Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: The Universe as seen by ISO (Forwarded)
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European Space Agency
Press Information Note No. 33-98
Paris, France 15 October 1998
"THE UNIVERSE AS SEEN BY ISO"
Latest ISO results to be presented at an International meeting in Paris --
20-23 October
Nearly 400 hundred infrared astronomers will attend a conference in
Paris from October the 20th to the 23rd to review and discuss the latest
results from the European Infrared Space Telescope, ISO. This will be
the first major scientific conference devoted to ISO since the end of
its in-orbit mission last May. Thus, it's a long-awaited occasion for
the scientists to come to conclusions and start picturing the infrared
face of the universe in detail.
The meeting, entitled "The Universe as seen by ISO", will be held at
UNESCO, Place de Fontenoy, 75007-PARIS where nearly 300 scientific
papers ranging over all fields of Astronomy, from Solar System to
Cosmology, will be presented and analysed by infrared astronomers.
Press interested in the ISO results presentations are invited to attend
the conference and to contact Monica Salomone, the ISO press
representative at the registration desk.
For further information, please contact:
ESA Public Relations Division
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155 Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690
Background
The infrared universe is relatively poorly known because infrared light
comes from dusty and cold regions that are invisible to other telescopes.
ISO, the best infrared space telescope so far, finally has swept away
the dust and seen all the way through. ISO scientists, therefore, are
ready for surprises. The recent discovery by ISO of the presence of
water throughout the universe was already a hint of what is still to
come. More findings can be expected from this meeting, and a few
results are already summarized below.
Rings of Andromeda: "ISO unveils the hidden rings of Andromeda "
The Andromeda galaxy, one of the closest companions of our own galaxy,
has been hiding from the astronomers' eyes one of its secrets: while
always considered a typical spiral galaxy, ISO sees it now as a
spectacular ringed galaxy. Andromeda is thus structured in multiple
concentric rings, made of very cold dust -- at about -260 degree C. The
cold dust cannot be seen by optical telescopes, that's the reason why
the rings have always remained hidden in the common views of the galaxy.
The new data suggest that Andromeda might be undergoing a transition
phase to become a ringed galaxy which would be seen as such also by
conventional telescopes in the distant future
Gravitational arcs: "ISO detects the first known infrared bright
gravitational arcs and shows distant young galaxies in collision"
ISO has detected the first known infrared-bright gravitational arcs,
which may be the distorted and magnified images of distant young
galaxies in collision. Before ISO no gravitational arc had been detected
at these wavelengths, so these results make a nice victory for those
who, against all pessimistic predictions, bet on ISO's sensitivity to
detect gravitational arcs by infrared light. The newly-observed arcs
number more than thirty, and the galaxies they reveal are some of the
farthest objects ever seen in the mid-infrared. To all other telescopes
these objects have remained deeply obscured by dust. This means that ISO
is unveiling the hidden side of the early universe, the processes that
took place when the cosmos was about one third of its present age or
even younger.
Ring of organic matter: "ISO sees a ring of organic matter surrounding a
star"
A huge ring of organic matter surrounding a young star has been observed
by ISO. This kind of structure has never been detected before. With this
finding ISO shows again a clear example of how the stars and their
environment work as the Nature's chemical factories: not only water is
being produced there -- as ISO demonstrated -- but also complex organic
molecules are present; these molecules are, essentially, the basic
building blocks of all living organisms.
More information on these results is available at the ESA Science
web-pages (http//www.sci.esa.int/iso) and the ISO web site
(http://www.iso.vilspa.esa.es).
About ISO
ISO was put into orbit in November 1995, by an Ariane 44P launcher from
the European space base at Kourou in French Guiana. As an unprecedented
observatory for infrared astronomy, able to examine cool and hidden places
in the Universe, ISO successfully made more than 26,000 scientific
observations. The liquid helium supply, used to cool the telescope and
instruments close to the absolute zero of temperature, lasted almost a
year longer than expected, but ran out on 8 April 1998 (see ESA Press
Information Note No. 11-98 of 9 April).
Daily information from the meeting
Daily updated information on the results being presented in the
conference will be available on the ESA Science web pages
(http://www.sci.esa.int ) and the ISO web pages
(http://www.iso.vilspa.esa.es), where pictures and background
information on ISO are also available.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: ESA astronaut to become first Spaniard in Space (Forwarded)
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European Space Agency
Press Information Note No. 34-98
Paris, France 15 October 1998
ESA astonaut to become first Spaniard in space
European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque will become the first
Spanish national to travel into space when he lifts off with an
international crew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery on 29 October. The
crew of seven will also include US Senator John Glenn, the first
American ever to orbit the Earth, back in 1962, and Japanese astronaut
Chiaki Mukai.
The main purpose of this nine-day space mission is to conduct a variety
of science experiments, focusing on life sciences, physical sciences and
advanced technology. ESA will have a good share of the payload on board,
concentrated in a pressurised module where free-floating astronauts will
perform experiments. This module, known as Spacehab, was built by
industry, drawing on experience gained through ESA's Spacelab.
During the mission, Duque will have the tasks of deploying communication
antennae, switching on the Spacehab systems and looking after a record
number of 19 portable computers being carried by Discovery to help run
the Shuttle's systems and experiments.
On 20 October, before this exciting mission begins, media
representatives will have the opportunity to interview Pedro Duque in
Houston from ESA's Satellite Tracking Station in Villafranca, near
Madrid, via an audio-video link, between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs.
To enable the press to follow the beginning of the mission on 29
October, a live video transmission of the launch is being organised and
a press centre will be set up at ESA's Satellite Tracking Station at
Villafranca. The event starts at 19:00 hrs, for a launch window opening
at 20:00 hrs. Several ESA specialists and national and local VIPs will
be present.
During the mission there will be two link-ups between people on the
ground and Pedro Duque in orbit, offering interesting opportunities for
the media:
* Monday 2 November: An educational event with Pedro Duque, the Shuttle
Commander Curt Brown and Senator John Glenn talking to schoolchildren
(location to be determined).
