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"930114.DFC" (33665 bytes) was created on 01-14-93
14-Jan-93 Daily File Collection
These files were added or updated between 13-Jan-93 at 21:00:00 {Central}
and 14-Jan-93 at 21:00:52.
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930114.SHU
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT 1/14/93
SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Thursday, January 14, 1993
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
Vehicle: OV-102/Columbia
Current location: OPF Bay 2
Mission: STS-55/Spacelab D-2 Inclination: 28.45 degrees
Launch timeframe: February, wk 4 Nominal Landindg Site: KSC
Mission Duration: 8 days 22 hours Crew Size: 7
IN WORK TODAY:
- Spacelab D-2 Interface Verification Test (IVT)
- ammonia spray boiler sampling
- external tank door latch cycling
WORK COMPLETED:
- ammonia boiler servicing
- water spray boiler leak checks
- Spacelab potable water sampling
- installation of external tank door latches
- solid rocket booster stacking and leak checks in the VAB
- external tank mating to solid rocket boosters on Thursday 1/13
WORK SCHEDULED:
- Spacelab D-2 IVT through Saturday
- remove and replace helium regulator valve in aft compartment
- install Spacelab tunnel adapter
- preparations for aft main engine compartment closeouts
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:930114.SKD
DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 1/14/93
Daily News
Thursday, January 14, 1993
Two Independence Square,
Washington, D.C.
Audio service: 202/358-3014
% Tracking and Data Relay Satellite successfully deployed, now on station;
% Goddard controllers troubleshooting the Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer;
% STS-54 crew turns attention to education for school program tomorrow;
% Sunday spacewalk will help develop construction methods for space station.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Following yesterday's successful launch of Endeavour, the five-person crew set
about to deploy NASA's fifth Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. At shortly
after 3:00 pm EST yesterday, STS-54 mission specialist Mario Runco flipped the
switch which released the TDRS-F and its attached Inertial Upper Stage from
Endeavour's payload bay retaining device. Mission commander John Casper then
eased Endeavour away from the then-orbiting TDRS and maneuvered the orbiter to
a safe distance for the TDRS upper stage ignition.
Inertial Upper Stage flight controllers, located at the Air Force space control
facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., then took over mission management of the TDRS
for the subsequent two firings of its upper stage and final positioning into
its geosynchronous orbit. The Sunnyvale team reported all the firings on the
IUS were completely nominal and the spacecraft is presently being maneuvered to
its planned 62 degrees West Longitude position, where it will remain as an
operational spare communications spacecraft.
The Endeavour crew then activated the Goddard Space Flight Center's Diffuse
X-ray Spectrometer instruments and also activated a variety of other
experiments. The Goddard science team is now in the process of trying to
troubleshoot their instrument. Following its activation yesterday, the
instrument's sensors began fluctuating, causing the experiment's fault
detection system to shut it down. The Goddard crew is attempting to determine
if there are explainable reasons for the fluctuations in the instrument
readings. Sensors for the experiment are located on both sides of Endeavour's
payload bay and were designed to provide a high-resolution spectral view of the
background X-ray illumination which pervades our solar system.
Endeavour's astronauts turn into orbiting teachers tomorrow when the flight
crew begins their "Physics of Toys" demonstration to students located at four
schools from New York to Oregon. The demonstration is part of NASA's ongoing
space education program and will have the astronauts demonstrating that
ordinary toys, such as marbles and tops are obeying very stringent laws of
physics. The crew will be able to show the students how the laws of physics
are incorporated into the way a toy works and how that effect might be used in
an engineering project.
On Sunday, STS-54 mission specialists Mario Runco and Greg Harbaugh will exit
the crew cabin in space suits and perform a series of practice maneuvers
designed to refine the spacewalk training methods used in Houston and other
centers. This spacewalk will also have Runco and Harbaugh practicing a series
of moves with large or massive objects, including each other, as precursors to
the assembly of components for Space Station Freedom. Flight controllers and
trainers will be watching the crew perform to assess the difficulty factor of
one task versus another kind of task. This latter assessment is intended to
assist in the development of a set of task- oriented functions which can be
performed by one or more astronauts in the construction of the space station.
