NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #18/NN_1992_18.iso/spool/sci/space/shuttle/2134

Internet Message Format | 1992-08-21 | 15.9 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!darwin.sura.net!mips!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!titan.ksc.nasa.gov!hollis
From: [e-mail]
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Latest & greatest manifest...
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 20 Aug 92 20:05:04 GMT
Organization: NASA, Kennedy Space Center
Lines: 340

Greetings and Salutations:

The following is the complete SST Manifest.  Of course dates for any launches
longer than a "while off" (you interpret) are probably not real accurate.

Format and acronym abbreviations thankfully purloined from Steven Pietrobon,
[e-mail].

The abbreviations for the orbiter names are

Col     Columbia   (OV-102)
Dis     Discovery  (OV-103)
Atl     Atlantis   (OV-104)
End     Endeavour  (OV-105)

1 Nautical Mile (NM) is defined as exactly 1852 m, 1nmi=6076.1155 ft.
160nm=296Km, 163nm=302Km, 200nm=370Km, 230nm=426Km, 233nm=431Km, 318nm=588Km.

      SPACE SHUTTLE PRELIMINARY AUGUST MANIFEST Dated 19 August 92
              Eastern           Inc.  Alt.
STS     Date    Time   Window   deg.   km  Orbiter  Payload
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 47  11 Sep 92  1023D  3h 33m  57.00  302  End-02  SL-J, GAS Bridge
 52  15 Oct 92  1110D  2h 27m  28.45  296  Col-13  LAGEOS II, USMP-1
 53   5 Nov 92  0715S  2h 59m  57.00  370  Dis-15  DOD-1 (Department of
Defense)
 54  15 Dec 92  0851S  2h 30m  28.45  296  End-03  TDRS-F, DXS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 55  18 Feb 93  0950S  2h 50m  28.45  296  Col-14  SL-D2 (Spacelab Germany)
 56  11 Mar 93  0115S  1h 45m  57.00  296  Dis-16  ATLAS-2, SPTN-201-1
 57  28 Apr 93  0800D  0h 57m  28.45  431  End-04  EURECA-1R, SPACEHAB-1
 51  30 Jun 93  0725D  1h 35m  28.45  296  Dis-17  ACTS, ORFEUS-SPAS
 58  25 Aug 93  0940D  2h 30m  39.00  296  Col-15  SLS-2, EDO
 60  16 Nov 93    -      -     28.45  296  Dis-18  SPACEHAB-2, WSF-1
 61   7 Dec 93    -      -     28.45  588  End-05  HST SM-1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 62   8 Feb 94    -      -       -     -   Col-16  USMP-2
 63  29 Mar 94  Atl-13  LITE-I, SPTN-204, PL Oppty
 64   3 May 94  Dis-19  SPACEHAB-3, SPTN-201-02
 59   3 Jun 94  End-06  SRL-1
 65   8 Jul 94  Col-17  IML-2 (International Microgravity Laboratory)
 66   9 Sep 94  Atl-14  0 Mir - R
 67   5 Nov 94  Dis-20  SPACEHAB-4, SPAS-III
 68   2 Dec 94  End-07  CRISTA-SPAS, ATLAS-3, SSBUV-A-03
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S = EST, D = EDT, h = hours, m = minutes
ACTS    Advanced Communications Technology Satellite
ASEM    Assembly of Station by Extravehicular Activity Methods
ASP    Attitude Sensor Package
ATLAS   Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science
DXS    Diffuse X-Ray Spectrometer
EDO     Extended Duration Orbiter
EURECA  European Retrievable Carrier
GAS     Get Away Special
HST REV Hubble Space Telescope Revisit
IML    International Microgravity Laboratory
LAGEOS  Laser Geodynamics Satellite
ORFEUS  Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer
SL-J    Spacelab Japan
SLS    Spacelab Life Sciences
SPAS    Shuttle Pallet Satellite
SPTN    Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (aka SPARTAN)
SRL    Shuttle Radar Laboratory
SSBUV   Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultra-Violet Instrument
TDRS    Tracking and Data Relay Satellite
TSS    Tethered Satellite System
USMP    United States Microgravity Payload
USML    United States Microgravity Laboratory
WSF    Wake Shield Facility


