Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/DAILY_1/930219.DFC

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19-Feb-93 Daily File Collection
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930218.REL

2/18/93: NASA BUDGET BOOSTS TECHNOLOGY/PROMISES IMPROVED SPACE STATION
         PROGRAM

Don Savage
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.


RELEASE:  93-32

        The President's 1994 budget request for NASA will call for an increase
over last year's budget with key provisions for the Space Station program and
the development of important new technologies.

        NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin praised the plan, saying, "It
clearly reflects the President's firm commitment to a meaningful and balanced
space program and the revitalization of American industry through cutting-edge
science and technology development."

        President Clinton has directed the Administrator to redesign the Space
Station as part of a program that is more efficient and effective and capable
of producing greater returns on our investment.  The '94 package provides $2.3
billion for the smooth transition of the program to a streamlined,
cost-effective design, assuring stability in the program during the transition
and minimizing any potential job loss.

        The President also has directed NASA to work closely with the U.S.
Congress and international partners to maintain continuity in the program and
to assure their participation in producing a space station that is technically
challenging and promises the highest possible returns.

        NASA's new technology investment package will provide significant
funding aimed at new projects that could lower the cost of space research,
achieve demonstrable results sooner and are more directly beneficial to the
economy.  The new plan allows room in NASA's budget for future enhancements to
ongoing agency efforts in aeronautics, human and robotic space flight and the
transfer of technology to new and existing industries.

        Goldin was briefed by White House officials late Wednesday and Thursday
morning and offered the following statement:

        "I congratulate the President on his courageous vision of an
aeronautics and space program that is relevant to America and continues to lead
the world in innovation and discovery."

        "In response to the vision, we will join with our international
partners, industry experts, and the science community to introduce broad,
innovative thinking to the process of delivering a meaningful and efficient
program to the American people and to the world."

        "I have great faith and pride in the working women and men of the NASA
team who I know will step up to the challenge to do more with less, just as
they have met the great challenges of the past."

        "NASA will serve the President's vision and live up to its reputation
as a can-do agency by becoming a model in government for quality, efficiency
and productivity."
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930219.REL

2/19/93: NASA SELECTS SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROJECTS

Charles Redmond
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                         February 19, 1993

RELEASE:  93-33


        NASA announced today the selection of 111 research proposals for
immediate negotiation of Phase II contracts in NASA's Small Business Innovation
Research Program (SBIR).

        These proposals, along with 38 previously selected on Jan. 6, came from
130 small, high technology firms located in 27 states, with California and
Massachusetts firms submitting the largest number of winning proposals P 34
from California and 28 from Massachusetts. Other states with more than one
winning proposal include Colorado (11), Maryland (9), Virginia (8), New York
(6), and Texas (5).

        The selections were made competitively from 267 proposals submitted for
Phase II continuations of SBIR Phase I projects initiated in 1991.  The Phase
II contracts continue development of the most promising Phase I projects which
have demonstrated a technical feasibility and which also have a potential value
to NASA as research innovations.  Funding for each of the Phase II winning
proposals can be as much as $500,000 over a period up to 2 years.

        The Small Business Innovation Research Program is intended to stimulate
technological innovation by using small businesses, including minority and
disadvantaged firms, to help meet federal research and development requirements
and to encourage the commercial application of federally-funded research
innovations.

        NASA's program is managed by the Office of Advanced Concepts and
Technology, Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The individual SBIR contracts are
managed by NASA centers. - end -
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930219.SHU

KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 2/19/93


               SPACE SHUTTLE WEEKLY STATUS SUMMARY
                   Friday, February 19, 1993


George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
407/867-2468

Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payloads: Spacelab-D2/SAREX         Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: March wk 2        Nominal Landing: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- mounting turbopumps to power heads

STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- main engine heat exchanger leak checks Saturday
- begin turbopump securing Saturday
- turbopump electrical hookups next week
- crew compartment cleaning continues next week
- open payload bay doors on Monday
- remove GAS can experiments for battery changeout on Monday
- experiment film magazine removal servicing on Monday
- installation of orbiter refrigerator/freezers on Tuesday
- potable water sampling on Tuesday
- begin heat shield installation on Thursday


STS-55 COLUMBIA WORK COMPLETED:

- installation of new turbopumps in aft main engine compartment
- heat shield inspections


NOTES:  The STS-55 launch team will be off on Sunday and no work
        is scheduled on Columbia.



