Conference 7.286::space

 _______________________________________________________________
                                                                 
        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT         
                      Tuesday, May 17, 1994                      
 _______________________________________________________________ 

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham         407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2   
        _________________________________________________ 

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105                ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 1                      INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: mid-August         CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early morning       LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 9 days/5 hours (+ 1 day)

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Remove main engines
*  Solid rocket booster stacking in VAB

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Complete hypergolic fuel off loading
*  Remove radiators

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Checkout of the forward reaction control system
*  Freon coolant loop deservicing
*  Remove main engine heat shields and carrier panels

   ___________________________________________________________
                                                               
 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                      Tuesday, May 24, 1994
 _______________________________________________________________

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham         407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
        _________________________________________________

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105                ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 1                      INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: mid-August         CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early morning       LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 9 days/5 hours (+ 1 day)

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Orbital maneuvering system functional checks
*  Remove aft radiators
*  Solid rocket booster stacking in Vehicle Assembly Building

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Install and checkout drag chute

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Deservice auxiliary power units
*  Orbiter power system validations
*  Structural inspections


 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT         
                       Friday, May 27, 1994                      
 _______________________________________________________________ 

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham         407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
                                                                 
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2   
        _________________________________________________ 

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105                ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 1                      INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: mid-August         CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early morning       LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 9 days/5 hours (+ 1 day)

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Install and checkout drag chute
*  Orbital maneuvering system functional checks
*  Install power reactant storage and distribution helium tank
*  Solid rocket booster stacking in Vehicle Assembly Building

WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
*  Preparations to install main engines
*  Continue OMS pod functional checks

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Water spray boiler functional checks
                                                               
 

	The following is the crew list for this mission:

	STS 68	- Endeavour (7) August 18 1994
		- SRL-2
		- Commander: Michael Baker (3)
		- Pilot: Terrence Wilcutt
		- PC/MS1: Thomas Jones (2)
		- FE/MS2: Steven Smith
		- MS3: Peter Wisoff (2)
		- MS4: Daniel Bursch (2)

                                                                 
        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT         
                      Monday, June 13, 1994                      
 _______________________________________________________________ 

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham         407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
                                                                 
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2   
        _________________________________________________ 

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105                ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 1                      INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: mid-August         CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early morning       LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 9 days/5 hours (+ 1 day)

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Orbiter midbody closeouts
*  Main engine securing
*  Preparations to remove auxiliary power unit no. 1

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Brake tests
*  Remove auxiliary power unit no. 1
*  Mate external tank with solid rocket boosters in VAB

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Install main engines
*  Solid rocket booster stacking in Vehicle Assembly Building
                                                               
 

                                                                 
        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT         
                     Tuesday, June 28, 1994                      
 _______________________________________________________________ 

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham         407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
                                                                 
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2   
        _________________________________________________ 

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105                ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 1                      INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: mid-August         CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early morning       LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 9 days/5 hours (+ 1 day)

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Heatshield installation
*  Install and leak check auxiliary power unit no. 1
*  Orbiter aft engine compartment closeouts
*  External tank door functional checks
*  Transfer Space Radar Lab. payload to OPF tonight

WORK SCHEDULED:
*  Install SRL payload into orbiter payload bay
*  Main engine and aerosurface cycle and checks

WORK COMPLETED:
*  Payload bay door cycle checks
*  Remote manipulator system verifications

                                                               
 

          George H. Diller
          Kennedy Space Center
          (Phone: 407/867-2468)                         June 24, 1994

          Mary Hardin
          Jet Propulsion Laboratory
          (Phone: 818/354-5011)

          KSC Release No. 67-94

          SPACE RADAR LABORATORY-2 READY FOR INSTALLATION INTO ENDEAVOUR

               Space Radar Laboratory 2 (SRL-2), the primary payload for
          STS-68, is ready to be transported from the Operations and
          Checkout Building (O&C) to the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF).
          This is a significant event in preparation for Endeavour's
          planned launch in August.  In OPF bay 1 SRL-2 will be installed
          into the payload bay of Endeavour.

               Today testing was completed which functionally verified the
          radar antenna and the associated experiments mounted on the
          Spacelab pallet.

               SRL-2 will be installed into the payload bay of Endeavour on
          June 29.  This will be followed by a two-day Interface
          Verification Test on July 6 to verify electrical connections and
          payload readiness.  A final test of the X-SAR instrument is
          scheduled to be conducted on July 11.  This will complete the
          major prelaunch tests.

               SIR-C/X-SAR will again provide images and geophysical
          measurements of topography, vegetation, deforestation and soil
          errosion, ocean dynamics, wave fields and wind fields, volcanism
          and tectonic activity.  Approximately 30 million square miles of
          the Earth will be surveyed using C-band, X-band and L-band radar
          instruments.  Also flying together again with the SIR-C/X-SAR
          instruments is the Measurement of Atmospheric Pollution from
          Satellites (MAPS) instrument which will study carbon monoxide
          concentrations in the middle troposphere on a global scale.
          Launch of STS-68 is targeted for the third week of August.

               The C-band, X-band and L-band instruments are a joint
          project between NASA, the German Space Agency and the Italian
          Space Agency.  The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
          manages the SIR-C/X-SAR project for NASA.  The Langley Research
          Center in Hampton, Va., is responsible for the MAPS instrument.
          Both are sponsored by NASA's Office of Mission to Planet Earth.

                                                                 
        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT         
                       Friday, July 1, 1994                      
 _______________________________________________________________ 

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham         407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
                                                                 
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2   
        _________________________________________________ 

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105                ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: OPF bay 1                      INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH PERIOD: mid-August         CREW SIZE: 6
APPROX. LAUNCH TIME: early morning       LANDING LOCATION: KSC
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/5 hours

IN WORK TODAY:
*  Space Radar Laboratory electrical and mechanical mate checks
*  Auxiliary power unit no. 1 servicing
*  Flight control checks
*  Landing gear functional checks
*  Orbiter aft engine compartment closeouts

WORK SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK:
*  Main engine and aerosurface cycle and checks
*  Orbiter/SRL interface verification test
*  Crew equipment interface test (CEIT)

WORK COMPLETED:
*  External tank door functional checks
*  Install SRL payload into orbiter payload bay
                                                               
 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Wednesday, August 3, 1994
                                
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
                                
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: August 18                           CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 6:54 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: August 28/11:36 a.m. EDT
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/5 hours

IN WORK TODAY:
o    Prelaunch propellant load
o    Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (simulated T-0 occurred at 11
a.m.
	today)

WORK SCHEDULED:
o    Flight Readiness Review (Thursday)
  
WORK COMPLETED:
o    Helium signature test
o    STS-68 crew arrival for Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
o    KSCs launch readiness review
o    Launch pad validations
o    Main engine leak checks
o    Preparations for prelaunch propellant loads

 

Press Kit available on the Web...  (well, an early cut of one..)


  http://www-space.lkg.dec.com/space-archives.html


I'll ready a postscript version over the weekend.   Doing it this way was
faster given my workload, etc.


- dave

Article: 6211
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!paperboy.osf.org!think.com!hsdndev!purdue!ames!dont-send-mail-to-path-lines
From: [email protected] (Peter Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Subject: Launch Advisory: STS-68 Launch Date Set for August 18 [Release 92-94/KSC] (Forwarded)
Date: 4 Aug 1994 12:40:29 -0700
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Lines: 35
Sender: [email protected]
Approved: [email protected]
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected] (Peter Yee)
NNTP-Posting-Host: news.arc.nasa.gov
Originator: [email protected]
 
Mark Hess                                    Aug. 4, 1994
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Phone: 202/358-1776
 
Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Phone: 407/867-2468
 
KSC RELEASE NO. 92 -- 94
 
Launch Advisory
STS-68 Launch Date Set for August 18
 
     NASA managers today selected August 18 as the official
launch date for Shuttle mission STS-68, the second Space
Radar Laboratory flight, following the Flight Readiness
Review held at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
 
     Liftoff is planned for 6:54 a.m. EDT at the opening of
a two hour, 30 minute window. The mission is scheduled for
10 days, with a planned landing on August 28.
 
     STS-68 will be the seventh flight of orbiter Endeavour,
and the 64th mission of the Space Shuttle program. Commander
Mike Baker heads a six person crew which will operate in two
shifts for continuous scientific data gathering during the
mission. Other crew members are pilot Terry Wilcutt, and
mission specialists Steve Smith, Dan Bursch, Jeff Wisoff and
Tom Jones who flew on the first successful SRL mission in
April.
 
     Endeavour's primary payload will be the Space Radar
Laboratory, part of a comprehensive effort under NASA's
Mission to Planet Earth program, to understand how the
Earth's environment is changing.

Article: 6213
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!jac.zko.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!paperboy.osf.org!think.com!hsdndev!purdue!ames!dont-send-mail-to-path-lines
From: [email protected] (Peter Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Subject: Shuttle Status for 08/04/94 (Forwarded)
Date: 4 Aug 1994 12:42:17 -0700
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Lines: 103
Sender: [email protected]
Approved: [email protected]
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Reply-To: [email protected] (Peter Yee)
NNTP-Posting-Host: news.arc.nasa.gov
Originator: [email protected]
 
        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Thursday, August 4, 1994
                                
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
                                
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: August 18                           CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 6:54 a.m.
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: August 28/11:36 a.m. EDT
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/5 hours
 
IN WORK TODAY:
o    Flight Readiness Review
o    Prelaunch propellant load (clear pad at 2 p.m.)
 
WORK SCHEDULED:
o    Orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs
o    Install contingency spacesuits
 
WORK COMPLETED:
o    Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test
o    Helium signature test
o    Launch pad validations
o    Inertial measurement unit calibrations
o    Preparations for prelaunch propellant loads
o    Remove and replace radar altimeter
 

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT 
                  Thursday, August 11, 1994
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE and TIME: August 18 at 6:54 a.m.      
CREW SIZE: 6 
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE and TIME: August 28 at 11:36 a.m. EDT
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes

IN WORK TODAY:
o     Orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs
o     Purge external tank
o     Countdown preparations

WORK SCHEDULED:
o     Install aft engine compartment doors (Friday)
o     Crew arrival (8:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15)
o     Countdown begins (11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15)

WORK COMPLETED:
o     Install ordnance and pressurize hypergolic reactants
o     Check-out contingency spacesuits and close airlock

 

James Hartsfield					August 11, 1994
RELEASE: 94-053							


FLIGHT CONTROL OF STS-68

Flight control for STS-68, the seventh flight of Endeavour, will follow the
procedures and traditions common to U.S. manned space flights since 1965, when
the Mission Control Center (MCC) was first used.

The responsibility for Shuttle operations will revert to the MCC, Houston, once
Endeavour's two solid rocket boosters ignite.  Mission support in the MCC will
begin 5 hours prior to launch and continue through landing.

The primary objective of STS-68 is the around-the-clock operation of the second
Space Radar Laboratory. 

The Space Shuttle orbiter's operations will be conducted from Flight Control
Room One (FCR-1) on the second floor of the MCC, located in Bldg. 30 at the
Johnson Space Center.  Voice communications with the Orbiter will be as standard
from the MCC using the call signs "Houston" and "Endeavour."

The teams of MCC flight controllers will alternate shifts in the control center
and in nearby analysis and support facilities.  The handover between each team
takes about an hour and allows each flight controller to brief his or her
replacement on developments during the previous two shifts.

The MCC flight control teams for this mission will be referred to as the
Ascent/Entry Team, the Orbit 1 Team, Orbit 2 Team and Orbit 3 Team. The
Ascent/Entry Teams and the Orbit 1 Team will be led by Flight Director Rich
Jackson.  The Orbit 2 shift will be conducted by Lead STS-68 Flight Director
Chuck Shaw.  The Orbit 3 Team will be led by Flight Director Al Pennington.

###

MCC POSITIONS AND CALL SIGNS FOR STS-68 

The flight control positions in the MCC, and their responsibilities, are:

Flight Director (FLIGHT)

   Has overall responsibility for the conduct of the mission.

Spacecraft Communicator (CAPCOM)

   By tradition an astronaut; responsible for all voice contact with the flight
   crew.

Flight Activities Officer (FAO)

   Responsible for procedures and crew timelines; provides expertise on flight
   documentation and checklists; prepares messages and maintains all teleprinter
   and/or Text and Graphics System traffic to the vehicle.

Integrated Communications Officer (INCO)

   Responsible for all Orbiter data, voice and video communications systems;
   monitors the telemetry link between the vehicle and the ground; oversees the
   uplink command and control processes.

Flight Dynamics Officer (FDO)

   Responsible for monitoring vehicle performance during the powered flight
   phase and assessing abort modes; calculating orbital maneuvers and resulting
   trajectories; and monitoring vehicle flight profile and energy levels during
   reentry.

Trajectory Officer (TRAJECTORY)

   Also known as "TRAJ," this operator aids the FDO during dynamic flight phases
   and is responsible for maintaining the trajectory processors in the MCC and
   for trajectory inputs made to the Mission Operations Computer.

Guidance, Navigation & Control Systems Engineer (GNC)

   Responsible for all inertial navigational systems hardware such as star
   trackers, radar altimeters and the inertial measurement units; monitors radio
   navigation and digital autopilot hardware systems.

Guidance & Procedures Officer (GPO)

   Responsible for the onboard navigation software and for maintenance of the
   Orbiter's navigation state, known as the state vector.  Also responsible for
   monitoring crew vehicle control during ascent, entry, or rendezvous.


Rendezvous Guidance and Procedures Officer (RENDEZVOUS)

   The RENDEZVOUS GPO is a specialist who monitors onboard navigation of the
   Orbiter during rendezvous and proximity operations.

Environmental Engineer & Consumables Manager (EECOM)

   Responsible for all life support systems, cabin pressure, thermal control and
   supply and waste water management; manages consumables such as oxygen and
   hydrogen.

Electrical Generation and Illumination Officer (EGIL)

   Responsible for power management, fuel cell operation, vehicle lighting and
   the master caution and warning system.

Payloads Officer (PAYLOADS)

   Coordinates all payload activities; serves as principal interface with remote
   payload operations facilities.

Data Processing Systems Engineer (DPS)

   Responsible for all onboard mass memory and data processing hardware;
   monitors primary and backup flight software systems; manages operating
   routines and multi-computer configurations.

Propulsion Engineer (PROP)

   Manages the reaction control and orbital maneuvering thrusters during all
   phases of flight; monitors fuel usage and storage tank status; calculates
   optimal sequences for thruster firings.

Booster Systems Engineer (BOOSTER)

   Monitors main engine and solid rocket booster performance during ascent
   phase.

Ground Controller (GC)

   Coordinates operation of ground stations and other elements of worldwide
   space tracking and data network; responsible for MCC computer support and
   displays.

Maintenance, Mechanical, Arm & Crew Systems (MMACS)

   Monitors auxiliary power units and hydraulic systems; manages payload bay
   and vent door operations; handles in-flight maintenance planning; oversees
   orbiter structure, tiles, blankets, etc.

Extravehicular Activities (EVA)

   A specialist responsible for monitoring and coordinating preparations for
   and execution of space walks.  Responsibilities include monitoring suit
   and EVA hardware performance when applicable.

Payload Deployment & Retrieval Systems (PDRS)

   A specialist responsible for monitoring and coordinating the operation of
   the remote manipulator system when it is carried aboard the Orbiter.

Flight Surgeon (SURGEON)

   Monitors health of flight crew; provides procedures and guidance on all
   health-related matters.

Public Affairs Officer (PAO)

   Provides real-time explanation of mission events during all phases of
   flight.



