Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/DAILY_1/930317.DFC

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17-Mar-93 Daily File Collection
   These files were added or updated between 16-Mar-93 at 21:00:00 {Central}
                                         and 17-Mar-93 at 21:00:32.

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930317.REL

3/17/93:  SMALL EXPENDABLE DEPLOYER SYSTEM LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT


Jerry Berg
Marshall Space Flight Center                   March 16, 1993
Huntsville, Ala.


Release No:  93-20


The first flight of NASA's Small Expendable-tether Deployer System
(SEDS) is scheduled to be launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.,
no earlier than 10:55 p.m. (EST) March 18.

The SEDS tether system will be a secondary payload on a U.S. Air Force Delta
II. Deployment of the SEDS payload is planned to begin approximately 60 minutes
after the Delta launch, and will last for an additional 1 hour and 40 minutes.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930317.SHU

KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 3/17/93


              SPACE SHUTTLE DAILY STATUS-STS 55
                  Wednesday, March 17, 1993

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center



Vehicle: OV-102/Orbiter Columbia    Mission: STS-55
Current location: Pad 39-A          Orbital altitude: 184 sm
Payload: Spacelab D-2               Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch date: March 21  9:52 a.m.    Landing: KSC 3/30  7:57 a.m.
Mission duration: 8 days 22 hours   Crew size: 7


STS-55 IN WORK:

- Flight Readiness Test (FRT) of main engine #1
- washdown of pad surface and flame trench
- final crew compartment cleaning
- astronaut arrival at 8:30 p.m.


STS-55 WORK SCHEDULED:

- resume aft main engine compartment closeouts 3 a.m. Thurs.
- resume aft compartment inspections and photo documentation
- resume aft compartment cleaning
- resume avionics bay closeouts
- begin countdown 4 p.m. Thursday
- install flight doors on aft compartment and perform
  final aft confidence test 12:01 a.m. Friday
- aft positive pressure check Wednesday 4 a.m. Friday
- begin cryogenic reactant loading (PRSD) 8 a.m. Friday


STS-55 WORK COMPLETED:

- washdown of mobile launcher platform
- testing of data link between orbiter mid-deck
  refrigerator/freezers and Spacelab D-2 module


ISSUES AND CONCERNS: (STS-55)

     On Tuesday afternoon it was discovered that the secondary heater
associated with Columbia's main engine #1 fuel valve was inadvertently left on
after testing due to a failed indicator.  This resulted in the overheating of
the associated fuel valve actuator.  An inspection of the actuator showed some
damage to soft rubber-like components within the unit.  There was no damage to
the main engine fuel valve.  The actuator was removed and replaced last night.
An abbreviated Flight Readiness Test of main engine #1 is being run today.
While aft main engine compartment closeouts will not be finished until after
the countdown begins, there is no impact to the March 21 launch date.


SPECIAL TOPICS:

(STS-55)

The preliminary weather outlook at 9:52 a.m. on Sunday calls for:

Clouds: 3,000 scattered cumulus
        10,000 scattered
        25,000 broken cirrostratus

Visibility: 7+ miles
Temperature: 73 degrees
Humidity: 68%
Wind: SE/8-12 knots

Chance of meeting launch weather criteria: 70%
Chance of acceptable weather with 24 hour delay: 70%



(STS-56)

     The countdown for the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT) began
at 8 a.m. this morning and will conclude at 11 a.m.  Thursday. The astronauts
are continuing with safety training and are having briefings on the status of
Columbia and Spacelab D-2. The commander and pilot are flying the Shuttle
Training Aircraft. Yesterday the crew had fit checks of their launch and entry
suits.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930317.SKD

DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 3/17/93

Daily News
Wednesday, March 17, 1993
Two Independence Square,
Washington, D.C..
Audio Service: 202/358-3014

 % SEDS launch scheduled;
 % STS-56 Preflight Mission Briefing Set;
 % Stennis Space Center Update.