Vehicle: OV-103/Discovery
Location: OPF Bay 3                    Mission Number: STS-56
Payloads: ATLAS-2/SSBUV/SPARTAN/SUVE   Crew Size: 5
Launch timeframe: April wk 1           Orbital Altitude: 184 sm
Mission Duration: 8 days 6 hours       Inclination: 57 degrees
Nominal Landing Site: KSC

STS-56 IN WORK:

- removal of main engine heat shields
- closeouts of main propulsion system
- potable water system leak check
- closeouts of midbody
- remote manipulator arm deployment check
- gaseous nitrogen servicing
- tile repair
- tile waterproofing
- payload bay liner installation
- external tank door latch pull test


STS-56 WORK COMPLETED:

- hydrogen propulsion system leak check
- MSBLS checkout
- payload bay door bulb seal repair
- ATLAS/SPARTAN Interface Verification Test
- Crew Equipment Interface Test (CEIT)
- remote manipulator arm installation
- water spray boiler checkout
- water spray boiler servicing
- potable water servicing
- OMS/RCS electrical checks
- fuel cell changeout
- fuel cell checkout
- forward reaction control system checkout


STS-56 WORK SCHEDULED:

- ammonia boiler servicing this weekend
- OMS/RCS cross-feed connections this weekend
- final radiator inspections on Sunday
- crew hatch functional check on Sunday
- air data probe/system functional check
- potable water servicing
- orbiter/external tank door functional test
- flight controls functional check
- closeouts of crew compartment
- final payload bay cleaning
- close payload bay doors
- tile closeouts
- close payload bay doors/remove strongbacks
- final nose gear/main landing gear tire pressure checks


SPECIAL TOPICS:  As a result of the turbopump inspection
requirement, Discovery's engines will be removed next week in the
orbiter processing facility.  They will be reinstalled in the
Vehicle Assembly Building using other engines presently in the
main engine maintenance facility.  Two of the turbopumps recently
removed from Columbia will be used, and the third one from the
remaining engine has already been inspected and reinstalled.


Vehicle: OV-105/Endeavour              Location: OPF Bay 1
Primary payload: Spacehab/EURECA 1-R   Crew size: 6
Orbital altitude: 287.5 sm             Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Mission duration: 7 days 23 hours
Launch timeframe:  NET April 28
Landing site/timeframe: KSC  May 6


STS-57 IN WORK:

- OMS pod functional testing
- mid-body closeouts
- tile repair
- water spray boiler servicing
- preparations in payload bay for Spacehab installation
- Spacehab electrical testing in the O&C Building
- stacking solid rocket boosters in VAB High Bay 3


STS-57 WORK COMPLETED:

- main propulsion system electrical checkout
- remote manipulator arm electrical connections


STS-57 WORK SCHEDULED:

- ammonia boiler servicing on Monday
- tunnel adapter installation next week
- auxiliary power unit lube oil servicing next week
- Spacehab installation on March 1
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_18_3_6.TXT

Shuttle Amateur Radio Antenna Test Planned

For more information:
        Kai Siwiak KE4PT
        305-755-6828 (evenings)

The STS-55 Spacelab D2 mission will feature two sets of ham radio equipment.
The SAFEX hardware will be operated within the Spacelab module, using an
external antenna attached to the rear end cone.  The SAREX hardware will be
operated within the crew cabin using the window mounted antenna in its packet
mode, and can be operated using either antenna for voice mode.

An antenna propagation test will be performed on two passes over a Florida
ground station.  The test will be coordinated by the Johnson Space Center
Amateur Radio Club. On orbit 61 the internal window mounted antenna will
transmit and on the following orbit the Spacelab external antenna will be
used.  The downlink frequency will be 145.55 Mhz. Hams in Florida are
encouraged to listen for the signal and record its strength.  You should
record, as accurately as possible, the acquisition and loss of signal time,
your locati on (latitude and longitude) and the signal strength as measured on
your S-meter.

One possibility would be to use a stereo tape recorder, with one channel
recording WWV's shortwave time signal and the other channel recording your
receiver's output.  Alternately you can make a table of time vs. signal
strength.

You can obtain a blank data form from the ARRL (American Radio Relay League)
at: ARRL attn: Education Activities Department 225 Main St. Newington,
CT 06111 (203)-666-1541

The data will be reduced by Kai Siwiak KE4PT of the Motorola amateur radio club
in Boynton Beach to determine the SAREX and SAFEX an tennae's radiating
patterns.