* Thursday 5 November: in-flight news conference. Media representatives
at ESA's Satellite Tracking Station at Villafranca will have 11 minutes
to ask Pedro Duque questions in the framework of a 25-minute press
conference with the whole crew.
Note: All dates are based on a nominal launch on 29 October.
Media representatives wishing to follow these events are requested to
complete the attached reply form and send it to ESA Public Relations in
Paris, fax. + 33 1 5369 7690.
For further information on the mission and these events, contact:
ESA Public Relations: tel + 33 1 5369 7155
ESA Villafranca: tel + 34 91 813 11 00
MINER Press Office, tel + 34 91 349 4838
For more information on the mission :
htpp://www.pas.ksc.nasa.gov
htpp://www.estec.esa.nl/spaceflight
htpp://www.cdti.es
htpp://www.shuttlepresskit.com
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: John Glenn to conduct U.Alabama-Huntsville experiments aboard STS-95 s
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University of Alabama-Huntsville
For additional information:
Ray Garner, (256) 890-6414
Dr. Marian L. Lewis, (256) 890-6553
Phillip Gentry, (256) 890-6414
John Glenn to conduct UAH experiments aboard STS-95 shuttle flight next month
When Sen. John H. Glenn Jr. makes his second journey into space next month,
some of his time aboard the shuttle will be spent conducting life science
experiments managed by The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).
The 77-year-old Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth 36 years ago.
He returns to space aboard the shuttle Discovery for NASA's STS-95 mission.
The launch is scheduled Oct. 29, 1998.
Research scientists from The University of Alabama in Huntsville have spent
hours with Glenn, conducting training sessions with Glenn on the experiments.
These UAH scientists include project manager Marian L. Lewis and mission
manager Niki Myers.
Glenn will conduct several UAH experiments while aboard STS-95. The UAH
experiment package, Biodynamics and Space Cell Culture, the "biodyn" payload
for short, is expected to foster the commercial development of space through
the production of bio-materials by living cells.
Biodyn's experiments have been tailored to address medical conditions
including those related to aging, such as heart and vascular disease, bone
degeneration, diabetes and cancer.
Biodyn includes experiments for UAH-affiliated companies involved in tissue
engineering, such as bone implants and heart muscle patches. The experiment
package includes plant cells capable of producing anti-cancer and anti-
alcoholism compounds in a microgravity environment.
Hardware aboard the shuttle, developed by UAH and its affiliates Synthecon
Inc. and Space Hardware Optimization Technology Inc., will also grow cells
that produce a genetically engineered protein that should help prevent
rejection of organ and tissue transplants.
"All of these biomedical products have great humanitarian value and together
occupy an existing commercial market niche estimated in value in the billions
of dollars," according to project manager UAH Research Scientist Marian L.
Lewis. "The results could benefit millions of Americans and other people
worldwide."
For example, simple heart muscle patches can be developed on Earth, but
multi-layered patches that could replace damaged heart muscle must be
produced in a gravity-free environment, according to Lewis.
Those multi-layered patches could eventually reduce the need for heart
transplants, Lewis said. There are more than 50,000 people each year needing
a heart transplant to survive and there are only 2,000 donors available
annually.
Another experiment involves UAH industry affiliate Millenium Biologix Inc.
The company will prepare human bone transplants by seeding the company's
artificial material with human bone cells.
This tissue forms more readily in microgravity and could lead to
revolutionary products from synthetic bone. These products have potential for
dental implants, long bone grafts and coating for orthopedic implants, such
as hip replacements.
A California company will be flying an experiment in the UAH package that
would improve the material used to surround insulin-producing cells in
microcapsules implanted to combat diabetes. Research scientists with VivoRx
Inc. believe the molecular structure of material used in those microcapsules
could be more uniform in a microgravity environment and thus improve the
product's effectiveness.
The Biodyn payload is managed by UAH's Consortium for Materials Development
in Space and is sponsored by the Space Processing Division of NASA's Office
of Space Access and Technology.
John Glenn returns to space
Glenn's first trip into space took place on February 20, 1962, aboard a
Mercury capsule, Friendship 7. He orbited the planet three times and spent
almost five hours in space.
The 77-year-old, four-term U.S. Senator from Ohio, will now return to space
aboard the shuttle -- some 36 years after his initial flight into outer space.
The STS-95 mission is expected to last eight days and 21 hours.
Glenn is traveling as a payload specialist on the upcoming mission. He
will take part in numerous experiments to study the connection between
weightlessness and the aging process.
"The basic purpose of why I'm going is not just to go sight-seeing," Glenn
said earlier this year. "It's to do basic research and I'm going to do the
very best I can do because I think it's important for millions of people
into the future."
Glenn will not be the first member of Congress to fly in space. Utah Senator
Jake Garn flew on a shuttle mission in 1985 and Congressman Bill Nelson of
Florida flew aboard the shuttle Columbia in early 1986.
Glenn has more than 5,455 hours of flying time, including 1,900 hours in jet
aircraft.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: MANTRA Balloon Returns (Forwarded)
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[From October 13, 1998 issue of The Bulletin, University of Toronto.]
MANTRA Balloon Returns
A U of T investigator's wayward balloon came home last week -- bullet holes
and all.
The gondola from the MANTRA (Middle Atmosphere Nitrogen Trend Assessment)
research balloon arrived in Toronto after retrieval from a small island in
the Baltic Sea. The unmanned Canadian Space Agency balloon was carrying a
$500,000 instrument package when its planned 18-hour flight on Aug. 24 to
study the ozone layer unintentionally turned into an odyssey across half of
Canada, the Atlantic Ocean and most of Europe.
Despite being shot at by Canadian Forces aircraft trying to prevent the
giant helium balloon from drifting into commercial flight lanes, it serenely
rode high-altitude winds for nine days before landing on its own.
Professor Kim Strong of physics, principal researcher for the MANTRA
project, said all the instruments are still serviceable, despite one, maybe
two obvious bullet holes in the gondola. "We should be able to reuse all the
instruments," she said.
