franklin Chang-Diaz, Ph.D., Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier, European Space Agency Astronaut, Mission Specialist Marsha S. Ivins, Mission Specialist Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Ph.D., Payload Commander (An Italian payload specialist will be named.) Ivins is an addition to this crew announced earlier. Allen, a pilot astronaut, previously had been assigned as a mission specialist, but is reassigned as pilot in place of James D. Wetherbee who is named as commander of STS-52. Ivins, 40, born in Baltimore, Md., was selected in 1984. She flew as a mission specialist on STS-32 and has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado. STS-47 Spacelab J mission is scheduled for August 1992. Spacelab J is a joint mission with the Japanese Space Agency and is dedicated to materials processing and life science experiments. Crew members are: Robert L. Gibson, Capt. U.S. Navy, Commander Curtis L. Brown, Jr., Maj. U.S. Air Force, Pilot N. Jan Davis, Ph.D., Mission Specialist Jerome Apt, Ph.D., Mission Specialist Mae C. Jemison, M.D., Science Mission Specialist Mark C. Lee, Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force, Payload Commander Mamoru Mohri, Ph.D., NASDA (Japan) Payload Specialist Lee, Davis, Jemison, and Mohri were assigned to this mission earlier. Gibson, 44, born in Cooperstown, N.Y., was selected in 1978. He was pilot on STS 41-B and commander on STS 61-C and STS-27. He has a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from the California Polytechnic Institute. - more - - 3 - Brown, 35, born in Elizabethtown, N.C., was selected in 1987. This is his first Shuttle flight. He has a B.S. in electrical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Apt, 42, considers Pittsburgh, Penn., his hometown. Selected in 1985, he flew as a mission specialist on STS-37. He has a B.A. in physics from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. STS-52 Laser Geodynamics Satellite II, scheduled for launch in September 1992, is a spherical satellite covered with retroflectors which will be illuminated by ground-based lasers to determine precise measurements of the Earth's crustal movements. Crew members are: James D. Wetherbee, Cdr. U.S. Navy, Commander Michael A. Baker, Cdr. U.S. Navy, Pilot William M. Shepherd, Capt. U.S. Navy, Mission Specialist Tamara E. Jernigan, Ph.D., Mission Specialist Charles Lacy Veach, Mission Specialist Wetherbee, 38, born in Flushing, N.Y., was selected in 1984. He was pilot on STS-32 and has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Baker, 37, considers Lemoore, Calif., his hometown. Selected in 1985, he was pilot on STS-43 and has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas. Shepherd, 42, considers Phoenix, Ariz., his hometown. Selected in 1984, he was a mission specialist on STS-27 and STS-41. He has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a degree in ocean engineering and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jernigan, 32, born in Chattanooga, Tenn., was selected in 1985. She was a mission specialist on STS-40. She has a B.S. in physics and an M.S. in engineering science from Stanford University, an M.S. in astronomy from the University of California at Berkeley and a Ph.D. in space physics and astronomy from Rice University. Veach, 46, considers Honolulu his hometown. Selected in 1984, he was a mission specialist on STS-39. He has a B.S. in engineering management from the U.S. Air Force Academy. - more - - 4 - STS-53 Department of Defense-1 mission launch is scheduled in Oct. 1992. Crew members are: David M. Walker, Capt. U.S. Navy, Commander Robert D. Cabana, Lt. Col. U.S. Marine Corps, Pilot Guion S. Bluford, Col. U.S. Air Force, Mission Specialist James S. Voss, Lt. Col. U.S. Army, Mission Specialist Michael R. U. Clifford, Maj. U.S. Army, Mission Specialist Walker, 47, considers Eustis, Fla., his hometown. Selected in 1978, he was pilot on STS-51A and commander on STS-30. He has a B.S. degree from the U.S. Naval Academy. Cabana, 42, born in Minneapolis, Minn., was selected in 1985. He piloted STS-41 and has a B.S. in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy. Bluford, 49, born in Philadelphia, Penn., was selected in 1978. He was a mission specialist on STS-8, STS-61A and STS-39. He has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology. Voss, 42, considers Opelika, Ala., his hometown. Selected in 1987, he will be a mission specialist on STS-44 in November 1991. He has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from Auburn University and an M.S. in aerospace engineering sciences from the University of Colorado. Clifford, 38, considers Ogden, Utah, his hometown. Selected in 1990, this is his first Shuttle flight. He has a B.S. in basic science from the U.S. Military Academy and an M.S. in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. STS-54 Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, scheduled for launch in November 1992, is a NASA satellite to provide communications for spacecraft in Earth orbit. Crew members are: John H. Casper, Col. U.S. Air Force, Commander Donald R. McMonagle, Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force, Pilot Gregory J. Harbaugh, Mission Specialist Mario Runco, Jr., Lt. Cdr. U.S. Navy, Mission Specialist Susan J. Helms, Capt. U.S. Air Force, Mission Specialist Casper, 48, considers Gainesville, Ga., his hometown. Selected in 1984, he flew as pilot on STS-36. He has a B.S. in engineering science from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in astronautics from Purdue University. - more - - 5 - McMonagle, 39, born in Flint, Mich., was selected as a pilot in 1987. He was a mission specialist on STS-39. He has a B.S. in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the California State University in Fresno. Harbaugh, 35, considers Willoughby, Ohio, his hometown. Selected in 1987, he flew as a mission specialist on STS-39. He has a B.S. in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University and an M.S. in physical science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Runco, 39, considers Yonkers, N.Y., his hometown. Selected in 1987, he is scheduled as a mission specialist on STS-44 in Nov. 1991. He has a B.S. in meteorology and physical oceanography from the City College of New York and an M.S. in meteorology from Rutgers University. Helms, 33, considers Portland, Ore., her hometown. Selected in 1990, this is her first Shuttle flight. She has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics from Stanford University. STS-55 Spacelab-D2 mission is scheduled for launch in January 1993 to perform microgravity research and technology preparation for Space Station use. Robotics, galactic photography and Earth observations will be part of this mission. Named is: Bernard A. Harris, Jr., M.D., Mission Specialist (The German Space Agency will name two payload specialists.) Jerry L. Ross, Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force, Payload Commander was assigned earlier. Harris, 35, born in Temple, Texas, was selected in 1990. This is his first Shuttle flight. He has a B.S. in biology from the University of Houston and an M.D. from Texas Tech University. STS-60 Space Radar Laboratory is schedule for launch in July 1993 to acquire radar images of the Earth's surface to be used for making maps, interpreting geological features and resources studies. Named is: Linda M. Godwin, Ph.D., Payload Commander Godwin, 39, born in Cape Girardeau, Mo., was selected in 1985. She was a mission specialist on STS-37. She has a B.S. in mathematics and physics from Southeast Missouri State University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from the University of Missouri. - more - - 6 - Biographical information on previously named crew members follows: STS-50 Richards, 44, considers St. Louis, Mo., his hometown. Selected in 1980, he flew as pilot on STS-28 and commander on STS-41. He has a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Missouri and an M.S. in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida. Dunbar, 42, born in Sunnyside, Wash., was selected in 1980. She flew as a mission specialist on STS-61A and STS-32. She has a B.S. and an M.S. in ceramic engineering from the University of Washington and a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the University of Houston. Bowersox, 35, considers Bedford, Ind., his hometown. Selected in 1987, this is his first Shuttle flight. He has a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Columbia University. Meade, 41, was born at Chanute Air Force Base, Ill. Selected in 1985, he flew on STS-38. He has a B.S. in electronics engineering from the University of Texas and an M.S. in electronics engineering from the California Institute of Technology. STS-46 Shriver, 46, considers Paton, Iowa, his hometown. Selected in 1978, he flew as pilot on STS 51-C and as commander on STS-31. He has a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in astronautical engineering from Purdue University. Hoffman, 46, considers Scarsdale, N.Y., his hometown. Selected in 1978, he was a mission specialist on STS-51D and STS-35. He has a B.A. in astronomy from Amherst College, a M.S. in materials science from Rice University and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Harvard University. Allen, 36, born in Philadelphia, Penn., was selected in 1987. This is his first Shuttle flight. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Villanova University. Chang-Diaz, 41, born in San Jose, Costa Rica, was selected in 1980. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-61C and STS-34. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. in applied plasma physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. - more - - 7 - STS-47 Lee, 39, born in Viroqua, Wis., was selected in 1984. He was a mission specialist on STS-30. He has a B.S. in civil engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Davis, 37, considers Huntsville, Ala., her hometown. Selected in 1987, this will be her first Shuttle flight. She has a B.S. in applied biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Jemison, 34, considers Chicago, Ill., her hometown. Selected in 1987, this is her first Shuttle mission. She has a B.S. in chemical engineering from Stanford University and an M.D. from Cornell University. STS-55 Ross, 43, born in Crown Point, Ind., was selected in 1980. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-61B, STS-27 and STS-37. He has a B.S. and an M.S. in mechanical engineering from Purdue University. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 27-AUG-1991 13:35:50.14 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 08/26/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 27-AUG-1991 13:35:16.90 Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1991 11:32:22 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910827113222.28e01291@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 08/26/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:128 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 08/26/91 Date: 26 AUG 91 17:58:55 Message-ID:<1991Aug26.175549.23540@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT August 26, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Over the weekend, the spacecraft and DSN (Deep Space Network) completed its telemetry performance characterization at 10 and 40 bps using the spacecraft's telemetry modulation unit low frequency subcarrier (22.5kHz) for telemetry data return; data analysis is in process. Additionally, the spacecraft completed: a) another wobble compensation/identification activity to reduce the wobble angle to meet GASPRA pointing requirements b) a SITURN to reduce the spacecraft's off-sun attitude from about 6 degres to 3 degrees in preparation for SSI (Solid State Imaging)cover release on September 5. c) another SSI memory readout to verify instrument health and safety, and d) powering on the EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer) instrument. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 27-AUG-1991 13:38:24.08 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 08/26/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 27-AUG-1991 13:38:00.48 Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1991 11:35:06 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910827113506.28e01292@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 08/26/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:129 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 08/26/91 Date: 26 AUG 91 21:15:01 Message-ID:<1991Aug26.211156.27799@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT August 26, 1991 The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally, although the spacecraft controllers had some excitement over the weekend. Last Friday, the head temperature on the on-board tape recorder DMS-B (Data Management Subsystem B) exceeded the alarm limit of 43 degrees C. The "stop mapping" limit is 45 degrees C. Some temporary thermal relief was obtained Friday night by commanding the offpointing of the solar panels during the mapping part of each orbit starting on Orbit 2898. Also, early Saturday morning the DMS-A tape, which had been "on" but not in use, was turned off to reduce the heat input to the spacecraft bus. These actions remain in effect. Commands were prepared to switch to a 15 minute early turn from mapping. When the tape head temperature reached 44.1 degrees C, the 15-minute early turn strategy was enabled on Orbit #2913 shortly before midnight PDT last night. The tape head temperatures have now dropped to 42.7 degrees C and have stayed under the alarm limit on subsequent orbits. Preparations are also being made re-enabling the two-hide thermal control strategy. Along with the temperature concerns, the spacecraft team had to handle a bad attitude update on Saturday afternoon. A set of commands to disable the gyro biases and raise the attitude update limit were uplinked to Magellan, and the precise pointing of the High Gain Antenna was reestablished within one orbit. No radar data was lost. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 27-AUG-1991 13:54:43.64 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Daily News in Brief 8/26/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 27-AUG-1991 13:54:14.23 Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1991 11:51:20 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910827115120.28e01299@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Daily News in Brief 8/26/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:196 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:Daily News in Brief 8/26/91 Date: Mon, 26 Aug 91 13:06 PDT Message-ID: This is DAILY NEWS IN BRIEF for 8/26/91 It is intended for internal agency use only. --------------------------------------------------- Daily News in Brief is an abstract of media stories about the Space Program and other related items. --------------------------------------------------- . . . What the Fourth Estate is saying about air & space . . . Baltimore Sun -- 8/26/91 "Quasar Discovery Blasts Old Theories" By Doug Birch "A team of astronomers say they have located the oldest and most distant object yet discovered, a quasar that may be a trifling 900 million years younger than the universe itself." The Sun reports that Donald Schneider, Institute for Advanced Study, said Friday that the discovery of that object, which is perhaps 40 million light years farther away than any previously discovered quasar, suggests that stars and galaxies formed much earlier than once thought, and quotes him as saying "these quasars mean you have to make large-scale structures very rapidly, more rapidly than most theories say you can make them. It means nature is much cleverer than we are about making galaxies." The story says that Schneider, James Gunn of Princeton, and Maarten Schmidt of CalTech, made the discovery on April 6 using the 200-inch Hale telescope on top of Mount Palomar. The paper says the trio's findings will be published next month in the Astronomical Journal. The Sun reports that the team began their survey in 1990 using a clever new generation sensor which used automated search techniques. The search covered an area nearly 20 times the celestial size of the Moon. The paper reports that the search strategy produced about 40,000 suspected distant quasars, which the Schneider-Schmidt-Gunn team then reduced to a target list of 100 objects, from which the new quasar was found. The paper says the team expects there might be as many as seven additional distant quasars will be found. -------------------------------------------------------- This concludes Daily News in Brief. Comments and suggestions are appreciated as is news from your area which you think should be included here, please fax a copy of the story to 202/755-3605 (FTS 755-3605) or contact Beth Schmid, Les Reinertson or Charles Redmond at 202/453-8425 (FTS 453-8425) or NASAmail: ESCHMID, LREINERTSON, EDITOR or CREDMOND. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 12:59:01.02 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Update #2 - 08/27/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 12:58:35.47 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 10:55:27 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903105527.2a000d1a@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update #2 - 08/27/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:130 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update #2 - 08/27/91 Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1991 06:45:06 GMT Message-ID:<1991Aug27.224949.19806@burns.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT August 27, 1991 Magellan spacecraft performance continues to be excellent, but thermal safety measures had to be taken during the weekend to protect the tape recorder. Late Friday, the head temperature of the recorder exceeded the alarm limit of 43 degrees C (109.4 F). The "stop mapping" limit is 45 C (113 F). Some temporary thermal relief was obtained Friday night by commanding the solar panels to point away from the spacecraft during the mapping part of each orbit. Also, the second tape recorder, which was "on" but not in use, was turned off to reduce heat in the spacecraft bus. Late Sunday, commands were sent to reduce mapping by 15 minutes in each orbit so the spacecraft could be put in the shade of its high-gain antenna. The tape head temperatures have dropped slightly and have stayed under the alarm limit. The safety measures remain in effect today. New commands will be sent to the spacecraft Thursday to re- establish the "two-hide" strategy used earlier. It will put the spacecraft in the shade of its antenna twice in each orbit. _____ ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 12:59:37.33 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 08/27/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 12:59:12.97 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 10:56:07 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903105607.2a000d1b@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 08/27/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:131 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 08/27/91 Date: 27 AUG 91 22:15:56 Message-ID:<1991Aug27.221300.8824@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT August 27, 1991 The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally. It is presently operating in a flip-flop mapping mode for thermal control which turns the +Y or -Y side of the craft toward the sun on alternate orbits. Since shortly before midnight Sunday, the spacecraft has also used a 15-minute early turn from mapping. This has resulted in mapping swaths which extend from 75 degrees north latitude to about 50 degrees south (where the full swaths would extend to the South Pole). The tape head temperatures dropped to 42.7 degrees C and 42 degrees C on alternate orbits, but climbed back to 43.4 degrees C on Orbit 2921 early today. The alarm limit is 44 degrees C. Yesterday, controllers uplinked a command to change the solar array drive mechanism's commanded position and an update to the radar control parameter file. Command sequence M1241 is being prepared for uplink tomorrow and will re-enable the two-hide thermal control strategy. It will include two 20-minute hides and will shift the area being mapped to start about 5 degrees south latitude and extend to the South Pole. The two-hide thermal control strategy, with increasing hide times, will be required through the rest of Cycle 2 which ends on January 15, 1992. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:00:30.41 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 08/28/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:00:06.92 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 10:57:01 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903105701.2a000d1c@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 08/28/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:132 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 08/28/91 Date: 28 AUG 91 17:21:23 Message-ID:<1991Aug28.171812.3540@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT August 28, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Yesterday, the planned attitude control software updates to both memories were completed. Late today, between 8 p.m. (PDT) and midnight, the EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime sequence memory load is scheduled to be transmitted to the spacecraft. This sequence controls spacecraft activities from September 3 to October 28. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:03:35.59 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Ulysses Update - 08/26/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:03:00.85 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 10:59:55 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903105955.2a000d1e@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Ulysses Update - 08/26/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:133 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Ulysses Update - 08/26/91 Date: 28 AUG 91 17:09:36 Message-ID:<1991Aug28.170626.3041@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Peter Beech, Ulysses Operations Manager SUBJECT: ULYSSES MISSION OPERATIONS REPORT No. 53 PERIOD: 20th August to 26th August 1991 1. MISSION OPERATIONS Tape recorder operations were suspended on 6th August. The tape recorders will remain off until 5th September in order to conserve enough power on board the spacecraft to permit the Solar Corona Radio Science experiment to be performed during the Solar Conjunction period. The Solar Corona experiment requires that the S-band transmitter is on. On 20th August the most precise alignment for Conjunction occurred. However the data quality at 64 bps was such that more than 50 % of the available data were acquired successfully. On 21st August the data quality was generally poor. On 22nd August the data quality was poor initially but improved significantly when ground station changeover occurred. This pattern had been observed some days before but no reason for the difference in data quality had been found. On 23rd August the downlink bit rate was increased to 1024 bps by pre-stored on-board command. Initially the data quality at this increased bit rate was poor and it was decided to reduce the bit rate to 128 bps. The appropriate commands were transmitted but were not accepted on board the spacecraft due to unfavourable propagation conditions. A further ground station changeover occurred and the quality of the 1024 bps data improved significantly. It was therefore decided to maintain the higher bit rate. An analysis of the data quality patterns shows a reduced data return from the 70 meter site at Madrid. Ground personnel carried out an investigation which led to the discovery that the antenna sub reflector Z-axis alignment was not totally optimised. The necessary corrections have been made and on the last day of the reporting period data quality has been very good. The radio science team have reported good results from the data acquired so far. An average of 41 % data recovery was achieved during this reporting period. The percentage of data acquired as a function of bit rate is as follows: 1024 bps 25 1% 64 bps 15.5 % The above statistics are approximate and have been computed manually due to the large number of bad or missing frames recorded in the system. The command uplink has remained stable during the period, except for one occasion when the command was not accepted on board the spacecraft. Earth pointing manoeuvres controlled by the autonomous on-board Conjunction program were performed daily from 14th August. The on-board Conjunction program utilisation was terminated on 26th August 2 days earlier than foreseen. The program was descheduled by ground command. A slight thruster over performance, coupled with a centroid error resulted in the spacecraft attitude returning to the Earth path 2 fewer manoeuvres earlier than expected. Routine Earth pointing manoeuvres have recommenced. The thruster over performance is currently being analysed. 2. SPACECRAFT STATUS POWER Nominal. Estimated S/C power consumption 268 watts. AOCS Nominal. Thruster over performance during the utilisation of the Conjunction Program is being analysed. TTC The spacecraft is currently configured with receiver 2 as the prime unit fed via the high gain antenna and with receiver 1 as backup fed through the low gain antenna (LGA-F). The downlink is currently via EPC1/TWTA1. The 70 meter ground stations are currently in use to support TTC operations during the Conjunction period. Received downlink level -134 dBm.(70 meter) X-band. (Variations of up to 10 db. can be expected as a result of station antenna in use, local weather conditions, and spacecraft antenna off-pointing). Received uplink level -122.6 dBm. DATA HANDLING Nominal. THERMAL Nominal. 3. FLIGHT DYNAMICS Solar Aspect The angle varied between 1.67 on Angle (deg.) 20th August to 1.44 on 26th August. Sun-Probe-Earth The angle varied between 0.34 on Angle (deg.) 20th August to 0.94 on 26th August. Spin Rate 4.985 rpm. 4. ORBITAL DATA Data taken at 09:00 PDT. on 26th August. Distance from Earth 751,426,789 km. Distance from Jupiter 203,244,874 km. Velocity relative to the Sun 66,769 km/hr. Velocity relative to the Earth 149,152 km/hr. 5. PLANNED OPERATIONS On 2nd September routine experiment reconfigurations will resume. Tape recorder operations are suspended until 5th September. 70 meter ground station support will be maintained until 5th September. 6. GROUND SEGMENT The ground segment performed nominally during the reporting period with the exception of the problem at Madrid with sub-reflector Z-axis alignment. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:04:04.34 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 08/28/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:03:27.64 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:00:21 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903110021.2a000d1f@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 08/28/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:134 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 08/28/91 Date: 28 AUG 91 17:11:48 Message-ID:<1991Aug28.170839.3163@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 GALILEO MISSION STATUS August 28, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is about 176 million miles from Earth; round-trip communication time has now reached 31 minutes 29 seconds. Distance from the Sun is almost 190 million miles. The spacecraft health and performance continue to be generally very good; efforts to unfurl the high-gain antenna have been suspended for a time. Late tonight Galileo's ground crew will transmit a long operating sequence to the spacecraft that will control spacecraft activities from September 3 to October 28, the day before the Gaspra encounter. During this period, Galileo will perform the final trim maneuvers to adjust the flyby conditions, and will collect optical navigation data to verify and refine Gaspra's location. The actual scientific observations and other encounter activities will be contained in a separate sequence covering the few days from October 28 through November 4, to be sent in late October. ##### ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:06:51.26 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 08/28/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:06:25.31 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:03:19 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903110319.2a000b28@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 08/28/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:135 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 08/28/91 Date: 28 AUG 91 22:23:58 Message-ID:<1991Aug28.222050.10183@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT August 28, 1991 The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally. All starcals (star calibrations) and desats (desaturations) yesterday were successful. Last night, spacecraft controllers uplinked a change to the MQPC file which resulted in the spacecraft performing a 180 degree roll during its mapping pass. This helped to cool the tape recorder heads by about 6 degrees C. However, the Propulsion Equipment Plate exceeded the alarm limit, reaching 85.4 degrees C (with a "stop mapping" limit of 90 degrees C) but is not expected to pose any problems before the start of the new sequence tommorrow morning. The spacecraft engineers had anticipated these thermal control challenges during Cycle 2 due to the unfavorable geometry of the sun and orbit plane. The two-hide thermal control strategy, with increasing hide times, will be required through the rest of Cycle 2 which ends on January 15, 1992. Command sequence M1241, which will be uplinked late today and begins execution early tomorrow, will include two 20-minute hides periods and will shift the area being mapped to start about 5 degrees north of the equator and extend to the South Pole. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:09:43.09 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Daily News in Brief 8/27/91 {Oops!!} Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:09:14.67 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:06:08 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903110608.2a000d2b@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Daily News in Brief 8/27/91 {Oops!!