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Text File | 1993-04-07 | 26KB | 661 lines

"930401.DFC" (24826 bytes) was created on 04-01-93 01-Apr-93 Daily File Collection These files were added or updated between 31-Mar-93 at 21:00:00 {Central} and 01-Apr-93 at 21:03:59. =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930330E.REL 3/30/93: SEDS Status MSFC STATUS REPORT: Small Expendable-tether Deployer System (SEDS) NASA engineers reported early this morning that the first mission of the Small Expendable-tether Deployer System (SEDS) appeared to be very successful. The demonstration of the tether deployment system began at 10:09p.m. with launch of a U.S. Air Force Delta II rocket at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The tether system was a secondary payload on the Air Force expendable rocket. "Based on the quick-look data we have so far, it appears we had a very smooth operation," said Jim Harrison of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Harrison is the SEDS project manager. "We had a very smooth operation." "We wanted to verify that a system like SEDS will deploy a tethered object successfully, and what we've seen tonight indicates that it will. Of course, we'll be studying the data in detail to get a complete understanding of how well the system operated," Harrison said. The SEDS payload, a 57-pound instrumented box, was spring-ejected from a deployer system mounted on the Delta II second stage 63 minutes into the flight, from an altitude of approximately 390 nautical miles (720 km). The deployment direction was downward, toward the Earth. The sequence of events for the SEDS mission was programmed into on-board control electronics. No ground commanding was involved in the SEDS operation. Telemetry monitored by NASA engineers indicates the tether and payload continued to unreel freely for about 75 minutes, to a distance of approximately 11.9miles (19 km). The programmed sequence of operations then called for the SEDS braking mechanism to be applied, gradually stopping movement of the tether and payload at the full 12.4 mile (20 km) deployment length. Following a 14-minute period in which the motion of the tethered payload could be studied, the sequence called for a cutting device to sever both tether and payload from the deployer. The tether and payload then drifted down into the Earth's atmosphere and burned up. None of the SEDS hardware was designed to be recoverable. To confirm that all of the mission events occurred as indicated by preliminary data, engineers will perform complete analysis of data from the mission. They hope to be able to characterize and understand the behavior of the tether, the payload, and the deployer mechanisms, and compare findings with pre-mission predictions. Instruments in the payload package will enable a detailed study of its motions during the entire deployment operation. SEDS is intended to demonstrate a low-cost method for using a tether to deploy small payloads, such as satellites, to higher orbits or downward toward Earth's atmosphere. It is also being flown to expand the limited amount of existing data on the dynamics of tethered bodies in space. A short video clip about the SEDS mission will be shown on NASA Select television on Tuesday, March 30. It has been scheduled to air at 12 noon, 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. EST. March 30, 1993, 1:30 a.m. Prepared by: Jerry Berg, MSFC PAO Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930331.SHU KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 3/31/93 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT Wednesday, March 31, 1993 Bruce Buckingham Mission: STS-56/ATLAS-2/SSBUV Orbital altitude: 184 sm Vehicle: Discovery/OV-103 Inclination: 57 degrees Location: Launch Pad 39-B Crew Size: 5 Mission Duration: 8 days Launch Date and Window: April 6, 1:32 am - 3:58 am EST IN WORK TODAY: * Pad closed for ordnance installation followed by hypergolic pressurization and fuel cell storage tank purges * Aft engine compartment closeouts * Launch countdown preparations in firing room 3 WORK SCHEDULED: * Continue troubleshooting on check valves on main engine number 1 when pad opens late tonight * Retest crew cabin electrical system * Temperature sensor checks on OMS crossfeed line * Hydraulic circulation pump retests (Thursday) * External tank purges (Thursday) * Crew arrival 10:00 p.m. Friday * Countdown begins 5:00 a.m. Saturday * Aft engine compartment closeout for flight (Saturday) WORK COMPLETED: * Mated orbital mid-body umbilical unit * Installed replacement check valve on engine 1 -------------------------------------------------------------- Mission: STS-55/SL-D2 Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102 Location: Launch Pad 39A Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours Crew Size: 7 Target Launch Date: NET April 24 IN WORK TODAY: * Remove and replace main engines. * Thruster drying and inspections * Liquid hydrogen actuator hose leak checks WORK SCHEDULED: * Continue installation and mates of main engines WORK COMPLETED: * Reaction control system regulator flow checks * Ordnance disconnects and safing ---------------------------------------------------------------- Vehicle: Endeavour/OV-105 Location: Vehicle Assembly Building Mission: STS-57/Spacehab/EURECA-Retrival Mission Duration: 7days/23 hours Crew Size: 6 Target Launch Date: May 18 IN WORK TODAY: * Electrical mates between orbiter