The balloon's mission was to evaluate atmospheric composition by measuring
the absorption of sunlight by atmospheric gases. All the data collected in
the planned 18-hour flight was transmitted to a ground station before the
gondola?s release mechanisms failed and the balloon sailed away.
The investigators were lucky to retrieve the instruments at all, Strong
said; if MANTRA had come to earth a few miles in any direction, it could
have been irretrievably lost in the Baltic.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Cassini Update - October 16, 1998
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Cassini Significant Events
for 10/09/98 - 10/15/98
Spacecraft Status:
The most recent Spacecraft status is from the DSN tracking pass on Monday,
10/12, over Madrid. The Cassini spacecraft is in an excellent state of
health and is executing the C10 sequence nominally. The speed of the
spacecraft
can be viewed on the "Where is Cassini Now?" web page
(http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/today/).
Spacecraft Activity Summary:
Saturday, 10/10, routine maintenance was performed on the SSR flight
software partitions.
Sunday, 10/11, quarterly Periodic Instrument Maintenance was performed as
planned on board the spacecraft. This activity involves 11 out of the 12
onboard instruments and runs for a 24 hour period.
Wednesday, 10/14, the Solid State Recorder (SSR) record and playback
pointers were reset.
Upcoming events:
Activities scheduled for the week of 10/16 - 10/22 include:
Active IVP Vector Update and RTE 158 Test on 10/19, and an SSR Pointer
Reset on 10/21.
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: NASA Selects 345 Innovative Small Business Projects
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Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC October 16, 1998
(Phone: 202/358-1979)
RELEASE: 98-191
NASA SELECTS 345 INNOVATIVE SMALL BUSINESS PROJECTS
NASA has selected 345 research proposals for negotiation of
Phase I contract awards for NASA's 1998 Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) Program. The combined award total is expected to
be approximately $24 million.
SBIR goals are to stimulate technological innovation,
increase the use of small business (including women-owned and
disadvantaged firms) in meeting federal research and development
needs, and increase private-sector commercialization of results of
federally funded research.
The 1998 solicitation closed on July 7, 1998. NASA received
2,335 proposals submitted by small, high-technology businesses
from across the United States.
NASA's ten field centers reviewed proposals for technical
merit and feasibility and relevance to NASA research and
technology requirements. The selected firms will be awarded
fixed-price contracts valued up to $70,000 each to perform a six-
month Phase I feasibility study.
Companies that successfully complete the Phase I activities
are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year.
The Phase II award allows for a two-year, fixed-price contract up
to $600,000.
The NASA SBIR Program Management Office is located at NASA's
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, with executive
oversight by NASA's Office of Aero-Space Technology, Washington,
DC. Individual SBIR projects are managed by the NASA field
centers.
- end -
EDITOR'S NOTE: A listing of the companies selected for the
program can be accessed on the Internet at URL:
http://sbir.nasa.gov
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Sky & Telescope News Bulletin - October 16, 1998
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SKY & TELESCOPE'S NEWS BULLETIN
OCTOBER 16, 1998
NEPTUNE'S RING ARCS AND IO'S AURORAS
Solar-system specialists from around the world met this week in Madison,
Wisconsin, for the 30th meeting of the American Astronomical Society's
Division for Planetary Sciences. Recent imaging results from the Hubble
Space Telescope and Galileo orbiter were presented that reveal impressive
new details about outer solar-system worlds.
Richard Terrile (JPL) described his team's success in using HST's NICMOS
infrared camera to track down elusive clumps of matter, called arcs, in
Neptune's ring system. Although not seen since the Voyager 2 flyby in 1989,
the ring arcs turned up very close to the positions predicted from Voyager
data and several stellar occultations. However, the sightings failed to
match the locations predicted by Carolyn Porco (University of Arizona).
Several years ago she developed a theory, now widely accepted, for how
resonant interactions with the small moon Galatea cause the arcs form in
the first place. This means that dynamicists still don't fully understand
how the enigmatic arcs form and endure.
Among the meeting's most colorful results came from Paul Geissler
(University of Arizona) and his colleagues. Geissler showed long-exposure
Galileo images of Io taken when this moon was hidden in Jupiter's shadow.
These reveal that Io is immersed in a faint auroral glow. However, rather
than peaking at the moon's poles, the aurora is strongest over the
locations pointing directly toward and away from Jupiter. These correspond
to where Io is "connected" to Jupiter by a tremendous electrical current of
some 400,000 volts. A trillion watts of energy courses through the
satellite via this current, and the electricity causes the tenuous gas in
Io's atmosphere to glow. Geissler points out that the aurora appears
strongest directly over the locations of known volcanic plumes.
REBORN SOHO SHOOTS THE SUN
Hopes are high for the full recovery of the Solar and Heliospheric
Observatory. Nine of the spacecraft's 12 instruments have been turned on,
and the first images since June 24th were received on October 12th.
According to Bernhard Fleck, SOHO project scientist at the European Space
Agency, four of the spacecraft's instruments are fully functional and five
others are being checked out. He notes, "So far no signs of damage due to
thermal stress during the deep freeze have been detected."
COMET GIACOBINI-ZINNER IN THE SPOTLIGHT
With Comet Williams (C/1998 P1) less than 20 degrees from the Sun, it's out
of the running for observers. However, comet watchers report that Comet
21P/Giacobini-Zinner is between magnitude 9.5 and 10. It is predicted to
brighten to a hair better than 9th magnitude by the end of November. This
week, Giacobini-Zinner is about 35 to 40 degrees above the southwest
horizon at the end of evening twilight in the constellation Ophiuchus. The
farther south you are, the higher the comet will appear. For a finder
chart, see page 107 of the November Sky & Telescope, or visit
http://www.skypub.com/comets/comets.html. Here are positions for Comet
Giacobini-Zinner for 0 hours Universal Time (2000.0 coordinates) for the
coming week:
R.A. Dec.
October 17 18h 05m +03.4 deg.
October 19 18h 11m +02.5 deg.
October 21 18h 18m +01.6 deg.
THIS WEEK'S "SKY AT A GLANCE"
Some daily events in the changing sky, from the editors of SKY &
TELESCOPE.