      SPACE SHUTTLE MANIFEST Dated 19 August 92
STS     Date   Orbiter  Payload          (continued)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 69  10 Feb 95  Atl-15  ASTRO-2 (Ultraviolet Astronomy), WSF-2
 70  31 Mar 95  Dis-21  SPACEHAB-5
 71  25 Apr 95  Col-18  USML-2 (United States Microgravity Laboratory), EDO
 72   9 Jun 95  End-08  USMP-3, SPTN-201-03, LITE II-01
 73  15 Jul 95  Atl-16  SRL-02 (Shuttle Radar Laboratory)
 74  13 Sep 95  Col-19  SPACEHAB-6, EURECA-2L, SFU Retrieval
 75  11 Nov 95  End-09  ATLAS-4, WISP (Waves in Space Plasma), SSBUV-A-04
 76  12 Dec 95  Atl-17  TDRS-G
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 77  27 Jan 96  Dis-22  WSF-3 (Wake Shield Facility), EURECA-2R, JFD
 78   2 Mar 96  Col-20  SLS-3 (Space Life Sciences)
 79  27 Apr 96  Atl-18  SSF-MB-01
 80  14 Jun 96  Dis-23  0 SSF-MB-02
 81  26 Jul 96  Col-21  SL-E1 (Spacelab Europe)
 82  23 Aug 96  End-10  SSF-MB-03
 83   5 Nov 96  Dis-24  SRL-03 (Shuttle Radar Laboratory)
 84  10 Dec 96  Col-22  SPACEHAB-7, USMP-4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 85  25 Jan 97  End-11  SSF-MB-04
 86   8 Mar 97  Atl-19  SSF-MB-05
 87   2 Apr 97  Dis-25  HST SM-02
 88  17 Jun 97  End-12  SSF-MB-06 (Manned Tended Capability)
 89  26 Jul 97  Atl-20  SSF-MB-06 A
 90  19 Aug 97  Dis-26  DEBRIS (PAL), SSBUV-A-05
 91   3 Oct 97  Col-23  ATLAS-5, WSF-4 (Wake Shield Facility)
 92   4 Nov 97  End-13  SSF-MB-07
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 93  10 Jan 98  Atl-21  SSF-UF-01
 94  14 Mar 98  Col-24  SSF-MB-08
 95   4 Apr 98  End-14  SSF-UF-02
 96   9 Jun 98  Atl-22  WSF-05, USMP-5, SPACEHAB-8
 97  30 Jun 98  Dis-27  SSF-MB-09
 98  25 Aug 98  Col-25  SSF-MB-10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ATLAS    Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science
CRISTA    Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometer Telescope for Atmosphere
EDO        Extended Duration Orbiter
EURECA    European Retrievable Carrier
LITE        Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment
SFU        Space Flyer Unit
SPTN        Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy (aka
SPARTAN)
SSBUV    Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultra-Violet Instrument
SSF-MB    Space Station Freedom Manned Base
SSF-UF    Space Station Freedom Utilisation Flight
TPITS    Two Phase Integration Thermal System
USMP        United States Microgravity Payload

The shuttle press kit is available from ames.arc.nasa.gov (128.102.18.3).  This
is available through the anonymous ftp.

Thanks to [e-mail] for additional hints on Shuttle Viewing.  You
Can view of shuttle launches right from the base.  The KSC visitor center
offers bus rides from the visitor's center to a site about 6  miles from the
launch pad. The cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children. For information and
reservations you will need to call 407-452-2121  Ext 260...(This is the BEST
and closest view.)

You may write to the following address for a launch pass:

NASA Vehicle Pass
PA - Pass
Kennedy Space Center, FL
                      32899

In general, if you know the launch that you wish, ask for that launch.  If you
know a general time frame, then ask for that time frame.
[e-mail] does, however, have a short-cut on how to get launch
pass on short notice, call your Senator's or House Representative's office.

