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"921202.DFC" (74882 bytes) was created on 12-02-92
02-Dec-92 Daily File Collection
These files were added or updated between 01-Dec-92 at 21:00:00 {Central}
and 02-Dec-92 at 21:01:07.
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921201.SKD
DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 12/01/92
Daily News
Tuesday, December 1, 1992 24-hour audio service at 202/755-1788
% STS-53 countdown continues to go smoothly, cold-weather forecast lightens a
bit;
% Ancient and distant precursors to modern Galaxies subject of Hubble briefing
today;
% Galileo's last visit to the Home Planet will be explained by JPLteam later
today;
% Tech 2002 conference opens today in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, 6000 to
attend;
% JSC begins 2-week meeting with Russians over use of Soyuz for crew return;
% Fourth NASA Town Meeting set for Dominguez Hills, Calif., this Thursday.
At this morning's countdown status briefing, Kennedy Space Center shuttle test
director Al Sofge presented a more favorable weather forecast calling for a
modest reduction in the probability that cold temperatures will violate the
launch commit criteria. The NASA space flight management team, now at KSC, is
reviewing details of the criteria and is expecting additional launch pad
temperature data to be acquired by the ice inspection team tomorrow. In other
countdown activity, the Rotating Service Structure was to be retracted from
around Discovery this morning. Preparations for liquid oxygen and liquid
hydrogen loading of the main External Tank begin tonight, at 10:39.
Launch is still set for 6:59 am EST tomorrow morning, December 2. The weather
outlook continues to improve for a launch on either Thursday or Friday.
Department of Defense payload officers this morning presented an overview of
the secondary experiments which will fly aboard Discovery for STS-53. Some data
acquired from secondary experiments on earlier DOD missions has been
declassified and was presented by U.S. Air Force Deputy STS-53 Mission Director
James McLeroy. One of the experiments to be flown again on this flight will
look at the latitude and longitude distribution of high- energy particles.
McLeroy presented data which strongly suggested that the South Atlantic Anomaly
drifts slightly and changes in size as a function of long periods of time. The
South Atlantic Anomaly is an area where the Earth's magnetic field dips,
thereby causing an increase in the population of trapped charged particles at
lower altitudes. It has been studied by NASA and Air Force scientists since
the early Apollo era.
Because STS-53 is a classified mission, there will be limited NASA Select
television coverage until DOD primary operations have concluded. Also, for
this mission only, there will be no NASA Select daily two-hour summaries made
available via satellite to Alaska and Hawaii.
Nominal mission duration is 7 days and 5 hours with a scheduled end-of-mission
landing at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility at 12:53 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Today, at 1:00 pm in the NASA Headquarters auditorium, astronomers and
astrophysicists working with the Hubble Space Telescope will present the first
detailed images of galaxies more than 4 billion light-years distant at a
special science seminar. The science team will also present Hubble telescope
images serendipitously taken of what may be the farthest-yet-seen cluster of
galaxiesPat a distance of 10 billion-light years. The implications of such a
find will be discussed by Dr. Alan Dressler, Carnegie Institution, Washington,
D.C., and Dr. Peter Stockman, acting Director of the Space Telescope Science
Institute, Baltimore, and a distinguished panel of NASA and university
astronomers. The science briefing will be shown live on NASA Select
television.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And this afternoon, at 2:00 pm EST, scientists and managers from the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory will discuss the upcoming Earth flyby of the
Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft. Galileo will fly by Earth at a distance of
304 kilometers (slightly over 190 miles) over the South Atlantic Ocean at 10:09
am EST Tuesday , December 8. (Yesterday's Daily News erroneously reported the
flyby would occur over the Indian Ocean at slightly higher altitudes). This
will be Galileo's third and final gravitational maneuver in its long trip to
the first of the giant gas planets - Jupiter. In addition to picking up the
last bit of angular momentum it needs to alter its solar orbit to actually get
to Jupiter, Galileo will include first-time ever polar surveys of Earth's moon.
Galileo will also observe its home planet for more than a week following its
flyby for scientific and calibration purposes. The JPL briefing will be shown
live on NASA Select television.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The third national technology transfer conference- Technology 2002-opened this
morning at the Baltimore Convention Center. The three-day conference is
sponsored by NASA, the NASA Tech Briefs magazine and the Technology Utilization
Foundation, and is spotlighting leading-edge technologies from NASA and other
federal agencies which have potential use by U.S. industry as new or improved
products or services. The conference this year features more than 120
presentations highlighting specific inventions which have commercial potential
in a wide range of fields, including: manufacturing, advanced materials,
computing, communications, microelectronics, biotechnology, energy, and
environmental science. The conference also features workshops for
manufacturers on patent licensing, cooperative research and the Small Business
Innovation Research grants.
Since the first conference three years ago-Tech 2000-it has grown to more than
triple the audience of that first effort. Nearly 6,000 engineers and business
managers are expected for this year's technology showcase. More than 60,000
square feet of display space will be filled with exhibits from all nine NASA
centers, other government agencies, universities and a diverse array of high-
technology firms. The conference continues through Thursday evening at the
Convention Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A group of NASA and Russian officials began a two-week meeting at Johnson Space
Center yesterday to discuss the feasibility of using the Soyuz TM space capsule
as a means of returning Space Station Freedom crewmembers to Earth in an
emergency situation during a period when a shuttle is not docked with the
station. Jerry Craig, Assured Crew Return Vehicle project manager, said his
team has looked at many combinations of vehicles and configurations and the
"Soyuz TM with its 3-person capability may provide an interim solution to allow
early permanently-manned capability for Freedom."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The next in NASA's series of Town Meetings will take place this Thursday, Dec.
3, in Southern California, on the campus of California State University
Dominguez Hills. The Town Meetings include presentations by top NASA officials
and invited individuals from universities and industry in the region of the
meeting. Members of the audience have several opportunities during the 4-hour
long events to raise questions or comment on the presentations. As with the
previous three meetings, the Dominguez Hills Town Meeting will be covered live
on NASA Select television beginning at 4:00 pm EST.
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.
Tuesday, December 1, 1992
Live 8:30 am Countdown status briefing from Kennedy Space Center.
Live 9:00 am Department of Defense STS-53 secondary payloads briefing from
KSC.
Live 10:00 am Other STS-53 payloads briefing from KSC.
Live 11:00 am Pre-launch press briefing with NASA and Air Force officials
from KSC.
Live 1:00 pm Hubble Space Telescope Astronomy Update program on distant
precurssor galaxie images.
Live 2:00 pm JPL Galileo Earth flyby briefing for the upcoming December 8
final flyby of the Jupiter-bound spacecraft.
4:00 pm 8:00 pm & 12:00 am-Programming repeats.
Wednesday, December 2, 1992
Live 2:00 am Live coverage for STS-53 launch begins.
Live 6:59 am Scheduled launch of Discovery for the STS-53 mission.
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:921202.REL
NOTE: This file is too large {19095 bytes} for inclusion in this collection.
The first line of the file:
12/02/92: UNITED STATES AND CANADA ANNOUNCE NEW ECOLOGICAL STUDY
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:921202.SKD
DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 12/02/92
Daily News
Wednesday, December 2, 1992 24-hour audio service at 202/755-1788
% Discovery and STS-53 crew safely in orbit, DOD operations underway;
% Hubble astronomy team presents picture of primordial galaxies;
% Space Station management will be further consolidated at Reston office.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Discovery lifted off this morning at 8:24 am EST following a
nearly-90-minute-long delay because of ice which had formed on the outside of
the External Tank in several areas. Discovery and its five-person crew are now
in a circular, 233 statute-mile-high orbit, with the payload bay doors open.
The launch itself, once underway, was completely nominal, as were the two
circularization firings of the orbiter's maneuvering system engines.
Discovery's 57-degree inclination mission is scheduled for a nominal
end-of-mission landing at the Kennedy Space Center shuttle landing strip on
December 9, at 12:53 pm EST.
At the post-launch press conference this morning at KSC, launch director Robert
Sieck and shuttle safety chief Brewster Shaw said this launch culminated a year
which had seen 7 of 8 launches go within a two-hour period of their scheduled
time. Sieck and Shaw also commented on the increasing efficiency of their
processing activities at Kennedy. Shaw noted that in the past two years orbiter
processing has been reduced by more than several thousand man-hours with no
sacrifice in either safety or processing. Shaw said they also were seeing a
decreasing number of change-out requests while the orbiters were in their
hangers and a decreasing number of problem reports. There also have been fewer
and fewer on-orbit anomalies as the various orbiters have flown, Shaw noted.
Shaw said he felt very comfortable flying eight missions a year and felt the
nation's space shuttle launch activities were achieving a proper level of
maturity. Shaw also said that, based on the findings of a special team
commissioned just about one year ago and on discussions held yesterday and this
morning regarding the impact on launch commit criteria of cold temperatures, he
felt NASA flight management was moving towards a modification in these rules.
Because STS-53 is a classified mission, there will be limited NASA Select
television coverage until DOD primary operations have concluded. Also, for
this mission only, there will be no NASA Select daily two-hour summaries made
available via satellite to Alaska and Hawaii.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Astronomer Dr. Alan Dressler, Carnegie Institution of Washington, at a press
conference held at NASA Headquarters yesterday, reported on and showed a
picture of precursor galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope during a
10-orbit, 6-hour exposure using the Wide Field/Planetary Camera. The Hubble
picture clearly shows a cluster of galaxies located 4 billion light-years away
(and hence 4 billion years ago in time) which have important implications for
cosmological theory. The present population of galaxies contains fewer than
ten percent spiral-type galaxies, one of several distinct types of galaxies
first catalogued by the telescope's namesake-Dr. Edwin P. Hubble- half a
century ago and coincidentally the type of galaxy our own Milky Way is.
The Hubble picture shows a much higher preponderance of spiral galaxies leading
Dr. Dressler, and NASA and university colleagues who accompanied him during the
briefing, to conclude that the early Universe was quite different and that the
environment then had a clear effect on the evolution of galaxies into those of
today. Dressler also pointed out several colliding or merging galaxies in the
image and dubbed this early epoch in the evolution of the Cosmos as a
"Cuisinart environment."
