| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 892.1 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 02/18/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Feb 21 1994 17:57 | 37 |
| _______________________________________________________________
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, February 18, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3 INCLINATION: 57.00 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: Early September CREW SIZE: 5
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes LANDING LOCATION: KSC
MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Troubleshoot Wake Shield Facility inflight anomaly
* Preparations to deservice hypergolic fuel system
* Payload electrical demates
* Main engine post flight inspections
* Post flight window inspections
* Drag chute hardware removal
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
* Remove SPACEHAB, Wake Shield Facility and Gas Bridge Assembly
* Deservice hypergolic fuel system/auxiliary power units (APU)
* Preparations to remove auxiliary power units
* Post flight thermal protection system repairs
WORK COMPLETED:
* Establish access to orbiter after mission STS-60
* Fuel cell number 1 flow checks
* Open orbiter payload bay doors
|
| 892.2 | Crew List | TROOA::SKLEIN | Nulli Secundus | Sun Mar 06 1994 11:59 | 10 |
| The crew list for this flight is:
STS 64 - Discovery (19)
- LIDARL; LITE-I, SPTN-204, GAS Bridge
- Commander: Dick Richards (4)
- Pilot: Blaine Hammond (2)
- MS1: Carl Meade (3)
- FE/MS2: Mark Lee (3)
- MS3: Susan Helms (2)
|
| 892.3 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 03/20/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sun Mar 20 1994 20:58 | 42 |
|
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, March 18, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: Early September CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes LANDING LOCATION: KSC
MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Inertial measurement unit checks
* Cycle checks of the external tank doors
* Startracker tests
* Power reactant storage and distribution system test
* Install replacement orbiter window no. 2
* Orbital maneuvering system pod functional tests
* Water spray boiler leak and functional checks
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
* Helium system leak and functional tests
* Main Propulsion System verification tests
* Water spray boiler leak and functional checks
* External tank door functional tests
WORK COMPLETED:
* Remove all three main engines
* Remove orbiter window no. 2
NOTE: Discovery's next mission is targeted for September 1994.
Prior to that, however, Columbia is targeted to fly on
mission STS-65 in July and Endeavour on mission STS-68
in August. Atlantis is scheduled to return to KSC from
California in June.
|
| 892.4 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 04/01/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Apr 04 1994 20:34 | 31 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, April 1, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Payload radiator functional checks
* Ammonia system servicing
* Right hand orbital maneuvering system pod removal preparations
* Thruster wash operations
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
* Orbital maneuvering system crossfeed disconnects
* Remote manipulator system functional checks
WORK COMPLETED:
* Water spray boiler leak and functional checks
* Main propulsion system verification tests
|
| 892.5 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 04/29/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Apr 29 1994 19:38 | 32 |
| _______________________________________________________________
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, April 29, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Preparations to install right hand orbital maneuvering system
* Payload bay electrical and mechanical reconfiguration
* Main propulsion system verification tests
* Flash evaporator system checks
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
* Install right hand orbital maneuvering system
WORK COMPLETED:
* Complete landing gear area tile inspections and work
* Install drag chute
* Deservice orbiter freon coolant loop no. 2
|
| 892.6 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 05/02/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue May 03 1994 19:01 | 32 |
|
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Monday, May 2, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Freon coolant system leak checks
* Preparations to install right hand orbital maneuvering system
* Payload bay electrical and mechanical reconfiguration
* Main propulsion system verification tests
* Flash evaporator system checks
WORK SCHEDULED:
* Install right hand orbital maneuvering system
WORK COMPLETED:
* Installation of flash evaporator system
* Complete landing gear area tile inspections and work
* Install drag chute
|
| 892.7 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 05/17/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed May 18 1994 12:02 | 37 |
| _______________________________________________________________
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Tuesday, May 17, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Install auxiliary power units into orbiter
* Freon coolant loop servicing
* Payload bay electrical and mechanical reconfiguration
* Main propulsion system verification tests
* Orbital maneuvering system pod interface verification test and
crossfeed connections
WORK SCHEDULED:
* Drag chute installation and checkouts
* Begin preparations to move orbiter temporarily to VAB for
storage due to return of Atlantis from California
WORK COMPLETED:
* Water spray boiler checkout and servicing
* Install APU number 3
|
| 892.8 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 05/24/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed May 25 1994 10:10 | 37 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Tuesday, May 24, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Preparations to roll vehicle to Vehicle Assembly Building
* Integrated drag chute installation and checkouts
* Main landing gear checks
* Thruster washing operations
WORK SCHEDULED:
* Lower orbiter to landing gear
* Move orbiter to VAB high bay 2 (Thursday) for temporary
storage due to return of Atlantis from California
WORK COMPLETED:
* Main propulsion system verification tests
* Freon coolant loop servicing
* Close payload bay doors
* Remove payload bay door strongbacks
* Orbital maneuvering system pod crossfeed connections
|
| 892.9 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 05/27/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri May 27 1994 19:26 | 27 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, May 27, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: VAB high bay 2 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
NOTE: Discovery was moved to Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 2
yesterday at about 1 p.m. for temporary storage due to the return
of Atlantis from California. No work or access is planed for
Discovery while it is in the VAB. Only a trickle purge on the
reaction control systems will be activated. Discovery will remain
in the VAB until about June 10 when it will be moved into OPF bay
2 following Columbia's roll-over to the VAB.
|
| 892.10 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 06/13/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Mon Jun 13 1994 19:44 | 33 |
|
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Monday, June 13, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 2 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Install flight tires on main landing gear
* Open payload bay doors
WORK SCHEDULED:
* Thruster inspections
WORK COMPLETED:
* Transfer vehicle from landing gear to struts
* Move vehicle from VAB storage to OPF bay 2
* Access to engine compartment
* Payload bay strongback installation
|
| 892.11 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 06/28/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Jun 29 1994 20:06 | 34 |
|
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Tuesday, June 28, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 2 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: late afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Install main engine no. 2
* Main engine securing
* Orbiter/payload premate tests
* Auxiliary power unit leak and functional tests
* Solid rocket booster stacking in VAB high bay 1
WORK SCHEDULED:
* 17 inch disconnect inspections and functional checks
* Preparations for payload installation
WORK COMPLETED:
* Install main engines 1 and 3
|
| 892.12 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 07/01/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Tue Jul 05 1994 20:12 | 36 |
|
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, July 1, 1994
_______________________________________________________________
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham 407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
___________________________________________________________
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103 ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 2 INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: late afternoon LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
* Main engine securing
* Preparations for payload installation next week
* Orbiter/payload premate tests
* Auxiliary power unit leak and functional tests
* Solid rocket booster stacking in VAB high bay 1
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
* 17 inch disconnect inspections and functional checks
* Install Spartan payload
* Install LITE payload
* Install auxiliary power unit number 2
WORK COMPLETED:
* Auxiliary power unit servicing on APU no. 1 and 3
|
| 892.13 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 08/03/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Thu Aug 04 1994 14:43 | 38 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Wednesday, August 3, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN -SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
LOCATION: OPF bay 2
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: early September
CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: late afternoon
LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
o Orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs
o Retract landing gear
o Orbiter preparations for mate to orbiter transporter
o Orbiter jack down, weight and center of gravity checks
WORK SCHEDULED:
o Load vehicle onto orbiter transporter
o Transfer to Vehicle Assembly Building (Monday)
WORK COMPLETED:
o Main engine rollout inspections
o Payload bay cleaning
o Close payload bay doors for orbiter move to Vehicle Assembly
Building (VAB)
|
| 892.14 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 08/11/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Fri Aug 12 1994 18:43 | 37 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Thursday, August 11, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
(LITE)
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: VAB transfer aisle
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9
CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: late afternoon
LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 9 days
IN WORK TODAY:
o Mate with external tank in Vehicle Assembly Building high bay 1
WORK SCHEDULED:
o Mechanical and electrical mate verifications between orbiter
and external tank
o Shuttle interface test
o Rollout to Pad 39B next week
WORK COMPLETED:
o Transfer to Vehicle Assembly Building (First motion occurred
at about 9:45 a.m. today)
o Orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs
o Hydraulic system flight readiness test
|
| 892.15 | KSC Shuttle Status Report 8/19/94 | NACAD2::BATTERSBY | | Tue Aug 23 1994 09:54 | 136 |
|
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, August 19, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9 CREW SIZE:
6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: late afternoon KSC
LANDING DATE: Sept. 19
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes MISSION
DURATION: 8 days/20 hours
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Pad validations
7 Hot fire three auxiliary power units (10 p.m.)
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
7 Rotate service structure around vehicle (about 8 a.m.
Saturday)
7 Crew arrival for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (9:30
a.m. Monday)
7 Helium signature test (Tuesday)
7 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (T-0 set for 11 a.m.
Wednesday)
7 Prelaunch propellant load (Thursday and Friday)
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Rollout to Pad 39B (first motion was 10:43 p.m. Thursday)
7 Install main propulsion system temperature sensors
7 Shuttle interface test
MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE: Early October
CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes KSC
LANDING DATE: TBD
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes
NOTE: Following yesterdays launch abort at T-1.9 seconds,
mission mangers decided to return Endeavour to the VAB Tuesday
morning, remove and replace all three main engines, and roll back
out to pad 39A in the second week of September. (The new main
engines for Endeavour will be the ones originally slated to be
installed on Atlantis.) The target launch period for mission STS-
68 is now set for the first week of October.
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Extended scrub turnaround operations
7 Connect orbiter mid-body umbilical unit to vehicle
7 Off load cryogenic reactants (4 p.m.)
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
7 Begin main engine inspections (Saturday)
7 Deservice hypergolic reactants and disconnect ordnance
(Sunday)
7 Roll back to VAB (Tuesday 12:01 a.m.)
7 Begin removal of three main engines in VAB (next Friday)
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Post scrub securing
7 Extend rotating service structure around vehicle
7 Crew returned to JSC (9:30 a.m. today)
MISSION: STS-66 -- ATLAS-3/CRISTA-SPAS
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 189 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: late October CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon LANDING
LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1 hour/6 minutes MISSION
DURATION: 10 days/20 hours
NOTE: Since Endeavour will be using the main engines originally
destined for Atlantis, engine installation for Atlantis will not
occur next week as planned but will occur after Atlantis is
rolled over to the VAB in late September. The current plans are
for Atlantis to use the engines that recently flew on Columbia.
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Auxiliary power unit servicing
7 Ku-band and radar system tests
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
7 Transport ATLAS-3 payload to OPF (Monday)
7 Install ATLAS-3 payload into orbiter (Tuesday)
7 Orbiter/payload interface verification test (Wednesday)
7 Continue stacking solid rockets boosters in Vehicle Assembly
Building
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Freon coolant loop servicing
7 Main propulsion system leak and functional checks
7 Forward reaction control system interface tests
MISSION: STS-73 -- UNITED STATES MICROGRAVITY LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: OPF bay 1
NOTE: Columbia is in OPF bay 1 where work continues in
preparation for transfer to Palmdale, Calif., for the scheduled
orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP). The target period for
transfer of Columbia to the west coast remains set for mid-
October. When Columbia returns to KSC early next year, processing
will begin for mission STS-73 scheduled for launch in late summer
1995. The three main engines and the forward reaction control
system have been removed. Today, the payload bay doors will be
opened following completion of the structural checks on the
vehicle. Work next week includes removing the orbiters left hand
orbital maneuvering system pod.
|
| 892.16 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 08/23/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Aug 24 1994 09:50 | 36 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Tuesday, August 23, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 19/11:12 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours (+ 1 day)
IN WORK TODAY:
o Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (T-0 set for 11 a.m. Wednesday)
o Helium signature test
o Preparations to load hypergolic propellants
o Install main propulsion system temperature sensors
WORK SCHEDULED:
o Prelaunch propellant load (Thursday and Friday)
o Hot fire auxiliary power unit no. 3
o Main engine flight readiness test
WORK COMPLETED:
o Pad validations
o Crew arrival for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
o Hot fire three auxiliary power units
|
| 892.17 | KSC STS-64 Shuttle Discovery Status - 8/24/94 | NACAD2::BATTERSBY | | Thu Aug 25 1994 10:04 | 110 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Wednesday, August 24, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (T-0 set for 11 a.m.)
7 Preparations to load hypergolic propellants
7 Install main propulsion system temperature sensors
7 Inertial measurement unit calibrations
WORK SCHEDULED:
7 Prelaunch propellant load (Thursday and Friday)
7 Hot fire auxiliary power unit no. 3 (Saturday)
7 Main engine flight readiness test (Saturday)
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Helium signature test
MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: VAB high bay 1
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: Early October CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: Early morning LAUNCH
WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes KSC LANDING
DATE/TIME: TBD
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Install access and work platforms around vehicle
7 Access aft engine compartment
7 Preparations to remove and replace main engines
WORK SCHEDULED:
7 Begin removal of three main engines in VAB (Friday)
7 Send main engine no. 3 to Stennis Space Center, Miss., (Aug.
31) for test stand firing (Sept. 5)
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Roll back to VAB (first motion 12:26 a.m. Wednesday)
7 Endeavour hard down in VAB high bay 1 (6:30 a.m.)
7 Deservice hypergolic reactants and disconnect ordnance
MISSION: STS-66 -- ATLAS-3/CRISTA-SPAS
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 189 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: late October CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon KSC LANDING
DATE/TIME: TBD
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1 hour/6 minutes MISSION
DURATION: 10 days/20 hours
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Orbiter/payload interface verification test
7 Auxiliary power unit servicing
WORK SCHEDULED:
7 Ammonia boiler servicing
7 Continue stacking solid rockets boosters in Vehicle Assembly
Building
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Install ATLAS-3 payload into orbiter
7 Forward reaction control system interface verifications
7 Transport ATLAS-3 payload to OPF
7 Ku-band and radar system tests
MISSION: STS-73 -- UNITED STATES MICROGRAVITY LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: OPF bay 1
NOTE: Columbia is in OPF bay 1 where work continues in
preparation for transfer to Palmdale, Calif., for the scheduled
orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP). The target period for
transfer of Columbia to the west coast has been advanced by two
weeks since Columbia will not have to go to the VAB for storage
as was planned prior to the launch delay of Endeavour. Current
plans show Columbia being ready for its ferry flight to
California on or about October 1. When Columbia returns to KSC
early next year, processing will begin for mission STS-73
scheduled for launch in late summer 1995.
The three main engines and the forward reaction control system
have been removed. Today, the processing facility is closed for
normal work as toxic hypergolic reactants are drained from the
vehicle. Next week, work includes removing the orbiters left and
right hand orbital maneuvering system pods.
|
| 892.18 | KSC STS-64 Shuttle Discovery Status - 8/25/94 | NACAD2::BATTERSBY | | Fri Aug 26 1994 11:42 | 112 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Thursday, August 25, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Prelaunch propellant load (Pad clear at 2 p.m. today through
Friday)
7 Install main propulsion system temperature sensors
7 Inertial measurement unit calibrations
WORK SCHEDULED:
7 Launch readiness review (Friday)
7 Complete helium signature test
7 Hot fire auxiliary power unit no. 3 (Saturday)
7 Main engine flight readiness test (Saturday)
7 Flight readiness review (Wednesday)
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
7 Preparations to load hypergolic propellants
MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: VAB high bay 1
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: Early October CREW SIZE:
6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: Early morning LAUNCH
WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes KSC LANDING
DATE: TBD
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Preparations to remove and replace main engines
WORK SCHEDULED:
7 Begin removal of three main engines in VAB (Friday)
7 Send main engine no. 3 to Stennis Space Center, Miss., for
test stand firing
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Main engine electrical demates
7 Install access and work platforms around vehicle
7 Access aft engine compartment
MISSION: STS-66 -- ATLAS-3/CRISTA-SPAS
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 189 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: late October CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon KSC LANDING
DATE/TIME: TBD
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1 hour/6 minutes MISSION
DURATION: 10 days/20 hours
IN WORK TODAY:
7 Orbiter/payload interface verification test
7 Auxiliary power unit leak and functional checks
7 Checks of Freon coolant loop systems
WORK SCHEDULED:
7 Ammonia boiler servicing
7 Continue stacking solid rockets boosters in Vehicle Assembly
Building
WORK COMPLETED:
7 Install ATLAS-3 payload into orbiter
7 Forward reaction control system interface verifications
7 Transport ATLAS-3 payload to OPF
7 Ku-band and radar system tests
MISSION: STS-73 -- UNITED STATES MICROGRAVITY LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: OPF bay 1
NOTE: Columbia is in OPF bay 1 where work continues in
preparation for transfer to Palmdale, Calif., for the scheduled
orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP). The target period for
transfer of Columbia to the west coast has been advanced by two
weeks since Columbia will not have to go to the VAB for storage
as was planned prior to the launch delay of Endeavour. Current
plans show Columbia being ready for its ferry flight to
California on or about October 1. When Columbia returns to KSC
early next year, processing will begin for mission STS-73
scheduled for launch in late summer 1995.