If you are unable to obtain a launch pass, the best viewing is along the river
at Titusville, Florida highway US1 (You will be west of the launch looking
East).  Just park across (and a little north) of the VAB (Vehicle Assembly
Building).  The building is across the river and has painted on the side the
U.S. flag & bicentennial symbol.  Anywhere north along highway 1, or east (as
far as you can) along highway 406 (402) is good (specifically Sand Point Park),
just as long as you can see the VAB and don't have trees blocking the view.
Also you can try Jetty Park at Port Canaveral. (you will be south of the launch
looking north).

Regardless of where you are going to see it, arrive early (at least 2 hours
before launch). Be prepared to get into some real heavy traffic, it will also
take some time to get out of the area. Bring along some food and drink,
umbrellas, sun glasses, sun screen, portable TV/radio, binoculars,
VCR.....whatever

When watching a launch, listen to FM Station 91.5 (It is a local religious
station) or AM 580 out of Orlando (Thanx to Matthew DeLuca).  NASA Select
Television is available directly via satellite from GE Satcom F2R, transponder
13, C-Band, 72 degrees West Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960.0
MegaHertz, audio subcarrier is 6.8 MHz, polarization is vertical.

TV : Channel 68, Brevard Community College, carries a full NASA selct from
launch till many days into the mission.  Local stations such as 2,6,9 sometimes
have live coverage.  They usually just interrupt the program that is in
progress for the final 2 minutes of prelaunch, and then a couple of minutes
after launch.

The Space Shuttle transmits on three frequency bands: UHF, S-Band, and Ku-Band.
The UHF frequencies are simple AM voice and are very easy to copy.  These
frequencies are used for launch and landing operations, EVA operations, and as
an additional voice downlink when other channels are in use for the current
groundstation has no S-Band capability.

The frequencies in use are:
 146.94 Mhz     146.82 Mhz If you are a HAM.
 296.800 MHz : Air-to-ground, or orbiter to suit
 259.700 MHz : Air-to-ground, or suit to orbiter
 279.000 MHz : Suit-to-orbiter, or suit-to-suit
 243.000 MHz : Standard military aircraft emergency frequency

The S-Band system is one of the primary orbiter downlink bands.  The voice
channels are digital slope delta modulated and are multiplexed in with the rest
of the orbiter telemetry and is very difficult to copy.  Much of the downlink
TV is on S-Band also, but is wideband FM and should be easy to copy.  The
frequencies are:

2287.500 MHz : Primary digital downlink
2250.000 MHz : Wideband FM with either main engine analog telemetry during
               launch, or TV during orbit operations.

The Ku-Band system is used in conjunction with the tracking and data relay
satellites and is used much more heavily in Spacelab flights than in others.
The data rate is VERY high (50 Mbits/second).  These transmissions are
directed to TDRS satellites in geostationary orbit on a frequency of
15.003 GHz.

[Info via WA3NAN, and WA4SIR]

Expendable Vehicles
===================
These are usually launched from the southern part of the base, best viewing is
at Jetty Park or south along the beaches of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. Not
as crowed as shuttle launches, but still give yourself some time to arrive
early. Jetty park can fill up so plan an alternate. Again bring your stuff.

For a landing pass at Edwards, Thanks To Mary Shafer
[e-mail] :

There are three ways to see the Shuttle landing at Edwards AFB, listed in order
of restrictiveness of access and availability.

1.  The East Shore area on the lakebed.  Take Hwy 14 to Avenue F and follow the
signs or take Hwy 58 to 20 Mule Team Road and follow those signs.  This area is
opened about 2 days before the scheduled touchdown.  The viewing area is an
unimproved area so don't expect many amenities.  I think that there are
sanitary facilities and that food and drinks can be purchased.  It's suggested
that you bring food and water Nothing is required for access to this area.
(I've never been to this area, so I can't speak from personal knowledge.) If
any viewing is allowed this site will be open.  The only times they don't open
it is for the DoD's classified missions.

