Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/DAILY_1/921210.DFC

Text File | 1992-12-13 | 32KB | 760 lines

11-Dec-92 Daily File Collection
   These files were added or updated between 10-Dec-92 at 21:00:00 {Central}
                                         and 11-Dec-92 at 21:00:11.

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921211.REL

12/11/92:  CASSINI SATURN MISSION, SPACECRAFT FINALIZED

Donald L. Savage
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.             December 11, 1992


Franklin O'Donnell
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.



RELEASE:  92-222

     NASA's Cassini mission to Saturn has passed a major milestone with the
completion this week of a project-wide critical design review.

     The review, which included a comprehensive examination of the mission and
spacecraft, closed today at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

     "We are very pleased with the outcome of the review and the status of all
elements of the project," said Richard J. Spehalski, Cassini Project Manager at
JPL. "The design process is moving forward very briskly."

     In addition to JPL Cassini team members, the review included presentations
by Dr. Hamid Hassan, European Space Agency Project Manager for Cassini's
Huygens Titan probe and Dr. Romeo Pernice of the Italian Space Agency which is
contributing Cassini's high-gain antenna and science instrumentation.

     In other recent activities related to Cassini, NASA issued letters to
scientific investigators formally confirming the mission's experiment payload.

     The 12 experiments onboard the Cassini orbiter were tentatively selected
in 1990, subject to evaluation during an "accommodation period" until the
confirmation was issued.  Another six experiments are on ESA's Huygens probe.

     Planned for launch on a Titan IV-Centaur in October 1997, Cassini will fly
by Venus twice as well as by Earth and Jupiter before arriving at Saturn in
November 2004 to begin a 4-year orbital tour of the ringed planet and its 18
moons.  The Huygens probe will descend to the surface of one of the moons,
Titan, in June 2005.

     JPL manages the Cassini mission for NASA's Office of Space Science and
Applications, Washington, D.C.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921211.SHU

KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 12-11/92


                KSC SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Friday, December 11, 1992

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center




Vehicle: Endeavour/OV-105
Location: Launch Pad 39-B
Mission: STS-54/TDRS-F
Mission Duration: 6 days     Crew Size: 5
Target Launch Date: Second Week in January, 1993
Estimated Launch Time: 8:52 am EST


IN WORK TODAY:

*  Work to secure heaters for Orbital Maneuvering System and
   Reaction Control System for weekend powerdown.
*  Preparations for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
*  Auxiliary Power Unit leak checks

WORK SCHEDULED:

*  Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test next week
    - Crew arrival 11:30 am Monday;
    - PAO session with crew at pad 3:30 pm Tuesday;
    - T-0 11:00 am Wednesday.
*  Open payload bay doors
*  Launch Readiness Review (Thursday, Dec. 17)
*  Flight Readiness Review (Dec. 22)
*  TDRS/IUS end-to-end test (Monday, Dec. 14)
*  IUS flight readiness checks (Wednesday, Dec. 16)

WORK COMPLETED:

*  Pre-launch hypergolic propellant loads
*  Pad open for normal work 10:00 p.m. Thursday
*  TDRS/Orbiter integration verification test


 NOTE ON DISCOVERY: MISSION STS-53/DOD -- DRYDEN FLIGHT RESEARCH
                       CENTER, CALIFORNIA

     Discovery remains in the Mate-Demate Device at the Dryden Flight Research
Center following its landing at 3:43 pm EST Wednesday, Dec. 9.  The vehicle has
been jacked and leveled and operations are continuing to prepare it for ferry
flight beginning Dec. 15.  Discovery is slated for a two-day cross-country
flight atop the modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. If weather allows,
arrival at KSC is targeted for mid-afternoon Dec. 16.




Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102
Location: Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2
Mission: STS-55/SL-D2
Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours     Crew Size: 7
Target Launch Date: Last Week in February, 1993
Estimated Launch Time: 10:30 am EST


     Work continues to go well with the Shuttle Columbia in OPF bay 2.
Upcoming operations include: Orbital Maneuvering System functional tests; freon
coolant loop servicing and tests; hydraulic system operations; landing gear
functional tests; and aerosurface functional checks.  Columbia is targeted for
roll to the Vehicle Assembly Building in early February.