and external tank * Umbilical closeouts and leak checks WORK SCHEDULED: * SRB hydraulic tests * Begin main engine installation April 12 * Rollout to pad 39-B targeted for NET April 19 # # # # Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930401.SHU KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 4-1-93 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT Thursday, April 1, 1993 KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham Mission: STS-56/ATLAS-2/SSBUV Orbital altitude: 184 sm Vehicle: Discovery/OV-103 Inclination: 57 degrees Location: Launch Pad 39-B Crew Size: 5 Mission Duration: 8 days/6 hours KSC Landing: April 14, 7:30am Launch Date: April 6 Launch Window: 1:32 - 3:58am IN WORK TODAY: * Continue leak checks for additional data points on check valves on main engine number 1 * Test crew cabin electrical system * Temperature sensor checks on OMS crossfeed line * Hydraulic circulation pump tests * Aft engine compartment closeouts * Launch countdown preparations WORK SCHEDULED: * External tank purges (Friday) * Crew arrives 10:00 p.m. Friday * Countdown begins 5:00 a.m. Saturday * Aft engine compartment closeout for flight (Saturday) WORK COMPLETED: * Open pad following hazardous operations * Ordnance installation * Hypergolic pressurization * Fuel cell storage tank purges NOTE: The extended weather forecast for launch of Discovery on April 6 shows a 50 percent chance of violating launch constraints due to cloud ceilings below 8000 feet and a chance of showers. A 24 hour delay predicts a 30 percent chance of violation, 48 hour delay a 20 percent chance. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mission: STS-55/SL-D2 Orbital Altitude: 160 nm Vehicle: Columbia/OV-102 Inclination: 28.45 degrees Location: Launch Pad 39-A Crew Size: 7 Mission Duration: 8 days/22 hours KSC Landing: May 3 Target Launch Date: NET April 24 IN WORK TODAY: * Install last (#1) of three main engines. Installation complete on engines number 2 and 3. * Thruster drying and inspections * Liquid hydrogen actuator hose leak checks WORK SCHEDULED: * Continue mates and electrical checks on main engines * Reaction control system regulator flow checks WORK COMPLETED: * Ordnance disconnects and safing ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mission: STS-57/Spacehab/EURECA-Retrieval Orbital Alt.: 250 nm Vehicle: Endeavour/OV-105 Inclination: 28 degrees Location: Vehicle Assembly Building Crew Size: 6 Mission Duration: 7days/23 hours Target KSC Landing: May 26 Target Launch Date: May 18 IN WORK TODAY: * Electrical mates between orbiter and external tank * Umbilical closeouts and leak checks WORK SCHEDULED: * SRB hydraulic tests * Begin main engine installation April 12 * Rollout to pad 39-B targeted for NET April 19 WORK COMPLETED: * T-0 umbilical leak checks * Hydraulic circulation and sampling * Liquid oxygen monoball closeouts # # # # Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930401.SKD Daily News/TV Sked 4/1/93 Daily News Thursday, April 1, 1993 Two Independence Square, Washington, D.C.. Audio Service: 202/358-3014 % TOPEX/Poseidon Observes Giant Waves; % STS-56 Prelaunch Preparations; % STS-55 Space Shuttle Columbia Update. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * As major storms hit the eastern part of the United States during mid-March, giant waves measuring up to approximately 40 feet (12 meters) high were observed in the North Atlantic by the U.S.-French TOPEX/Poseidon satellite. "The TOPEX/Poseidon mission studies the dynamics of the world's ocean currents by measuring the shape of the sea surface," states Dr. Lee Fu, Project Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Calif. The waves are measured by a device on board the satellite called an altimeter. Also, scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory in Mississippi report that their recent study of TOPEX/Poseidon data confirmed that the Kelvin wave pulse that was predicted in February has arrived at the South American coast as anticipated. A Kelvin wave is a large warm water mass that moves along the equator in the Pacific Ocean. These pulses sometimes contribute to the El Nino conditions in the eastern equatorial Pacific. TOPEX/Poseidon is the second satellite in the Mission to Planet Earth Program, NASA's long-term effort to study Earth as a global environmental system. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Technicians continue prelaunch activities to prepare Space Shuttle Discovery for the upcoming STS-56 launch scheduled for April 6. Workers continue to troubleshoot check valves on main engine 1 and will retest the crew cabin electrical system. Also, technicians plan to retest the hydraulic circulation pump today as well as purge the external tanks. The crew is scheduled to arrive at 10:00 p.m. Friday with countdown beginning at 5:00 a.m. Saturday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Technicians working on Space Shuttle Columbia plan to remove and replace the main engines and conduct liquid hydrogen actuator hose leak checks. Space Suttle Columbia's STS-55 mission is scheduled for launch no earlier than April 24, 1993. The STS-55 mission is scheduled to last 9 days and carry the Spacelab-D2 payload. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA 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, April 1, 1993 Live 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Technology Reinvestment Project Seminar. 