Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT_ZIP/daily/921214.ZIP/921214.DFC

Text File | 1992-12-15 | 24KB | 546 lines

14-Dec-92 Daily File Collection
   These files were added or updated between 13-Dec-92 at 21:00:00 {Central}
                                         and 14-Dec-92 at 21:00:12.

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921130A.REL

11/30/92:  SOYUZ AS SPACE STATION EMERGENCY VEHICLE IS FOCUS OF MEETING

HQ 92-212/NASA-RUSSIAN ACRV MEETING


Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.              November 30, 1992

Billie Deason/Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston


RELEASE:  92-212

     A group of NASA and Russian officials began 2 weeks of working group
meetings today at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, to discuss the
feasibility of using the Soyuz TM capsule as a means of returning Space Station
Freedom crews to Earth in an emergency when the Space Shuttle is not docked at
the orbiting laboratory.

     NASA and NPO-Energia, a Russian company, will meet for the next 2 weeks
for a final review on the feasibility of using the Soyuz TM spacecraft as an
Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV) for astronauts aboard the space station.
Various concepts are being considered for the ACRV, one of which is the Soyuz
spacecraft.

     "Many configurations have been analyzed to support the space station, and
the Soyuz TM with its three-person capability may provide an interim solution
to allow an early permanently-manned capability for Freedom," said Jerry Craig,
ACRV Project Manager.

     This meeting continues efforts between NASA and NPO- Energia that began
earlier this year when the two entered into a study contract.

     A number of the Russian participants in the working group sessions were
previously involved with the highly successful Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
conducted between the U.S. and USSR during the 1970-1975 time period.  This
will be their first visit to JSC since that time.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921214.REL

12/14/92:  NASA SCIENTISTS PARTICIPATE IN RUSSIAN SPACE MISSION

Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                December 14, 1992

Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Jane Hutchison
Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.



RELEASE:  92-223

     Scientists from NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif., and
across the United States will participate in a Russian biomedical space mission
later this month.

     The Cosmos '92 "biosatellite" is an unpiloted, recoverable spacecraft that
carries plant and animal experiments.  About 8 feet in diameter, it is
scheduled for launch from Plesetsk, Russia, on Dec. 29 on an SL-3 launch
vehicle.  The mission will last up to 14 days, according to James Connolly,
Cosmos Project Manager at Ames.

     "This mission will address questions critical to understanding the
biomedical effects of prolonged space flight," said Dr. Rodney Ballard, Cosmos
Project Scientist at Ames.

     NASA investigators will study changes in bone and metabolism in monkeys.
They also will examine changes in eye movements and gravity receptors in the
inner ear and will analyze urine and plasma samples for signs of bone, muscle
and connective tissue breakdown.  The animals will be monitored during the
mission.  Scientists also will conduct post-flight studies.

     NASA personnel worked closely with their Russian counterparts to refine
in-flight measurements of physiological changes.  These measurements will
include body temperature, electrical activity of the heart and electrical
currents generated in active muscles during space flight.

     Some U.S. scientists will investigate changes in muscles, bone density and
the endocrine system.  Others will study the immune system, temperature
regulation and circadian rhythms.  Circadian rhythms are behavioral and
physiological rhythms, such as metabolism and sleep rhythms, that follow
approximate 24-hour cycles.

     NASA engineers and scientists also developed a portable linear sled for
use in the ground-based studies of eye movements and gravity receptors in the
inner ear.

     Cooperation between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union in space life
sciences began in 1972 with the signing of a joint agreement on the peaceful
and cooperative use of space.  Cosmos '92 is the eighth Russian biosatellite
mission in which NASA has participated.

     Ballard said the cooperative program has provided many benefits to
American life science researchers over the years, such as increasingly useful
results on how humans, animals and plants react to the weightless environment
of space.

     Connolly said the Cosmos missions have been particularly useful for
studies requiring longer exposures to microgravity. "These missions have
provided an experience base among American scientists and engineers that we can
and do transfer to the U.S. space program," he said.