     Work on the Solid Rocket Boosters continues in Vehicle Assembly Building
with the right forward segment being mated today.  Next week work will commence
to demate the left forward center segment.  The segment failed two low-pressure
leak checks last week.  The leaks are believed to be due to faulty ground
support equipment.  However, managers have decided to destack the left forward
center segment to confirm this theory.  This unplanned operation is expected to
have no impact on the launch of STS-55, however, it will slip the external tank
mate into early next year.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921211.SKD

DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 12/11/92

Daily  News
Friday, December 11, 1992
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. 20546
Audio service: 202/358-3014

 % KSC ground team finds few tile dings on Discovery;
 % Endeavour preparations coming to a close, TCDT set for next week;
 % 5th Town Meeting gets underway at 1:00 pm today in Tampa;
 % Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite continues doing fine-save one device;
 % Russian and U.S. satellite-mounted Ozone Mappers also performing solidly.

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

The Kennedy Space Center ground processing team has examined Discovery,
following Wednesday's landing, and found 126 dings to tiles with only 9 being
larger than a couple of centimeters (one inch or less).  Present plans call for
Discovery to make the 747-ferry flight back to Florida starting next Tuesday,
Dec. 15.

Meanwhile, back on Florida's Spacecoast, KSC technicians working to prepare
Endeavour for its January 1993, STS-54 mission to deploy the Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite, are in the process of closing out various vehicle systems or
loading various propellants and reactants.  The launch dress-rehearsal-Terminal
Countdown Demonstration Test- will be conducted next Tuesday and Wednesday,
Dec. 15 and 16.  Endeavour's STS-54 TDRS-deploy mission is set for launch in
mid-January.

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

NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin will begin today the fifth in NASA's series of
Town Meetings, this one in the Theater of the University of South Florida at
Tampa. Accompanying the Administrator will be other high-ranking NASA officials
who will also participate in the colloquium.  NASA Select television coverage
of this event will begin at 1:00 pm EST. The Town Meetings include
presentations by these top NASA officials and invited individuals from
universities and industry, in this case from Florida. Members of the audience
have several opportunities during the 4-hour long meeting to raise questions or
comment on the presentations.  The next Town Meeting will be held in Seattle on
Dec. 16.

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

Satellite controllers at the Goddard Space Flight Center report the Upper
Atmosphere Research Satellite is performing nominally and all instruments
except one are performing their scheduled scientific investigations.  The
chopper motor on the Improved Stratospheric and Mesopheric Sounder previously
had failed, preventing that instrument from functioning.  Goddard and UARS
technicians continue troubleshooting on the instrument and were encouraged
recently by changes in the thermal behavior of the system.

Goddard staff working with the Meteor-3/Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
project report their instrument aboard the Russian weather satellite continues
to function perfectly.  Atmospheric scientists at Goddard are presently
studying the effect of the Russian satellite's different orbit on their ability
to predict ozone trends.  The Russian satellite's orbit also allows for
observations of aerosols, such as those erupted by the Mt. Pinatubo volcano, on
near-twilight ozone observations.  The scientists report that data quality from
their TOMS instruments-on the Russian Meteor spacecraft and the U.S. Nimbus-7
spacecraft-has continued to be excellent.

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

Hubble Space Telescope astronomers will present more new findings, this time
concerning protoplanets, at a Space Astronomy Update program next Wednesday,
Dec. 16, at 1:00 pm.  The program will be shown live on NASA Select television.


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.

Friday, December 11, 1992
Live   12:00 pm  NASA Today news program.
       12:15 pm  Aeronautics & Space Report.
       12:30 pm  Shaping Tomorrow.
        1:00 pm  NASA Town Meeting #5 from the Theater on
                   the campus of the University of South Florida at Tampa.
     at 4:00 and 8:00 pm and 12:00 midnight the broadcast
                   schedule of the day repeats.

Wednesday, December 16, 1992
   Live  1:00 pm  Astronomy Update series on Hubble Space
                   Telescope images of protoplanets.
      at 4:00 and 8:00 pm and 12:00 midnight the broadcast
                    schedule of the day 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
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921211A.REL

12/11/92:  EDUCATIONAL BROADCASTS FEATURE ROLE MODELS

Terri Sindelar                                 December 11, 1992
NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Patrick Golden
Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Hampton, Va.