STS-55 is the first of three currently approved SAREX missions for 1993.  The
other SAREX flights will be the March STS-56 ATLAS-2 m ission, and STS-57 in
April featuring the retrieval of the European Eureca platform.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_2_5_47.TXT

GALILEO STATUS 2/5/93 - 2/17/93
                                   GALILEO
                       MISSION DIRECTOR STATUS REPORT
                                POST-LAUNCH
                           February 5 - 11, 1993

SPACECRAFT

1.  On February 5, the EE-12B (Earth-Earth) prime sequence memory load was
uplinked to the spacecraft without incident.  This sequence covers spacecraft
activities from February 8, 1993 to April 12, 1993.

2.  On February 8, real-time commands were sent to modify the system fault
protection such that if spacecraft safing executes, the Plasma Wave Subsystem
(PWS) supplemental heater will be turned on.  This change was necessitated by
the increasing solar AU distances.

3.  On February 8, a periodic RPM (Retro-Propulsion Module) 10-Newton thruster
maintenance activity was performed; all 12 thrusters were "flushed" during the
activity.  Spacecraft activity throughout the period was normal.

4.  On February 8, the spacecraft performed a 31.5 degree SITURN for the
purpose of attitude maintenance.  The Z thrusters were used during the
activity.  After the SITURN completed, the Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer
(NIMS) shield temperature increased to 51.8 degrees C which was 1.8 degrees C
above the 3-210 non-operating limit.  A waiver was generated and approved by
the Project for a non-operating temperature limit to 55 degrees C.

5.  On February 8, an Ultra-Stable Oscillator (USO) test was performed to
verify the health status of the USO and to collect gravitational red shift
experiment data; long term trend analysis is continuing.

6.  On February 8, cruise science Memory Readouts (MROs) were performed for
the Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EUV), Dust Detector (DDS), and
Magnetometer (MAG) instruments.  Preliminary analysis indicates the data
was received properly.

7.  During the period from February 10 through February 11, a navigation cycle
was performed.  This navigation cycle provided near-continuous acquisition of
two-way doppler and ranging data during four consecutive passes of the
spacecraft over DSS-43 (Canberra 70 meter antenna), DSS-63 (Madrid 70 meter
antenna), DSS-14 (Goldstone 70 meter antenna), and then back to DSS-43.

8.  On February 10, real-time commands were sent to turn the Ultraviolet
Spectrometer (UVS) on to exercise its grating drive mechanism and the
instrument remains on.  The UVS high voltage was also commanded off to
properly configure the instrument for the Earth-Jupiter cruise phase.

9.  On February 10, real-time commands were sent to modify the System Fault
Protection (SFP).  Specifically, the Relay/JOI (Jupiter Orbit Insertion)
System Fault Protection (SFP) was patched for use during non-critical spin-up
activities.  During commanding, radiation terminated due to bit verify errors.
Remaining command radiation was resumed without incident.  Analysis of this
anomaly is in progress.

10. The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements have not exhibited significant change
(greater than 25 DN) throughout this period.  The AC measurement reads 19DN
(4.3 volts).  The DC measurement reads 146DN (17.2 volts).  These measurements
are consistent with the model developed by the AC/DC special anomaly team.

11. The Spacecraft status as of February 11, 1993, is as follows:

       a)  System Power Margin -  70 watts
       b)  Spin Configuration - Dual-Spin
       c)  Spin Rate/Sensor - 3.15rpm/Star Scanner
       d)  Spacecraft Attitude is approximately 16 degrees
           off-sun (leading) and 7 degrees off-earth (leading)
       e)  Downlink telemetry rate/antenna- 1200bps(coded)/LGA-1
       f)  General Thermal Control - all temperatures within
           acceptable range
       g)  RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range
       h)  Orbiter Science- Instruments powered on are the PWS,
           EUV, UVS, EPD, MAG, HIC, and DDS
       i)  Probe/RRH - powered off, temperatures within
           acceptable range
       j)  CMD Loss Timer Setting - 240 hours
           Time To Initiation - 212 hours


UPLINK GENERATION/COMMAND REVIEW AND APPROVAL:

1.  The LGA-2 (Low Gain Antenna #2) Swing Test sequence memory load was
approved for generation by the Project on February 8, 1993.  This sequence
includes Low Gain Antenna (LGA)-2 deploy/retract activities on
February 17, 1993, and wobble identification activities on February 25-26,
1993.


TRAJECTORY

     As of noon Thursday, February 11, 1993, the Galileo Spacecraft trajectory
status was as follows:

        Distance from Earth         48,015,000 km (0.32 AU)
        Distance from Sun           192,745,800 km (1.29 AU)
        Heliocentric Speed          119,100 km per hour
        Distance from Jupiter       673,957,200 km
        Round Trip Light Time       5 minutes, 22 seconds


SPECIAL TOPIC

1.  As of February 11, 1993, a total of 65027 real-time commands have been
transmitted to Galileo since Launch.  Of these, 59952 were initiated in the
sequence design process and 5075 initiated in the real-time command process.
In the past week, 50 real time commands were transmitted: 50 were initiated in
the sequence design process and none initiated in the real time command
process.  Major command activities included commands to uplink the EE-12B
prime sequence memory load, modify system fault protection, turn the UVS
instrument on, and turn the UVS high voltage off.