A principal goal of the Hubble telescope was to provide empirical evidence for
just this type of analysis, but, following the discovery of spherical
aberrations in the Hubble's primary mirror, astronomers had feared they would
not see images like this until following the scheduled shuttle servicing
mission late next year.
In addition to the stunning collection of precursor galaxies in the image,
Dressler also described a quasar which was captured in the same frame but which
ground- based spectral analysis showed to be 6 billion light- years further
away. The astronomy community has seen other 10 billion year-old quasars but
never before in the vicinity of other precursor elements to the Universe of
today. Dressler noted that the super-position of the galactic cluster and
quasar could be coincidental, but, because both are so unusual, he felt "there
is good reason to believe they are all members of the same cluster." This
cluster, along with others, will be examined in even further detail when the
corrective optical elements and a new generation Wide Field/Planetary Camera
are installed on the Hubble next year.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
NASA yesterday announced it plans to consolidate in Reston, Virginia, some
management functions for the Space Station program and create a contractor-led
integration team in Houston to ensure the successful construction and
deployment of the international project. The Agency will combine some existing
Headquarters management functions and present functions at the Reston office
into a new, consolidated, management team which will be based at the Reston
Freedom office. NASA will also establish a Joint Vehicle Integration Team in
Houston with staff members supplied by the three station prime
contractors-Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, and Rocketdyne. These changes will be
detailed in a transition plan being developed now by station director Richard
Kohrs.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select TV. Note
that all events and times may change without notice, and that all times listed
are Eastern. Live indicates a program is transmitted live.
Wednesday, December 2, 1992
NOTICE - until the completion of Department of Defense primary operations on
the STS-53 mission, there will be only periodic crew and vehicle updates. The
Mission Operations Control Room tracking display will continue to be broadcast
over NASA Select television, but no other TV activity will be broadcast until
the DOD activity for their classified primary payload has concluded. At that
time, NASA Select television will resume publication of a schedule.
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:921202A.REL
12/02/92: NASA TO BOOST CONTRACTING WITH SMALL, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES
Donald L. Savage
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. December 2, 1992
RELEASE: 92-216
NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin today announced that $310 million
would be set aside under a determinations and Findings (D & F) to ensure NASA
reaches the congressionally- mandated goal of awarding at least 8 percent of
its contracts and subcontracts to small, disadvantaged and women-owned
businesses.
The goal covers small business concerns or other organizations owned and
controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals including
women-owned businesses, Historically Black Colleges and Universities and
minority educational institutions.
"NASA is committed to meeting our self-imposed deadline of reaching this
goal by 1994," Goldin said. "These contracts will be in addition to our 8 (a)
procurements and will round out our strategy for emphasizing contract and
subcontract opportunities for small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs).
"I'm confident that Congress will support this determination as an
aggressive means of meeting the goal they set for us," Goldin said.
The law provides for exceptions to the requirement that government
contracts be fully and openly competed when the head of an agency determines
that use of other than competitive procedures is in the public interest.
Goldin said that without a means for limiting competition to small,
disadvantaged concerns, achieving the goal is problematical at best. He made
the announcement in a speech before the American Astronautical Society in San
Francisco.
During the first 6 months of fiscal year 1992 (Oct. 1, 1991 - March 31,
1992), NASA's total procurements were $7.932 billion. Of this, small,
disadvantaged firms received $128 million, with $34 million awarded to small
women-owned firms.
Greater Agency Emphasis on SDB Contracting
In addition to setting the target date for achieving the goal, NASA has
taken a number of other steps to improve SDB contracting and subcontracting.
These include elevating the position of the Director of the Office of Small and
Disadvantaged Business Utilization to the level of Assistant Administrator and
increasing the responsibility of the associate administrators and center
directors in achieving the 8 percent goal.
Also, a number of policies have been established which emphasize SDB
contracting and subcontracting, such as greater consideration in the early
phases of procurement, increased emphasis on SDB subcontracting in source
selections and greater consideration of SDB subcontracting in award fee
determinations.
Designed to be a one-time effort, the D & F contains a list of 26
requirements for contracts at NASA centers. The list includes a $70 million,
5-year support service contract at the Marshall Space Flight Center,
Huntsville, Ala.; a $40 million, 5-year contract to provide personal computers
at the Johnson Space Center, Houston; a $1 million contract for construction of
new roads at the Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.; and a $45
million, 7-year contract to provide technical, engineering and related computer
support at the Lewis Research Center, Cleveland.
Other contracts listed in the D & F include administrative support
services, hazardous material disposal, air traffic control support services,
various infrastructure improvements and maintenance contracts, analysis and
evaluation services, and Russian language liaison support.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_41_7.TXT
***********************************************************************
NASA SELECT TV SCHEDULE
STS-53/DOD-1
12/2/92
REV B
***********************************************************************
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.
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.
* Denotes change from previous television schedule.
* Launch occured at 7:24 AM CST on Wednesday, December 2.
NOTE: On-orbit television will be downlinked at crew descretion.
------------------------Wednesday, December 2--------------------------
FD 1
ORBIT SUBJECT SITE MET CST
----- ------- ---- --- ---
8 CREW SLEEP 00/11:00 06:24 PM
9 REPLAY OF FD1 ACTIVITIES JSC 00/13:36 09:00 PM
-------------------------Thursday, December 3--------------------------
FD 2
13 CREW AWAKE 00/19:00 02:24 AM
21 * MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 01/04:36 12:00 PM
Orbit 2 Flight Director-
Milt Heflin
21 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION JPL 01/07:36 03:00 PM
SWITCHED TO JPL
21 ADMINISTRATOR GOLDIN JPL 01/07:36 03:00 PM
TOWN MEETING
(Los Angeles, California)
23 CREW SLEEP 01/11:00 06:24 PM
25 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION JSC 01/13:06 08:30 PM
SWITCHED TO JSC
25 REPLAY OF FD2 ACTIVITIES JSC 01/13:36 09:00 PM
---------------------------Friday, December 4--------------------------
FD 3
29 CREW AWAKE 01/19:00 02:24 AM
31 ODERACS DEPLOY 01/21:58 05:22 AM
(not televised)
36 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 02/06:36 02:00 PM
Orbit 2 Flight Director-
Milt Heflin
40 CREW SLEEP 02/12:00 07:24 PM
41 REPLAY OF FD3 ACTIVITIES JSC 02/13:36 09:00 PM
-------------------------Saturday, December 5--------------------------
FD 4
45 CREW AWAKE 02/20:00 03:24 AM
53 * MISSION STATUS BRIEFING 03/07:36 03:00 PM
Orbit 2 Flight Director-
Milt Heflin
56 CREW SLEEP 03/13:00 08:24 PM
57 REPLAY OF FD4 ACTIVITIES JSC 03/13:36 09:00 PM
---------------------------Sunday, December 6--------------------------
FD 5
62 CREW AWAKE 03/21:00 04:24 AM
68 P/TV08 CREW CONFERENCE TDRE 04/06:15 01:39 PM
AUDIO/VIDEO CHECK
T=15:00
68 P/TV08 CREW CONFERENCE TDRE 04/06:30 01:54 PM
T=15:00
69 * MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 04/07:36 03:00 PM
Orbit 2 Flight Director-
Milt Heflin
73 CREW SLEEP 04/13:30 08:54 PM
73 REPLAY OF FD5 ACTIVITIES JSC 04/13:36 09:00 PM
---------------------------Monday, December 7--------------------------
FD 6
78 CREW AWAKE 04/21:30 04:54 AM
84 * MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 05/07:36 03:00 PM
Orbit 2 Flight Director-
Milt Heflin
88 CREW SLEEP 05/13:30 08:54 PM
88 REPLAY OF FD6 ACTIVITIES JSC 05/13:36 09:00 PM
--------------------------Tuesday, December 8--------------------------
FD 7
94 CREW AWAKE 05/21:30 04:54 AM
97 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION JPL 06/03:21 10:45 AM
SWITCHED TO JPL
97 GALILEO/EARTH/MOON FLY-BY JPL 06/03:21 10:45 AM
COVERAGE
99 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION JSC 06/06:21 01:45 PM
SWITCHED TO JSC
100 * MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 06/07:36 03:00 PM
Orbit 2 Flight Director-
Milt Heflin
102 Ku BAND ANTENNA STOW 06/10:00 05:24 PM
(not televised)
104 CREW SLEEP 06/13:30 08:54 PM
105 REPLAY OF FD7 ACTIVITIES JSC 06/13:36 09:00 PM
-------------------------Wednesday, December 9 ------------------------
FD 8
109 CREW AWAKE 06/21:30 04:54 AM
114 DE-ORBIT BURN 07/04:54 12:18 PM
(not televised)
115 NASA SELECT ORIGINATION KSC 07/05:24 12:48 PM
SWITCHED TO KSC
(time of switch approx.)
115 KSC LANDING KSC 07/05:54 01:18 PM
LANDING REPLAYS KSC TBD
POST LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE KSC TBD
ASTRONAUT DEPARTURE KSC TBD
***********************************************************************
DEFINITION OF TERMS
***********************************************************************
CST: Central Standard Time
DOD: Department of Defense
FD: Flight Day
JPL: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California
JSC: Johnson Space Center
KSC: Kennedy Space Center
MET: Mission Elapsed Time. The time which begins at the moment
of launch and is read: days/hours:minutes. Launch=00/00:00
ODERACS: Orbital Debris Radar Calibration Spheres
P/TV: Photographic/Television activity
STS: Space Transportation System
TDRE,W: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, East and West longitudes.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_41_9_2.TXT
STS-53 Launch 12/2/92
Discovery lifted off this morning at 8:24 am EST following a
nearly-90-minute-long delay because of ice which had formed on the outside of
the External Tank in several areas. Discovery and its five-person crew are now
in a circular, 233 statute-mile-high orbit, with the payload bay doors open.
The launch itself, once underway, was completely nominal, as were the two
circularization firings of the orbiter's maneuvering system engines.
Discovery's 57-degree inclination mission is scheduled for a nominal
end-of-mission landing at the Kennedy Space Center shuttle landing strip on
December 9, at 12:53 pm EST.