RELEASE:  92-221

        To encourage students to study math and science, a 5-part series of
teleconferences will be broadcast nationwide highlighting young minority and
female student aerospace researchers as role models for middle and high school
students.

        The series, called "Reaching for the Stars", premiers Dec. 16.
Subsequent programs will be broadcast on Feb. 10, March 17, April 7 and May 12.
Each half-hour telecast begins at 2 p.m.  Eastern time.

        "Reaching for the Stars" presents viewers with a realistic picture of
the personal and academic paths five college students, from Virginia Space
Grant Colleges, took to reach their present courses of study in math, science
and engineering.  Students will discuss their research and teach a lesson on a
basic math or science concept pertinent to their research.

         The experiences of the student researchers featured in this series
will help student viewers understand the need for strong academic preparation
in math and science to take advantage of future high-tech work opportunities.
The students will discuss factors that influenced their career choices and
suggest ways the student viewers can follow similar paths.  The television
audience can call in questions to the student researcher during each broadcast.

        To register for the free "Reaching for the Stars" series, contact Old
Dominion University's Academic Television Services at 800/548-4807.  Sites
registering will receive satellite coordinates and resource packets with
additional classroom activities and suggestions for further readings.


        The series also will be broadcast on NASA Select TV, via Satcom F2R,
Transponder 13.

        "Reaching for the Stars" program highlights include:

                % Dec. 16, 1992 - Apriel Hodari, pursuing a master's degree in
physics at Hampton University, is researching the ways in which a laser can be
used to detect windshear Q the sudden change of wind direction and intensity
that can lead to airplane crashes.

                % Feb. 10, 1993 - Rebecca Bourn is in the second year of her
master's program in applied math at the University of Virginia,
Charlottesville. Bourn has been studying the phenomenon of turbulence in fluid
flow.  Rebecca is using mathematical models to study the conditions under which
turbulence occurs.

                % March 17, 1993 - Wendy Kraus, a senior majoring in chemistry
at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, is studying the properties of
the element boron that may make it an effective protective coating for a space
station or during travel to Mars and beyond.

                % April 7, 1993 - Derrek Dunn is working toward his doctorate
in Electrical Engineering at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg. Dunn is researching the
effects of different Earth orbits on antenna beam efficiency.

                % May 12, 1993 - Lillianne Troeger, a mechanical engineering
graduate student at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, is studying how advanced
propulsion systems can be applied to civil transportation.

        "Reaching for the Stars" is co-produced by the Virginia Space Grant
Consortium (VSGC), NASA and Old Dominion University. Substantial support for
this series was provided through NASA Headquarters' Minority University
Research Program and the Education Division.

        The Virginia Space Grant Consortium is part of a nationwide network of
NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. The VSGC and its 14
partners in Virginia develop programs that promote teacher training and
curriculum enhancement and encourage adequate math and science preparation
among students for America's future high-tech workforce needs.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921211B.REL

 NOTE: This file is too large {15676 bytes} for inclusion in this collection.
    The first line of the file:

12/11/92: KSC CLOSES OUT 1992 WITH 8 SPACE SHUTTLE AND 5 EXPENDABLE VEHICLE

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_6_9_4_12.TXT

UARS Monthly Status Report  11/30/92

UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH SATELLITE


      The observatory is performing nominally with all instruments performing
scheduled operations except the Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder
(ISAMS).  The power system continues to be stable and is performing well.
Differential voltages have been stable for all three batteries.  Attempts to
restart ISAMS have continued and were rewarded November 13, by a significant
sudden change in the thermal behavior of the chopper system.  The cause of this
change is not clear, but the restart attempts are continuing more
optimistically and the telemetry is being closely monitored for any signs of
chopper rotation.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_7_2_10_11.TXT