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

The first flight of NASA's Small Expendable-tether Deployer System (SEDS) is
scheduled for launch no earlier than 10:55 p.m.  EST, March 18, 1993.  The SEDS
tether system will be a secondary payload on a U.S. Air Force Delta II.

The Small Expendable-tether Deployer System deployment is planned to begin
approximately 60 minutes after the Delta launch, and will last for an
additional hour and 40 minutes.  The Delta II will launch from the Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

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

The STS-56 preflight briefing will be held March 19 at the Johnson Space
Center. A portion of the mission overview and the Atmospheric Laboratory For
Applications and Science (ATLAS) briefing will originate from the Marshall
Space Flight Center, Ala.

NASA Select TV will begin coverage of the briefing at 9:30 am EST with two-way
audio for questions from participating NASA locations.

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


Stennis Space Center reports that the Early Education Monday program was
conducted for 106 students from area elementary schools.  Stennis also
conducted a VIP tour last week for two Russian scientists and two
representatives from the Minerals Resource Institute at the Univ. of
Mississippi. The Visitors Center toured 2,007 people last week from 38 states
and 9 foreign countries.

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


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.


Wednesday, March 17, 1993

12:00 pm        SpaceCad
12:15 pm        Aeronautics & Space Report
12:30 pm        Pictures in the Mind
 1:00 pm        New Aeronautics and Space Report  261
 1:30 pm        Images of the Universe from HST

Live  2:00 pm   Virginia Space Grant Consortium: Reaching for Stars

 2:30  pm       Pioneer/Saturn Encounter
 3:00  pm       TQM #58


Thursday, March 18, 1993

12:00 pm        A Dive Into Space
12:15 pm        Aeronautics & Space Report
12:30 pm        Best of NASA Today:  Technology 2001
 1:00  pm       Apollo 15:  In the Mountains of the Moon
 1:30  pm       Zero-G and Space Suits
 2:00  pm       Starfinder #19
 2:30  pm       Voyager 2/Saturn Encounter
 3:00  pm       TQM 59


NASA Select TV is carried on GE Satcom F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees
West Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960 MHz, 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:930317A.REL

3/17/93:  STS-56 SPACE SHUTTLE PREFLIGHT MISSION BRIEFINGS SET

Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.          March 17, 1993

Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston

EDITORS NOTE:  N93-12


        The STS-56 preflight briefings will be held March 19 at the Johnson
Space Center, Houston, building 2, room 135.  A segment of the mission overview
and the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS) briefing
will originate from the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
Reporters may cover the briefings at NASA Headquarters or other NASA centers.

        ATLAS 2 is the second in a series of Space Shuttle flights to track
subtle, year-to-year variations in the chemistry of Earth's atmosphere and the
sun's energy output.  Its highly calibrated instruments also will provide a
check on data from several free-flying satellites.  Atlas 1 flew aboard STS-45
in March 1992.  STS-56 also will deploy SPARTAN 201, a free-flying satellite to
study the sun's corona and the solar wind.

        All briefings will be carried on NASA Select television with two-way
audio for questions from participating NASA locations.  NASA Select programming
is carried on SATCOM F2R, transponder 13, located at 72 degrees west longitude.
A briefing agenda is attached.

-end-

STS-56 PREFLIGHT BRIEFINGS AGENDA
March 19, 1993

Time (EST)              Briefing                                Moderator

9:30 a.m.       Mission Overview                                James Hartsfield
,
                  Chuck Shaw, Lead Flight Director              (JSC)
                  Teresa Vanhooser, Atlas 2 Mission Manager     Jim Sahli
                                                                (MSFC)

10:30   Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications                 Jim Sahli
                and Science                                     (MSFC)
                  Dr. Timothy Miller, Atlas 2 Mission Scientist
                  Dr. Michael Gunson, Atmospheric Science

11:35   SPARTAN                                                 James Hartsfield
                  Jack Pownell, NASA Mission Manager            (JSC)
                  Richard Fisher, Principal Investigator
                  White Light Coronagraph
                  John Kohl, Principal Investigator
                  Ultraviolet Coronal Spectrometer