STS-65 FLIGHT CONTROL TEAM STAFFING



POSITION
ASCENT/ENTRY
ORBIT 1
ORBIT 2
ORBIT 3/
ORBIT 4

FLIGHT
Jeff Bantle
Jeff Bantle
Milt Heflin
Bob Castle/
Phil Engelauf

CAPCOM
Charlie Precourt
Mario Runco
Bill McArthur
Marc Garneau/
Dave Wolf-Story Musgrave

PAO
James Hartsfield (A)
Kyle Herring (E) 
Kyle Herring

Kari Fluegel

Kelly Humphries

FAO
Clare Kingsford
Clare Kingsford
John Tolle
Greg Smith/
Tracy Calhoun

INCO
Chris Counts
Chris Counts
Richard LaBrode
Gary Horlacher/
Allen Morrison

FDO
Carson Sparks (A)
Keith Fletcher (E)
Richard Theis
Bill Tracy
Bill Britz/
Dan Adamo

TRAJ
Deborah Kessler (A)
Roger Simpson (E)
Roger Simpson
Lisa Shore
Robert Stein/
Pamela McCraw

GPO
Dennis Bentley (A)
Glenn Pogue (E)
N/A
N/A
N/A

GNC
Ken Bain
Ken Bain
Ed Trlica
Jeff Davis/
Stanley Schaeffer

EECOM
Leonard Riche
Leonard Riche
Quinn Carelock
Jimmy Spivey/
Kathy Messersmith

EGIL
Benjamin Pawlik
Larry Minter
Ray Miessler
Jim Azbell

PAYLOADS
Rebecca Swanson
Rebecca Swanson
Kenneth Edwards
Timothy Baum/
Joseph Cavallaro

DPS
Gloria Araiza Young
Gloria Araiza Young
Jeffrey Wyrick
Terry Keeler/
Robert Walton

PROP
Bill Powers
Robbie Gest
Larry Schmitt
Thomas Lazo/
Nantel Suzuki

BOOSTER
John Calhoun (A)
Jon Reding (E)
N/A
N/A
Franklin Markle

GC
Chuck Capps
Johnnie Brothers
John Snyder
Frank Stolarski
Terry Quick
Melissa Blizzard
Mike Marsh/
Ed Klein

MMACS
Karl Pohl
Karl Pohl
Bill Anderson
Ladessa Hicks/
Robert Doremus

EVA
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

PDRS
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                     Monday, August 15, 1994

KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2

VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE and TIME: August 18 at 6:54 a.m.      CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE and TIME: August 28 at 11:36 a.m. EDT
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes

NOTE: The countdown for mission STS-68 began today at 11 a.m. EDT
at the T-43 hour mark for a planned launch of Space Shuttle
Endeavour at 6:54 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 18. The weather forecast
indicated a 40 percent probability of weather prohibiting launch
on Thursday with the primary concerns being the undetermined
positioning of two weather systems. Tropical Storm Beryl with its
40 knot winds is located in the Gulf of Mexico off the west coast
of Florida and drifting. Another system is developing in the
Atlantic Ocean east of the Bahamas and is apparently drifting
slowly westward toward Florida. There are no impacts to
continuing preparations for launch at this time.

IN WORK TODAY:
7    Countdown began at 11 a.m.
7    Crew arrived at 8:30 a.m.
7    Start preparations for servicing fuel cell storage tanks
7    Begin final vehicle and facility close-outs for launch

WORK SCHEDULED:
7    Begin stowage of flight crew equipment
7    Pyrotechnic initiator controller tests
7    Load cryogenic reactants into Endeavours fuel cell storage
     tanks (9 a.m. Tuesday)
7    Retract rotating service structure (11 a.m. Wednesday)
7    External tank loading operations (10:34 p.m. Wednesday)

WORK COMPLETED:
7    Countdown preparations
7    Install aft engine compartment doors

 MISSION: STS-64 -- LIDAR IN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT (LITE)

VEHICLE: Discovery/OV-103
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 161 sm
LOCATION: VAB high bay 1
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

NOTE: The Space Shuttle Discovery will remain in the VAB until
after the launch of Endeavour. Rollout to pad 39B is targeted for
11:30 p.m. Thursday. Today, the Shuttle interface test is being
conducting on the mechanical and electrical connections between
the orbiter, the external tank and the solid rocket boosters.


              SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-68

T-TIME ------------- LENGTH OF HOLD -------- HOLD BEGINS -------- HOLD ENDS

T-27 hours -------  4 hours --------------- 3 a.m. Tues.-------- 7 a.m. Tues.
T-19 hours -------  4 hours --------------- 3 p.m. Tues.-------- 7 p.m. Tues.
T-11 hours ------  13 hrs.,34 mins. ------- 3 a.m. Wed.-------- 4:34 p.m. Wed.
T-6 hours ---------  1 hour --------------- 9:34 p.m.Wed.----- 10:34 p.m. Wed.
T-3 hours ---------  2 hours ------------- 1:34 a.m.Thurs.----- 3:34 a.m. Thurs.
T-20 minutes ---- 10 minutes ------------ 6:14 a.m. Thurs.----- 6:24 a.m. Thurs.
T-9 minutes -----  10 minutes ----------- 6:35 a.m.Thurs.------ 6:45 a.m. Thurs.

                     CREW FOR MISSION STS-68

Commander (CDR): Michael Baker (Red team)
Pilot (PLT): Terrence Wilcutt (Red team)
Mission Specialist (MS1): Steve Smith (Blue team)
Mission Specialist (MS2): Dan Bursch (Blue team)
Mission Specialist (MS3): Peter Wisoff (Red team)
Mission Specialist (MS4): Thomas Jones (Blue team)

          SUMMARY OF STS-68 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1994
5:00 p.m. Wake up (Blue team)
5:30 p.m. Breakfast (Blue Team)
5:30 p.m. Sleep (Red team)
10:30 p.m.     Lunch (Blue Team)

Thursday, Aug. 18, 1994
1:30 a.m.      Wake up (Red team)
2:00 a.m. Breakfast (Red team)
2:29 a.m. Crew Photo and Dinner (Blue Team)
2:59 a.m.       Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
2:59 a.m. Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3, MS4)
3:09 a.m. Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
3:39 a.m. Depart for launch pad 39A
4:09 a.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress
5:24 a.m. Close crew hatch

 
                STS-68 LAUNCH WEATHER FORECAST
                    FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 18
 
              Prepared on L-2 day, August 16, 1994
 
George H. Diller
NASA-Kennedy Space Center
407/867-2468
 
Synopsis:  Tropcial Storm Beryl is over southern Georgia moving
northeastward and will not affect Thursday's launch weather.  The
low pressure system over the Bahamas and Caribbean is nearly
stationary.  The upper level wind pattern is expected to direct
weather associated with this system away from Florida.
 
Between 6:54 a.m. - 9:24 a.m. on Thursday forecast conditions
will range from:
 
Clouds:   2,000-6,000  feet scattered cumulus     (30% coverage)
          8,000-11,000 feet scattered altocumulus (40% coverage)
         25,000-28,000 feet broken cirrostratus   (60% coverage)
 
Visibility: 7 miles
 
Wind - Pad 39A: S/7-12 knots
 
Temperature:  74-78 degrees
 
Dewpoint:     71 degrees
 
Humidity:     90-79%
 
Precipitation: chance of showers in the vicinity
 
Other weather concerns: chance of ceiling below 8,000 feet, thick
layered clouds, thunderstorm debris clouds
 
Probability of launch weather criteria violation on Thursday: 40%
 
Probability of launch weather criteria violation on Friday:   40%
Probability of launch weather criteria violation on Saturday: 30%
 
Sunrise Thursday: 6:53 a.m.
Sunset Thursday:  7:58 p.m.
 
Todays's minimum temperture at KSC: 74 degrees
Yesterday's maximum temperature:  90 degrees
Peak wind at KSC yesterday: SW-29 mph
Lowest humidity yesterday:  62%
24 hr. precipitation through 7 a.m. today: 0 inches
Total August rainfall: 1.84 inches

 
        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Tuesday, August 16, 1994
                                
                       LAUNCH MINUS 2 DAYS
                                
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
 
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
                                
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE and TIME: August 18 at 6:54 a.m.    
CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE and TIME: August 28 at 11:36 a.m. EDT
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes
 
  The countdown for mission STS-68 and the launch of Endeavour on Thursday
continues as planned today.  No serious technical issues are being worked.  One
minor problem is being reported regarding the radar altimeter in the crew
module.  However, engineers feel the problem can be resolved or, if not, the
altimeter can be replaced with no impact to the schedule.
 
  The pad was cleared today at about 4:30 a.m. for the planned pyrotechnic
initiator controller resistance test and for loading the onboard cryogenic
tanks with the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen reactants.  Reactant loading
is expected to continue until about 3 p.m. today.  The reactants will provide
electricity for the orbiter and crew while in space and drinking water as a by-
product during their 10 day 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 11 a.m.  Loading of the external tank with
cryogenic propellants is scheduled to begin at about 10:34 p.m.  Wednesday.
 
  Air Force weather forecasters are currently indicating a 40 percent
probability of weather prohibiting launch on Thursday. The primary concerns are
for a chance of showers, low clouds and possible thunderstorm debris clouds.
Tropical Storm Beryl is located over the Florida panhandle and Georgia and is
not expected to pose a threat to launch activities.  Another system developing
in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Bahamas is nearly stationary.  During
Thursdays launch window, the winds at pad A are expected to be from the south
at 7-12 knots; temperature 74- 78 degrees F; visibility 7 miles; and clouds
scattered at 2,000- 6,000 feet, 8,000-11,000 feet, and broken from
25,000-28,000 feet.  The 24-hour and 48-hour-delay forecast reveals similar
conditions and forecasters list a 40 percent and 30 percent chance of violation
respectively.
 
  The six-member astronaut crew arrived at KSCs Shuttle Landing Facility at
about 8:30 a.m.  Monday. Today they will be involved with checking out their
mission plans and fit checks of their equipment.
 
 
                     CREW FOR MISSION STS-68
 
Commander (CDR): Michael Baker (Red team)
Pilot (PLT): Terrence Wilcutt (Red team)
Mission Specialist (MS1): Steve Smith (Blue team)
Mission Specialist (MS2): Dan Bursch (Blue team)
Mission Specialist (MS3): Peter Wisoff (Red team)
Mission Specialist (MS4): Thomas Jones (Blue team)
 
          SUMMARY OF STS-68 LAUNCH DAY CREW ACTIVITIES
 
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1994
5:00 p.m. Wake up (Blue team)
5:30 p.m. Breakfast (Blue Team)
5:30 p.m. Sleep (Red team)
10:30 p.m.Lunch (Blue Team)
 
Thursday, Aug. 18, 1994
1:30 a.m. Wake up (Red team)
2:00 a.m. Breakfast (Red team)
2:29 a.m. Crew Photo and Dinner (Blue Team)
2:59 a.m. Weather briefing (CDR, PLT, MS2)
2:59 a.m. Don flight equipment (MS1, MS3, MS4)
3:09 a.m. Don flight equipment (CDR, PLT, MS2)
3:39 a.m. Depart for launch pad 39A
4:09 a.m. Arrive at white room and begin ingress
5:24 a.m. Close crew hatch
6:54 a.m. Launch
 
 
 
              SUMMARY OF BUILT-IN HOLDS FOR STS-68
 
T-TIME ------------- LENGTH OF HOLD -------- HOLD BEGINS --------HOLD ENDS
 
T-27 hours -------  4 hours ----------------3 a.m. Tues.-----7 a.m. Tues.
T-19 hours -------  4 hours ----------------3 p.m. Tues.-----7 p.m. Tues.
T-11 hours ------  13 hrs.,34 mins. --------3 a.m. Wed.----- 4:34 p.m.Wed.
T-6 hours ---------  1 hour ----------------9:34 p.m.Wed.---10:34 p.m. Wed.
T-3 hours ---------  2 hours ---------------1:34 a.m.Thurs.--3:34 a.m.Thurs.
T-20 minutes ---- 10 minutes -------------- 6:14 a.m.Thurs.--6:24 a.m.Thurs.
T-9 minutes -----  10 minutes ------------- 6:35 a.m.Thurs.--6:45 a.m.Thurs.

This one should be visible from most of the inhabited areas of the planet,
provided the timing is right.

	John Travell.

    re:-1 Endevour won't be seen for at least another 3 weeks given today's
    launch abort.  I don't know about the rest of you, but this was a heart
    stopper.  It had to be scant milli seconds before SRB ignition.  In
    fact, of the 5 pad aborts in the program to date, this is the first one
    that I can recall where all 3 engines had started and were running. 
    Early indications are that it was #3 turbopump that was suspect.

    Yup, it's got to be the latest shutdown, or close to it. Clock
    showed t-minus=0, all three engines had lit and from what they
    said on NASA Select, gave all indications of being throttled up
    or damn close to it before shutdown. The preliminary diagnosis
    was that a thermal sensor in engine #3's high pressure oxidizer 
    turbo-pump was indicating over temp on one of the two channels. 
    The second channel was close to being over temp. The shuttle computers 
    did what they are supposed to do and shut down <thank God>. They're 
    going to have a press conf at 11:00am EST to discuss what they've 
    found by that time. My personal observation was that the three main 
    engines were in fact throttled up because they appeared to stabilize 
    in gimbal position after ignition, but also in color and shape of their 
    exhaust.
    When the astronauts emerged from the hatch, they all appeared to show
    a look of relief, especially the Commander.
    
    Bob
    

From:	US1RMC::"[email protected]" "Robert Brady Jr." 19-AUG-1994 
To:	[email protected]
CC:	
Subj:	High School Students to Help Astronauts

 Brought to you as a service of the Duke University News Service,
Box 90563, Durham, NC 27708-0563, Phone: (919) 684-2823, Fax: (919)
                        684-5760/681-7334.

    This and other stories and information can be found on Duke
  University's gopher server DIABLO.  Point your gopher client to
                         DIABLO.DUKE.EDU.

===================================================================

For immediate release                   Contact: Monte Basgall
Aug. 16, 1994                           (919) 556-1824
                                        BasgallM@
                                             mail01.adm.duke.edu


DUKE SCIENTISTS, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
TO HELP ASTRONAUTS MONITOR SEASONAL CHANGES

     DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University scientists and local high
school students will again assist astronauts aboard NASA's
orbiting Space Radar Laboratory in a repeat of an April
environmental mapping mission by the space shuttle Endeavour.

     As it did April 9-20, Endeavour is scheduled later this week
to begin aiming three different kinds of radar on the trees,
clearings and bogs of university-owned Duke Forest as part of a
global study of Earth's environment.

     The new mission, scheduled for Aug. 18-27, will try to
document seasonal changes in leaf and soil conditions there since
the Space Radar Laboratory last flew over the Piedmont North
Carolina forest.

     Elsewhere on Earth, the lab will focus on other changes that
can also be detected with special detail by using radar. Examples
are the extensiveness of snowpacks, the distribution of volcanic
activity, and the locations of jungle tree-clearing activities.

     Duke Forest -- a 7,700-acre research reserve overseen by
Duke's School of the Environment -- is one of 19 "supersites"
picked by NASA for the two flights. Scientists from NASA and
elsewhere are using the supersites to evaluate radar's effectiveness.

     While the astronauts are in orbit, the university
researchers and the students from Durham's Riverside High School
will observe and measure some of the Duke Forest plants and soils
being targeted by the radar units. The information they collect
will then be matched with the radar images.

     During a visit to Duke on June 16, Endeavour astronaut Peter
"Jeff" Wisoff said such ground assistance around the world is
vital to "make sure our interpretations on the radar correspond
to the truth."

     Another visiting Endeavour astronaut, Thomas Jones, added
that the two 1994 Space Radar Laboratory missions are serving as
"test beds" for unmanned satellite technology that may begin
monitoring Earth's environment by about the year 2000.

     Eric Kasischke, an assistant research professor at Duke's
School of the Environment, enlisted about 15 Riverside students
to assist the scientists during the April shuttle flight.
Kasischke has since hired five of those students for the summer
to both help process the data from the first mission and collect
new information for the second.

     During the first Endeavour mission, teams of scientists and
students collected more than 1,000 soil samples, measured 400
different trees and took several hundred photographs of treetops
within Duke Forest and other area holdings owned by a timber company.