HST Monthly Status Report 11/30/92

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE


      Controllers are still investigating an anomaly involving a gyro, which
occurred November 18.  The spacecraft continues to operate and perform routine
science operations.  Initial telemetry indicated that the gyro lost
synchronization and motor current.  A later review of all monitors points to an
interruption of power to Gyro 1.  It has been commanded off for further study.
Candidate causes of the gyro anomaly include other anomalies within the control
electronics unit (such as a failed fuse).  An assessment of safely restarting
Gyro 1 is in progress.  Other actions being evaluated include 1) changes to HST
safemode configuration memory to remove access to Gyro 1, and 2) test and
activation of backup safemode software which increases vehicle protection when
in a three-gyro configuration.  Gyros 2,3, and 5 are operating normally.
Safemode will protect HST in the near term should another gyro failure or other
anomaly occur.  These gyros are part of HST's pointing control subsystem, which
maintains the spacecraft's positional stability and aligns the spacecraft to
point to an remain locked on any specific target.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_7_5_5_10.TXT

COMPTON Monthly Status Report 11/30/92

COMPTON GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY


       Battery performance continues to be monitored very closely, with power
configurations adjusted as necessary.  The observatory is functioning normally
with primary systems powered from modular power subsystem 2, which is
performing very well.  Modular power subsystem 1 continues to support a reduced
load of mainly heaters.  A Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) ground
station is under development at Tidbinbilla, Australia, as part of an effort to
increase real-time data collection from Compton via three TDRSs. All science
instruments are performing nominally.


     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_7_7_7_4.TXT

EUVE Monthly Status Report 11/30/92

EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET EXPLORER


     The first official list of bright EUVE sources was released internally to
the EUVE project at the University of California, Berkeley. This list was
compiled from 163 sources detected, and the data from each detected source was
examined visually to screen out spurious or possibly spurious sources.  The
screening resulted in a final list of 49 definite sources and an additional 59
sources which are being analyzed further.  The 49 definite sources have been
compiled into the first EUVE bright source list.  Classes of sources in this
first list include hot white dwarfs, planetary nebula, flare stars and cool
star coronae.  Of the list of 49, 20 sources had no immediate optical
counterparts and have been handed over to the optical identification subgroup.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_3_4_38.TXT

MGN STATUS 12/4

Magellan Status

Status Report of Magellan for Friday, December 4, 1992:

1.  Magellan continues to operate normally, transmitting a carrier
plus 40 bps X-band signal which is precisely tracked by the DSN
stations to provide gravity data.

2.  Yesterday the G2339 command sequence was successfully uplinked to
the  spacecraft and will begin execution this morning on orbit #6352.
This sequence is similar to the previous two-week control sequences,
but contains a radio science experiment to be performed on Sunday
night.

3.  Spacecraft temperatures remain in the expected range.  Bay 7,
which contains the CDS, is at 51 deg. C. with a cycle depth of 6
degrees.  Transmitter B is at 52.7 deg. C. which is below the temp
where satisfactory performance at 1200 bps is found.

4.  The spacecraft has completed 6240 orbits of Venus; 604 so far in
Cycle 4, which will end on May 25, 1993.  Cycle 4 is now one-third
complete.

5.  Doug Griffith, Project Manager, traveled to Nagoya, Japan, where
he presented a paper at the 1993 International Space Symposium.  He
will return to Southern California today, and will be back in the
office on Monday, Dec. 7th.

6.  The project received a letter from NASA Headquarters assuring
$3.0M for funding of additional processing and archiving of Magellan
science data.  In addition to FY93 investigator contracts, the funding
covers radar processing to correct dynamic range and geometric
distortions in Cycle 2 F-BIDRs, the production of 30 additional
compact disks containing mosaicked images, the development of a Rtool
kitS for analysis of stereo images, and the completion of data product
deliveries to PDS and NSSDC.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_3_4_39.TXT

MGN STATUS 12/7

Magellan Status

Status Report of Magellan for Monday, December 7, 1992:

1.      Magellan continues to operate normally, transmitting a carrier plus
40 bps X-band signal which is precisely tracked by the DSN stations to
provide gravity data.

2.      Late last night, the spacecraft performed a radio science
experiment on orbits #6369 and 6370.  For 22 minutes, as the
spacecraft passed behind Venus (as viewed from Earth), Magellan
performed a limb-tracking maneuver.  In this way, the received signal
was passing deeper and deeper through the atmosphere of Venus as it
was refracted around the limb.

3.      By measuring the attenuation and doppler shift of both the S and
X-band carrier signals, scientists can study to relative abundances of
H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and CO2 (carbon dioxide), as well as other
measures of the atmosphere.