One way of looking at this mission's space walk objectives is to see the crew
performing a series of time and motion studies in weightless conditions.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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.
Thursday, January 14, 1993
Live
3:00 pm Mission status briefing from Johnson Space Center.
8:00 pm Replay of Flight Day 2 activities from JSC.
Friday, January 15, 1993
Live
6:34 am Middeck activities from Endeavour.
Live
7:14 am Crew interview from Endeavour with WOR radio station, New York.
Live
12:22 pm Physics of Toys educational program from crew with students located at
schools in Bronx, NY, Willoughby, OH, Portland, OR, and Flint, MI.
Live
1:54 pm Middeck activities from Endeavour.
Live
3:00 pm Mission status briefing from Johnson Space Center.
8:00 pm Replay of Flight Day 3 activities from JSC.
Saturday 16, 1993
Live
5:29 am Middeck activities from Endeavour.
Live
3:00 pm Mission status briefing from Johnson Space Center.
8:00 pm Replay of Flight Day 4 activities from JSC.
Sunday, January 17, 1993
Live
2:59 am EVA preparation activities from Endeavour.
Live
4:01 am Crew checkout of space suits from Endeavour.
Live
4:29 am Crew pre-breathe activities from Endeavour.
Live
5:14 am EVA crew exits airlock into Endeavour's payload bay.
Live
9:44 am EVA crew re-enters airlock after spacewalk activities.
Live
3:00 pm Mission status briefing from Json Space Center.
8:00 pm Replay of Flight Day 5 activities from JSC.
Monday, January 18, 1993
Live
3:19 am Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus activities from Endeavour.
Live
3:00 pm Mission status briefing from Johnson Space Center.
8:00 pm Replay of Flight Day 6 activities from JSC.
Tuesday, January 19, 1993
Live
7:29 am Scheduled time for de-orbit maneuver by crew aboard Endeavour.
Live
8:31 am Scheduled landing tme for Endeavour at the Shuttle Landing Facility,
Kennedy Space Center.
8:44 am Replay of landing video.
Live
TBD Post-landing press conference from Kennedy Space Center.
NASA Select TV is carried on GE Satcom F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees
West Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960 MegaHertz, 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:4_3_2_7.TXT
NATIONAL AERO-SPACE PLANE FACT SHEET
JANUARY 1993
Imagine a sleek flight research vehicle called the X-30...part airplane, part
spaceship... able to take off like an aircraft, accelerate into orbit around
Earth, then return through the atmosphere for a runway landing.
The goal of the National Aero-Space Plane (NASP) program is to test just such a
vehicle. The finest researchers in government, industry and academia are
working to bring together all the advanced aeronautical and space technologies
that the X-30 will need to fly successfully.
The X-30 will be a craft in the best tradition of the experimental "X-planes":
a research vehicle at the leading edge of aeronautical design made possible by
exciting breakthroughs in materials, propulsion and computers.
Ultimately, National Aero-Space Plane technology will be the key to a new class
of reliable and flexible space launch vehicles for the 21st Century and beyond.
Yesterday's Dream:
NASA and the Department of Defense have explored hypersonic (above five times
the speed of sound) technology and the concept of "single-stage-to-orbit"
vehicles for years. NASP research builds on flight experience with the highly
successful X-15 rocket plane in the 1960s, NASA Space Shuttle missions since
1981 and recent advances in propulsion, materials, structures, electronics and
computer simulations.
Today's Goal:
NASA and the Department of Defense jointly manage the NASP program.
Researchers are continuing to develop a wide range of technologies for the
X-30's engines and airframe. The decision to build and flight test the X-30
will be based on readiness of the technology, risk factors and cost.
Tomorrow's Reality:
To carry out our ambitious space plans, the nation needs an economical, readily
prepared and easy-to-maintain way to get into Earth orbit. The National Aero-
Space Plane program is a vital step toward achieving that objective.
