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19-Nov-92 Daily File Collection
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921119.REL

11/19/92:  HUBBLE DISCOVERS A DISK FUELING A LIKELY BLACK HOLE

HQ 92-208/HST BLACK HOLE

Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.             November 19, 1992

Jim Elliott
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Ray Villard
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.



RELEASE:  92-208


     Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) have gotten their
best look yet at the disk of material that surrounds and is being pulled into a
suspected black hole.

     The disk is at the core of a galaxy in the Virgo Cluster 45 million
light-years from Earth. Dr. Walter Jaffe of Leiden Observatory in The
Netherlands said the disk is tipped about 60 degrees -- enough to provide
astronomers with a clear view of the galaxy's bright hub.

     "The nucleus is probably the home of a black hole with a mass 10 million
times that of our sun," Jaffe said. "This is our best view to date of the
immediate surrounding of the nucleus of an active galaxy," the name given
galaxies that emit especially strong radiation indicating that they harbor
powerful energy sources.

     "This is the first case where we can follow the disk's gas in an orderly
way down to the immediate environment of the black hole," said co-investigator
Dr. Holland Ford of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

     The observations, made with the Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC) in the
planetary camera mode, make a strong contribution to mounting evidence for the
existence of black holes in the universe, the two astronomers said.

     A black hole is a theoretical object that is believed to form after a
massive star collapses.  The star's matter is so densely compacted that it has
a powerful gravitational pull that traps all matter that comes near it.

     Black holes to date are theoretical because their gravitational pull is so
great that not even light can escape.  Therefore, they cannot be seen.
Astronomers infer a black hole's existence by its gravitational influence on
the motion of stars and other material near it.

     The galaxy, designated NGC 4261, was selected for study because it is one
of the brightest in the Virgo Cluster.

     "The galaxy is unremarkable in visible light," said Jaffe. "However,
observations with radio telescopes show a pair of opposed jets emanating from
the nucleus and spanning a distance of 88,000 light-years." Spectroscopic data
from the Observatory del Roque de los Muchachos in the Canary Islands show
ionized gas in the nucleus moving at speeds approaching several million miles
an hour, or one percent of the speed of light.

     "Most astronomers believe both phenomena, which have been seen earlier in
radio galaxies and quasars (active nuclei of remote galaxies), to be caused by
material being swallowed by massive black holes hiding in the nuclei of large
galaxies," said Ford.

     The dark, dusty disk which is 300 light-years across, represents the cold
outer region which extends inwards to within a few hundred million miles of the
suspected black hole.  This disk feeds matter into the black hole, where
gravity compresses and heats the material to tens of millions of degrees.  Some
hot gas squirts out from the black hole's vicinity like twin streams of water
from a lawn sprinkler.

     "The spin axis of the disk orients the radio jets," said Ford. "The
cooler, outer regions of the washer-shaped disk confine the ionizing radiation
from the hot interior into a pair of cones whose axes are parallel to the radio
jets."

     Because dust and cool gas (neutral hydrogen) are not normally found in
elliptical galaxies, the presence of a disk at all provides a mystery.  Much of
the dust should have been destroyed quickly by the hot gas in the galaxy.  One
possible explanation is that the dust is a remnant of a spiral galaxy that was
swallowed by NGC 4261 in the recent past.

     After the scheduled Space Shuttle servicing mission for Hubble in late
1993, the researchers hope to use spectroscopy to study the motion of the gas
within a few dozen light-years of the black hole.  This might allow them to
prove the existence of the black hole by accurately measuring its mass.

     The researchers also hope to use spectroscopy to infer the thickness and
shape of the inner parts of the disk that are too small to be seen even with
the HST.


     The results are to be published in the Astrophysical Journal.
Co-investigators with Ford and Jaffe are Robert O'Connell (University of
Virginia, Charlottesville), Laura Ferrares (Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore) and Frank van den Bosch (Leiden Observatory, The Netherlands).

