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M.9N'K4M5\0,;!DY)YO3#'B/Z3@6-6YF"/:,JRY"_
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Landsat-7 Launch Scheduled For April 15
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David E. Steitz
Headquarters, Washington, DC November 19, 1998
(Phone: 202/358-1730)
Lynn Chandler
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
(Phone: 301/614-5562)
RELEASE: 98-209
LANDSAT-7 LAUNCH SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 15
NASA has selected a new launch date of April 15, 1999, for
the Landsat-7 Earth science satellite. The launch, originally
scheduled for December 1998, will take place from Vandenberg Air
Force Base, CA, on a Delta II launch vehicle.
The Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM Plus), the science
instrument on Landsat-7, will continue a database of high-
resolution Earth imagery begun in 1982 by the Landsat-4 thematic
mapper. As changes occur on the Earth's surface due to natural or
human-induced events, scientists will be able to use the archive
of imagery from the Landsat missions to better understand the
behavior of the global environment. Landsat images provide
information meeting the significant and diverse needs of business,
science, education, government and national security.
Applications for Landsat-7 imagery will include agricultural crop
planning, timber issues in the Northwest, and information about
population change and water quality.
Landsat-7 will add to the global archive of sunlit,
substantially cloud-free images of the Earth's land surfaces. The
spacecraft contains several technological improvements over
previous Landsat satellites and their instruments. These
improvements include better instrument calibration and a solid-
state data recorder capable of storing 100 individual ETM Plus
Earth images. This capability will enable Landsat-7 to update a
complete global view of the Earth's land surfaces seasonally, or
approximately four times per year. The Landsat series has
provided the longest record of the Earth's continental surfaces as
seen from space.
"The launch delay of Landsat-7 was caused by a need for
changes in the design of the electrical power-supply hardware for
the spacecraft's instrument," said Phil Sabelhaus, Landsat-7
project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt,
MD. During instrument-level thermal vacuum tests beginning in
December 1997, a power supply on the ETM Plus instrument failed
twice. These technical challenges have been resolved and Landsat-
7 is on track for launch. "We're satisfied that our design
concerns have been met, and we're ready for a springtime launch of
the spacecraft."
Landsat 7 will continue the legacy of the first U.S. Earth
Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1), launched in 1972, by
building upon the only global data record captured from space
The ETM Plus was designed and built by Raytheon (formerly
Hughes) Santa Barbara Remote Sensing, Santa Barbara, CA. Lockheed
Martin Missiles and Space built the Landsat-7 spacecraft, with
integration of the instrument and spacecraft conducted at the
company's facility in Valley Forge, PA.
NASA is developing in parallel to the Landsat-7 mission the
next generation Landsat instrument and spacecraft technologies
through the New Millennium technology demonstration program. This
follow-on technology development effort will enable future
measurements to be made by a sensor that is one-fourth the mass of
the ETM Plus. A new sensor enabled by this development will use
only 20 percent of the electrical power currently needed, while
reducing the overall mission cost by 60 percent. The next
generation Landsat flight demonstration is expected to launch in
late 1999.
NASA intends to operate Landsat 7 and the flight
demonstration spacecraft in the same orbit, but separated from
each other by approximately one minute in distance. Such a flying
formation will allow for observing the same area of Earth by both
satellites, providing validation of the new imaging technologies
being demonstrated. The advanced Landsat technology mission is
intended to mitigate technological risk, improve future Landsat
performance by a factor of four, and reduce overall mission
development time by half.
Landsat is the central pillar of the national remote sensing
capability. The Landsat 7 spacecraft was built to complement the
research of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, a long-term research
program designed to study Earth's land, oceans, atmosphere, ice
and life as a total integrated system. NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center manages the development of Landsat for the Earth
Science Enterprise, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.
-end-
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Even John Glenn Isn't This Cool!!! (Forwarded)
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Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs
CONTACT: John Brownlee
PHONE: (505) 853-3515
VS RELEASE NO. 98-40 November 18, 1998
Even John Glenn Isn't This Cool!!!
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- John Glenn's experiments on aging weren't
the only success stories to come off the recent Space Shuttle Discovery
flight. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) had one of its own on that
9-day-long extraterrestrial excursion, one even "cooler" than the famous
astronaut himself -- much cooler.
Early results from an experimental refrigeration device known as the
Cryogenic Thermal Storage Unit (CRYOTSU), while perhaps not as glamorous as
the septuagenarian's orbital encore, now suggest the Air Force may have found
a better way to move, store, and control heat inside satellites. AFRL's
CRYOTSU technology, which has no moving parts, will aid existing satellite
cryocoolers that already lower internal temperature hundreds of degrees by
maintaining the extremely low temperatures for longer periods.
According to project engineer Charlotte Gerhart of AFRL's Space Vehicles
Directorate here, CRYOTSU met all AFRL testing goals and promises a new heat
management technology for future spacecraft. Unlike current exotic devices
such as "heat pipes" and "dewar bottles" that help satellites keep their cool,
CRYOTSU used a smaller, lighter configuration of hardware with lower power
requirements. CRYOTSU will be used in conjunction with cryocoolers to extend
their capacity for applications where the amount of heat to be rejected is
not constant.
"Satellite heat build-up from tightly compacted electronics and sunlight
degrades the performance of some spacecraft subsystems, especially infrared
sensors," explained Gerhart. "We are essentially searching for reliable and
affordable supercooling technology that will lower internal satellite
temperature around sensors. For sensors to work in space efficiently, they
must operate in a frigid environment to properly contrast and accurately
identify distant objects through their heat signatures, or 'spectral
fingerprints.'"
Looking something like a big, white garbage can bolted against the side of
Discovery's payload bay, the CRYOTSU experiment canister held four AFRL-
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center experiments with technical-sounding names.
The primary payload, the "nitrogen thermal storage unit," acted like a block
of ice and cooled sensors to -211 degrees Celsius, or 348 degrees Fahrenheit
below zero. Second was a "nitrogen-filled capillary pumped loop," which moved
heat away from sensors and into space. Another, a hydrogen "gas-gap" thermal
switch, directed the heat flow. And finally, another thermal storage unit
filled with a type of paraffin wax that melts at 45 degrees Celsius. All the
experiments, except for the thermal switch, were developed under Small
Business Innovative Research contracts.