     Nine U.S./Russian investigator teams, in addition to scientists from
France, Canada, the European Space Agency and Eastern Europe will participate
in the mission.  They will conduct more than 25 experiments on a variety of
living systems including seeds, beetles, fish, monkeys and others.

     Ames provides project management and experiment development for U.S.
participation in the Cosmos program.  The Institute of Biomedical Problems in
Moscow manages the Russian program.  Russia provides the biosatellite, launch
vehicle, flight hardware and biological specimens.

     The Cosmos Program Manager at NASA Headquarters is Lawrence Chambers. Dr.
Frank Sulzman is Program Scientist. The program is sponsored by the Life
Sciences Division of 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:921214.SHU

KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 12/14/92


           SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                   Kennedy Space Center
                   December 14, 1992

George H. Diller


Vehicle: OV-105/Endeavour
Mission Number: STS-54
Location: Launch Pad 39-B
Primary Payload: TDRS-F/IUS-13 + Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS)
Launch Timeframe: January 13 (tentative)
Mission Duration: 6 Days
Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Crew Size: 5
Nominal Landing Site: KSC


IN WORK TODAY:

- orbiter power is on through Dec. 23
- TDRS/IUS payload End-to-End communications test
- delivery of liquid oxygen to Pad 39-B
- orbiter/external tank quick disconnect purges
- preparations for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT)
- astronaut arrival for TCDT
- astronaut M113 orientation and driver training
- astronaut fit check of launch/re-entry suits


SCHEDULED:

- begin TCDT countdown 8:30 a.m. Tuesday
- astronaut pad safety training on Tuesday
- TCDT T-0 11 a.m. Wednesday
- TDRS/IUS launch simulation exercise Wednesday
- KSC Launch Readiness Review (LRR) Thursday
- main engine flight readiness test on Thursday
- Flight Readiness Review (FRR) on Dec. 22



SPECIAL TOPICS: At NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility at Edwards Air Force
Base, the ferry flight tail cone is being attached to Discovery. The orbiter
will be mated to the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft tonight.  Departure from
Edwards is scheduled for local sunrise on Tuesday, with arrival at KSC at Noon
Wednesday. Weather is marginal in east Texas and Louisiana which could extend
the ferry flight.

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

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921214A.REL

12/14/92:  HUBBLE DISCOVERY BRIEFING

Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.    December 14, 1992

Jim Elliott
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.



NOTE TO EDITORS: N92-108


    Pre-planetary systems discovered using the Hubble Space Telescope will
be the subject of a media briefing Wednesday, December 16, 1992, at 1:00 p.m.
EST, in the NASA auditorium, 400 Maryland Ave. S.W., Washington, D.C.

    Dr.  C. Robert O'Dell, Rice University, Houston, will present his
discovery of extended disks of dust-- a prerequisite for the formation of solar
systems like our own-- around stars in the Orion Nebula.

    Dr.  Ed Weiler, HST program scientist, and Dr. Steve Strom, University
of Massachusetts, Amhearst, will comment on the significance of the discovery.

    The briefing will be carried live on NASA Select television, Satcom
F2R, 72 degrees west longitude, Transponder 13.


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

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_12_14.TXT

11/30/92:  SOYUZ AS SPACE STATION EMERGENCY VEHICLE IS FOCUS OF MEETING

HQ 92-212/NASA-RUSSIAN ACRV MEETING


Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.              November 30, 1992

Billie Deason/Kyle Herring
Johnson Space Center, Houston


RELEASE:  92-212

     A group of NASA and Russian officials began 2 weeks of working group
meetings today at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston, to discuss the
feasibility of using the Soyuz TM capsule as a means of returning Space Station
Freedom crews to Earth in an emergency when the Space Shuttle is not docked at
the orbiting laboratory.

     NASA and NPO-Energia, a Russian company, will meet for the next 2 weeks
for a final review on the feasibility of using the Soyuz TM spacecraft as an
Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV) for astronauts aboard the space station.
Various concepts are being considered for the ACRV, one of which is the Soyuz
spacecraft.