Today, the processing facility has been reopened following work
to drain toxic hypergolic reactants from the vehicle. Next week,
work includes removing the orbiters left and right hand orbital
maneuvering system pods.
|
| 892.19 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 08/30/94 | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Wed Aug 31 1994 16:23 | 42 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Tuesday, August 30, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
and SPARTAN 201
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
IN WORK TODAY:
o Install and check-out spacesuits
o Payload close-outs
o Aft engine compartment close-outs
o Preparations to begin countdown
o Install ordnance and pressurize hypergolic propellant tanks
(begin tonight)
o Complete helium signature test
WORK SCHEDULED:
o Flight readiness review (Wednesday)
o Continue aft main engine close-outs
o Close payload bay doors
o Countdown begins (9 p.m. EDT Sept. 6)
WORK COMPLETED:
o Hot fire auxiliary power unit no. 3
o Main engine flight readiness test
o Install and check-out main propulsion system temperature sensors
|
| 892.20 | KSC Shuttle Endeavor Status Report - 9/1/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 06 1994 13:42 | 117 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Thursday, September 1, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
and SPARTAN 201
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
NOTE: Following yesterdays flight readiness review at Kennedy
Space Center, mission managers choose not to select a firm launch
date for Discovery until three issues are resolved. These issues
involve: (1) completion of testing and analysis at Stennis Space
Center, Miss., on the Shuttle main engine which caused the STS-68
launch scrub last month, (2) examination of cable pin connectors
used on various parts of the Shuttle pyrotechnic systems, and (3)
verification testing on the main propulsion system fill and drain
valves.
IN WORK TODAY:
o Main propulsion system fill and drain valve verification tests
o Preparations to begin countdown
WORK SCHEDULED:
o Aft engine compartment close-outs (set to begin at midnight tonight)
o Countdown targeted to begin at 9 p.m. EDT Sept. 6
WORK COMPLETED:
o Flight readiness review
o Install ordnance and pressurize hypergolic propellant tanks
o Close payload bay doors
o Helium signature test
o Install and check-out spacesuits
MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: VAB high bay 1
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: October 2 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 7:17 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 12/11:57 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes
IN WORK TODAY:
o Heat shield carrier panel inspections
o Replacement main engine securing
WORK SCHEDULED:
o Crew hatch seal leak checks
o Main engine heatshield installation
o Fill and drain valve mechanical verifications
WORK COMPLETED:
o Send main engine no. 3 to Stennis Space Center, Miss., for test stand
firing (Test stand firing is set for tonight or Friday.)
o Remove main engines no. 1, 2, and 3
o Remove and replace solid rocket booster batteries
MISSION: STS-66 -- ATLAS-3/CRISTA-SPAS
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 189 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: late October CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon KSC LANDING
DATE/TIME: TBD
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1 hour/6 minutes MISSION
DURATION: 10 days/20 hours
IN WORK TODAY:
o Ammonia boiler servicing
o Aft engine compartment close-outs
o Auxiliary power unit leak and functional checks
o Hydraulic operations and flight control tests
WORK SCHEDULED:
o Landing aids tests
o Continue stacking solid rockets boosters in Vehicle Assembly Building
WORK COMPLETED:
o ATLAS-3 end-to-end test
o Space Shuttle Backscatter Ultraviolet payload interface verification test
o Checks of Freon coolant loop systems
MISSION: STS-73 -- UNITED STATES MICROGRAVITY LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: OPF bay 1
NOTE: Columbia is in OPF bay 1 where work continues in
preparation for transfer to Palmdale, Calif., for the scheduled
orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP). Current plans show
Columbia being ready for its ferry flight to California on or
about October 1. When Columbia returns to KSC early next year,
processing will begin for mission STS-73 scheduled for launch in
late summer 1995.
This week, work includes removal of the orbiters left and
right hand orbital maneuvering system pods.
|
| 892.21 | KSC Shuttle Endeavor Status Report - 9/2/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 06 1994 13:43 | 119 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, September 2, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
and SPARTAN 201
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: September 9 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
NOTE: Engineers at Stennis Space Center, Miss., are preparing to
test fire the Shuttle main engine that caused the STS-68 launch
scrub last month. The firing is set to occur tonight at Stennis.
Managers will meet tomorrow to review the data. Managers have
elected not to select a firm launch date for Discovery until
after the engine firing and the resolution of two other issues
that involve additional examinations of cable pin connectors used
on various parts of the Shuttles pyrotechnic systems and
verification testing on the main propulsion system fill and drain
valves. Work on Discovery to test and verify the fill and drain
valves has been completed and is pending final analysis.
IN WORK TODAY:
o Preparations to begin countdown
o Refoam main propulsion system following fill and drain valve checks
o Aft engine compartment close-outs
o Preparations for external tank purges
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
o Purge external tank with inert gas
o STS-64 crew arrival (12:30 p.m. Tuesday)
o Countdown targeted to begin at 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday
WORK COMPLETED:
o Main propulsion system fill and drain valve verification tests
MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: VAB high bay 1
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: October 2 CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 7:17 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 12/11:57 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes
IN WORK TODAY:
o Main engine heatshield installation and carrier panel inspections
o Replacement main engine securing
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
o Main engine securing and leak checks
o Preparations to roll out to pad 39A (Sept. 12)
WORK COMPLETED:
o Send main engine no. 3 to Stennis Space Center, Miss., for test stand
firing (Test stand firing is set for tonight.)
o Replace main engines no. 1, 2, and 3
o Crew hatch seal leak checks
MISSION: STS-66 -- ATLAS-3/CRISTA-SPAS
VEHICLE: Atlantis/OV-104
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 189 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 3
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: late October CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early afternoon KSC LANDING
DATE/TIME: TBD
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1 hour/6 minutes MISSION
DURATION: 10 days/20 hours
IN WORK TODAY:
o Aft engine compartment close-outs
o Auxiliary power unit leak and functional checks
o Hydraulic operations and flight control tests
o Communications tests
WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
o Landing aids tests
o Complete stacking solid rockets boosters in Vehicle Assembly Building
o Preparations to mate external tank with solid rocket boosters
WORK COMPLETED:
o Ammonia boiler servicing
o ATLAS-3 end-to-end test
o Space Shuttle Backscatter Ultraviolet payload interface verification test
o Checks of Freon coolant loop systems
MISSION: STS-73 -- UNITED STATES MICROGRAVITY LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Columbia/OV-102
LOCATION: OPF bay 1
NOTE: Columbia is in OPF bay 1 where work continues in
preparation for transfer to Palmdale, Calif., for the scheduled
orbiter maintenance down period (OMDP). Current plans show
Columbia being ready for its ferry flight to California on or
about October 1. When Columbia returns to KSC early next year,
processing will begin for mission STS-73 scheduled for launch in
late summer 1995.
This week, work includes removal of the orbiters left and
right hand orbital maneuvering system pods.
|
| 892.22 | Pre-Launch element set for STS-64 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 07 1994 17:25 | 31 |
| Article: 6346
Newsgroups: sci.space.news,rec.radio.info,rec.radio.amateur.space
From: [email protected] (Shuttle Elements)
Subject: STS-64 Element Set (94253.100)
Sender: [email protected] (Gary Morris)
Organization: Alsys, San Diego, CA, USA
Date: Fri, 2 Sep 1994 20:45:58 GMT
STS-64
1 00064U 94253.10081701 .00083204 00000-0 14200-3 0 90
2 00064 57.0058 195.1863 0009244 269.5211 90.4820 16.05202670 52
Satellite: STS-64
Catalog number: 00064
Epoch time: 94253.10081701 = (10 SEP 94 02:25:10.58 UTC)
Element set: 009
Inclination: 57.0058 deg
RA of node: 195.1863 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-64
Eccentricity: .0009244 Prelaunch element set JSC-009
Arg of perigee: 269.5211 deg Launch: 09 SEP 20:30:00 UTC
Mean anomaly: 90.4820 deg
Mean motion: 16.05202670 rev/day Gil Carman
Decay rate: 8.3204e-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev: 5
--
--
Gary Morris Internet: [email protected] ([email protected])
Alsys Inc. Packet: KK6YB @ N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
San Diego, CA, USA Phone: +1 619-457-2700 x128 (voice/fax)
|
| 892.23 | Langley's LITE | MTWAIN::KLAES | No Guts, No Galaxy | Thu Sep 08 1994 14:09 | 475 |
| From: US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Andrew Yee, Science North"
4-SEP-1994 02:11:15.38
To: [email protected]
CC:
Subj: Testing LITE technology: The first step
[From the July 29 issue of RESEARCHER NEWS, Langley Research Center.]
TESTING LITE TECHNOLOGY: THE FIRST STEP
By Marcia Westmorlan
Langley engineers and technicians will be working around the clock at
Johnson Space Center to make sure that LITE, the first lidar in space,
performs as planned when it goes into orbit on the Space Shuttle
Discovery in early September.
LITE stands for Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment. Engineers will
use information from LITE to create a new family of instruments that will
study the atmosphere from space and possibly revolutionize the way
weather is predicted.
Before data that will provide a finely detailed global view of weather
patterns and other atmospheric phenomena can be collected, all of the
instrument's machinery has to work properly.
As Project Manager John Rogers puts it, "Pat McCormick (LITE project
scientist) is the user of this data. We are responsible for developing the
hardware to get the data for him. It has been a long-time partnership."
Rogers and his team want to verify that the entire system works as
planned in orbit. For example, they must ensure that the laser and
telescope remain aligned, and that the shuttle's built-in cooling system
can handle the heat produced by a powerful lidar instrument.
This engineering side of the LITE team has been hard at work since 1985
developing, building and testing the first atmospheric lidar to be used on
a space-based platform. According to Rogers, "Our primary objective
was to take a lab-based system (laser) and space harden it. The basic
approach was to try to make it think it is in a lab."
Langley engineers designed a laser they believed could handle the
rigors of space. It was built to their specifications by Titan Spectron in
Costa Mesa, Calif. The laser is encapsulated in an aluminum canister
with dry nitrogen and is isolated thermally and structurally.
The OASIS
A system within the LITE instrument called OASIS, for Orbiter
Experiments Autonomous Supporting Instrumentation System, will be
powered up at launch and will record the stresses of launch on the lidar,
orbit insertion and landing.
According to LITE Instrument Manager Richard Couch, "It may be that we
overbuilt, it may be that we underbuilt. That data (from OASIS) will tell us
that."
The laser will be pointed toward the Earth and beam narrow pulses of
laser light through the atmosphere. LITE's telescope will measure the
laser's light as it is reflected from clouds, gas molecules and suspended
particles in the air, and from the Earth's surface. Making sure the
boresight assembly is successful in keeping the telescope and laser
beam aligned is a technology objective that is absolutely necessary to
collecting useful atmospheric data. "What you have for a lidar to work is
that the laser beam and the telescope are pointed at precisely the same
column of atmosphere," Couch explained.
The Boresight System
This is where the prism in the boresight system comes into play. The
boresight system is designed to adjust the laser beam plus or minus one
degree in two axes. This adjustment allows for such eventualities as
slight warping or flexing of the orthogrid platform on which LITE has been
secured. Couch added, "If you don't have it (alignment), there is no
return signal in the receiver. It is dead quiet." Engineers also had to
contend with the effects of the massive heat produced by the lidar system
and the possibility of optical contamination. "Thermal control and
contamination are the biggest problems for an instrument like this,"
Couch said. "The shuttle is a nice bird to fly on. It gives us a lot of good
accomodations, such as built-in cooling system and lots of power. For a
first try at making lidar measurements from outside the atmosphere it is a
good vehicle to use."
The Telescope
The telescope used with LITE is the engineering model of the Orbiting
Astronomical Observatory telescope from Goddard that flew in 1968.
When Langley engineers found the one-meter diameter telescope, it was
being used intermittently on a ground-based system by one of the
scientists at Goddard. It had been "subjected to the rigors of climate so to
speak," Couch said. "It required a lot of cleaning up, but even with that it
was a lot cheaper than buying a new one."
The extensive refurbishing included dismantling the telescope and
recoating the optical surfaces as well as resurfacing many parts. "We
figure that little acquisition from Goddard saved us about $6 to $8
million," Couch said. The long-term goal of this first LITE mission is to
collect information on the possibilities of operating a lidar system on an
independent space-based platform for five to ten years. Couch said
there are already several identified roadblocks to that goal. "One thing
that needs to be done is the development of newer laser technology that
does not consume as much power as our laser does," Couch said.
"Someone needs to get into the business of developing a low-power
laser with the same output energy that LITE has."
Of the roughly 2,000 watts of electrical power drawn by the laser when
lasing, only about one-half of one percent (or ten watts) comes out as a
usable optical signal. For example, if residential lighting were this
inefficient, it would take the power used by a large flood light to power a
night light.
LITE was originally planned to fly on at least two shuttle flights. The first
one was to test the basic hardware performance and the second was to
use the lidar to collect atmospheic data for the scientists. Since that time,
the two missions have been combined requiring that the technology be
tested and the science data be gathered in the same nine-day period.
"We have taken the science requirements that were primary for the
second mission and pulled them in with our technology objectives for the
first mission," Rogers said. "So we are working very closely with Pat
McCormick to make sure that we achieve both objectives. In some
cases, to prove the lidar system you can't really separate the technology
from the science. In order for it to be meaningful you need to have
meaningful science. Our objectives are very closely intertwined there."
The LITE instrument will take 45 hours of data including a number of 15-
minute "snapshots" over target areas selected either for scientific interest
or to support validation observations. At specific locations, lidar on
aircraft and numerous ground-based lidars will make measurements at
the same time under the path of the shuttle. An international team of
scientists are helping to collect this "ground-truth" data.
Rogers said, "We in the LITE Project Office are not lidar experts. We
have some expertise on developing flight hardware but are totally
dependent on the science team for looking at the return signal and
assessing the quality of that data. The science community is working
hard to do the some real-time processing during the mission to maximize
the science returns."
From: US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Andrew Yee, Science North"
4-SEP-1994 02:11:15.65
To: [email protected]
CC:
Subj: Langley's LITE will be primary payload on September Shuttle
[From the July 15 issue of RESEARCHER NEWS, Langley Research Center.]
LANGLEY'S LITE WILL BE PRIMARY PAYLOAD ON SEPTEMBER SHUTTLE
By Marcia Westmorlan
When the Space Shuttle Discovery roars into space Sept. 9, it will carry
the nine-year hopes and labors of a cross-section of Langley scientists,
engineers and technicians: The Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE).
That mission's primary payload will be an instrument, conceived and built
at Langley, that will capture a truly global view of the world's weather
patterns and atmospheric phenomena.
Lidar, which stands for light detecting and ranging, has been an
important tool for gathering atmospheric data with lidars based on Earth
and in aircraft for almost 30 years. The remote sensing technique
measures such things as cloud and aerosol height and movement. It has
provided a powerful means of studying various aspects of the lower and
middle atmosphere, (the troposphere and the stratosphere), and has
contributed to our understanding of the role of clouds and aerosols in
climate and ozone depletion.