Simply, CRYOTSU keeps infrared sensors cold longer so they can continue to
function. In the experiment, surplus heat from the cryocoolers was
transferred to a radiator-like device, also made of paraffin. Called a
"phase-change upper-end plate," the radiator is mounted on the outside of
the CRYOTSU canister and dissipated extraneous heat into space. "We hope to
see some of this technology used in the next few years on a long-term
satellite mission like the planned Space-Based Infrared-Low system," Gerhart
added.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
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=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Artist/Astronaut To Answer Public's Questions
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 1998
CONTACT: Robert Pearlman
202-543-1900 ext. 72
MOONWALKER/ARTIST SET TO ANSWER PUBLIC'S QUESTIONS
National Space Society's "Ask An Astronaut" Website Hosts
Astronaut/Painter Alan Bean For Online Question/Answer Forum
(Washington, DC) -- November 19 -- On the 29th anniversary of his walk on
the Moon, the National Space Society (NSS) announces Alan Bean as the
featured guest on its educational website, "Ask An Astronaut"
. Beginning today, the general public can
send questions to be answered by the astronaut/artist.
Alan Bean was the lunar module pilot for Apollo 12, and on November 19,
1969, the fourth man to walk on the moon. In 1973, Bean again flew in
space as commander of the Skylab 3 mission, the United States' first space
station. Today an accomplished explorer artist, Bean creates paintings for
future generations that help record humankind's first exploration of
another world.
In addition to sending questions to Bean, visitors to the "Ask An
Astronaut" website can access biographical and multimedia files related to
his flights and career as an artist. A directory of related websites, as
well as archives from previous featured astronauts (including John Glenn,
who was featured during his recent shuttle flight) are also available.
The National Space Society, which established "Ask An Astronaut" two years
ago, is proud to present the public access to those who have pioneered the
space frontier.
"Captain Bean's paintings have helped many understand the wonder of
exploring the Moon in ways that words cannot communicate," said Robert
Pearlman, NSS Director of Online Programs. "The Internet allows us to
present his artwork alongside multimedia from his missions, as well as
have specific questions answered. It is a perfect medium for the
combination of science and art."
The National Space Society, founded in 1974, is an independent, nonprofit
space advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Its 23,000
members and 75 chapters around the world actively promote a spacefaring
civilization. Information on NSS and space exploration is available at
.
###
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=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: WDC-A R&S Launch Announcement 12977: Zarya (First International Space
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COSPAR/ISES
WORLD WARNING AGENCY FOR SATELLITES
WORLD DATA CENTER-A FOR R & S, NASA/GSFC
CODE 633, GREENBELT, MARYLAND, 20771. USA
SPACEWARN 12977
COSPAR/WWAS USSPACECOM NUMBER
SPACECRAFT INTERNATIONAL ID (CATALOG NUMBER) LAUNCH DATE,UT
ISS-ZARYA 1998-067A 25544 20 NOVEMBER 1998
DR. JOSEPH H. KING, DIRECTOR, WDC-A-R&S.
[PH: (301) 286 7355.
E-MAIL: KING@NSSDCA.GSFC.NASA.GOV
20 NOVEMBER 1998 13:30 UT]
Further details will be in a forthcoming SPACEWARN Bulletin
Dr. Edwin V. Bell, II
_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/ Mail Code 633
_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ NASA Goddard Space
_/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ Flight Center
_/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ Greenbelt, MD 20771
_/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/ +1-301-286-1187
ed.bell@gsfc.nasa.gov
SPACEWARN home page: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/spacewarn/
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=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Mars Surveyor 98 Update - November 20, 1998
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1998 MARS SURVEYOR PROJECT STATUS REPORT
November 20, 1998
John McNamee
Mars Surveyor 98 Project Manager
Mars Climate Orbiter:
Orbiter launch processing activities are proceeding on schedule in the
Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility (SAEF-2) facility at
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) with launch vehicle 3rd stage mate 4 days away
and launch 20 days away. Final blanket installation and other vehicle
closeout activities were accomplished. Final weight and spin balance
was completed. The orbiter final weight is 1394.67 lbs. Rework of
the flight Pyro Initiation Unit (PIU) to eliminate the potential for
latchup was completed successfully and the PIU is scheduled for
reinstallation on the orbiter on November 21. Final cleaning of the Mars
Color Imager (MARCI) and Pressure Modulator InfraRed Radiometer (PMIRR)
optics was accomplished. Final vehicle cleaning and final vehicle
walkdown by all cognizant engineers and independent mechanical experts
was completed in preparation for 3rd stage mate.
Mars Polar Lander:
Lander launch processing activities are proceeding on schedule in the
SAEF-2 facility at KSC with launch vehicle 3rd stage mate 25 days away
and launch 44 days away. Rework of the flight Pyro Initiation Unit
(PIU) to eliminate the potential for latchup was completed successfully
and the PIU was reinstalled on the lander on November 19. Flight software
build 8.1 (the final planned software build) was loaded on the lander.
Mission system testing of the cruise/trajectory correction maneuver
and entry, descent, and landing (scripted attitude) phases was
completed successfully. A full up launch rehearsal was conducted
successfully on November 17 with the vehicle powered and exercised in a
flight like manner.
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: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Cassini Update - November 20, 1998
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Cassini Significant Events
for 11/13/98 - 11/19/98
Spacecraft Status:
The most recent Spacecraft status is from the DSN tracking pass on
Wednesday, 11/18, over the Goldstone tracking station. The Cassini
spacecraft is in an excellent state of health and is executing the Cruise
11 sequence normally. 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:
On Sunday, 11/15, the Solid State Recorder (SSR-B) record and playback
pointers were reset as the last activity in the C10 sequence.
On Wednesday, 11/18, an update to the Active Spacecraft IVP (Inertial
Vector Propagator) Vector was made in preparation for the Deep Space
Maneuver (DSM) which occurs on Dec 2 (Dec 3 UTC).
Upcoming events:
Activities scheduled for the week of 11/20-11/26 include: Solid State
Recorder Flight Software Partition Maintenance on 11/20, SSR Pointer Reset
on 11/21, Installation of the Science & Engineering Record (S&ER) 3
telemetry mode into the CDS in preparation for the Instrument Checkout in
January, Accelerometer Calibration, and AACS High Watermark Clear on
11/22, a window for possible Accelerometer Bias Parameter Update on 11/23,
and AACS Parameter Update prior to the DSM on 11/25.
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Mars Global Surveyor Aerobraking Update - November 19, 1998
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Mars Global Surveyor Aerobraking Status Report
Thursday, November 19 (DOY 320/19:00:00 to DOY 323/19:00:00 UTC)
Last Orbit Covered by this Report = 739
Total Phase I Aerobraking orbits accomplished = 180
Total Phase II Aerobraking orbits accomplished = 166
Total Science Phasing orbits accomplished = 290
Apoapsis altitude = 8536 km
Apoapsis altitude decrease since start of aerobraking = 45490 km
Periapsis altitude = 113.5 km
Current Orbit Period = 05:42:44
Orbit Period decrease since start of aerobraking = 39:16:49
Starting Phase II orbit period = 11:38:02
RECENT EVENTS:
The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft continues successful phase 2 aerobraking
operations with no concerns. The past 13 drag passes have provided about 14
minutes of orbit period reduction. The period reduction rate has been
reduced to conform with the original baseline rate rather than accumulate
more margin. The current period is about 9 minutes ahead of the original
baseline. The 6-orbit running mean is 0.199 N/m2 which is below the 0.23
N/m2 corridor control trigger limit. There were no corridor control
maneuvers required during this period.