     "Many configurations have been analyzed to support the space station, and
the Soyuz TM with its three-person capability may provide an interim solution
to allow an early permanently-manned capability for Freedom," said Jerry Craig,
ACRV Project Manager.

     This meeting continues efforts between NASA and NPO- Energia that began
earlier this year when the two entered into a study contract.

     A number of the Russian participants in the working group sessions were
previously involved with the highly successful Apollo-Soyuz Test Project
conducted between the U.S. and USSR during the 1970-1975 time period.  This
will be their first visit to JSC since that time.

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

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_12_15.TXT

12/14/92:  NASA SCIENTISTS PARTICIPATE IN RUSSIAN SPACE MISSION

Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                December 14, 1992

Debra Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Jane Hutchison
Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.



RELEASE:  92-223

     Scientists from NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif., and
across the United States will participate in a Russian biomedical space mission
later this month.

     The Cosmos '92 "biosatellite" is an unpiloted, recoverable spacecraft that
carries plant and animal experiments.  About 8 feet in diameter, it is
scheduled for launch from Plesetsk, Russia, on Dec. 29 on an SL-3 launch
vehicle.  The mission will last up to 14 days, according to James Connolly,
Cosmos Project Manager at Ames.

     "This mission will address questions critical to understanding the
biomedical effects of prolonged space flight," said Dr. Rodney Ballard, Cosmos
Project Scientist at Ames.

     NASA investigators will study changes in bone and metabolism in monkeys.
They also will examine changes in eye movements and gravity receptors in the
inner ear and will analyze urine and plasma samples for signs of bone, muscle
and connective tissue breakdown.  The animals will be monitored during the
mission.  Scientists also will conduct post-flight studies.

     NASA personnel worked closely with their Russian counterparts to refine
in-flight measurements of physiological changes.  These measurements will
include body temperature, electrical activity of the heart and electrical
currents generated in active muscles during space flight.

     Some U.S. scientists will investigate changes in muscles, bone density and
the endocrine system.  Others will study the immune system, temperature
regulation and circadian rhythms.  Circadian rhythms are behavioral and
physiological rhythms, such as metabolism and sleep rhythms, that follow
approximate 24-hour cycles.

     NASA engineers and scientists also developed a portable linear sled for
use in the ground-based studies of eye movements and gravity receptors in the
inner ear.

     Cooperation between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union in space life
sciences began in 1972 with the signing of a joint agreement on the peaceful
and cooperative use of space.  Cosmos '92 is the eighth Russian biosatellite
mission in which NASA has participated.

     Ballard said the cooperative program has provided many benefits to
American life science researchers over the years, such as increasingly useful
results on how humans, animals and plants react to the weightless environment
of space.

     Connolly said the Cosmos missions have been particularly useful for
studies requiring longer exposures to microgravity. "These missions have
provided an experience base among American scientists and engineers that we can
and do transfer to the U.S. space program," he said.

     Nine U.S./Russian investigator teams, in addition to scientists from
France, Canada, the European Space Agency and Eastern Europe will participate
in the mission.  They will conduct more than 25 experiments on a variety of
living systems including seeds, beetles, fish, monkeys and others.

     Ames provides project management and experiment development for U.S.
participation in the Cosmos program.  The Institute of Biomedical Problems in
Moscow manages the Russian program.  Russia provides the biosatellite, launch
vehicle, flight hardware and biological specimens.