The X-30 flight research will explore hypersonic aerodynamic, propulsion and
engineering areas. A step-by-step expansion of the X-30's speed and altitude
capabilities will pave the way for eventual orbital test missions.
Soaring eight times higher and faster than today's air-breathing aircraft, the
X-30 flight tests will focus on four key areas:
*Air-breathing engines to reach orbital speed (17,500 mph) with a final, small
assist from traditional rockets.
*Strong new lightweight materials that can withstand the tremendous heat loads
generated in extremely high-speed atmospheric flight.
*Highly integrated flight control systems.
*Single-stage-to-orbit design with runway takeoffs and landings.
The National Team:
The U.S. aerospace industry has been an important financial and technological
partner in the NASP program from its beginnings. Five of the country's leading
aerospace firms have formed a national team to cooperate in developing the
X-30.
Rockwell International, McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics are responsible
for work on the X-30's airframe. Pratt & Whitney and Rocketdyne, a division of
Rockwell, are focusing on the vehicle's propulsion system.
Government research laboratories also are making vital contributions in all the
technology areas. The prime contractors and government labs are supported by
more than 500 subcontractors-an important source of jobs and economic benefits
to the nation.
The Technology Challenge:
The X-30's basic systems-flight controls, thermal controls, propulsion and
airframe-must be fully integrated to fly over a broad range of speeds and
altitudes. The technology development efforts now underway are targeted on
several critical elements.
Propulsion
Air-breathing supersonic combustion ramjet ("scramjet") engines are being
designed to propel the X-30 at hypersonic speeds. The scramjets will burn a
mixture of hydrogen fuel carried onboard and oxygen scooped up from the
atmosphere.
A formidable challenge in designing scramjet systems is ensuring smooth,
efficient combustion of the supersonic flows inside the engine. Tests of
engine concepts in NASA and industry facilities have produced significant
advances in understanding the physics and chemistry that control the scramjet
flow field.
Government researchers and contractor design teams also are tackling the
challenge of propulsion-airframe integration. The bottom of the X-30's forward
fuselage will compress and feed air to the engine inlets at high speed. The
afterbody will act as a nozzle to increase thrust as the exhaust (mostly water
vapor) leaves the engines.
Slush hydrogen-part liquid, part frozen solids-will serve as a high-energy
fuel. The increase in density over conventional liquid hydrogen decreases the
volume of the X-30's fuel tanks, allowing engineers to design a smaller,
lighter vehicle.
Materials
To travel at fast as 17,500 mph, the X-30 will need new structural materials.
They will be stronger and lighter, offer better heat protection and be more
reusable than any now available. Some of these characteristics are attainable
with special alloys of titanium and aluminum or with carbon-carbon composites
(carbon fibers set and baked into a carbon-based binder).
Theoretical and experimental research is helping engineers learn how to
"design" new materials to survive extremes ranging from exposure to ultra-cold
liquid hydrogen to heat loads far higher than the Space Shuttle endures.
Supercomputers
Creating an aerospace vehicle as technologically challenging as the X-30 would
be impossible without supercomputers to generate aerodynamic and engineering
data that wind tunnel tests cannot.
The world's most powerful supercomputers, such as NASA's Numerical Aerodynamic
Simulation facility, have devoted much of their capacity to National Aero-Space
Plane research.
Why the X-30?
The NASP program uses some of the world's most sophisticated research
facilities, but flight tests will still be critical to the effort's success.
Even the best wind tunnels cannot perform sustained tests on large-scale engine
components above eight times the speed of sound. Supercomputer simulations are
indispensable, but the technical risk of building and flying an operational
aero- space plane based on simulations alone is simply too great.
The X-30 is needed as a "flying testbed" to do comprehensive research and prove
the technology under actual flight conditions.
The Payoff:
The United States leads the world in developing new aeronautics and space
technology. The breakthroughs coming out of the NASP program make it a perfect
way to maintain that superiority.