OCT. 18 -- SUNDAY
* The "Spring Star," Arcturus, has far outstayed its season. At this time
of year it's the brightest star twinkling low in the west during late
twilight. It sets soon thereafter.
* Jupiter's Great Red Spot should cross the planet's central meridian
around 8:23 p.m. EDT. Lately the spot has been very pale with a dark
outline and a small, reddish-brown patch in its south side. For all
predicted Red Spot transit times this observing season, see
http://www.skypub.com/whatsup/redspot.html.
OCT. 19 -- MONDAY
* The Orionid meteor shower is getting under way. It's a long-lasting
shower, displaying several peaks from about October 20th to 26th. The best
time to watch is from 1 or 2 a.m. daylight saving time until dawn. This
year the Moon is out of the sky. Under ideal observing conditions you may
see about 15 swift meteors per hour radiating from the direction of Orion's
upraised club.
* The eclipsing variable star Algol should be in one of its periodic
dimmings, magnitude 3.4 instead of its usual 2.1, for a couple hours
centered on 10:53 p.m. EDT. Algol takes several additional hours to fade
and brighten. For a list of all of its predicted minima through next
winter, see http://www.skypub.com/whatsup/algol.html.
OCT. 20 -- TUESDAY
* New moon (exact at 6:09 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time).
* Jupiter's biggest moon, Ganymede, crosses the planet's face tonight
from 8:27 to 11:37 p.m. EDT, followed by its tiny black shadow from 11:52
p.m. to 3:02 a.m. EDT. A complete list of Jupiter's satellite events this
month is in the October Sky & Telescope, page 106.
* Jupiter's Red Spot should transit around 10:01 p.m. EDT.
OCT. 21 -- WEDNESDAY
* October is when the lonely "Autumn Star," Fomalhaut, is about as high
in view during evening as it ever gets. Look for it twinkling well to the
lower right of bright Jupiter. They're separated by two or three
fist-widths at arm's length.
OCT. 22 -- THURSDAY
* Algol should be at minimum light for a couple of hours centered on 7:41
p.m. EDT.
* Jupiter's Red Spot should transit around 11:39 p.m. EDT.
OCT. 23 -- FRIDAY
* Saturn is at opposition.
OCT. 24 -- SATURDAY
* Jupiter's moon Io emerges from eclipse by Jupiter's shadow just a
little east of the planet around 8:37 p.m. EDT.
THIS WEEK'S PLANET ROUNDUP
MERCURY and VENUS are hidden in the glare of the Sun.
MARS shines in the east before and during dawn, to the lower left of
Regulus.
JUPITER is the big, brilliant "star" in the southeast during early evening.
You can't miss it! It's high in the south by about 10 p.m. and sets in the
west during early morning hours.
SATURN is the bright "star" far to Jupiter's lower left in early evening,
and directly left of Jupiter later at night. The two planets appear 41
degrees apart (about 4 fist-widths at arm's length), on opposite ends of
Pisces.
URANUS and NEPTUNE, magnitudes 5.8 and 7.9 respectively, are in (or very
near) Capricornus in the southwest during early evening. See the finder
chart in the September Sky & Telescope, page 110, or at
http://www.skypub.com/whatsup/urnepl98.html.
PLUTO is disappearing into the sunset.
(All descriptions that relate to the horizon or zenith are written for the
world's midnorthern latitudes. Descriptions that also depend on longitude
are for North America. Eastern Daylight Time, EDT, equals Universal Time
minus 4 hours.)
More details, sky maps, and news of other celestial events appear each
month in SKY & TELESCOPE, the essential magazine of astronomy. See our
enormous Web site at http://www.skypub.com/. Clear skies!
SKY & TELESCOPE, P.O. Box 9111, Belmont, MA 02478 * 617-864-7360 (voice)
Copyright 1998 Sky Publishing Corporation. S&T's Weekly News Bulletin and
Sky at a Glance stargazing calendar are provided as a service to the
astronomical community by the editors of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine.
Widespread electronic distribution is encouraged as long as these
paragraphs are included. But the text of the bulletin and calendar may not
be published in any other form without permission from Sky Publishing
(contact permissions@skypub.com or phone 617-864-7360). Illustrated
versions, including active links to related Internet resources, are
available via SKY Online on the World Wide Web at http://www.skypub.com/.
In response to numerous requests, and in cooperation with the Astronomical
League (http://www.mcs.net/~bstevens/al/) and the American Association of
Amateur Astronomers (http://www.corvus.com/), S&T's Weekly News Bulletin
and Sky at a Glance are available via electronic mailing list too. For a
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SKY & TELESCOPE, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy, is read by more than
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: National Space Day -- Come Celebrate Canada's Role in the Global Space
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Canadian Space Agency
St. Hubert, Quebec
National Space Day -- Come Celebrate Canada's Role in the Global Space Program
TORONTO, ONTARIO, October 16, 1998 -- National Space Day was set aside as
Canada's time to recognize the ingenuity and expertise that has contributed
to Canadian success in space and has made this country such a valuable partner
in the global space program. As the facilitator of National Space Day, the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is dedicated to encouraging research, development
and education in the areas of science and technology.
In a National Space Day press conference, held today and hosted by the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Honourable John Manley, Minister of Industry
and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency, CSA president Mac
Evans, CSA astronaut Dr. Dave Williams and NASA astronaut, John Glenn
congratulated those who participated in the national celebration of Canadian
achievement and pride.
As part of the celebrations, activities were held across Canada and
broadcasted live on the Internet which included a virtual tour of the
International Space Station from Houston with CSA astronaut Marc Garneau with
over 1000 students participating across the country, the unveiling of a new
and exciting webpage (KIDSPACE) and the launch of the Senior Student
Challenge.
Activities organized by the CSA were held across the country today.
Municipalities and businesses also participated in National Space Day
activities; for example, the City of Toronto's municipal council adopted
a resolution declaring October 16 as Space Day. In addition, private and
public sector organizations are hosting open houses. An interactive exhibit,
featuring certain modules of the International Space Station, is stationed on
Parliament Hill for public viewing from October 16 to 20.