     This time, they will "basically be doing the same sort of
things," Kasischke said. "We've been extremely pleased with our
high school students and the help they have provided us this
summer. We hope they gained a new perspective on earth science
and global change by working with us."

     Radar is a method of transmitting, receiving and
electronically analyzing radio beams bounced off a target object.
Unlike optical photography, radar can see through clouds and
darkness. It can also reveal details about vegetation and soil
characteristics that optical cameras can't.

     For instance, each of the Space Radar Laboratory's three
radar wavelengths specialize in different parts of trees. The
shortest wavelength, called the "X-band," discerns details about
leaves. The intermediate "C-band" is adept in detecting twigs and
branches. The longer "L-band" specializes in tree trunks.

     The shuttle's combined C and L band unit, called SIR-C, was
built by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The
X-band unit, called X-SAR, was constructed by the German and
Italian space agencies.

    The good news is that according to the boys at the press conference,
    there was actually almost 2 seconds before SRB ignition (which is tons
    of time for the computers to go through the abort sequence).  One of
    the gentlemen said that the visual clock we all see during the
    countdown is not really in sync with the actual event clock(s) within
    the orbiter.
    
    It was interesting listening to the questions at the press conference. 
    One the reporters asked if the temperature sensors measure in
    Fahrenheit or Celcius.  The panelist replied, "Ranken" which surprised
    the audience.  Of course, a simple 'subtract 460' from a Ranken
    measurement will give you the Fahrenheit temp.  The "redline" for these
    sensors is 1560 R at 100% engine operation.  There's a second limit of
    1760 R to allow for 109% engine operation should that become necessary,
    and to account for various turbopump components which may run more or
    less efficiently with one another.
    
    Whew!  That's about as close as I wanna see them get.
    
    ...Roger...
    
    P.S.  I'll bet the folks that wrote the abort sequence and safing code
          are partying today!

 
STS-68 LAUNCH ATTEMPT REPORT
 
AUGUST 18, 1994
 
GEORGE C. MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
 
Cynthia A. Snoddy
Chairman, MSFC Space Shuttle
Flight  Evaluation Team      
 
STS-65 MISSION DATA SUMMARY
 
PAYLOAD MANIFEST:
PAYLOAD BAY 	  Space Radar Laboratory-2 (SRL-2),
		  Get Away Specials (5) (GAS)
MID-DECK 	  Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG), 
		  Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in Space Experiment 
		  (CHROMEX),
		  Biological Research in Canister (BRIC),
		  Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation Monitor (CREAM),
		  Military Applications of Ship Tracks (MAST)
 
INSTRUMENTATION:  None
ON-PAD ABORT DATE: 	August 18, 1994
LAUNCH WINDOW: 		5:54 am - 9:24 am CDT
ON-PAD ABORT TIME: 	94:230:10:53:58.157 GMT
				5:54 am CDT
NSTS DATABASE T-REF:	94:230:10:54:00.000
SSME#3 START TIME:	94:230:10:53:53.437
SSME#2 START TIME:	94:230:10:53:53.558
SSME#1 START TIME:	94:230:10:53:53.679
SSME#3 SHUTDOWN TIME:	94:230:10:53:58.157
SSME#2 SHUTDOWN TIME:	94:230:10:53:59.358
SSME#1 SHUTDOWN TIME:	94:230:10:54:00.638
 
LAUNCH SITE:		KSC Pad 39A
MOBILE LAUNCH PLATFORM: MLP-1
ORBITAL INCLINATION:  	57 degrees
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 	120 nautical miles
INSERTION MODE:		Direct
MISSION DURATION: 	10 days nominal
PRIMARY LANDING SITE: 	Kennedy Space Center, FL
ABORT LANDING SITES: 	TAL (Prime)   - Zaragoza, Spain
			TAL Alternate - Moron, Spain
				        Ben Guerir, Morocco
 
VEHICLE DATA
 
ORBITER:  		Columbia  OV-105 (7th Flight)
EXTERNAL TANK: 		ET-65
MAIN ENGINES:		2012, 2034, 2032
POWER LEVEL: 		Nominal...........104%
			Abort....................104%
			To Avoid Ditching........109%
SRBs: 			BI-067
SRM Set Nr.: 		Left   - 360W040A
			Right  - 360W040B
SRM Cases: 		Lightweight/Redesigned
 
CREW
 
COMMANDER:  		Michael Baker
SHUTTLE PILOT: 		Terrence Wilcutt
PAYLOAD COMMANDER: 	Thomas Jones
MISSION SPECIALIST: 	Steven Smith
MISSION SPECIALIST:  	Daniel Bursch
MISSION SPECIALIST:	Jeff Wisoff
 
 
 
 
 
1.0 STS-68 LAUNCH ATTEMPT SUMMARY
 
The scheduled launch of STS-68 on August 18, 1994 was aborted on Launch Pad 39A
(MLP-1) at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) shortly after the main engine start
command was issued.  The on-pad abort occurred at approximately 5:54 A.M.
Central Daylight Time (CDT) (094:230:10:53:58.157 GMT). The abort was executed
because of a ME-3 Failure Identification (FID) due to the High Pressure
Oxidizer Turbopump discharge temperature exceeding a redline.  The
investigation of the abort is discussed in section 2.3.
 
 
2.0 LAUNCH COUNTDOWN AND ON-PAD ABORT
 
2.1 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - SRBs BI-067, RSRMs 360W040A, 360W040B
 
The SRB prelaunch countdown was normal.  There were no SRB Launch Commit
Criteria (LCC) violations.  There were no SRB Operational Maintenance
Requirements Specification Document (OMRSD) violations other than the left hand
system 'A' Range Safety battery temperature dropped off scale low.  All other
Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) systems performed as expected.
 
No RSRM Launch Commit Criteria (LCC) or Operational Maintenance Requirements
Specification Document (OMRSD) violations occurred.  Power up and operation of
all igniter, and field joint heaters was accomplished routinely.  All RSRM
temperatures were maintained within acceptable limits throughout the countdown.
 
2.2 EXTERNAL TANK - ET-65
 
All objectives and requirements associated with External Tank (ET) propellant
loading and were met.  All ET electrical equipment and instrumentation operated
satisfactorily.  ET purge and heater operations were monitored and all
performed properly.  No ET LCC or OMRSD violations were identified.
 
Typical ice/frost formations were observed on the ET during the countdown.
There was no observed ice or frost on the acreage areas of the ET. Normal
quantities of ice or frost were present on the LO2 and LH2 feedlines and on the
pressurization line brackets.  These observations are acceptable per NSTS
08303.  The Ice/Frost "Red Team" was not used based on a recent change to the
LCC. The Debris team reported nothing unusual on the ET.
 
The ET pressurization system functioned properly throughout engine start.
 
2.3 SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE - SSMEs 2012, 2034, 2032
 
All SSME parameters appeared to be normal throughout the prelaunch countdown
and were typical of prelaunch parameters observed on previous flights.  Engine
"Ready" was achieved at the proper time and all LCC were met.
 
 
2.3 SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE - SSMEs 2012, 2034, 2032 (cont)
 
The on-pad launch abort occurred because the ME-3 (E2032) High Pressure
Oxidizer Turbine (HPOT) discharge temperature Channel A exceeded a pre-liftoff
redline check resulting in a Failure Identification (FID) and subsequent engine
shutdown.  At Engine Start Command (ESC) plus 2.3 seconds through ESC plus 5.8
seconds the HPOT discharge temperature must not exceed 1560 R. The ME-3 HPOT
discharge temperature Channel A was 1576 R. The Channel B measurement was 1530
R which was also higher than predicted.  Instrumentation/data appears to be
valid.
 
ME-3 was commanded to shutdown at ESC plus 4.72 seconds.  ME-2 and ME-1
subsequently shutdown at ESC plus 5.80 seconds and 6.96 seconds respectively.
The shutdowns were all nominal and placed the vehicle in a safe status.
 
The cause of the high turbine discharge temperature is under investigation and
a number of factors could in combination have led to the overshoot temperature
response (e.g. fuel side build-up characteristics, sequencing changes prior to
STS-68, turbopump efficiencies, hardware degradation, etc.).  The current plan
of action is to establish investigation teams, perform fault tree analysis,
engine inspections and detailed data and film evaluation.
 
2.4 MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM - MPS OV-105
 
The overall performance of the Main Propulsion System (MPS) was as expected.
LO2 and LH2 loading were performed as planned with no stop flows or reverts.
There were no OMRSD or LCC violations.
 
Throughout the period of preflight operations, no significant hazardous gas
concentrations were detected.  The maximum hydrogen concentration level in the
Orbiter aft compartment (which occurred shortly after the start of fastfill)
was approximately 153 ppm, which compares favorably with previous data for this
vehicle.
 
A comparison of the calculated propellant loads at the end of replenish, versus
the inventory loads, results in a loading accuracy of -0.026 percent for LH2,
and +0.035 percent for LO2.
 
MPS performance during engine start and shutdown appeared to be as expected.
 
2.5 SHUTTLE RANGE SAFETY SYSTEM - SRSS
 
Shuttle Range Safety System (SRSS) closed loop testing was completed as
scheduled during the launch countdown.  All SRSS Safe and Arm (S&A) devices
were armed and system inhibits turned off at the appropriate times.  All SRSS
measurements indicated that the system operated as expected throughout the
countdown with the exception of the left hand system A battery temperature.
The system A battery temperature was erratic between nominal (approximately 78
degrees F and off scale low (18 degrees F). An exception was written to the
OMRSD requirement of 34.6 to 103.4 degrees F.
 
All SRSS devices performed as planned for an on-pad launch abort.
 
3.0 CANDIDATE IN-FLIGHT ANOMALIES AND SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS
 
The ME-3 (E2032) redline exceedance discussed in paragraph 2.3 is the only
candidate MSFC In-Flight Anomaly (IFA) associated with MSFC hardware identified
at this time.

 
        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Thursday, August 18, 1994
                                
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
                                
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
LAUNCH DATE and TIME: TBD                                  CREW
SIZE: 6
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
KSC LANDING DATE and TIME: TBD
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/40 minutes
 
  The countdown for mission STS-68 and the launch of Endeavour
was halted with zero seconds showing on the countdown clock
today.  Launch was about to occur on time at 6:54 a.m. EDT when
the orbiter computers triggered a main engine abort. The abort
was caused when red line limits were exceeded on the high
pressure oxidizer turbo pump turbine discharge temperatures on
engine no. 3. Managers determined the engine cut-off was signaled
and the solid rocket boosters inhibited from igniting at about
1.9 seconds before liftoff time. With the solid rocket boosters
inhibited from firing, there was no potential for launch while
the engines were in the processing of shutting down.
 
  Following the abort, the six-member astronaut crew safely left
the vehicle and returned to their quarters at KSC. They are
scheduled to departed for Houston tomorrow morning.
 
  Mission managers are today discussing various options available
before rescheduling the launch of mission STS-68.

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Tuesday, August 23, 1994
                                
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
                                
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
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:
  o  Roll back preparations (first motion set for 12:01 a.m. Wednesday)
  o  Retract rotating service structure (1 p.m.)

WORK SCHEDULED:
  o  Roll back to VAB (Wednesday)
  o  Begin removal of three main engines in VAB (Friday)

WORK COMPLETED:
  o  Deservice hypergolic reactants and disconnect ordnance
  o  Thruster drying
  o  Disconnect orbiter mid-body umbilical unit from vehicle
  o  Off load cryogenic reactants


 

re .19
    
>                               -< Heart Stopper >-
>I don't know about the rest of you, but this was a heart
>stopper.  It had to be scant milli seconds before SRB ignition.
    
    I was on hols last week and missed this one. I can imagine that it was
    heart stopping for the watching humans. My understanding of the launch
    sequence though is that it wouldn't matter if the abort occurred only
    one instruction (if interrupt driven) or a handful of instructions (if
    not) before the instructions that will (irreversibly) initiate SRB
    ignition. In any case even milli-seconds are a long time for a computer
    even the slow GPCs on the shuttle. (That said, the various sensors may
    not be checked frequently enough for a parameter out of range milli-seconds
    before SRB ignition to abort the launch. Anyone know the polling frequency
    if indeed polling occurs?)

I'm pretty sure polling is used in order to detect an open circuit rather than
waiting for an interrupt that will never arrive. There used to be a bunch of
Shuttle technical facts in one of the topics in here...

    The latest issue of Air and Space Magazine (ofNASM) has a very good
    article about the art of programming.  It is a three step process to 
    get to machine code.  There have been interesting code faults
    (thankfully this was not one of them) with the last "big" one being
    the ranging code for the Intelsat mission.  
    
    The closeness of the abort was more interesting due to the timing of
    the out of tolorance temp reading on the turbopump.  Note that the
    second channel had not gone beyond limits at that time.  A little
    slower rise time and who knows?
    
    I was hoping to see a more comprehensive failure analysis by now....

    
>    I was on hols last week and missed this one. I can imagine that it was
>    heart stopping for the watching humans.

	It certainly was for me. This was the first launch I was actually
	able to get to (I've been waiting 33 years for this). From our
	vantage, the cloud from main engine ignition completely obscured
	the view of the stack at about T-1.5. at about T+.4, when I hadn't
	seen any motion, and just before the shutdown announcement, I had
	already started to be quite frustrated. Oh well, after having been
	that close, I now feel obligated to try again.
							-Brian

        KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                    Tuesday, August 30, 1994
                                
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)

 
          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   Remove and replace space shuttle main engine no. 1 in
     Vehicle Assembly Building

WORK SCHEDULED:
 o   Replacement main engine securing

WORK COMPLETED:
 o   Send main engine no. 3 to Stennis Space Center, Miss., for
  test stand firing (Main engine was shipped by truck to Stennis on
  Sunday. Test stand firing is set for later this week.)
 o   Remove main engines no. 3 and 2


 

         KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
             Tuesday, September 20, 1994 (11:08 AM)
                                
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham
 
          MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
                                
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Pad 39A
INCLINATION: 57 degrees
TARGET LAUNCH DATE: Sept. 30                             
CREW SIZE: 6
LAUNCH TIME: 7:16 a.m. EDT
LAUNCH WINDOW: 2 hours/30 minutes
TARGET KSC LANDING DATE/TIME: Oct. 10/11:58 a.m.
MISSION DURATION: 10 days/4 hours/42 minutes
 
IN WORK TODAY:
-    Helium signature test
-    Install main engine heatshields
-    Preparations to begin countdown
 
WORK SCHEDULED:
-    Pressurize hypergolic propellant tanks
-    Purge onboard cryogenic reactant tanks
-    Install contingency spacesuits
-    Begin orbiter aft engine compartment close-outs
 
WORK COMPLETED:
-    Landing aid tests
-    Pad validations
-    Main engine flight readiness test
  
 

Liftoff was exactly one time.  CNN kept it through SRB SEP (don't want to miss a
good disaster, huh guys?) and then pulled away, but the 8:00 news said all was
well, so I assume OMS-2 was done on schedule.

The jerk on CNN mentioned that it was a high inclination launch ("as close to
the north pole as possible") so it would be going up along the coastline. Then
he said (at about T+3:00) "...so if you live anywhere along the east coast you
might want to look up and see if you can see the plumes from the SRBs.  If you
are in ***Europe***, you should look west."

Right.  Let's see.  In Eurpoe is would have been about noon.  Nice bright sun. 
And the SRBs go up to what, 30 or 40K feet?  I'm sure that is visible from 3000
miles east.  Not to mention 2000 miles north.

Jeez.  I suppose I should be happy that they showed it.

Burns

RE: <<< Note 904.32 by skylab.zko.dec.com::FISHER "Indecision is the key to flexibility!" >>>

>"...If you are in ***Europe***, you should look west."

That's a good one. At least the direction was correct, even though the
possibility of seeing it is exactly zero. 

>And the SRBs go up to what, 30 or 40K feet?

Minor point: Much higher, I think. I seem to recall more like between 100K to
200K feet. 
						-- Tom

    The dorks on CNN & most news outlets just don't have the brains
    of a mole....
    