At the post-launch press conference this morning at KSC, launch director Robert
Sieck and shuttle safety chief Brewster Shaw said this launch culminated a year
which had seen 7 of 8 launches go within a two-hour period of their scheduled
time. Sieck and Shaw also commented on the increasing efficiency of their
processing activities at Kennedy. Shaw noted that in the past two years orbiter
processing has been reduced by more than several thousand man-hours with no
sacrifice in either safety or processing. Shaw said they also were seeing a
decreasing number of change-out requests while the orbiters were in their
hangers and a decreasing number of problem reports. There also have been fewer
and fewer on-orbit anomalies as the various orbiters have flown, Shaw noted.
Shaw said he felt very comfortable flying eight missions a year and felt the
nation's space shuttle launch activities were achieving a proper level of
maturity. Shaw also said that, based on the findings of a special team
commissioned just about one year ago and on discussions held yesterday and this
morning regarding the impact on launch commit criteria of cold temperatures, he
felt NASA flight management was moving towards a modification in these rules.
Because STS-53 is a classified mission, there will be limited NASA Select
television coverage until DOD primary operations have concluded. Also, for
this mission only, there will be no NASA Select daily two-hour summaries made
available via satellite to Alaska and Hawaii.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_41_9_3.TXT
STS-53 Status Report #1
Mission Control Center
Wednesday, Dec. 2, 1992, 9:30 a.m. CST
The Space Shuttle Discovery lifted off at 7:24 a.m. JSC time today after a
lengthy hold at the T-9 minute mark in the countdown to allow the sun to melt
ice that had formed on Discovery's external tank and to analyze upper-level
wind data from a weather balloon sent up at 6:26 a.m. CST.
The countdown went smoothly with no technical problems encountered. The ascent
phase of the STS-53 mission was near-perfect with only one minor sensor failure
noted. A sensor on the Shuttle's center main engine gave an erroneous
low-pressure reading, but correct data was available from other sensors in the
same area.
Discovery's payload bay doors were opened a few minutes after 9 this morning
and the crew was given a "go" for orbit operations. Air-to-ground
communications broadcasts are disconnected for the classified Department of
Defense payload operations. During the primary payload operations, television
transmissions from Mission Control are restricted to the world map and public
affairs mission commentary will be limited to Orbiter, systems and crew status
updates. Standard transmission of air-to-ground communications and mission
commentary will resume when primary payload operations are completed later
today.
Discovery is in a 200 nautical mile orbit around Earth at a 57-degree
inclination. All systems aboard the spacecraft are performing normally.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_2_2_41_9_4.TXT
STS-53 Status Report #2
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
Wednesday, December 2, 1992, 5 p.m. CST
Discovery is orbiting Earthin flawless shape with the crew -- Commander Dave
Walker, Pilot Bob Cabana, and Mission Specialists Guy Bluford, Jim Voss and
Rich Clifford -- winding down their first day in space.
The crew deployed the DOD-1 payload on time at 1:18 p.m. CST today. All
activities proceeded exactly as planned.
Later, the crew began activating several secondary experiments aboard
Discovery, including the Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor, or
CREAM, and the Radiation Monitoring Equipment, or RME, two devices that make
complementary measurements of the amounts of radiation in the crew cabin. The
crew also began a series of medical tests performed on many shuttle flights to
study the effects of weightlessness on humans. The two tests performed today
photographed the retina in the eye and measured pressure within the eye.
Discovery's crew will go to sleep at 6:24 p.m. CST and awaken at 2:24 a.m.
CST tomorrow to begin their second day in space. Discovery remains in a 200
nautical mile high circular orbit.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
=--=--=-END-=--=--=
=--=--=START=--=--= NASA Spacelink File Name:6_8_2_5_37.TXT
GALILEO
MISSION DIRECTOR STATUS REPORT
POST-LAUNCH
November 6 - 12, 1992
SPACECRAFT
1. On November 6, real-time commands were sent to turn the Ultraviolet
Spectrometer (UVS) instrument off in response to the anomalous state of the
instrument observed when the telemetry rate was configured to Low Rate Science
(LRS). Possible causes of this anomaly include the TCC-244 read disturb
problem. The UVS team is continuing its investigation of the anomaly and the
implementation of a recovery plan.
2. On November 6, delta Differenced One-Way Range (DOR) passes were performed
over DSS-14/63 (Goldstone/Madrid) and DSS-14/43 (Goldstone/Canberra). Initial
results indicate both of the delta DOR passes were successfully performed.
3. On November 6, a NO-OP command was sent to reset the command loss timer
for both strings of the Command and Data Subsystem (CDS) computer to 264 hours,
its planned value for this mission phase.
4. On November 6, the Plasma Wave (PWS) and Plasma Detector (PLS) instruments
were turned on. Spacecraft telemetry indicates the PWS search coil is
operating normally, even after the severe cold temperature environment it went
through during the High Gain Antenna (HGA) warming turn/cooling turn campaign.
Additionally, the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) memory was loaded and
checked by memory readouts, along with configuration changes to the
magnetometer sensor.
5. On November 7, the radio science gravity wave experiment system test began
and will continue through November 13. This system test is in preparation for
a joint experiment with Ulysses and Mars Observer in March/April 1993.
6. On November 8, a delta Differenced One-Way Range (DOR) pass was performed
over DSS-14/63 and preliminary indications are that it was successfully
performed.
7. On November 9, a NO-OP command was sent to reset the command loss timer to
264 hours, its planned value for this mission phase.
8. On November 11, a routine sun vector update was performed. This sun
vector is valid through November 25.
9. On November 12, the Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) motor was turned on
and the instrument stepped to Sector 0 which is the predicted least
contamination position in preparation for the execution of TCM-16 (Trajectory
Correction Maneuver #16).
10. On November 12, the Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM-16) memory load
was uplinked to the spacecraft without incident.
11. On November 12, Delayed Action Commands (DACs) were sent to turn the
Photometric Calibration Target (PCT) off/on and off again for the purpose of
Retro-Propulsion Module (RPM) tank pressure/temperature management.
12. The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements exhibited some change. The AC
measurement has ranged from 16DN to 17DN and now reads 17 DN (3.9 volts).
The DC measurement has ranged from 131 DN (15.3 volts) to 140 DN (16.4 volts)
and now reads 139 DN (16.3 volts).These measurement variations are consistent
with the model developed by the AC/DC special anomaly team.
13. The Spacecraft status as of November 12, 1992, is as follows:
a) System Power Margin - 72 watts
b) Spin Configuration - Dual-Spin
c) Spin Rate/Sensor - 3.15 rpm/Star Scanner
d) Spacecraft Attitude is approximately 7 degree
off-sun (lagging) and 8 degrees off-earth (lagging)
e) Downlink telemetry rate/antenna-7.68kbps (coded)/LGA-1
f) General Thermal Control - all temperatures within
acceptable range
g) RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range
h) Orbiter Science- PWS, PLS, EPD, MAG, HIC and DDS are
powered on
i) Probe/RRH - powered off, temperatures within
acceptable range
j) CMD Loss Timer Setting - 186 hours
Time To Initiation - 260 hours
UPLINK GENERATION/COMMAND REVIEW AND APPROVAL:
1. The Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM-16) design package was approved
by the Project on November 9, 1992. Also, the TCM-16 maneuver was approved
for transmission by the Project on November 12, 1992. TCM-16 is a one
portion maneuver scheduled to execute on November 13 consisting of one lateral
segment. The estimated total delta velocity for TCM-16 is .89 m/s.
GDS (Ground Data Systems):
1. A Telemetry Test was conducted with SPC-60 (Madrid Signal Processing
Center) on Tuesday, November 10 to isolate intermittent communication related
data losses being observed during flight support and to demonstrate performance
in the configuration to be used for Earth 2 high rate support. A
configuration was achieved which provided three hours of error-free
performance at the 28.8 kbps telemetry rate to be used for the Probe MST
(MCCC Telemetry Subsystem) and AFST. Prior to that period, there were data
loss problems and it is not clear what action at the station corrected the
problems (analysis of all logs and data is in progress). In addition, data
lock could not be maintained with the Type B TPA (Telemetry Processing
Assembly) at rates above 80.64 kbps. This same problem has been observed at
the other SPCs with Type B telemetry strings. This may reflect a performance
degradation introduced with the TPA B Op D software put on-line several months
ago and may be corrected by disabling recording of data at the TPA. Type A
TPAs do not exhibit this problem and will be prime for Earth 2 support.
Additional testing is being planned with SPC-60 early next week to demonstrate
the configurations that will be used for high rate Earth 2 flight support
including 28.8 kbps used for the Probe MST/AFST and 134.4 kbps used for high
rate science.
TRAJECTORY
As of noon Thursday, November 12, 1992, the Galileo Spacecraft trajectory
status was as follows:
Distance from Earth 20,040,300 km (.13 AU)
Distance from Sun 167,289,500 km (1.12 AU)
Heliocentric Speed 115,500 km per hour
Distance from Jupiter 926,895,300 km
Round Trip Light Time 2 minutes, 18 seconds
SPECIAL TOPIC
1. As of November 12, 1992, a total of 8649 real-time commands have been
transmitted to Galileo since Launch. Of these, 3660 were initiated in the
sequence design process and 4989 initiated in the real-time command process.
In the past week, 13 real time commands were transmitted: 1 was initiated in
the sequence design process and 12 initiated in the real time command process.
In addition, 5911 mini-sequence commands have been transmitted since
March 1991; 3753 were pre-planned and 2158 were not. In the past week, no
mini-sequence commands were transmitted. Major command activities this week
included commands to turn the UVS instrument off, reset the command loss timer,
uplink TCM-16 memory load, and reconfigure the PCT heater.
GALILEO STATUS REPORT
November 9, 1992
The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and
is transmitting coded telemetry at 7.68 Kbps (7680 bits/second).
Over the weekend, the Radio Science gravity wave experiment system test
began, along with a delta DOR (Differential One-way Ranging) pass over DSS-14
(Goldstone 70 meter antenna) and DSS-63 (Madrid 70 meter antenna). Continuous
tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 (Canberra 70 meter antenna) and
DSS-63.
Today, November 9, 1992, the Radio Science gravity wave experiment system
test is continuing with scheduled completion by Friday of this week.
Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Tomorrow, continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
GALILEO STATUS REPORT
November 10, 1992
The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and
is transmitting coded telemetry at 7.68 Kbps (7680 bits/second).
Yesterday, the Radio Science gravity wave experiment system test
continued with scheduled completion by Friday of this week. Continuous
tracking is scheduled over DSS-14 (Goldstone 70 meter antenna), DSS-43
(Canberra 70 meter antenna) and DSS-63 (Madrid 70 meter antenna).
Today, November 10, 1992, no spacecraft activity is scheduled.
Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Tomorrow, a sun vector is scheduled to be updated. Continuous tracking
is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
GALILEO STATUS REPORT
November 11, 1992
The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and
is transmitting coded telemetry at 7.68 Kbps (7680 bits/second).
Yesterday, the Radio Science gravity wave experiment system test
continued with the scheduled completion by Friday of this week. Continuous
tracking was performed over DSS-14 (Goldstone 70 meter antenna), DSS-43
(Canberra 70 meter antenna) and DSS-63 (Madrid 70 meter antenna).
Today, November 11, 1992, a sun vector is scheduled to be updated.
Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Tomorrow, the TCM-16 (Trajectory Correction Maneuver #16) memory load is
scheduled to be uplinked. Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14,
DSS-43 and DSS-63.
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GALILEO
MISSION DIRECTOR STATUS REPORT
POST-LAUNCH
November 12 - 19, 1992
SPACECRAFT
1. On November 13, the Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM-16) was performed
on the spacecraft. The maneuver used the spacecraft's lateral thrusters to
impart a predicted total delta velocity of 0.89 m/s. This maneuver was
executed at 1200 bps with the spacecraft pointed approximately 7 degrees off
the Sun.
The spacecraft's performance throughout the activity was nominal. All
RPM (Retro-Propulsion Module) pressures and temperatures and attitude control
indicators were near predicted levels. After the lateral burn segment, the
sequence planned pointing correction was executed; the sequence planned spin
correction was not needed.
2. On November 14, after completion of TCM-16, the Energetic Particle Detector
(EPD) instrument was moved from Sector O (TCM safe position) to Sector 5 and
scanning operation initiated to continue science data collection. The science
scanning mode continued until November 17 at which time the EPD was moved to
Sector 4 and the motor turned off. The EPD instrument is continuing to
collect science data in Sector 4.
3. On November 14 and 15, delta Differenced One-Way range (DOR) passes were
performed over DSS-14/63 (Goldstone/Madrid) and DSS-14/43 (Goldstone/Canberra).
Initial results indicate the four delta DOR passes were successfully performed.
4. On November 16, a periodic RPM 10-Newton thruster maintenance activity was
performed; 10 of the 12 thrusters were "flushed" during the activity. The
P-thrusters were not flushed because they were used to perform science turn
(SITURN) activities on the same day. Spacecraft performance throughout the
activity was normal.
5. On November 16, the spacecraft performed a 13 degree SITURN. The purpose
of the SITURN was to maintain the spacecraft within plus or minus 10 degrees
of the sun at the current solar distance. Real-time commands were also sent to
change the downlink telemetry format back to the Low Rate Science (7.68 kbps)
from the Engineering High Rate 1200bps (automatically selected in the maneuver
PA) to collect a unique near-Earth magnetosphere data.
6. On November 16, the Earth vector and Earth stars were updated to the
spacecraft's current attitude. This change implements the attitude maintenance
strategy required in the case of an AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control
Subsystem) POR (Power-On Reset). If a fault occurs which terminates the
currently executing sequence, the spacecraft will maintain its current
attitude.
7. On November 17, the Relay Radio Hardware (RRH) oscillators No. 1 and 2
were powered on in preparation for the Probe Mission Sequence Test (MST)
scheduled for November 20, 1992. Shortly after turn on the oscillator
temperatures increased to expected values.
8. On November 18, real-time commands were sent to turn the Ultraviolet
Spectrometer (UVS) instrument on, load and readout the UVS memory, and start
the UVS microprocessor. Three memory readouts of the UVS load were completed
and verified prior to turning the UVS microprocessor on. The instrument was
then configured to a nominal state with the master high voltage disabled,
G-channel selected, and the grating stepping. The UVS is now properly
configured for the start of EE-9 (Earth-Earth 9 sequence). The UVS
supplemental heater was turned off to complete the activity.
9. On November 19, real-time commands were sent to increase the telemetry
rate from 7.68 kbps to 28.8 kbps in preparation for the Probe Mission Sequence
Test (MST) on the following day. Additionally, Delayed Action Commands (DACs)
were sent to turn ranging off and two-way non-coherent (TWNC) on prior to the
MST and reconfigure to ranging on and TWNC off after the MST completes. These
actions were taken to optimize telecommunications performance during the Probe
MST.
10. The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements exhibited some change. The AC
measurement has ranged from 15DN to 17DN and now reads 15DN (3.5 volts).
The DC measurement has ranged from 134DN (15.7 volts) to 142DN (16.7 volts)
and now reads 142DN (16.7 volts). These measurement variations are consistent
with the model developed by the AC/DC special anomaly team.
11. The Spacecraft status as of November 19, 1992, is as follows:
a) System Power Margin - 80 watts
b) Spin Configuration - Dual-Spin
c) Spin Rate/Sensor - 3.15rpm/Star Scanner
d) Spacecraft Attitude is approximately 6 degree
off-sun (leading) and 16 degrees off-earth (lagging)
e) Downlink telemetry rate/antenna-28.8kbps (coded)/LGA-1
f) General Thermal Control - all temperatures within
acceptable range
g) RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range
h) Orbiter Science- PWS, PLS, UVS, EPD, MAG, HIC and DDS
are powered on
i) Probe/RRH - RRH oscillators powered on, temperatures
within acceptable range
j) CMD Loss Timer Setting - 264 hours
Time To Initiation - 260 hours
UPLINK GENERATION/COMMAND REVIEW AND APPROVAL:
1. The EE-12 Final Profile Design Product was approved by the Project on
November 13. This sequence covers spacecraft activities from January 20, 1993
to January 23, 1993 and from February 8, 1993 to April 12, 1993.
2. The EE-11 Preliminary Sequence and Command Generation products were
approved by the Project on November 17. This sequence covers spacecraft
activities from December 7 to December 28, 1992 including the Earth 2 closest
approach on December 8.
3. The EE-9 Final Sequence and Command Generation package was approved for
transmission by the Project on November 19, 1992. This sequence covers
spacecraft activities from November 23, 1992 to December 5, 1992. The
sequence is scheduled to be sent to the spacecraft on November 21.
GDS (Ground Data Systems):
1. A second SPC-60 (Madrid Signal Processing Center) Telemetry Data Flow test
was conducted on Monday, November 16. The test was successful in establishing
a configuration for the Probe checkouts. This configuration utilized two
Type A TPA's (Telemetry Processing Assemblies) in parallel, one configured to
the 56K full duplex line and one configured to the 224kbps Simplex line, with
Area Routing Assembly (ARA-1) as Prime and ARA-2 as backup. The only drop-outs
with this configuration were associated with "line hits" and were recoverable
on ARA ODR (Original Data Recording) replays. The test also successfully
demonstrated the configuration to be used to support 134.4 kbps High Rate
science at Earth 2. As a result of an excellent effort by DSN (Deep Space
Network) and SPC-60 personnel, data dropouts have been minimal this week.
TRAJECTORY
As of noon Thursday, November 19, 1992, the Galileo Spacecraft trajectory
status was as follows:
Distance from Earth 14,931,800 km (.10 AU)
Distance from Sun 161,989,800 km (1.08 AU)
Heliocentric Speed 118,300 km per hour
Distance from Jupiter 912,828,500 km
Round Trip Light Time 1 minute, 38 seconds
SPECIAL TOPIC
1. As of November 19, 1992, a total of 8684 real-time commands have been
transmitted to Galileo since Launch. Of these, 3660 were initiated in the
sequence design process and 5024 initiated in the real-time command process.
In the past week, 35 real time commands were transmitted: none were initiated
in the sequence design process and 35 initiated in the real time command
process. Major command activities this week included commands to reconfigure
the downlink telemetry data rate to 7.68 kbps, turn the UVS instrument on and
configure it for science data collection, turn the UVS supplemental heater off,
switch the telemetry rate to 28.8 kbps, and configure ranging and the TWNC for
the probe MST.
2. A training rehearsal for the GOPEX experiment operations was successfully
completed November 18th. The rehearsal was supported by elements of the
Galileo Flight Team (MCT, NAV, and SDT), DSN Ops Team and GOPEX operations
Team at Table Mountain Observatory (TMO) and Kirtland AFB.
GALILEO MISSION STATUS
November 12, 1992
The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the dual- spin mode and is
transmitting coded telemetry at 7680 bits per second, a change from the
1200-bit-per-second rate that was executed on November 3. The spacecraft is
less than 21 million miles (13 million miles) from Earth now, and that distance
is decreasing at almost a million kilometers each day. Galileo's actual speed
in its solar orbit is almost 32 kilometers per second (71,442 mph).
Today the command load for Galileo's sixteenth trajectory correction
maneuver is being transmitted to the spacecraft. The maneuver, amounting to
less than 1 meter per second in velocity change, will refine Galileo's
trajectory for its second and last Earth gravity assist, to occur December 8,
1992; that in turn will send the spacecraft to Jupiter in late 1995.
GALILEO STATUS REPORT
November 16, 1992
The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and is
transmitting coded telemetry at 7.68 Kbps (7680 bits/second).
Over the weekend, three delta DOR passes were scheduled over DSS-14/DSS-43
(Goldstone/Canberra), DSS-14/DSS-63 (Goldstone/Madrid), and DSS-14/DSS-43
again. Continuous tracking was performed over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Today, November 16, 1992, a routine RPM (Retro-Propulsion Module)
10-Newton thruster flushing maintainence activity, SITURN, and Earth vector
star update are scheduled, along with real-time telemetry mode change commands.
Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Tomorrow, no spacecraft activity is scheduled. Continuous tracking is
scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
GALILEO STATUS REPORT
November 19, 1992
The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and is
transmitting coded telemetry at 7.68 Kbps (7680 bits/second).