Currently, sequence P736 is controlling the S/C activities. It will be
replaced early this evening with P740 which will control activities starting
with orbit 740 through orbit 743. The decision to increase the number of
primary orbits to 5 and thus the predicted orbits to 6 was made at this
week's reset meeting on Wednesday. All sequences are now being build with 5
primary orbits, although the 5th orbit may be superseded by a new sequence
if required to keep builds on prime shift. Orbit timing predictions continue
to be very good. The Navigation team is incorporating an updated wave model
to improve timing predictions.
Subsystems continue to report excellent S/C health and performance. The -Y
solar array yoke has shown no change in structural performance. Attitude
knowledge has been maintained throughout the period with excellent star
processing. The power subsystem reports strong performance with 11.0 %
maximum battery discharge depths each orbit. There is now 11 minutes of
primary charger margin. The minimum MOLA laser temperature observed this
period was 12.1°C and is expected to drop a little lower as the shorter, 35
minute, warming maneuver takes effect. The largest temperature increase due
to aero-heating was 67°C on the -Y solar array, cell side. The
telecommunications subsystem continues solid performance.
Preparations for the upcoming mapping mission continue. Weekly planning
meetings are being held to discuss progress, changes and product review and
testing. The STL has successfully created a 2 PM mapping baseline and has
been validating changes to the 2 AM mapping profile.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Periapsis for Orbit 740 DOY323/23:36:25 UTC Through
Periapsis for Orbit 752 DOY326/18:27:25 UTC
(Note: MST = UTC-7 hours DOY323=11/19)
SPACECRAFT COMMANDING:
There were 10 command files radiated to the S/C during this period. The
total files radiated since launch is now 2982.
These commands were sent in support of the following activities:
Nominal drag pass sequences (P728, P732, P736)
Nominal corridor control maneuver sequences (none)
Command loss timer resets
Nominal star catalog and ephemeris file updates
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Mars Global Surveyor Update - November 20, 1998
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Mars Global Surveyor
Project Status Report Overview
Prepared by Mars Surveyor Operations Project Manager
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Friday 20 November 1998
All the Mars Surveyor Operations Project (MSOP) operational readiness tests
(ORT) for the launch of the Mars Climate Orbiter have been successfully
completed with a final launch and initial acquisition test early this past
week. The ORTs for the Mars Polar Lander continue in satisfactory manner
with a nine day trajectory correction maneuver ORT underway at the present
time.
Mars Global Surveyor continues with aerobraking operations that have reduced
the orbital period to approximately 5.5 hours. The spacecraft is in
excellent health. Earth occultations began once again on November 20th.
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Europe joins in celebrations for Space Station launch (Forwarded)
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European Space Agency
Press Release No. 51-98
Paris, France 20 November 1998
EUROPE JOINS IN CELEBRATIONS FOR SPACE STATION LAUNCH
The first module for the new International Space Station was successfully
launched this morning (20 November) aboard a Russian Proton rocket at 07:40
CET from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The rocket blasted off under
overcast skies and strong winds, and disappeared behind the clouds within 40
seconds.
The 12 metre Zarya module reached orbit less than 10 minutes after blastoff.
It will serve as a space propulsion engine and power station in the early
stages of the project, providing propulsion, power and communications. When
completed in 2004, the complex will be the largest ever structure in space,
stretching over 100 metres and sprawling across an area the size of a
football field.
ESA Director-General Antonio Rodota, who watched the launch from about five
km away, said: "This is the largest technological project to be undertaken
jointly by the nations of the world in the history of mankind. For Europe it
is the start of an exciting new era in space exploration."
The Space Station will serve as an orbital home for astronauts and
cosmonauts for at least 15 years. As one of five international partners
(together with the United States, Russia, Japan and Canada), ESA is
contributing two major elements -- the Columbus laboratory and an automatic
transport spacecraft.
The first is a multi-purpose scientific and technological laboratory, to be
added by the year 2003, and the second, known as the Automated Transfer
Vehicle, is a transport vessel for launch by Europe's Ariane 5 on supply
missions.
Europe will take part in 19 of the 45 flights planned during the five-year
assembly phase and is also supplying scientific and technical equipment to
NASA and the Russian Space Agency. Once in operation European astronauts will
be regular visitors.
ESA also announced today that it is to begin soliciting microgravity
research proposals in physical sciences and biotechnology to be conducted on
the International Space Station.
"The foundation stone for this unique international research and test centre
in space has been laid today. Now it is important that Europe's best
scientists and engineers make good use of it" declared ESA Director of
Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity, Jorg Feustel-Buechl, and explained
that, "besides fundamental research, scientists are encouraged to consider
projects that have industrial applications perspectives, and researchers
from European industry are particularly welcome to apply".
The new Announcement of Opportunity for Microgravity Research Programmes and
related Applications in Physical Sciences and Biotechnology is available on
the Internet at: http://www.estec.esa.int/spaceflight .
For further information, please contact:
ESA Public Relations Division
Tel:+33.(0)1.5369.7155 Fax:+33.(0)1.5369.7690 1
*****
ESA Science News
http://sci.esa.int
Launch of the first element of International Space Station on 20 November
20 Nov 1998, LAUNCHED at 07:40!
The first module for the new International Space Station (ISS) program, named
Zarya, was successfully launched this morning, 20 November, aboard a Russian
Proton launch vehicle at 1:40 a.m. EST (07:40 CET) from the Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The launch of the first component of the International Space Station
represents the start of a new style of flight opportunities for the
astronomy and space science community.
Unlike free-flying satellites, which are generally optimised for a particular
scientific objective, the ISS will provide a re-usable platform for
observations or experiments which permits servicing or replacement of
components, sample return or even construction of larger telescopes which
cannot be launched conventionally.
ESA has completed the selection of experiments for the first early flight
opportunity on external platforms, which will commence before completion of
the construction of ISS. This will contain:
* A package of 3 solar telescopes to monitor the changes in absolute solar
power output from the complete solar disk over a range of wavelengths, of
vital importance to the study of the Earth's atmosphere as well as stellar
astronomy.
* A telescope to map the polarisation of the sky at millimetre wavelengths
to help distinguish between background sources and the cosmic microwave
background signal from the moment the universe first became transparent
shortly after the Big Bang.
These experiments complement elements of the ESA Horizon 2000+ programme,
which includes SOHO, currently monitoring solar activity with high spatial
resolution and the planned Planck mission to measure the cosmic microwave
background with unprecedented sensitivity.
In addition, a number of space environment sensors measure the radiation,
gas, plasma and cosmic dust influx to the Space Station, will be incorporated
on the Technology Exposure Facility.
