Conference 7.286::space

828.0. "Miniature Seeker Technology Integration (MSTI)" by CXDOCS::J_BUTLER (Annoy the media!!) Tue Oct 27 1992 09:36

Article 2297 of sci.space.news:
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Path: nntpd2.cxo.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!wupost!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!ames!dont-send-mail-to-path-lines
From: [email protected] (Ron Baalke)
Subject: MSTI Project
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  MSTI, JPL
Sender: [email protected] (Usenet)
Nntp-Posting-Host: kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Reply-To: [email protected]
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1992 09:21:01 GMT
Approved: [email protected]
Lines: 63


From the "JPL Universe"
October 23, 1992
Innovative MSTI Project Near Launch
By Mark Whalen

     The first JPL low-cost spacecraft will be launched into orbit
Oct. 30 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

     The Miniature Seeker Technology Integration (MSTI) project at
JPL -- which built the spacecraft for the U.S. Air Force's Phillips
Laboratory along with its subcontractors Spectrum Astro Inc. and
Integrated Systems Inc. -- is more notable for its innovative and
cost-saving design than for its four-day mission to photograph
infrared images of islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

     "This is not a big scientific mission," said Kane Casani, the
MSTI project manager. "Its purpose was to prove we could build the
spacecraft on a small budget, in a short period of time, to
specification."

     The project -- which was initiated a year ago -- undertook a 
new approach in its design process, which was hardware-driven, as
opposed to the usual requirements-driven approach. According to
Casani, that was a major key to saving time and money.

     Casani intended to build 80 percent of the spacecraft from
existing hardware -- a very lofty goal. In terms of dollars spent,
however, it turned out that 83 percent of the hardware came from
off-the-shelf components. The spacecraft cost $15 million to build,
Casani said.

     The 157-kilogram (350-pound) spacecraft will be launched from
a Scout rocket and will be placed in a polar, sun-synchronous
orbit, so that its solar panels will always be illuminated. It will
be stabilized by a cold-gas reaction system, and an FM transmitter
will relay the infrared camera data to Air Force tracking stations
for follow-on processing by JPL's Image Processing Laboratory.

     The MSTI project will assist the Air Force's Strategic Defense
Initiative Organization in its missile sensor technology, and the
Oct. 30 launch will serve to improve the spacecraft for future
missions. Casani is studying other possible missions, with a long-
term goal of producing satellites that carry both visible and
infrared camera systems for missile detection.

     "It was really a cultural change to build it this way," he
said. "When Dr. Stone approved this project, he was really thinking
beyond MSTI. He actually had a new product line in mind for JPL."

     Casani is excited about the opportunity to apply what he has
overseen to other projects on Lab. One project that will definitely
be influenced by MSTI is the proposed Pluto flyby mission, whose
goal is to launch before the end of the decade.

                              #####
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | [email protected]
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | If God had wanted us to 
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | have elections, he would 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | have given us candidates.

Article 2296 of sci.space.news:
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Path: nntpd2.cxo.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!wupost!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!ames!dont-send-mail-to-path-lines
From: [email protected] (Ron Baalke)
Subject: MSTI Launch Set For Oct. 30
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  MSTI, JPL, DOD
Sender: [email protected] (Usenet)
Nntp-Posting-Host: kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Reply-To: [email protected]
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Tue, 27 Oct 1992 05:33:25 GMT
Approved: [email protected]
Lines: 45

Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                 October 26, 1992
(Phone:  202/358-1547)

Mitch Varnes
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone:  407/867-2468)

Robert MacMillin
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
(Phone:  818/354-5011)

Maj. Mike Doble
Department of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
(Phone:  703/693-1778)


EDITORS NOTE:  N92-92

NASA TO LAUNCH DEFENSE SATELLITE ON SCOUT ROCKET

     A NASA Scout rocket is scheduled to be launched from Space Complex 5 at
Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on Friday, Oct. 30, carrying a Department
of Defense payload called Miniature Seeker Technology Integration (MSTI).  The
launch window opens at 8:42 a.m. EST and extends until 9:42 a.m.

     The launch of Scout/MSTI will be carried live on NASA Select TV.
However, if Space Shuttle mission activities prevent live coverage of the
Scout/MSTI launch, a taped replay of the launch and significant processing and
countdown activities will be aired at the first opportunity.  The broadcast
also may be monitored on the V-circuits by calling 407/867-1260.

     The Scout/MSTI News Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base will be located
in Building 840, the NASA Administrative Headquarters.  The News Center will
open 4 days before launch and can be reached by calling
805/734-8232 ext. 53820.

- end -
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | [email protected]
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | If God had wanted us to 
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | have elections, he would 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | have given us candidates.