Yesterday, real-time commands were sent to turn on the UVS (Ultraviolet
Spectrometer) and configure it for science data collection, as planned. The
UVS is now properly configured for the start of EE-9 (Earth- Earth 9 sequence).
Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14 (Goldstone 70 meter antenna),
DSS-43 (Canberra 70 meter antenna) and DSS-63 (Madrid 70 meter antenna).
Today, November 19, 1992, real-time commands are scheduled to change the
telemetry bit rate to 28.8 Kbps. Also, DACs (Delayed Action Commands) are
scheduled for transmission. These commands will turn ranging off, TWNC on and
off, and then ranging back on to optimize the telecommunications performance
during the Probe Mission Sequence Test on Friday. A delta DOR (Differential
One-way Ranging) pass is scheduled over DSS-14 and DSS-63. Near continuous
tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Tomorrow, the Probe Mission Sequence test and a sun vector update are
scheduled. A delta DOR pass is scheduled over DSS-14 and DSS-43. Continuous
tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
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GALILEO STATUS REPORT
November 23, 1992
The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and is
transmitting coded telemetry at 28.8 Kbps (28,800 bits/second).
Over the weekend, the EE-9 (Earth-Earth 9) sequence memory load was
uplinked to the spacecraft on Saturday, along with performing delta DOR
(Differential One-way Ranging) passes over DSS-14/43 (Goldstone/Canberra) and
DSS-14/63 (Goldstone/Madrid). DACs (Delayed Action Commands) were also sent on
Saturday to perform wobble compensation on Monday in preparation for the Earth
2 encounter. Continuous tracking was scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Today, November 23, 1992, the Gaspra data playbacks are scheduled along
with turning on the SSI (Solid State Imaging Camera) and NIMS (Near Infrared
Mapping Spectrometer) instruments, performing science instrument calibrations,
and updating AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem) bright body
avoidance parameters. Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and
DSS-63.
Tomorrow, Gaspra data playback are scheduled along with science instrument
calibrations. Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
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GALILEO STATUS REPORT
November 24, 1992
The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and is
transmitting coded telemetry at 28.8 Kbps (28,800 bits/second).
Yesterday, the Gaspra data playbacks were performed, the SSI (Solid State
Imaging Camera) and NIMS (Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) instruments were
turned on, science instrument calibrations were performed, and spacecraft
wobble compenstation and AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem)
bright body avoidance parameters updates were performed. Continuous tracking
was scheduled over DSS-14 (Goldstone 70 meter antenna), DSS-43 (Canberra 70
meter antenna) and DSS-63 (Madrid 70 meter antenna).
Today, November 24, 1992, Gaspra data playbacks are scheduled along with
science instrument calibration and characterization activities. Continuous
tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
Tomorrow, Gaspra data playbacks are scheduled along with routine RPM
(Retro-Propulsion Module) 10-Newton thruster flushing maintainence and science
instrument calibration characterization activities. Continuous tracking is
scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
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MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 9, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +45 Days
Flight Sequence C3 C continues executing toward its completion on November 17.
Magnetometer and Gamma Ray Spectrometer instrument teams are receiving early
cruise calibration data. The Mars Observer Camera "bakeout" is continuing
through December 28.
The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue to
perform well.
Flight Sequence C4 final approval will take place this week. Uplink of C4 will
take place 11/16, with execution to be begin after completion of C3 C on
November 17.
Work is underway to modify Flight Sequences C6, C7 and C8. TCM 2 (Trajectory
Correction Maneuver #2) is being removed from C6 and placed in C7 for execution
on February 8. TCM 3 is being moved from C7 to C8 for execution on March 18.
These maneuvers are being moved out in time to accommodate Flight Software
Modification activities which must precede them. Magnetometer calibrations,
earlier planned for inclusion in C7, will be included in C8.
The C3 C timeline indicates that new spacecraft activities will be relatively
minimal over the next several days. Unless circumstances warrant, this status
will be updated on Friday, 11/13.
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 12, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +48 Days
Flight Sequence C3 C continues executing toward its completion on November 17.
Magnetometer and Gamma Ray Spectrometer instrument teams are receiving early
cruise calibration data. The Mars Observer Camera "bakeout" is continuing
through December 28.
The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue to
perform well.
The Gamma Ray Spectrometer experienced a Single Event Upset Tuesday. The SEU
caused the instrument to switch out of GRS random access memory operation and
reset to programmable read only memory. Analysis indicates no problems with
the memory load, and a command to switch back to random access memory operation
has been approved for radiation this evening.
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 13, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +49 Days
Flight Sequence C3 C continues executing toward its completion on November 17.
Magnetometer and Gamma Ray Spectrometer instrument teams are receiving early
cruise calibration data. The Mars Observer Camera "bakeout" is continuing
through December 28.
A new Star Catalog/Ephemeris was uplinked and a successful "USE" command
radiated this morning. The ephemeris previously used had the intended effect
of altering the solar array sun incidence angle by 5 degrees, from 60 degrees
to 55 degrees. This sun incidence angle periodic decrease will be performed in
subsequent ephemeris loads, with the final objective being to point the
high-gain antenna at earth by the time transition from inner to outer cruise
takes place. The current offset is designed to prevent direct sunlight on the
solar panels creating an excess amount of power. At the time of transition
from inner to outer cruise, the spacecraft will be of sufficient distance from
the sun that excess power is of a lesser concern.
Uplink of the C4 sequence is planned for November 16. C4 will begin execution
at 8:00 AM, PST, upon completion of C3 C. C4 is 28 days in duration and
continues the MOC bakeout, performs Radio Science Ultra Stable Oscillator
tests, Modulation Index Test, Radio Frequency Subsystem Automatic Gain Control
and Command Data Unit Signal to Noise Ratio tests, and a Static Phase Error
test.
The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue to
perform well.
Today, the spacecraft is 8,793,376 miles from earth, traveling at a velocity of
8,106 miles per hour. One way light time is approximately 47 seconds.
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MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORTS November 16-20, 1992
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 16, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +52 Days
Flight sequence C3 C completes tomorrow morning just prior to 8:00 A.M. PST.
Magnetometer and Gamma Ray Spectrometer instrument teams have been receiving
early cruise calibration data. The Mars Observer Camera "bakeout" which was
initiated in C3 C will continue through December 28.
The C4 sequence uplink took place this morning. C4 will begin execution at
8:00 AM tomorrow upon completion of C3 C. C4 is 28 days in duration and
continues the MOC bakeout, performs Radio Science Ultra Stable Oscillator
tests, Modulation Index Test, Radio Frequency Subsystem Automatic Gain Control
and Command Data Unit Signal to Noise Ratio tests, and a Static Phase Error
test.
Since launch, the spacecraft has experienced 18 Single Event Upsets causing
memory bit errors. Fifteen errors occurred in the Standard Controls Processor
(SCP) and 3 in the Engineering Data Formatter (EDF). On Saturday, November 14,
a one-word Flight Software patch was uplinked to the spacecraft to correct an
error in the algorithm which identifies and corrects memory bit errors.
Indications are that the problem has been resolved.
The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue to
perform well.
Today the spacecraft is 15,072,451 km (9,365,587 miles) from earth, traveling
at a velocity of 3.8144 kilometers per second (8,106 miles per hour). One way
light time is approximately 50 seconds.
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 17, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +53 Days
Flight sequence C4 execution began at 8:00 AM today. C4 is 28 days in duration
and continues the MOC (Mars Observer Camera) bakeout, performs Radio Science
Ultra Stable Oscillator tests, Modulation Index Test, Radio Frequency Subsystem
Automatic Gain Control and Command Data Unit Signal to Noise Ratio tests, and a
Static Phase Error test. C4 also performs a brief Thermal Emissions
Spectrometer (TES) checkout.
The software for Payload Data System operation from random access memory (RAM)
is being uploaded this morning. PDS RAM operation will be commanded after
verification of successful upload. The PDS had operated from programmable
read-only memory (PROM) for late C3 Gamma Ray Spectrometer and Magnetometer
calibration activities. However, the TES test in C4 requires that the PDS
operates from RAM to afford maximum protection to the TES instrument.
The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue to
perform well.
Today the spacecraft is 15,389,285 KM (9,562,458 miles) from earth, traveling
at a velocity of 3.8857 kilometers per second (8,692 miles per hour). One way
light time is approximately 51 seconds.
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 18, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +54 Days
Flight sequence C4 is active. The sequence performed Modulation Index testing
this morning at the 2000 bps engineering data rate. On completion, the data
rate was switched to 4000 bps in preparation for Thermal Emission Spectrometer
checkout and calibration activities which followed. The TES checkout had been
moved to C4 from C3 and was relatively brief - 80 seconds- in duration. A
non-stored command was sent to power off the TES after the test at the request
of the TES instrument team. This was done to insure that the instrument was
powered off as soon as possible after testing.
At 3:00 A.M. PST this morning a star/ephemiris upload took place. The current
ephemeris results in a planned 5 degree decrease in sun incidence angle, from
55 degrees to 50 degrees. These periodic reductions will be performed until
such time as the HGA (High Gain Antenna) is pointed directly at Earth (January
1993).
At Noon PST today, telemetry transmission was commanded back to the 2000 bps
rate. The Payload Data System was powered off shortly thereafter.
The NASA Quarterly Review was conducted yesterday and today by video conference
between JPL and NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue to
perform well.
Today the spacecraft is 15,711,663 km (9,762,775 miles) from earth, traveling
at a velocity of 3.9608 kilometers per second (8,860 miles per hour). One way
light time is approximately 52 seconds.
MARS OBSERVER MISSION STATUS
November 20, 1992
All spacecraft subsystems are performing well.
A new flight sequence, primarily dedicated to radio science activities,
began on Nov. 17 and will continue through Dec. 14. Checkout of the Thermal
Emission Spectrometer and completion of the Laser Altimeter checkout were
performed last week. The Mars Observer Camera "bakeout" to prepare the
instrument for operation continues through Dec. 28.
The second trajectory correction maneuver (TCM-2) has been rescheduled for
Feb. 8, 1993, to allow engineers time to upgrade on-board flight software.
TCM-3 has also been rescheduled for March 8, 1993.