Launch of the European Columbus Orbital Facility (COF) in the new millennium,
which will house additional attached payload sites, will provide a further
opportunity for astronomy and space science. Plans are already under way to
design a 10m X-ray telescope, known as XEUS, for construction at the space
station and release as a free-flying observatory.
The Space Science community is waiting for further reports on the launch,
which heralds the start of a new era in scientific observations from space.
USEFUL LINKS FOR THIS STORY
ISS status report
http://station.nasa.gov/news/status/iss1.html
ESA's Space Station website
http://www.estec.esa.nl/spaceflight
ESA prsss release no 50
http://www.esa.int/Press/98/press50.html
XEUS homepage
http://astro.estec.esa.nl/SA-general/Projects/XEUS/
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Start of a new era in space exploration -- the International Space Sta
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Canadian Space Agency
St. Hubert, Quebec
START OF A NEW ERA IN SPACE EXPLORATION -- THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION IS
NOW A REALITY
Saint-Hubert, November 20, 1998 -- The Canadian Space Agency today proudly
and enthusiastically joined its international partners in celebrating the
start of a new era in space exploration. Representatives from all the space
station partners were on hand at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for
the historic launch of Zarya, the first component of the International Space
Station. The station is the fruit of the labours of 16 cooperating nations
and will become, over the next few months, not just a huge research
laboratory but an international city in space. Canada will be very actively
involved.
"After more than ten years of planning and preparation, it is exciting to
see the project become a reality. Canada is a full-fledged partner in this
international venture, and our industry, researchers and students will have
privileged access to this research and development facility of unrivalled
potential", declared Mac Evans, President of the Canadian Space Agency. "Our
investment in this project not only presents numerous business opportunities
and creates jobs in the new knowledge-based economy, but it will also sustain
Canada's leading position in robotics."
The International Space Station is being built by the United States, Canada,
the eleven member states of the European Space Agency, Japan, Russia and
Brazil. Once completed, in about 2004, the station will occupy the dimensions
of a football field and will be visible, from Earth, to the naked eye. At
least 45 launches of space shuttles and Russian rockets will be needed to
assemble over 100 space station components. The station will eventually be
permanently occupied.
Assembling the Space Station would be impossible without Canada's
contribution, which takes the form of an elaborate robotics system: the
Mobile Servicing System (MSS). The MSS, essential to assembling and
maintaining the station, is made up of three main parts: the Space Station
Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), the Mobile Remote Servicer Base System
(MBS), and the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator (SPDM).
Canada is also providing ground-based operational support for the MSS and
its future users. There is a Mobile Servicing System Operations Complex at
the Canadian Space Agency in Saint-Hubert, Quebec. The complex consists of a
Robotics Training Centre for astronauts, cosmonauts and mission control staff
who will have to work with the Space Station's manipulator arm. Prospective
users will be trained using computer courseware, virtual reality simulations
and other advanced multimedia techniques. There is also a Space Operations
Support Centre which will be active during assembly flights in which either
the Space Station Remote Manipulator System or the Canadian Vision System is
used. This Centre is equipped with consoles identical to those at NASA's
mission control centre in Houston, Texas.
Lastly, Canada will contribute a Canadian Space Vision System, enabling
astronauts to see better in space. The system provides information on the
precise location, orientation and motion of objects in space. Several modules
of the Space Station, such as Zarya, will be equipped with components using
this Canadian technology. In fact, Zarya is marked with small black targets
required by the Space Vision System. These points will be used to line up
Zarya precisely for attachment to other station components.
Key dates for Canada and the International Space Station:
May 13, 1999: CSA astronaut Julie Payette flies on mission STS-96.
August, 1999: CSA astronaut Marc Garneau flies on mission STS-97.
December, 1999: CSA astronaut Chris Hadfield flies on mission STS-100 during
which he will install the Space Station Remote Manipulator System, thus
becoming the first Canadian astronaut to perform a "space walk".
August, 2000: Installation of the base for the Mobile Remote Servicer Base
System.
2001: CSA delivers the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator to NASA.
2002: Installation of the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator.
The Canadian Space Agency is committed to leading the development and
application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and of all
humanity.
- 30 -
For information:
Stephane Corbin, Manager, Public and Media Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Phone: (450) 926-4350
Cell: 514-943-6808
stephane.corbin@espace.gc.ca
*****
Backgrounder
Canadian Space Vision System
On November 20 1998, the momentum is building toward the beginning of
construction of the International Space Station. Scientists and engineers
around the world are finalizing plans and reviewing schedules. In Canada,
the focus is on a small yet critical test, a prelude to an expanding role
for Canadian technology in space.
Conceived 20 years ago in Canada's National Research Council laboratories, the
Space Vision System (SVS) is designed to enhance an astronauts' vision in the
difficult viewing conditions of space. It provides information on the exact
location, orientation and motion of a specified target, helping astronauts to
perform precise tasks in the extreme lighting conditions of space. The Space
Vision System was first put to the test during mission STS-52 in 1992 and its
performance was evaluated for future uses. Today, a more robust, and versatile
vision system -- the new Canadian Space Vision System -- is undergoing
extensive testing to prove its enhanced accuracy, reliability and performance.
During STS-85, which was launched on August 7, 1997, Mission Specialists
performed tests with the Canadian Space Vision System (CSVS). A prior model,
the Advanced Space Vision Unit, was used by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield
on the STS-74 Mission. The Canadian Space Vision System is used to provide
cues to operators of the Canadarm and its bigger cousin, the Space Station
Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), during robotic operations including the
construction of the International Space Station. The Space Vision System
technology was originally tested in space by Canadian astronaut Steve
MacLean in 1992 during Mission STS-52.
The Canadian Space Vision System uses Shuttle or Space Station TV cameras as
sensors. These cameras monitor a pattern of special target dots placed on the
object to be tracked. As the object moves, the Canadian Space Vision System
tracks the changing position of the dots, calculates the location and
orientation of the object, and presents this infomation to the operator in
the form of both graphical and textual cues. This information can be used to
position and orient a payload using the Canadarm or the Space Station Remote
Manipulator System, or to join two objects as in the case of Space Station
assembly.
The Canadian Space Vision System has many enhanced features which increase
the accuracy, versatility and usefulness of the system. The Canadian Space
Vision System is now able to operate in a wider range of lighting conditions.
Frequent periods of extreme dark or bright light make it difficult for
astronauts working in space to gauge the distance and speed of objects such
as satellites. With the addition of improved target tracking features, the
Canadian Space Vision System is able to switch from one set of targets to
another when one moves out of its field of vision. The Canadian Space Vision
System is also capable of "losing" targets as they become obscured, allowing
the calculations to continue on the remaining targets. For some operations,
the Canadian Space Vision System can also overcome conditions such as the
Shuttle turning or shaking, and assist in berthing manoeuvres of an object
in space.