} To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:199 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:Daily News in Brief 8/27/91 Date: Tue, 27 Aug 91 13:14 PDT Message-ID: This is DAILY NEWS IN BRIEF for 8/27/91 It is intended for internal agency use only. --------------------------------------------------- Daily News in Brief is an abstract of media stories about the Space Program and other related items. --------------------------------------------------- . . . What the Fourth Estate is saying about air & space . . . Washington Post -- 8/27/91 "Error Cited in Orbital Mishap" AP Dateline from Cape Canaveral "Launch controllers loaded the wrong computer program into the guidance unit of an Orbital Sciences Corp. rocket that had to be destroyed last week when it veered sharply off course, a Pentagon official said today." The Post-AP story says that no one bothered to check printouts that showed the error and that the rocket had to be destroyed when it began to veer off the planned course after its launch on August 20. The story says the cost of the launch, not counting the experiments, was $5 million. The article says a technician accidentally hit the wrong key while loading software into the rocket's guidance and control unit just before liftoff. The story says that as a result, ground test software rather than the flight software was sent into the onboard computers causing the steering nozzles to lock in place. The story further states that the mistake was evident on computer printouts at the time it occurred and cites comments from an SDI spokesperson which indicate the Pentagon will be investigating this. ------------------------ New York Times -- 8/27/91 "Coast Experts Debate Tide Gauges' Findings" By Cory Dean "In most of the world, the ocean is relentlessly moving in on the land. The question is, is the rise evidence of global warming or is it just the result of local conditions?" The Times says that until more sophisticated satellite measurements and other data are available, scientists trying to answer the question rely on gauges -- some of which record the tides for more than 400 years. The paper reports that many of the scientists reading these records have inferred a rising sea level trend, but that others do not agree. The paper reports that in a new book just published, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers K.O. Emery and David G. Aubry argue that the changes reflect local circumstances, human activities that cause erosion and other factors far more than they reflect any global sea level changes. -------------------------------------------------------- This concludes Daily News in Brief. Comments and suggestions are appreciated as is news from your area which you think should be included here, please fax a copy of the story to 202/755-3605 (FTS 755-3605) or contact Beth Schmid, Les Reinertson or Charles Redmond at 202/453-8425 (FTS 453-8425) or NASAmail: ESCHMID, LREINERTSON, EDITOR or CREDMOND. send From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:12:07.87 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/27/91 {Big OOPS!!!} Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:11:43.13 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:08:17 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903110817.2a000b2c@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/27/91 {Big OOPS!!!} To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:200 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/27/91 Date: Tue, 27 Aug 91 07:48 PDT Message-ID: Headline News Internal Communications Branch (P-2) NASA Headquarters Tuesday, August 27, 1991 Audio Service: 202 / 755-1788 This is NASA Headline News for Tuesday, August 27, 1991 . . . Preparations for Discovery's STS-48 mission to deploy the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite continue on schedule. Activity today includes testing of Discovery's three main engines to verify proper valve functioning and to calibrate engine sensors. Tomorrow, the Office of Space Flight two-day Flight Readiness Review gets underway at Kennedy Space Center. The target launch date for the mission is September 12. A formal launch date will be announced following the readiness review. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Assistant Administrator for Equal Opportunity Programs, Harriett Jenkins, has appointed Dr. Samuel Massenberg as the director of the newly established Minority University Research and Education Programs Division. The new division will improve and expand the research capability of selected historically black colleges and universities. Dr. Massenberg comes to Headquarters from Langley Research Center, where he has served as the University Affairs Officer since 1983. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Marshall Space Flight Center engineers today are scheduled to test fire a 26-foot scale model motor as part of the Advanced Solid Rocket Motor program. Tonight's 30-second test firing will be the first of a series of five designed to test internal insulation materials which could enhance solid rocket motor performance. The test firing will be staged at Marshall's East Test Area and is set to begin at 9:30 pm EDT. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A Mighty Mouse rocket being used in the Rocket Triggered Lightning program inadvertently launched at about 1:15 pm yesterday at Kennedy Space Center. The event caused a visiting French electrical engineer to receive slight injuries. The engineer, Louis Barret, was taken to the Complex 39 dispensary and subsequently to the Parrish Medical Center in Titusville, where he was treated and released. His injuries are described as consisting of minor burns to his left leg. The Mighty Mouse is a 4-foot long by 2.75-inch diameter vehicle which is used to lift the electric field sensor wires associated with the lightning research. The rocket was unarmed and all safety procedures were being observed. The rocket landed in the normal Mosquito Lagoon impact zone with no effect on any additional personnel. An inquiry board has been convened by KSC. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select TV. Note that all events and times may change without notice, and that all times listed are Eastern. indicates a program is transmitted live. Tuesday, August 27, 1991 12:00 pm NASA Today news program. 12:15 pm Aeronautics & Space Report #238. 12:30 pm Skylab -- the First 40 Days. 1:00 pm Radio Astronomy Explorer. 1:30 pm Journey through the Solar System -- Mercury. 2:00 pm Starfinder program #27. 2:15 pm Magellan at Venus (repeat of previous JPL series). 2:30 pm Biology Series -- Life into Space. 3:00 pm Total Quality Management #24 (Univ. of N. Mex series). 4:00 pm NASA Today and subsequent programming repeats. 8:00 pm NASA Today and subsequent programming repeats. 12:00 am NASA Today and subsequent programming repeats. This report is filed daily at noon, Monday through Friday. It is a service of NASA's Office of Public Affairs. The editor is Charles Redmond, 202/453-8425 or CREDMOND on NASAmail. NASA Select TV is carried on GE Satcom F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees West Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960 MegaHertz, audio subcarrier is 6.8 MHz, polarization is vertical. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:13:59.04 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Daily News in Brief 8/28/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:13:34.07 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:10:28 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903111028.2a000d2d@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Daily News in Brief 8/28/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:203 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:Daily News in Brief 8/28/91 Date: Wed, 28 Aug 91 08:36 PDT Message-ID: This is DAILY NEWS IN BRIEF for 8/28/91 It is intended for internal agency use only. --------------------------------------------------- Daily News in Brief is an abstract of media stories about the Space Program and other related items. --------------------------------------------------- . . . What the Fourth Estate is saying about air & space . . . Christian Science Monitor -- 8/28/91 "First Probe on 'Mission to Planet Earth' Poised for Launch" By Robert Cowen "Space shuttle Discovery sits on launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center with a payload designed to open a new era in planetary exploration." The Monitor's science reporter says that Discovery sits poised with the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite in its payload bay and that UARS is the leadoff spacecraft in the Mission to Planet Earth. The story says that when the spacecraft is deployed into its orbit, now set for Sept. 12, it will usher a new era of Earth science and will, for the first time ever, provide data which will allow for a coordinated study of the structure, chemistry, energy balance and physical action of the Earth's middle atmosphere -- that slice of air between 10 and 60 miles. The Monitor reports that knowing what goes on in the middle atmosphere is one of the keys to understanding what is happening to the atmosphere below, which the paper reminds its readers is where we all live. The story says no one knows how the lower layer, the troposphere, and the upper layer interact but that recent studies show more than 70 percent of the total stratosphere is exchanged with the troposphere each year and that suggests significant interaction. ------------------------ Associated Press -- 8/28/91 "Galileo May Get Swift Kick" By Harry Rosenthal "After two failed attempts to free the stuck main antenna of the Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft, NASA engineers may resort to giving it a swift kick from millions of miles away." The wire service reports that before they do that, engineers will try once more to use the ultra-cold temperatures of space to coax the bulky antenna into proper position and that the mission's success depends on whether the antenna can be made to open its full 16-feet. The story says engineers may retract the low gain antenna and swing it out again, hoping the shock will kick the other antenna loose from what AP reports engineers believe to be a stuck situation. The story says NASA thinks the antenna is stuck because its dry lubricant was shaken off during many movements of the spacecraft between California and Florida during previous launch preparations. -------------------------------------------------------- This concludes Daily News in Brief. Comments and suggestions are appreciated as is news from your area which you think should be included here, please fax a copy of the story to 202/755-3605 (FTS 755-3605) or contact Beth Schmid, Les Reinertson or Charles Redmond at 202/453-8425 (FTS 453-8425) or NASAmail: ESCHMID, LREINERTSON, EDITOR or CREDMOND. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:17:01.80 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: STS-48 LAUNCH ADVISORY Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:16:38.74 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:13:28 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903111328.2a000b2e@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: STS-48 LAUNCH ADVISORY To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:205 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:STS-48 LAUNCH ADVISORY Date: Wed, 28 Aug 91 14:26 PDT Message-ID: Jim Cast Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 28, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-8536) 5:30pm EDT. Lisa Malone Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (Phone: 407/867-2468) STS-48/UARS LAUNCH ADVISORY NASA managers have targeted Sept. 12, 1991, for launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery and its primary payload, the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). The announcement came at the conclusion of today's Flight Readiness Review for mission STS-48 at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida (KSC). The launch window on the 12th opens at 6:57 p.m., EDT, and can be extended for approximately 2-1/2 hours. If the launch is postponed the window will open approximately 20 minutes earlier each day. A nighttime landing is expected at KSC which has been designated as the primary landing site for this 5 day 7 hour flight. UARS is the first major flight element of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth. UARS will study winters in the northern hemisphere and the Antarctic ozone hole during the satellite's planned 20-month life. The 5-man crew for Discovery's 13th mission, the 43rd Space Shuttle flight, will be commanded by 48-year- old Navy Capt. John Creighton. He and Pilot Kenneth Reightler, 40, a Navy Cmdr., will be joined by three Mission Specialists: Charles (Sam) Gemar, 36, an Army Lt. Col.; James Buchli, 46, Col. USMC; and Mark Brown, 40, a USAF Col. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:19:37.98 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: HQ 91-141/Magellan Status Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:19:10.57 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:15:59 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903111559.2a000d31@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ 91-141/Magellan Status To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:206 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ 91-141/Magellan Status Date: Thu, 29 Aug 91 10:24 PDT Message-ID: HOLD for release until FRIDAY AUGUST 30 Paula Cleggett-Haleim Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 30, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-1547) Jim Doyle Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. (Phone: 818/354-5011) RELEASE: 91-141 MAGELLAN DISCOVERS LONGEST CHANNEL IN SOLAR SYSTEM The Magellan spacecraft, mapping the surface of Venus with imaging radar, has discovered the longest channel known in the solar system, a project spokesman said at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.. The channel crosses the plains of Venus for 4,200 miles, longer than the Nile River, the longest river on Earth, said Project Scientist Dr. Steve Saunders. "The very existence of such a long channel is a great puzzle," Saunders said. "If the long channel were carved by something flowing on the surface, the liquid must have had unusual properties," he added. Saunders said it may have been some material that was near its freezing or melting point at the average surface conditions of Venus -- surface pressure 90 times that of Earth and a temperature of 864 degrees Fahrenheit. "There are no very likely candidates for a liquid," Saunders said. "Lava, even very high temperature types, would need to have a very high extrusion rate to flow so far. This is not consistent with the uniform narrow channel morphology." He said the channel is very uniform in width, averaging little more than 1 mile across. "It follows a sinuous, smoothly-curving course that can be traced continuously on the surface just west of Atla Regio northward nearly to the large basin called Atalanta Planitia." - more - - 2 - A few segments of the channel were mapped in 1984 by the Soviet Venera 15 and 16 orbiters which carried radar capable of resolving features down to 0.6 to 1.2 miles. With the higher resolution of Magellan, about 400 feet, the channel can be traced unbroken along its course, Saunders said. Similar channels have been seen on the surfaces of many of the plains in other parts of Venus, he said. In some cases the channels terminate in lava flows, indicating that they probably were carved out by molten lava from a volcanic eruption. No similar features are now known on Earth, although lava channels are known to have formed on Earth billions of years ago. "The challenge of understanding the origin of this channel will lead to better understanding of planetary geological processes and many related fields such as material properties and fluid mechanics," Saunders said. Magellan is currently mapping the south pole of Venus. In the first 243-day mapping cycle which ended May 15, the spacecraft mapped 84 percent of the planet. In its second cycle, its has mapped for the second time a 600-mile wide strip and that section of Venus is being examined to see if any changes occurred from one cycle to the other. Preliminary analysis of that data has so far revealed no changes occurring on the surface of Venus between mapping cycles. Magellan now has its high-gain antenna turned to the right as it maps long strips of the surface. During the first mapping cycle, the side-looking radar was turned to the left. The antenna was turned to the right to map the south pole. Many of the same features that were imaged from the left during the first cycle are being imaged now from the new angle, which will permit investigators to get more accurate measurements and also will provide three-dimensional views of some features. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the Magellan project for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications, Washington, D.C. - end - Photographs to illustrate this story are available free to media representatives by calling 202/453-8383. B&W: 91-H-682 thru -685, -641 thru -643, -648, -649 Color: 91-HC-589 same as B&W 91-H-682 From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:22:56.08 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 08/29/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:22:32.70 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:19:26 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903111926.2a000d33@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 08/29/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:136 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 08/29/91 Date: 29 AUG 91 18:17:37 Message-ID:<1991Aug29.181427.4323@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT August 29, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. The EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime sequence memory load was transmitted and received by the spacecraft late last night. No anomalies or incidents were reported. Today and tomorrow, no spacecraft activity is planned. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:25:38.38 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 08/29/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:25:12.61 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:21:56 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903112156.2a000b34@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 08/29/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:137 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 08/29/91 Date: 29 AUG 91 20:21:43 Message-ID:<1991Aug29.201832.7079@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT August 29, 1991 The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally. All starcals (star calibrations) and desats (desaturations of the reaction wheels) yesterday were successful. Command sequence M1241, which began execution early today, includes two 20-minute hide periods and maps the area from about 5 degrees north of the equator to the South Pole. Critical spacecraft components have cooled about two or three degrees since the start of the two-hide sequence. The solar panel offpoint was changed to +45 degrees from the sun line. Spacecraft controllers have prepared some contingency commands to cool the spacecraft in the event the present strategy does not continue to maintain acceptable temperatures. These include an MQPC file which would roll the spacecraft during mapping, such as was done during the last several days, and a +Z to sun maneuver. Magellan has now completed 2449 mapping orbits, 773 since the start of Cycle 2. So we're 43% finished with Cycle 2. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:30:36.41 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update #2 - 08/29/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:29:56.28 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:26:50 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903112650.2a000d35@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update #2 - 08/29/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:138 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update #2 - 08/29/91 Date: 29 AUG 91 23:14:25 Message-ID:<1991Aug29.231116.10683@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Neal Ausman, Galileo Mission Director GALILEO MISSION DIRECTOR STATUS REPORT POST-LAUNCH August 23 - 29, 1991 SPACECRAFT 1. A special telecommunication spacecraft to DSN (Deep Space Network) end-to-end test was performed on August 23 to characterize the telemetry link performance at 10 bps and 40 bps using the spacecraft's low frequency subcarrier (22.5 khz). To date the spacecraft's high frequency subcarrier (360 khz) has been used exclusively for data return. Preliminary results indicate that link performance improvements on the order of 0.7 to 1.5 db have been observed depending on the spacecraft data rate and Telemetry Processing Assembly (TPA) being used. Additional testing is being planned to further characterize 1) the telecom performance improvements, 2) to understand any timing differences between the Type A and B TPAs, and 3) to establish the final Gaspra configuration. 2. Another attitude control wobble compensation and identification activity was completed on August 24 by repositioning the RTG booms. This was the second of three planned activities to reduce the wobble angle to less than 0.5 mrad to meet Gaspra pointing requirements. Results indicate the wobble was reduced from about 0.9 mrad to less than 0.3 mrad. Since this wobble meets that needed for the Gaspra pointing, the third wobble compensation will not be performed. 3. Commands were sent on August 24 to perform an SSI (Solid State Imaging) memory readout (MRO) to verify the instrument health and safety. 4. The spacecraft performed a 3-degree SITURN on August 25 to reduce the sun lagging attitude from about 6 degrees to 3 degrees in preparation for the SSI cover deploy activity planned for September 5. 5. The EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer) instrument was powered on August 25 and memory readouts performed. Based on EUV analog telemetry and the MRO data, the EUV is operating normally. 6. The EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime sequence memory load was transmitted and received by the spacecraft on August 29. This sequence is planned to go active on September 3 and controls all spacecraft activities to October 28. This sequence includes many activities including the SSI cover jettison, four optical navigation observations, three RPM (Retro Propulsion Module) flushing events, and windows for TCM-11 (Trajectory Correction Maneuver 11) and TCM-12 on October 9 and October 24, respectively. 7. The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements exhibited some minor change. The AC measurement fluctuated 2 DN and now reads 44.8 volts; the DC measurement increased 2 DN and now reads 16.8 volts. All other power telemetry and subsystem telemetry are normal. 8. The Spacecraft status as of end of day August 29 was as follows: a) System Power Margin - 56 watts b) Spin Configuration - Dual-Spin c) Spin Rate/Sensor - 3.15 rpm/star scanner d) Spacecraft Attitude Sun Point Angle - approximately 3.9 degrees (sun lagging) plus or minus 0.3 degree e) Downlink telemetry rate/antenna-40 bps (coded)/LGA-1 f) General Thermal Control - all temperatures within acceptable range g) RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range h) Orbiter Science- all powered on except PLS, PPR and NIMS i) Probe/RRH - powered off, temperatures within acceptable range j) CMD Loss Timer Setting - 288 hours Time To Initiation - 288 hours UPLINK GENERATION/COMMAND REVIEW AND APPROVAL: 1. Project reviewed and approved the final sequence and command generation for the EE-2 prime sequence on August 28. 2. Project reviewed and approved the cruise plan for the EE-4 sequence on August 27. The EE-4 sequence will control spacecraft activities from November 4 to February 17, 1992. 3. Project reviewed the ICAP for the EE-5 sequence on August 29; EE-5 will control spacecraft activities from February 17 to April 27. TRAJECTORY As of noon (PDT) Thursday, August 29, 1991, the Galileo Spacecraft status was as follows: Distance from Earth 177,100,950 miles Distance from Sun 189,963,120 miles (2.01 AU) Heliocentric Speed 39,340 miles per hour Distance from Gaspra 26,956,440 miles Round Trip Light Time 31 minutes, 32 seconds SPECIAL TOPICS 1. As of August 29, 1991, a total of 5757 real-time commands have been transmitted to Galileo. Of these, 1911 have been pre-planned in the sequence design and 3846 were not. In the past week, a total of 46 real time commands were transmitted; none were pre-planned. In addition 1903 mini-sequence commands have been transmitted since March 1991, including 94 this week. Major commanding activities this week included the telecommunication low frequency subcarrier test, attitude control flight software parameter updates, SITURN and EUV turn on, wobble compensation and identification, and EE-2 prime sequence memory load. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:35:25.95 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Solar-A Update - 08/30/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:34:55.53 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:31:42 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903113142.2a000c02@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Solar-A Update - 08/30/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:140 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Solar-A Update - 08/30/91 Date: 30 AUG 91 15:12:04 Message-ID:<1991Aug30.150911.28690@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Yoshiro Yamada, Yokohama Science Center * The Solar-A Launched * According to ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science), The Solar-A spacecraft was launched at 02:30 UTC on August 30 and put to orbit with the following parameters: -- perigee 520 km -- apogee 770 km -- orbital inclination 31.3 deg -- period 98 min. Solar-A was nicknamed 'YOHKOH' (sunlight) after launch. Equipment installed in the spacecraft is functioning normally. ---------------------------------------------------------------- (The following description on Solar-A is based on fax message from Y. Ogawa, ISAS.) The Solar-A spacecraft carries instruments for the observation of solar flares in X- and gamma- radiation. The primary experi- ments will make high-resolution images of flares in hard X- rays (15-100 keV) and soft X-rays (4-40 angstrom);the former uses Fourier-transform op- tics and the latter a grazing-incidence telescope with a "super- polish" finish. The soft X-ray telescope features a 1024 x 1024 virtual-phase CCD as its image readout device. In addition to these experiments, two other in- struments will observe the soft X-ray emission-line spectrum and obtain the time series of hard radiations from flares. The Solar-A scientific instrumentation has a strongly international flavor, with instruments provided by the U.S. and the U.K.; as the only solar-flare satellite in this exceptional maximum of solar activity, we expect that Solar-A will be the focus of con- siderable scientific interest. To accomplish these objectives, a spacecraft with three- axis stabilization is required. Solar-A will be the first ISAS spacecraft with three-axis stabilization of sufficient precision for the accurate pointing of high-resolution telescopes; the re- quirement on stability rate of 1 arc sec/sec on short time scales, and 7 arc sec/min to permit long integrations of faint soft X-ray sources. A magnetic bubble data recorder will permit the storage of 80 Mb per readout cycle; a combination of telemetry readouts at the ISAS Kagoshima Space Center and NASA's Deep Space Network will allow us to dump this data recorder approximately once per orbit (96 minutes), permitting regular coverage the evolving solar structures. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Forwarded from the Deep Space Network: The Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) successfully launched the Solar-A spacecraft at the opening of the launch window on August 29, 1991, 19:30 PDT. Injection was 519 seconds after launch. Launch and injection were both nominal. DSN was not required for launch support or early orbit phase of the mission. DSN support of Solar-A will start approximately four weeks after launch. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:39:21.72 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 08/30/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:38:53.83 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:35:47 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903113547.2a000e03@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 08/30/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:141 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 08/30/91 Date: 31 AUG 91 02:20:42 Message-ID:<1991Aug31.021740.9474@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT August 30, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Today, commands will be sent to put the spacecraft into the all-spin mode in preparation for next week's SSI (Solid State Imaging) cover jettison activity planned for September 5. Also today commands will be sent to perform an imaging instrument (SSI) memory readout activity to verify the instrument's health and safety. Over the 3-day weekend, no spacecraft activities are planned. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 3-SEP-1991 13:57:52.85 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/30/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 3-SEP-1991 13:57:10.10 Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1991 11:53:42 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910903115342.2a000e07@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/30/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:209 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:HEADLINE NEWS/TV SKED 8/30/91 Date: Fri, 30 Aug 91 08:49 PDT Message-ID: Headline News Internal Communications Branch (P-2) NASA Headquarters Friday, August 30, 1991 Audio Service: 202 / 755-1788 This is NASA Headline News for Friday, August 30, 1991 . . . NASA's Magellan Project Office reported today that the spacecraft's radar mapping mission has discovered the longest channel known in the solar system. The channel crosses the plains of Venus for 4,200 miles, longer than Earth's longest river, the Nile. Magellan project scientist Steve Saunders said "the very existence of such a long channel is a great puzzle. If the long channel were carved by something flowing on the surface, the liquid must have had unusual properties." Saunders was referring to the fact that whatever might have carved the channel may have been near its freezing, or melting, point -- but on Venus that point is 864 degrees F and 90 times Earth sea-level pressure. Saunders says there are no likely candidates for a liquid and lava would be inconsistent with the channel's very narrow and long shape. The channel is about a mile across and is similar, though much larger, than other channels which have been discovered on the surfaces of Venus' many plains. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Work at the Kennedy Space Center on the three orbiters presently there, including Discovery on launch pad 39-A awaiting its launch on Sept. 12, will be put on hold this weekend as center management is giving most of the workforce the three-day holiday. Activity on Discovery will pick up on Tuesday, Sept. 3, as workers prepare to perform final orbiter aft compartment closeouts. On Thursday, Sept. 5, the hypergolic propellant storage tanks will be pressurized and payload closeout will get underway. Endeavour will get more systems performance tests next week as technicians continue their verification of the orbiter's instrumentation system and prepare for a functional test of the vehicle's radiator system. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goddard Space Flight Center reports that the Gamma Ray Observatory and its instruments continue to perform well. The second scientific target of opportunity was captured earlier this month -- the binary star system Cygnus X-3. This system, located some 30,000 light years from Earth in the disk of the Milky Way, was reported earlier by radio astronomers to have increased radio emissions. Science instrument principal investigators also report they are already engaged in the lengthy, though necessarily routine, task of data analysis. Their report confirms that not only do the instruments and spacecraft work well, but that the data receipt and redistribution process is also being executed flawlessly. Upcoming scientific observations planned for the observatory include continued data takes of the Vela Pulsar and a look at two new targets -- Hercules X-1 and Nova Muscae. Spacecraft performance has been so smooth that Goddard reported only two minor anomalies, one with a communications transponder and the other with an incorrect command. Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select TV. Note that all events and times may change without notice, and that all times listed are Eastern. indicates a program is transmitted live. Friday, August 30, 1991 12:00 pm NASA Today news program. 12:07 pm Pathway to the Stars. 12:22 pm Apollo 8. 12:45 pm Apollo 9 1:00 pm TDRSS -- New Space Network. 2:00 pm Oklahoma State Univ. Educational Programming. 3:00 pm Total Quality Management seminar (Univ. of N. Mex series). 4:00 pm NASA Today and subsequent programming repeats. 8:00 pm NASA Today and subsequent programming repeats. 12:00 am NASA Today and subsequent programming repeats. This report is filed daily at noon, Monday through Friday. It is a service of NASA's Office of Public Affairs. The editor is Charles Redmond, 202/453-8425 or CREDMOND on NASAmail. NASA Select TV is carried on GE Satcom F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees West Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960 MegaHertz, audio subcarrier is 6.8 MHz, polarization is vertical. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 5-SEP-1991 11:36:57.96 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Magellan Discovers Landslide Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 5-SEP-1991 11:36:05.60 Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1991 9:32:51 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910905093251.2b800448@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Discovers Landslide To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 sci.astro:11196 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Discovers Landslide Date: 30 AUG 91 21:58:21 Message-ID:<1991Aug30.220132.4215@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Well, Magellan's at it again. At a new conference held today at JPL, it was announced that a giant landslide was discovered by Magellan. The landslide was apparently triggered by a earthquake (venusquake?) that measured about 5 on the Richter scale, and the landslide measured 1.8 miles wide and 4.7 miles long. The image was taken on July 23 by Magellan, and the landslide was not there when Magellan was over the same spot last November. This marks the first time that a change in the surface of Venus was detected. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 5-SEP-1991 11:37:29.81 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Re: A SETI puzzle (SPOILER) Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 5-SEP-1991 11:36:49.25 Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1991 9:33:34 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910905093334.2b80044a@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Re: A SETI puzzle (SPOILER) To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 sci.astro:11197 From: rls@uihepa.hep.uiuc.edu (Ray Swartz (Oh, that guy again)) Subject:Re: A SETI puzzle (SPOILER) Date: 30 Aug 91 23:16:21 GMT Message-ID:<1991Aug30.231621.20928@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> After the base 12 opening (including a lesson in binary representation), the message goes on to teach the definition of the logical functions OR, AND, and NOT. Also, I looked for and didn't find a base 12 representation of pi in the message. It may still be in there, I didn't see it in a first pass. Gee, this is fun. Ray Swartz From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 5-SEP-1991 13:42:12.75 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Landslide Images Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 5-SEP-1991 13:41:17.36 Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1991 11:38:02 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910905113802.2b8006c4@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Landslide Images To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 sci.astro:11253 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Landslide Images Date: 4 SEP 91 15:47:19 Message-ID:<1991Sep4.154436.18368@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> =========================== MAGELLAN LANDSLIDE IMAGES September 4, 1991 =========================== At the request of the Magellan project, I've placed the Magellan landslide image at the Ames Space archives. This image has been released into the public domain by the Magellan project. The images can be retrieved via anonymous ftp from ames.arc.nasa.gov [128.102.18.3], and is in the pub/SPACE/VICAR directory as the file landslid.img. The image is a 1280x1024 image (1,312,000 bytes) and is in VICAR format. I've also converted the image into two GIF files, and you can get them from the pub/SPACE/GIF directory as landslid.gif and landsld1.gif. Make sure you are in binary mode when ftping the images. The image shows side-by-side images of the same area in Aphrodite Terra on Venus. The image on the left was taken by Magellan in November 1990 during the first cycle, and the image on the right was taken in July 1991 during the second cycle. The two images were intended to be a stereo pair. The discovery of the landslide was made when the stereo pair refused to work for the two images. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 9-SEP-1991 15:00:51.88 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Re: Magellan Landslide Images Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 9-SEP-1991 15:00:24.69 Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1991 12:55:40 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910909125540.2b800ef7@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Re: Magellan Landslide Images To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.general:36 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Re: Magellan Landslide Images Date: 5 SEP 91 15:34:58 Message-ID:<1991Sep5.153154.19960@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Here is the photo caption that goes along with the Magellan landslide image. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 PHOTO CAPTION Magellan P-38975 MGN69 August 30, 1991 Landslides on Venus! The image of the left was taken in late November of 1990 during Magellan's first trip around Venus. The image on the right was taken July 23, as the Magellan spacecraft passed over the region for the second time. Each image is 24 kilometers (14.4 miles) across and 38 kilometers (23 miles) long, and is centered at 2 degrees south latitude and 74 degrees east longitude. This pair of Magellan images shows a region in Aphrodite Terra, within a steeply sloping valley that is cut by many fractures. In the center of the image on the right, a bright, flow-like area can be seen extending to the west (left) of a bright fracture. The bright, rough area has appeared and the fracture has changed position in the 8 months since the first image was made. A "Venusquake" may have occurred, producing a new scarp and causing a landslide (the bright area) to form. This is the first evidence of active tectonics occurring on other planets in the solar system. Resolution of the Magellan data is 120 meters (400 feet). ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@IPL.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 10-SEP-1991 11:49:14.86 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Magellan Landslide Images Return-Path: Received: from IPL.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 10-SEP-1991 11:48:47.59 Date: Tue, 10 Sep 1991 9:45:19 PDT From: RGD059@IPL.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910910094519.2b402afc@IPL.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Landslide Images To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl3 jpl.general:34 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Landslide Images Date: 4 SEP 91 15:48:29 Message-ID:<1991Sep4.154515.18444@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> =========================== MAGELLAN LANDSLIDE IMAGES September 4, 1991 =========================== At the request of the Magellan project, I've placed the Magellan landslide image at the Ames Space archives. This image has been released into the public domain by the Magellan project. The images can be retrieved via anonymous ftp from ames.arc.nasa.gov [128.102.18.3], and is in the pub/SPACE/VICAR directory as the file landslid.img. The image is a 1280x1024 image (1,312,000 bytes) and is in VICAR format. I've also converted the image into two GIF files, and you can get them from the pub/SPACE/GIF directory as landslid.gif and landsld1.gif. Make sure you are in binary mode when ftping the images. The image shows side-by-side images of the same area in Aphrodite Terra on Venus. The image on the left was taken by Magellan in November 1990 during the first cycle, and the image on the right was taken in July 1991 during the second cycle. The two images were intended to be a stereo pair. The discovery of the landslide was made when the stereo pair refused to work for the two images. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 10-SEP-1991 19:13:42.83 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: SU drops Mt.Graham Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 10-SEP-1991 19:13:18.89 Date: Tue, 10 Sep 1991 17:09:59 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910910170959.2b801248@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: SU drops Mt.Graham To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 sci.astro:11333 From: ephillip@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Earl W Phillips) Subject:SU drops Mt.Graham Date: 8 Sep 91 14:38:17 GMT Message-ID: {OSU has announced today (9{/8/91) {that it will drop out of the Mt.Graham telescope project, citing a lack of funding{ as the {reason. A decion to try for private funding has{ apparently fell way short of the nece{s{sary fundin{gDr. Eug{ene Capriotti, of OSU's astro dep't, expressed his disappointment regarding the decision{. {{No mention was made of hat will{ happen for ast{ronomers that came to OSU speci{fically because of the {project in the article. Also no mention was{ made as to how{{ the other{ {partners will make up for OSU's dropping out. ***************************************************************** * | ====@==== ///////// * * ephillip@magnus.ircc.ohio-state.edu| ``________// * * | `------' * * -JR- | Space;........the final * * | frontier............... * ***************************************************************** From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:11:45.21 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 09/03/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:10:41.02 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:07:03 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911110703.2b80169b@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 09/03/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:142 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 09/03/91 Date: 3 SEP 91 19:58:14 Message-ID:<1991Sep3.195517.20567@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT September 3, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the all-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Today, the EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime stored sequence will go active as planned. This is the first stored sequence control of the spacecraft since it went into safing in March 1991. Tomorrow, a USO (Ultra Stable Oscillator) radio frequency test will be performed. On Thursday, the imaging instrument (SSI) cover jettison activity is scheduled. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:17:15.54 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 09/03/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:16:40.71 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:13:04 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911111304.2b8016a0@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 09/03/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:142 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 09/03/91 Date: 3 SEP 91 19:58:14 Message-ID:<1991Sep3.195517.20567@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT September 3, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the all-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Today, the EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime stored sequence will go active as planned. This is the first stored sequence control of the spacecraft since it went into safing in March 1991. Tomorrow, a USO (Ultra Stable Oscillator) radio frequency test will be performed. On Thursday, the imaging instrument (SSI) cover jettison activity is scheduled. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:19:00.96 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 09/03/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:18:24.91 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:14:49 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911111449.2b8016a1@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 09/03/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:143 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 09/03/91 Date: 3 SEP 91 20:00:27 Message-ID:<1991Sep3.195713.20687@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT September 3, 1991 The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally. On Friday, the spacecraft missed two stars and took a bad attitude update. The bias gains and update limit were changed temporarily to allow the next starcals (star calibrations) to adjust the pointing accuracy. Since that time, only one missed star has been noted. An attitude reference loss alarm was recorded over the weekend, but this was believed to be caused by the albedo of Venus. The spacecraft is presently using two 20-minute hide periods, offpointing of the solar panels, and the roll MQPC to control the temperatures, but the temperatures are beginning to rise again. The transmitter and Electronic Power Converter/Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier are increasing by one degree per day. One option available to spacecraft controllers is to switch from the present roll MQPC to the standard mapping MQPC file, which will cool the radio components while raising the tape recorder and CDS (Command Data Subsystem) temperatures slightly. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:20:09.79 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 09/04/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:19:37.84 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:15:50 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911111550.2b8016a2@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 09/04/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:144 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 09/04/91 Date: 4 SEP 91 18:21:13 Message-ID:<1991Sep4.181759.23227@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT September 4, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the all-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Yesterday, the EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime sequence went active. This is the first stored sequence control of the spacecraft since it went into safing in March 1991. Also yesterday, while being tracked by DSS-63 (70 meter Madrid station), the spacecraft experienced two unexplained CDS (Command Data Subsystem) lock counts. This was the seventh occurrence of this type of event; spacecraft operation was not affected. Today, a USO (Ultra Stable Oscillator) radio frequency test will be performed. Tomorrow, the imaging instrument (SSI) cover jettison activity is scheduled. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:22:25.62 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 09/04/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:20:03.16 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:16:19 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911111619.2b8016a3@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 09/04/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:145 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 09/04/91 Date: 4 SEP 91 19:17:36 Message-ID:<1991Sep4.191427.24389@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT September 4, 1991 The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally. All starcals (star calibrations) and desats (desaturations) yesterday were successful. Yesterday spacecraft controllers uplinked a change to the MQPC file which removed the 180 degree roll during each mapping pass. This helped to cool the transmitter and EPC (Electronic Power Converter) by as much as 16 degrees C. However, it caused the tape recorder head temperature to rise 4 degrees, and Bay 7 (which contains the CDS (Command Data Subsystem)) now peaks at 50 degrees C (with a red alarm limit of 55 degrees C). The spacecraft engineers had anticipated these thermal control challenges during Cycle 2 due to the unfavorable geometry of the sun and orbit plane. The two-hide thermal control strategy, with increasing hide times, will be required through the rest of Cycle 2 which ends on January 15, 1992. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:23:03.28 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Magellan Update - 09/05/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:21:10.24 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:17:21 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911111721.2b8016a4@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Magellan Update - 09/05/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:146 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Magellan Update - 09/05/91 Date: 5 SEP 91 20:43:19 Message-ID:<1991Sep5.204035.27681@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Anthony Spear, Magellan Project Manager MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT September 5, 1991 The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally. All starcals (star calibrations) and desats (desaturations) yesterday were successful. Spacecraft temperatures remain in the acceptable range. The transmitter peaks at 47.7 degrees C and the DMS-B (Data Management Subsystem-B) tape recorder head reaches 32.9 degrees C, but most other temperatures have stabilized withing the planning limits. Yesterday, spacecraft controllers sent up new Kalman gains to be used with star calibrations which scan a new pair of stars. Later today, they will uplink the M1249 command sequence which begins execution tomorrow afternoon. The new 2-week command sequence will continue the two 20 minute periods in each orbit where Magellan hides behind the High Gain Antenna. This shortens the radar mapping swaths to about 65% of their normal length. Mapping begins at about 5 degrees north latitude and extends to the South Pole. Magellan has now completed 2500 mapping orbits, 824 since the start of Cycle 2. So we're 46% finished with Cycle 2. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:45:49.12 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 09/05/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:45:18.22 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:41:51 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911114151.2b8016ac@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 09/05/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:147 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 09/05/91 Date: 6 SEP 91 00:13:50 Message-ID:<1991Sep6.001038.2834@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT September 5, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the all-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Today, the imaging instrument (SSI) cover jettison activity is scheduled. The pyro activated cover jettison event is expected to occur about 10:15 PDT. Tomorrow, the spacecraft is scheduled to go back to the dual-spin mode in preparation for the SITURN to Earth point later that day. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 13:48:41.76 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update #2 - 09/05/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 13:47:02.97 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 11:43:35 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911114335.2b8016ad@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update #2 - 09/05/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:148 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update #2 - 09/05/91 Date: 6 SEP 91 16:44:48 Message-ID:<1991Sep6.164137.886@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Neal Ausman, Galileo Mission Director GALILEO MISSION DIRECTOR STATUS REPORT POST-LAUNCH August 30 - September 5, 1991 SPACECRAFT 1. The spacecraft was commanded to the all-spin mode on August 30 in preparation for the imaging instrument's (SSI) cover jettison activity on September 5. 2. The EE-2 (Earth-Earth 2) prime sequence which was sent to the spacecraft on August 29 went active, as planned, on September 3. This marks the first time that spacecraft events are being controlled by a stored sequence since the safing entry in March 91. 3. A command was sent on September 3 to reset the command loss timer to 288 hours, its planned value for this mission phase. 4. While being tracked by DSS-63 (70 meter Madrid station) on September 3 and 4, two unexpected CDS (Command Data Subsystem) lock change counts were observed. The telemetry signature was identical to that seen on previous occurrences; the spacecraft operation was not affected by this event and there was no indication of a command being received by the spacecraft (see Special Topic 2). 5. The imaging instrument's (SSI) protective cover jettison activity was performed, as planned, on September 5. The spacecraft performance throughout the activity was normal and without incident. The cover jettison pyro event was verified from pyro engineering telemetry. Within two hours after the pyro event, the SSI front optics temperature dropped 2 DN providing some SSI confirmation that the cover is removed. 6. Commands were sent on September 5, after the SSI cover jettison activity, to select the low frequency subcarrier (22.5 KHZ) for telemetry. Link performance is expected to increase about 0.25 db using the present Telemetry Processing Assembly (TPA) equipment. 7. The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements exhibited some minor changes. The AC measurement fluctuated 2 DN and now reads 44.84 volts; the DC measurement increased 1 DN and now reads 16.8 volts. All other power telemetry and subsystem telemetry are normal. 8. The Spacecraft status as of end of day September 5 was as follows: a) System Power Margin - 55 watts b) Spin Configuration - All-Spin c) Spin Rate/Sensor - 2.89 rpm/star scanner d) Spacecraft Attitude Sun Point Angle - approximately 5.8 degrees (sun lagging) plus or minus 0.3 degree e) Downlink telemetry rate/antenna-40 bps (coded)/LGA-1 f) General Thermal Control - all temperatures within acceptable range g) RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range h) Orbiter Science- all powered on except PLS, PPR and NIMS i) Probe/RRH - powered off, temperatures within acceptable range j) CMD Loss Timer Setting - 288 hours Time To Initiation - 288 hours TRAJECTORY As of noon (PDT) Thursday, September 5, 1991, the Galileo Spacecraft status was as follows: Distance from Earth 186,912,970 miles Distance from Sun 192,113,130 miles (2.01 AU) Heliocentric Speed 38,720 miles per hour Distance from Gaspra 23,733,920 miles Round Trip Light Time 33 minutes, 16 seconds SPECIAL TOPICS 1. As of September 5, 1991, a total of 5778 real-time commands have been transmitted to Galileo. Of these, 1913 have been pre-planned in the sequence design and 3865 were not. In the past week, a total of 21 real time commands were transmitted; two were pre-planned and 19 were unplanned. In addition 1903 mini-sequence commands have been transmitted since March 1991. Major commanding activities this week included resetting the command loss timer, transitioning to all-spin mode, performing an SSI memory readout, selecting the low frequency subcarrier and sending the SSI cover "GO" command. 2. On September 3 and 4, while tracking over DSS-63, two unexpected CDS lock counts were observed. This was the seventh and eighth occurrences of this event which have been observed at stations DSS 14, 43, 61, and 63. In all instances, there was no evidence of any spurious commands being received, processed, or issued by the CDS. The CDS continues to receive, process, and issue all planned commands properly. About 9 months ago, a special team was formed to thoroughly investigate these anomalous lock change events. After intensive review of the flight data and all pertinent DSN (Deep Space Network) station configuration and procedural information, the cause for most of these spurious lock changes is still unknown. It is noted that the cause of one of eight events was identified and found to be caused by a procedural error at the DSS-14 (70 meter Goldstone station). Recent investigation efforts have now focused on the spacecraft command hardware interface, particularly, the Command Detector Unit (CDU) and the CDS. Preliminary computer simulations indicate the interface may be sensitive to electrical noise which could cause spurious CDS lock changes if noise characteristics are "just-right". Further investigation, including a search for other possible spacecraft-related causes, is in process. Review of the hardware development and test history indicates that no unexpected lock changes were ever observed during the pre-launch test activities. Additionally, interaction with Voyager operations personnel revealed that they have had no unexpected lock changes during flight. The Voyager and Galileo CDU-CDS command interfaces are nearly identical. In fact, the CDU hardware is identical but operates at different command bit rates (16 bps for VGR, 32 bps for Galileo). ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 15:35:53.69 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Galileo Update - 09/06/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 15:31:05.56 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 13:27:23 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911132723.2b8012dc@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update - 09/06/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:149 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update - 09/06/91 Date: 6 SEP 91 16:46:15 Message-ID:<1991Sep6.164312.998@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from William O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager GALILEO STATUS REPORT September 6, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the all-spin mode and transmitting coded telemetry at 40 bps. Yesterday, the imaging instrument (SSI) cover jettison activity was completed. All telemetry data indicates that the SSI cover is removed. Today, the spacecraft is scheduled to return to the dual-spin mode and perform a 22-degree SITURN to Earth point; this action will significantly improve the 40 bps telemetry link performance. Also, today after a planned SSI MRO (Memory Readout), the first of four planned optical navigation imaging activities will be performed in support of Gaspra encounter. The imaging data will be collected and stored on the tape recorder for subsequent play back at 40 bps via a DMSMRO (Data Management Subsystem Memory Readout). This data return approach is similar to that used for sending back early Venus images at 1200 bps. Tomorrow, another SSI MRO is scheduled to verify the health and safety of the instrument. No DSN (Deep Space Network) tracking coverage is scheduled for Sunday. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 15:37:19.54 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: Galileo Update #3 - 09/05/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 15:32:58.05 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 13:27:55 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911132755.2b8012de@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Galileo Update #3 - 09/05/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:150 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Galileo Update #3 - 09/05/91 Date: 6 SEP 91 20:03:45 Message-ID:<1991Sep6.200032.5641@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 GALILEO MISSION STATUS September 5, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is about 187 million miles from Earth, receding at roughly 1.5 million miles a day, going about 38,700 miles per hour in its elliptical orbit around the Sun. Galileo has been receding from the Earth since December 1990 and from the Sun, independently, since January 1991; in January 1992 it will begin to approach them again. Round-trip communication time this week is 33.5 minutes. The spacecraft is in a sequence-controlled cruise mode; it is in all-spin, rotating at 2.89 rpm, until tomorrow. It is transmitting engineering telemetry at 40 bits per second over its low-gain antenna. All telemetry measurements are within expected ranges, indicating good health. Today Galileo removed the transparent cover from its TV imaging system optics. Friday, September 6, it begins optical navigation activities, taking a picture of the sky to locate Gaspra in the star background and help refine knowledge of the asteroid's position. Gaspra is still almost 24 million miles away; the asteroid encounter is just 8 weeks from today. ##### ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 15:39:12.47 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Ulysess Update - 09/06/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 15:34:16.35 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 13:30:23 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911133023.2b8012e2@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Ulysess Update - 09/06/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:152 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Ulysess Update - 09/06/91 Date: 6 SEP 91 20:07:18 Message-ID:<1991Sep6.200411.5955@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from: PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 ULYSSES MISSION STATUS September 6, 1991 The Ulysses spacecraft was returned to normal maneuvering on August 26 after a week of data acquisition while the spacecraft passed behind the sun as seen from Earth. Routine Earth-pointing maneuvers have commenced and will be performed about every six days while 70-meter antenna coverage continues. The last precession maneuver was performed Tuesday, Sept. 3. The next is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 9. On Sept. 5, the spacecraft subsystems were back in routine operations configuration with the tape recorders switched on. The tape recorders had been turned off during the solar conjunction period to conserve enough power to use the spacecraft's S-band transmitter during the Solar Corona Experiment. The S-band transmitter was turned off with conclusion of the experiment. Ulysses has returned to its normal data acquisition schedule of storing data 14 hours each day while it is not passing over a deep space tracking station and playing the data back during the next 10-hour daily tracking pass. The radio science team reported good results from data they acquired and have analyzed so far on the sun's corona. Complete analysis of the data will take several more weeks. The spacecraft continues to be in excellent condition as it heads for a Feb. 8, 1992 rendezvous with Jupiter. Today Ulysses is approximately 762 million kilometers (475 million miles) from Earth, traveling at a heliocentric velocity of about 64,800 kilometers per hour (41,000 miles per hour). The spacecraft has about 1.9 million kilometers (1.1 million miles) to travel before reaching Jupiter. ##### ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 15:45:25.08 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Ulysses Update - 09/02/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 15:35:05.54 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 13:29:01 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911132901.2b8012e0@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Ulysses Update - 09/02/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 jpl.spacecraft:151 From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Subject:Ulysses Update - 09/02/91 Date: 6 SEP 91 20:05:45 Message-ID:<1991Sep6.200232.5783@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> Forwarded from Peter Beech, Ulysses Operations Manager SUBJECT: ULYSSES MISSION OPERATIONS REPORT No. 54 PERIOD: 27th August to 2nd September 1991 1. MISSION OPERATIONS Tape recorder operations were suspended on 6th August. The tape recorders will remain off until 5th September in order to conserve enough power on board the spacecraft to permit the Solar Corona Radio Science experiment to be performed during the Solar Conjunction period. The Solar Corona experiment requires that the S-band transmitter is on. The radio science team have reported good results from the data acquired so far. The qX wing heaters were switched off on 27th August to evaluate the possibility of switching them off at Jupiter encounter to save power. An average of 56% data recovery was achieved during this reporting period, all at 1024 bps. The above statistics are approximate and have been computed manually due to the large number of bad or missing frames recorded in the system. Routine phase operations recommenced with a KEP EPAC IFC on 2nd September. Routine Earth pointing manoeuvres were performed on 29th and 31st August. 