"The Canadian Space Program provides countless opportunities for academic,
economic and social growth," says Minister Manley. "In 1996, the space
sector employed 5,000 Canadians, contributed $1 billion in annual revenues
and boasted a 30 per cent export ratio -- the highest in the world."
"National Space Day honours Canada's continued involvement in space
innovation," says Minister Manley. "Accomplishments like the experiments on
board STS-95, RADARSAT and Canadarm demonstrate precisely what Canadians are
celebrating today. We have a lot to be proud of."
Glenn, present at the conference via video conferencing, spoke most
specifically to the "Embrace Space" campaign, of which the CSA president Mac
Evans is part of the Steering Committee. In 1999, in support of the
educational program, the CSA plans to link its National Space Day celebrations
with the international "Embrace Space" activities in May. Glenn also
discussed his involvement with one of the three Canadian experiments -- OSTEO
-- to be launched aboard the NASA Space Shuttle STS-95 on October 29, 1998.
The STS-95 mission has been heralded as the mission dedicated to the study of
aging. At the age of 77, Glenn's participation in the mission makes him the
oldest astronaut to fly in space.
OSTEO (Osteoporosis Experiments in Orbit) will study the underlying processes
of bone loss from osteoporosis and evaluate a treatment for the condition.
Osteoporosis affects 1.4 million Canadians, causing painful fractures for
mature persons that can drastically alter their way of life. The other
experiments will study how microgravity can enhance biological separation
techniques and protein crystallization. The research will contribute to bone
marrow transplant procedures and possibly to treatments for breast cancer,
diabetes and meningitis. The Canadian Space Agency is working in a joint
venture with Allelix Biopharmaceuticals, and is also supporting the
participation of Millenium Biologix Inc., Mount Sinai Hospital, University
of British Columbia and the University of Toronto in the Osteoporosis
experiments.
"I am looking forward to my second mission in space," says Glenn. "In 1962,
aboard Friendship 7, I became the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth.
This time, I get to be a pioneer again -- but in discovering new knowledge
pertaining to osteoporosis. The Canadian Space Agency has always been a
leader in space science. I am certainly excited and proud to be a part of
STS-95 and the Canadian health experiments to be undertaken in space."
Since its origin, the CSA has focused on the development and adaptation of
space science to benefit the Earth and the daily life of Canadians and people
around the world. Canadian scientists and engineers, working in partnership
with Canadian business and research organizations, have already given us new
insight into ozone depletion, global warming, pollution, ocean ecology,
breast cancer and back pain. The CSA's dedication to research and discovery
have made Canada a valuable partner in the global space program. The
Canadian experiments on board STS-95 are just one example of Canada's
achievements in a long list that includes RADARSAT and the Canadarm.
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Canadian Space Agency
Isabelle Hudon
Manager, Public Relations and Media Relations
Wk: (450) 926-4350
Cel: (514) 943-6808
or
Canadian Space Agency
Jacqueline Bannister
Director of Communications
Wk: (450) 926-4342
Cel: (514) 917-6509
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Satellite Technologies to Help Manage B.C. Forest Fires (Forwarded)
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Canadian Space Agency
St. Hubert, Quebec
Satellite Technologies to Help Manage B.C. Forest Fires
MacDonald Dettwiler, Canadian and European Space Agencies will demonstrate
the use of satellite technologies in cooporation with the B.C. Forest Service
Protection Program
VANCOUVER, BRITISH-COLUMBIA, October 16, 1998 -- The Canadian Space Agency
(CSA) announced today that MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. has
entered into an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the B.C.
Forest Service to undertake demo testing of the use of satellite technologies
for emergency planning and management of forest fires in the province. The
contract has been made possible through the Canada-ESA Partnership Program of
the CSA.
ESA's Real-time Emergency Management via Satellite (REMSAT) project is
focussed on bridging the gap between technology and users. MacDonald
Dettwiler and the B.C. Forest Service will work with ESA to provide a pilot
demonstration of multiple technologies that prove the value of space data
and services for emergency management.
The Honorable Raymond Chan, MP for Richmond B.C. and Secretary of State
(Asia-Pacific) stated that: "This year was particularly bad for forest fires
in the province of British Columbia due to the dry weather. The opportunity
that Canada's Space Program is providing to MacDonald Dettwiler to advance
cutting-edge space technologies is not only good for industry, but will
prove instrumental in assisting the B.C. Forest Service in emergency
management operations."
Enthusiasm for the project was also expressed by the Honourable David
Zirnhelt, B.C. Minister of Forests: "B.C.'s forest protection program is
world-class. Together with MacDonald Dettwiller, ESA and CSA, we can
demonstrate to the world the necessity and importance of applying satellite
technology like REMSAT in fighting forest fires."
The B.C. Forest Service Protection Program is tasked with fighting forest
fires in B.C. Managing timber resources in an area of over 1 million square
kilometres, the Forest Service responds to on average over 3,000 fires
annually. B.C.'s timber resources, which represent $15 billion of annual
economic activity, must be protected with a reliable emergency management
information system.
The B.C. Forest Service Protection Program is internationally-recognized as
one of the world's leading emergency management programs. Teaming with
MacDonald Dettwiler and ESA, themselves leaders in the satellite technology
markets of the world, it is anticipated that the B.C. REMSAT program will
bridge the gap between satellite service providers and emergency management
end-users. In addition to enhancing the level of emergency management in B.C.
while protecting a primary environmental resource, the program will advance
Canada's technology export capabilities.
MacDonald Dettwiler has identified several key requirements for more effective
emergency management: enhanced local field communications (between fire crews
in the field and firefighting control centres), augmented with data, video
images and geographic location capabilities; up-to-date position and status
information for all resources, including aircraft, heavy equipment and fire
crews for fire attack planning; high-speed communications between mobile fire
control centres and the B.C. Provincial Fire Centre for enhanced management
and suppression of large fires; and additional background information on the
fire area, in the form of satellite or air photo imagery for aid in fire
modelling, prediction and suppression of large fires.