4.      Spacecraft temperatures remain in the expected range.  Bay 7, which
contains the CDS, is at 51 deg. C. with a cycle depth of 65 degrees.
During the radio science experiment the temperature increased
somewhat, but stayed below the operational limit of 55 deg. C.  The
transmitter B peaked at 52 deg. C.

5.      The spacecraft has completed 6263 orbits of Venus; 627 so far in
Cycle 4, which will end on May 25, 1993.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_4_9_23.TXT

MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 30, 1992
12:30 AM PST
Launch +66 Days

Flight sequence C4 is active through December 14.  The Mars Observer Camera
bakeout continues through December 28.  The Gamma Ray Spectrometer and
Magnetometer instruments are powered on, but are in a quiescent state.  No
spacecraft or instrument commanding is planned for today.

Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer Geotail experiment command files are in the
development, approval and generation process in anticipation of planned uplink
and execution on December 9 through 13.

A Star Catalog/Ephemeris uplink is planned for Wednesday, December 2.  The new
ephemeris will affect spacecraft attitude to provide optimal low gain antenna
Earth pointing while keeping the solar array at the desired sun incidence
angle.

The Spacecraft and Instrument Teams report that all Mars Observer subsystems
and instruments continue to perform well.

Today the spacecraft is 20,145,674 km (12,517,941 miles) from Earth, traveling
at a velocity of 5.1265 kilometers per second (11,467 miles per hour) with
respect to Earth. One way light time is approximately 67 seconds.




MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
December 2, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +68 Days

Flight sequence C4 remains active through December 14.  The Mars Observer
Camera bakeout is continuing through December 28.  The Gamma Ray Spectrometer
and Magnetometer instruments are powered on, but are in a quiescent state.

Verification of successful commanding has been received for the Star
Catalog/Ephemeris uplink and activation which took place this morning.  The new
ephemeris will affect spacecraft attitude to provide optimal low gain antenna
Earth pointing while keeping the solar array at a desired sun incidence angle.

Magnetometer and Electron Reflectometer Geotail experiment command files are in
the development, approval and generation process in anticipation of planned
uplink and execution on December 8 through 14.  The Geotail experiment will
take place in the period December 8 through 12.  Commanding will be performed
to configure the spacecraft as required for the experiment and to reconfigure
back to normal cruise configuration upon completion of Geotail measurement
activities.

The Spacecraft and Instrument Teams report that all Mars Observer subsystems
and instruments continue to perform well.

Today the spacecraft is 21,010,679 km (13,055,430 miles) from Earth, traveling
at a velocity of 5.3618 kilometers per second (11,994 miles per hour) with
respect to Earth. One way light time is approximately 70 seconds.




MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
December 4, 1992
10:00 AM PST
Launch +70 Days

Flight sequence C4 remains active through December 14.  The Mars Observer
Camera bakeout is continuing through December 28.  The Gamma Ray Spectrometer
and Magnetometer instruments are powered on, but are in a quiescent state.  The
spacecraft is transmitting in the Mission Mode at a data rate of 250 bits per
second.  It will remain at this rate/mode until High Gain Antenna activation,
currently planned for January 4, 1993.

Today marks ten weeks since launch.  The Mars Observer Spacecraft and
Instrument Teams report that all spacecraft subsystems and instruments are
performing nominally.

In-flight activities this week were minimal.  The primary activity was uplink
and activation on Tuesday of a new Star Catalog/Ephemeris which affected
spacecraft attitude to provide optimal low gain antenna Earth pointing while
keeping the solar array at a desired sun incidence angle to protect against
excessive electrical power build-up.

Command files for the recently proposed Magnetometer and Electron Reflectometer
Geotail experiment are in the development, approval, and generation process in
anticipation of the 8 - 12 December Geotail measurement opportunity.

A "Power-In" maneuver Preliminary Design Review will be held Friday, 11
December.

As of today, the spacecraft is 21,918,495 km (13,619,521 miles) from Earth,
traveling at a velocity of 5.6069 kilometers per second (12,542 miles per hour)
with respect to Earth. One way light time is approximately 73 seconds.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_4_9_24.TXT

MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
December 7, 1992
1:00 PM PST
Launch +73 Days

Flight sequence C4 remains active through December 14.  The Mars Observer
Camera bakeout is continuing through December 28.