Ground-based lidar instrument profile the atmosphere over a single
viewing site, while lidars onboard aircraft can gather upward- or
downward-looking data over a wider area. But each of these methods is
limited to sampling a comparatively small region. A space-based lidar
offers a truly global view.
With lidar in space, scientists hope to collect information on weather
patterns and atmospheric phenomena that is not possible from the
ground or from aircraft. The information retrieved will help scientists
create better climate models.
A Technology and Science Mission
Because this mission marks the first time a lidar has been used in space,
the basic hardware performance of the lidar will be closely monitored by
the engineers who built it. They will be monitoring how well LITE
handles the rigors of launch, operation in space and landing.
The emphasis on technology testing is evident in the name LITE, Lidar
In-Space Technology Experiment.
Ths focus on technology and science is also evidenced by the ongoing
cooperative Langley effort which invloves engineers who are designing
and building the instrument and their constant interaction with the
atmospheric scientists who will study and interpret the data provided by
LITE.
Project Manager John Rogers and his team have taken laborious steps,
such as simulations and a two-day readiness review, to make sure LITE's
hardware will work in space. A working lidar system will enable Project
Scientist Pat McCormick and his team to gather the science data they want.
How Lidar works
Lidar is similar to the radar commonly used to track everything from
airplanes in flight to thunderstorms. But instead of bouncing radio waves
off its target, lidar uses short pulses of laser light. Some of that light
reflects off of tiny particles in the atmosphere, or aerosols, then back to a
telescope aligned with the laser. By precisely timing the lidar "echo", and
by measuring how much laser light is received by the telescope,
scientists can accurately determine the locations, distribution, and nature
of the particles. The result is a revolutionary, new, space-based tool for
studying particulates in the atmosphere, from cloud droplets to industrial
pollutants, that are difficult to detect by other means.
Laser also produce a tight, coherent beam that does not spread apart as
much as ordinary light. From an orbital altitude of 300 kilometers, LITE's
pencil-wide laser beam would spread to only 300 meters wide at the
surface -- about the size of three football fields. This allows the LITE
instrument to measure a very small, narrowly defined column of the
atmosphere with each pulse. A space-based lidar offers another great
advantage in its ability to penetrate thin or broken clouds to "see" through
to the troposphere -- the lower part of the atmosphere where weather
systems form.
Geographic Areas Studied
A wide variety of phenomena which occur in particular geographic areas
will be studied. Representative examples include the organization of
clouds in the western Pacific warm pool, marine stratus decks off the
coasts of California and Peru, marine stratus cloud decks and plumes
from biomass fires in South America and Africa, and the transport of
desert dust from the Sahara Desert. Tropospheric aerosols will be
studied over the Amazon rain forest, and gravity waves will be studied
over the Andes Mountains in South America; and reflection properties of
desert surfaces in the United States, Africa nad China.
Coordinating ground truth data
An important part of the LITE mission is its ground truth data provides a
known standard against which information collected from the orbiter
platform can be compared for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of
LITE's atmospheric measurements.
The LITE instrument will take 45 hours of data including a number of 15-
minute "snapshots" over target areas selected either for scientific interest
or to support validation observations. At specific locations, aircraft
carrying lidars and numerous ground-based lidars will make
measurements at the same time under the path of shuttle. The lidar will
collect similar data. A lidar at Langley, for example, will take upward-
looking data at the exact time the space shuttle is passing overhead.
Among the other "snapshot" targets are sites in Europe, Australia and the
Sahara Desert (to observe desert dust aloft). About 52 sites in 15
countries will make ground-based measurements during LITE overflights.
In addition, balloon and aircraft measurements will be made of aerosol,
cloud and surface parameters and their radiation characteristics to help
validate and make more useful the LITE data.
The collection of ground truth data will be perfomed jointly with both U.S.
and international aircraft with a total of five aircraft making numerous
coordinating flights. The international team includes Canadian and
European aircraft.
The LITE mission
The LITE instrument will be mounted to a pallet inside the open payload
bay of Discovery, which will orbit up-side-down at a relatively low
altitude, 260 kilometers or 140 nautical miles, so that each downward-
pointing lidar pulse is dispersed as little as possible on its way down
through the atmosphere. Over the course of its nine-day mission, LITE
will operate and collect atmospheric information during ten
approximately four and one-half hour sessions (for a total of about 45
hours). In addition, five 15-minute "snapshots" will be performed over
specific target sites. The measurements will include observations of
clouds, tropospheric and stratospheric aerosols, characteristics of the
planetary boundary layer, stratospheric density and temperature, and a
number of surface characteristics.
During those periods, the returning lidar signals collected by LITE's
telescope will be converted to digital data, which will be stored on tape
and simultaneously transmitted down to investigators on the ground.
Space Shuttle Discovery, orbiting at an inclination of 57 degrees to the
equator, will pass over most of the planet's surface every 90 minutes.
The LITE instrument will be able to collect data for a wide range of
geographic and atmospheric settings, including the open ocean, in a
very short period of time.
LITE's lidar instrument will flash extremely short pulses of laser light
directly downward, ten times every second. These pulses, lasting less
than 30 billionth of a second each, will be in three different wavelengths
corresponding to ultraviolet, infrared and visible green light. The signals
returning to the space shuttle after reflecting off of small airborne water or
ice droplets and aerosols (suspended particles) are easy to identify.
Timing the returned signal pinpoints the particles to within an accuracy of
15 meters or approximately 50 feet.
From: US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Andrew Yee, Science North"
4-SEP-1994 02:11:20.89
To: [email protected]
CC:
Subj: LITE mission: Many hands and minds
[From the August 26 issue of RESEARCHER NEWS, Langley Research Center.]
LITE MISSION: MANY HANDS AND MINDS
By Marcia Westmorlan
The LITE mission marks a new era in atmospheric remote sensing using
space platforms. To achieve the optimum results from this first lidar in
space, a science steering group was formed consisting of 13 members
from across the United States as well as from Canada and Australia. The
steering group has provided input to ensure that the LITE instrument has
sufficient capability and to determine what atmospheric data will be most
useful to collect.
According to project scientist Dr. M. Patrick McCormick, Atmospheric
Sciences Division (ASD), the team not only helped give guidance to
developing the instrument but also helped put together the correlative
measurement plan, develop the mission timeline and will help in the
analysis of data collected. In addition, some of the steering group
members will be taking part in gathering correlative measurements from
lidars in airplanes and at various groundsites.
Steering Committee
The science steering group consists of McCormick; deputy project
scientist Dr. David M. Winker, ASD; Dr. C.M.R. Platt of CSIRO, Australia;
Dr. Ray Hoff, The Centre for Atmospheric Research Experiments,
Canada; Dr. Edward V. Browell, ASD; Dr. James Coakley, Oregon State
University; Dr. C.S. Gardner, University of Illinois; Dr. G.S. Kent of
Science and Technology Corp. in Hampton; Dr. R.T. Menzies of Jet
Propulsion Lab; Dr. David Randall, University of Arizona; Dr. S.H. Melfi,
University of Maryland, Baltimore; Dr. John Reagan of University of
Arizona; and Dr. Tim Suttles, NASA Headquarters.
For example, Reagan will head a group making surface reflectance
measurements in the deserts of California and New Mexico. Melfi and
Randall will take measurements aboard a heavily-instrumented P-3 over
the Carribean and eastern Atlantic. McCormick's lidar group will also be
on board. While Hoff is at JSC, his group will be flying a Canadian
aircraft measuring the Los Angeles urban pollution plume as well as
marine stratus off the California coast. Browell's lidar group will fly
aboard NASA's Electra over the Carribean and western Atlantic.
Each member wil focus on his particular area of interest when it comes to
interpreting the data. Melfi and Browell will work on studies of
tropospheric aerosols and the planetary boundary layer. Randall and
Hoff will focus on marine stratus clouds and urban aerosols. Platt and
Coakley will look at clouds and radiation. Reagan and Menzies will
assess surface reflectance characteristics and the sea states.
McCormick and Kent will work on stratospheric aerosols and cirrus
clouds. Gardner will focus on density variation in the upper troposphere
and lower stratosphere caused by gravity wave breaking. McCormick
will also focus on aerosols caused by volcanic eruptions.
Probe the Atmosphere
Suttles said, "With lidar's kind of capability, we are able to probe deep
into the atmosphere as never before. We are all familiar with the satellite
imagery TV weather forecasters use that show the distribution of clouds
over the continental and ocean areas. That information is very valuable
in weather forecasting but it gives limited information on the vertical
structure of Earth's atmosphere for clouds and small particles like
aerosols. Lidar capabilities give us very precise information for this
vertical dimension."
Information on the vertical structure of atmospheric constituents, such as
clouds and aerosols, is extremely important to the climate system, he
said. "The information that comes from systems like LITE in the future
would give us many new insights into operations and mechanisms of our
climate systems. It is important to all of us because understanding our
climate system is going to help us in the near term for things like
forecasting the length of the growing season for farmers, to improve their
productivity and also, in the long run, in answering questions like, 'what
are the burning of fossil fuels going to do to our future climate?'"
Pollution's Path
LITE measurements will also help atmospheric scientists track the path of
pollution over long distances. Hoff said, "Most people know the problem
with air pollution in urban areas. They've been faced with the haze over
cities such as Los Angeles. We know a lot about what makes up that
haze and those aerosols that are in the air. What we don't know very
much about is how far that material is actually moving in the atmosphere."
Atmospheric scientists have located aerosols in the Arctic that traveled
from the Soviet Union. "It is fairly clear that pollution travels over long
distances," Hoff said. "What we are trying to do with LITE is to be able to
map this movement with these aerosols from urban areas over long
distances. This is the first time we have been able to do that."
Gravity Waves
The information LITE gathers on gravity waves is also expected to
answer some puzzling atmospheric questions. Gardner describes
gravity waves this way, "They are similar to the kinds of waves that are
generated when you drop a pebble into a pool of water. Those waves
propagate outward. In the atmosphere, these same kind of gravity waves
propagate upward."
One of the major sources of gravity waves is airflow over mountains.
"When these waves propagate upward into the atmosphere and they
break, they create a drag, which influences the general circulation,"
Gardner said. "They also heat the atmosphere, which influences the
temperature. Currently, the effects of gravity waves' are only crudely
incorporated into our global circulation models, used to predict climate. It
is important for us to more completely understand gravity wave sources,
the amount of energy that they transport from the lower atmosphere into
the upper atmosphere, so that we can incorporate these effects in global
circulation models and ultimately improve our ability to make weather
forecasts and even climatic forecasts."
Landmark Track and Cross-Track Maneuvers
Scientists are also excited about two shuttle maneuvers -- the landmark
track maneuver and the cross-track maneuver -- that will be performed by
the astronauts at selected times during the mission. These pitch and roll
maneuvers will change the angle at which lidar reflects off targets.
According to Menzies, "The track maneuver will give us information about
the surface and cloud reflectance over the oceans and land masses over
a wide variety of angles. This is important because future lidars will be
scanning lidars and they will be getting information about cloud heights
and other atmospheric measurements over a wide swath. We need to
know more about what kind of lidar signals we'll be getting as these
angles change."
The landmark track maneuver involves the crew orienting the shuttle so
that it will point ahead and fix on a particular patch of the surface. As it
moves overhead, it will be pitched up at an angle of 30 degrees. The
laser beam will be reflected off of a body of water -- initially off the
Atlantic Ocean. Then, as the shuttle moves, it will rotate, so that the laser
beam stays fixed on that one spot on the surface of the Earth. The one-minute
maneuver will enable measurements of the reflectivity off the ocean's
surface at a variety of incidence angles.
Gardner said, "We intend to do that experiment over the Atlantic, the
Pacific, the Gulf of California and the Great Lakes. The reason that we
have chosen these variety of bodies of water is because the reflectivity
depends upon what is called sea state, in other words, the height of the
waves.
"In mid-ocean, where wind velocities can be strong, wave heights are
very large. Over smaller bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes, the
wave heights will be much smaller, and that will affect the reflectivity. So,
we are attempting to measure this reflectivity at a variety of wave heights
and at a variety of angles."
The cross-track maneuver will involve rolling the shuttle in such a way
that LITE's laser beam will point not only directly downward but over a
range of angles. Menzies said, "With the shuttle we'll be able to simulate
that scanning mode and collect data that will enable us to better
understand what kinds of signals we'll get from the clouds, atmospheric
particles and the sea surface as a function of angle as we move away
from looking directly down. That data will be very important in designing
and building the future lidars."
LITE: Important for Future Endeavors
Suttles said, "A lidar system like LITE is a very complex ystem. It is a new
system. We need to make some fundamental mesurements from space before we
design a lidar system that we will want to fly for a long-term mission."
Gardner said the logical follow-on experiments to this LITE mission
would be to conduct missions at other seasons of the year: "As we all
know, weather changes quite dramatically through the year. What we
are doing is making observations for one week during early fall. Logical
follow-on missions would be for a winter period, a northern hemisphere
winter period, spring, as well as summer. Improvements may also be
made to the instrument, in the detectors and even in the lasers that are
incorporated on LITE. More sophisticated lasers could be incorporated
into the payload to allow us to measure specific atmospheric constituents
such as ozone and water vapor, although that will take longer than
simply re-flying the existing payload at other times in the year."
Suttles concluded, "LITE is an extremely important part in filling in the
overall picture needed to understand the Earth as a system. In fact, the
LITE mission is a forerunner of missions we will be flying later in the long-
term program called the Earth Observing System."
|
| 892.24 | StS-64 Shuttle Status - 9/7/94 | 56822::BATTERSBY | | Thu Sep 08 1994 14:22 | 100 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Wednesday, September 7, 1994
LAUNCH MINUS 2 DAYS
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
and SPARTAN 201
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE: September 9
CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
The countdown for mission STS-64 began yesterday at 9 p.m. EDT
at the T-43 hour mark for a planned launch of Space Shuttle
Discovery at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.
Operations to close out the aft main engine compartment
revealed a frayed liquid oxygen line that senses pressures in the
main propulsion system. Replacing the line resulted in delaying
final aft close-outs until late this afternoon. Also, the
standard pyrotechnic initiator controller resistance test will be
performed at about the T-6 hour mark. Following aft close-outs,
operations will begin to clear the pad for loading the onboard
cryogenic tanks with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants.
Reactant loading is expected to continue for about five hours.
The reactants provide electricity for the orbiter and crew while
in space and drinking water as a by-product during their mission.
After the cryogenic reactants are loaded, the orbiters mid-
body umbilical unit will be demated and retracted into the fixed
service structure. Final vehicle and facility close-outs will
also be underway.
Tomorrow, preparations will be made to retract the rotating
service structure to launch position at about 5:30 p.m. Loading
of the external tank with cryogenic propellants is scheduled to
begin at about 8:10 a.m. Friday.
Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating a 20
percent probability of weather prohibiting launch on Friday. The
primary concerns are for a chance of showers and low clouds.
During Fridays launch window, the winds at pad B are expected to
be from the east-south-east at 12 - 18 knots; temperature 81
degrees F; visibility 7 miles; and clouds scattered at 3,000-
7,000 feet, 8,000-11,000 feet, and broken from 28,000-32,000
feet. The 24-hour and 48-hour-delay forecasts reveal similar
conditions and forecasters list a 20 percent chance of violation
each day.
The six-member astronaut crew arrived at KSCs Shuttle Landing
Facility at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. Today they will be involved
with checking out their mission plans and fit checks of their
equipment.
SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-64
T-TIME -----LENGTH OF HOLD ----HOLD BEGINS --HOLD ENDS
T-27 hours --4 hours ----------1 p.m. Wed.---5 p.m. Wed.
T-19 hours --4 hours --------- 1 a.m.Thurs.--5 a.m. Thurs.
T-11 hours -13 hrs.,10 mins.---1 p.m. Thurs- 2:10 a.m. Fri.
T-6 hours -- 1 hour----------- 7:10 a.m.Fri.-8:10 a.m. Fri.
