Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/DAILY_2/930701.DFC

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"930701.DFC" (18928 bytes) was created on 07-01-93

01-Jul-93 Daily File Collection
   These files were added or updated between 30-Jun-93 at 21:00:00 {Central}
                                         and 01-Jul-93 at 21:00:27.

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7/01/93:  LAUNCH DATE SET FOR STS-51/DISCOVERY

Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.             July 1, 1993

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.


NOTE TO EDITORS:  N93-38

        Following today's STS-51 Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center, Fla., mission managers targeted July 17 at 9:22 a.m.  EDT for
launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on its 17th flight.

        Primary payload activity on the 9-day mission will include deployment
of an Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), and deployment and
retrieval of the German- built ORFEUS-SPAS astrophysics free-flier.  A 6-hour
Extra Vehicular Activity, or space walk, will also be performed by two
astronauts.

        Commanding the STS-51 crew is Frank Culbertson who will be making his
second space flight.  Pilot Bill Readdy has also flown once in space.  Three
mission specialists, each flying for the first time, round out the 5-man crew:
Jim Newman, Dan Bursch and Carl Walz.

- end -
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930701.SKD

DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 7-1-93

Daily News
Thursday, July 1, 1993
Two Independence Square; Washington, D.C.
Audio Service:202/358-3014


 % Endeavour lands safely at KSC;
 % Preparations for STS-51 continue;
 % A primary payload arrives at Cape for STS-60 mission.


After an extended mission, Space Shuttle Endeavour successfully landed at the
Kennedy Space at 8:52 a.m.  EDT. The landing concluded Endeavour's STS-57
mission which retrieved the EURECA satellite and conducted experiments in the
Spacehab module.  The post-flight press briefing for this mission is scheduled
for July 13 at 3:00 p.m.  EDT.

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

Following the flight readiness review for Space Shuttle' Discovery's STS-51
mission, NASA officials have targeted July 17 at 9:22 a.m.  EDT as the launch
date.

Technicians continue to prepare Discovery for its upcoming launch.  They plan
to conduct helium signature leak checks Friday. The mechanical connections
between the Shuttle and the pad have been established.

The STS-51 mission is planned for 9 days and will carry the Advanced
Communications Technology Satellite and deploy and retrieve the ORFEUS-SPAS
astrophysics free-flier.  A 6-hour spacwalk is also planned for this mission.

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


A primary payload for the Discovery's STS-60 mission, the Wake Shield Facility
(WSF) has arrived at Cape Canaveral to begin final prelaunch assembly and
checkout.  This spacecraft will fly on Discovery's mission targeted for launch
the second week in November.

The Wake Shield Facility is 12 feet in diameter and includes a communications
and avionics system, solar cells and batteries, and a propulsion thruster.  The
WSF experiment will attempt to grow innovative thin film materials for use in
electronics.

The spacecraft will be deployed by the Remote Manipulator Arm and fly in
formation with Discovery at a distance of up to 46 statute miles from the
orbiter for 56 hours.  It then will be retrieved from space by the Remote
Manipulator Arm.

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


         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.


NASA TV will provide continuous coverage of the STS-57 mission

Live    1:30 pm STS-57 Post-landing News Conference


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
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930701A.REL

7/01/93:  STS-57 POSTFLIGHT CREW BRIEFINGS SET FOR JULY 13

Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                          July 1, 1993

Kari Fluegel
Johnson Space Center, Houston



NOTE TO EDITORS:  N93-39

        STS-57 crew members will meet with the press July 13 to discuss the
sights and sounds of their 10-day mission to retrieve a European science
satellite and to initiate a new commercial experiment module.

        The post-flight press conference, at which crew members will narrate
film highlights, from their flight will begin at 3 p.m.  EDT, July 13 in the
news conference room at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

        STS-57 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center June 21 on the Space
Shuttle Endeavour and landed at 8:52 a.m.  EDT July 1.  Mission highlights
included retrieval of the European Retrievable Carrier with the Shuttle's
robotic arm; a five- hour, 50-minute, spacewalk by David Low and Jeff Wisoff;
and an assortment of experiments in the first flight of the Spacehab middeck
augmentation module.