- 30 -
For more information, please contact:
Stephane Corbin
Communications' Manager, Media and Public Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Phone: (450) 926-4350
Cell.: 514-943-6808
*****
Backgrounder
[NOTE: Images supporting this backgrounder are available at
http://www.space.gc.ca/ENG/News_Releases/981120-2.html]
International Space Station -- First Element Launch Fact Sheet
Canadian technology on board the launch of the first element of the
International Space Station: Zarya (the Functional Cargo Block -- FGB)
On November 20, 1998, the launch of the first International Space Station
module will take place. Zarya (sunrise in Russian) will be launched from
Baikonur in Kazakhstan. It is a self-sufficient orbital vehicle that will
provide propulsion, guidance, communication, electrical power and thermal
control systems for the International Space Station.
Out of a total of 45 flights planned for the International Space Station
assembly, 34 flights will carry some Canadian technology components.
Canadian technology will also be part of this first historical launch. The
Canadian Space Vision System (CSVS) will be used to aid in the mating of the
Russian built Zarya to the United States produced Lab and Pressurized Mating
Adapters (PMAs). In order to accomplish this task, special black Canadian
Space Vision System (CSVS) targets will be mounted on Zarya and the Lab/PMAs.
The Canadian Space Vision System uses Shuttle or Space Station TV cameras as
sensors. These cameras monitor the special target dots placed on the object
to be tracked. As the object moves, the Canadian Space Vision System tracks
the changing position of the targets, calculates the location and orientation
of the object, and presents this information to the operator in the form of
both graphical and textual cues. Canada will participate in the positioning
of approximately 600 Vision System targets on the International Space Station.
These targets are necessary to enhance the operation of Canada's contribution
to the International Space Station, the Mobile Servicing System.
Developed by Neptec Design Group Ltd, National Research Council and by
Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Dr. Steve MacLean, the Canadian Space Vision
System is designed to enhance the astronauts' vision in space. The Space
Vision System was first used on STS-52 by Canadian Astronaut MacLean, and
an improved version was used on STS-74 by Canadian Astronaut Hadfield. Since
STS-74, the improved CSVS has flown on docking missions STS-89 and STS-91,
STS-85 and most recently, STS-95. Also, a series of circular targets were
evaluated during mission STS-80. The first usage of the CSVS for Space
Station Assembly will occur during STS-88 currently scheduled for December
3, 1998.
Zarya will also be equipped with a Power Data Grapple Fixture (PDGF). This
Canadian-built technology will allow the Mobile Servicing System robotic arm
(Space Station Remote Manipulator System -- SSRMS) to carry itself and have
access to various locations on the International Space Station where other
Power Data Grapple Fixtures will be installed. This device permits a robotic
manipulator such as the Canadarm to grapple and manoeuver a payload. PDGFs
units will be situated throughout the Station and can act as an anchor or
a payload grapple fixture for the Canadian supplied Space Station Remote
Manipulator System (SSRMS). The PDGFs also provide for the transfer of
energy and data needed to help astronauts perform their tasks. Four PDGFs
are supplied with Canada's Mobile Base System to provide an operational
base for the SSRMS as well as for the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator,
the Canadian two-armed robot.
- 30 -
For more information, please contact:
Stephane Corbin,
Communications' Manager, Media and Public Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Phone: (450) 926-4350
Cell.: 514-943-6808
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: NASA Aircraft Sets New World Altitude Record
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Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC November 20, 1998
(Phone: 202/358-1979)
Kirsten Williams
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
(Phone: 805/258-2662)
Ron Lindeke
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Palmdale, CA
(Phone: 805/572-4153)
RELEASE: 98-210
NASA AIRCRAFT SETS NEW WORLD ALTITUDE RECORD
A NASA ER-2 aircraft set a new world altitude record for
medium weight aircraft on Nov. 19, 1998, reaching 68,700 feet,
almost twice the cruising altitude of most airliners.
The new world record was made by an ER-2, tail number 806,
based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA, and
occurred during an airborne science mission to measure different
components in the atmosphere, such as water, ozone and other
atmospheric particles. The new record surpassed the old record of
62,500 feet, which was flown by a Canadian P-42 aircraft in 1988.
The record was for the aircraft medium weight class of 26,455 to
35,274 pounds at takeoff.
This record flight was not the first time the ER-2 has
achieved such a high altitude. The aircraft, a close relative of
the U.S. Air Force U-2, routinely operates between 65,000 and
70,000 feet. But this is the first time the ER-2's performance
has been documented and made public.
"This flight had two purposes," said Dryden ER-2 pilot Jim
Barrilleaux, who flew this historic mission. "The science goal is
the principle reason we flew the aircraft. But achieving the
world altitude record verifies all of the outstanding efforts by
the people who have worked on the NASA ER-2s and U-2s throughout
the years -- designers, builders, operators, maintainers and
scientists. This flight provides public acknowledgment of their
good work. I personally feel that I am doing this on their behalf
and in their honor."
An official from the National Aeronautics Association (NAA)
observed the record-setting event and will process the formal
certification with the Federal Aeronautique Internationale (FAI).
The FAI is the international organization responsible for the
coordination of competition and certification of all world
aviation records. The NAA, as the U.S. representative of the FAI,
is responsible for coordination and certification of all aviation
records in the United States.
NASA owns and operates two ER-2 aircraft for its Airborne
Science Program. Built by the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, the
aircraft collect information about our surroundings, including
Earth resources, celestial observations, atmospheric chemistry and
dynamics and oceanic processes. The aircraft also are used for
electronic sensor research and development, satellite calibration
and satellite data validation.
A NASA ER-2 recently concluded a six-week hurricane study
originating from Patrick Air Force Base, FL, designed to improve
scientists' ability to forecast, track and measure the intensity
of hurricanes. As part of the mission, the ER-2 flew above
Hurricane Bonnie, collecting valuable information that could
ultimately save lives and money.
Program History
In 1981, NASA acquired its first ER-2 aircraft. The agency
obtained a second ER-2 in 1989. These airplanes replaced two
Lockheed U-2 aircraft, which NASA had used to collect science data
since 1971. The U-2s, and later the ER-2s, were based at NASA's
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, until 1997, at which time
the ER-2 aircraft and their operations moved to Dryden.
Since the program's inaugural flight on Aug. 31, 1971, NASA
U-2s and ER-2s have flown over 4,000 data missions and test
flights in support of scientific research conducted by scientists
from NASA, other government agencies, universities and the private
sector.
ER-2 Capabilities
For most missions, the ER-2 operates at altitudes between
65,000 and 70,000 feet. Depending on aircraft weight, the ER-2
reaches a cruise altitude of 65,000 feet within twenty minutes.