Until now, the spacecraft's solar panels have been oriented at a 60-degree
sun incidence angle to prevent excess power caused by the solar array's direct
exposure to the sun. A star- ephemiris table was uploaded on Nov. 17,
decreasing the sun incidence angle by 5 degrees. These periodic changes will
occur about once a week through Jan. 2, 1993, and will cause the spacecraft's
high-gain antenna to point directly at Earth.
Today the spacecraft is about 16 million kilometers (10 million miles)
from Earth, traveling at a speed of about 14,500 kilometers per hour (9,000
miles per hour) relative to Earth. The spacecraft is traveling at a
heliocentric velocity of about 111,500 kilometers per hour (70,000 miles per
hour).
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 20, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +56 Days
Flight sequence C4 is active through December 14. While the MOC (Mars Observer
Camera) "bakeout" is continuing through December 28, the remainder of the C4
sequence is primarily dedicated to radio science activities. As reported
earlier this week, Thermal Emissions Spectrometer and Mars Observer Laser
Altimeter checkouts performed in early C4 execution were successful.
The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue to
perform well.
Today the spacecraft is 16,374,527 km (10,174,659 miles) from Earth, traveling
at a velocity of 4.1220 kilometers per second (9,220 miles per hour) with
respect to Earth. One way light time is approximately 55 seconds.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORTS November 23-25, 1992
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 23, 1992
11:00 AM PST
Launch +59 Days
Sequence C4 remains active and without anomaly. The static phase error test
was completed last week which verified the DSN (Deep Space Network) uplink
frequency margins with the spacecraft. The MAG (Magnetometer) and the GRS
(Gamma Ray Spectrometer) remain powered ON during the sequence, but are
quiescent. The MOC (Mars Observer Camera) bakeout continues to perform
nominally. A delta DOR (Differenced One-way Ranging) was performed over the
weekend, as a planned weekly event.
A Command Detector Test is planned to be uplinked Tuesday to verify the
capability to command the spacecraft at a 500 bps uplink rate.
The spacecraft is now in engineering mode at 2000 bps downlink with 1 tracking
pass per day. The Spacecraft and science teams report that all subsystems and
payload instruments are performing very well.
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 24, 1992
11:00 PST
Launch +60 Days
Sequence C4 remains active on board the spacecraft and is continuing without
anomaly. The Magnetometer and the Gamma Ray Spectrometer remain powered ON
during this sequence, primarily to maintain proper thermal environments. The
Mars Observer Camera continues its bakeout activity and is performing as
expected.
A command test was completed earlier today, commanding the spacecraft Command
Detector Units to 500 bits per second and sending several command files. These
files were designed to demonstrate the capability of the spacecraft to receive
500 bit per second single commands and multiple element commands. Although
several ground system problems, related to a Command Processing Assembly,
occured at the DSN (Deep Space Network) station during the command period,
sufficient command files were successfully radiated to and received by the
spacecraft to demonstrate the high command rate capability.
New star and spacecraft ephemeris files are planned to be radiated tomorrow,
without adjusting the inertial attitude of the spacecraft.
The spacecraft remains in engineering mode at 2000 bits per second downlink
with 1 tracking pass per day while in inner cruise. The spacecraft and science
teams both report that all subsystems and payload instruments are performing
quite acceptably.
MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
November 25, 1992
11:00 PST
Launch +61 Days
Sequence C4 remains active on the spacecraft and is continuing without anomaly.
The spacecraft was commanded to Mission Mode at 250 bits per second downlink
rate at 1700 hours UTC. This was a planned activity within the stored sequence
and was necessary because of telecommunication link performance roll off due to
increased earth-to-spacecraft range. A new star catalog file, sun pointing
target and spacecraft ephemeris file were successfully loaded onto the
spacecraft today and activated.
No further command activity is planned over the Thanksgiving holiday period
with the exception of the standard delta DOR (Differential One-way Ranging)
scheduled for Saturday, November 28th.
The Magnetometer and the GRS (Gamma Ray Spectrometer) remain powered ON and the
Mars Observer Camera bakeout continues nominally. The Pressure Modulator I
nfrared Radiometer has had its auxilliary electronics assembly heater turned ON
for the remainder of the cruise phase for thermal balance considerations.
The spacecraft will remain at the 250 bit per second downlink rate throughout
the remainder of the inner cruise phase, which continues until early January,
1993. The Spacecraft and Science teams both report that all subsystems and
payload instruments continue to perform as expected.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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ULYSSES MISSION OPERATIONS REPORT
PERIOD: 3rd November to 9th November 1992
1. MISSION OPERATIONS
Experiment reconfigurations have been carried out as
required.
On 3rd November a KEP GAS (Energetic Particles instrument)
health check was carried out.
On 4th November a HED (Magnetic Field instrument)
calibration was carried out.
On 5th November STO RAR (Radio and Plasma Waves instrument)
command sequencing commenced.
A routine Earth pointing manoeuvre was performed on 6th
November.
An average of 98 % data recovery was achieved during the
reporting period.
The percentage of data acquired as a function of bit rate is
as follows:
1024 bps 47.46 %
512 bps 50.45 %
A reduction in the number of ranging passes continued during
the reporting period in order to improve the poor signal to
noise ratio encountered at the present large spacecraft-
Earth distances.
2. SPACECRAFT STATUS
POWER
Nominal.
Estimated S/C power consumption 258 watts.
AOCS
Nominal.
TTC
The spacecraft is currently configured with receiver 2 as
the prime unit fed via the high gain antenna and with
receiver 1 as backup fed through the low gain antenna (LGA-
F). The downlink is provided through EPC2/TWTA2.
The 34 meter ground stations are in use to support TTC
operations, with at least one 70m station pass per week to
support ranging.
Received downlink level -143 dBm.(34 meter) X-band.
(Variations of up to 10 db. can be expected as a result of
station antenna in use, local weather conditions, and
spacecraft antenna off-pointing).
Received uplink level -125 dBm.
DATA HANDLING
The anomaly on CTU2 reported in previous Operations Reports
is still under investigation. However, some conclusions
have now been reached which point to an electrical
connection between two adjacent data lines as a result of
component failure. The operational impact of this anomaly
is being studied by both the Spacecraft Control Team and the
instrument teams in the event that this CTU would have to be
configured for operational use.
THERMAL
Nominal.
3. FLIGHT DYNAMICS
Solar Aspect The angle increased from 8.83 on
Angle (deg.) 3rd November to 9.23 on 9th November.
Sun-Probe-Earth The angle increased from 8.72 on
Angle (deg.) 3rd November to 9.31 on 9th November.
Spin Rate 4.981 rpm.
4. ORBITAL DATA
Data taken at 13:00 PDT on 9th November.
Distance from Earth 841,039,963 km.
Velocity relative to the Earth 129,042 km/hr.
Velocity relative to the Sun 32,463 km/hr.
Ecliptic latitude 12.7 deg/south
5. PLANNED OPERATIONS
Due to the relocation of the Ulysses Project Office in JPL
in the week commencing 16th November, the next Operations
Report will be issued on 24th November.
Routine data gathering operations will continue together
with experiment reconfigurations as required.
On 11th November a SIM HET (Cosmic Ray instrument)
calibration will take place followed on 12th November by
a SIM HET reset.
On 13th November the STO RAR command sequencing will
terminate.
Also on 13th November KEP GAS full sky scanning will
commence.
Earth pointing manoeuvres will be performed on 10th and 14th
November.
Periods of 2048 bps at low antenna elevations will be
avoided to improve the signal to noise ratio in the coming
months. This will slightly reduce the percentage of 1024
bps real-time data received. During this period, 70m passes
will also be scheduled to perform ranging at large
spacecraft-Earth distances while maintaining the desired bit
rates.
6. GROUND SEGMENT
The ground segment performed nominally during the reporting
period.
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ULYSSES MISSION STATUS
November 13, 1992
All spacecraft and science operations are performing well. Routine
Earth-pointing maneuvers are continuing to be conducted about twice a week.
The last set of maneuvers were performed on Nov. 6 and 10. The next maneuver
will be carried out on Nov. 14.
A reduction in the number of ranging passes continued during this
reporting period to improve the spacecraft signal at its great distance from
Earth. Today Ulysses is about 830 million kilometers (515 million miles) from
Earth, traveling at a heliocentric velocity of about 32,400 kilometers per hour
(20,200 miles per hour). Ulysses is now 12.7 degrees south of the ecliptic
plane in which the planets orbit, slowly looping its way back toward the sun.
The Keppler Gas Experiment that measures neutral helium gas from
interstellar space was turned on today. Measurement of the arrival speed and
direction of the interstellar gas allows scientists to determine how our solar
system is moving through interstellar space. Now that Ulysses has climbed
almost 13 degrees out of the ecliptic plane, it is possible to determine speed
and direction more accurately by including measurements made in the third
dimension.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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01-Dec-92 Daily File Collection
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12/01/92: HUBBLE TELESCOPE UNCOVERS SECRETS OF GALAXY EVOLUTION
HQ92-213/HST-GALAXY
Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. December 1, 1992
Jim Elliott
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Ray Villard
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.
RELEASE: 92-213
Looking deeply into the universe and far back in time, NASA's Hubble
Space Telescope (HST) has found some suspected ancestors of today's galaxies.
The Hubble images reveal that star-forming galaxies were far more
prevalent in the clusters of the younger universe than in modern clusters of
galaxies near us today.
"The results have important implications for theories of how galaxies
have evolved since the beginning of the universe 15 billion years ago," said
Dr. Alan Dressler of the Carnegie Institution, Washington, D.C.
Serendipitously, the Hubble observations also might have uncovered the
most distant galaxy cluster yet seen. The cluster might be as far as 10
billion light-years, at a "look-back" time corresponding to the early epoch of
galaxy formation.
A principal goal for the HST is to trace galaxy evolution through
direct observations. This is very difficult to achieve with ground-based
telescopes because the tiny images of distant galaxies smear into faint blurs
when viewed through Earth's atmosphere.
HST images of a pair of remote clusters of galaxies, located 4 billion
light-years away, allow astronomers to distinguish, for the first time, the
shapes of galaxies which existed long ago.
The pictures, taken with HST's Wide Field/Planetary Camera in Wide
Field Camera mode, are so detailed that they show a full range of galaxy types
inhabiting the universe of 4 billion years ago -- elliptical, spiral, distorted
and irregular forms.