     The Cosmos Program Manager at NASA Headquarters is Lawrence Chambers. Dr.
Frank Sulzman is Program Scientist. The program is sponsored by the Life
Sciences Division of 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:6_12_7.TXT

Mir element set 762 (14-Dec-92)

Mir
1 16609U 86 17  A 92349.50571873  .00021143  00000-0  29467-3 0  7627
2 16609  51.6217  66.4625 0001969 149.4747 210.6579 15.56867712390332

Satellite: Mir
Catalog number: 16609
Epoch time:      92349.50571873
Element set:     762
Inclination:       51.6217 deg
RA of node:        66.4625 deg          Semi-major axis:  3658.1119 n.mi.
Eccentricity:    0.0001969              Apogee altitude:   214.8980 n.mi.
Arg of perigee:   149.4747 deg          Perigee altitude:  213.4575 n.mi.
Mean anomaly:     210.6579 deg          Altitude decay:      0.0331 n.mi./day
Mean motion:   15.56867712 rev/day      Apsidal rotation:    3.7350 deg/day
Decay rate:     2.1143E-04 rev/day~2    Nodal regression:   -5.0015 deg/day
Epoch rev:           39033              Nodal period:       92.4318 min

G.L.CARMAN
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_3_5_2.TXT

SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS

The two SRBs provide the main thrust to lift the space shuttle off the
pad and up to an altitude of about 150,000 feet, or 24 nautical miles
(28 statute miles).  In addition, the two SRBs carry the entire weight
of the external tank and orbiter and transmit the weight load through
their structure to the mobile launcher platform.  Each booster has a
thrust (sea level) of approximately 3,300,000 pounds at launch.  They
are ignited after the three space shuttle main engines' thrust level
is verified.  The two SRBs provide 71.4 percent of the thrust at lift-
off and during first-stage ascent.  Seventy- five seconds after SRB
separation, SRB apogee occurs at an altitude of approximately 220,000
feet, or 35 nautical miles (41 statute miles).  SRB impact occurs in
the ocean approximately 122 nautical miles (141 statute miles)
downrange.

The SRBs are the largest solid- propellant motors ever flown and the
first designed for reuse.  Each is 149.16 feet long and 12.17 feet in
diameter.

Each SRB weighs approximately 1,300,000 pounds at launch.  The
propellant for each solid rocket motor weighs approximately 1,100,000
pounds.  The inert weight of each SRB is approximately 192,000 pounds.

Primary elements of each booster are the motor (including case,
propellant, igniter and nozzle), structure, separation systems,
operational flight instrumentation, recovery avionics, pyrotechnics,
deceleration system, thrust vector control system and range safety
destruct system.

Each booster is attached to the external tank at the SRB's aft frame
by two lateral sway braces and a diagonal attachment.  The forward end
of each SRB is attached to the external tank at the forward end of the
SRB's forward skirt.  On the launch pad, each booster also is attached
to the mobile launcher platform at the aft skirt by four bolts and
nuts that are severed by small explosives at lift-off.

During the downtime following the Challenger accident, detailed
structural analyses were performed on critical structural elements of
the SRB.  Analyses were primarily focused in areas where anomalies had
been noted during postflight inspection of recovered hardware.

One of the areas was the attach ring where the SRBs are connected to
the external tank.  Areas of distress were noted in some of the
fasteners where the ring attaches to the SRB motor case.  This
situation was attributed to the high loads encountered during water
impact.  To correct the situation and ensure higher strength margins
during ascent, the attach ring was redesigned to encircle the motor
case completely (360 degrees).  Previously, the attach ring formed a C
and encircled the motor case 270 degrees.

Additionally, special structural tests were performed on the aft
skirt.  During this test program, an anomaly occurred in a critical
weld between the hold-down post and skin of the skirt.  A redesign was
implemented to add reinforcement brackets and fittings in the aft ring
of the skirt.

These two modifications added approximately 450 pounds to the weight
of each SRB.

The propellant mixture in each SRB motor consists of an ammonium
perchlorate (oxidizer, 69.6 percent by weight), aluminum (fuel, 16
percent), iron oxide (a catalyst, 0.4 percent), a polymer (a binder
that holds the mixture together, 12.04 percent), and an epoxy curing
agent (1.96 percent).  The propellant is an 11-point star- shaped
perforation in the forward motor segment and a double- truncated- cone
perforation in each of the aft segments and aft closure.  This
configuration provides high thrust at ignition and then reduces the
thrust by approximately a third 50 seconds after lift-off to prevent
overstressing the vehicle during maximum dynamic pressure.