                            GALILEO STATUS REPORT
                              February 17, 1993

     The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode
and is transmitting coded telemetry at 1200 bps (bits/second).

     Yesterday, transmission of the LGA-2 (Low Gain Antenna #2) swing
mini-sequence was uplinked.  No other spacecraft activity was scheduled.
Tracking was scheduled over DSS-43 (Canberra 70 meter antenna) and
DSS-14 (Goldstone 70 meter antenna).

     Today, February 17, 1993,  LGA-2 deployment/retraction was accomplished
as planned.  Tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63 (Madrid
70 meter antenna).

     Tomorrow, the AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem) flight
software patch is scheduled to be uplinked.  Tracking is scheduled
over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.

     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_4_9_28.TXT

MARS OBSERVER STATUS 2/10/93 THRU 2/17/93

                  MARS OBSERVER MISSION STATUS
                        February 10, 1993

     The Mars Observer flight team reported today that the second
spacecraft trajectory correction maneuver (TCM-2) on Monday, Feb.
8, was successful and achieved the desired change in velocity of
about 9.6 meters per second (32 feet per second).  The 35-second
burn used two of the spacecraft's four large 490-Newton thrusters
and occurred at 2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

     All spacecraft subsystems and instrument payload are
performing well in the outer cruise configuration.  Uplink and
downlink communications are being performed via the high-gain
antenna.

     Today the spacecraft is about 42 million kilometers (26
million miles) from Mars, traveling at a velocity of about 18,000
kilometers per hour (12,000 miles per hour) with respect to Mars.
One-way light time to Earth is about 279 seconds.


                        MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                           February 11, 1993
                              3:30 PM PST

Flight sequence C7 B is active as of 8:00 AM this morning.  The Flight Team
reports that spacecraft subsystems and the instrument payload are
performing nominally.  The spacecraft is in Array Normal Spin in outer
cruise configuration, with uplink and downlink via the High Gain Antenna;
uplink at 125 bps, downlink at the 2 Kbps Science and Engineering data
rates.

The Navigation Team presented its preliminary analysis of TCM-2 (Trajectory
Correction Maneuver #2) yesterday.  That preliminary analysis shows that the
maneuver was performed within the expected accuracy limits.  The desired change
in velocity was 9.65 meters per second and the achieved velocity change was
between 9.66 and 9.74 meters per second.  The resultant direction was
offset by approximately 2 degrees from the planned direction.  Any offset
will be corrected in TCM-3 on March 18 as provided for in the Mars
Observer Mission Plan.

Today the spacecraft is 41,196,629 km (25,598,398 miles) from Mars,
traveling at a velocity of 5.3246 kilometers per second (11,910 miles per
hour) with respect to Mars.  One way light time to Earth is approximately
284 seconds.

                         MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                             February 16, 1993
                                1:00 PM PST

Flight sequence C7 B is active.  The Flight Team reports that spacecraft
subsystems and the instrument payload are performing nominally.  The
spacecraft is in Array Normal Spin in outer cruise configuration, with
uplink and downlink via the High Gain Antenna; uplink at 125 bps,
downlink at the 4 K Science and Engineering data rate.  One way light time
is approximately 301 seconds.

The Payload Data System is active and the Gamma Ray Spectrometer is
taking calibration data.  Thermal Emissions Spectrometer calibration
activities took place Friday, February 12.

The Launch + 145 Days star catalog and ephemeris uplink window opens at
5:00 PM this afternoon and closes at 11:00 AM tomorrow.

                        MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                             February 17, 1993
                               3:30 PM PST

Flight sequence C7 B is active.  The Flight Team reports that spacecraft
subsystems and the instrument payload are performing nominally.  The
spacecraft is in Array Normal Spin in outer cruise configuration, with
uplink and downlink via the High Gain Antenna; uplink at 125 bps,
downlink at the 4 K Science and Engineering data rate.

The Payload Data System is active and the Gamma Ray Spectrometer is
taking calibration data.

Today the spacecraft is 38,756,470 km (24,082,154 miles) from Mars,
traveling at a velocity of 4.8928 kilometers per second (10,944 miles per
hour) with respect to Mars.  One way light time is approximately 311
seconds.

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