T-3 hours ---2 hours -------- 11:10 a.m.Fri.-1:10 p.m. Fri.
T-20 minutes 10 minutes ----- 3:50 p.m. Fri. 4 p.m. Fri.
T-9 minutes -10 minutes ------4:11 p.m.Fri.--4:21 p.m. Fri.
CREW FOR MISSION STS-64
Commander (CDR): Richard (Dick) Richards
Pilot (PLT): Blaine Hammond
Mission Specialist (MS1): Jerry Linenger
Mission Specialist (MS2): Susan Helms
Mission Specialist (MS3): Carl Meade
Mission Specialist (MS4): Mark Lee
SUMMARY OF STS-64 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES
Friday, Sept. 9, 1994
8:30 a.m. Wake up
9:30 a.m. Breakfast
12:05 p.m. Crew Photo and Dinner
12:35 p.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
12:35 p.m. Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3, MS4)
12:45 p.m. Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
1:15 p.m. Depart for launch pad 39B
1:45 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress
3 p.m. Close crew hatch
4:30 p.m. Launch
|
| 892.25 | KSC Shuttle Status Report - 9/8/94 | 56822::BATTERSBY | | Fri Sep 09 1994 14:22 | 99 |
| [Mr Buckingham forgot to change his calendar when posting this] :-)
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Thursday, September 7, 1994
LAUNCH MINUS 1 DAY
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
and SPARTAN 201
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE: September 9
CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
The countdown for mission STS-64 continues today toward a
planned launch of Space Shuttle Discovery at 4:30 p.m. Friday,
Sept. 9.
The aft main engine compartment has been closed for flight and
loading the onboard cryogenic tanks with liquid hydrogen and
liquid oxygen reactants was completed early this morning.
The orbiters mid-body umbilical unit is being demated and
retracted into the fixed service structure and final vehicle and
facility close-outs are now underway.
Later today at about 5:30 p.m., the rotating service structure
will be moved to its launch position. Loading of the external
tank with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid
oxygen propellants is scheduled to begin at about 8:10 a.m.
Friday.
Air Force weather forecasters continue to indicate a 20 percent
probability of weather prohibiting launch on Friday. The only
concerns are for a chance of showers and low clouds. During
Fridays launch window, the winds at pad B are expected to be
from the east-south-east at 10 - 16 knots; temperature 81 degrees
F; visibility 7 miles; and clouds scattered at 3,000-7,000 feet,
8,000-11,000 feet, and broken from 28,000-32,000 feet. The 24-
hour and 48-hour-delay forecasts reveal similar conditions and
forecasters list a 20 percent chance of violation each day.
Today the six-member astronaut crew will be given a briefing on
tomorrow afternoons launch weather outlook at KSC and the
TransAtlantic abort sites in Spain and Africa. Also today, the
crew will make last minute adjustments to their flight plans
while completing their review of launch day activities. Tomorrow,
the crew will depart for launch pad 39B at about 1:15 p.m.
SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-64
T-TIME -------LENGTH OF HOLD ----HOLD BEGINS ----HOLD ENDS
T-27 hours -----4 hours -------- 1 p.m. Wed.-----5 p.m. Wed.
T-19 hours -----4 hours -------- 1 a.m. Thurs.-- 5 a.m. Thurs.
T-11 hours ----13 hrs.,10 mins. -1 p.m. Thurs.---2:10 a.m. Fri.
T-6 hours ------1 hour --------7:10 a.m.Fri.-----8:10 a.m. Fri.
T-3 hours ------2 hours ------ 11:10 a.mFri.---- 1:10 p.m. Fri.
T-20 minutes --10 minutes -----3:50 p.m. Fri.----4 p.m. Fri.
T-9 minutes ---10 minutes -----4:11 p.m. Fri.--- 4:21 p.m. Fri.
CREW FOR MISSION STS-64
Commander (CDR): Richard (Dick) Richards
Pilot (PLT): Blaine Hammond
Mission Specialist (MS1): Jerry Linenger
Mission Specialist (MS2): Susan Helms
Mission Specialist (MS3): Carl Meade
Mission Specialist (MS4): Mark Lee
SUMMARY OF STS-64 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES
Friday, Sept. 9, 1994
8:30 a.m. Wake up
9:30 a.m. Breakfast
12:05 p.m. Crew Photo and Dinner
12:35 p.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
12:35 p.m. Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3, MS4)
12:45 p.m. Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
1:15 p.m. Depart for launch pad 39B
1:45 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress
3 p.m. Close crew hatch
4:30 p.m. Launch
|
| 892.26 | | LGP30::FLEISCHER | without vision the people perish (DTN 297-5780, MRO3-3/L16) | Fri Sep 09 1994 17:46 | 6 |
| According to an AP item at 16:20 today, storm clouds delayed
today's launch of space shuttle Discovery -- NASA held the
countdown at the nine-minute mark in hopes the weather would
improve.
Bob
|
| 892.27 | Launch window is open for couple of hours... | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Fri Sep 09 1994 18:06 | 5 |
| I think I recall that the launch window is open for a couple of hours.
So they could still launch today, if the clouds lift. Sounds like the
ceiling is too low.
Bob
|
| 892.28 | Neither rain nor sleet nor dark of night... | LUDWIG::PHILLIPS | Music of the spheres. | Sat Sep 10 1994 10:54 | 8 |
| Coudn't reply on this one till now.....
Heard on WBZ radio at 6:25pm yesterday that Discovery just lifted off.
Way to go!
--Eric--
|
| 892.29 | Press Kit available and WWW Information Center open | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN | Dave Griffin | Sat Sep 10 1994 12:06 | 10 |
| Press Kit available from: pragma::public:[nasa]sts-64.ps (33 pages)
Also available in hypertext format along with status reports, etc. at:
http://www-space.lkg.dec.com/space-archives.html
- dave
|
| 892.30 | KSC Status Report - 9/9/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Sat Sep 10 1994 12:26 | 88 |
| KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
Friday, September 09, 1994 (11:39 AM)
LAUNCH DAY
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)
and SPARTAN 201
VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39B
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE: September 9
CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 4:30 p.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Sept. 18/12:42 p.m.
MISSION DURATION: 8 days/20 hours/12 minutes (+ 1 day)
The countdown for mission STS-64 continues toward a planned
liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery at 4:30 p.m. today at the
opening of a 2 hour, 30 minute window.
The rotating service structure was moved into launch position
at about 8:30 p.m. yesterday. Loading of the external tank with
more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen
propellants began slightly ahead of schedule at about 7:45 a.m.
today and was completed three hours later at about 10:45 a.m.
Air Force weather forecasters currently indicate a 30 percent
probability of weather prohibiting launch today. The primary
concerns are for a chance of showers and low clouds. During the
launch window today, the winds at pad B are expected to be from
the east-south-east at 10 - 16 knots; temperature 81 degrees F;
visibility 7 miles; and clouds scattered at 3,000-7,000 feet,
8,000-11,000 feet, and broken from 28,000-32,000 feet. The 24-
hour-delay forecast reveals similar conditions and forecasters
list a 20 percent chance of violation.
The six-member astronaut crew are awake at this time and they
have been briefed on the status of the vehicle and the afternoon
weather outlook at KSC and the TransAtlantic abort sites in Spain
and Africa. The crew is scheduled to depart for launch pad 39B at
about 1:15 p.m. today for a planned liftoff at 4:30 p.m.
SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-64
T-TIME -----LENGTH OF HOLD ---HOLD BEGINS -----HOLD ENDS
T-27 hours ----4 hours -- --- 1 p.m. Wed.----- 5 p.m. Wed.
T-19 hours ----4 hours ------ 1 a.m.Thurs.---- 5 a.m. Thurs.
T-11 hours ---13 hrs.,10 mins.1 p.m. Thurs.----2:10 a.m. Fri.
T-6 hours -----1 hour ------- 7:10 a.m.Fri.--- 8:10 a.m. Fri.
T-3 hours -----2 hours ----- 11:10 a.m.Fri --- 1:10 p.m. Fri.
T-20 minutes -10 minutes ------ 3:50 p.m. Fri- 4 p.m. Fri.
T-9 minutes 10 minutes----- 4:11 p.m.Fri.----4:21 p.m. Fri.
CREW FOR MISSION STS-64
Commander (CDR): Richard (Dick) Richards
Pilot (PLT): Blaine Hammond
Mission Specialist (MS1): Jerry Linenger
Mission Specialist (MS2): Susan Helms
Mission Specialist (MS3): Carl Meade
Mission Specialist (MS4): Mark Lee
SUMMARY OF STS-64 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES
Friday, Sept. 9, 1994
8:30 a.m. Wake up
9:30 a.m. Breakfast
*11:50 a.m. Crew Photo and Dinner
*12:20 p.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
12:35 p.m. Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3, MS4)
12:45 p.m. Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
1:15 p.m. Depart for launch pad 39B
1:45 p.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress
3 p.m. Close crew hatch
4:30 p.m. Launch
(* note minor time change from earlier published schedule)
|
| 892.31 | Launch Statement | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Sat Sep 10 1994 12:29 | 23 |
| Article: 22336
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
From: [email protected] (mary-frances jagod)
Subject: STS-64 launch statement
Sender: [email protected] (News System)
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 1994 23:11:43 GMT
[Downloaded from NASA Spcaelink]
STS-64 Launch Statement
September 9, 1994
The Space Shuttle Discovery was launched into a 57 degree,
149 nautical mile orbit late this afternoon from Kennedy
Space Center. Liftoff occurred at 5:22:35:042 CST after
a delay of almost 2 hours due to weather conditions at
the launch site. This is Discovery's 19th trip into Earth orbit.
Mission Control Center (MCC) Status Reports are issued
approximately 6 hours after liftoff. We will post these
reports shortly after they are issued.
|
| 892.32 | STS-64 State Vect | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Sat Sep 10 1994 12:33 | 131 |
| Article: 22343
From: Daniel R. Adamo <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: STS-64 State Vector Update #4
Date: 10 Sep 1994 05:40:41 GMT
Organization: MacMission Control
STS-64 State Vector Notification #4
September 9, 1994
NOTE:
On STS-64 (launch date 9 September 1994), NASA
is flying a new type of atmospheric remote sensing
instrument on the Space Shuttle. This instrument
is a LiDAR (short for Light Detection and Ranging),
which, very much like a radar, transmits a very short
pulse of coherent, high intensity light from a laser
down into the atmosphere. As the pulse travels down
into the atmosphere it interacts with clouds, molecules,
and aerosols, causing some of the light to be reflected
back toward the Shuttle where it is collected by a large
payload bay-mounted telescope and transformed into an
electrical signal by a photosensitive detector. The LiDAR
which will be flown on the Shuttle is called the Lidar
In-Space Technology Experiment, or LITE.
Observers attempting to view the Shuttle with their naked
eyes are not at risk of eye injury, nor are observers
using ordinary binoculars or small telescopes (up to
approximately six inches in diameter). Telescopes larger
than six inches in diameter are capable of collecting
sufficient energy to bring the total Radiant Exposure (RE)
to a level which exceeds the ANSI Maximum Permissible
Exposure (MPE). Therefore, direct viewing of the Shuttle
through telescopes larger than six inches is not advisable
and should not be attempted. Capturing photographically
or electronically does not present a hazard. However,
highly sensitive photo-electronic detectors could possibly
be damaged.
State vector postings for STS-64 are made by
NASA, Johnson Space Center, Flight Design and
Dynamics Division and are intended to eliminate
the possibility of eye damage to amateur and
professional astronomers by the LITE instrument.
Updates to this notice will be made every 24 hours for
the duration of STS-64. Each update will include a
current state vector along with predicted states
after translational maneuvers for the following day.
State vectors will be expressed in three ways.
1) As standard 2-line mean Keplerian elements
(NOTE: these elements will generally NOT be
at ascending node passage)
2) As osculating Cartesian M50 elements
3) As osculating Keplerian M50 elements
To differentiate between 2-line elements from this
source and those from US Space Command, element set
numbers commencing with 801 will be used. As a service
to those unfamiliar with M50 elements, a definition of
the M50 coordinate system appears below.
Questions concerning this update should addressed to
William H. Tracy, Lead Flight Dynamics Officer/STS-64,
Mail Code DM42, NASA/JSC, Houston, TX 77058 or through
Internet E-Mail wtracy%[email protected]
Coordinate System: Mean of 1950 (M50)
Inertial, right-handed Cartesian system whose origin
is the center of the Earth. The epoch is the beginning
of the Besselian year 1950.
X axis: Mean vernal equinox of epoch
Z axis: Earth's mean rotational axis of epoch
Y axis: Completes right-hand system
A: Semi-major axis
E: Eccentricity
I: Inclination
Wp: Argument of perigee
RAAN: Right ascension of ascending node
N: True anomaly
M: Mean anomaly
_______________________________________________________
STS-64
ACTUAL FLIGHT DAY ONE STATE VECTOR
ON ORBIT OPERATIONS
Lift off Time : 1994/252/22:22:54.947 GMT
Lift off Date : September 9, 1994
Mean Solar Flux : 79
Mean Geomagnetic Index : 2.72
ACTUAL ORBITER STATE VECTOR
Post Trim Burn #2
Vector Time (GMT) : 253/03:33:25.489
Vector Time (MET) : 000/05:10:30.542
Orbit Count : 004
Weight : 230606.9 LBS
Drag Coefficient : 2.00
Drag Area : 2004.1 SQ FT
2-Line Keplerian Elements
*************************
1 23251U 94 59 A 94253.14821168 .00085493 00000-0 13972-3 0 8043
2 23251 57.0095 223.6457 0009616 268.9704 272.0448 16.05232418 41
M50 Elements M50 Keplerian Elements
************ **********************
X=15764312.6 FT A=3587.8692 NM
Y=15027096.3 FT E=0.000814
Z= -391217.6 FT I (M50)=56.85635 DEG
Xdot= -9872.560194 FPS Wp (M50)=183.23749 DEG
Ydot= 9801.612971 FPS RAAN (M50)=222.95641 DEG
Zdot=-21288.782430 FPS Anomalies: N (True)=357.99160 DEG
M (Mean)=357.99487 DEG
Apogee (Ha) = 140.6 NM
Perigee (Hp) = 140.4 NM
NOTE: a Trim #3 burn, normally scheduled for 1/04:15 MET, is
*not* planned as of this posting.
END OF UPDATE.
|
| 892.33 | STS-64 Flight Status Reports 1&2 - 9/10/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Mon Sep 12 1994 15:04 | 44 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #1 & # 2
Saturday, Sept. 10, 9 a.m. CST
Payload activities on board the Space Shuttle Discovery will pick up today as
the STS-64 crew begins its second day in orbit.
Discovery's six-astronauts started Flight Day 2 to a parody of a Beach
Boys tune called "We'll Have Fun, Fun, Fun on the Shuttle," sung by
Mach 25.
Before crew members went to sleep, the Lidar In-space Technology
Experiment, STS-64's primary payload, was activated and reported to be in
good working condition. Experiment controllers reported that they were
receiving "terrific looking returns."
LITE will be used during the course of the mission to collect atmospheric
data with a laser system to measure clouds, particles in the
atmosphere and the Earth's surface. This information will help scientists
explain the impact of human activity on the atmosphere.
A new materials processing facility called ROMPS for Robotic Operated
Materials Processing System also was activated yesterday and ran
throughout the night. ROMPS will process crystals in microgravity by
transporting a variety of semiconductors from storageracks to furnaces for
processing.
Today Mission Specialist Susan Helms will power up Discovery's robot arm
to work with the Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment, also
known as SPIFEX. The experiment consists of a 33-foot long beam that will
be used to characterize and measure the plumes of the steering jets.
SPIFEX will be maneuvered on the end of the robot arm to take measurements
of 86 separate jet firings. This information will be used by engineers
determine the effects of thrusters on large space structures such as the
International Space Station.
Crew members also will set up their ham radio equipment to support the
Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment.