1:00 pm Apollo 9: Three to Make Ready. 1:30 pm Life on Three Planets Beyond Earth. 2:00 pm Replay of Technology Reinvestment Project Seminar. Friday, April 2, 1993 12:00 pm NASA Today news Show. 12:15 pm Aeronautics & Space Report. 12:30 pm Research Project X-15. 1:00 pm Apollo 8: Go for TLI. 1:30 pm Universe. 2:00 pm Launch Box #1. 2:30 pm Possible Futures in Space. 3:00 pm TQM #70. NASA 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 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930401A.REL 4/1/93: DIAMONDS IN THE SKY CHALLENGE GALAXY EVOLUTION THEORIES Paula Cleggett-Haleim Headquarters, Washington, D.C. A Diane Farrar Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif. RELEASE: 93-58 Findings by scientists at NASA Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif., challenge the theories of how galaxies evolve. Scientists observed huge amounts of microscopic diaforming clouds in the Milky Way galaxy. This discovery contrasts with th e prevalence of softer hydrocarbons they observed in the thin space between clouds. The observations of these two independent and very different types of interstellar hydrocarbon dust suggest that the materials are not mixing as generally assumed. Astronomers have believed that materials flow freely between the dense clouds that coalesce into stars, planets and comets and the more tenuous regions between them. "We thought that the dust and chemicals in spiral galaxies -- rotating pinwheels of stars -- mixed freely over relatively short astronomical periods," said Lou Allamandola, head of the science observation team. "We were looking at star-forming clouds expecting to find simpler forms of hydrocarbons, molecules that make up materials similar to candle wax or gasoline. These molecules more easily form in the conditions of space," he said. "Instead of finding the expected simpler hydrocarbon molecules we found large quantities -- the equivalent of planetary masses -- of micro diamonds dominating every star-forming cloud we look at. This shoots a hole in a major premise of galactic chemical evolution theories," science team member Scott Sanford said. Saturated Hydrocarbons Missing "The surprise is that in the dense clouds, the waxy, saturated hydrocarbons are not there. Because of the slowly spinning spiral arms of the galaxy, we assumed they would be mixing," Allamandola said. Billions of tons of micro diamonds were discovered last year in dense star- forming clouds by this team. Like physicians using dye to track fluids in a human body, the astronomers used micro diamonds and other solid interstellar materials to track the movement and evolution of matter in space. "The current theory is that star-forming clouds form by gravitational forces in space. As their masses increase, so do the gravitational forces. Eventually stars ignite in the densest regions in galaxies. "The pressure from the light in new stars pushes outward, breaking up the remains of the clouds and pushing all the left-over material from the clouds out into space. Then the cycle starts again," Sandford said. "The carbon crystals of micro diamonds are good tracers because they're tough enough to stand getting kicked in and out of a star-forming cloud. You would expect to see them in both dense clouds and in the near-empty space between them," he said. "You would expect to find other materials such as ice crystals only in one environment. Ice crystals are present in dense clouds but don't survive in the diffuse regions between them because of heat and searing radiation. Once formed in the dusty, cold clouds, the ices are cooled and protected," said XanderTielens, another team member. "Apparently the shorter chains of saturated hydrocarbons do not survive the transit into dense clouds. This means that we don't understand how matter moves in and out of these clouds. This means that our models of galaxy evolution are flawed," Sandford said. The Allamandola team puzzled unsuccessfully for more than an year before originally identifying abundant microscopic diamonds in star-forming clouds. Having observed a prevalence of softer hydrocarbons surviving in the harsher regions between the clouds, they expected these or similar materials to be common in the dense clouds as well. "In retrospect, our discovery of microscopic diamonds should not have come as a surprise, because they previously have been found in several types of primitive meteorites," Allamandola said. Micro Diamonds Widespread The team's findings also eliminated specific sources for the diamond flecks found in meteorites. Their observations from Hawaii's Mauna Kea infrared telescope found micro diamonds to be widespread and very abundant, comprising 10 to 20 percent of all interstellar carbon. This suggests that uncommon star types or relatively rare supernova are not uniquely responsible for their formation. "Our observations support the theory that meteoritic diamonds form in many regions of space, either in carbon star atmospheres or as the result of carbon grains colliding at high speeds in interstellar space," Allamandola said. Their results are published in the current issue of Science magazine. The authors include Drs. Allamandola, Sandford and Tielens, Ames Research Center, and Dr. T.M. Herbst, Max Planck Institute, Heidelberg, Germany. This research is supported by the Space Science Division at Ames Research Center and the Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. - end - Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930401B.REL 4/1/93: NASA FY 1994 BUDGET BRIEFING SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 8 Donald L. Savage Headquarters, Washington, D.C. April 1, 1993 EDITOR'S NOTE: N93-016 The briefing on NASA's fiscal year 1994 budget request is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. EDT, April 8. The briefing will be held in the NASA Headquarters auditorium, main floor lobby level, 300 E. Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. Participants will include NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin and Acting Comptroller Gary B. Allison. A summary of the budget request will be distributed at the beginning of the briefing. The briefing will be carried live on NASA Select television (Satcom F2R, transponder 13, frequency 3960 MHz, 72 degrees west longitude). - end - Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930401C.REL 4/1/93: O'CONNOR TO MEET WITH PRESS ON APRIL 5 Bryan O'Connor, Deputy Director of the Space Station Redesign Team, will be available to meet with media representatives at 1 p.m. EDT, Monday, April 5. The meeting will take place in the OSF-2 Conference Room, 7D61 in the NASA Headquarters Building, 300 E. St., S.W., Washington, D.C. The conference room is on the east end of the 7th floor of the Headquarters Building. Signs will be posted to guide you to the conference room. O'Connor will provide a status briefing of the Station Redesign Team activities to date and answer media questions. The meeting will not be carried on NASA Select television. -end- Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930401D.REL 4/1/93: SPACE STATION REDESIGN ADVISORY MEMBERS NAMED Along with Dr. Charles M. Vest, recently named by Vice President Albert Gore to head the Advisory Committee on the Redesign of the Space Station, NASA has announced the names of representatives from government and industry and academic experts from across the country to participate in an independent review of the redesign options being developed by NASA. "I am extremely honored to have been selected to lead this important review panel. America's future in science and technology and as a world leader in space demands our utmost attention and care," said Vest. "We have assembled a diverse panel of experts that, I believe, will bring the appropriate measures of insight, integrity and objectivity to this critical task." The Advisory Committee is charged with independently assessing various redesign options of the space station presented by NASA's redesign team, and proposing recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the space station program. Space station international partners also are being asked to participate and will be named at a later date. The Advisory Committee will submit its recommendations in June. Advisory committee members named today include: Dr. Bobby Alford Mr. Frederick Hauck Exec. Vice President & Dean of Medicine President Baylor College of Medicine International Technical Underwriters Mr. Jay Chabrow Dr. Lou Lanzerotti President Chairman, Space Sciences Board JMR Associates National Research Council Dr. Paul Chu Mr. William Lilly Director, Texas Center for National Academy of Public Superconductivity Administration University of Houston Dr. Ed Crawley Mr. Duane McRuer Professor of Aeronautics & Astronautics President Massachusetts Institute of Technology Technical Systems, Inc. Dr. John Fabian Dr. Brad Parkinson President & CEO Prof. of Astronautics and Aeronautics ANSER Stanford University Dr. James Fain Dr. Robert Seamans Deputy Chief of Staff for Requirements Former Deputy Administrator Headquarters USAF Materials Command NASA Dr. Edward Fort Dr. Lee Silver Chancellor W. M. Keck Foundation Professor North Carolina A&T State University for Resource Geology California Institute of Technology Dr. Mary Good Dr. Albert "Bud" Wheelon Senior Vice President of Technology Retired CEO Allied Signal, Inc. Hughes Aircraft - end - Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_18_5.TXT NOTE: This file is too large {28007 bytes} for inclusion in this collection. The first line of the file: - Current Two-Line Element Sets #166 - Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_44_2.TXT NOTE: This file is too large {45203 bytes} for inclusion in this collection. The first line of the file: ATLAS 2 FACT SHEET Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_44_7.TXT STS-56 Predicted Orbital Elements The launch of STS-56 has been delayed one day to April 7 at 05:31 UTC. STS-56 1 00056U 93 97.29005902 .00055200 00000-0 16200-3 0 47 2 00056 57.0020 178.1670 0011289 286.7156 73.2672 15.91759473 23 Satellite: STS-56 Catalog number: 00056 Epoch time: 93097.29005902 = ( 7 APR 93 06:57:41.10 UTC) Element set: JSC-004 Inclination: 57.0020 deg RA of node: 178.1670 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-56 Eccentricity: .0011289 Prelaunch Keplerian Elements Arg of perigee: 286.7156 deg Launch: 7 APR 93 05:31 UTC Mean anomaly: 73.2672 deg Mean motion: 15.91759473 rev/day G. L. Carman Decay rate: 5.52000e-04 rev/day~2 NASA Johnson Space Center Epoch rev: 2 G.L.CARMAN Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_44_8.TXT NOTE: This file is too large {15621 bytes} for inclusion in this collection. The first line of the file: STS-56 TV SKED Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61 =--=--=-END-=--=--= =--=END OF COLLECTION---COLLECTED 12 FILES---COMPLETED 21:30:36=--=