The images also reveal galaxies in collision. Some are tearing
material from each other. Others are merging into single systems.
Dressler said the pictures are sharp enough to distinguish between
various forms of spiral galaxies, whose distinctive swirl patterns are outlined
by vigorous star formation.
"This shows us that clusters billions of years ago contained not only
the elliptical and S-zero galaxies like those dominating their descendant
clusters today, but also several times as many spiral galaxies," said Dressler.
S-zero galaxies are lens-shaped, featureless galaxies that may be the
transition between spiral and elliptical galaxies.
Disappearing Galaxies
"The new Hubble data are the first unambiguous sign of the influence of
environment on the form of a galaxy" said Dressler. "Clearly, spirals were
common in clusters in the distant past, but they have largely disappeared or
changed form by now."
Base upon the HST pictures and the results of earlier research with
ground-based telescopes, the team thinks that the rapid decline in the spiral
galaxy population can be explained by three mechanisms -- merger, disruption
and fading.
HST reveals many examples of strong galaxy interactions or mergers in
one of the clusters. This is evident by the presence of "tails" distorting the
shapes of some galaxies. The tails probably are caused by tidal effects where
the gravitational pull between closely passing galaxies stretch and disrupt
their stellar distributions.
The result is that many ancient spirals might have merged to form giant
elliptical galaxies or simply been torn apart and dispersed by the violence of
what Dressler calls the "Cuisinart environment."
Dressler, however, believes that violent collisions are not the whole
story of the missing spiral galaxies. His earlier research indicated that
bursts of star formation also were much more common in the past. When the star
formation subsided in many of these early spiral galaxies, they may have faded
and are unnoticed in today's nearby clusters.
Most Distant Galaxy Cluster
The HST observations also may have discovered the farthest cluster of
galaxies ever seen, located 10 billion light-years away. The HST picture
resolved a cluster of about 30 very faint objects.
"The smaller, more compact appearance of the objects suggests that they
are in the background, much further away than the foreground galaxies," said
Dressler.
Additional evidence comes from the presence of a quasar possibly among
the faint objects. Ground-based spectral observations of the quasar's
redshift, an indicator of cosmological distances, place the quasar at a
distance of 10 billion light-years.
Quasars are theorized to be the extraordinarily bright, active cores of
primordial galaxies. Quasars were prevalent in the early universe and hence,
most are located out at 10 billion light-years.
"Though the superposition of the cluster objects and the quasar could
be a coincidence, both are so unusual that there is good reason to believe that
all are members of the same cluster" said Dressler.
The bright spots which might accompany the quasar do not resemble the
elliptical and spiral galaxies of today, according to Dressler. "Conceivably,
the objects might not be separate galaxies but rather 'hot spots' in galaxies
whose full, extended forms are too faint to be seen in the Hubble
observations."
Dressler suggested that the small spots seen in the more distant
cluster could be sites of vigorous star formation. This would explain their
blue colors, because young, massive stars are brightest in blue and ultraviolet
light.
"If the cluster is as far as the quasar, then it will offer an
unprecedented opportunity to learn how galaxies formed. With so many objects,
it seems likely that among them are the ancestors of common galaxies like our
own Milky Way."
The team believes that the further study of this cluster and similar
ones could provide a major breakthrough in seeing galaxies in the very act of
formation.
The research was carried out by Drs. Dressler, Augustus Oemler of Yale
University, James E. Gunn of Princeton University and Harvey Butcher of the
Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy.
When HST's full optical capabilities are restored during a Space
Shuttle servicing mission in late 1993, HST will be able to resolve the
morphology of these very young galaxies. Hubble will be capable of showing the
evolution of galaxy form over a wide range of environments and in even earlier
epochs. This will greatly aid astronomers in their efforts to understand this
key piece of the cosmological puzzle.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation
between NASA and the European Space Agency.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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KSC SHUTTLE STATUS 12/1/92
SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Tuesday, December 1, 1992
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
Vehicle: OV-103/Space Shuttle Discovery
Current Location: Launch Pad 39-A
Mission: STS-53/DoD Inclination: 57 degrees
Launch: Dec. 2 6:59 a.m. Landing: KSC Dec. 9 12:53 p.m.
Mission duration: 7 days 5 hours 54 minutes Crew Size: 5
IN WORK TODAY:
- launch countdown in LCC Firing Room 1
- troubleshooting orbiter Electronics Interface Unit (EIU)
- astronaut T-38 flights
- astronaut status briefings on countdown, Discovery, payload, Wx
- retract rotating service structure
- load Space Tissue Loss experiment
- configure cockpit switches for launch
- activation of orbiter fuel cells
WORK SCHEDULED:
- re-test left booster holddown post pyrotechnic initiator cable
WORK COMPLETED:
- remove/replace left booster holddown post pyro initiator cable
- loading cryogenic reactants
- activating orbiter navigation and communications system
- retract orbiter midbody umbilical
- final astronaut medical exams and flight suit fit check
ISSUES AND CONCERNS: The weather forecast calls for a 40% chance of violating
the weather rule prohibiting launch if there is a steady-state wind below 5
knots with a temperature less than 47 degrees for longer than 30 consecutive
minutes.
SPECIAL TOPICS: Launch Weather Conditions
At 6:59 a.m. on Tuesday at the beginning of the launch opportunity the
conditions are predicted to be:
Temperature: 47 degrees
Dewpoint: 41 degrees
Humidity: 80%
Wind: WNW/4-6 knots
Visibility: 7+ miles
Significant clouds or weather: None
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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DAILY NEWS/TV SKED 12/02/92
Daily News
Tuesday, December 1, 1992 24-hour audio service at 202/755-1788
% STS-53 countdown continues to go smoothly, cold-weather forecast lightens a
bit;
% Ancient and distant precursors to modern Galaxies subject of Hubble briefing
today;
% Galileo's last visit to the Home Planet will be explained by JPLteam later
today;
% Tech 2002 conference opens today in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, 6000 to
attend;
% JSC begins 2-week meeting with Russians over use of Soyuz for crew return;
% Fourth NASA Town Meeting set for Dominguez Hills, Calif., this Thursday.
At this morning's countdown status briefing, Kennedy Space Center shuttle test
director Al Sofge presented a more favorable weather forecast calling for a
modest reduction in the probability that cold temperatures will violate the
launch commit criteria. The NASA space flight management team, now at KSC, is
reviewing details of the criteria and is expecting additional launch pad
temperature data to be acquired by the ice inspection team tomorrow. In other
countdown activity, the Rotating Service Structure was to be retracted from
around Discovery this morning. Preparations for liquid oxygen and liquid
hydrogen loading of the main External Tank begin tonight, at 10:39.
Launch is still set for 6:59 am EST tomorrow morning, December 2. The weather
outlook continues to improve for a launch on either Thursday or Friday.
Department of Defense payload officers this morning presented an overview of
the secondary experiments which will fly aboard Discovery for STS-53. Some data
acquired from secondary experiments on earlier DOD missions has been
declassified and was presented by U.S. Air Force Deputy STS-53 Mission Director
James McLeroy. One of the experiments to be flown again on this flight will
look at the latitude and longitude distribution of high- energy particles.
McLeroy presented data which strongly suggested that the South Atlantic Anomaly
drifts slightly and changes in size as a function of long periods of time. The
South Atlantic Anomaly is an area where the Earth's magnetic field dips,
thereby causing an increase in the population of trapped charged particles at
lower altitudes. It has been studied by NASA and Air Force scientists since
the early Apollo era.
Because STS-53 is a classified mission, there will be limited NASA Select
television coverage until DOD primary operations have concluded. Also, for
this mission only, there will be no NASA Select daily two-hour summaries made
available via satellite to Alaska and Hawaii.
Nominal mission duration is 7 days and 5 hours with a scheduled end-of-mission
landing at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility at 12:53 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Today, at 1:00 pm in the NASA Headquarters auditorium, astronomers and
astrophysicists working with the Hubble Space Telescope will present the first
detailed images of galaxies more than 4 billion light-years distant at a
special science seminar. The science team will also present Hubble telescope
images serendipitously taken of what may be the farthest-yet-seen cluster of
galaxiesPat a distance of 10 billion-light years. The implications of such a
find will be discussed by Dr. Alan Dressler, Carnegie Institution, Washington,
D.C., and Dr. Peter Stockman, acting Director of the Space Telescope Science
Institute, Baltimore, and a distinguished panel of NASA and university
astronomers. The science briefing will be shown live on NASA Select
television.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
And this afternoon, at 2:00 pm EST, scientists and managers from the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory will discuss the upcoming Earth flyby of the
Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft. Galileo will fly by Earth at a distance of
304 kilometers (slightly over 190 miles) over the South Atlantic Ocean at 10:09
am EST Tuesday , December 8. (Yesterday's Daily News erroneously reported the
flyby would occur over the Indian Ocean at slightly higher altitudes). This
will be Galileo's third and final gravitational maneuver in its long trip to
the first of the giant gas planets - Jupiter. In addition to picking up the
last bit of angular momentum it needs to alter its solar orbit to actually get
to Jupiter, Galileo will include first-time ever polar surveys of Earth's moon.
Galileo will also observe its home planet for more than a week following its
flyby for scientific and calibration purposes. The JPL briefing will be shown
live on NASA Select television.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The third national technology transfer conference- Technology 2002-opened this
morning at the Baltimore Convention Center. The three-day conference is
sponsored by NASA, the NASA Tech Briefs magazine and the Technology Utilization
Foundation, and is spotlighting leading-edge technologies from NASA and other
federal agencies which have potential use by U.S. industry as new or improved
products or services. The conference this year features more than 120
presentations highlighting specific inventions which have commercial potential
in a wide range of fields, including: manufacturing, advanced materials,
computing, communications, microelectronics, biotechnology, energy, and
environmental science. The conference also features workshops for
manufacturers on patent licensing, cooperative research and the Small Business
Innovation Research grants.