        The press conference will be carried on NASA select television with
two-way audio for questions from NASA Headquarters and other centers.  NASA
Select programming is carried on SATCOM F2R, Transponder 13, located at 72
degrees West longitude.

- end -
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930701B.REL

7/01/93:  NOAA-I WEATHER SATELLITE LAUNCH DELAYED

Brian Dunbar
NASA Hq.

Jim Elliott
Goddard Space Flight Center

Pat Viets
NOAA/NESDIS

Release No. 93 - 88

A failure in the Redundant Crystal Oscillator (RXO) aboard the NOAA-I satellite
has forced a postponement in the launch of the weather satellite from
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The launch, which had been scheduled for July
13, is now planned for July 21, officials with the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) announced today.  The oscillator is a timing device that
regulates activities aboard the spacecraft.  A replacement unit will be
installed in the spacecraft, officials explained.  Launch time will be 3:02
a.m.  PDT, and the launch window is 10 minutes.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930701C.REL

7/01/93:  NASA SELECTS UPPER ATMOSPHERE INVESTIGATORS

Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                       July 1, 1993



RELEASE:  93-123


     NASA today selected nine principal investigators to provide experiments
for a new mission to study the elusive uppermost layers of the Earth's
atmosphere.  Six investigators also have been selected as interdisciplinary
scientists to study broad problems using data from two or more of the
experiments.

     These investigators come from four different universities, two of NASA's
research centers and four non-profit research and/or industrial laboratories in
the United States. Also, there are approximately 75 co-investigators involved
in the selected investigations from nearly three dozen institutions in the
U.S., while another 15 are from institutions in Canada, Europe, Taiwan and
Japan.

     The new mission, called TIMED (Thermosphere-Ionosphere- Mesosphere
Energetics and Dynamics), will study the atmospheric regions that lie roughly
between 40 to 110 miles (60 and 180 kilometers (km)) above the Earth's surface.

    TIMED consists of two nearly identical spacecraft in different circular
Earth orbits, to be launched aboard small expendable launch vehicles.  The
spacecraft will travel in orbits having inclinations of 95 degrees and 49
degrees.  The operating lifetime of each spacecraft is 24 months.

     The region of upper atmosphere TIMED will investigate, sometimes called
the "ignorosphere" by atmospheric researchers, is difficult to study because it
is too high for even the largest research balloons, which only reach a maximum
altitude of about 25 miles (40 km).  The region is still dense enough, however,
to quickly cause a satellite to decay from orbit.

     Most atmospheric research explores the lowest layers in the Earth's
atmosphere, the troposphere, where all terrestrial life exists, and the next
higher layer, the stratosphere, where large- scale weather patterns such as the
jet stream occur and in which modern jet aircraft routinely fly.

     The upper regions, which include the mesosphere and lower thermosphere,
are fundamental to understanding the Earth's atmosphere since they are the
"skin" between the life-sustaining lower layers and outer space.

     These regions absorb a considerable amount of the ultraviolet radiation
from the sun.  Also, they intercept the high energy atomic particles that come
from the Sun or that are accelerated by yet unknown processes within the
Earth's own magnetosphere, an area that surrounds the planet like a giant
cocoon.

     The most common evidence of the absorption of energy from high energy
particles are the northern and southern lights, or aurora, that can be seen
shimmering in the night sky at high geographical latitudes, especially during
the epochs of maximum solar activity which occur every 11 years.

     The TIMED mission is planned to have a nominal lifetime of 2 years,
sufficient to provide global coverage of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere
through 2 full cycles of the Earth's seasons.

     TIMED is the first of a so-called "intermediate" series of space physics
missions characterized by having a tightly controlled, pre-determined budget
caps and a limited, focused set of science objectives to be accomplished in a
pre-specified lifetime.  All of these limitations aid in establishing a fixed
cost for the entire mission, from beginning to end.  TIMED is currently under
consideration as a new start candidate.