Typical cruise speed is 470 miles per hour. The range for a
normal six-hour mission is approximately 2,500 miles, which yields
five hours of data collection at high altitude. The aircraft is
capable of longer missions of more than eight hours and ranges of
more than 3,400 miles. The ER-2 can carry a maximum payload of
2,600 pounds, distributed in the equipment bay, nose area and wing
pods.
-end-
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Sky & Telscope News Bulletin - November 20, 1998
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SKY & TELESCOPE'S NEWS BULLETIN
NOVEMBER 20, 1998
LEONIDS AFTERMATH
It seems that this past week's Leonid meteor shower peaked a little ahead
of schedule. Initially predicted to reach maximum at 19:43 Universal Time
on November 17th -- when the Earth crossed the orbit of parent comet
55P/Tempel-Tuttle -- the highest rates apparently came about 15 hours
earlier. European observers may have had the best of it as dazzling
fireballs came every few seconds -- sometimes several at the same time.
Based on dozens of reports from observers throughout the United States,
meteor watchers under clear skies were not disappointed on the night of
November 16-17, but rates were markedly lower the following night. No
damage to Earth-orbiting satellites has been reported.
How will the showing of Leonids this year affect astronomers predictions
for 1999? As Donald K. Yeomans (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) told *Sky &
Telescope*: "My prediction for 1999 won't change but I suspect the dust
particle cloud modelers will revise their predictions somewhat. If nothing
else, an early arrival of the Leonid 'peak' (if that indeed turns out to be
the case) shows how difficult it is to predict a very complex process --
rather like trying to predict the weather a year in advance."
The next major meteor shower is the Geminids. See the December issue of
*Sky & Telescope* for details.
A PIECE OF THE DINOSAUR KILLER
A University of California geochemist may have discovered a chunk of the
impactor that scientists believe snuffed out 70 percent of the species of
life on Earth 65 million years ago. Frank T. Kyte writes in the November
19th *Nature* of a 2.5-millimeter-wide fossil meteorite extracted from the
clay at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Found in the sediments dating back
to the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, Kyte maintains that the pebble is a
piece of an asteroid that struck the Yucatan Peninsula. His analysis
revealed that the fragment could very well have originated as a
carbonaceous chondrite, not interplanetary dust nor cometary material.
COMETARY OUTBURST
Although far from being another Hale-Bopp or Hyakutake, Comet C/1998 U5
(LINEAR) has been putting on a surprisingly good show. Discovered in late
October by MIT's Lincoln Laboratory Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR)
Team and later identified as a comet by team member Frank Shelly, it was
not expected to brighten beyond magnitude 10.5. To the surprise of all, the
comet underwent an outburst in the second week of November that brought
this fast moving object within the range of small telescopes and
binoculars. *Sky & Telescope* contributing editor and veteran comet
observer John Bortle put the comet's magnitude at 8.2 and measured a coma
diameter of 9 arcminutes for the night of November 13th. This made LINEAR
the brightest comet in the sky, a shade brighter than Comet
Giacobini-Zinner. The comet is still about magnitude 8.5. This week it
leaves Cassiopeia, runs through Andromeda, and enters Lacerta. Here are
positions for the coming week at 0:00 Universal Time in 2000.0 coordinates:
R.A. Dec.
November 21 0h 03m +55.9 deg.
November 23 23h 22m +51.9 deg.
November 25 22h 52m +47.7 deg.
IN SECOND PLACE, COMET GIACOBINI-ZINNER
Losing brightest-comet stature, Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner is crossing
northern Capricornus this coming week. It should be about as bright as it
will get, at a hair brighter than 9th magnitude. A medium-size telescope
will show it. For a finder chart, see page 107 of the November *Sky &
Telescope,* or visit
http://www.skypub.com/sights/comets/Giacobini/gz_1998.html. Here are
positions for Comet Giacobini-Zinner for the coming week:
R.A. Dec.
November 21 20h 29m -13.9 deg.
November 23 20h 40m -14.8 deg.
November 25 20h 50m -15.7 deg.
THIS WEEK'S "SKY AT A GLANCE"
Some daily events in the changing sky, from the editors of SKY &
TELESCOPE.
NOV. 22 -- SUNDAY
* Jupiter is the brightest "star" in the sky this fall; it's high in the
south during early to mid-evening. Look far below Jupiter (and perhaps a
little to the right) for dimmer Fomalhaut, the Autumn Star.
* Jupiter's moon Io crosses the planet's face from 9:02 to 11:16 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time, followed by its tiny black shadow from 10:19 p.m. to
12:33 a.m. EST.
NOV. 23 -- MONDAY
* Seen in a medium-sized telescope, Jupiter's Great Red Spot should cross
the planet's central meridian (the imaginary line down the center of
Jupiter's disk from pole to pole) around 7:09 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Lately the spot has been very pale tan with a darker reddish mark in its
south side. For a list of all predicted Red Spot transit times, see
http://www.skypub.com/sights/moonplanets/redspot.html.
* Jupiter's moon Io emerges from eclipse out of Jupiter's shadow a little
east of the planet around 9:46 p.m. EST. Then around 11:42 p.m. EST, Europa
emerges from eclipse; look for it coming into view a little farther east of
Jupiter than Io did. A 2.4-inch telescope is all you need.
NOV. 24 -- TUESDAY
* Comet Giacobini-Zinner is crossing northern Capricornus this week. It
should be about as bright as it will get, 9th magnitude. A medium-size
telescope will show it. Look immediately after dark using the finder chart
in the November Sky & Telescope, page 107, or at
http://www.skypub.com/sights/comets/Giacobini/gz_1998.html.
NOV. 25 -- WEDNESDAY
* Saturn's largest moon, Titan, can be found 3 or 4 ring-lengths to
Saturn's east this evening through Sunday evening. A small telescope will
show it.
* Jupiter's Red Spot transits the planet's central meridian around 8:48
p.m. EST.
NOV. 26 -- THURSDAY
* First-quarter Moon (exact at 7:23 p.m. EST). Jupiter shines well to the
Moon's upper left during evening.
NOV. 27 -- FRIDAY
* Look for Jupiter very close to the Moon this evening. The Moon will
occult (cover) Jupiter as seen from portions of South America.
* Jupiter's Red Spot transits around 10:26 p.m. EST.
NOV. 28 -- SATURDAY
* Ceres, the largest asteroid, is at opposition (opposite the Sun in our
sky and about as bright and close as it gets). Ceres can be spotted with
binoculars glimmering in the Hyades this week like a 7th-magnitude star.
Use the finder chart in the November Sky & Telescope, page 109.
THIS WEEK'S PLANET ROUNDUP
MERCURY and VENUS are hidden in the glare of the Sun.
MARS shines high in the southeast before and during dawn. It's at the
Leo-Virgo border. Regulus is far to its upper right, and Spica is far to
its lower left.
JUPITER is the big, brilliant "star" high in the south during the evening.