The resulting REMSAT-based system will be a model for other emergency
management systems, capable of being implemented anywhere in the world. The
field simulation and tests are scheduled to be conducted in the summer months,
when an average of 25 new fires occur across B.C. each day. On completion of
the pilot demonstration and evaluation, the system will be fully tested
through deployment to support fighting a major fire.
The opportunity for MacDonald Dettwiler to bid on the ESA project is a result
of the CSA's cooperative agreement with ESA. The Canada-ESA Partnership
Program, managed by the CSA, provides opportunities to Canadian companies
to bid for and obtain technology development contracts from ESA and to
participate in major European space projects. The competition for the REMSAT
project was open to all Canadian suppliers.
1998 marks the 20th anniversary of the partnership between ESA and Canada.
For more than 60 Canadian companies and organizations, this co-operative
agreement has resulted in over 400 ESA contracts worth in excess of C$250M.
In addition to the industrial, economic, and technological benefits of this
co-operation, Canada's long-standing participation in ESA programs has
provided, and continues to provide, a window into an organization composed
of 14 European Member States holding a budget of C$4.9 billion and employing
some 1800 people (1996 figures).
The Canadian Space Agency is committed to leading the development and
application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and humanity.
-30-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Canadian Space Agency
Isabelle Hudon
(450) 926-4355
Cellular: (514) 943-6808
isabelle.hudon@space.gc.ca
or
MacDonald Dettwiler
Michael Harding
(604) 231-2262
mharding@mda.ca
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle contract awarded (Forwarded)
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U.S. Department of Defense
Washington, D.C.
(703) 697-5737(public/industry)
(703) 697-5131(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 1998
No. 538-98
EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE CONTRACT AWARD
Acting Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters today announced the award
of four contracts valued at a total of $3.03 billion to Lockheed Martin
Corporation, Denver, Colo., and The Boeing Corporation, Huntington Beach,
Calif.
"Today, with the award of EELV contracts, we are entering a new and exciting
era, an era where government and industry have pooled their resources in order
to serve a combined military and commercial market," Peters said.
Each of the companies is being awarded a $500 million contract for Engineering
and Manufacturing Development agreements. The two companies are also being
awarded contracts for Initial Launch Services for the Department of Defense's
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program, the next generation of space launch
vehicles, that total $2.03 billion. Boeing will receive $1.38 billion, and
Lockheed Martin will receive $650 million.
During the development phase, fiscal year 1999-2002, the two contractors will
complete launch vehicle development, establish manufacturing capabilities,
construct and modify launch site infrastructure and activate launch sites as
Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. During
the initial launch service phase, the Air Force will acquire commercial launch
services for 28 government payloads scheduled to launch between fiscal years
2002 and 2006. Boeing will conduct 19 launches and Lockheed Martin nine
launches.
EELV's objective is to improve the affordability and operability of the
nation's expendable space launch systems beyond the turn of the century. It
will replace the current fleet of medium and heavy launch systems (Delta,
Atlas and Titan) with two modular families of launch vehicles. The EELV
program is poised to provide more affordable and reliable access to space for
America. EELV's operability improvements over current systems will include a
standard payload interface, standardized launch pads and off-pad processing.
These capabilities provide reduced launch costs and create a more operable
and responsive domestic spacelift infrastructure.
EELV will ensure America's access to space well into the 21st century.
The government's investment ensures that validated military spacelift
requirements will be met by the contractors, while stimulating the commercial
launch industry and strengthening our launch infrastructure. Having two
domestic sources will reduce risk and provide assured access to space for
both government and commercial payloads. EELV enables the U.S. commercial
launch service providers to become more competitive worldwide, not only
from a cost standpoint, but also from vehicle availability and flexibility.
Finally, the U.S. industrial base will be enhanced and two competitive launch
vehicle families will be poised to capture increased international market
share.
The first commercial launch of the EELV medium-lift vehicle will occur in
fiscal year 2001, and the first government operational payloads are slated
for launch in fiscal year 2002.
For more information, call Gloria Cales at (703) 693-9086 or Space and
Missiles Systems Center Public Affairs Office, Los Angeles Air Force Base,
Calif., (310) 363-0255.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: ARIANE 503 launch put back 24 hours (Forwarded)
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JOINT ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE PRESS RELEASE
No. 37-98
Paris, France 15 October 1998
Ariane 503: launch put back 24 hours
Hydrazine filling of the first tank in the attitude control system, on
Wednesday 14 October at the Guiana Space Centre, took longer than
expected, although the filling operation itself was completed.
In view of the pre-launch operations still to be carried out, the Ariane
503 launch has therefore been put back 24 hours.
The next key event, the Launch Readiness Review, will take place on 16
October and will clear the way for rollout to the launch zone, now
planned for Tuesday 20 October.
In view of the above, the launch is now planned for:
Wednesday 21 October: launch window 13:00 to 14:30 local time or 16:00
to 17:30 UT; 18:00 to 19:30 CET.
Ariane-5 is an ESA programme for which ESA has delegated management
responsibility to CNES.
Flight 503, conducted under ESA responsibility, will be the last of the
Ariane-5 qualification flights. The launcher used will be the first
production-series unit ordered by Arianespace from European industry.
Launch operations are managed by Arianespace at the ELA-3 launch site at
the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's space port.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: U.S. Air Force Procures Boeing Delta IV Launches for EELV Program (For
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The Boeing Company
Contact:
Communications (714) 896-1301
Boeing Launch Hotline (714) 896-4770
98-078
U.S. Air Force Procures Boeing Delta IV Launches for EELV Program
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Oct. 16, 1998 -- The U.S. Air Force announced
today the procurement of 19 Boeing [NYSE: BA] Delta IV launches for the
Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program valued at $1.38 billion.
This initial launch services contract covers small, medium and heavy
payload-class launches from 2002 to 2006. It splits 28 missions in a
dual-source procurement designed to encourage greater contractor
investment and competition in the U.S. space launch industry, and to
decrease the Air Force's overall development cost.