Discovery is performing without any major system anomaly as it makes its
19th flight. It is orbiting in a 140 x 141 n.m. orbit, circling the
Earth every 90 minutes.
|
| 892.34 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 3 - 9/10/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Mon Sep 12 1994 15:06 | 32 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #3
Saturday, Sept. 10, 4:30 p.m. CDT
Discovery's crew began its first full day in orbit with an assortment of
experiments aboard the shuttle. Following a good performance checkout
last night, the Lidar in Space Technology Experiment (LITE) completed
three orbits of nightime observations above the eastern hemisphere.
LITE took laser measurements of aerosols above northern Europe, clouds
above Indonesia and the south Pacific, and the surface of the
Himalayan Mountains. Simultaneous atmospheric measurements were performed
by LITE in orbit and by researchers on the ground of the atmosphere
above Tomsk, Russia, a site that has long been a part of various
atmospheric studies.
Also early today, Mission Specialist Susan Helms performed a check of
Discovery's mechanical arm, finding it to be in excellent condition.
Helms then grappled the Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment, a
32-foot long extension to the mechanical arm, raising it above
Discovery's cargo bay. During SPIFEX activation, flight controllers
noticed a communications problem with the interface between
Discovery's payload general support computers and the data system on
SPIFEX. After cycling a circuit breaker that powers the data system,
communications were restored and SPIFEX is operating properly. Later, cold
nitrogen gas was fired at SPIFEX to calibrate sensors which will be
used to study the effects of the shuttle's reaction control system jet
plumes.
Discovery continues to orbit the Earth at approximately 140 nautical miles
altitude, circling the Earth every 90 minutes.
|
| 892.35 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 4 - 9/11/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Mon Sep 12 1994 15:07 | 32 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #4
Sunday, Sept. 11, 9 a.m. CDT
Planning for the third day of STS-64 went smoothly last night as flight
controllers refined the timeline to enhance today's payload activities.
In general, the changes will allow for additional live satellite coverage
for the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment (LITE) and the Space Plume
Impingement Flight Experiment (SPIFEX), two of Discovery's primary
payloads.
LITE is designed to collect atmospheric data using a laser to measure
clouds, particles in the atmosphere and the Earth's surface to help
explain the impact of human activity on the atmosphere. The payload's data
collection will continue today, but controllers have reported that they
are seeing good results thus far.
SPIFEX, a 32-foot long extension to the mechanical arm, will provide
engineers with information about the effects of thrusters on large space
structures such as the International Space Station. Today, SPIFEX will be
positioned over the nose of the orbiter to allow its instruments to record
the plumes of a steering jet as it is fired.
Crew members started their third day in space at 7:23 a.m. CDT to a parody
of the song "My Girl" called "My World" by Mach 25.
Discovery continues to perform well as it makes its 19th space flight. The
vehicle that has carried almost one-third of the shuttle missions to orbit
is circling the Earth at approximately 140 nautical miles.
|
| 892.36 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 5 - 9/11/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Mon Sep 12 1994 15:08 | 33 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #5
Sunday, Sept. 11, 4 p.m.. CDT
Discovery's crew spent the first half of the mission's third day
continuing an investigation of the exhaust plumes emitted by the shuttle's
steering jets. Using the Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment
attached to the end of the shuttle' s mechanical arm, Mission Specialist
Susan Helms positioned instruments above steering jets both at the rear
and over the nose of Discovery.
Measuring single and dual jet firings, SPIFEX's instruments characterized
the heat and pressure from the jets to help plan for dockings of the
shuttle with the Russia's Mir Space Station and the International Space
Station.
Also today, Commander Dick Richards and Jerry Linenger were interviewed by
CNN, answering questions about their mission that had been sent in by CNN
viewers.
For the rest of the day, the focus aboard Discovery will shift back to
laser observations using the Lidar in Space Technology Experment. LITE
will take three successive orbits of observations during the last part of
the crew's day. The crew also will exercise during the last part of the
day, evaluating a new type of treadmill carried aboard Discovery. Exercise
has been a long-standing portion of shuttle missions as one method for
offsetting the effects of weightlessness on the body.
Discovery is in a 142 by 141 nautical mile orbit, circling earth every 90
minutes. The crew will begin an eight-hour sleep period at 10:23 p.m. CDT
and awaken at 6:23 a.m. CDT for the fourth day of STS-64.
|
| 892.37 | STS-64 2-line element set | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Mon Sep 12 1994 15:14 | 31 |
| Article: 6396
Newsgroups: sci.space.news,rec.radio.info,rec.radio.amateur.space
From: [email protected] (Shuttle Elements)
Subject: STS-64 Element Set (94254.860)
Sender: [email protected] (Gary Morris)
Organization: Alsys, San Diego, CA, USA
Date: Mon, 12 Sep 1994 05:15:59 GMT
STS-64
1 23251U 94059A 94254.86048025 .00093663 00000-0 13247-3 0 142
2 23251 57.0063 215.5674 0009507 266.7470 93.2542 16.05080819 327
Satellite: STS-64
Catalog number: 23251
Epoch time: 94254.86048025 = (11 SEP 94 20:39:05.49 UTC)
Element set: 014
Inclination: 57.0063 deg
RA of node: 215.5674 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-64
Eccentricity: .0009507 Keplerian element set JSC-014
Arg of perigee: 266.7470 deg from NASA flight Day 3 vector
Mean anomaly: 93.2542 deg
Mean motion: 16.05080819 rev/day Gil Carman
Decay rate: 9.3663e-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev: 32
--
--
Gary Morris Internet: [email protected] ([email protected])
Alsys Inc. Packet: KK6YB @ N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
San Diego, CA, USA Phone: +1 619-457-2700 x128 (voice/fax)
|
| 892.38 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 6 - 9/2/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Mon Sep 12 1994 19:29 | 46 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #6
Monday, Sept. 12, 7 a.m. CDT
Payload activities continue to go well on board Discovery as the STS-64
crew begins its fourth day in space.
Investigators are describing some of the data takes with the Lidar In-Space
Technology Experiment, or LITE, as "rich" when compared to
measurements taken by ground and aircraft instruments. LITE is the first
use of a "lidar" system in space.
Lidar, an acronym for light detection and ranging is similar to the radar
commonly used to track everything from airplanes in flight to
thunderstorms. It can be thought of as an optical radar, but instead of
bouncing radio waves off its target, lidar uses short pulses of laser light.
Some of that light reflects tiny particles in the atmosphere, called aerosols,
then back to a telescope aligned with the laser. By precisely timing the lidar
echo and by measuring how much laser light is received by the telescope,
scientists can accurately determine the location, distribution and nature of
the particle. The result is a revolutionary new tool for studying the
composition of Earth's atmosphere. LITE data gathering activities will
continue today.
Information from the Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight Experiment, or
SPIFEX, indicates that all instruments on the 32-foot long extension of the
Discovery's robot arm are in good health and providing high quality data.
Today, Discovery's crew will wrap up the mission. At the end of today's
activities, SPIFEX will be berthed on the starboard side of the payload bay
so that the arm will be available for the deploy and retrieval of the Spartan
satellite on Tuesday. SPIFEX is being used in tests to help engineers
characterize exhaust plumes emitted by the shuttle's steering jets.
Overnight, the Robot Operated Materials Processing System, or ROMPS,
continued its smooth operations. The first U.S. robotics system to be used
in space, ROMPS transports semiconductor samples from storage racks to
halogen lamp furnaces for heating and cooling.
The STS-64 crew began its fourth day in space at 6:23 a.m. CDT with the
song "Ace in the Hole" by George Strait.
Discovery continues to perform without any major system anomalies as it
circles the Earth once every 90 minutes at an altitude of 142 by 141
nautical miles.
|
| 892.39 | SAREX and NASA SELECT TV schedule | MTWAIN::KLAES | No Guts, No Galaxy | Tue Sep 13 1994 19:17 | 497 |
| Article: 22476
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
From: [email protected] (mary-frances jagod)
Subject: STS-64 SAREX fact sheet
Sender: [email protected] (News System)
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 1994 17:04:45 GMT
[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
SAREX FACT SHEET -- STS-64
WHO: Space Shuttle Discovery crew
WHAT: Talk via Amateur Radio with students on earth.
WHERE: Earth Orbit. Inclination 57 degrees. Altitude 259 kilometers.
WHEN: September 9, 1994 (9 day mission)
WHY: As part of the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX)
component of the STS-64 mission.
LAUNCH: Scheduled for September 9, 1994 at 16:30 EDT (2030 UTC) from
the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
AMATEUR RADIO
LICENSED CREW
MEMBERS: Richard N. Richards, KB5SIW, Commander
L. Blaine Hammond Jr., KC5HBS, Pilot
Jerry M. Linenger, KC5HBR, Mission Specialist
PAYLOAD: This mission includes the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment or
SAREX. SAREX is an educational payload which allows schools
around the world to learn first hand about space by speaking
directly to astronauts aboard the Shuttle via Amateur (or "ham")
Radio. On this mission, SAREX will be carried in configuration B
(see end of document).
The primary objective of this flight is to successfully perform the
planned operations of the LIDAR In-Space Technology Experiment
(LITE-1), and to deploy and retrieve the SPARTAN 201 payload.
LITE-1 will be used to take atmospheric measurements by emitting
laser energy into the atmosphere and measuring the return signals
scattered from atmospheric constituents. SPARTAN 201 is a solar
wind generation experiment that will probe the physics of the solar
wind acceleration region by measuring various coronal structures.
SAREX The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Radio Amateur
SPONSORS: Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and The National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA). SAREX is supported by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC).
SAREX RADIO
FREQUENCIES:The crew will use separate receive and transmit frequencies.
PLEASE do not transmit on the Shuttle's DOWNLINK frequency.
Voice Downlink: (Worldwide) 145.55 MHz
Voice Uplink: 144.91, 144.93, 144.95, 144.97, 144.99 MHz
Voice Uplink: (Europe only) 144.70, 144.75, 144.80 MHz
HAM RADIO
CALL SIGNS: FM voice call sign KB5SIW, KC5HBS, and KC5HBR
QSL VIA: Send reports and QSLs to ARRL EAD, STS-64 QSL, 225 Main
Street, Newington, CT 06111, USA. Include the following
information in your QSL or report: STS-64, date, time in UTC,
frequency and mode (FM voice or packet). In addition, you must
also include a SASE using a large, business-sized envelope if you
wish to receive a card. Nashua Area Radio Club in
New Hampshire has generously volunteered to manage the cards
for this mission.
INFORMATION:ARRL (Newington, CT) Amateur Radio station (call sign W1AW)
news bulletins (9:45 PM, 12:45 AM EST) on HF bands at 3.99,
7.29, 14.29, 18.16, 21.39, 28.59 and VHF at 147.555 MHz.
Goddard Amateur Radio Club (Greenbelt, MD) Amateur Radio
station (call sign WA3NAN) news and retransmissions on Amateur
Radio high frequency (HF) bands at 3.86, 7.185, 14.295, 21.395,
and 28.65 megahertz (MHz) and on very high frequency (VHF)
bands at 147.45 MHz. GARC also maintains a Bulletin Board
System (BBS) which is accessible via the Internet, modem and
packet radio. The BBS contains Keplerian orbital elements updated
daily, AMSAT and SAREX bulletins and Space Shuttle mission
information.
via Internet: wa3nan.gsfc.nasa.gov or 128.183.105.17
via phone: (301) 286-4137
via packet: WA3NAN on 145.090 MHz in DC area.
SHUTTLE
TRACKING: Current Keplerian elements to track the Shuttle are available
from the NASA Spacelink computer information system BBS
(205) 895-0028 and the ARRL BBS (203) 666-0578. Also, the
JSC ARC BBS will have the latest element sets available during the
STS-64 flight. The number is (713) 244-5625, 9600 baud or less.
See last page for Keplerian element set JSC-009.
PARTICIPATING
SCHOOLS: Grizzly Hill School
North San Juan, CA
The Branson School
Ross, CA
Crystal Lake South Elementary
Crystal Lake, IL
Morocco Elementary School
Morocco, IN
Springfield Plains Elementary
Clarkston, MI
Francis Howell North High School
St. Charles, MO
Central Square Middle School
Central Square, NY
STEP/Star Schools - Young Astronauts
Spokane, WA
Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School
Laurel, MD
Middleton Grange School
New Zealand
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION:Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, Educational Activities Department,
American Radio Relay League 203-666-1541 email: [email protected]
Configuration B - SAREX configuration B consists only of the handheld
transceiver, I/F module, spare battery set, SAREX headset assembly,
personal tape recorder, and the window antenna. It is capable only of
exchanging voice communications with amateur stations within LOS of the
Orbiter. Configuration B can be operated only in the attended mode.
The payload control weights are as follows:
Configuration B 35 lb (15.90 kg)
STS-64 Keplerian element set JSC-009:
STS-64
1 00064U 94253.10081701 .00083204 00000-0 14200-3 0 90
2 00064 57.0058 195.1863 0009244 269.5211 90.4820 16.05202670 52
Satellite: STS-64
Catalog number: 00064
Epoch time: 94253.10081701 = (10 SEP 94 02:25:10.58 UTC)
Element set: 009
Inclination: 57.0058 deg
RA of node: 195.1863 deg Space Shuttle Flight STS-64
Eccentricity: .0009244 Prelaunch element set JSC-009
Arg of perigee: 269.5211 deg Launch: 09 SEP 20:30:00 UTC
Mean anomaly: 90.4820 deg
Mean motion: 16.05202670 rev/day Gil Carman
Decay rate: 8.3204e-04 rev/day^2 NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev: 5
Checksum: 255
These elements will propagate to match the latest STS-64 design
trajectory from trim burn #2 on orbit 4 at MET 0/04:48, until
trim burn #4 on orbit 28 at MET 1/17:02.
The American Radio Relay League, Newington Conn. USA
9/9/94
Article: 22475
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
From: [email protected] (mary-frances jagod)
Subject: STS-64: NASA Select TV schedule, revision E, 9/13/94
Sender: [email protected] (News System)
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Tue, 13 Sep 1994 17:04:25 GMT
[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
NASA SELECT TV SCHEDULE
STS-64/LITE-01
09/13/94
REV E
***********************************************************************
NASA Select programming can be accessed through GTE Spacenet 2,
transponder 5. The frequency is 3880 MHz with an orbital position
of 69 degrees West Longitude. This is a full transponder service
and will be operational 24 hours a day.
Two hour edited highlights will be replayed for Alaska and Hawaii each
Flight Day at 11pm Central Daylight Time. The highlights will begin on
launch day and continue through landing. The satellite carrier will be
Galaxy 6, transponder 19 with an orbital position of 103 degrees
West Longitude.
This NASA Select television schedule of mission coverage is available
on Comstore, the mission TV schedule computer bulletin board service.
Call 713-483-5817, and follow the prompts to acces this service.