    I was off site until yesterday, so haven't been able to pull
    any sts-68 status off of USENET. Our extended LAN herer in LKG
    has been having problems, IE: type some text, go get some coffee,
    come back and see if the echo came back yet. So I haven't had too
    much luck today navigating thru sci.space.* newsgroups to pull
    down articles on sts-68 to post here. I'll try later today or
    over the weekend. Maybe someone else has a better behaved network...
    (Burns???) :-)
    
    Bob
    PS: I've been fortunate that our cable has been airing NASA-TV
    since July on our town's Educational access channel. It seems
    that the satellite feed for the SCOLA? educational feed is down/broken
    for some indetermined time. So for now I'm happy to get NASA
    without having to spend any cash for a TVRO dish system.
    

My network is fine, but I don't see any shuttle statuses in sci.space.news.

Burns

    Yeah....I just checked too (our LAN seems to be a little better
    at this time of the day). Someone out there in the USENET hinterlands
    posted an article also mentioning that he hadn't seen any postings
    in a while either. As a matter of fact someone in another closly
    related newsgroup mentioned that he hadn't seen a posting of NORAD
    element sets since Sept 8,94. The other newsgroup sci.space.shuttle
    has also been quiet.
    
    Bob

STS-68 MISSION CONTROL STATUS REPORT #1
9 a.m. CDT, Sept. 30, 1994
 
 
Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched on time at 6:16 a.m. CDT today to
begin the STS-68 mission.  Despite poor weather for several days earlier
this week, skies cleared this morning at the Kennedy Space Center allowing
the six-member crew to begin its 10-day mission.  The Flight Control team
in Houston gave the "Go for Orbit Operations" just before 8 a..m.  The
crew then began setting up the experiment and systems hardware aboard
Endeavour. The primary payload on this flight is the Space Radar
Laboratory, making its second flight to study the Earth's environment. 
 
Experiment operations will be conducted around the clock on this flight,
with the astronauts divided into two teams. Commander Michael Baker, pilot
Terrence Wilcutt and mission specialist Jeff Wisoff are the "red team." 
Mission specialists Daniel Bursch, Thomas Jones and Steven Smith are the
"blue team." 
 
Landing for STS-68 is planned for just before 11 a.m. CDT October 10 at
Kennedy Space Center. 

[Downloaded from ftp.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 STATUS REPORT #2
 
Friday, Sept. 30, 1994, 5 p.m. CDT,
 
The crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour successfully activated the Space 
Radar Laboratory-2 instruments this afternoon, following an on-time 
launch at 6:16 a.m. Central Time.
 
Shortly after 4 p.m. today, flight controllers reported that the on-orbit 
checkout of the Spaceborne Imaging Radar (SIR-C) and the Synthetic 
Aperture Radar (X-SAR) had been completed, and that the primary SRL-2 
instruments were ready for operation. Throughout the checkout, data takes
were recorded over a number of sites, including Raco, Michigan; Bermuda; 
Bebedouro, Brazil; the Northeast Pacific Ocean and the Juan de Fuca 
Strait, between the United States and Canada.
 
The Red Team -- consisting of Commander Mike Baker, Pilot Terry 
Wilcutt and Mission Specialist Jeff Wisoff -- is preparing to hand over to 
the Blue Team, which began its six-hour sleep shift about 10 a.m. today.
 
The Blue Team -- Payload Commander Tom Jones and Mission Specialists 
Dan Bursch and Steve Smith -- will continue to support the round-the-
clock observations of the SRL-2 instruments as the Red Team sleeps.
 
In addition to the prime payload, Wilcutt also activated the Commercial 
Protein Crystal Growth Experiment, the Cosmic Radiation Effects and 
Activation Monitor, and checked on the mouse-ear cress seedlings growing 
in the CHROMEX-05 experiment.  The crew successfully engineered an in-
flight maintenance procedure to get additional cooling air to the CPCG 
apparatus after higher than desired temperatures were noted by crystal 
growth sensors.
 
All systems aboard Endeavour are functioning well as the orbiter circles the
globe at an altitude of 120 nautical miles every 90 minutes.

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
                              NASA TELEVISION SCHEDULE
                          STS-68/SPACE RADAR LABORATORY-2
                                     9/27/94
 
    ***********************************************************************
 
 
    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, with audio at 6.8 MHz.  This is a full
    transponder service and will be operational 24 hours a day.
 
    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 access this service. The
    schedule also is available via the Internet at FTP.HQ.NASA.GOV. Change 
    directories to /PUB/PAO/STATRPT/JSC.
 
    A two-hour package of daily highlights will be played for Alaska and
    Hawaii each Flight Day at 11 p.m. Central 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.
 
 
                     SUBJECT                  SITE                 CDT
                     --------                 ----                 ---
 
 
    ---------------------- Wednesday, September 28 ------------------------
                               Launch -2 Days
 
 
           STS-68 COUNTDOWN STATUS BRIEFING   KSC                 7:30 AM
 
 
    ---------------------- Thursday, September 29 -------------------------
                               Launch -1 Day
 
 
           STS-68 PRE-LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE KSC                 8:00 AM
           (TIME SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
 
           SRL-1 SCIENCE RESULTS BRIEFING     KSC                  9:00 AM
 
           HUBBLE ASTRONOMY UPDATE            HQ                  12:00 PM
 
           REPLAY OF STS-64 EMPLOYEE          JSC                  2:00 PM
           PRESENTATION
 
    ---------------------- Friday, September 30 ---------------------------
                                    FD 1
 
 
    ORBIT            SUBJECT                  SITE       MET      CDT
    -----            -------                  ----       ---      ---
 
 
           NASA SELECT COVERAGE BEGINS        KSC                 01:00 AM
 
           LAUNCH                             KSC     00/00:00    06:16 AM
 
           NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED   JSC     00/00:06    06:22 AM
           TO JSC
 
           MECO                                       00/00:08    06:24 AM
 
    1      NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED   KSC     00/00:14    06:30 AM
           TO KSC
 
    1      LAUNCH REPLAYS                     KSC     00/00:14    06:30 AM
           (APPROX. 5 MINUTES AFTER MECO)
           T=30:00
 
    1      NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED   JSC     00/00:44    07:00 AM
           TO JSC
 
    1      NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED   KSC     00/00:59    07:15 AM
           TO KSC
 
    2      POST-LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE       KSC     00/00:59    07:15 AM
 
    2      NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED   JSC     00/01:29    07:45 AM
           TO JSC
 
    2      Ku BAND ANTENNA DEPLOY                     00/02:10    08:26 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    3      SRL-2 ACTIVATION                           00/02:45    09:01 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    3      GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     00/03:02    09:18 AM
           T=6:00
 
    3      PAYLOAD BAY VIEWS                  TDRE    00/03:30    09:46 AM
           T=30:00
 
    3      "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     00/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    4      NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED   KSC     00/04:59    11:15 AM
           TO KSC
 
    4      LAUNCH ENGINEERING REPLAYS         KSC     00/04:59    11:15 AM
           T=30:00
 
    5      NASA SELECT ORIGINATION SWITCHED   JSC     00/05:29    11:45 AM
           TO JSC
 
    6      GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     00/07:52    02:08 PM
           T=4:00
 
    7      GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     00/09:22    03:38 PM
           T=7:30
 
    8      RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          00/10:15    04:31 PM
 
    8      GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     00/10:48    05:04 PM
           T=6:18
 
    8      FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     00/11:14    05:30 PM
 
 
    ---------------------- Saturday, October 1 ----------------------------
                                   FD 2
 
 
    16     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          00/21:05    03:21 AM
 
    17     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     00/23:43    05:59 AM
           T=7:41
 
    19     GSTDN TELEVISON OPPORTUNITY        GDS     01/02:44    09:00 AM
           T=6:20
 
    20     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     01/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    22     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     01/06:14    12:30 PM
 
    22     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     01/07:33    01:49 PM
           T=4:12
 
    23     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     01/09:04    03:20 PM
           T=7:30
 
    24     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     01/10:30    04:46 PM
           T=6:23
 
    24     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     01/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    24     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          01/11:00    05:16 PM
 
    26     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     01/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Sunday, October 2 ----------------------------
                                    FD 3
 
 
    32     CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRW    01/22:40    04:56 AM
           T=20:00
 
    32     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          01/23:00    05:16 AM
 
    33     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     01/23:24    05:40 AM
           T=7:39
 
    35     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     02/02:26    08:42 AM
           T=5:44
 
    36     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     02/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    38     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     02/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    39     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     02/08:45    03:01 PM
           T=5:21
 
    40     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     02/10:11    04:27 PM
           T=6:28
 
    40     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     02/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    41     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          02/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    42     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     02/13:14    07:30 PM
 
    43     CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRW    02/14:55    09:11 PM
           T=20:00
 
 
    -------------------------- Monday, October 3 --------------------------
                                     FD 4
 
 
    49     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          02/22:45    05:01 AM
 
    49     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     02/23:06    05:22 AM
           T=7:35
 
    51     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     03/02:07    08:23 AM
           T=5:57
 
    53     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     03/05:14    11:30 AM
 
    54     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/06:56    01:12 PM
           T=3:55
 
    54     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     03/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    55     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/08:26    02:42 PM
           T=5:14
 
    56     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     03/09:52    04:08 PM
           T=6:32
 
    57     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     03/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    57     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          03/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    59     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     03/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Tuesday, October 4 ---------------------------
                                     FD 5
 
 
    65     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/22:46    05:02 AM
           T=7:31
 
    66     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          03/23:45    06:01 AM
 
    67     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     04/01:48    08:04 AM
           T=6:12
 
    68     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     04/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    70     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/06:37    12:53 PM
           T=3:42
 
    70     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     04/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    71     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/08:07    02:23 PM
           T=5:14
 
    72     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     04/09:33    03:49 PM
           T=6:34
 
    73     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     04/11:14    05:30 PM
 
    74     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          04/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    76     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     04/15:14    09:30 PM
 
 
    ----------------------- Wednesday, October 5 --------------------------
                                    FD 6
 
 
    80     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/20:57    03:13 AM
           T=3:06
 
    81     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/22:28    04:44 AM
           T=6:50
 
    82     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          04/23:45    06:01 AM
 
    83     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     05/01:28    07:44 AM
           T=6:09
 
    84     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     05/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    85     CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    05/05:00    11:16 AM
           T=20:00
 
    86     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/06:18    12:34 PM
           T=3:33
 
    87     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     05/06:44    01:00 PM
 
    87     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/07:48    02:04 PM
           T=5:21
 
    88     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     05/09:13    03:29 PM
           T=6:29
 
    89     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     05/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    90     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          05/12:00    06:16 PM
 
    91     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     05/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Thursday, October 6 --------------------------
                                    FD 7
 
 
    96     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/20:38    02:54 AM
           T=3:21
 
    97     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/22:09    04:25 AM
           T=6:19
 
    99     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          06/00:10    06:26 AM
 
    99     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/01:08    07:24 AM
           T=6:06
 
    101    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     06/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    102    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/05:58    12:14 PM
           T=3:31
 
    103    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/07:28    01:44 PM
           T=5:23
 
    103    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     06/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    104    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/08:54    03:10 PM
           T=6:23
 
    104    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    06/09:25    03:41 PM
           T=15:00
 
    105    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     06/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    106    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          06/12:45    07:01 PM
 
    107    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     06/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Friday, October 7 ----------------------------
                                   FD 8
 
 
    112    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/20:18    02:34 AM
           T=3:34
 
    112    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    06/21:30    03:46 AM
           T=20:00
 
    113    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/21:48    04:04 AM
           T=6:33
 
    114    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/23:18    05:34 AM
           T=3:19
 
    114    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          07/00:30    06:46 AM
 
    115    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/00:48    07:04 AM
           T=6:03
 
    117    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     07/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    118    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/05:38    11:54 AM
           T=3:23
 
    119    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/07:08    01:24 PM
           T=5:18
 
    119    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     07/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    120    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/08:33    02:49 PM
           T=6:09
 
    121    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    07/09:45    04:01 PM
           T=15:00
 
    122    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     07/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    123    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          07/13:30    07:46 PM
 
    124    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     07/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ----------------------- Saturday, October 8 ---------------------------
                                    FD 9
 
 
    128    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/19:55    02:11 AM
           T=3:27
 
    128    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    07/21:20    03:36 AM
           T=25:00
 
    130    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/22:56    05:12 AM
           T=3:16
 
    131    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     08/00:26    06:42 AM
           T=5:55
 
    131    CREW NEWS CONFERENCE               TDRW    08/01:20    07:36 AM
           T=30:00
 
    132    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          08/02:15    08:31 AM
 
    133    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     08/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    134    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     08/05:15    11:31 AM
           T=3:23
 
    135    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     08/06:45    01:01 PM
           T=5:18
 
    135    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     08/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    136    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     08/08:10    02:26 PM
           T=6:09
 
    138    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     08/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    140    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     08/14:14    08:30 PM
 
    140    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          08/14:15    08:31 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Sunday, October 9 ----------------------------
                                   FD 10
 
 
    147    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          09/00:45    07:01 AM
 
    149    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     09/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    152    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     09/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    155    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     09/12:14    06:30 PM
 
    155    X-SAR DEACTIVATION                         09/12:15    06:31 PM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    155    Ku ANTENNA STOW                            09/12:35    06:51 PM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    156    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     09/14:14    08:30 PM
 
    156    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          09/14:30    08:46 PM
 
 
    -------------------------- Monday, October 10 -------------------------
                                     FD 11
 
 
    157    SIR-C AND SRL-2 DEACTIVATION               09/18:40    12:56 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    165    DEORBIT BURN                               10/03:54    10:10 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    166    KSC LANDING                        KSC     10/04:42    10:58 AM
 
           LANDING REPLAYS                    KSC     L + 20 MIN
 
           POST-LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE      JSC     L + 60 MIN
 
           ASTRONAUT POST-LANDING PRESS
           CONFERENCE  (COMMANDER AND
           AVAILABLE CREW MEMBERS)            KSC     L +  5 HOURS
 
    ***********************************************************************
                             DEFINITION OF TERMS
    ***********************************************************************
 
    CDT:      Central Daylight Time
    FD:       Flight Day
    GDS:      Goldstone Tracking Station
    GSTDN:    Ground Station Tracking and Data Network
    JSC:      Johnson Space Center
    KSC:      Kennedy Space Center
    MECO:     Main Engine Cut Off
    MET:      Mission Elapsed Time:  the time which begins at the moment
              of launch and is read: days/hours:minutes.  Launch=00/00:00
    MLA:      Merritt Island Tracking Station
    SIR-C:    Spaceborne Imaging Radar
    SRL-2:    Space Radar Laboratory
    STS:      Space Transportation System
    T=:       Time equivalent; used for duration of event
    TDRE,W:   Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, East and West longitudes
    VTR:      Videotape recorder
    X-SAR:    X-band Synthetic Aperature Radar

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
STS-68 element set JSC-004
 
 
STS-68
1 23285U 94062A   94273.71398473  .00126891  00000-0  63979-4 0    40
2 23285  57.0074  76.9956 0009327 267.4500  92.5492 16.19853975    52
 
Satellite: STS-68
Catalog number: 23285
Epoch time:      94273.71398473   =    (30 SEP 94   17:08:08.28 UTC)
Element set:     004
Inclination:       57.0074 deg
RA of node:        76.9956 deg            Space Shuttle Flight STS-68
Eccentricity:     .0009327               Keplerian element set JSC-004
Arg of perigee:   267.4500 deg           from NASA flight Day  1 vector
Mean anomaly:      92.5492 deg
Mean motion:   16.19853975 rev/day                Gil Carman
Decay rate:    1.26891e-03 rev/day^2       NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev:               5
Checksum:              339
 
 
Gil Carman, WA5NOM
NASA Johnson Space Center

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS -68 STATUS REPORT #3
 
 
Saturday, October 1, 1994, 9 a.m. Central
 
Environmental studies continued throughout Saturday morning aboard
Endeavour as six astronauts working around the clock in two shifts
assisted the Space Radar Laboratory science team on the ground with
real-time observations from space. 
 