The Air Force also entered into a $500 million agreement with Boeing,
supplementing development of the Delta IV family of launch vehicles for
meeting all Air Force EELV requirements.
Acting Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters made the announcement
for the program during a press conference held at the Pentagon earlier
today. The EELV program is a multi-year effort aimed at reducing space
launch costs by more than 25 percent.
"We are pleased to provide the Air Force with the next generation of space
launch vehicles and to help reduce the cost of boosting payloads into
orbit," said Jim Albaugh, president of Boeing Space and Communications
Group. "The Delta IV program demonstrates the strengths of the new Boeing
Company and our commitment to the space transportation business."
Today's announcement follows a development and procurement cycle that
began in 1995. During the first phase, four competitors completed a
15-month contract to validate low-cost concepts. In December 1996, two
contractors were selected to participate in the second phase, known as the
Pre-Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (Pre-EMD) phase, a firm,
fixed-price 17-month contract worth $60 million for each company.
In November 1997, the Air Force announced that it intended to introduce
competition across the life span of the EELV program by using a
dual-source procurement strategy.
"We believe the Air Force's innovative EELV procurement process will
benefit our national security interests as well as the commercial
satellite industry," said Gale Schluter, vice president and general
manager of Boeing Expendable Launch Systems.
First launch of the Boeing Delta IV is scheduled for 2001 and support
projects are well under way. Boeing is building a new 1.5
million-square-foot facility in Decatur, Ala., for low-cost production of
the common booster core, a major component of the Delta IV. Start-up
production is scheduled for February 1999.
All variants of the Delta IV family will be able to launch from either
Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., or Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Boeing is building a new launch facility at Space Launch Complex 37 at
Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla. Additionally, the company will modify
Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to handle
west coast launches.
To increase efficiency, both Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg sites will
process rockets horizontally -- away from the launch pad -- to reduce
pre-launch on-pad time from 24 days to only six-to-eight days.
The Boeing Delta IV family includes five launch vehicles with payload
capabilities ranging from 9,200 to 29,000 pounds: Medium, Heavy and three
variants of the Medium vehicle known collectively as the Medium-plus
variants.
All vehicles use a common booster core (CBC) powered by the Rocketdyne
RS-68 engine. The liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen-burning, 650,000-pound
(2,900-kiloNewton) thrust engine is thirty percent more efficient than
conventional liquid oxygen/kerosene engines, and is environmentally
friendly, producing only steam as a combustion by-product. Designed for
low-cost production, the RS-68 engine has more than 80 percent fewer
moving parts than a Space Shuttle main engine.
Modified Boeing Delta upper stages are added to the CBC to complete each
vehicle, along with Delta common hardware and software.
The Air Force selected the Delta IV Medium and Heavy vehicles as part of
its EELV initial launch services award. The Delta IV Medium, which can
lift 9,200 pounds (4,140 kilograms) to geosynchronous transfer orbit, adds
a modified Delta III cryogenic second stage and the 13.1-foot (4 meter)
diameter composite fairing for payload protection.
The Delta IV Heavy, which can lift up to 29,000 pounds (13,050 kilograms)
to GTO links three of the new CBCs together for liftoff, and adds a
modified and enlarged Delta III upper stage. The Delta IV Heavy also uses
the 16.67-foot (5-meter) diameter metallic fairing that Boeing
manufactures for the Titan IV launch vehicle.
Production and assembly of the Delta IV is a team effort for Boeing
employees and suppliers throughout the country. The Boeing facility in
Huntington Beach, Calif., houses program management, engineering and some
manufacturing functions. A new manufacturing facility in Decatur, Ala.,
will produce common booster cores.
Boeing designs and manufactures the RS-68 engine in Canoga Park, Calif.,
at its Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power unit.
The company's plant in El Paso, Texas, will build electrical components.
Medium fairing segments, fabricated in Huntington Beach, will be shipped
to the company's Pueblo, Colo., plant for manufacturing completion. The
Pueblo plant also will be responsible for assembly of the medium upper
stage.
The Delta IV production team includes major suppliers from throughout the
United States: AlliedSignal Aerospace, Teterboro, N.J., Redundant Inertial
Flight Control Assembly (RIFCA) for guidance control of all Delta IVs;
Alliant Techsystems, Inc., Magna, Utah, and Iuka, Miss., first-stage
strap-on solid-propellant rocket motors for the Medium-plus versions and
composite CBC structures, respectively; Pratt & Whitney, West Palm Beach,
Fla., second-stage engines for the Delta IV Medium and Heavy class
vehicles.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Lockheed Martin wins Air Force contracts to build, launch new rocket ,
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Lockheed Martin Astronautics
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Evan McCollum
Pager: 888-617-1239
Phone: 303-977-5364
E-mail: Evan McCollum
PRESS RELEASE: October 16, 1998
LOCKHEED MARTIN WINS AIR FORCE CONTRACTS TO BUILD, LAUNCH NEW ROCKET
DENVER, Colo., -- Lockheed Martin Astronautics was awarded contracts from
the U.S. Air Force today with a combined value of approximately $ 1.15
billion to complete development of the company's family of Evolved
Expendable Launch Vehicles (EELV), and provide launch services for 9
missions of the new rockets between 2003 and 2005.
This contract award comes almost two years after the Air Force awarded two
development contracts for the EELV. The dual contracts were awarded to
Lockheed Martin Astronautics and the Boeing Company's Expendable Launch
Systems on Dec. 20, 1996.
The Air Force envisions that the EELV will eventually replace the existing
Delta, Atlas and Titan space launch vehicles for use in launching a wide
range of government and commercial payloads. First launch of the EELV is
planned for 2001.
"This EELV award will help enable Lockheed Martin to provide our Air Force
and other customers best value products well into the 21st century," said
Thomas A. Corcoran, president and chief operating officer of the Space &
Strategic Missiles Sector.
"These new EELV rockets will enable us to reduce assembly time and improve
operational capability while cutting costs," said Dr. Raymond S. Colladay,
president of Lockheed Martin Astronautics. "As a result, we will enhance our
ability to ensure Mission Success -- for our international and domestic
customers."