--- Launch occurred at 5:23 pm CDT on September 9, 1994 ---
NOTE: * Denotes change from previous revision of TV Schedule
ORBIT SUBJECT SITE MET CDT
----- ------- ---- --- ---
----------------------------- TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 -------------------
FD 5
61 WBBM RADIO INTERVIEW TDRE 03/18:55 12:18 PM
T=15:00
62 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 03/19:37 01:00 PM
64 Ku BAND CONFIGURE TO RADAR MODE 03/22:55 04:18 PM
(not televised)
64 * SPARTAN 201 DEPLOY 03/23:07 04:30 PM
(not televised live)
65 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 04/00:07 05:30 PM
(time subject to change)
65 Ku BAND CONFIGURE TO COMM MODE 04/00:15 05:38 PM
(not televised)
66 * VTR DUMP SPARTAN 201 DEPLOY TDRW 04/01:45 07:08 PM
T=12:00
66 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 04/02:37 08:00 PM
68 CREW SLEEP 04/05:00 10:23 PM
68 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 04/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 -----------------
FD 6
70 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 04/07:37 01:00 AM
72 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 04/09:37 03:00 AM
73 CREW WAKE UP 04/13:00 06:23 AM
76 MIDDECK ACTIVITIES TDRW 04/16:30 09:53 AM
T=10:00
76 EMU CHECKOUT TDRE 04/17:05 10:28 AM
T=15:00
77 EMU CHECKOUT TDRW 04/17:59 11:22 AM
T=16:00
77 MIDDECK ACTIVITIES TDRE 04/18:37 12:00 PM
T=27:00
78 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 04/19:37 01:00 PM
78 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 04/20:10 01:33 PM
T=30:00
79 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 04/21:45 03:08 PM
T=30:00
80 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 04/22:37 04:00 PM
80 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 04/23:21 04:44 PM
T=34:00
81 WJR RADIO INTERVIEW TDRW 05/00:30 05:53 PM
T=15:00
82 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 05/02:07 07:30 PM
84 CREW SLEEP 05/04:00 09:23 PM
85 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 05/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 ------------------
FD 7
86 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 05/07:37 01:00 AM
88 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 05/09:37 03:00 AM
89 CREW WAKE UP 05/12:00 05:23 AM
94 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 05/19:37 01:00 PM
94 Ku BAND CONFIGURE TO RADAR MODE 05/19:40 01:03 PM
(not televised)
96 SPARTAN 201 GRAPPLE 05/22:28 03:51 PM
(not televised live)
96 Ku BAND CONFIGURE TO COMM MODE 05/23:18 04:41 PM
(not televised)
97 VTR DUMP SPARTAN 201 RETRIEVAL TDRE 06/00:00 05:23 PM
T=15:00
97 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 06/00:37 06:00 PM
(time subject to change)
98 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 06/02:07 07:30 PM
100 CREW SLEEP 06/04:00 09:23 PM
101 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 06/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 --------------------
FD 8
102 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 06/07:37 01:00 AM
104 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 06/09:37 03:00 AM
104 CREW WAKE UP 06/11:00 04:23 AM
107 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 06/15:07 08:30 AM
108 AIRLOCK EGRESS 06/16:20 09:43 AM
(not televised)
108 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/16:35 09:58 AM
T=28:00
109 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/17:16 10:39 AM
T=24:00
109 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/18:05 11:28 AM
T=34:00
110 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/18:56 12:19 PM
T=17:00
110 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/19:43 01:06 PM
T=38:00
111 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/20:29 01:52 PM
T=21:00
111 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/21:24 02:47 PM
T=35:00
112 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/22:08 03:31 PM
T=18:00
112 AIRLOCK INGRESS 06/22:30 03:53 PM
(not televised)
112 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 06/23:07 04:30 PM
(time subject to change)
114 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 07/02:07 07:30 PM
116 CREW SLEEP 07/04:00 09:23 PM
117 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 07/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 ------------------
FD 9
118 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 07/07:37 01:00 AM
120 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 07/09:37 03:00 AM
121 CREW WAKE UP 07/12:00 05:23 AM
123 LITE OPERATIONS TDRW 07/15:10 08:33 AM
T=15:00
123 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 07/15:30 08:53 AM
T=34:00
125 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 07/17:05 10:28 AM
T=25:00
125 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 07/18:10 11:33 AM
T=19:00
126 MISSION UPDATE JSC 07/19:37 01:00 PM
127 SPIFEX OPERATIONS TDRE 07/21:20 02:43 PM
T=34:00
128 SPIFEX OPERATIONS TDRW 07/22:30 03:53 PM
T=14:00
128 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 07/22:37 04:00 PM
130 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 08/02:07 07:30 PM
132 CREW SLEEP 08/03:30 08:53 PM
133 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 08/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 --------------------
FD 10
134 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 08/07:37 01:00 AM
136 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 08/09:37 03:00 AM
137 CREW WAKE UP 08/11:30 04:53 AM
141 CREW NEWS CONFERENCE TDRW 08/17:35 10:58 AM
T=30:00
142 * MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 08/18:37 12:00 PM
142 MISSION UPDATE JSC 08/19:37 01:00 PM
143 Ku BAND ANTENNA STOW 08/20:55 02:18 PM
(not televised)
147 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 09/02:07 07:30 PM
147 CREW SLEEP 09/03:00 08:23 PM
149 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 09/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 --------------------
FD 11
150 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 09/07:37 01:00 AM
152 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 09/09:37 03:00 AM
153 CREW WAKE UP 09/11:00 04:23 AM
155 LITE INSTRUMENT DEACTIVATION 09/14:10 07:33 AM
(not televised)
158 DEORBIT BURN 09/19:06 12:29 PM
(not televised)
159 KSC LANDING KSC 09/20:01 01:24 PM
LANDING REPLAYS KSC L+20 MIN
POST LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE JSC L+60 MIN
ASTRONAUT POST LANDING KSC L+6 HRS
PRESS CONFERENCE
(includes CDR and available Crewmembers)
***********************************************************************
DEFINITION OF TERMS
***********************************************************************
CDR: COMMANDER
CDT: CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME
EMU: EXTRAVEHICULAR MOBILITY UNIT
EVA: EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY
FD: FLIGHT DAY
GSTDN: GROUND SPACECRAFT TRACKING AND DATA NETWORK
HRS: HOURS
JSC: JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
KSC: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
LITE: LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
MECO: MAIN ENGINE CUT-OFF
MET: MISSION ELAPSED TIME. THE TIME WHICH BEGINS AT MOMENT OF
LAUNCH AND IS READ: DAYS/HOURS:MINUTES. LAUNCH=00/00:00
MIN: MINUTE
P/TV: PHOTOGRAPHIC/TELEVISION ACTIVITY
RMS: REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEM
ROMPS: ROBOTIC OPERATED MATERIALS PROCESSING SYSTEM
SAFER: SIMPLIFIED AID FOR EVA RESCUE
SPARTAN 201: SHUTTLE POINTED AUTONOMOUS RESEARCH TOOL FOR ASTRONOMY
SPIFEX: SHUTTLE PLUME IMPINGEMENT FLIGHT EXPERIMENT
STS: SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
T=: TIME EQUIVALENT; USED FOR DURATION OF EVENT
|
| 892.40 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 7 - 9/12/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 14 1994 13:03 | 44 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #7
Monday, Sept. 12, 3 p.m. CDT
A variety of observations by the Lidar In-space Technology Experiment
(LITE) marked Discovery's fourth day in orbit, as well as a few final
studies of the shuttle's steering jet exhaust plumes.
LITE completed observations of smoke in the atmosphere above portions
of South America, the sea surface in the mid-Atlantic, clouds above Central
America, and the upper atmosphere above northern Europe. Observations
by the laser radar were made during both daylight and night passes. Several
precisely targeted observations required Commander Dick Richards to aim
the laser by altering Discovery's orientation, while other sites were
surveyed by using a slow rocking of Discovery to create a sweep with the
laser pulses.
Scientists with LITE are delighted with the information obtained thus far,
and a variety of concurrent measurements by ground instruments and
airborne instruments have been recorded.
Earlier today, Mission Specialist Susan Helms conducted a few more tests
of exhaust plumes from Discovery's small jets using SPIFEX, a 32-foot
long instrumented boom grasped by the shuttle's mechanical arm.
However, early in the test session, communications broke off between the
laptop computer aboard Discovery and the experiment's instruments,
causing several low-priority studies to be missed. The communications link
was restored prior to latching the experiment back into its cradle along the
right edge of Discovery's cargo bay.
SPIFEX has completed the majority of its planned studies, including all of
the studies of heat and pressures from the jet exhausts that were deemed to
be a high priority for the experiment. The information will assist in
planning future dockings between the shuttle and space stations.
At 6:03 p.m. CDT today, Commander Richards, along with Carl Meade
and Mark Lee, the two astronauts who plan to conduct a spacewalk later in
the flight, will be interviewed by a reporter for Space News. The interview
will be carried live on NASA TV.
The crew will begin an eight-hour sleep period at 10:23 p.m. central and
awaken at 6:23 a.m. Tuesday.
|
| 892.41 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 8 - 9/13/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 14 1994 13:04 | 41 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #8
Tuesday, Sept. 13, 8 a.m. CDT
The STS-64 crew today is preparing to release a small science satellite that
will spend about 40 hours flying free of Discovery as it collects information
on the Sun and its solar winds.
The Spartan-201 satellite will be released from Discovery's robot arm at
about 4:30 p.m. CDT (4/23:07 MET). Following deployment, the orbiter
will perform three separation burns to move it away from Spartan to a
station-keeping point about 50 miles behind. Spartan-201 will then begin its
mission to look for evidence explaining how the solar wind is generated by
the Sun.
The solar wind originates in the corona, the outermost atmosphere of the
Sun. Spartan-201- carries two separate telescopes to study the corona. The
White Light Coronagraph measures density distribution of electrons
making up the corona. The other telescope, the Ultraviolet Coronal
Spectrometer investigates the temperatures and distribution of protons and
hydrogen atoms through the layers of the corona. This information, which
will be recorded on board the satellite and retrieved after landing, will help
scientists characterize this part of the Sun.
Spartan will be retrieved on Thursday to be berthed once again in
Discovery's payload bay for the return home.
Overnight, the Robot Operated Materials Processing System continued to
processes semiconductor samples. Fifty-four of the 100 ROMPS samples
have been processed, and controllers are pleased with the system's
performance so far.
Crew members began their fifth day in space at 6:23 a.m. CDT with a
parody of the Beach Boys song "I Get Around" called "We Orbit Round"
by Mach 25. The astronauts' efforts to conserve Discovery's cryogenic
fuels are paying off. Flight controllers in Houston say the outlook for an
additional day in space is promising.
Discovery, which continues to function without problems, is orbiting the
Earth at an altitude of 140 x 141 nautical miles.
|
| 892.42 | Updated State vector for STS-64 - 9/13/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 14 1994 13:06 | 151 |
| STS-64 State Vector Notification #8
September 13, 1994
NOTE:
On STS-64 (launch date 9 September 1994), NASA
is flying a new type of atmospheric remote sensing
instrument on the Space Shuttle. This instrument
is a LiDAR (short for Light Detection and Ranging),
which, very much like a radar, transmits a very short
pulse of coherent, high intensity light from a laser
down into the atmosphere. As the pulse travels down
into the atmosphere it interacts with clouds, molecules,
and aerosols, causing some of the light to be reflected
back toward the Shuttle where it is collected by a large
payload bay-mounted telescope and transformed into an
electrical signal by a photosensitive detector. The LiDAR
which will be flown on the Shuttle is called the Lidar
In-Space Technology Experiment, or LITE.
Observers attempting to view the Shuttle with their naked
eyes are not at risk of eye injury, nor are observers
using ordinary binoculars or small telescopes (up to
approximately six inches in diameter). Telescopes larger
than six inches in diameter are capable of collecting
sufficient energy to bring the total Radiant Exposure (RE)
to a level which exceeds the ANSI Maximum Permissible
Exposure (MPE). Therefore, direct viewing of the Shuttle
through telescopes larger than six inches is not advisable
and should not be attempted. Capturing photographically
or electronically does not present a hazard. However,
highly sensitive photo-electronic detectors could possibly
be damaged.
State vector postings for STS-64 are made by
NASA, Johnson Space Center, Flight Design and
Dynamics Division and are intended to eliminate
the possibility of eye damage to amateur and
professional astronomers by the LITE instrument.
Updates to this notice will be made every 24 hours for
the duration of STS-64. Each update will include a
current state vector along with predicted states
after translational maneuvers for the following day.
State vectors will be expressed in three ways.
1) As standard 2-line mean Keplerian elements
(NOTE: these elements will generally NOT be
at ascending node passage)
2) As osculating Cartesian M50 elements
3) As osculating Keplerian M50 elements
To differentiate between 2-line elements from this
source and those from US Space Command, element set
numbers commencing with 801 will be used. As a service
to those unfamiliar with M50 elements, a definition of
the M50 coordinate system appears below.
Questions concerning this update should addressed to
William H. Tracy, Lead Flight Dynamics Officer/STS-64,
Mail Code DM42, NASA/JSC, Houston, TX 77058 or through
Internet E-Mail wtracy%[email protected]
Coordinate System: Mean of 1950 (M50)
Inertial, right-handed Cartesian system whose origin
is the center of the Earth. The epoch is the beginning
of the Besselian year 1950.
X axis: Mean vernal equinox of epoch
Z axis: Earth's mean rotational axis of epoch
Y axis: Completes right-hand system
A: Semi-major axis
E: Eccentricity
I: Inclination
Wp: Argument of perigee
RAAN: Right ascension of ascending node
N: True anomaly
M: Mean anomaly
_______________________________________________________
STS-64
ACTUAL FLIGHT DAY FIVE STATE VECTORS
ON ORBIT OPERATIONS
Lift off Time : 1994/252/22:22:54.947 GMT
Lift off Date : September 9, 1994
Mean Solar Flux : 79
Mean Geomagnetic Index : 2.72
ACTUAL ORBITER STATE VECTOR
Confirmed Sep-3
Vector Time (GMT) : 256/22:20:06.421
Vector Time (MET) : 003/23:57:11.474
Orbit Count : 065
Weight : 224895.9 LBS
Drag Coefficient : 2.00
Drag Area : 733.9 SQ FT
2-Line Keplerian Elements
*************************
1 23251U 94 59 A 94256.93062987 .00016628 00000-0 51546-4 0 8100
2 23251 57.0075 205.8019 0006844 267.6826 179.0577 16.05148686 655
M50 Elements M50 Keplerian Elements
************ **********************
X= 4005711.3 FT A=3580.4593 NM
Y=-11241321.0 FT E=0.000701
Z= 18208205.8 FT I (M50)=56.87898 DEG
Xdot= 23297.558585 FPS Wp (M50)=260.25270 DEG
Ydot= 10105.664152 FPS RAAN (M50)=205.08532 DEG
Zdot= 1111.151339 FPS Anomalies: N (True)=186.75074 DEG
M (Mean)=186.76019 DEG
Apogee (Ha) = 140.9 NM
Perigee (Hp) = 139.0 NM
PREDICTED ORBITER STATE VECTOR
Post-NC-1
Vector Time (GMT) : 257/01:19:25.923
Vector Time (MET) : 004/02:56:30.976
Orbit Count : 067
Weight : 224856.9 LBS
Drag Coefficient : 2.00
Drag Area : 733.9 SQ FT
2-Line Keplerian Elements
*************************
1 23251U 94 59 A 94257.05516115 .00016628 00000-0 51546-4 0 8112
2 23251 57.0117 205.2158 0008389 267.4430 179.1880 16.05518122 671
M50 Elements M50 Keplerian Elements
************ **********************
X= 3851700.6 FT A=3579.9105 NM
Y=-11295809.8 FT E=0.000855
Z= 18207741.8 FT I (M50)=56.88548 DEG
Xdot= 23406.463204 FPS Wp (M50)=261.19362 DEG
Ydot= 9841.084648 FPS RAAN (M50)=204.49864 DEG
Zdot= 1151.229362 FPS Anomalies: N (True)=185.70165 DEG
M (Mean)=185.71139 DEG
Apogee (Ha) = 139.9 NM
Perigee (Hp) = 139.1 NM
As of this posting, NC-2 and NH-1 burns, normally planned for 4/17:32
and 4/18:17 MET respectively, are under evaluation.
END OF UPDATE.
|
| 892.43 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 9 - 9/13/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 14 1994 16:04 | 47 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #9
Tuesday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m. CDT
Discovery's crew was given a go to stay in space an additional day prior to
the checkout and deployment of a science satellite designed to study the
Sun's corona. Later, the crew continued work with a laser instrument to
measure the Earth's atmosphere and cloud cover.
Mission managers gave the go ahead to extend the mission after evaluating
electrical power usage thus far. The latest margins showed electrical
power consumption is running below pre-flight predictions to provide
enough hydrogen and oxygen to permit an extra day of science data
gathering. The STS-64 mission now is scheduled to conclude with a
landing September 19 in the early afternoon.