While Commander Mike Baker and Pilot Terry Wilcutt made attitude
adjustments of the orbiter to assist in precisely pointing the radar
systems, Mission Specialist Jeff Wisoff provided running commentary and
tape recording assistance for the many ground sites as Endeavour passed
overhead at an altitude of 119 nautical miles. 
 
The STS-68 mission's three other crew members -- Steve Smith, Dan Bursch
and Tom Jones -- perform the same duties on the opposite shift, beginning
at about 4:30 this afternoon. 
 
Late Friday night, Tom Jones sent down some video of a volcano erupting in
Kamchatka.  The experiment scientists reported the volcano began erupting
a couple of weeks ago, but the latest "burst" from the Kliuchevskoi
(pronounced clue-chev-skoy) volcano occurred about eight hours after
Endeavour's 6:16 a.m. launch Friday. 
 
The SRL team is planning a series of data takes using the radar equipment
as Endeavour moves over that area of the world. Those images will be
compared with similar radar images gathered during the STS-59 mission in
April, prior to the volcanic activity. 
 
Other radar data gathering of the Earth's surface today included the
desert regions of Africa, both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and
mountainous regions of the East and West coasts of the United States. 
 
Early Saturday, Mike Baker sent down a short video tape of smudges and
streaks he noticed shortly after launch on several of the forward flight
deck windows.  None of the streaks would hamper visual observations during
entry and landing slated for Monday, Oct. 10. 
 
All systems remain stable aboard Endeavour with no problems being tracked
by the flight control teams in Mission Control.  The current orbit is 119
by 117 nautical miles. 
 
Weather conditions have delayed the start of Columbia's ferry flight from
Florida which was planned for this weekend. The flight is not expected
before Monday at the earliest. 

[Downloaded from ftp.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 STATUS REPORT #4
 
 
Sunday, October 2, 1994, 9 a.m. Central
 
Around the clock observations continue by Endeavour's crew in support of 
the second mission this year dedicated to radar mapping of environmental 
changes around the world.
 
Split into two three-member teams, the astronauts divide their time between 
monitoring orbiter systems and providing assistance with the data takes of 
the science instruments that make up the Space Radar Laboratory.
 
The Red Team of Mike Baker, Terry Wilcutt and Jeff Wisoff will be on duty 
throughout much of the day while the Blue Team of Steve Smith, Dan Bursch 
and Tom Jones rests.
 
Radar data gathering today included forest areas of North Carolina, ocean 
current patterns in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, desert areas in Africa, 
and mountainous regions of the East and West coasts of the United States.
 
There are no systems problems aboard Endeavour on its seventh mission in 
space as the orbiter circles the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of 
119 nautical miles.
 
The start of Columbia's ferry flight from Florida to California has been 
delayed until later this week.

Article: 6505
Newsgroups: sci.space.news,rec.radio.info,rec.radio.amateur.space
From: [email protected] (Shuttle Elements)
Subject: STS-68 Element Set (94274.824)
Sender: [email protected] (Gary Morris)
Organization: Alsys, San Diego, CA, USA
Date: Sat, 1 Oct 1994 21:15:53 GMT
 
STS-68
1 23285U 94 62  A 94274.82461727  .00202885  22808-3  11661-3 0    58
2 23285  57.0042  71.6434 0008860 272.7255  87.2792 16.20264410   233
 
Satellite: STS-68
Catalog number: 23285
Epoch time:      94274.82461727   =    (01 OCT 94   19:47:26.93 UTC)
Element set:     005
Inclination:       57.0042 deg
RA of node:        71.6434 deg            Space Shuttle Flight STS-68
Eccentricity:     .0008860               Keplerian element set JSC-005
Arg of perigee:   272.7255 deg           from NASA flight Day  2 vector
Mean anomaly:      87.2792 deg
Mean motion:   16.20264410 rev/day                Gil Carman
Decay rate:    2.02885e-03 rev/day^2       NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev:              23
 
 
--
-- 
Gary Morris                 Internet: [email protected]
Alsys Inc.                  Packet:   KK6YB @ N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
San Diego, CA, USA          Phone:    +1 619-457-2700 x128 (voice/fax)

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
                              NASA TELEVISION SCHEDULE
                          STS-68/SPACE RADAR LABORATORY-2
                                     10/02/94
                                      REV C
 
    ***********************************************************************
 
 
    NASA TV programming can be accessed through GTE Spacenet 2,
    transponder 5.  The frequency is 3880 MHz with an orbital position
    of 69 degrees West Longitude, with audio at 6.8 MHz.  This is a full
    transponder service and will be operational 24 hours a day.
 
    This NASA TV 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 access this service.
    The schedule is also available via the Internet.  The address is
    FTP.HQ.NASA.GOV.  Change directories to /PUB/PAO/STATRPT/JSC.
 
    A two-hour package of daily highlights will be played for Alaska and
    Hawaii each Flight Day at 11 p.m. Central 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.
 
        --------- LAUNCH OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 30 AT 6:16 AM CT ---------
 
              * DENOTES CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS TV SCHEDULE REVISION
 
 
    ORBIT            SUBJECT                  SITE       MET      CDT
    -----            -------                  ----       ---      ---
 
 
    ------------------------ Sunday, October 2 ----------------------------
                                    FD 3
 
 
    38     CNN INTERVIEW                      TDRW    02/06:55    01:11 PM
           T=15:00
 
    38     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     02/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    39     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     02/08:45    03:01 PM
           T=5:21
 
    40     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     02/10:11    04:27 PM
           T=6:28
 
    40     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     02/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    41     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          02/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    42     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     02/13:14    07:30 PM
 
    43     CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRW    02/14:55    09:11 PM
           T=20:00
 
 
    -------------------------- Monday, October 3 --------------------------
                                     FD 4
 
 
    49     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          02/22:45    05:01 AM
 
    49     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     02/23:06    05:22 AM
           T=7:35
 
    51     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     03/02:07    08:23 AM
           T=5:57
 
    52     WAVE-TV INTERVIEW                  TDRE    03/04:10    10:26 AM
           T=15:00
 
    53     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     03/05:14    11:30 AM
 
    54     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/06:56    01:12 PM
           T=3:55
 
    54     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     03/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    55     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/08:26    02:42 PM
           T=5:14
 
    56     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     03/09:52    04:08 PM
           T=6:32
 
    57     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     03/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    57     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          03/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    59     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     03/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Tuesday, October 4 ---------------------------
                                     FD 5
 
 
    64     GOOD MORNING AMERICA INTERVIEW     TDRW    03/22:10    04:26 AM
           T=15:00
 
 
    65     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/22:46    05:02 AM
           T=7:31
 
    66     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          03/23:45    06:01 AM
 
    67     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     04/01:48    08:04 AM
           T=6:12
 
    68     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     04/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    70     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/06:37    12:53 PM
           T=3:42
 
    70     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     04/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    71     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/08:07    02:23 PM
           T=5:14
 
    72     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     04/09:33    03:49 PM
           T=6:34
 
    72     CONUS COMMUNICATIONS INTERVIEW     TDRE    04/10:05    04:21 PM
           T=15:00
 
    73     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     04/11:14    05:30 PM
 
    74     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          04/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    76     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     04/15:14    09:30 PM
 
 
    ----------------------- Wednesday, October 5 --------------------------
                                    FD 6
 
 
    80     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/20:57    03:13 AM
           T=3:06
 
    81     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/22:28    04:44 AM
           T=6:50
 
    82     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          04/23:45    06:01 AM
 
    83     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     05/01:28    07:44 AM
           T=6:09
 
    84     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     05/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    85     CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    05/05:00    11:16 AM
           T=20:00
 
    86     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/06:18    12:34 PM
           T=3:33
 
    87     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     05/06:44    01:00 PM
 
    87     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/07:48    02:04 PM
           T=5:21
 
    88     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     05/09:13    03:29 PM
           T=6:29
 
    89     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     05/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    90     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          05/12:00    06:16 PM
 
    91     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     05/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Thursday, October 6 --------------------------
                                    FD 7
 
 
    96     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/20:38    02:54 AM
           T=3:21
 
    96     NBC NIGHTSIDE INTERVIEW            TDRE    05/21:50    04:06 AM
           T=15:00
 
    97     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/22:09    04:25 AM
           T=6:19
 
    99     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          06/00:10    06:26 AM
 
    99     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/01:08    07:24 AM
           T=6:06
 
    101    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     06/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    102    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/05:58    12:14 PM
           T=3:31
 
    102    MAGELLAN MISSION FINALE BRIEFING   JPL     06/06:14    12:30 PM
 
    103    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/07:28    01:44 PM
           T=5:23
 
    103    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     06/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    104    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/08:54    03:10 PM
           T=6:23
 
    104    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    06/09:25    03:41 PM
           T=15:00
 
    105    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     06/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    106    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          06/12:45    07:01 PM
 
    107    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     06/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Friday, October 7 ----------------------------
                                   FD 8
 
 
    112    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/20:18    02:34 AM
           T=3:34
 
    112    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    06/21:30    03:46 AM
           T=20:00
 
    113    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/21:48    04:04 AM
           T=6:33
 
    114    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/23:18    05:34 AM
           T=3:19
 
    114    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          07/00:30    06:46 AM
 
    115    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/00:48    07:04 AM
           T=6:03
 
    117    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     07/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    118    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/05:38    11:54 AM
           T=3:23
 
    119    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/07:08    01:24 PM
           T=5:18
 
    119    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     07/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    120    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/08:33    02:49 PM
           T=6:09
 
    121    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    07/09:45    04:01 PM
           T=15:00
 
    122    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     07/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    123    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          07/13:30    07:46 PM
 
    124    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     07/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ----------------------- Saturday, October 8 ---------------------------
                                    FD 9
 
 
    128    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/19:55    02:11 AM
           T=3:27
 
    128    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    07/21:20    03:36 AM
           T=25:00
 
    130    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/22:56    05:12 AM
           T=3:16
 
    131    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     08/00:26    06:42 AM
           T=5:55
 
    131    CREW NEWS CONFERENCE               TDRW    08/01:20    07:36 AM
           T=30:00
 
    132    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          08/02:15    08:31 AM
 
    133    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     08/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    134    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     08/05:15    11:31 AM
           T=3:23
 
    135    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     08/06:45    01:01 PM
           T=5:18
 
    135    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     08/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    136    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     08/08:10    02:26 PM
           T=6:09
 
    138    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     08/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    140    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     08/14:14    08:30 PM
 
    140    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          08/14:15    08:31 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Sunday, October 9 ----------------------------
                                   FD 10
 
 
    143    KGO RADIO INTERVIEW                TDRE    08/18:05    12:21 AM
           T=15:00
 
    147    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          09/00:45    07:01 AM
 
    149    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     09/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    152    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     09/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    155    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     09/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    155    X-SAR DEACTIVATION                         09/12:15    06:31 PM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
 
    155    Ku ANTENNA STOW                            09/12:35    06:51 PM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    156    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     09/14:14    08:30 PM
 
    156    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          09/14:30    08:46 PM
 
 
    -------------------------- Monday, October 10 -------------------------
                                     FD 11
 
 
    157    SIR-C AND SRL-2 DEACTIVATION               09/18:40    12:56 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    165    DEORBIT BURN                               10/03:54    10:10 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    166    KSC LANDING                        KSC     10/04:42    10:58 AM
 
           LANDING REPLAYS                    KSC     L + 20 MIN
 
           POST-LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE      JSC     L + 60 MIN
 
           ASTRONAUT POST-LANDING PRESS
           CONFERENCE  (COMMANDER AND
           AVAILABLE CREW MEMBERS)            KSC     L +  5 HOURS
 
 
    ***********************************************************************
                             DEFINITION OF TERMS
    ***********************************************************************
 
    CDT:      Central Daylight Time
    FD:       Flight Day
    GDS:      Goldstone Tracking Station
    GSTDN:    Ground Station Tracking and Data Network
    JSC:      Johnson Space Center
    KSC:      Kennedy Space Center
    MECO:     Main Engine Cut Off
    MET:      Mission Elapsed Time:  the time which begins at the moment
              of launch and is read: days/hours:minutes.  Launch=00/00:00
    MLA:      Merritt Island Tracking Station
    SIR-C:    Spaceborne Imaging Radar
    SRL-2:    Space Radar Laboratory
    STS:      Space Transportation System
    T=:       Time equivalent; used for duration of event
    TDRE,W:   Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, East and West longitudes
    VTR:      Videotape recorder
    X-SAR:    X-band Synthetic Aperature Radar

Thanks to a tip on last night's 11:00 o'clock news, I sighted the Shuttle this
morning as it passed over the Boston MA area. I first noticed it climbing out
of the south-southwest at about 6:10 AM Eastern Time, from Westford MA. It was
pretty bright. The major stars in Orion were still visible in the morning
twilight, as was Sirius. The Shuttle was definitely brighter than Sirius. Very
steady motion as it passed within the upper right shoulder of Orion. I lost it
in trees at about 6:12 AM, while it was perhaps 30� above the horizon and
descending. Within the last 20 seconds or so before then, the brightness
dropped off markedly and rather abruptly to reach a rather faint, orangish
appearance. Nifty!
						-- Tom

We must have been watching the same news!  I wasn't sure I'd be able to see it
due to the trees I have surrounding my property, but as I was trying to 
figure out which stars I COULD still see, I noticed something moving fast
a bit to the west (right) of Orion.  Hmmm, no blinking lights, no engine
sound accompanying it, pretty darn bright, must be a shuttle!  It seemed to
be moving fast and disappeared within the trees in what seemed less than a
minute, but could have just been my perception.  I caught a few more glimpses
through gaps in the tree, and then went inside to exercise and watch the morning
news.  The weather reporter showed a picture of the shuttle moving overhead,
but it was basically just a white dot against a blackish background.  Much
more dramatic watching the real thing against a mostly blue sky with a 
few stars left in the sky.  Didn't get a chance to watch it fade though.

PeterT

 
STS-68 LAUNCH DATA SUMMARY
 
 
Cynthia A. Snoddy
Chairman, MSFC Space Shuttle
Flight  Evaluation Team      
 
 
PAYLOAD MANIFEST:
PAYLOAD BAY 		Space Radar Laboratory-2 (SRL-2),
			Get Away Specials (5) (GAS)
MID-DECK 		Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG), 
			Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in 
Space Experiment 
			(CHROMEX),
			Biological Research in Canister (BRIC),
			Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation 
				Monitor (CREAM),
			Military Applications of Ship Tracks 
				(MAST)
				
INSTRUMENTATION:	None
LAUNCH DATE: 		September 30, 1994
LAUNCH WINDOW: 		6:16 am - 8:46 am CDT
LAUNCH TIME: 		94:273:11:16:00.011 GMT
				6:16 am CDT
SSME#3 START TIME:	94:273:11:15:53.459
SSME#2 START TIME:	94:273:11:15:53.585
SSME#1 START TIME:	94:273:11:15:53.703
LAUNCH SITE:		KSC Pad 39A
MOBILE LAUNCH PLATFORM:  MLP-1
ORBITAL INCLINATION:  	57 degrees
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 	120 nautical miles
INSERTION MODE:		Direct
MISSION DURATION: 	10 days nominal
PRIMARY LANDING SITE: 	Kennedy Space Center, FL
ABORT LANDING SITES: 	TAL (Prime)   - Zaragoza, Spain
			TAL Alternate -   Moron, Spain
				         Ben Guerir, Morocco
 
 
VEHICLE DATA
 
ORBITER:  		Columbia  OV-105 (7th Flight)
EXTERNAL TANK: 		ET-65
MAIN ENGINES:		2028, 2033, 2026
POWER LEVEL: 		Nominal...........100/67/104%
			Abort....................104%
			To Avoid Ditching........109%
SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS:
SRBs: 			BI-067
SRM Set Nr.: 		Left   - 360W040A
			Right  - 360W040B
SRM Cases: 		Lightweight/Redesigned
Burnrate (Delivered): 	LH - 0.370 IPS at 60 deg F
			RH - 0.369 IPS at 60 deg F
 
 
CREW
 
COMMANDER:  		Michael Baker
SHUTTLE PILOT: 		Terrence Wilcutt
PAYLOAD COMMANDER: 	Thomas Jones
MISSION SPECIALIST: 	Steven Smith
MISSION SPECIALIST:  	Daniel Bursch
MISSION SPECIALIST:	Jeff Wisoff
 
 
 
1.0   STS-68 FLIGHT SUMMARY
 
The STS-68 mission was successfully flown from Launch Pad 39A (MLP-1) at
the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on August 18, 1994.  This is a civilian
mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with
the primary objective of placing the Space Radar Laboratory 2 (SRL-2) into
a 120 nautical mile earth orbit at an inclination of 57 degrees.  Several
other payloads will also fly on the Orbiter in the payload bay and on the
middeck. 
 