You can't miss it! Jupiter moves to the southwest in late evening and sets
shortly after midnight.
SATURN is the yellowish "star" far to Jupiter's left right after dark, and
to Jupiter's upper left later in the evening. The two planets appear 40
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 Capricornus
getting low in the southwest just after dark. See the finder chart in the
September Sky & Telescope, page 110, or at
http://www.skypub.com/sights/moonplanets/urnepplu.html.
PLUTO is hidden behind the glare of the Sun.
(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 Standard Time, EST, equals Universal Time
minus 5 hours.)
More details, sky maps, and news of other celestial events appear each
month in SKY & TELESCOPE, the essential magazine of astronomy. See our
recently redesigned 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). For updates of
astronomical news, including active links to related Internet resources,
are available via SKY & TELESCOPE's site on the World Wide Web at
http://www.skypub.com/.
In response to numerous requests, and in cooperation with the Astronomical
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custserv@skypub.com. WWW: http://www.skypub.com/. Clear skies!
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: High School Students Discover Distant Asteroid Using National Science
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National Science Foundation
Media contact: Lee Herring, (703) 306-1070, kherring@nsf.gov
Program contact: Joe Stewart, (703) 306-1613, jstewart@nsf.gov
NSF PR 98-79 November 20, 1998
High School Students Discover Distant Asteroid Using NSF Telescope and
Education Program
High school students have discovered a previously unidentified celestial
object in the Kuiper Belt using images from the National Science Foundation's
(NSF) 4-meter Blanco Telescope in Chile.
Heather McCurdy, Miriam Gustafson and George Peterson of Northfield Mount
Hermon School in Northfield, Massachusetts, one of six Asteroid Search Teams
at the school participating in NSF's innovative Hands-On Universe Program,
found and verified the distant object. It was approximately 100 miles in
diameter and now is officially called 1998 FS144.
Astronomy teacher Hughes Pack directed the students' search of computer
images provided by the Berkeley National Lab's Supernova Cosmology Program.
A collaborating team, Stacey Hinds and Angel Birchard, students from
Pennsylvania's Oil City Area High School, confirmed the location of 1998
FS144 for their peers at Northfield Mount Hermon. The Oil City students
were led by teacher Tim Spuck, a 1998 Pennsylvania Christa McAuliffe Fellow.
How significant is the find?
"Only about 72 such objects had been identified in the Kuiper Belt," says
Pack. Kuiper Belt Objects, found beyond Neptune, are generally believed to
be remnants dating to the formation of our solar system.
"This is a fantastic piece of science, of education, of discovery," said
Hands-On Universe founder and astrophysicist Carl Pennypacker of Lawrence
Berkeley National Lab and The Lawrence Hall of Science. He added, "The
Northfield students' discovery has shown that all students from a broad
range of backgrounds can make solid, exciting and inspiring scientific
contributions."
"These students had the opportunity to operate like real astronomers," said
NSF program officer Joseph Stewart. Star images were obtained by the students
via computer from Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, Stewart
said. Students then used visual inspection and special Hands-On Universe
software.
"One of the historically limiting factors in astronomy has been simply
not having enough eyes available to inspect all the useful images that
astronomers collect," he said, "but, it's very exciting that these kids are
contributing to real science, performing actual science in the classroom!"
They are able to measure the distance of stars and track supernova, for
example.
"This generous sharing of data by the Supernova Cosmology Program scientists,"
said Pack, "is serving dual purposes, because scientists at the Supernova
Cosmology Group are using the data to find supernova while students use the
same data to search for very faint asteroids."
"The Kuiper Belt has the potential to tell us a great deal about how the
solar system originated and evolved and how it compares to others," says
Brian Marsden of the Minor Planet Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Marsden received the data from Pack and confirmed the discovery.
Begun in 1990, Hands-On Universe is now based at the University of
California-Berkeley in the Lawrence Hall of Science. Cerro Tololo Inter-
American Observatory is one of four divisions of the National Optical
Astronomy Observatories (NOAO), operated by the Association of Universities
for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc., under cooperative agreement with
NSF.
-NSF-
For pictures of KBO 1998 FS144 see: http://astronomy.geecs.org. For more
information on the Hands-On Universe Project see: http://hou.lbl.gov.
Andrew Yee
ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Today On Galileo - November 21, 1998
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TODAY ON GALILEO
Saturday, November 21, 1998
Galileo started the seventh encounter of the Galileo Europa Mission
early this morning at 4:00 am PST [See note 1]. The encounter is the
second to last that will feature a close flyby of Jupiter's icy moon
Europa. The flyby of Europa will occur tomorrow, at 3:38 am PST, at an
altitude of 2273 kilometers (1418 miles). The encounter period will
last through Monday, with most observations occurring around tomorrow's
flyby of Europa. The spacecraft is approximately 683 million
kilometers from Earth. At this distance, it takes 38 minutes for radio
signals to reach Earth from Galileo, or vice-versa.
Galileo passes within 1.70 million kilometers (1.06 million miles) of
Ganymede at 10:40 PST. Fifty minutes later, at 11:30 pm PST, the
spacecraft is within 7.9 Jupiter radii (565,000 kilometers, 351,000
miles) of Jupiter's cloudtops.
Science observations begin at 4:00 am, with the resumption of the
survey of the inner portion of the Jovian magnetosphere by the fields
and particles instruments. This survey provides information on the
spatial and temporal variations of the innermost, and most active,
portion of the magnetosphere.
Today's remote sensing schedule includes observations of Europa,
Jupiter and Io, with participation from the ultraviolet spectrometer,
the photopolarimeter radiometer, the near-infrared mapping
spectrometer, the spacecraft camera and the radio science team.
The ultraviolet spectrometer kicks off the observing campaign by
looking for atmospheric emissions from Europa, including possible
detection of outgassing events. The photopolarimeter radiometer will
collect a low resolution, global scale polarimetry map of Europa.
Polarimetric measurements provide information on the texture and
composition of Europa. Later in the day, the ultraviolet spectrometer
collaborates with the near-infrared spectrometer to perform a global
observation of Europa. This observation is the first of two of this
type for this encounter and will provide more data on the composition
of Europa's surface.
The radio science experiment is tied to tomorrow's flyby of Europa, but
it starts today at about 5:38 pm PST. For 20 hours surrounding the
point of closest approach, the radio science team monitors Galileo's
radio signal and measures changes in frequency caused by Europa's
gravitational pull on the spacecraft. Using the Doppler effect, the
team will be able to refine gravity field maps produced with
measurements from previous orbits.
The near-infrared mapping spectrometer is today's sole observer of
Jupiter. In four observations sprinkled throughout the day, it takes
snapshots of Jupiter's atmosphere that will allow scientists to study
variations in composition and temperature over time. The spectrometer
also takes another look at the newly created white oval. This intense
storm was formed this past spring from the merging of other two white
ovals. The observation will provide a second view of this new feature,
which was first observed by the spectrometer during Galileo's September
encounter.