The Spartan satellite was released from Discovery's robot arm at 4:30
Tuesday afternoon followed closely by three separation maneuvers to
slowly move the Orbiter away from SPARTAN to a station-keeping point
about 50 miles behind. Two orbits after release, the satellite began its
mission searching for evidence explaining how the solar wind is generated
by the Sun.
The solar wind originates in the corona, the outermost atmosphere of the
Sun. The information collected is recorded on the satellite and retrieved
after landing. SPARTAN will be retrieved on Thursday to be berthed once
again in Discovery's payload bay for the return home.
After the deploy, the six crew members began preparations for continued
work with the primary payload aboard the orbiter -- LITE. The laser
device bounces off of the Earth's clouds and atmosphere providing real-
time data on the environment and the effects of human interaction.
Overnight, the Robot Operated Materials Processing System, or ROMPS,
will continue to process semiconductor samples in canisters mounted on
the side of the payload bay. The operation is conducted remotely while the
crew sleeps.
Discovery's crew will go to sleep shortly before 10:30 this evening and
wake up tomorrow morning at 6:23 to begin checkout of spacesuit
equipment to be used during Friday's spacewalk.
The current altitude of Discovery is 140 nautical miles. No systems
problems are being tracked by the flight control teams in Mission Control
who work around the clock monitoring the health of the spacecraft and its
payloads.
|
| 892.44 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 10 - 9/14/94 | 56823::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 14 1994 16:04 | 49 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #10
Wednesday, Sept. 14, 7 a.m. CDT
Astronauts will continue science operations and check out their suits for
Friday's space walk today as STS-64, Discovery's 19th flight, approaches
the half-way point.
Crew members began their sixth day in space with the song "On Orbit,"
sung by Mach 25 to the Green Acres theme. Following the completion of
post-sleep activities, Mission Specialists Carl Meade and Mark Lee will
begin checking out the space suits they will use during Friday's
extravehicular activity.
The six-hour space walk, currently scheduled to begin at about 9:45 a.m.
Central Friday, is designed to test several tools and techniques that may be
used at the International Space Station. Among the tools is the Simplified
Aid for EVA Rescue, or SAFER, a small, self-contained, propulsive
backpack that can provide a free-flying astronaut control and mobility.
SAFER is designed for self-rescue use by a space walker in the event the
shuttle is unable or unavailable to retrieve a detached, drifting crew
member.
Today, science activities with the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment,
or LITE, will continue with three data takes. The science activities in space
are being coordinated with concurrent activities on the ground. Tuesday,
10 different groups from Japan, China, Puerto Rico and the United States
took measurements of the Earth's atmosphere from the ground at the same
time LITE was recording data in space.
SPARTAN-201 is moving out ahead of Discovery, opening at a rate of 3.6
n.m. per hour. Later today, the crew will start maneuvering the orbiter
back toward the science satellite, setting up for its retrieval on Thursday.
Overnight, flight controllers looked at the data from Discovery's
rendezvous radar which was recording questionable readings during the
deploy operations. Controllers have concluded that the signatures were the
result of the radar's late acquisition of the satellite, the cause of which is
still being investigated.
The Robot Operated Materials Processing System, or ROMPS, also
continues to process semiconductor samples in canisters mounted on the
side of the payload bay. The operation, conducted remotely while the crew
sleeps, is being characterized by its controllers as "very successful." So far,
74 of the 100 samples have been processed..
Discovery's systems continue to function as expected. The flight control
team is not tracking any systems problems at this time. The orbiter is
circling the Earth in a 140 nautical mile orbit.
|
| 892.45 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 11 - 9/14/94 | 56822::BATTERSBY | | Thu Sep 15 1994 19:58 | 51 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #11
Wednesday, September 14, 1994, 5 p.m. CDT
Discovery's crew on Wednesday checked out equipment that will be used during
an untethered spacewalk on Friday; continued work in support of laser mapping
of clouds, atmospheric and environmental conditions; and began the process of
catching up with a science satellite which has been operating free of the
Orbiter for two days.
The two spacesuits were checked out by astronauts Mark Lee, Carl Meade and
Jerry Linenger and are ready to support the spacewalk on Friday. They also
tested the small jet pack that will be used to fly free of the Shuttle
without tethers for the first time in 10 years. Also tested was an
electronic checklist that fits on the forearm of the astronauts to provide
computer data on various aspects of the spacewalk. While Lee and Meade are
in the payload bay, Linenger will assist with the choreography from inside
the Shuttle.
Today, science activities with the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment, or
LITE, continued with three data takes. The science activities in space are
being coordinated with concurrent activities on the ground.
The astronauts also began targeting Discovery for a rendezvous and retrieval
of the SPARTAN satellite deployed Tuesday. The furthest distance the two
reached prior to beginning the rendezvous was 60 nautical miles. Two small
firings of the thruster jets on the Orbiter were conducted today and the
closing rate was about one nautical mile per orbit.
Flight controllers spent the day discussing options for rendezvous in the
event the Orbiter's radar system was unavailable during the final stages of
the rendezvous profile tomorrow. The system did not lock on to the satellite
until about an hour after deploy. The problem has not yet been explained.
The rendezvous options without the radar system include using the ground
navigation data as well as using Discovery's on board star trackers. Though
these procedures are not as precise and would require slightly more
propellant than normal, the propellant margins are adequate to support a
"no-radar" rendezvous and the crew and flight control teams are trained for
just such a scenario.
The Robot Operated Materials Processing System (ROMPS) continues to process
semiconductor samples in canisters mounted on the side of the payload bay.
The operation, conducted remotely while the crew sleeps has so far processed
78 of the 100 samples planned for the mission.
The crew was scheduled to go to sleep at approximately 9:30 this evening and
wake at 5:23 Thursday morning. Now more than halfway through Discovery's
19th mission, the flight control team is not tracking any systems problems
aboard the Orbiter.
|
| 892.46 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 12 - 9/15/94 | 56822::BATTERSBY | | Thu Sep 15 1994 19:58 | 27 |
| STS-64 Status Report #12
Thursday, September 15, 1994, 7 a.m. CDT
Discovery is slowly closing in on Spartan-201 as the STS-64 crew prepares
to retrieve the science satellite later today.
Spartan-201 was deployed from Discovery's payload bay Tuesday for
about 48 hours of data collection on the solar wind and the Sun's corona.
With Spartan's science operations nearing completion, crew members will
fire Discovery's steering jets several times catch up with the satellite. Once
Spartan is within the orbiter's each, Mission Specialist Susan Helms will
use the robot arm to grab the satellite about 3:47 p.m. CDT and secure it in
the payload bay for return home. The information gathered during the free-
flying operations will be analyzed by scientists post flight.
Later today, space-walking astronauts Carl Meade and Mark Lee will
perform an abbreviated pre-breathing protocol in preparation of Friday's
extravehicular activity. The protocol helps clean nitrogen from the blood of
the EVA astronauts before they venture outside the crew cabin, thus
preventing the condition known as "the bends."
All was quiet on the planning shift overnight as Discovery continued to
perform without any systems problems at an altitude of 140 nautical miles.
At 5:23 a.m., flight controllers awakened crew members with the song
"Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley.
|
| 892.47 | STS-64 Flight Status Report 13 - 9/15/94 | 56822::BATTERSBY | | Thu Sep 15 1994 19:59 | 33 |
| STS-64 Status Report #13
Mission Control Center
Thursday, September 15, 1994, 12 noon CDT
Discovery is closing in on the Spartan-201 satellite, aiming for a capture
of the satellite at about 3:47 p.m. central time. Spartan will have
spent a total of almost 48 hours flying free from the shuttle and
performing its observations of the sun.
Discovery's final approach toward Spartan will begin with a Terminal Phase
Initiation, or TI, burn at about 1:44 p.m., when Discovery is about 8
nautical miles behind the satellite. Shortly before that engine firing,
Mission Specialist Susan Helms will power up the shuttle's mechanical arm
in preparation for the retrieval.
Commander Dick Richards will take over manual control of Discovery at
about 2:56 p.m. central as the shuttle closes to within a mile of the
satellite. Flying with Discovery's aft flight deck controls, Richards
will maneuver the shuttle to within 45 feet of Spartan so Helms can use
the arm to lock on to the satellite, predicted to occur at about 3:47 p.m.
central.
Discovery's rendezvous radar system has been activated and is currently
tracing the Spartan as the shuttle closes in.
Earlier today, the crew decreased Discovery's cabin pressure to 10.2
pounds per square inch as part of preparations for tomorrow's planned
spacewalk by Mark Lee and Carl Meade. The lower pressure, along with
about 25 minutes Lee and Meade spent breathing pure oxygen, assists in
purging nitrogen from the astronauts' bloodstreams to avoid a condition
commonly called the bends when they encounter the 4.3 psi spacesuit
pressure.
|
| 892.48 | NASA SELECT TV SCHEDULE REV F - 09/14/94 | 56822::BATTERSBY | | Thu Sep 15 1994 20:00 | 264 |
| ***********************************************************************
NASA SELECT TV SCHEDULE
STS-64/LITE-01
09/14/94
REV F
***********************************************************************
NASA Select programming can be accessed through GTE Spacenet 2,
transponder 5. The frequency is 3880 MHz with an orbital position
of 69 degrees West Longitude. This is a full transponder service
and will be operational 24 hours a day.
Two hour edited highlights will be replayed for Alaska and Hawaii each
Flight Day at 11pm Central Daylight Time. The highlights will begin on
launch day and continue through landing. The satellite carrier will be
Galaxy 6, transponder 19 with an orbital position of 103 degrees
West Longitude.
This NASA Select television schedule of mission coverage is available
on Comstore, the mission TV schedule computer bulletin board service.
Call 713-483-5817, and follow the prompts to acces this service.
--- Launch occurred at 5:23 pm CDT on September 9, 1994 ---
NOTE: * Denotes change from previous revision of TV Schedule
ORBIT SUBJECT SITE MET CDT
----- ------- ---- --- ---
----------------------------- WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 -----------------
FD 6
78 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 04/19:37 01:00 PM
78 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 04/20:10 01:33 PM
T=30:00
79 * MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 04/21:37 03:00 PM
80 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 04/23:21 04:44 PM
T=34:00
81 WJR RADIO INTERVIEW TDRW 05/00:30 05:53 PM
T=15:00
82 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 05/02:07 07:30 PM
84 CREW SLEEP 05/04:00 09:23 PM
85 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 05/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 ------------------
FD 7
86 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 05/07:37 01:00 AM
88 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 05/09:37 03:00 AM
89 CREW WAKE UP 05/12:00 05:23 AM
94 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 05/19:37 01:00 PM
94 Ku BAND CONFIGURE TO RADAR MODE 05/19:40 01:03 PM
(not televised)
96 SPARTAN 201 GRAPPLE 05/22:28 03:51 PM
(not televised live)
96 Ku BAND CONFIGURE TO COMM MODE 05/23:18 04:41 PM
(not televised)
97 VTR DUMP SPARTAN 201 RETRIEVAL TDRE 06/00:00 05:23 PM
T=15:00
97 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 06/00:37 06:00 PM
(time subject to change)
98 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 06/02:07 07:30 PM
100 CREW SLEEP 06/04:00 09:23 PM
101 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 06/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 --------------------
FD 8
102 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 06/07:37 01:00 AM
104 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 06/09:37 03:00 AM
104 CREW WAKE UP 06/11:00 04:23 AM
107 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 06/15:07 08:30 AM
108 AIRLOCK EGRESS 06/16:20 09:43 AM
(not televised)
108 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/16:35 09:58 AM
T=28:00
109 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/17:16 10:39 AM
T=24:00
109 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/18:05 11:28 AM
T=34:00
110 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/18:56 12:19 PM
T=17:00
110 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/19:43 01:06 PM
T=38:00
111 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/20:29 01:52 PM
T=21:00
111 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRW 06/21:24 02:47 PM
T=35:00
112 SAFER EVA ACTIVITIES TDRE 06/22:08 03:31 PM
T=18:00
112 AIRLOCK INGRESS 06/22:30 03:53 PM
(not televised)
112 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 06/23:07 04:30 PM
(time subject to change)
114 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 07/02:07 07:30 PM
116 CREW SLEEP 07/04:00 09:23 PM
117 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 07/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 ------------------
FD 9
118 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 07/07:37 01:00 AM
120 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 07/09:37 03:00 AM
121 CREW WAKE UP 07/12:00 05:23 AM
123 LITE OPERATIONS TDRW 07/15:10 08:33 AM
T=15:00
123 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 07/15:30 08:53 AM
T=34:00
125 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 07/17:05 10:28 AM
T=25:00
125 LITE OPERATIONS TDRE 07/18:10 11:33 AM
T=19:00
126 MISSION UPDATE JSC 07/19:37 01:00 PM
127 SPIFEX OPERATIONS TDRE 07/21:20 02:43 PM
T=34:00
128 SPIFEX OPERATIONS TDRW 07/22:30 03:53 PM
T=14:00
128 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 07/22:37 04:00 PM
130 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 08/02:07 07:30 PM
132 CREW SLEEP 08/03:30 08:53 PM
133 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 08/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 --------------------
FD 10
134 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 08/07:37 01:00 AM
136 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 08/09:37 03:00 AM
137 CREW WAKE UP 08/11:30 04:53 AM
141 CREW NEWS CONFERENCE TDRW 08/17:35 10:58 AM
T=30:00
142 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 08/18:37 12:00 PM
142 MISSION UPDATE JSC 08/19:37 01:00 PM
143 Ku BAND ANTENNA STOW 08/20:55 02:18 PM
(not televised)
147 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS JSC 09/02:07 07:30 PM
147 CREW SLEEP 09/03:00 08:23 PM
149 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY JSC 09/05:37 11:00 PM
----------------------------- MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 --------------------
FD 11
150 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 09/07:37 01:00 AM
152 FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS REPLAY JSC 09/09:37 03:00 AM
153 CREW WAKE UP 09/11:00 04:23 AM
155 LITE INSTRUMENT DEACTIVATION 09/14:10 07:33 AM
(not televised)
158 DEORBIT BURN 09/19:06 12:29 PM
(not televised)
159 KSC LANDING KSC 09/20:01 01:24 PM
LANDING REPLAYS KSC L+20 MIN
POST LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE JSC L+60 MIN
ASTRONAUT POST LANDING KSC L+6 HRS
PRESS CONFERENCE
(includes CDR and available Crewmembers)
***********************************************************************
DEFINITION OF TERMS
***********************************************************************
CDR: COMMANDER
CDT: CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME
EMU: EXTRAVEHICULAR MOBILITY UNIT
EVA: EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY
FD: FLIGHT DAY
GSTDN: GROUND SPACECRAFT TRACKING AND DATA NETWORK
HRS: HOURS
JSC: JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
KSC: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER
LITE: LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
MECO: MAIN ENGINE CUT-OFF
MET: MISSION ELAPSED TIME. THE TIME WHICH BEGINS AT MOMENT OF
LAUNCH AND IS READ: DAYS/HOURS:MINUTES. LAUNCH=00/00:00
MIN: MINUTE
P/TV: PHOTOGRAPHIC/TELEVISION ACTIVITY
RMS: REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEM
ROMPS: ROBOTIC OPERATED MATERIALS PROCESSING SYSTEM
SAFER: SIMPLIFIED AID FOR EVA RESCUE
SPARTAN 201: SHUTTLE POINTED AUTONOMOUS RESEARCH TOOL FOR ASTRONOMY
SPIFEX: SHUTTLE PLUME IMPINGEMENT FLIGHT EXPERIMENT
STS: SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
T=: TIME EQUIVALENT; USED FOR DURATION OF EVENT
|
| 892.49 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #13 - 9/15/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 13:57 | 19 |
| STS-64 Mission Status Report #14
Thursday, September 15, 1994, 7 p.m. CDT
Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew of six astronauts successfully retrieved
the Spartan 201 satellite Thursday afternoon, bringing the science satellite
into the orbiter's cargo bay after two days of independent science research
into solar activity.