12:10 p.m.      Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiments               James Hartsfield
                  Briefer TBD                                           (JSC)

12:40   Lunch

2:00            Department of Defense Experiments               James Hartsfield
                Overview
(JSC)
                  Capt. David B. Goldstein, USAF
                  STS-56 DOD Payload Mission Manager
                HERCULES (Earth-targeting camera)
                  Capt. John Hennessey, USAF
                  HERCULES Project Manager
                Space Tissue Loss
                  Col. William P. Wiesmann, M.D.
                  Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

3:00            STS-56 Crew Briefing                            Barbara Schwartz
                  Ken Cameron, Commander                        (JSC)
                  Steve Oswald, Pilot
                  Ken Cockerell, Mission Specialist
                  Mike Foale, Mission Specialist
                  Ellen Ochoa, Mission Specialist
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930317B.REL

3/17/93: 3 SPACECRAFT TO CONDUCT 3-WEEK GRAVITATIONAL WAVE SEARCH

Donald L. Savage
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
  Ma

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


RELEASE:  93-48

     Three interplanetary spacecraft, now headed quietly toward Mars, Jupiter
and over the poles of the sun, soon may prove the existence of elusive waves in
the universe's gravitational field by bobbing on ripples in space like corks
bobbing on ripples in a pond.

     Such waves of gravity have never been directly detected, although their
existence was predicted decades ago in Einstein's theory of relativity and
there is indirect evidence that they exist.  The waves are believed to be
produced by supernova explosions, collapsing black holes and other catastrophic
events.  Past searches with ground-based equipment and single spacecraft have
failed to discover them.

     Astrophysicists are hoping to make this major discovery by spending the
next few weeks "listening" for passing gravitational waves with three
"borrowed" spacecraft at the same time in the most sensitive detection system
yet assembled to search for very low frequency gravitational waves.

     The spacecraft, now on their way to separate destinations in the solar
system, are NASA's Mars Observer, Galileo and the European Space Agency (ESA)
Ulysses spacecraft.

     The joint NASA-ESA experiment will run from March 21 to April 11, marking
the first time three spacecraft will make observations simultaneously, greatly
increasing the reliability of any detection.

     "If this experiment succeeds in detecting gravitational waves it may
answer fundamental questions about the nature of gravity as well as give
further support for Einstein's theory of general relativity," said Dr. Robert
Stachnik, Gravitational Wave Program Scientist in NASA's Astrophysics Div.,
Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C.

     "We're also very excited about the possibility of making a major discovery
with such a cost-effective experiment.  We were able to take advantage of three
spacecraft already in space which soon will be in the correct relative
positions and distances we need to do this experiment.  We can just borrow them
for a few weeks, without any added cost for equipment and no change to their
missions.  It's big science on a small budget," Stachnik said.

     "Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in his theory of
general relativity, and radio astronomy observations of pulsars have suggested
they indeed exist -- but no one has ever detected a gravitational wave
directly," said Dr. John W. Armstrong of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, Calif., who will work with the Mars Observer and Galileo spacecraft.

     The experiment is built around a simple concept.  During the 3-week
experiment, the antennas of NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) on Earth will beam
radio signals to the three spacecraft at precisely known frequencies.  Each
spacecraft will send signals back to Earth at the same frequency it receives.
If no gravitational waves are passing through the Solar System, the signals
returned to Earth should have exactly the same frequencies as the original
signals sent from the DSN, shifted only by the Doppler effect of spacecraft
motion.

     However, if a strong enough gravitational wave passes -- produced perhaps
from collapsing masses of stars in the hearts of galaxies or from the spiraling
together and collision of two black holes -- both the Earth and the spacecraft
will experience a slight "bobbing" from the ripple-like passage of the
gravitational wave.  This interaction cannot be directly detected at either the
Earth or the spacecraft alone, but would show up as a slight change in the
frequency of the radio signal finally received back at Earth.