The SRBs are used as matched pairs and each is made up of four solid
rocket motor segments.  The pairs are matched by loading each of the
four motor segments in pairs from the same batches of propellant
ingredients to minimize any thrust imbalance.  The segmented-casing
design assures maximum flexibility in fabrication and ease of
transportation and handling.  Each segment is shipped to the launch
site on a heavy- duty rail car with a specially built cover.

The nozzle expansion ratio of each booster beginning with the STS-8
mission is 7-to-7.72.  The nozzle is gimbaled for thrust vector
(direction) control.  Each SRB has its own redundant auxiliary power
units and hydraulic pumps.  The all-axis gimbaling capability is 8
degrees.  Each nozzle has a carbon cloth liner that erodes and chars
during firing.  The nozzle is a convergent- divergent, movable design
in which an aft pivot- point flexible bearing is the gimbal mechanism.

The cone- shaped aft skirt reacts the aft loads between the SRB and
the mobile launcher platform.  The four aft separation motors are
mounted on the skirt.  The aft section contains avionics, a thrust
vector control system that consists of two auxiliary power units and
hydraulic pumps, hydraulic systems and a nozzle extension jettison
system.

The forward section of each booster contains avionics, a sequencer,
forward separation motors, a nose cone separation system, drogue and
main parachutes, a recovery beacon, a recovery light, a parachute
camera on selected flights and a range safety system.

Each SRB has two integrated electronic assemblies, one forward and one
aft.  After burnout, the forward assembly initiates the release of the
nose cap and frustum and turns on the recovery aids.  The aft
assembly, mounted in the external tank/SRB attach ring, connects with
the forward assembly and the orbiter avionics systems for SRB ignition
commands and nozzle thrust vector control.  Each integrated electronic
assembly has a multiplexer/ demultiplexer, which sends or receives
more than one message, signal or unit of information on a single
communication channel.

Eight booster separation motors (four in the nose frustum and four in
the aft skirt) of each SRB thrust for 1.02 seconds at SRB separation
from the external tank.  Each solid rocket separation motor is 31.1
inches long and 12.8 inches in diameter.

Location aids are provided for each SRB, frustum/ drogue chutes and
main parachutes.  These include a transmitter, antenna, strobe/
converter, battery and salt water switch electronics.  The location
aids are designed for a minimum operating life of 72 hours and when
refurbished are considered usable up to 20 times.  The flashing light
is an exception.  It has an operating life of 280 hours.  The battery
is used only once.

The SRB nose caps and nozzle extensions are not recovered.

The recovery crew retrieves the SRBs, frustum/ drogue chutes, and main
parachutes.  The nozzles are plugged, the solid rocket motors are
dewatered, and the SRBs are towed back to the launch site.  Each
booster is removed from the water, and its components are disassembled
and washed with fresh and deionized water to limit salt water
corrosion.  The motor segments, igniter and nozzle are shipped back to
Thiokol for refurbishment.

Each SRB incorporates a range safety system that includes a battery
power source, receiver/ decoder, antennas and ordnance.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=

=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_3_4_40.TXT

MGN STATUS 12/14

Magellan Status


Status Report of Magellan for Monday, December 14, 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.  The spacecraft performs a star calibration and reaction wheel
desaturation on each orbit.  Since Friday at this time, it has
performed 21 sets of these operations.  Two of the starcals were
partially successful, which means that the star tracker failed to
identify one of the two stars being scanned.  All other starcals and
desats were successful.

3.  Spacecraft temperatures remain in the expected range.  Bay 7,
which contains the CDS, is at 51.5 deg. C. with a cycle depth of 6
degrees.  Transmitter B peaks at 50.6 deg. C.

4.  The spacecraft has completed 6315 orbits of Venus; 670 so far in
Cycle 4, which will end on May 25, 1993.
     Source:NASA Spacelink    Modem:205-895-0028  Internet:192.149.89.61
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=--=END OF COLLECTION---COLLECTED 9 FILES---COMPLETED 21:05:04=--=