     The TIMED mission is managed by the Space Physics Division of NASA's
Office of Space Sciences at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The project
management for actual construction of the payload and satellite have been
assigned to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

     The principal investigators and the names of their science investigations
selected for the definition phase of the TIMED mission are:

SELECTED EXPERIMENT (HARDWARE) INVESTIGATIONS:

Dr. James M. Russell/NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
"Sounding of the Atmosphere Using Broadband Emission Radiometry Experiment."

Dr. Thomas N. Woods/National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo.
"Solar Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Spectral Irradiance Experiment for the
TIMED Mission."

Dr. Timothy L. Killeen/University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
"A TIMED Doppler Interferometer."

Dr. Jeng-Hwa Yee/Applied Physics Laboratory-Johns Hopkins University, Laurel,
Md.   "Density and Temperature Spectrograph for TIMED."

Dr. Andrew B. Christensen/The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, Calif.
"Global Ultraviolet Imager."

Dr. Paul Mahaffy/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
"Temperature, Wind, Neutrals, and Ions Experiment."

Dr. Roderick A. Heelis/University of Texas, Dallas
"Electrodynamics of the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere, an Investigation to
Include an Ionospheric Dynamics Instrument for the TIMED Mission."

Dr. Stephen B. Mende/Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratory,
Calif.   "TIMED Imaging Photometer Experiment."

Dr. David W. Rusch/University of Colorado, Boulder
"Temperature, Ozone, Nitrogen Oxide Experiment."

INTERDISCIPLINARY (THEORY/MODELING) INVESTIGATIONS:

Dr. Guy P. Brasseur/National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo.
"Models of Chemical Dynamical Radiative Interactions in the Mesosphere and
Lower Thermosphere."

Dr. Jeffrey M. Forbes/Boston University
"Tides, Planetary Waves, and Eddy Forcing of the Mean Mesosphere, Lower
Thermosphere (MLT) Circulation."

Dr. Stanley C. Solomon/University of Colorado, Boulder
"Energy Transfer in the Thermosphere and Mesosphere."

Dr. Hans G. Mayr/NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
"Dynamics of the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere - Empirical and
Theoretical Models."

Dr. David C. Fritts/University of Colorado, Boulder
"A Theoretical and Observational Study of Large- and Small-Scale Dynamics
in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere in Support of TIMED."

Dr. Janet U. Kozyra/University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
"Solar and Magnetospheric Inputs to the Mesosphere, Lower Thermosphere,
Ionosphere (MLTI) Region."

- end -
     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 element set #156 (30-Jun-93)

Mir
1 16609U 86 17  A 93181.96956308  .00008535  00000-0  11560-3 0  1564
2 16609  51.6187 150.2945 0005506 149.3659 210.7713 15.58586683421284

Satellite: Mir
Catalog number: 16609
Epoch time:      93181.96956308
Element set:     156
Inclination:       51.6187 deg
RA of node:       150.2945 deg          Semi-major axis:  3655.4217 n.mi.
Eccentricity:    0.0005506              Apogee altitude:   213.5002 n.mi.
Arg of perigee:   149.3659 deg          Perigee altitude:  209.4749 n.mi.
Mean anomaly:     210.7713 deg          Altitude decay:      0.0133 n.mi./day
Mean motion:   15.58586683 rev/day      Apsidal rotation:    3.7457 deg/day
Decay rate:     8.5350E-05 rev/day~2    Nodal regression:   -5.0148 deg/day
Epoch rev:           42128              Nodal period:       92.3298 min
Checksum:              331

G.L.CARMAN
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_45_11_23.TXT

STS-57 LANDING STATEMENT
July 1, 1993


After an extended mission, Space Shuttle Endeavour successfully landed at the
Kennedy Space at 8:52 a.m.  EDT. The landing concluded Endeavour's STS-57
mission which retrieved the EURECA satellite and conducted experiments in the
Spacehab module.  The post-flight press briefing for this mission is scheduled
for July 13 at 3:00 p.m.  EDT.