2. SPACECRAFT STATUS POWER Nominal. Estimated S/C power consumption 268 watts. AOCS Nominal. TTC The spacecraft is currently configured with receiver 2 as the prime unit fed via the high gain antenna and with receiver 1 as backup fed through the low gain antenna (LGA-F). The downlink is currently via EPC1/TWTA1. The 70 meter ground stations are currently in use to support TTC operations during the Conjunction period. Received downlink level -133 dBm.(70 meter) X-band. (Variations of up to 10 db. can be expected as a result of station antenna in use, local weather conditions, and spacecraft antenna off-pointing). Received uplink level -122.7 dBm. DATA HANDLING Nominal. THERMAL Nominal. 3. FLIGHT DYNAMICS Solar Aspect The angle varied between 1.46 on Angle (deg.) 26th August to 1.85 on 2nd September. Sun-Probe-Earth The angle varied between 0.94 on Angle (deg.) 26th August to 2.12 on 2nd September. Spin Rate 4.984 rpm. 4. ORBITAL DATA Data taken at 05:00 PDT. on 2nd September. Distance from Earth 758,461,204 km. Distance from Jupiter 194,626,830 km. Velocity relative to the Sun 66,128 km/hr. Velocity relative to the Earth 144,058 km/hr. 5. PLANNED OPERATIONS Routine operations will continue with a SIM HET calibration on 4th September and STO PFR/FES daily commanding will commence on 5th September. A HED test sequence will be performed on 3rd September. The S-band transponder will be switched off on 5th September and tape recorder operations will begin again. Routine Earth pointing manoeuvres will be carried out on 3rd and 9th September. 6. GROUND SEGMENT The ground segment performed nominally during the reporting period. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 301-355 Telos | Good judgement comes from /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | experience. Experience |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | comes from bad judgement. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:10:42.88 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: Daily News in Brief 9/4-5/91 Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:10:15.31 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:06:49 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911170649.2b801841@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: Daily News in Brief 9/4-5/91 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:216 From: credmond@nasamail.nasa.gov (CHARLES E. REDMOND) Subject:Daily News in Brief 9/4-5/91 Date: Thu, 5 Sep 91 11:39 PDT Message-ID: This is DAILY NEWS IN BRIEF for 9/5/91 It is intended for internal agency use only. --------------------------------------------------- Daily News in Brief is an abstract of media stories about the Space Program and other related items. --------------------------------------------------- . . . What the Fourth Estate is saying about air & space . . . Associated Press -- 9/5/91 "Exploration Initiative Meeting in Cleveland" By Marcia Dunn "Scientists and engineers dreaming of interplanetary exploration via nuclear-powered rockets, lunar power plants and Martian robots say they have their work cut out for them -- not in space, but at home." The wire service says the message attendees at a conference on space- exploration technology were warned by NASA's associated administrator for space technology, Arnold Aldrich, that their main challenge is getting America to support their efforts to send people back to the moon and on to Mars and quotes him as saying "we've got a big selling job." The story also quotes Mark Craig, NASA's special assistant for exploration, as saying "we can always hope, of course, that the hand of God will appear from the sky and money will flow. But that's not going to happen." The story says that more than 500 people are attending the first-time ever conference on technology which might be required to establish a lunar base or send humans to Mars. The story says that more than half of the 200 papers being presented to attendees deals with nuclear propulsion, considered to be more efficient on a long-term trip such as to Mars and back than present-day chemical propulsion. However, the wire service quotes NASA's congressional liaison officer, Martin Kress, as saying "if you think roaming the halls of Capitol Hill saying the 'T' word (taxes) is hard, wait until you say the 'N' word." ------------------------ Baltimore Sun -- 9/.4/91 "NASA Trying to Fix Power Glitch in Hubble" By Doug Birch "NASA engineers are trying to outwit a new glitch in the star- crossed Hubble Space Telescope, an intermittent power failure that afflicts one of the most productive of the telescope's five scientific instruments." The Sun reports that because of the problem, one of two ultraviolet detectors housed within the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph has been turned off, indefinitely postponing about 30 percent of the research planned for the instrument. The paper says the problem appears to be intermittent power being supplied to the instrument but that it is vexing in that engineers have been unable to pinpoint what causes it and when it will occur. As a consequence, the paper reports that it's a dice toss for the scientists and quotes Doug Duncan, astronomer at the Space Telescope Institute, as saying "it's behaving exactly the way my dryer at home has been working recently. You throw your clothes in and turn it on and you never know whether you're going to have perfect results or soggy results." The story also quotes the associate director for flight projects at the Goddard Space Flight Center as saying "engineers are still examining all options. They've been known to find ways of operating things in the past that were originally not envisioned." The article says that NASA, though it can't yet figure out what causes the power outages, has concluded that lowering the instrument's power requirements seems to control the number of such outages -- and hence the decision to turn half the instrument off. ------------------------ Los Angeles Times -- 9/2/91 "Scientists Say Smaller Satellites Mean Bigger Payback" By Lee Dye "It may be that the best way to maintain a big space program is to think small. At least that is the opinion of scientists and engineers who believe that the future of spacecraft is in smaller satellites." The paper says these scientists say NASA is making a colossal mistake insisting that each generation of spacecraft be bigger and more complex than those that preceded it but admits that because getting congressional support for project funding has been difficult, the tendency has been for NASA to put more and more eggs into the single paid-for basket that Congress approved. The paper also notes that multiple smaller satellites and their management are more costly than singular large satellites but that might change if more smaller satellite systems and their concomitant data systems were produced and used. ------------------------ Los Angeles Times -- 9/2/91 "Odd-Shaped Pulsar Discovered" "Astronomers at Caltech and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory have discovered a pulsar caught in the act of escaping from the debris created during its violent formation only 15,000 years ago." The paper reports that the new observations, reported this week in the British science magazine Nature, show that the new pulsar is the youngest and potentially the fastest moving neutron star yet discovered in our galaxy. The story quotes one of the astronomers, Shrinivas R. Kulkarni, Calif. Institute of Tech., as saying "if the pulsar remnant were created in the same supernova event, then the current speed of the pulsar would have to be 5.4 million miles per hour -- the highest value known for any pulsar. If our assertion is correct, then one must seriously consider the notion that supernovae collapses can be quite asymmetrical." -------------------------------------------------------- This concludes Daily News in Brief. Comments and suggestions are appreciated as is news from your area which you think should be included here, please fax a copy of the story to 202/755-3605 (FTS 755-3605) or contact Beth Schmid, Les Reinertson or Charles Redmond at 202/453-8425 (FTS 453-8425) or NASAmail: ESCHMID, LREINERTSON, EDITOR or CREDMOND. From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:11:41.74 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQ RELEASE 91-142/EDUCATION TELECAST - SEI Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:11:17.84 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:07:58 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911170758.2b801642@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ RELEASE 91-142/EDUCATION TELECAST - SEI To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:217 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ RELEASE 91-142/EDUCATION TELECAST - SEI Date: Fri, 6 Sep 91 06:16 PDT Message-ID: September 6, 1991 Terri Sindelar Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/453-8400) RELEASE: 91-142 EDUCATION TELECAST TO FEATURE SPACE EXPLORATION INITIATIVE NASAUs Educational Affairs Division will broadcast via satellite the first in a series of four live, educational video conferences on Oct. 16, launching the 1991-92 series. The first conference will discuss the Space Exploration Initiative, a long-term goal whereby early in the 21st century America will establish a permanent human presence on the Moon and send human and robotic exploration missions to Mars. Featured guests will be Mark Craig, Special Assistant for Exploration, and Richard Reeves, Assistant Director for Space Exploration Management Operations, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Conducting the educational demonstrations will be Lisa McLeod, an aerospace education specialist from NASAUs Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. This year more than 3,000 schools and other institutions in 50 states are expected to participate in the highly successful series, now in its sixth year. These 1-1/2 hour, interactive video conferences are designed to update teachers on NASA programs, demonstrate aerospace activities for the classroom and announce new programs, products and activities available to classroom teachers. The nationUs participating school districts will receive the program from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. The 1991-92 video conference schedule is: Space Exploration Initiative Oct. 16, 1991 Life Sciences Research Dec. 11, 1991 Aeronautics Feb. 19, 1992 Space Flight/Space Station April 15, 1992 - more - - 2 - There is no charge for participation in the video conference but schools should register in advance. Educational institutions may receive the signal through school satellite antennas or participating cable television systems. The satellite video conference series is produced by NASAUs Aerospace Education Services Program from the Oklahoma State University Telecommunications Center, Stillwater. To register for the series, teachers should write to NASA Aerospace Education Services Program, Videoconference Series, 300 North Cordell, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-0422, or call 405/744-7015. Registration ensures that announcements, publications and other materials for teacher- participants are received by the schools. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:15:47.49 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com CC: Subj: HQ91-143/TITAN Greenhouse Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:15:22.25 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:11:57 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911171157.2b801846@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ91-143/TITAN Greenhouse To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu, c.meisl@applelink.apple.com X-Vmsmail-To: DADI,CCM X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:220 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ91-143/TITAN Greenhouse Date: Fri, 6 Sep 91 12:31 PDT Message-ID: for immediated release Paula Cleggett-Haleim Headquarters, Washington, D.C. September 6, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-1547) Diane Stanley Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif. (Phone: 415/604-9000) RELEASE: 91-143 SCIENTISTS DISCOVER ANTI-GREENHOUSE EFFECT ON TITAN An anti-greenhouse effect on a solar system body has been described for the first time by scientists from NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif., and the Paris Observatory. Drs. Christopher McKay and James Pollack of Ames, with France's Dr. Regis Courtin, also describe the temperature structure and energy balance on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Using data from the Voyager 1 spacecraft and computational models, the scientists determined the source, or controls, of the temperature profile. Their results are in the current issue of Science magazine. They say the temperature model of the organically-rich, thick atmosphere on Titan may help in basic studies of the greenhouse effect on Earth. Their study provides the first description of a greenhouse and anti- greenhouse effect existing simultaneously, in tension with each other. Greenhouse effects on Venus and Earth have been discussed extensively. The study results define an anti-greenhouse effect that reduces Titan's surface temperature by 16 degrees Fahrenheit. The effect is produced by a thick, organic haze in Titan's upper atmosphere that absorbs solar light, but transmits reflected infrared radiation. Titan's greenhouse effect, they report, increases the surface temperature by 38 degrees Fahrenheit. The effect is caused by atmospheric gases reflecting infrared energy back to Titan's surface. The surface temperature of Titan, minus 290 degrees Fahrenheit, therefore is 22 degrees warmer than it would be without atmospheric effects. - more - - 2 - Between the size of Earth's moon and Mars, Titan is the only satellite in the solar system with a thick atmosphere. It's atmospheric pressure is similar to Earth's - only one and one half times greater - and it has the same primary atmospheric ingredient - nitrogen. Also, the major greenhouse gas on each body (water on Earth and methane on Titan) condenses on its surface. Titan's greenhouse effect depends on a link between hydrogen and methane, like the Earth's greenhouse effect depends on carbon dioxide and water vapor, says McKay. As humans increase carbon dioxide on Earth and it gets warmer, more water goes into the atmosphere. Water vapor on Earth is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, McKay said. Similarly, on Titan, hydrogen acts like carbon dioxide, he said. It does not condense. If you increase it, it will pull the methane out of suspected methane- rich oceans or lakes. On Titan, the condensed surface liquid, methane (like water on Earth) then becomes the most potent greenhouse gas. McKay, Pollack and Courtin were modelling the greenhouse effect on Titan when they realized that they needed a counterpoint. They then isolated the temperature dynamic of the upper atmospheric haze. Earth has no comparable mechanism. However, stratospheric ozone acts, in a small way, as a highly selective anti-greenhouse shield. It absorbs only a specific region of solar light, ultraviolet, and lets infrared radiation pass through on its way out. Debris from volcanic explosions or extraterrestrial impacts also temporarily scatters solar light and acts as an anti-greenhouse agent. But the gases (mostly sulfur dioxide) eventually produced by these events are greenhouse agents, letting in solar light and reflecting infrared radiation back to space. As carbon dioxide and water vapor increase in the Earth's atmosphere, more clouds will form. Scientists want to know how they will warm or cool the planet. Just as Titan's greenhouse/anti-greenhouse effect is a good comparison model for Earth, studying the formation of clouds on Titan and their effect on the greenhouse balance may help answer these questions, McKay suggested. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:18:28.02 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: L-2 DAY WEATHER FORECAST FOR LAUNCH Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:18:03.52 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:14:43 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911171443.2b801847@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: L-2 DAY WEATHER FORECAST FOR LAUNCH To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:224 From: pao.ksc@nasamail.nasa.gov (DICK YOUNG) Subject:L-2 DAY WEATHER FORECAST FOR LAUNCH Date: Tue, 10 Sep 91 06:41 PDT Message-ID: TO: PIOS/PRESS FROM: George Diller/NASA-KSC 407-867-2468/FTS 823-2468 L-2 Day Weather Forecast for STS-48 Conditions expected on Thursday, 9/12/91 Synopsis: High pressure centered over Louisiana is expected to dominate weather in Florida on Thursday. A weak cold front will be located over southern Georgia, and a surface high pressure system will be located in the Bahamas. At 6:57 p.m. on Thursday evening conditions are forecast to be: Clouds: 3,500-7,000 scattered cumulus (25% sky coverage) 1,000-12,000 scattered altocumulus (15% sky coverage) 25,000-28,000 scattered cirrus (50% sky coverage) Visibility: 7+ miles Wind - Pad 39A: East at 10 knots Temperature: 82 degrees Dewpoint: 75 degrees Humidity: 80% Precipitation: slight chance of showers Probability of launch weather criteria violation at the beginning of the launch period: 30% Probability of launch weather criteria violation over the duration of the launch period: 20% Probability of tanking constraint violation: 5% Chance of violation at launch time on Friday: 20% overall window: 10% Chance of violation at launch time on Saturday: 20% overall window: 10% Developed by Cape Canaveral Forecast Facility USAF Air Weather Service 9/10/91 # # # Q"4- 1 0407']K>>7'3 2 From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:24:04.27 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQ 91-144/Spacelab Payload Specialist Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:23:40.80 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:20:21 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911172021.2b80164a@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ 91-144/Spacelab Payload Specialist To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:228 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ 91-144/Spacelab Payload Specialist Date: Tue, 10 Sep 91 09:43 PDT Message-ID: for immediate release Brian Dunbar Headquarters, Washington, D.C. September 10, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-1547) RELEASE: 91-144 NASA APPOINTS SPACELAB PAYLOAD SPECIALIST Dr. Lennard A. Fisk, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Science and Applications, has appointed Dr. Dirk D. Frimout as payload specialist for the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS-1) Spacelab mission scheduled for flight in early 1992. Dr. Frimout, previously an alternate payload specialist for ATLAS-1, is the Spacelab Utilization Manager in the Microgravity and Columbus Utilization Department of the Space Station and Microgravity Directorate of the European Space Agency. He received his Ph.D. in applied physics from the University of Ghent in his native Belgium in 1970. Frimout, 50, also is a co-investigator for the Grille Spectrometer, part of the ATLAS-1 payload. While training for the mission, he will be assigned to the Institute Aeronomie Spatiale de Belgique, Belgium. Dr. Frimout will replace Michael K. Lampton, who became disqualified for medical reasons. Lampton will continue to serve on the Spacelab Mission Operations Control Team as an alternate payload specialist. The ATLAS-1 mission is the first in a series of Spacelab missions that are part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth. ATLAS investigators will study the interaction of the Earth's atmosphere with the sun over an 11-year solar cycle. ATLAS-1 will carry 14 investigations in atmospheric science, solar physics, space plasma physics and astronomy. Experiments for the mission are provided by the United States, Belgium, France, Germany and Japan. The ATLAS mission series is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:25:52.40 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQRELEASE 91-146/BUSH ON SELECT Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:25:26.12 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:22:04 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911172204.2b80144c@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQRELEASE 91-146/BUSH ON SELECT To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:231 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQRELEASE 91-146/BUSH ON SELECT Date: Wed, 11 Sep 91 10:16 PDT Message-ID: Sue Mathis Richard Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/453-8364) September 11, 1991 RELEASE: 91-146 PRESIDENT BUSH TO ADDRESS STUDENTS ON NASA SELECT TV President Bush will join NASA Administrator Richard Truly for a back-to-school special on NASA Select TV on Sept. 17 at 2 p.m. EDT. RLaunching the School Year with President BushS is aimed at the elementary grades. The 1-hour program will originate from Washington, D.C., and La Porte, Texas. President Bush will speak to students and teachers about America 2000 and the national education goals, and third and fourth grade students gathered in both locations will have the opportunity to ask the President questions. They also will participate in a unique math and science RlessonS led by Astronauts Charlie Bolden in Washington and Tammy Jernigan in La Porte, Texas, as well as aerospace education specialist Lisa McLeod. McLeod, one of 35 teachers nicknamed RSpacemobilersS, will bring one of NASAUs oldest and most popular education programs to nationwide television for the first time. Astronauts Bolden and Jernigan will narrate footage from their Shuttle missions, bringing to life the aerospace lecture on living and working in space. Making up the audience at NASA Headquarters in Washington will be 17 national winners of the NASA/National Science Teachers AssociationUs Space Science Student Involvement Program (SSIP). As SSIP winners, they have created projects ranging from proposals for experiments on Space Station Freedom to designs for an outpost on the moon. NASA Select, the television service of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, now offers educational and informational programming in addition to complete mission coverage and press events. The 2 p.m. EDT time slot is dedicated to programming suitable for classroom use, specifically aimed at inspiring young people to achieve in math and science. - more - - 2 - NASA Select is transmitted on SatCom F2R, transponder 13, C Band, 72 degrees West longitude, frequency 3954.5 MHz, vertical polarization, audio on 6.8 MHz. RLaunching the School Year with President BushS also will be broadcast live on local PBS stations throughout the country. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:26:22.07 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: HQ 91-145/AXAF CORRECTION Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:25:56.96 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:22:29 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911172229.2b80164d@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: HQ 91-145/AXAF CORRECTION To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:232 From: hqnewsroom@nasamail.nasa.gov (HQ NEWSROOM) Subject:HQ 91-145/AXAF CORRECTION Date: Wed, 11 Sep 91 09:15 PDT Message-ID: Paula Cleggett-Haleim NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. September 11, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-1547) Allen Kenitzer Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. (Phone: 205/544-0034) RELEASE: 91-145 AXAF MIRRORS SUCCESSFULLY TESTED AT X-RAY CALIBRATION FACILITY The two largest mirrors for NASA's Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) have been successfully tested in the new X-ray Calibration Facility at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Huntsville, Ala. "We're excited about the results," said Dr. Lennard Fisk, Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Science and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. "We've met our goals, the mirrors were completed by June and tests were successfully completed in September. The entire government and contractor team should be congratulated on meeting this challenge." The mirrors, at nearly 48 inches in diameter, are the largest ever made to collect X-rays in space. The angular resolution of the mirrors is approximately 0.23 arcsecond after correcting for effects of the test configuration, particularly gravity, which do not apply to the space environment. Even uncorrected, the results were consistent with the specification of 0.5 arcsecond resolution. This angular resolution is at least 10 times better than any other X-ray telescope previously flown. The mirror set is the outermost of six concentric mirror pairs being manufactured for AXAF (12 mirrors total) that will become part of the High Resolution Mirror Assembly of AXAF. Later, the entire assembly will return to MSFC for final calibration testing together with the scientific instruments planned for AXAF. - more - - 2 - The mirrors were manufactured at Hughes Danbury Optical Systems, Danbury, Conn., and assembled in the test mount at Eastman Kodak, Rochester, N.Y., both under contract to TRW, Redondo Beach, Calif., the AXAF prime contractor. The optics were delivered to MSFC's X-ray Calibration Facility, which was specifically designed to completely test the AXAF optics and is the largest such facility in the world. At MSFC, tests were performed by scientists and engineers from MSFC, TRW, Eastman Kodak, and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambrige, Mass. AXAF will be the third of NASA's four proposed orbiting "Great Observatories" and is scheduled to be launched in 1998. It will be used to study stellar structure and evolution, large scale galactic phenomenon, active galaxies, clusters of galaxies, quasars and cosmology. - end - From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) 11-SEP-1991 19:27:39.84 To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu CC: Subj: SHUTTLE STATUS Return-Path: Received: from MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV by UTD750.UTDALLAS.EDU ; 11-SEP-1991 19:27:17.21 Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1991 17:23:57 PDT From: RGD059@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV (Bob Deen) Message-Id: <910911172357.2b801852@MIPL5.JPL.NASA.GOV> Subject: SHUTTLE STATUS To: deen@utd750.utdallas.edu X-Vmsmail-To: DADI X-VMS-News: mipl5 nasa.nasamail.p:233 From: pao.ksc@nasamail.nasa.gov (DICK YOUNG) Subject:SHUTTLE STATUS Date: Wed, 11 Sep 91 10:57 PDT Message-ID: SEPTEMBER 11, 1991 LAUNCH MINUS ONE DAY SHUTTLE STATUS - DISCOVERY STS-48/UARS Operations at Kennedy Space Center continue on schedule to prepare the Space Shuttle Discovery for launch tomorrow on mission STS-48. Launch remains set for Thursday, September 12, at 6:57 p.m. The launch window extends until 9:54 p.m. The countdown clock will continue counting until 3:00 p.m. today at which time it will hold at the T-11 hour mark for 13 hours, 37 minutes. Following this planned built-in hold, the clock will pick up the count again at 4:37 a.m. Thursday. Work at pad 39-A today includes final Power Reactant and Storage Distribution (PRSD) operations. These PRSD tanks were last night filled with the cyrogenic propellants liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. These propellants in combination are used to create electricity necessary for on orbit operations, the by- product of which is the drinking water the crew will need in flight. Workers today are completing the off load procedure which will leave about 55 percent of the liquid oxygen in cryogenic tanks 1 and 2. The full complement of reactants is not needed for this flight and the savings in weight is about 500 to 700 pounds. Liquid oxygen weighs about 10 pounds per gallon. Following this procedure, the orbiter mid-body umbilical unit (OMBUU) will be retracted. The schedule calls for the Rotating Service Structure (RSS) to be retracted at about 5:00 p.m. today. This operation may be delayed due to OMBUU retraction delays and possible weather threats this afternoon. Tomorrow, operations to fill the external tank with cryogenic fuels will begin at 10:37 a.m. This is about a three hour procedure. The crew of mission STS-48 consists of Commander John Creighton; Pilot Kenneth Reightler; and Mission Specialist Mark Brown, James Buchli, and Charles (Sam) Gemar. Today, the crew will be awakened at 2:00 p.m. Following breakfast, they will partake in orbiter, payload and weather briefings. At 6:00 p.m., the commander and two mission specialists will depart for the shuttle landing facility and fly in their T-38 training aircraft. The crew is scheduled for bed at 6:00 a.m. Thursday. On Thursday, the crew will again be awakened at about 2:02 p.m. to have breakfast (2:32 p.m.), begin suiting (3:02 p.m.), and depart for the pad (5:42 p.m.). Weather at the time of T-0 is predicted to be favorable with a 70 percent chance of not violating launch constraints. The primary concern is the slight possibility of thunderstorm debris clouds within 30 miles of the shuttle landing facility. # # # #