Mission specialist Susan Helms used the Shuttle's mechanical arm to grapple
the satellite and bring it into its latches. Discovery's rendezvous radar,
which had given some earlier problem indication when Spartan was deployed on
Tuesday, performed well during the final rendezvous phase.
Earlier today, the cabin pressure in Discovery was reduced to 10.2 PSI in
preparation for Friday's spacewalk. Astronauts Mark Lee and Carl Meade will
exit the orbiter's airlock Friday morning for a six-hour EVA to test of a
device designed as a rescue aid for future spacewalkers who become untethered
while working outside their spacecraft or space station.
|
| 892.50 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #14 - 9/15/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 13:59 | 19 |
| STS-64 Mission Status Report #14
Thursday, September 15, 1994, 7 p.m. CDT
Space Shuttle Discovery and its crew of six astronauts successfully retrieved
the Spartan 201 satellite Thursday afternoon, bringing the science satellite
into the orbiter's cargo bay after two days of independent science research
into solar activity.
Mission specialist Susan Helms used the Shuttle's mechanical arm to grapple
the satellite and bring it into its latches. Discovery's rendezvous radar,
which had given some earlier problem indication when Spartan was deployed on
Tuesday, performed well during the final rendezvous phase.
Earlier today, the cabin pressure in Discovery was reduced to 10.2 PSI in
preparation for Friday's spacewalk. Astronauts Mark Lee and Carl Meade will
exit the orbiter's airlock Friday morning for a six-hour EVA to test of a
device designed as a rescue aid for future spacewalkers who become untethered
while working outside their spacecraft or space station.
|
| 892.51 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #15 - 9/16/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:01 | 48 |
| Mission Control Center
STS-64 Status Report #15
Friday, September 16, 1994, 7 a.m. CDT
Mission Specialists Carl Meade and Mark Lee are getting ready to venture out
of Discovery's crew cabin this morning to spend six hours testing a new
propulsive backpack.
Called SAFER for Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue, the backpack is designed for
use in the event a crew member inadvertently becomes untethered while
conducting an extravehicular activity. During today's space walk, Meade and
Lee will take turns testing the capabilities of the unit by performing four
specific test sequences.
The first sequence gives the operator an opportunity to become familiar with
the device before attempting the other demonstrations. Once the space walker
is familiar with the unit, the engineering evaluation will begin. For that
test, the space walker will fly several short translational and rotational
sequences. Next, a self-rescue demonstration will take place. In it, one
space walker will stand in the foot restraint at the end of Discovery's
mechanical arm and impart a series of rotations to the SAFER space walker.
The SAFER space walker will then activate the unit's attitude control system
to stop the rotation and fly back to the end of the arm. The fourth test, a
flight qualities evaluation, will have the space walker fly a precise
trajectory that will follow the bent mechanical arm, demonstrating the kind
of precision translation that might be needed at the International Space
Station.
Preparations for the space walk began shortly after 7 a.m. CDT. At about
8:36 a.m., Meade and Lee will begin a 50-minute period of breathing pure
oxygen in their space suits to cleanse the nitrogen from their blood before
depressurizing the airlock. The two space walkers will step out of the
airlock at about at 9:43 a.m.
Today's EVA follows on the heels of Thursday's successful retrieval of the
Spartan-201 satellite. Mission Specialist Susan Helms used Discovery's robot
arm to capture the satellite and secure it in the payload bay for return home.
Throughout the rendezvous, Discovery's radar system performed well.
The STS-64 payloads also are performing well. Operations with the Lidar
In-Space Technology Experiment continued with four hours of data recording,
including readings taken over Super Typhoon Melissa. The payload community
also reported that the Robot Operated Materials Processing System has
completed its crystal growth activities for the flight.
Discovery, which continues to perform as expected, is circling the Earth
once every 90 minutes in a 130 nautical mile orbit.
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| 892.52 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #16 - 9/16/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:03 | 26 |
| Mission Control Status Report #16
Friday, Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m. CDT
Astronauts Mark Lee and Carl Meade today successfully completed the
first untethered U.S. space walk in a decade, trying out a new rescue aid
for astronauts who might float free from their spacecraft. The spacewalk
or EVA lasted 6 hours 51 minutes and was the 28th in the Space Shuttle
program.
Lee and Meade exited the airlock mid-morning Friday and conducted
several tests of the SAFER, the Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue, while
untethered in Discovery's cargo bay. Astronaut Jerry Linenger assisted his
crewmates from inside the spacecraft and Susan Helms maneuvered
Discovery's robot arm for the procedures.
Saturday is the bonus day on orbit for STS-64, added when mission
managers determined that onboard supplies were sufficient to get one more
day of science operations. Additional runs are planned of the Shuttle
Plume Impingement Flight Experiment or SPIFEX which looks at the
effect of shuttle jet firings on other space structures, and the Lidar in Space
Technology Experiment or LITE to study the atmosphere.
A crew in-flight news conference is scheduled for mid-day Sunday.
Landing is set for 1:24 p.m. Monday at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
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| 892.53 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #17 - 9/17/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:04 | 30 |
| Mission Control Center
Status Report #17
Saturday, Sept. 17, 9 a.m. CDT
The STS-64 experiments will be getting some bonus operations today as
Discovery's astronauts take advantage of an extra day on orbit.
Earlier this week, mission managers determined that onboard supplies were
sufficient to get one more day of science operations. The additional time
will be spent working with the Shuttle Plume Impingement Flight
Experiment (SPIFEX) and the Lidar in Space Technology Experiment
(LITE).
SPIFEX uses a 32-foot long beam on the end of the orbiter's robot are to
study the effects of shuttle jet firings on other space structures while LITE
uses lasers to study the Earth's atmosphere.
To prepare for the extra science, replanning activities overnight focused on
refining the timeline to recover SPIFEX operations missed earlier in the
mission and maximizing the satellite coverage for the LITE.
Discovery's six-astronauts were awakened at 5:53 a.m. with "Saturday
Night" by the astronaut band, Max Q. The sleep period was extended 30
minutes this morning to give the crew a little more rest following an
extremely busy day on Friday when Mission Specialists Mark Lee and Carl
Meade completed the first untethered U.S. space walk in a decade. Lee and
Meade tested a new rescue aid for astronauts who might inadvertently
become untethered while working in space. The space walk, or EVA,
lasted 6 hours 51 minutes and was the 28th in the space shuttle program.
|
| 892.54 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #18 - 9/17/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:06 | 25 |
| Mission Control Center
Status Report #18
Saturday, Sept. 17 -- 4 p.m. CDT
The STS-64 mission took advantage of an extra science day on orbit
collecting additional plume impingement data and Earth environment
information in support of the various experiments that make up
Discovery's payload.
Earlier this week, mission managers determined that onboard supplies were
sufficient to get one more day of science operations. The additional time
was spent gathering 18 additional points of data using the Shuttle Plume
Impingement Flight Experiment, or SPIFEX.
Also, supplemental data was gathered throughout the day using the laser
instruments that make up the prime payload on the mission -- the Lidar In-
space Technology Experiment, or LITE. LITE bounces lasers off of the
Earth's clouds, surface and atmosphere to help in determining weather
conditions and the effects of humans on the atmosphere.
Mission managers will meet Sunday morning to assess weather conditions
at the prime and backup landing sites at the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida and at the Edwards Air Force Base in California for Monday's
landing opportunities.
|
| 892.55 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #19 - 9/18/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:08 | 39 |
| Mission Control Center
Status Report #19
Sunday, September 18, 1994 -- 9 a.m. CDT
STS-64 crew members are wrapping up their science activities and preparing
Discovery for the trip home as they spend their tenth and final full day
in orbit.
Though most of the other scientific payload work is completed, data gathering
activities with the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment will continue
throughout the day. So far, LITE as emitted almost 2 million laser pulses
during 53 hours of operations, gathering data on storm systems, dust clouds,
pollution aerosols, biomass burning, stratospheric aerosols and surface
reflectance characteristics. Ninety-five scientific groups representing 18
different countries participated in gathering correlative measurements
from Earth while LITE gathered the data in space.
Other payload teams reported similar success rates. The Robot Operated
Materials Processing System and the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment
completed 100 percent of their objectives. The Shuttle Plume Impingement
Flight Experiment acquired a total of 100 data points, 14 more than the 86
planned pre-flight, for a success rate of 116 percent. Additionally,
Mission Specialists Mark Lee and Carl Meade evaluated the Simplified Aid for
EVA Rescue during a six hour, 51 minute spacewalk.
To ready the orbiter for landing, crew members began checking Discovery's
flight control systems at about 8:23 a.m. Central and will test fire its
steering jets at about 9:45 a.m. Mission managers will meet today to
assess weather conditions at the prime and backup landing sites at the
Kennedy Space Center in Florida and at the Edwards Air Force Base in
California for Monday's landing opportunities.
A crew press conference will be conducted at 11:38 a.m. Central with
reporters at the Johnson Space Center and the Kennedy Space Center.
As the crew started the day with "This is the Time" by Billy Joel,
Discovery's systems were performing well.
|
| 892.56 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #20 - 9/18/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:09 | 36 |
| Mission Control Center
Status Report #20
Sunday, September 18, 1994 -- 3 p.m. CDT
Although the primary scientific package aboard Discovery continued to
observe Earth's climate for a few more hours, the crew of shuttle mission
STS-64 began packing its bags Sunday afternoon for the trip home Monday.
Commander Dick Richards and Pilot Blaine Hammond performed standard
day-before-landing checks of Discovery today and found their spacecraft in
good health. One of the 38 steering jets on Discovery did malfunction
during a test firing, but the jet is not needed for the return to Earth
and has been shut off.
The Lidar in Space Technology Experiment, or LITE, laser radar instrument
was scheduled to make several more observations of Earth tonight. The
other experiments aboard Discovery, all of them having gathered as much or
more data than originally planned, are complete.
The crew was scheduled to begin its sleep period at about 8:30 p.m. CDT
Sunday and awaken about 4:30 a.m. CDT Monday. Four landing opportunities
-- two to Florida and two to California -- exist for Discovery on Monday.
The first and primary opportunity begins with a deorbit burn at 12:23 p.m.
central time on the mission's 158th orbit leading to a 1:23 p.m.
touchdown. A second opportunity to land at KSC would begin with a deorbit
burn at 1:55 p.m. on the 159th orbit and lead to a 2:55 p.m. touchdown.
Later landing opportunities result in touchdowns at Edwards Air Force
Base, Ca., at 4:24 p.m. or 5:56 p.m. Central time.
The weather forecast for KSC Monday calls for a chance of thunderstorms
and possible high winds Monday, both unacceptable conditions for landing.
The forecast for Edwards calls for acceptable landing weather. Discovery
has enough supplies aboard to remain in orbit for at least another two
days beyond Monday.
|
| 892.57 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #21 - 9/19/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:10 | 35 |
| Mission Control Center
Status Report #21
Monday, September 19, 1994 -- 7 a.m. CDT
Flight controllers are keeping an eye on weather at in Florida and California
while the STS-64 crew prepares Discovery for the trip home after spending
almost 10 full days in orbit.
Four landing opportunities -- two to Florida and two to California -- exist
for Discovery today. The first and primary opportunity begins with a
deorbit burn at 12:23 p.m. CDT on the mission's 158th orbit leading to a
1:23 p.m. CDT touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A
second opportunity to land at KSC would begin with a deorbit burn at 1:55
p.m. on the 159th orbit and lead to a 2:55 p.m. touchdown.
Later landing opportunities result in touchdowns at Edwards Air Force
Base, Calif., at 4:24 p.m. or 5:56 p.m. CDT.
The Monday weather forecast for KSC calls for a chance of thunderstorms
within 30 miles of the landing strip while it calls for acceptable landing
weather at Edwards. Should the weather not cooperate today, Discovery
has landing opportunities at both KSC and Edwards on Tuesday and
Wednesday. The forecast for the later opportunities is similar to today's
weather predictions.
Overnight, the Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment wrapped up its
operations for the mission following a special data take over an erupting
volcano in New Guinea. Throughout the flight, LITE has emitted around 2
million laser pulses from the instruments in Discovery's payload bay and
collected around 45 hours of data.
Crew members, who awakened to the song "Yakkety Yak" by the
Coasters," will begin their final deorbit preparations at about 8:23 a.m.
CDT.
|
| 892.58 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #22 - 9/19/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Tue Sep 20 1994 14:11 | 37 |
| Mission Control Center
Status Report #22
Monday, September 19, 1994 -- 3 p.m. CDT
Flight controllers opted to have Discovery spend an extra day in orbit
hoping for clear Florida weather on Tuesday after today's landing
opportunities to the Kennedy Space Center were thwarted by thunderstorms
and low, thick clouds.
The crew spent the last portion of today preparing the shuttle for an
extra night in orbit. The crew will begin an eight-hour sleep period at
8:23 p.m. CDT and awaken at 4:23 a.m. CDT Tuesday.
For Tuesday, Discovery has four landing opportunities -- two to Florida
early in the afternoon and two to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in the
late afternoon. Kennedy Space Center is the preferred landing site and all
activities will be aimed toward the first opportunity to land at KSC with
a deorbit engine firing at 12:12 p.m. CDT, on the flight's 174th orbit,
followed by a touchdown at 1:12 p.m. CDT. A second opportunity to land in
Florida would begin with a 1:45 p.m. CDT deorbit burn and result in a 2:45
p.m. CDT touchdown.
The Tuesday forecast for Florida calls for conditions similar to today's
with possible rain showers in the vicinity of the landing site. If weather
again prohibits a landing at KSC Tuesday, flight controllers will likely
attempt a landing in California. The forecast for Edwards Air Force Base
calls for excellent landing weather Tuesday.
Tuesday's opportunities for landing in California begin with a deorbit
burn by Discovery at 3:16 p.m. CDT on the flight's 176th orbit leading to
a touchdown at 4:13 p.m. CDT at Edwards. A second opportunity would have
Discovery fire its engines at 4:50 p.m. CDT to begin its descent and touch
down at 5:46 p.m. CDT at Edwards.
Discovery is in excellent condition with ample supplies for at least two
more days in orbit.
|
| 892.59 | STS-64 Flight Status Report #23 - 9/20/94 | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 21 1994 13:52 | 29 |
| Mission Control Center
Status Report #23
Tuesday, September 20, 1994 -- 7 a.m. CDT
The STS-64 crew awakened at 4:23 a.m. CDT to the sounds of chirping birds
and a crowing rooster and a medley of cartoon theme songs including Woody
Woodpecker. The astronauts spent the morning configuring the orbiter for
landing operations that will bring Discovery back to Earth, ending the
11-day mission.
Discovery has four landing opportunities today -- two to Florida in the
early afternoon and two to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in the late
opportunity involves a deorbit engine firing at 12:11 p.m. CDT, on the
flight's 174th orbit, followed by a touchdown at 1:11 p.m. CDT. A second
opportunity would begin with a 1:45 p.m. CDT deorbit burn and result in a
2:45 p.m. CDT Florida touchdown.
The opportunities for a landing at Edwards begin on the 176th orbit with a
deorbit burn at 3:14 p.m. CDT and touchdown at 4:11 p.m. CDT. A second
opportunity would have Discovery fire its engines at 4:50 p.m. CDT and
touchdown at 5:46 p.m. CDT.
Weather forecasters are predicting the possibility of low clouds and
precipitation for the landing area in Florida, but excellent weather in
California.
Discovery continues to perform in excellent condition as it wraps up its
19th mission.
|
| 892.60 | STS-64 lands after virtually flawless mission... | 56821::BATTERSBY | | Wed Sep 21 1994 13:53 | 13 |
| [Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
STS-64 Landing Statement 9/20/94
The Space Shuttle Discovery landed this afternoon at Edwards Air Base in
California after completing 177 orbits of the Earth, traveling over 4.5
million miles.
The official landing times were as follows:
Main Gear Touchdown: 4:12.52 CST
Nose Gear Touchdown: 4:13.04 CST
Wheel Stop: 4:13.52 CST
|