U.S. space and aeronautics activities have yielded billions of dollars in other
commercial applications-and the high-tech, cutting edge research being done in
the National Aero-Space Plane program will be no exception. Already it has
advanced the science of computational fluid dynamics, produced new materials,
pioneered aerodynamic design concepts and pushed propulsion technology beyond
its prior limits.
The National Aero-Space Plane program is a vital national effort that immensely
benefits America's civil, commercial and national security interests.
"The relatively modest expenditures needed to move the NASP initiative briskly
forward towards a technology demonstration flight program with an X-vehicle are
worthwhile, given the potential for a major breakthrough capability. This is
exactly the kind of revolutionary program NASA should undertake...."
-Advisory Committee On the Future of the U.S. Space Program
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 {29527 bytes} for inclusion in this collection.
The first line of the file:
- Current Two-Line Element Sets #125 -
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_42_5.TXT
STS-54 TV SCHEDULE REV B
***********************************************************************
NASA SELECT TV SCHEDULE
STS-54 TDRS/IUS/DXS
Rev B
January 14, 1993
***********************************************************************
NASA Select programming can be accessed through GE Satcom F2R, transponder
13. The frequency is 3960 MHz with an orbital position of 72 degrees west
longitude. This is a full transponder service and will be operational 24
hours a day.
Two hour edited programs of each flight day will be replayed for Hawaii and
Alaska on Galaxy 6, transponder 19, channel 19. The orbital position is 99
degrees west longitude, with a frequency of 4080 MHz. Audio is 6.2 and 6.8
MHz. The programs will begin on launch day and continue through landing,
airing at 11 pm Central time.
This NASA Select Television schedule of mission coverage is available on
Comstore, the mission TV schedule computer bulletin board service. Call
713-483-5817, and follow the prompts to access this service.
Launch occurred at 7:59 am Central Time, Wednesday, January 13.
* Denotes change from previous revision.
----------------------- Thursday, January 14 -------------------------
FD2
ORBIT SUBJECT SITE MET CST
21 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 01/06:01 02:00 PM
21 * NASA SELECT ORIGINATION GSFC 01/06:31 02:30 PM
SWITCHED TO GSFC
21 * DXS PAYLOAD SUMMARY GSFC 01/06:31 02:30 PM
21 * NASA SELECT ORIGINATION JSC 01/07:01 03:00 PM
SWITCHED TO JSC
23 CREW SLEEP 01/09:30 05:29 PM
26 REPLAY OF FD 2 ACTIVITIES JSC 01/11:01 07:00 PM
-------------------------- Friday, January 15 -------------------------
FD3
28 CREW WAKEUP 01/17:30 01:29 AM
31 P/TV05 MIDDECK ACTVITIES TDRE 01/21:35 05:34 AM
T=16:00
31 WOR RADIO INTERVIEW WITH CREW 01/22:15 06:14 AM
T=15:00
32 CONUS INTERVIEW WITH CREW TDRW 01/23:40 07:39 AM
T=20:00
34 DSO 802 - PHYSICS OF TOYS TDRW 02/02:53 10:52 AM
AUDIO/VIDEO CHECKOUT
T=15:00
35 * DSO 802 - PHYSICS OF TOYS TDRE 02/03:25 11:24 AM
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM WITH JSC
BRONX, NEW YORK
WILLOUGHBY, OHIO
PORTLAND, OREGON
FLINT, MICHIGAN
T=40:00
36 P/TV05 MIDDECK ACTIVITIES TDRE 02/04:55 12:54 PM
T=20:00
37 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 02/06:01 02:00 PM
38 CREW SLEEP 02/08:30 04:29 PM
40 REPLAY OF FD 3 ACTIVITIES JSC 02/11:01 07:00 PM
----------------------- Saturday, January 16 --------------------------
FD4
43 CREW WAKEUP 02/16:30 12:29 AM
46 P/TV05 MIDDECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 02/20:30 04:29 AM