     The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation
between NASA and the European Space Agency.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921119.SKD

DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 11/19/92

Daily News
Thursday, November 19, 1992  24-hour audio service at 202/755-1788

 % Work on Discovery for STS-53 goes on; Flight Readiness Review underway;
 % Hubble briefing this afternoon to feature 1st photo of Black Hole accretion
   disk;
 % Advanced Communications Satellite Workshop closes later today;
 % NASA selects Lockheed for $1.9 billion Kennedy Space Center support
   contract.;

Technicians at Kennedy Space Center are troubleshooting an auxiliary power unit
fuel pump on Discovery as they move towards closing out the orbiter and its
solid rocket booster-external tank components in preparation for December's
STS-53 launch for the Department of Defense. The Office of Space Flight formal
Flight Readiness Review for the mission is underway at KSC today.  The fuel
pump inlet pressure was found to be higher than acceptable in a recent hot-fire
test of Discovery's three hydraulic auxiliary power units.  Management has a
"fly-as-is" option which is under assessment.  Should the auxiliary power unit
require replacement, there is contingency time in the processing schedule on
Saturday during which the changeout could occur.

In other STS-53 activity, the DOD payload is being installed in Discovery's
payload bay today and the payload and orbiter team will perform the
orbiter-payload interface verification test between the two tomorrow.  The
mission is presently scheduled for launch the first week of December. STS-53 is
a 7-day mission and will be the last scheduled major military flight on a
shuttle.  At the conclusion of today's readiness review, Space Flight
management will issue an official launch date for the mission.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Today at 1:00 pm EST in the NASA Headquarters auditorium, Dr. Walter Jaffee,
Leiden Observatory in The Netherlands, and other astronomers, will present the
first image taken of a giant dust disk surrounding a suspected black hole.  The
image, acquired by the Hubble Space Telescope, clearly shows the saucer-like
disk around the galaxy NGC 4261 and is the first visual view of the phenomenon
of galactic accretion long linked with black holes but previously never seen.
This galaxy was selected for observation because it is one of the dozen
brightest galaxies in the nearby Virgo Cluster - a mere 45 million light-years
from Earth. In addition to Dr. Jaffee, NASA astronomer Steve Maran, University
of Washington astronomy professor Bruce Margon and Pennsylvania State
University astronomy professor Daniel Weedman will discuss the significance of
this new Hubble finding.  The briefing will be shown live on NASA Select
television.  Also featured will be a video animation of the disk fueling the
black hole.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The NASA co-sponsored conference on the Advanced Communications Technology
Satellite will conclude this afternoon at the Sheraton Washington Hotel. Other
conference co-hosts are Comsat Laboratories, the Harris Corporation, and MITRE
Corp. The satellite is scheduled for launch aboard a shuttle flight in
mid-1993.  The conference is featuring representatives from Rockwell
International, Motorola, the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration, the U.S. Army Space Command, and Georgetown University.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

NASA yesterday selected Lockheed Space Operations Company, Titusville, Florida,
for final negotiations for the Base Operations Contract at the Kennedy Space
Center. The approximate value of the cost-plus- incentive/award fee contract is
$1.9 billion for an initial period of four years.  The contract covers three
additional two-year options for a total contract potential of 10 years.  In
addition to supporting NASA activities at Kennedy, the contract calls for
Lockheed to support other NASA contractors and tenants at the space center and
also at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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. Live indicates a program is transmitted live.

Thursday, November 19, 1992
Live   12:00 pm  NASA Today news program, today
                 featuring a report on yet another harvest from the
                 Kennedy Space Center's closed-loop life support system -
                 the Controlled Ecological Life Support System; a possible
                 new advance in paints which may help consumers but which
                 was developed for use on the launch pads in Florida; a
                 look at the Hubble Space Telescopes most recent
                 discovery, that of the accretion disk surrounding a black
                 hole; a visit to Arecibo in Puerto Rico to explore its
                 role in the NASA High Resolution Microwave Survey, which
                 got underway this past October 12; and as usual a look
                 back at this date in NASA history.
       12:15 pm  Aeronautics & Space Report.
       12:30 pm  Flying Machines.
Live    1:00 pm  Space Astronomy Update program on recent
                 discoveries by the Hubble Space Telescope of an accretion
                 disk surrounding a nearby galaxy.
        2:00 pm  Starfinder program #12.
        2:30 pm  Life in the Universe.
        3:00 pm  Total Quality Management program #70 from
                 the University of New Mexico series.
        4:00 pm  8:00 pm and 12:00 midnight - NASA Today
                 and subsequent programming repeats.

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.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921119A.REL

11/19/92:  DATE SET FOR LAUNCH OF DoD PAYLOAD ABOARD DISCOVERY

HQ N92-100/STS-53 LAUNCH DATE


Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.              November 19, 1992

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.