Endeavour's main gear touched down at 7:52:16 a.m.  CDT. Nose gear touchdown
occurred at 7:52:34 a.m. with wheel stop at 7:53:23.  Total mission elapsed
time for STS-57 was 9 days, 23 hours, 46 minutes, and 1 second.



     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_45_13.TXT

STS-57 POSTFLIGHT CREW BRIEFINGS SET FOR JULY 13

Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                          July 1, 1993

Kari Fluegel
Johnson Space Center, Houston



NOTE TO EDITORS:  N93-39

        STS-57 crew members will meet with the press July 13 to discuss the
sights and sounds of their 10-day mission to retrieve a European science
satellite and to initiate a new commercial experiment module.

        The post-flight press conference, at which crew members will narrate
film highlights, from their flight will begin at 3 p.m.  EDT, July 13 in the
news conference room at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

        STS-57 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center June 21 on the Space
Shuttle Endeavour and landed at 8:52 a.m.  EDT July 1.  Mission highlights
included retrieval of the European Retrievable Carrier with the Shuttle's
robotic arm; a five- hour, 50-minute, spacewalk by David Low and Jeff Wisoff;
and an assortment of experiments in the first flight of the Spacehab middeck
augmentation module.

        The press conference will be carried on NASA select television with
two-way audio for questions from NASA Headquarters and other centers.  NASA
Select programming is carried on SATCOM F2R, Transponder 13, located at 72
degrees West longitude.

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

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_46_5.TXT

7/01/93:  LAUNCH DATE SET FOR STS-51/DISCOVERY

Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.             July 1, 1993

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.


NOTE TO EDITORS:  N93-38

        Following today's STS-51 Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center, Fla., mission managers targeted July 17 at 9:22 a.m.  EDT for
launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on its 17th flight.

        Primary payload activity on the 9-day mission will include deployment
of an Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS), and deployment and
retrieval of the German- built ORFEUS-SPAS astrophysics free-flier.  A 6-hour
Extra Vehicular Activity, or space walk, will also be performed by two
astronauts.

        Commanding the STS-51 crew is Frank Culbertson who will be making his
second space flight.  Pilot Bill Readdy has also flown once in space.  Three
mission specialists, each flying for the first time, round out the 5-man crew:
Jim Newman, Dan Bursch and Carl Walz.

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

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_3_4_31.TXT

MAGELLAN STATUS 6/30/93

Magellan Status Report as of 6/30/93

1.  The Magellan Transition Experiment continues to go well after 309 orbits of
dragging through Venus' atmosphere.

2.  Over the past 24 hours the atmospheric density has increased more rapidly
than expected, so the Orbit Trim Maneuver (OTM) planned for tomorrow afternoon
has been rescheduled for 5:07 PM PDT today.

3.  The spacecraft's looping command sequence is designed to include an OTM on
any even-numbered orbit, and pre-set parameters are on-board for eight
variations of the maneuver, so the spacecraft controllers can enable an
"unplanned OTM" within a few hours.

4.  Based on doppler tracking data, the Navigation Team calculated the dynamic
pressure for a series of orbits to be over 0.36 N/m2. Even the 11-orbit average
reached the trigger point of 0.35 N/m2.

5.  This increase in the atmosphere was also evident in the temperatures on the
solar panels which peaked near 87 degrees C. This translates to a High Gain
Antenna temperature peak of 130 degrees C.

6.  The Navigation Team had noticed a similar rise in the atmospheric density
at the same local solar time during Cycle-4. The reason for the atmospheric
"blooming" is not well-understood, but it could continue for several weeks.

7.  Since today's OTM will be a "full up" maneuver, mission planners still
expect COTM10 to occur on July 8.  It will also have the effect of stretching
out the aerobraking period so that the orbital period does not shrink below 102
minutes by July 27.

8.  July 27th is the day Magellan will switch to a new pair of stars for
attitude control.  The new star pair takes into account the changing orbit
period and geometry as the mission goes into circular orbit operations.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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