T=50:00
31 * AP RADIO INTERVIEW WITH COMMANDER 02/21:40 05:39 AM
T=15:00
32 * CNN INTERVIEW WITH CREW TDRE 02/22:05 06:04 AM
T=15:00
31 * REUTERS INTERVIEW WITH CREW 02/22:45 06:44 AM
T=15:00
52 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 03/06:01 02:00 PM
53 CREW SLEEP 03/07:30 03:29 PM
56 REPLAY OF FD 4 ACTIVITIES JSC 03/11:01 07:00 PM
59 CREW WAKEUP 03/15:30 11:29 PM
------------------------ Sunday, January 17 ---------------------------
FD5
60 EVA PREP TDRE 03/18:00 01:59 AM
T=35:00
61 EMU CHECK TDRW 03/19:02 03:01 AM
T=20:00
61 EMU PRE-BREATHE AND AIRLOCK TDRW/E 03/19:30 03:29 AM
DEPRESS T=45:00
62 AIRLOCK EGRESS TDRE 03/20:15 04:14 AM
T=15:00
62 EVA TDRW 03/20:40 04:39 AM
T=15:00
63 EVA TDRE 03/21:15 05:14 AM
T=55:00
64 EVA TDRW 03/22:10 06:09 AM
T=12:00
64 EVA TDRW/E 03/22:40 06:39 AM
T=27:00
64 EVA TDRE 03/23:15 07:14 AM
T=30:00
64 EVA TDRW 03/23:50 07:49 AM
T=17:00
65 EVA TDRW 04/00:15 08:14 AM
T=30:00
65 AIRLOCK INGRESS TDRE 04/00:45 08:44 AM
T=10:00
68 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 04/06:01 02:00 PM
69 CREW SLEEP 04/07:00 02:59 PM
73 REPLAY OF FD 5 ACTIVITIES JSC 04/11:01 07:00 PM
74 CREW WAKEUP 04/15:00 10:59 PM
----------------------- Monday, January 18 ----------------------------
FD6
77 P/TV08 CGBA ACTIVITIES TDRE 04/18:20 02:19 AM
T=23:00
77 P/TV08 CGBA ACTIVITIES TDRW 04/19:10 03:09 AM
T=17:00
83 Ku BAND STOW 05/03:25 11:24 AM
(NOT TELEVISED)
84 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 05/06:01 02:00 PM
85 CREW SLEEP 05/07:00 02:59 PM
88 REPLAY OF FD 6 ACTIVITIES JSC 05/11:01 07:00 PM
90 CREW WAKEUP 05/15:00 10:59 PM
------------------------- Tuesday, January 19 -------------------------
FD7
96 DE-ORBIT BURN 06/22:30 06:29 AM
(NOT TELEVISED)
97 LANDING AT KSC KSC 05/23:32 07:31 AM
LANDING REPLAYS KSC 07:44 AM
POST LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE KSC TBD TBD
***********************************************************************
Definition of Terms
***********************************************************************
CGBA: Commercial Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus
CHROMEX:Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space Experiment
CST: Central Standard Time
EVA: Extra Vehicular Activity
FD: Flight Day
GSFC: Goddard Space Flight Center
IUS: Inertial Upper Stage
JSC: Johnson Space Center
KSC: Kennedy Space Center
Ku: Ku Band Communications Antenna
MECO: Main Engine Cut Off
MET: Mission Elapsed Time: day/hour/minute
PARE: Physiological and Anatomical Rodent Experiment
SSCE: Solid Surface Combustion Experiment
STS: Shuttle Transportation System
T=: Total Time of TV Downlink
TDRE: Tracking And Data Relay Satellite, East Longitude
TDRS: Tracking And Data Relay Satellite Payload
TDRW: Tracking And Data Relay Satellite, West Longitude
VTR: Video Tape Recorder
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_42_7.TXT
STS-54 element set GSFC-006 (after OMS-4 burn)
STS-54
1 22313U 93 3 A 93 14.70340915 0.00043975 00000-0 14329-3 0 61
2 22313 28.4705 146.5180 0005262 252.4209 107.5827 15.89129301 192
Satellite: STS-54
Catalog number: 22313
Epoch time: 93014.70340915 (14 JAN 93 16:52:54.55 UTC)
Element set: GSFC-006
Inclination: 28.4705 deg
RA of node: 146.5180 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-54
Eccentricity: 0.0005262 Keplerian Elements
Arg of perigee: 252.4209 deg
Mean anomaly: 107.5827 deg
Mean motion: 15.89129301 rev/day Semi-major Axis: 6682.8550 Km
Decay rate: 0.44E-03 rev/day*2 Apogee Alt: 307.98 Km
Epoch rev: 19 Perigee Alt: 300.95 Km
NOTE - This element set is based on NORAD element set # 006.