Lockheed Martin's EELV concept calls for a family of vehicles that will be
used to launch commercial and government payloads to a variety of orbits or
place them on interplanetary trajectories. The vehicles feature a number of
common elements including the 12.5-foot (3.8-meter) diameter, 89.3-foot
(27.15-meter) tall, structurally stable Common Core Booster TM , a common
propulsion system featuring the RD-180 engine, common element upper stages,
standard commercial payload adapters, standard commercial avionics as well as
simplified launch pads and streamlined launch operations. Lockheed Martin's
EELV will be launched from both Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., and
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
The Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) configuration of Lockheed Martin's EELV will
be capable of placing 18,900 pounds (8,573 kg) in low Earth orbit or 11,600
pounds (5,262 kg) in geostationary transfer orbit. For the largest payloads,
three Common Core Boosters TM will be strapped together to form the Heavy Lift
Vehicle (HLV). The HLV will place 42,000 pounds (19,050 kg) in low Earth orbit
or more than 14,500 pounds (6,577 kg) in geosynchronous orbit, 22,300 miles
(35,890 km) above Earth.
Lockheed Martin's EELV will use the highly reliable Centaur upper stage.
Centaur continues to be the United States' only state-of-the-art upper
stage in production that uses cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen
propellants. Centaur has a proven record of more than 133 flights.
Lockheed Martin has established an international teaming relationship with
the RD AMROSS, LLC joint venture that was formed by the Russian company NPO
Energomash and Pratt & Whitney, an operating unit of United Technologies
Corporation, to co-produce the RD-180 rocket engines under exclusive contract
for Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin also uses the RD-180 to power its Atlas III boosters. The
company expects to launch several Atlas III vehicles before the first EELV
is launched, thus increasing confidence in the performance of the EELV.
First launch of an Atlas III is scheduled for mid-1999.
Lockheed Martin Astronautics, in Denver, Colo., has responsibility for
program management, systems design, development and integration, booster
final assembly, mission integration and systems test. The company's Harlingen,
Texas, Operations builds payload fairings, interstage adapters and aft thrust
structures. Astronautics' Launch Operations organization at Cape Canaveral
Air Station, Fla., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., provides launch
site activation and launch operations. Other members of Lockheed Martin's
EELV team, their locations and responsibilities include:
* RD AMROSS, LLC (a joint venture of Pratt & Whitney, West Palm Beach, Fla.,
and NPO Energomash, Khimky, Russia) -- RD-180 engine for the Common Core
Booster TM . Pratt & Whitney also provides the RL-10 engine for the Centaur.
* Contraves Space, Zurich, Switzerland -- composite payload fairings.
* Honeywell, Clearwater, Fla. -- avionics system.
* Hensel Phelps, Greeley, Colo. -- general contractor for launch site
activation.
* AJT & Associates, Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- design of launch facilities.
Astronautics is one of the operating units of Lockheed Martin's Space &
Strategic Missiles Sector headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Astronautics designs,
develops, tests and manufactures a variety of advanced technology systems for
space and defense. Chief products include planetary spacecraft and other space
systems, space launch systems and ground systems.
# # #
[NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at
http://www.ast.lmco.com/astroweb/gallery_eelv.shtml]
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Mars Surveyor 98 Update - October 17, 1998
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1998 MARS SURVEYOR PROJECT STATUS REPORT
October 17, 1998
John McNamee
Mars Surveyor 98 Project Manager
Mars Climate Orbiter: Launch -54 days
The Assembly, Test and Launch (ATLO) test unit Pyro Initiation Unit (PIU)
was installed in place of the flight PIU at end of day Friday. No orbiter
work was planned for Saturday.
Mars Polar Lander: Launch -78 days
Medium Gain Antenna (MGA) gimbal, thermal, UHF, and touch down sensor
reverification testing was completed on Saturday (as opposed to COB Friday
as reported in yesterday's report). UHF retesting, flight PIU reinstallation,
and MGA reinstallation was accomplished by COB Saturday as well.
For more information on the Mars Surveyor 98 mission, please visit
our website at:
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/
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=SANA=
Дата: 20 октября 1998 (1998-10-20)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: NEAR Weekly Report for Oct. 16, 1998
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NEAR WEEKLY REPORT
October 16, 1998
MISSION OPERATIONS:
The NEAR spacecraft state/configuration has remained nominal (Flight
Computer #1 and Attitude Interface Unit #1 active).
NEAR's attitude mode continues to alternate between GS-4 (Earth
pointing) during Earth pointing, high gain antenna tracks, and GS-5
(~Sun pointing) at all other times. The GS-5 off-sun pointing limit has
remained at 10 deg. It should be noted that the new momentum biasing
feature of the Flight Computer is in use while in GS-5. The target
momentum vector is now user selectable.
The Magnetometer and XGRS instruments remained on throughout this
reporting period.
TCM 15 executed successfully as planned on October 14 at 1659z . This
was the first of what are referred to as "Fancy Burns", a new feature of
the Flight Computer software to be used extensively next year for orbit
control at Eros.
All science and engineering data for the period was successfully
recorded and played back.
Completed the majority of ground system account changes and network
modifications for Eros operations. Performance tuning other
discrepancies will now take priority.
Future Plans:
October 27: NASA Headquarters Peer Review of NEAR
readiness.
Upcoming Spacecraft Activities:
October 28: Fancy Momentum Dump Test #1
November 5: Monochrome Light Curve of Eros (First
images of Eros)
November 9: NIS/MSI Rotation Sequence Dry Run
November 18: Fancy Momentum Dump Test #2
November 19: Monochrome Light Curve of Eros
November 19: NIS Cal Target Observation
November 20: Eros Optical Navigation A (16 frames)
Debra Fletcher
240-228-8274/Washington
443-778-8274/Baltimore
Fax: 240-228-3237
Email: debra.fletcher@jhuapl.edu
`Bldg./Rm.: 2-155
The Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory
11100 Johns Hopkins Road
Laurel, MD 20723-6099
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=SANA=
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