EDITORS NOTE:  N92-99


        Managers today officially targeted Dec. 2 for launch of the Space
Shuttle Discovery on its 15th mission.  The decision was made at the conclusion
of today's STS-53 Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
The launch window opens at 6:59 a.m.  EST.

        The primary payload for this ninth dedicated Department of Defense
(DoD) mission is designated DoD-1 and is classified.  Although there will be no
public discussion of the identity or purpose of DoD-1 operations before, during
or after the mission, a number of secondary experiments in the cargo bay and in
Discovery's cabin will be conducted openly throughout the planned 7-day, 5-hour
flight.

        Commanding this 53rd Space Shuttle mission aboard the newly-
refurbished Discovery will be 48-year-old Navy Captain David Walker, making his
third Shuttle flight.  Sitting in the right seat will be Pilot Robert Cabana,
43, a Marine Colonel making his second flight.

        Three mission specialists will round out the five-man STS-53 crew: Air
Force Colonel Guion Bluford, 50, making his fourth flight; and two Army Lt.
Colonels -- James Voss, 43, making his second flight, and Michael Richard
Clifford, 40, flying into space for the first time.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921119B.REL

11/19/92:  SCOUT  LAUNCH  SCHEDULED  FOR  SATURDAY,  NOVEMBER 21

MSTI LAUNCH ADVISORY

Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.           November 19, 1992

Mitch Varnes
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

Robert MacMillin
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Maj. Mike Doble
Department of Defense, Pentagon


        NASA has scheduled the launch of a Scout rocket from Space Complex 5 at
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., for Sat., Nov. 21, carrying a Department of
Defense payload called Miniature Seeker Technology Integration (MSTI).

        This is the seventh launch attempt for the Scout/MSTI vehicle.
Previous launch attempts have been hampered by range control, power supply,
guidance system and ground support equipment problems.

        Saturday's launch window opens at 8:45 a.m.  EST and extends until 9:45
a.m.  The launch will be carried live on NASA Select TV.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_12_7.TXT

Mir element set 709 (19-Nov-92)

Mir
1 16609U 86 17  A 92324.08006231  .00017384  00000-0  25149-3 0  7090
2 16609  51.6227 193.6883 0002586  89.5656 270.5816 15.56002432386379

Satellite: Mir
Catalog number: 16609
Epoch time:      92324.08006231
Element set:     709
Inclination:       51.6227 deg
RA of node:       193.6883 deg          Semi-major axis:  3659.4679 n.mi.
Eccentricity:    0.0002586              Apogee altitude:   216.4801 n.mi.
Arg of perigee:    89.5656 deg          Perigee altitude:  214.5875 n.mi.
Mean anomaly:     270.5816 deg          Altitude decay:      0.0273 n.mi./day
Mean motion:   15.56002432 rev/day      Apsidal rotation:    3.7299 deg/day
Decay rate:     1.7384E-04 rev/day~2    Nodal regression:   -4.9949 deg/day
Epoch rev:           38637              Nodal period:       92.4833 min

G.L.CARMAN
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_41_4.TXT

11/19/92:  DATE SET FOR LAUNCH OF DoD PAYLOAD ABOARD DISCOVERY

HQ N92-100/STS-53 LAUNCH DATE


Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.              November 19, 1992

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.



EDITORS NOTE:  N92-99


        Managers today officially targeted Dec. 2 for launch of the Space
Shuttle Discovery on its 15th mission.  The decision was made at the conclusion
of today's STS-53 Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
The launch window opens at 6:59 a.m.  EST.

        The primary payload for this ninth dedicated Department of Defense
(DoD) mission is designated DoD-1 and is classified.  Although there will be no
public discussion of the identity or purpose of DoD-1 operations before, during
or after the mission, a number of secondary experiments in the cargo bay and in
Discovery's cabin will be conducted openly throughout the planned 7-day, 5-hour
flight.

        Commanding this 53rd Space Shuttle mission aboard the newly-
refurbished Discovery will be 48-year-old Navy Captain David Walker, making his
third Shuttle flight.  Sitting in the right seat will be Pilot Robert Cabana,
43, a Marine Colonel making his second flight.

        Three mission specialists will round out the five-man STS-53 crew: Air
Force Colonel Guion Bluford, 50, making his fourth flight; and two Army Lt.
Colonels -- James Voss, 43, making his second flight, and Michael Richard
Clifford, 40, flying into space for the first time.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=