The spacecraft has been propagated to the next ascending
node, and the orbit number has been adjusted to bring it
into agreement with the NASA numbering convention.
R.A. Parise, Goddard Space Flight Center
G.L.CARMAN
STS-54
FLIGHT DAY 2 STATE VECTOR (ACTUAL)
ON ORBIT OPERATIONS
(Posted 01/14/93 by Bruce Williamson)
The following vector for the flight of STS-54 is provided by NASA
Johnson Space Center Flight Design and Dynamics Division for use in
ground track plotting programs. The vector is valid for flight
day two. The vector represents the trajectory of Endeavour after
the OMS-4 maneuver.
Lift off Time : 1993/013/13:59:29.953
Lift off Date : 01/13/93
Vector Time (GMT) : 014/16:13:00.903
Vector Time (MET) : 001/02:13:30.950
Orbit Count : 18
Weight : 209019.7 LBS
Drag Coefficient : 2.00
Drag Area : 1208.5 SQ FT
M50 Elements Keplerian Elements
----------------------- --------------------------
X = 20836118.2 FT A = 3611.6931 NM
Y = -5590779.3 FT E = 0.0013231
Z = -3861568.0 FT I (M50) = 28.61707 DEG
Xdot = 3908.666203 FT/S Wp (M50) = 201.12124 DEG
Ydot = 22367.254284 FT/S RAAN (M50) = 145.82815 DEG
Zdot = -11294.607887 FT/S / N (True) = 0.46382 DEG
Anomalies \ M (Mean) = 0.46260 DEG
Ha = 164.11681 NM
Hp = 162.93178 NM
Mean of 1950 (M50) : Inertial, right-handed Cartesian system whose
Coordinate System origin is the center of the earth. The epoch
is the beginning of the Besselian year 1950.
X axis: Mean vernal equinox of epoch
Z axis: Earth's mean rotational axis of epoch
Y axis: Completes right-hand system
A: Semi-major axis
E: Eccentricity N: True anomaly
I: Inclination M: Mean anomaly
Wp: Argument of perigee Ha: Height of apogee
RAAN: Right ascension of ascending node Hp: Height of perigee
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_42_9_5.TXT
STS-54 Status Report #3
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Thursday, January 14, 1993, 7 a.m. CST
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite F, released from Endeavour's cargo bay
yesterday, has reached it's initial destination following two successful
booster firings. The inertial upper stage booster fired twice yesterday,
capping a highly successful first day for the crew of Endeavour.
Late last night, payload controllers at the Goddard Space Flight Center decided
to temporarily stow the Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer instrument while experts
investigate fluctuations in the readings of detectors mounted on both sides of
the payload bay.
Detectors on the DXS -- designed to study the interstellar medium, or that
portion of space that exists between stars -- automatically shut down when the
sensors began recording the fluctuations. Investigators are using the first
three orbital night passes in the crew's day to troubleshoot the instruments
(orbits 15, 16 & 17).
In place of DXS, the crew is performing a test to evaluate the effectiveness of
the Shuttle's star trackers to help in the alignment of the onboard navigation
system by pinpointing specific stars through the upper layers of the Earth's
atmosphere. This experiment had been scheduled for later in the flight as time
allowed.