This was the sixty sixth (66th) flight of the Space Shuttle program.  RSRM
ignition occurred at approximately 6:16 A.M.  Central Daylight Time (CDT)
(94:273:11:16:00.011 GMT). Winds at liftoff were from approximately 72
degrees at 10 knots;  the ambient temperature was 78.4 degrees F; the
barometric pressure was 30.02 in. Hg; and the relative humidity was 75%. 
 
The successful launch of STS-68 followed a vehicle abort on August 18,
1994.  The vehicle abort on August 18th occurred at approximately T-2
seconds as a result of a ME-3 (E2032) Failure Identification (FID) due to
the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump discharge temperature exceeding a
redline.  Main engines E2012, E2034, and E2032 were removed and replaced
with main engines E2028, E2033, E2026 during the abort turnaround. 
 
 
2.0   FLIGHT RESULTS
 
2.1 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - SRBs BI-067, RSRMs 360W040A, 360W040B
 
All Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) systems performed as expected.  The SRB
prelaunch countdown was normal, and no SRB or RSRM Launch Commit Criteria
(LCC) or Operational Maintenance Requirements Specification Document
(OMRSD) violations occurred. 
 
Power up and operation of all igniter, and field joint heaters was
accomplished routinely.  All RSRM temperatures were maintained within
acceptable limits throughout the countdown.  For this flight, the low
pressure heated ground purge in the SRB aft skirt was used to maintain the
case/nozzle joint temperatures within the required LCC ranges.  At T- 25
minutes, the purge was activated at high pressure to inert the SRB aft
skirt. 
 
Preliminary data indicates that the flight performance of both RSRMs was
well within the allowable performance envelopes, and was typical of the
performance observed on previous flights.  The RSRM propellant mean bulk
temperature (PMBT) was 78 degrees F at liftoff. 
 
Both SRBs were successfully separated from the External Tank (ET) at T +
123.96 seconds, and reports from the recovery area, based on visual
sightings, indicate that the deceleration subsystems performed as
designed.  Both SRBs were observed during descent, and were floating
approximately 15 miles from the retrieval ships. 
 
 
2.2   EXTERNAL TANK - ET-65
 
All objectives and requirements associated with External Tank (ET)
propellant loading and flight operations were met.  All ET electrical
equipment and instrumentation operated satisfactorily.  ET purge and
heater operations were monitored and all performed properly.  No ET LCC or
OMRSD violations were identified. 
 
Typical ice/frost formations were observed on the ET during the countdown. 
There was no observed ice or frost on the acreage areas of the ET.  Normal
quantities of ice or frost were present on the LO2 and LH2 feedlines and
on the pressurization line brackets, and some frost or ice was present
along the LH2 PAL ramps.  These observations are acceptable per NSTS
08303.  The Ice/Frost "Red Team" reported that there were no anomalous TPS
conditions. 
 
The ET pressurization system functioned properly throughout engine start
and flight. The minimum LO2 ullage pressure experienced during the ullage
pressure slump was 14.1 psid. 
 
ET separation was confirmed, and since Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) occurred
within expected tolerances, ET reentry and breakup is expected to be
within the predicted footprint. 
 
 
2.3   SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE - SSMEs 2028, 2033, 2026
 
All SSME parameters appeared to be normal throughout the prelaunch
countdown and were typical of prelaunch parameters observed on previous
flights.  Engine "Ready" was achieved at the proper time;  all LCC were
met; and engine start and thrust buildup were normal. 
 
Preliminary flight data indicate that SSME performance during mainstage,
throttling, shutdown and propellant dump operations was normal.  HPOTP and
HPFTP temperatures appeared to be well within specification throughout
engine operation.  Space Shuttle Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) occurred at T +
513.4 seconds.  There were no Failure IDs (FIDs), and no significant SSME
problems have been identified. 
 
2.4   MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM - MPS OV-105
 
The overall performance of the Main Propulsion System (MPS) was as
expected.  LO2 and LH2 loading were performed as planned with no stop
flows or reverts.  There were no OMRSD or LCC violations. 
 
Throughout the period of preflight operations, no significant hazardous
gas concentrations were detected. The maximum hydrogen concentration level
in the Orbiter aft compartment (which occurred shortly after the start of
fastfill) was approximately 130 ppm, which compares favorably with
previous data for this vehicle. 
 
A comparison of the calculated propellant loads at the end of replenish,
versus the inventory loads, results in a loading accuracy of -0.0224
percent for LH2, and +0.0469 percent for LO2. 
 
Ascent MPS performance appeared to be completely normal.  Preliminary data
indicate that the LO2 and LH2 pressurization systems performed as planned,
and that all NPSP requirements were met throughout the flight. 
 
2.5   SHUTTLE RANGE SAFETY SYSTEM - SRSS
 
Shuttle Range Safety System (SRSS) closed loop testing was completed as
scheduled during the launch countdown.  All SRSS Safe and Arm (S&A)
devices were armed and system inhibits turned off at the appropriate
times.  All SRSS measurements indicated that the system operated as
expected throughout the countdown and flight. 
 
As planned, the SRB S&A devices were safed, and SRB system power was
turned off prior to SRB separation. The ET system remained active until ET
separation from the Orbiter. 
 
 
2.6   VEHICLE PERFORMANCE
 
A quick-look determination of vehicle performance was made using vehicle
acceleration and preflight propulsion prediction data. From these data,
the average flight derived engine Isp determined for the time period
between SRB separation and start of 3-G throttling was 452.5 seconds as
compared to an MPS tag value of 452.77 seconds. The relative velocity of
the vehicle reached the Adaptive Guidance/Throttling (AGT) Reference Value
at T + 16.577 seconds, resulting in a calculated time difference used to
adjust the pitch and throttle profiles of + -0.087708 seconds. 
 
 
3.0 CANDIDATE IN-FLIGHT ANOMALIES AND SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS
 
No In-Flight Anomalies or significant problems associated with the MSFC
elements have been identified at this time for the successful launch of
STS-68. 

 
[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #5
 
 
Monday, October 3, 1994, 10 a.m. Central Time
 
Endeavour's Space Radar Laboratory equipment continued to search the
Earth's land masses and oceans for environmental changes that have
occurred since the last SRL mission in April. 
 
Split into two three-member teams, the astronauts divide their time
between monitoring orbiter systems and providing assistance with the data
acquisition by the science instruments that make up the Space Radar
Laboratory. 
 
The Red Team of Mike Baker, Terry Wilcutt and Jeff Wisoff will be on duty
throughout much of the day while the Blue Team of Steve Smith, Dan Bursch
and Tom Jones sleeps. 
 
Radar data gathering today included much of the East Coast of the United
States, current patterns in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as
other bodies of water, desert areas in Africa, and mountainous regions
around the world. 
 
Mission Specialist Jeff Wisoff pinpointed storms, lightning and fires and
relayed the information to the SRL science team.  His observations help
correlate and corroborate data collected from the science instruments,
including the Measurement of Air Pollu tion by Satellite, which measures
carbon monoxide levels in the atmosphere. 
 
Taking such measurements on this flight helps understand changes in the
distribution of carbon monoxide as well as other seasonal changes in the
environment that have occurred since Endeavour's last mission in April. 
 
There are no systems problems aboard Endeavour as the spacecraft circles
the Earth at an altitude of 119 nautical miles. 
 
The start of Columbia's ferry flight from Florida to California has been
delayed until later this week.  One of the orbiter's windows will be
removed and placed on Atlantis which was found to have a tiny scratch in
one of the overhead windows. 

 
[Downloaded from ftp.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #6
 
 
Monday, October 3, 1994, 15 p.m. CDT
 
Endeavour's payload bay cameras sent to Earth damatic video of the 
western coast of Oregon and the length of California and the Baha 
Peninsula that scientists will compae with radar images downlinked from 
Space Radar Laboratory-2 instruments earlier in the flight.
 
The observations were part of a continuing effort to watch the Earth below 
for evidence of environmental changes that have occurred since the last 
SRL mission in April. The overall goal of the mission to better understand 
the differences in changes caused by natural processes and compare them 
to changes brought about by human activity.
 
Radar data was recorded today over much of the East Coast of the United 
States, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Manitoba, Canada, and French 
Guyana.
 
Special readings were taken with the Measurement of Air Pollution by 
Satellite instrument as intentionally set fires were monitored by scientists 
from the University of Iowa and the Canadian Forest Service. The wind 
field and thermal evolution of the fires will be analyzed to provide a better 
interpretation of carbon monoxide emissions from the burning forest and to 
help calibrate color infreared photography taken by the STS-68 crew. 
These fires were planned in advance of the mission, and would have been 
set for forest management purposes even if the shuttle mission were not in 
progress.
 
Astronauts relayed information about storms, lightning, fires and clear 
cutting to the SRL science team that will be used to help understand the 
radar images and MAPS data on carbon monoxide levels in the 
atmosphere.
 
The Red Team -- Commander Mike Baker, Pilot Terry Wilcutt and 
Mission Specialist Jeff Wisoff -- is about to hand over to the Blue Team -- 
Payload Commander Tom Jones and Mission Specialists Dan Bursch and 
Steve Smith -- as around-the-clock observations continue.
 
There are no systems problems aboard Endeavour as the spacecraft circles 
the Earth at an altitude of 119 nautical miles.
 
The start of Columbia's ferry flight from Florida to California has been 
delayed until later this week.  One of the orbiter's windows will be 
removed and placed on Atlantis which was found to have a tiny scratch in 
one of the overhead windows.

RE: <<< Note 904.47 >>>
 
>STS-68 LAUNCH DATA SUMMARY
>ORBITER:  		Columbia  OV-105 (7th Flight)

Wrong orbiter name. Kind of a strange error!
						-- Tom

Pass predictions show that the viewing gets better for the next three days! 
This morning's show was at 67 degrees above the horizon (calculated from
Worcester, Mass.).  I was out there waiting for it and was not disappointed. 
Only wish I had taken my telescope out with me.  I did have binoculars and could
easily see that it was the shuttle.  Nice show!

Here's the data for the next three days.  I'll update it if a new element set
comes out.  Now let us pray for clear skies again!

		---- Max Visibility ----
Day  Date	Altitude	Time		Duration
		(deg.)		(EDT)
Wed. 10/5 	78		05:50:37	0:07:25
Thu. 10/6 	88		05:30:30	0:07:24
Fri. 10/7 	83		05:09:57	0:07:23

Oh yeah, it will basically take the same track from southwest to northeast.

    Wow! With an altitude of only 120nm or so, that thaing sure
    boogies right along. I've got these two huge pine trees towards
    the southwest, so I had to wait unti it popped out of the pine
    needles & cones. :-) It was bright alright. The brightest thing
    I've seen before this morning was when MIR made an evening pass
    in early July. I followed the shuttle this morning, all the way down
    to about 10-12� in the northeast. I have this wide-field army
    surplus M-17 elbow telescope which makes a nice instrument to use
    for spotting. The next few mornings will see the shuttle come about
    20 minutes earlier each morning, and its path across the sky will
    shift towards zenith and towards a northwesterly direction.
    I'll post a set of elements I pulled off the USENET this morning in
    a following reply.
    
    Bob
    BTW- RE: -2 I also live in Westford :-)

Article: 6513
Newsgroups: sci.space.news,rec.radio.info,rec.radio.amateur.space
From: [email protected] (Shuttle Elements)
Subject: STS-68 Element Set (94276.675)
Sender: [email protected] (Gary Morris)
Organization: Alsys, San Diego, CA, USA
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 16:30:57 GMT
 
STS-68
1 23285U 94 62  A 94276.67518413  .00136094  11322-4  71939-4 0    73
2 23285  57.0063  62.7154 0009256 276.8039  83.1971 16.20939096   537
 
Satellite: STS-68
Catalog number: 23285
Epoch time:      94276.67518413   =    (03 OCT 94   16:12:15.90 UTC)
Element set:     007
Inclination:       57.0063 deg
RA of node:        62.7154 deg            Space Shuttle Flight STS-68
Eccentricity:     .0009256               Keplerian element set JSC-007
Arg of perigee:   276.8039 deg           from NASA flight Day  4 vector
Mean anomaly:      83.1971 deg
Mean motion:   16.20939096 rev/day                Gil Carman
Decay rate:    1.36094e-03 rev/day^2       NASA Johnson Space Center
Epoch rev:              53
 
 
--
-- 
Gary Morris                 Internet: [email protected]
Alsys Inc.                  Packet:   KK6YB @ N0ARY.#NOCAL.CA.USA.NA
San Diego, CA, USA          Phone:    +1 619-457-2700 x128 (voice/fax)

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
                              NASA TELEVISION SCHEDULE
                          STS-68/SPACE RADAR LABORATORY-2
                                     10/03/94
                                      REV D
 
    ***********************************************************************
 
 
    NASA TV programming can be accessed through GTE Spacenet 2,
    transponder 5.  The frequency is 3880 MHz with an orbital position
    of 69 degrees West Longitude, with audio at 6.8 MHz.  This is a full
    transponder service and will be operational 24 hours a day.
 
    This NASA TV 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 access this service.
    The schedule is also available via the Internet.  The address is
    FTP.HQ.NASA.GOV.  Change directories to /PUB/PAO/STATRPT/JSC.
 
    A two-hour package of daily highlights will be played for Alaska and
    Hawaii each Flight Day at 11 p.m. Central 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.
 