Since the first conference three years ago-Tech 2000-it has grown to more than
triple the audience of that first effort. Nearly 6,000 engineers and business
managers are expected for this year's technology showcase. More than 60,000
square feet of display space will be filled with exhibits from all nine NASA
centers, other government agencies, universities and a diverse array of high-
technology firms. The conference continues through Thursday evening at the
Convention Center in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A group of NASA and Russian officials began a two-week meeting at Johnson Space
Center yesterday to discuss the feasibility of using the Soyuz TM space capsule
as a means of returning Space Station Freedom crewmembers to Earth in an
emergency situation during a period when a shuttle is not docked with the
station. Jerry Craig, Assured Crew Return Vehicle project manager, said his
team has looked at many combinations of vehicles and configurations and the
"Soyuz TM with its 3-person capability may provide an interim solution to allow
early permanently-manned capability for Freedom."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The next in NASA's series of Town Meetings will take place this Thursday, Dec.
3, in Southern California, on the campus of California State University
Dominguez Hills. The Town Meetings include presentations by top NASA officials
and invited individuals from universities and industry in the region of the
meeting. Members of the audience have several opportunities during the 4-hour
long events to raise questions or comment on the presentations. As with the
previous three meetings, the Dominguez Hills Town Meeting will be covered live
on NASA Select television beginning at 4:00 pm EST.
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.
Tuesday, December 1, 1992
Live 8:30 am Countdown status briefing from Kennedy Space Center.
Live 9:00 am Department of Defense STS-53 secondary payloads briefing from
KSC.
Live 10:00 am Other STS-53 payloads briefing from KSC.
Live 11:00 am Pre-launch press briefing with NASA and Air Force officials
from KSC.
Live 1:00 pm Hubble Space Telescope Astronomy Update program on distant
precurssor galaxie images.
Live 2:00 pm JPL Galileo Earth flyby briefing for the upcoming December 8
final flyby of the Jupiter-bound spacecraft.
4:00 pm 8:00 pm & 12:00 am-Programming repeats.
Wednesday, December 2, 1992
Live 2:00 am Live coverage for STS-53 launch begins.
Live 6:59 am Scheduled launch of Discovery for the STS-53 mission.
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
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12/01/92: MANAGEMENT CHANGES MADE TO SPACE STATION PROGRAM
Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. December 1, 1992
RELEASE: 92-214
Culminating 6 months of reviews, NASA today announced plans to
consolidate some management functions for the Space Station Freedom program and
create a contractor-led integration team to ensure the successful building and
deployment of the international space station.
"These moves will improve overall program management and significantly
strengthen the integration of the various station elements," said Arnold
Aldrich, Associate Administrator for Space Systems Development. "We foresee no
schedule or budgetary impact from these changes. In fact, when fully
implemented, these changes will reduce 'overhead' costs and strengthen program
execution and accountability."
NASA plans to combine the existing Level 1 (Headquarters) and Level II
(Reston) Space Station Freedom offices in Reston, Va. This step will
consolidate overall program management at Reston. "Reston will remain the focal
point for the space station program for the foreseeable future," said Aldrich.
NASA also is working toward establishing a Joint Vehicle Integration
Team (JVIT) at the Johnson Space Center, Houston. The JVIT will be staffed by
the 3 space station prime contractors (Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and
Rocketdyne). NASA will manage the JVIT contract.
"It is my strong view, which is shared across NASA senior management,
that these changes are essential to the successful implementation of this
program," said Aldrich. "Further, they are consistent with the findings of a
number of internal NASA reviews and with congressional direction. The changes
are fully supported by the space station hardware contractors and by Grumman."
Grumman is the space station engineering and integration contractor who will
participate with the JVIT and who will continue at Reston as the program
integration contractor.
Aldrich said, "With these changes, the civil service manpower level at
Reston will likely increase above the current level of about 210."
Aldrich said Richard Kohrs will continue as Director, Space Station
Freedom and will be located at Reston. He added that the Deputy Director for
Program and Operations would be transitioned to the Johnson Space Center to
provide for full and effective management of the Freedom program, including the
JVIT.
According to Aldrich, details of these changes will be spelled out in a
transition plan developed by Kohrs by mid-February 1993. The plan will clearly
define the roles and responsibilities for the space station offices at Reston;
the Lewis Research Center, Cleveland; the Johnson Space Center, Houston; the
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.; and the Kennedy Space Center,
Fla.
Kohrs plan also will address longer-range plans to consolidate Space
Shuttle and space station operations by mid -1997 and combine the Shuttle and
station programs by late 1999. "This will result in significant economies of
scale in the outyear budget for space station operations and will greatly
improve the overall operations management of both programs," said Aldrich.
"Over the course of the last few years, the men and women of the NASA
team have made substantial progress in meeting key program milestones," Aldrich
said. "However, as the program shifts its emphasis from design activities to
hardware development, manufacturing and integration, the buildup to support
these activities at the NASA Centers was planned and is required."
Aldrich said these changes have been reviewed with the Office of
Management and Budget and the Congress and will be presented to the
President-elect's transition team in the near future.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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HUBBLE TELESCOPE UNCOVERS SECRETS OF GALAXY EVOLUTION
HQ92-213/HST-GALAXY
Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C. December 1, 1992
Jim Elliott
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Ray Villard
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.
RELEASE: 92-213
Looking deeply into the universe and far back in time, NASA's Hubble
Space Telescope (HST) has found some suspected ancestors of today's galaxies.
The Hubble images reveal that star-forming galaxies were far more
prevalent in the clusters of the younger universe than in modern clusters of
galaxies near us today.
"The results have important implications for theories of how galaxies
have evolved since the beginning of the universe 15 billion years ago," said
Dr. Alan Dressler of the Carnegie Institution, Washington, D.C.
Serendipitously, the Hubble observations also might have uncovered the
most distant galaxy cluster yet seen. The cluster might be as far as 10
billion light-years, at a "look-back" time corresponding to the early epoch of
galaxy formation.
A principal goal for the HST is to trace galaxy evolution through
direct observations. This is very difficult to achieve with ground-based
telescopes because the tiny images of distant galaxies smear into faint blurs
when viewed through Earth's atmosphere.
HST images of a pair of remote clusters of galaxies, located 4 billion
light-years away, allow astronomers to distinguish, for the first time, the
shapes of galaxies which existed long ago.
The pictures, taken with HST's Wide Field/Planetary Camera in Wide
Field Camera mode, are so detailed that they show a full range of galaxy types
inhabiting the universe of 4 billion years ago -- elliptical, spiral, distorted
and irregular forms.
The images also reveal galaxies in collision. Some are tearing
material from each other. Others are merging into single systems.
Dressler said the pictures are sharp enough to distinguish between
various forms of spiral galaxies, whose distinctive swirl patterns are outlined
by vigorous star formation.
"This shows us that clusters billions of years ago contained not only
the elliptical and S-zero galaxies like those dominating their descendant
clusters today, but also several times as many spiral galaxies," said Dressler.
S-zero galaxies are lens-shaped, featureless galaxies that may be the
transition between spiral and elliptical galaxies.
Disappearing Galaxies
"The new Hubble data are the first unambiguous sign of the influence of
environment on the form of a galaxy" said Dressler. "Clearly, spirals were
common in clusters in the distant past, but they have largely disappeared or
changed form by now."
Base upon the HST pictures and the results of earlier research with
ground-based telescopes, the team thinks that the rapid decline in the spiral
galaxy population can be explained by three mechanisms -- merger, disruption
and fading.
HST reveals many examples of strong galaxy interactions or mergers in
one of the clusters. This is evident by the presence of "tails" distorting the
shapes of some galaxies. The tails probably are caused by tidal effects where
the gravitational pull between closely passing galaxies stretch and disrupt
their stellar distributions.
The result is that many ancient spirals might have merged to form giant
elliptical galaxies or simply been torn apart and dispersed by the violence of
what Dressler calls the "Cuisinart environment."
Dressler, however, believes that violent collisions are not the whole
story of the missing spiral galaxies. His earlier research indicated that
bursts of star formation also were much more common in the past. When the star
formation subsided in many of these early spiral galaxies, they may have faded
and are unnoticed in today's nearby clusters.
Most Distant Galaxy Cluster
The HST observations also may have discovered the farthest cluster of
galaxies ever seen, located 10 billion light-years away. The HST picture
resolved a cluster of about 30 very faint objects.
"The smaller, more compact appearance of the objects suggests that they
are in the background, much further away than the foreground galaxies," said
Dressler.
Additional evidence comes from the presence of a quasar possibly among
the faint objects. Ground-based spectral observations of the quasar's
redshift, an indicator of cosmological distances, place the quasar at a
distance of 10 billion light-years.
Quasars are theorized to be the extraordinarily bright, active cores of
primordial galaxies. Quasars were prevalent in the early universe and hence,
most are located out at 10 billion light-years.
"Though the superposition of the cluster objects and the quasar could
be a coincidence, both are so unusual that there is good reason to believe that
all are members of the same cluster" said Dressler.
The bright spots which might accompany the quasar do not resemble the
elliptical and spiral galaxies of today, according to Dressler. "Conceivably,
the objects might not be separate galaxies but rather 'hot spots' in galaxies
whose full, extended forms are too faint to be seen in the Hubble
observations."
Dressler suggested that the small spots seen in the more distant
cluster could be sites of vigorous star formation. This would explain their
blue colors, because young, massive stars are brightest in blue and ultraviolet
light.
"If the cluster is as far as the quasar, then it will offer an
unprecedented opportunity to learn how galaxies formed. With so many objects,
it seems likely that among them are the ancestors of common galaxies like our
own Milky Way."
The team believes that the further study of this cluster and similar
ones could provide a major breakthrough in seeing galaxies in the very act of
formation.
The research was carried out by Drs. Dressler, Augustus Oemler of Yale
University, James E. Gunn of Princeton University and Harvey Butcher of the
Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy.
When HST's full optical capabilities are restored during a Space
Shuttle servicing mission in late 1993, HST will be able to resolve the
morphology of these very young galaxies. Hubble will be capable of showing the
evolution of galaxy form over a wide range of environments and in even earlier
epochs. This will greatly aid astronomers in their efforts to understand this
key piece of the cosmological puzzle.
The Hubble Space Telescope is a project of international cooperation
between NASA and the European Space Agency.
Source:NASA Spacelink Modem:205-895-0028 Internet:192.149.89.61
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