The astronauts have also begun work with several other experiments including
one that will collect information on various biomaterials that could provide
information to better understand diseases and disorders that affect human
health, including cancer, osteoporosis and AIDS. Called the Commercial Generic
Bioprocessing Apparatus, the experiment could help in the development and
testing of new drugs to treat these diseases.
Just after 10 this morning, Endeavour's crew will perform an on- orbit adjust
burn to lower the high point of the orbit to protect two landing opportunities
at the Kennedy Space Center on the 19th, 20th and 21st.
Endeavour is performing well with no serious problems being worked by the
flight control team. The current orbit is 178 by 162 nautical miles.
* * *
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_42_9_6.TXT
STATUS REPORT
DIFFUSE X-RAY SPECTROMETER
January 14, 1993 4 p.m. EST
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
The Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS) was successfully activated on orbit
soon after Endeavor's payload bay doors were opened about 90 minutes into the
mission. All systems were operational and no problems were encountered. DXS
then remained in standby mode until after the TDRS satellite was deployed on
orbit 6. At that time, a preliminary checkout of DXS was completed-- including
internal calibration and gas flushes--and no problems were indicated.
DXS science scanning began on orbit 7 with good results. Data was first
returned to the POCC at about 7:30 p.m. EST on January 13. Successful
scanning continued through orbits 8 and 9. On orbit 10, the starboard
instrument experienced problems with high radiation counts and high voltage to
the instrument was automatically shut off to protect the detectors. The port
instrument did not indicate any problem on orbit 10, but on orbit 11 the port
instrument also began to indicate abnormally high counts. To facilitate
troubleshooting, science scans were discontinued beginning with orbit 11 and
continued through orbit 18. Although DXS sensors were still indicating higher
than normal radiation counts, the instrument resumed collecting science data on
orbit 19 at about 1 p.m. EST today.
At present, DXS has collected and processed about 3,150 seconds of
high-quality data. Additional data is expected from playbacks yet to be
processed.
The nature of the problem has yet to be determined. A variety of tests
have been conducted within the past few hours to determine the cause of the
problem and all indications are that the instrument is normal except for the
increased count rate. The increased count rate has not been at a level high
enough to threaten the instrument. The problem was first encountered as the
orbiter passed over the South Atlantic Anomaly, an abnormally high energy
region of the Earth. It is not known if this environmental phenomenon was
responsible for producing the high count rates. Another possible reason for
the high count rates could be recent solar flare activity. Two small solar
flares were observed within the last few days and may be responsible for
producing charged particles that might be affecting the instrument.
At this time, attempts to diagnose the problem are continuing and in the
meantime DXS will continue to collect science data.
Approved by: Chris Dunker, DXS Mission Manager, GSFC
Dr. Wilton Sanders, DXS Principal Investigator, University of
Wisconsin, Madison.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-54 Status Report #4
Thursday, January 14, 1993, 5 p.m. CST
The Diffuse X-Ray Spectrometer is again examining the interstellar medium
surround our solar system following extensive troubleshooting procedures today.
During Orbit 10, DXS detectors recorded fluctuations in the sensing
instruments. The DXS scanners subsequently were shut down for the next several
orbits so payload operators could examine the anomaly. DXS operations returned
to the nominal timeline beginning with Orbit 19, and the twin scanners have
been receiving good data since.
As of 4 p.m. Central, good DXS observations had occurred on Orbits 19-21 and
continued operations are scheduled per the nominal flight plan.
Endeavour's crew filled its second day in space with secondary payload
activities. All five astronauts worked with a specially designed rowing
machine for an aerobic exercise investigation. Crew members also tested a
rotating cellular growth device.
Commander John Casper and Pilot Don McMonagle also guided Endeavour through a
firing of the right Orbital Maneuvering System engine to circularize
Endeavour's orbit. The burn maximizes the landing opportunities for the end of
STS-54. Endeavour is now in a 164 by 163 n.m. orbit.
Endeavour continues to perform in an outstanding fashion, and flight
controllers have no system failures to monitor at this time. The flight
control team also reports that the new Waste Collection System is working very
well thus far into the flight.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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