        --------- LAUNCH OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 30 AT 6:16 AM CT ---------
 
              * DENOTES CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS TV SCHEDULE REVISION
 
 
    ORBIT            SUBJECT                  SITE       MET      CDT
    -----            -------                  ----       ---      ---
 
 
    -------------------------- Monday, October 3 --------------------------
                                     FD 4
 
 
    52     WAVE-TV INTERVIEW                  TDRE    03/04:10    10:26 AM
           T=15:00
 
    53     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     03/05:14    11:30 AM
 
    54     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/06:56    01:12 PM
           T=3:55
 
    54     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     03/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    55     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/08:26    02:42 PM
           T=5:14
 
    56   * SRL-2 SCIENCE BRIEFING             JSC     03/09:14    03:30 PM
 
    56     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     03/09:52    04:08 PM
           T=6:32
 
    57     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     03/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    57     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          03/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    59     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     03/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Tuesday, October 4 ---------------------------
                                     FD 5
 
 
    64     GOOD MORNING AMERICA INTERVIEW     TDRW    03/22:10    04:26 AM
           T=15:00
 
    65     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     03/22:46    05:02 AM
           T=7:31
 
    66     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          03/23:45    06:01 AM
 
    67     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     04/01:48    08:04 AM
           T=6:12
 
    68     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     04/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    70     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/06:37    12:53 PM
           T=3:42
 
    70     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     04/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    71     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/08:07    02:23 PM
           T=5:14
 
    72     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     04/09:33    03:49 PM
           T=6:34
 
    72     CONUS COMMUNICATIONS INTERVIEW     TDRE    04/10:05    04:21 PM
           T=15:00
 
    73     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     04/11:14    05:30 PM
 
    74     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          04/11:45    06:01 PM
 
    76     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     04/15:14    09:30 PM
 
 
    ----------------------- Wednesday, October 5 --------------------------
                                    FD 6
 
 
    80     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/20:57    03:13 AM
           T=3:06
 
    81     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     04/22:28    04:44 AM
           T=6:50
 
    82     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          04/23:45    06:01 AM
 
    83     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     05/01:28    07:44 AM
           T=6:09
 
    84     "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     05/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    85     CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    05/05:00    11:16 AM
           T=20:00
 
    86     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/06:18    12:34 PM
           T=3:33
 
    87     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     05/06:44    01:00 PM
 
    87     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/07:48    02:04 PM
           T=5:21
 
    88     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     05/09:13    03:29 PM
           T=6:29
 
    89     FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     05/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    90     RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          05/12:00    06:16 PM
 
    91     MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     05/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Thursday, October 6 --------------------------
                                    FD 7
 
 
    96     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/20:38    02:54 AM
           T=3:21
 
    96     NBC NIGHTSIDE INTERVIEW            TDRE    05/21:50    04:06 AM
           T=15:00
 
    97     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     05/22:09    04:25 AM
           T=6:19
 
    99     BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          06/00:10    06:26 AM
 
 
    99     GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/01:08    07:24 AM
           T=6:06
 
    101    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     06/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    102    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/05:58    12:14 PM
           T=3:31
 
    102    MAGELLAN MISSION FINALE BRIEFING   JPL     06/06:14    12:30 PM
 
    103    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/07:28    01:44 PM
           T=5:23
 
    103    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     06/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    104    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/08:54    03:10 PM
           T=6:23
 
    104    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    06/09:25    03:41 PM
           T=15:00
 
    105    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     06/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    106    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          06/12:45    07:01 PM
 
    107    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     06/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Friday, October 7 ----------------------------
                                   FD 8
 
 
    112    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/20:18    02:34 AM
           T=3:34
 
    112    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    06/21:30    03:46 AM
           T=20:00
 
    113    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     06/21:48    04:04 AM
           T=6:33
 
    114    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     06/23:18    05:34 AM
           T=3:19
 
    114    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          07/00:30    06:46 AM
 
    115    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/00:48    07:04 AM
           T=6:03
 
    117    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     07/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    118    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/05:38    11:54 AM
           T=3:23
 
    119    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/07:08    01:24 PM
           T=5:18
 
    119    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     07/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    120    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/08:33    02:49 PM
           T=6:09
 
    121    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    07/09:45    04:01 PM
           T=15:00
 
    122    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     07/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    123    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          07/13:30    07:46 PM
 
    124    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     07/14:14    08:30 PM
 
 
    ----------------------- Saturday, October 8 ---------------------------
                                    FD 9
 
 
    128    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     07/19:55    02:11 AM
           T=3:27
 
    128    CREW CHOICE TELEVISION             TDRE    07/21:20    03:36 AM
           T=25:00
 
    130    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     07/22:56    05:12 AM
           T=3:16
 
    131    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     08/00:26    06:42 AM
           T=5:55
 
    131    CREW NEWS CONFERENCE               TDRW    08/01:20    07:36 AM
           T=30:00
 
    132    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          08/02:15    08:31 AM
 
    133    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     08/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    134    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     08/05:15    11:31 AM
           T=3:23
 
    135    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       MLA     08/06:45    01:01 PM
           T=5:18
 
    135    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     08/07:14    01:30 PM
 
    136    GSTDN TELEVISION OPPORTUNITY       GDS     08/08:10    02:26 PM
           T=6:09
 
    138    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     08/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    140    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     08/14:14    08:30 PM
 
    140    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          08/14:15    08:31 PM
 
 
    ------------------------ Sunday, October 9 ----------------------------
                                   FD 10
 
 
    143    KGO RADIO INTERVIEW                TDRE    08/18:05    12:21 AM
           T=15:00
 
    147    BLUE/RED HANDOVER                          09/00:45    07:01 AM
 
    149    "MISSION UPDATE"                   JSC     09/03:44    10:00 AM
 
    152    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING            JSC     09/07:44    02:00 PM
 
    155    FLIGHT DAY HIGHLIGHTS              JSC     09/10:44    05:00 PM
 
    155    X-SAR DEACTIVATION                         09/12:15    06:31 PM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    155    Ku ANTENNA STOW                            09/12:35    06:51 PM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    156    MISSION STATUS BRIEFING REPLAY     JSC     09/14:14    08:30 PM
 
    156    RED/BLUE HANDOVER                          09/14:30    08:46 PM
 
 
    -------------------------- Monday, October 10 -------------------------
                                     FD 11
 
 
    157    SIR-C AND SRL-2 DEACTIVATION               09/18:40    12:56 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    165    DEORBIT BURN                               10/03:54    10:10 AM
           (NOT TELEVISED)
 
    166    KSC LANDING                        KSC     10/04:42    10:58 AM
 
           LANDING REPLAYS                    KSC     L + 20 MIN
 
           POST-LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE      JSC     L + 60 MIN
 
           ASTRONAUT POST-LANDING PRESS
           CONFERENCE  (COMMANDER AND
           AVAILABLE CREW MEMBERS)            KSC     L +  5 HOURS
 
    *******************************************************************
                             DEFINITION OF TERMS
    ***********************************************************************
 
    CDT:      Central Daylight Time
    FD:       Flight Day
    GDS:      Goldstone Tracking Station
    GSTDN:    Ground Station Tracking and Data Network
    JSC:      Johnson Space Center
    KSC:      Kennedy Space Center
    MECO:     Main Engine Cut Off
    MET:      Mission Elapsed Time:  the time which begins at the moment
              of launch and is read: days/hours:minutes.  Launch=00/00:00
    MLA:      Merritt Island Tracking Station
    SIR-C:    Spaceborne Imaging Radar
    SRL-2:    Space Radar Laboratory
    STS:      Space Transportation System
    T=:       Time equivalent; used for duration of event
    TDRE,W:   Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, East and West longitudes
    VTR:      Videotape recorder
    X-SAR:    X-band Synthetic Aperature Radar
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                     7
 
 
 

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #7
 
 
Tuesday, October 4, 1994, 9 a.m. CDT
 
STS-68 crew members this morning performed two slight maneuvers to fine
tune Endeavour's orbit to mirror its track on the first Space Radar
Laboratory mission to support a new experiment called interferometry. 
 
The trim burns adjust the orbit to within 30 feet of where it was in April
which will allow scientists to make near identical measurements with the
radar equipment to develop a three dimensional comparison of environmental
changes during the six months separating the two missions -- STS-59 and
STS-68. 
 
Radar images over the Sahara desert and the North Atlantic will help
scientists evaluate global changes and how they affect the climates in
other areas of the world. 
 
Also today, Payload Commander Tom Jones discussed the significance of
radar systems and the Earth's environment in an interview with ABC's Good
Morning America. 
 
The STS-68 mission remains scheduled to end on Monday with a landing at
the Kennedy Space Center.  Mission managers will assess the orbiter's
consumables and decide later this week if Endeavour can stay in space an
additional day. 
 
The earlier trim burns placed Endeavour in a 117 by 115 nautical mile
orbit, circling the earth every one hour 28 minutes.  The vehicle
continues to operate in excellent shape with no systems problems being
tracked by the flight control teams in Mission Control. 

    [Downloaded from ftp.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #8
 
 
Tuesday, October 4, 1994, 5 p.m. CDT
 
Space Radar Laboratory-2 scientists adjusted their observation plans to take 
advantage of an opportunity to train their instruments on the islands of 
Japan following a Tuesday night earthquake there.
 
Endeavour passed over the Sarobetsu, Japan, calibration site about 3:30 p.m. 
CDT, and the Synthetic Aperture Radar sent down real-time data of the area 
below, allowing scientists to look for changes in the coastline of the 
islands that may have been due to the large tsunami waves associated with 
the quake.  The Spaceborne Imaging Radar also recorded data on the area.
 
STS-68 crew members continued to perform slight maneuvers to fine tune 
Endeavour's orbit to intersect its track on the SRL-1 mission to support a 
new experiment called interferometry.  The trim burns adjusted the orbit to 
within 30 feet of where it was in April as it passed over the Mammoth 
Mountain, Calif., backup supersite.  This should allow scientists to make 
nearly identical measurements with the radar equipment to develop a three 
dimensional comparison of environmental changes during the six months 
separating STS-59 and STS-68.
 
Radar images over the Sahara desert and the North Atlantic will help 
scientists evaluate global changes and how they affect the climates in 
other areas of the world.  
 
Also today, Payload Commander Tom Jones discussed the significance of radar 
systems and the Earth's environment in an interview with ABC's Good Morning 
America.  Mission Specialist Jeff Wisoff discussed the mission with CONUS 
Communications Syndicate affiliates WTKR-TV in his hometown of Norfolk, Va., 
and the All-News Channel in Minneapolis.
 
The STS-68 mission remains scheduled to end on Monday with a landing at the 
Kennedy Space Center.  Mission managers will assess the orbiter's consumables 
and decide later this week if Endeavour can stay in space an additional day.
 
The earlier trim burns placed Endeavour in a 118 by 116 nautical mile orbit, 
circling the earth every one hour 29 minutes.  The vehicle continues to 
operate in excellent shape with no systems problems being tracked by the 
flight control teams in Mission Control.

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink; corrected edition]
 
STS-68 MISSION DATA SUMMARY
 
Cynthia A. Snoddy
Chairman, MSFC Space Shuttle
Flight  Evaluation Team
 
PAYLOAD MANIFEST:
PAYLOAD BAY 		Space Radar Laboratory-2 (SRL-2),
			Get Away Specials (5) (GAS)
MID-DECK 		Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG), 
			Chromosome and Plant Cell Division in 
				Space Experiment (CHROMEX),
			Biological Research in Canister (BRIC),
			Cosmic Radiation Effects and Activation 
				Monitor (CREAM),
			Military Applications of Ship Tracks 
				(MAST)
				
INSTRUMENTATION:	None
LAUNCH DATE: 		September 30, 1994
LAUNCH WINDOW: 		6:16 am - 8:46 am CDT
LAUNCH TIME: 		94:273:11:16:00.011 GMT
				6:16 am CDT
SSME#3 START TIME:	94:273:11:15:53.459
SSME#2 START TIME:	94:273:11:15:53.585
SSME#1 START TIME:	94:273:11:15:53.703
LAUNCH SITE:		KSC Pad 39A
MOBILE LAUNCH PLATFORM:  MLP-1
ORBITAL INCLINATION:  	57 degrees
ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 	120 nautical miles
INSERTION MODE:		Direct
MISSION DURATION: 	10 days nominal
PRIMARY LANDING SITE: 	Kennedy Space Center, FL
ABORT LANDING SITES: 	TAL (Prime)   - Zaragoza, Spain
			TAL Alternate -   Moron, Spain
			              Ben Guerir, Morocco
 
 
VEHICLE DATA
 
ORBITER:  		Endeavour  OV-105 (7th Flight)
EXTERNAL TANK: 		ET-65
MAIN ENGINES:		2028, 2033, 2026
POWER LEVEL: 		Nominal...........100/67/104%
			Abort....................104%
			To Avoid Ditching........109%
SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS:
SRBs: 			BI-067
SRM Set Nr.: 		Left   - 360W040A
			Right  - 360W040B
SRM Cases: 		Lightweight/Redesigned
Burnrate (Delivered): 	LH - 0.370 IPS at 60 deg F
			RH - 0.369 IPS at 60 deg F
 
 
CREW
 
COMMANDER:  		Michael Baker
SHUTTLE PILOT: 		Terrence Wilcutt
PAYLOAD COMMANDER: 	Thomas Jones
MISSION SPECIALIST: 	Steven Smith
MISSION SPECIALIST:  	Daniel Bursch
MISSION SPECIALIST:	Jeff Wisoff
 
 
 
1.0   STS-68 FLIGHT SUMMARY
 
The STS-68 mission was successfully flown from Launch Pad 39A (MLP-1) at
the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on September 30, 1994.  This is a civilian
mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with
the primary objective of placing the Space Radar Laboratory 2 (SRL-2) into
a 120 nautical mile earth orbit at an inclination of 57 degrees.  Several
other payloads will also fly on the Orbiter in the payload bay and on the
middeck. 
 
This was the sixty fifth (65th) flight of the Space Shuttle program.  RSRM
ignition occurred at approximately 6:16 A.M. Central Daylight Time (CDT)
(94:273:11:16:00.011 GMT). Winds at liftoff were from approximately 72
degrees at 10 knots; the ambient temperature was 78.4 degrees F; the
barometric pressure was 30.02 in. Hg; and the relative humidity was 75%. 
 
The successful launch of STS-68 followed a vehicle abort on August 18,
1994.  The vehicle abort on August 18th occurred at approximately T-2
seconds as a result of a ME-3 (E2032) Failure Identification (FID) due to
the High Pressure Oxidizer Turbopump discharge temperature exceeding a
redline.  Main engines E2012, E2034, and E2032 were removed and replaced
with main engines E2028, E2033, E2026 during the abort turnaround. 
 
 
2.0   FLIGHT RESULTS
 
2.1 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - SRBs BI-067, RSRMs 360W040A, 360W040B
 
All Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) systems performed as expected.  The SRB
prelaunch countdown was normal, and no SRB or RSRM Launch Commit Criteria
(LCC) or Operational Maintenance Requirements Specification Document
(OMRSD) violations occurred. 
 
Power up and operation of all igniter, and field joint heaters was
accomplished routinely.  All RSRM temperatures were maintained within
acceptable limits throughout the countdown.  For this flight, the low
pressure heated ground purge in the SRB aft skirt was used to maintain the
case/nozzle joint temperatures within the required LCC ranges.  At T- 25
minutes, the purge was activated at high pressure to inert the SRB aft
skirt. 
 
Preliminary data indicates that the flight performance of both RSRMs was
well within the allowable performance envelopes, and was typical of the
performance observed on previous flights.  The RSRM propellant mean bulk
temperature (PMBT) was 78 degrees F at liftoff. 
 
Both SRBs were successfully separated from the External Tank (ET) at T +
123.96 seconds, and reports from the recovery area, based on visual
sightings, indicate that the deceleration subsystems performed as
designed.  Both SRBs were observed during descent, and were floating
approximately 15 miles from the retrieval ships. 
 
 
2.2   EXTERNAL TANK - ET-65
 
All objectives and requirements associated with External Tank (ET)
propellant loading and flight operations were met.  All ET electrical
equipment and instrumentation operated satisfactorily.  ET purge and
heater operations were monitored and all performed properly.  No ET LCC or
OMRSD violations were identified. 
 
Typical ice/frost formations were observed on the ET during the countdown. 
There was no observed ice or frost on the acreage areas of the ET.  Normal
quantities of ice or frost were present on the LO2 and LH2 feedlines and
on the pressurization line brackets, and some frost or ice was present
along the LH2 PAL ramps.  These observations are acceptable per NSTS
08303.  The Ice/Frost "Red Team" reported that there were no anomalous TPS
conditions. 
 
The ET pressurization system functioned properly throughout engine start
and flight.  The minimum LO2 ullage pressure experienced during the ullage
pressure slump was 14.1 psid. 
 
ET separation was confirmed, and since Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) occurred
within expected tolerances, ET reentry and breakup is expected to be
within the predicted footprint. 
 
 
2.3   SPACE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE - SSMEs 2028, 2033, 2026
 
All SSME parameters appeared to be normal throughout the prelaunch
countdown and were typical of prelaunch parameters observed on previous
flights.  Engine "Ready" was achieved at the proper time;  all LCC were
met; and engine start and thrust buildup were normal. 
 