Command files for the recently proposed Magnetometer and Electron Reflectometer
Geotail experiment have been prepared.  They will be uplinked and executed in
three loads on the 9th, 11th and 14th of December. The Gamma Ray Spectrometer
team will also be receiving data during Geotail measurement activities.

A "Power-In" maneuver Preliminary Design Review will be held Friday, 11
December.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_5_3_39.TXT

ULYSSES MISSION OPERATIONS REPORT

PERIOD:   24th November to 30th November 1992

1.   MISSION OPERATIONS

     Experiment  reconfigurations  have  been  carried   out   as
     required.

     On  25th  November KEP GAS (Neutral Gas experiment) data
     were switched off following completion of the scanning activity.

     On  27th  November a KEP RAM dump was carried out.   It  had
     been originally foreseen to be carried out on 26th  November
     but was delayed due to operational constraints.

     On  30th  November  a  KEP  EPAC (Energetic Particles experiment)
     in flight  calibration  was carried out.


     A  routine  Earth pointing manoeuvre was performed  on  26th
     November.

     An  average of 96.88 % data recovery was achieved during the
     reporting period.

     The percentage of data acquired as a function of bit rate is
     as follows:

     1024 bps 36.25 %
      512 bps 60.61 %

     On 27th November an earthquake occurred in the neighborhood
     of  the  Goldstone  complex which affected data  acquisition
     operations.  43 minutes of realtime data and 87  minutes  of
     playback data were lost as a result of the 34 meter  antenna
     being stowed following the earthquake.

     A reduction in the number of ranging passes continued during
     the reporting period in order to improve the poor signal  to
     noise  ratio  encountered at the present  large  spacecraft-
     Earth distances.

2.   SPACECRAFT STATUS

     POWER

     Nominal.
     Estimated S/C power consumption 258 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 provided through EPC2/TWTA2.

     The  34  meter  ground stations are in use  to  support  TTC
     operations, with at least one 70m station pass per  week  to
     support ranging.

     Received downlink level -142 dBm.(34 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 -123 dBm.

     DATA HANDLING

     The  anomaly on CTU2 reported in previous Operations Reports
     is  still  under investigation.  The operational  impact  of
     this anomaly is being studied by both the Spacecraft Control
     Team  and  the instrument teams in the event that  this  CTU
     would have to be configured for operational use.

     THERMAL

     Nominal.

3.   FLIGHT DYNAMICS

     Solar Aspect   The angle increased from 10.45 on
     Angle (deg.)   24th November to 10.70 on 30th November.

     Sun-Probe-Earth  The angle increased from 10.46 on
     Angle (deg.)     24th November to 10.78 on 30th November.

     Spin Rate               4.981 rpm.

4.   ORBITAL DATA

     Data taken at 13:00 PDT on 30th November.
     Distance from Earth                786,793,487 km.
     Velocity relative to the Earth         130,245 km/hr.
     Velocity relative to the Sun            32,914 km/hr.
     Ecliptic latitude                         14.0 deg/south

5.   PLANNED OPERATIONS

     Routine  data  gathering operations will  continue  together
     with experiment reconfigurations as required.

     On 2nd December a HED (Magnetic Field instrument) calibration
     will be carried out.

     Earth  pointing manoeuvres will be performed on 1st and  4th
     December.

     Periods  of  2048  bps  at low antenna  elevations  will  be
     avoided  to improve the signal to noise ratio in the  coming
     months.   This will slightly reduce the percentage  of  1024
     bps real-time data received.  During this period, 70m passes
     will   also  be  scheduled  to  perform  ranging  at   large
     spacecraft-Earth distances while maintaining the desired bit
     rates.

6.   GROUND SEGMENT

     The  ground segment performed nominally during the reporting
     period.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:7_2_8_16.TXT

 NOTE: This file is too large {15676 bytes} for inclusion in this collection.
    The first line of the file:

12/11/92: KSC CLOSES OUT 1992 WITH 8 SPACE SHUTTLE AND 5 EXPENDABLE VEHICLE

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=END OF COLLECTION---COLLECTED 15 FILES---COMPLETED 21:03:48=--=

====PRESS RETURN TO CONTINUE====


Enter an option number, 'G' for GO TO, ? for HELP, or
  press RETURN to redisplay menu...