2.  The hillside viewing area.  This is on the hillside, just above
Ames-Dryden, and requires a special pass.  This pass is good for one vehicle,
with any number of passengers.  You can't enter the Ames-Dryden complex but you
can walk down the hill to the cafeteria and the giftshop, etc.  More amenities,
including radio transmissions from the Shuttle and JSC.  Some of us believe
that this area has the BEST view of the landing.
 I believe that the Hillside, like the East Shore, is open for all unclassified
missions.  These passes can be obtained by writing, as detailed below.
Ames-Dryden employees can also obtain them.

3.  Official guest.  Access to the Ames-Dryden complex.  You get to watch the
landing from the ramp, which is right on the lakebed.  (The Shuttle lands some
distance away, depending on which runway it uses.) The crew speaks to the crowd
just before they return to JSC.  There are special aircraft displays (including
the SR-71, F-15, F-18, X-29, etc.) in the hangars.  The radio transmissions are
broadcast.  This method is only predicted for a few missions this year. Opening
the Facility is fairly labor-intensive and very disruptive, so we won't do it
for every possible mission.

You can write, as detailed below, to obtain these badges and parking permits.
To obtain a hillside pass or official guest badges, write to:

NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, CA  92523-5000

Do this early, because there is a limited amount of space.  If you get these
and then discover that you can't attend, please try to pass them on to someone
else who can use them.  Incidently, there is _no_ charge for any of these.

Come see the Shuttle land--it's great.

Wear warm clothes!

If the Shuttle lands in the morning, it will be cool to downright cold.  Forget
the myth that the desert is always hot, it may be in the low 60s even in the
summer at sunrise.  It's frequently freezing in the winter.  If it's much
warmer, it's because the wind is blowing.

However, if you're an Official Guest and will be hanging around until the
Astronaut Departure Ceremony, it may be warm by then.  Wear layers.

Especially, wear warm footwear.  Official Guests will be standing around on the
cold, cold ramp and all your body heat will seep out of your feet into the
concrete heat sink.  Running shoes work well.  Hillside Guests will be sitting
up on metal bleachers.  The portions of their anatomy in contact with the
bleachers (feet and seat) may get _real_ cold.

The Public Affairs Office at the Johnson Space Center operates a BBS to provide
information to the public.  Check this board for updates to the keplerian
element sets during the flight.

To access the BBS, call [phone] using 1200 baud (do NOT connect at 2400
baud), 8-N-1, at the ENTER NUMBER: prompt, enter "62511" and you will be
connected to the BBS.  Check file area 30 or 99 for latest element sets.

NASA JSC's Electronic Space Information BBS is intended to provide 24-hour
access to biographies of NASA officials and astronauts, news releases, space
flight mission press kits and television schedules, space shuttle systems
information, flight manifests and schedules, and other information about the
space program.

If you are or know a teacher, and they would like some teaching material, have
them write to the following address with the pertinent information :

NASA
PA - EAB
Kennedy Space Center, FL
                      32899

To receive the "NASA Report To Educators" and other NASA publications, write to
the address below :
Educational Publications Services
Mail Code XEP
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC  20546

Serving inquiries related to space exploration and other activities:

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Teacher Resource Center
JPL Educational Outreach
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Mail Code CS-530
Pasadena, CA  91109
[phone]  Fax: [phone]

Serving all states through workshops and materials:

National Air and Space Museum
Smithsonian Institution
Education Resource Center, MRC 305
Washington, DC  20560
[phone]  Fax: [phone]

Or have them call: THE NASA SPACELINK, Huntsville, Alabama,24 Hours,300-2400
BAUD,8N1,[phone]. Or FEDIX 1-800-232-4879, 301-258-0953, 1200 or 2400
BAUD, an on-line service that links education community and the federal
government.  Info on NASA, Department Of Energy, Office Of Naval Research,
Federal Aviation Administration & Minority Info.

[e-mail] tells us : The most current orbital elements from the NORAD
two-line element sets are carried on the Celestial BBS, [phone], and are
updated several times weekly.  Documentation and tracking software are also
available on this system.  The Celestial BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at
300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.


--
-----------------------------------------------
Ken Hollis  INTERNET: [e-mail]
            SPAN/HEPnet: KSCP00::HOLLIS