     The hydrogen maser clocks that control the DSN transmitters and receivers
are so accurate that scientists will be able to detect a change in radio
frequency of as little as a few parts in a quadrillion (a quadrillion is 1
followed by 15 zeroes).

     "This should allow us to detect gravitational waves from objects such as
massive pairs of black holes hidden in the hearts of other galaxies," said Hugo
D. Wahlquist of JPL, who will work on the Ulysses spacecraft with Sami W. Asmar
of JPL, Prof. Bruno Bertotti of the University of Pavia, Italy, and Prof.
Luciano Iess of the University of Rome La Sapienza.

     Scientists emphasize, however, that snaring a gravitational wave during
the 3- week experiment will depend on a good bit of luck -- whether a suitable
astronomical event happens to occur during the relatively brief opportunity
when data can be taken.  All three spacecraft will be in the Earth's night sky
at that time, so interference with their radio signals due to charged particles
in the solar wind will be at a minimum.

     Successful detection of gravitational waves could open up an entirely new
kind of astronomy.  Because the gravitational waves do not readily interact
with matter, detecting them may open a window to the interiors of powerful --
and sometimes catastrophic -- events such as supernova explosions and
collapsing black holes.

     "Gravitational wave research is now in the hands of physicists.  Once
signals are detected, the astronomers will be beating down the doors," said
Stachnik.

     Sensitive ground-based interferometer antennas now are being built in both
the United States and Europe to search for gravitational waves with wavelengths
of thousands of kilometers.

     "In addition to searching for the shorter waves that can affect antennas
here on Earth, we now will be using radio signals sent to spacecraft hundreds
of millions of kilometers away to search for waves of much longer wavelength,"
said Dr. Frank B. Estabrook of JPL, who will work with the Galileo spacecraft.

     Detection of the gravitational waves, even if they occur, will still take
at least several months of patient data analysis. "The spacecraft systems can
detect large enough gravitational waves, if they exist," said Dr. Bevan M.
French, Program Scientist for the Mars Observer. "But it won't be one of those
sudden 'Eureka!' situations.  We'll be looking for a few small wiggles in a
huge amount of radio data.  It will take time."

     To identify the unique signals of gravitational waves, the scientists also
will have to eliminate such mundane effects as planned changes in the
orientation of the spacecraft, interference from charged particles (plasmas) in
space and even atmospheric changes, rain and snow on Earth.

     Mars Observer, launched in September 1992, will reach the Red Planet Aug.
24 of this year.  Launched in 1989, NASA's Galileo spacecraft will arrive at
Jupiter in 1995.  The ESA Ulysses spacecraft was launched in 1990, and it will
fly over the sun's poles in 1994 and 1995.

     Gravitational wave research is supported by the Astrophysics Division of
NASA's Office of Space Science and by each of the three spacecraft projects,
which scheduled the radio searches during their interplanetary cruise periods.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_12_7.TXT

Mir Elset #945 16 March 93

 Mir
 1 16609U 86 17  A 93 75.91254648  .00024926  00000-0  30713-3 0  9458
 2 16609  51.6209 322.6880 0001944 133.1663 226.9438 15.60047896404746

 Satellite: Mir
 Catalog number: 16609
 Epoch time:      93075.91254648
 Element set:     945
 Inclination:       51.6209 deg
 RA of node:       322.6880 deg          Semi-major axis:  3653.1388 n.mi.
 Eccentricity:    0.0001944              Apogee altitude:   209.9148 n.mi.
 Arg of perigee:   133.1663 deg          Perigee altitude:  208.4945 n.mi.
 Mean anomaly:     226.9438 deg          Altitude decay:      0.0389 n.mi./day
 Mean motion:   15.60047896 rev/day      Apsidal rotation:    3.7531 deg/day
 Decay rate:     2.4926E-04 rev/day2    Nodal regression:   -5.0255 deg/day
 Epoch rev:           40474              Nodal period:       92.2432 min

   rev/day2    Nodal regression:   -5.0255 deg/day
 Epoch rev:           40474

Mark T. Severance
Code AR - U.S./Russian Programs Office
NASA-JSC