Two observations of Io complete today's remote sensing schedule.
First, the photopolarimeter gathers data describing Io's surface
texture and composition. The data will be used to fill in a gap in the
existing polarimetry map of Io. The second observation is performed by
the spacecraft camera and is designed to detect any changes in the
surface of Io due to volcanic activity.
Note 1. All times listed correspond to the Pacific Time zone
(currently standard time) and spacecraft event time. Radio signals
indicating that an event has occurred on the spacecraft reach the Earth
33 to 50 minutes later, depending on the time of year. Currently, this
time is 38 minutes. The current correction between Pacific Standard
Time and Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) is 8 hours.
For more information on the Galileo spacecraft and its mission to
Jupiter, please visit the Galileo home page:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Deep Space 1 Update - November 21, 1998
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MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov
DEEP SPACE 1 MISSION STATUS
November 21, 1998
At approximately 4 p.m. Pacific time Wednesday, November 18,
the mission team brought the spacecraft out of the safe mode into
which it had entered on Tuesday afternoon, November 17.
A firm date has not yet been set for the team to work with
the ion engine, which shut itself down 4-1/2 minutes after it was
turned on for its first test Tuesday, November 10; it will be no
sooner than Tuesday, November 24. Upcoming commanding of the
engine will be designed to diagnose its condition to aid in
finalizing subsequent plans for resuming thrusting. In
preparation for attempting to start the system, the team has
tested modifications of the system's software on the ground over
the last several days. These modifications will give engineers
greater resolution in studying currents and voltages when the
engine tries to start. Thursday morning, November 20, the team
successfully transmitted this diagnostic software to the
spacecraft.
After the Deep Space 1 mission's rapid development and
launch -- immediately followed by active operations, during which
important technology validations have been accomplished -- the
mission team will observe a four-day break for the Thanksgiving
holiday, November 26-29, resuming full operations on November 30.
Deep Space 1 is now more than 11 times as far away from
Earth as the Moon is.
#####
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Today On Galileo - November 22, 1998
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TODAY ON GALILEO
Sunday, November 22, 1998
The majority of today's activity surrounds the spacecraft's close flyby
of Europa. The flyby will occur at 3:38 am PST [See note 1] at an
altitude of 2273 kilometers (1418 miles). Observations are also taken
of Jupiter, Io and Ganymede. Galileo also passes within 2.35 million
kilometers (1.46 million miles) of Callisto at about 6:00 pm PST
today.
The first of today's Europa observations is performed by the spacecraft
camera, and consists of a series of images near the terminator of
bright polar plains. Later in the morning, the camera also looks at a
dark band formation known as Rhadamanthys Linea, as well as a series of
elevated features, regions of pits and plateaus near Europa's north
pole, and a region of transition from bright plains to dark plains.
These observations are then followed by three performed by the
near-infrared mapping spectrometer together with the ultraviolet
spectrometer. The observations target a region of complex intersecting
dark lines, a region of sharply defined dark lines, and Europa's
northern polar region.
The camera then returns to the observation schedule by taking a series
of images, split between two observations, to capture a section of
Europa's surface near the terminator from 30 degrees south of the
equator to 60 degrees north of the equator. The camera will image
Tegid, an impact crater with an unusual domed morphology. Two images
will also be taken of a region in which mottled, possibly "chaos,"
terrain appears to be older than the ubiquitous ridges and bands that
dominate the surface of Europa. Elsewhere, chaos type terrains appear
to be younger than nearby heavily ridged and grooved plains.
The photopolarimeter radiometer continues the observations of Europa
with its second low resolution global scale map (the first map was
collected yesterday). This is followed by another global observation
of Europa performed jointly by the ultraviolet spectrometer and the
near-infrared mapping spectrometer. Continuing with the global-scale
observations, the camera then takes two more observations of Europa.
Three observations of Jupiter are performed today. The first two are
by the near-infrared mapping spectrometer and are snapshots of the
composition and temperature of Jupiter's atmosphere. The third
observation is performed by the ultraviolet spectrometer and provides
information on long-term changes in the amount of hydrogen in Jupiter's
atmosphere. These ultraviolet measurements will allow scientists to
further their understanding of interactions between Jupiter's upper
cloud layers, lower layers, and Jupiter's magnetosphere.
Three observations of Io are performed late in the day, one each by the
camera, near-infrared mapping spectrometer, and ultraviolet
spectrometer. The observations are performed to detect changes in the
surface of Io, and to use in planning for the scheduled Io flybys late
in 1999. The camera will examine the potential source of a new intense
volcanic hotspot first observed during Galileo's May encounter. The
ultraviolet spectrometer, in conjuction with the extreme ultraviolet
spectrometer, also takes a remote look at Io's plasma torus.
A single observation of Ganymede is performed during this encounter.
In it, the photopolarimeter radiometer gathers polarimetric
measurements from a portion of Ganymede's surface that was not
completely covered during Galileo's primary mission.
Late today, after all recorded observations have been completed,
Galileo begins processing and transmitting science information stored
on its onboard tape recorder during the encounter period. First on the
playback schedule are two observations performed by the
photopolarimeter radiometer. Both observations contain polarimetric
measurements which provide information on the texture and composition
of the target bodies (Io and Europa).
The encounter period ends tomorrow and with it comes the return of
This Week on Galileo. Come back to this URL for details on this
week's exciting plans!
Note 1. All times listed correspond to the Pacific Time zone
(currently standard time) and spacecraft event time. Radio signals
indicating that an event has occurred on the spacecraft reach the Earth
33 to 50 minutes later, depending on the time of year. Currently, this
time is 38 minutes. The current correction between Pacific Standard
Time and Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT) is 8 hours.
For more information on the Galileo spacecraft and its mission to
Jupiter, please visit the Galileo home page:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=
Дата: 23 ноября 1998 (1998-11-23)
От: Alexander Bondugin
Тема: Nestle Crunch Celebrates Great Moments In Space
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NESTLE CRUNCH CELEBRATES GREAT MOMENTS IN SPACE
Nestle has created nine commemorative bars in their Nestle Crunch
candy bar line. For each candy bar there is a space scene
engraved into chocolate. The nine scenes are:
o First American In Space, 1961
o Space Walk, 1965
o First Man On The Moon, 1969
o Lunar Rover, 1971
o Space Shuttle Columbia, 1981
o Hubble Space Telescope, 1994
o Mars Pathfinder, 1997
o International Space Station, 1998
o Stardust Mission, 1999
___ _____ ___
/_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
| | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab |
___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ Pasadena, CA | Two wrongs don't make a right,
/___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| | but two Wrights made an
|_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | airplane.
Hа сегодня все, пока!
=SANA=