Preliminary flight data indicate that SSME performance during mainstage,
throttling, shutdown and propellant dump operations was normal.  HPOTP and
HPFTP temperatures appeared to be well within specification throughout
engine operation.  Space Shuttle Main Engine Cutoff (MECO) occurred at T +
513.4 seconds.  There were no Failure IDs (FIDs), and no significant SSME
problems have been identified. 
 
2.4   MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM - MPS OV-105
 
The overall performance of the Main Propulsion System (MPS) was as
expected.  LO2 and LH2 loading were performed as planned with no stop
flows or reverts.  There were no OMRSD or LCC violations. 
 
Throughout the period of preflight operations, no significant hazardous
gas concentrations were detected. The maximum hydrogen concentration level
in the Orbiter aft compartment (which occurred shortly after the start of
fastfill) was approximately 130 ppm, which compares favorably with
previous data for this vehicle. 
 
A comparison of the calculated propellant loads at the end of replenish,
versus the inventory loads, results in a loading accuracy of -0.0224
percent for LH2, and +0.0469 percent for LO2. 
 
Ascent MPS performance appeared to be completely normal.  Preliminary data
indicate that the LO2 and LH2 pressurization systems performed as planned,
and that all NPSP requirements were met throughout the flight. 
 
2.5   SHUTTLE RANGE SAFETY SYSTEM - SRSS
 
Shuttle Range Safety System (SRSS) closed loop testing was completed as
scheduled during the launch countdown.  All SRSS Safe and Arm (S&A)
devices were armed and system inhibits turned off at the appropriate
times.  All SRSS measurements indicated that the system operated as
expected throughout the countdown and flight. 
 
As planned, the SRB S&A devices were safed, and SRB system power was
turned off prior to SRB separation. The ET system remained active until ET
separation from the Orbiter. 
 
 
2.6   VEHICLE PERFORMANCE
 
A quick-look determination of vehicle performance was made using vehicle
acceleration and preflight propulsion prediction data. From these data,
the average flight derived engine Isp determined for the time period
between SRB separation and start of 3-G throttling was 452.0 seconds as
compared to an MPS tag value of 452.77 seconds. The relative velocity of
the vehicle reached the Adaptive Guidance/Throttling (AGT) Reference Value
at T + 19.355 seconds, resulting in a calculated time difference used to
adjust the pitch and throttle profiles of + -0.037704 seconds. 
 
 
3.0   CANDIDATE IN-FLIGHT ANOMALIES AND SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS
 
No In-Flight Anomalies or significant problems associated with the MSFC
elements have been identified at this time for the successful launch of
STS-68. 

Hmmm.  Looks like it was a good thing that it was cloudy this morning.  I got up
and was going to try to see Endeavour based on earlier orbit predictions.  Looks
like they have changed!

Burns

I got up, but it was cloudy over Westford MA.

Considering the relatively low orbit, for how much time before local sunrise
would the shuttle be in sunlight? (For example, Tuesday's overhead pass was
about 35 or so minutes before local sunrise, and the shuttle was well
illuminated.)
						-- Tom

This is calculated from Worcester, MA using the OCT 3 element set.

		---- Max Visibility ----
Day  Date	Altitude	Time		Duration
		(deg.)		(EDT)
Thu. 10/6 	87		05:31:51	0:07:26
Fri. 10/7 	76		05:11:57	0:07:26
Sat. 10/8	67		04:51:48	0:07:24
Sun. 10/9	59		04:31:22	0:07:22

We need a clear morning tomorrow!

...Roger...

I don't have the sunrise time for tomorrow (10/6) so I'm not sure how long
before sunrise the shuttle will be visible.

However, according to the satellite tracking program I'm using, the following
times are indicated for when the shuttle will "break into sunlight":

05:28:08	shuttle rises above horizon (Azm. 225.5)
05:31:47	shuttle enters refracted sunlight
05:31:51	shuttle at peak altitude (Alt. 87 deg., Azm. 309.2)
05:31:53	shuttle enters partial sunlight
05:32:02	shuttle enters full sunlight
05:35:34	shuttle drops below horizon (Azm. 46.0)

So you'll have to be quick and looking in the right spot tomorrow.

...Roger...

Article: 23051
From: [email protected] (Thomas S. Kelso)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Two-Line Orbital Element Set:  Space Shuttle
Date: 4 Oct 1994 14:09:17 -0400
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
 
The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are
carried on the Celestial BBS, *(205) 409-9280*, and are updated daily (when
possible).  Documentation and tracking software are also available on this
system.  As a service to the satellite user community, the most current
elements for the current shuttle mission are provided below.  The Celestial
BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.
 
Element sets (also updated daily), shuttle elements, and some documentation
and software are also available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil
(129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space.
 
STS 68                
1 23285U 94062A   94277.25000000  .00017840  11063-4  98995-5 0   189
2 23285  56.9934  59.9329 0010373 282.5118 193.2450 16.21002677   619
--
Dr TS Kelso                           Adjunct Professor of Space Operations
[email protected]                    Air Force Institute of Technology
-- 
Dr TS Kelso                           Adjunct Professor of Space Operations
[email protected]                    Air Force Institute of Technology

    Well the sun shadow line at roughly the shuttle height when
    I ran the Oct 3 element set last evening showed that the
    shuttle would pop out of earth shadow roughly in the vicinity
    of star Aldebaran in constellation Taurus. From my location in
    Westford Ma. that's at an altitude of 69�. Now if the most
    recent elements I entered hold true to what usually is the result
    of their orbit burns in recent days, the shuttle will come thru
    a given point about a minute earlier. I noticed this between
    JSC-004 elements and JSC-007 elements. In any case it will all 
    be moot if da weatherman doesn't cooperate.
    
    Bob

Thanks for everyone's work in providing the timings!
						-- Tom

It looks like the new elements give about 45 seconds later  and 1 degree higher
in the sky.

Burns

Here's the latest based on the OCT 4 element set.  Note that it will actually be
*lower* in the sky now!

		---- Max Visibility ----
Day  Date	Altitude	Time		Duration
		(deg.)		(EDT)
Thu. 10/6 	84		05:32:36	0:07:29
Fri. 10/7 	71		05:13:27	0:07:29
Sat. 10/8	60		04:54:16	0:07:27
Sun. 10/9	51		04:35:03	0:07:26

And tomorrow morning's "break into sunlight" data:

05:28:52	shuttle rises above horizon (Azm. 226.0)
05:32:33	shuttle enters refracted sunlight
05:32:36	shuttle at peak altitude (Alt. 84 deg., Azm. 308.2)
05:32:38	shuttle enters partial sunlight
05:32:48	shuttle enters full sunlight
05:36:21	shuttle drops below horizon (Azm. 45.8)

I got up at about 5:00 this morning, but it was cloudy over Westford MA, so I
hit the sack again. Oh well, once was good!
						-- Tom

    Thin hazy clouds prevented ideal viewing, but it did pop out
    of earth shadow in the right place....(gee orbital mechanics
    really do work....ahem). Due to the slight hazy clouds it wasn't 
    visible to this viewer until it got closer to Capella (than I anticipated
    where it would be visible). Followed it all the way down to my tree
    line where there was a convenient notch to add another 5 degrees
    of viewing. For most of the passage it appeared as a -1 mag until
    it got down to about 25 degrees where the angle probably didn't
    allow for optimum reflection off shuttle surfaces.
    
    Bob

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #9
 
Wednesday, October 5, 1994, 8 a.m. CDT
 
Observations using Endeavour�s radar instruments continued uninterrupted
throughout the night and morning as the crew continued working around the
clock on two shifts. 
 
Space Radar Laboratory scientists received some images of Japan, near the
location of Monday night�s earthquake, but any evidence of the natural
disaster was not immediately noticeable.  Other radar observations during
the night included studies of other volcanoes including Mt. Pinatubo in
the Phillipines, Cotopaxi in Ecuador, and Teide in the Canary Islands. 
 
Radar images recently processed on the ground were images of Pasadena,
Ca., with ample clarity to allow the the Rose Bowl to be distinguishable,
and images of Washington State and Yellowstone National Park, both showing
scars from forest fires. 
 
During the night, the crew reported a missing thermal tile around one of
the overhead windows of the orbiter.  The tile apparently came off
recently since crew members look out the window often to perform the
visual observations that accompany radar operations.  Flight controllers
report that, while the tile is missing, the underlying thermal blanket is
still intact. 
 
Astronaut Linda Godwin, who served as the payload commander on the first
Space Radar Laboratory mission in April, briefed the crew from the payload
control room about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, commemorating the tenth
anniversary of Challenger�s 41-G mission, which carried the Spaceborne
Imaging Radar (SIR-B) and the Measurement of Air Pollution by Satellite
(MAPS).  She also noted the first flight aboard a Shuttle of that
radar-imaging equipment on Columbia in November 1981. 
 
Endeavour remains in excellent health with no mechanical problems
interrupting the planned radar observations. 
 
The STS-68 mission remains scheduled to end on Monday with a landing at
the Kennedy Space Center.  Mission managers will assess the orbiter's
consumables and decide later this week if Endeavour can stay in space an
additional day. 
 
Endeavour is in a 117 by 115 nautical mile orbit, circling the earth every
one hour 29 minutes. 

Article: 6524
From: [email protected] (TS Kelso)
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Subject: Two-Line Orbital Element Set:  Space Shuttle
Date: 5 Oct 1994 13:55:51 -0700
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
Sender: [email protected]
 
 
The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are
carried on the Celestial BBS, *(205) 409-9280*, and are updated daily (when
possible).  Documentation and tracking software are also available on this
system.  As a service to the satellite user community, the most current
elements for the current shuttle mission are provided below.  The Celestial
BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.
 
Element sets (also updated daily), shuttle elements, and some documentation
and software are also available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil
(129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space.
 
STS 68                
1 23285U 94062A   94278.25000000  .00017854  11078-4  94937-5 0   217
2 23285  56.9935  55.1049 0009228 289.8889 264.8358 16.21571730   779
--
Dr TS Kelso                           Adjunct Professor of Space Operations
[email protected]                    Air Force Institute of Technology

Here's the latest based on the OCT 5 element set.

		---- Max Visibility ----
Day  Date	Altitude	Time		Duration
		(deg.)		(EDT)
Fri. 10/7 	75		05:12:08	0:07:25
Sat. 10/8	65		04:52:28	0:07:24
Sun. 10/9	56		04:32:46	0:07:24

Friday (10/7) morning's "break into sunlight" data:

05:08:25	shuttle rises above horizon (Azm. 227.6)
05:12:08	shuttle at peak altitude (Alt. 75 deg., Azm. 315.9)
05:13:13	shuttle enters refracted sunlight
05:13:18	shuttle enters partial sunlight
05:13:27	shuttle enters full sunlight
05:15:50	shuttle drops below horizon (Azm. 45.0)

So you get about 2-1/2 minutes if you have a clear shot to the horizon.

FYI, Saturday's show lasts less than 2 minutes, and Sunday's show is about 30
seconds long (and real low in the sky).  So catch it tomorrow (Friday).  Current
weather forecasts indicate clear skies!

...Roger...

 
[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #10
 
Wednesday, October 5, 1994, 4 p.m. CDT
 
Mission to Planet Earth observations by Endeavour's payload bay radar
instruments were being suspended temporarily Wednesday afternoon to save
fuel while flight controllers work to fix a minor problem involving the
shuttle's small reaction control system jets. 
 
One of the small rocket engines which help control the pointing of the
Shuttle was turned off because of a temperature sensor problem.  That
caused all of the vernier jets, used for delicate pointing control, to be
turned off and the larger steering jets to be used.  The flight control
team late Wednesday decided to allow the Shuttle's pointing to vary over a
wider range to save thruster fuel while the initial problem was being
addressed.  A software change which will disregard the failed temperature
sensor should be in place within 24 hours.  Radar operations will be
resumed once the update is made. 
 
The radar instruments earlier Wednesday collected images over the
Kliuchevskoi volcano in Kamchatka, Russia, which erupted about 8 hours
after Endeavour's launch Friday.  Images also were collected over
Yellowstone National Park, Wyo.; Chickasha, Okla.;  Ruiz, Columbia;
Cuprito, Nevada; Colima, Mexico; the Galopagos Islands and San Juan,
Argentina. Observations with the Measurement of Air Pollution from
Satellite were taken, with one particular target being line fires in
British Columbia, Canada. 
 
The STS-68 mission remains scheduled to end on Monday with a landing at
the Kennedy Space Center.  Mission managers will assess the orbiter's
consumable supplies and decide later this week if Endeavour can stay in
space an additional day. 
 

Sigh.  It was a beautiful morning.  Unfortunately, all I saw was stars and a
possible satellite of some sort too early, too dim and in the wrong direction to
be the shuttle.  I guess I did not have a clear enough view to see it when it
was lighted.

Burns

    Didn't see it either here from Westford Ma. I'm sure it was buried 
    in the trees by the time it popped out.
    Well two out of three potentially good overhead crossings isn't bad
    considering fickle NE weather in the autumn.
    BTW, digressing a tad from this topic, for you other satellite viewers 
    out there, MIR is coming back into the morning sky view starting this 
    coming weekend.
    
    Bob

[Downloaded from ftp.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #11
 
Thursday, October 6, 1994, 8 a.m. CDT
 
Endeavour's small steering jets are now back in continuous operation and 
Space Radar Laboratory observations are continuing on schedule after 
Mission Control sent a software update to the shuttle about 3:30 a.m. 
today.
 
The software patch accommodated a failed temperature sensor in one of 
the vernier jets and allows Endeavour�s onboard computers to track the 
operation of the jet via a second sensor located near the failed sensor.  
While the patch was being developed and tested in simulators, 
observations by the Space Radar Laboratory continued at a reduced pace.
 
These small jets were used only when Mission Control had solid, stable 
communications with the orbiter when ground controllers could monitor 
the jet firings.  The jets were turned off when communications with the 
shuttle were unavailable or intermittent, a common occurrence during 
standard shuttle operations.
 
The observations using the radar systems that were missed while the 
software patch was being put in place, had been performed at least once 
previously during the mission and are scheduled for observation again 
later in the flight.  SRL scientists say the impact of the temporary 
pause is minimal on the scientific investigations under way.
 
One observation completed during the night was of a controlled oil spill 
in the North Sea designed to test the radar�s ability to discern oil 
spills from the naturally produced film caused by fish and plankton in 
the water.  In addition to the 106 gallons of diesel oil placed in the 
water, 26 gallons of algae products were placed in the water nearby for 
radar comparison.  The ground team expected to have the oil spill 
cleaned up within about two hours using oil-recovery ships in the area.
 
The experiment was conducted to prove the usefulness of radar systems to 
more rapidly detect spills allowing quicker clean up.
 
The STS-68 mission remains scheduled to end on Monday with a landing 
at Kennedy Space Center.  Mission managers will assess the orbiter's 
consumable supplies and decide later this week if Endeavour can stay in 
space an additional day.
 

Article: 6527
From: [email protected] (TS Kelso)
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Subject: Two-Line Orbital Element Set:  Space Shuttle
Date: 6 Oct 1994 11:23:35 -0700
Organization: Air Force Institute of Technology
Sender: [email protected]
 
 
The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are
carried on the Celestial BBS, *(205) 409-9280*, and are updated daily (when
possible).  Documentation and tracking software are also available on this
system.  As a service to the satellite user community, the most current
elements for the current shuttle mission are provided below.  The Celestial
BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.
 
Element sets (also updated daily), shuttle elements, and some documentation
and software are also available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil
(129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space.
 
STS 68                
1 23285U 94062A   94279.25000000  .00019419  11087-4  98844-5 0   252
2 23285  56.9933  50.2696 0009495 295.0239 340.2033 16.21944242   934
--
Dr TS Kelso                           Adjunct Professor of Space Operations
[email protected]                    Air Force Institute of Technology

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER  
STS-68 Status Report #12  
  
Thursday, October 6, 1994, 5 p.m. CDT  
  
Endeavour's astronauts this afternoon sent down spectacular videotape
views of the west coast of California recorded as the shuttle passed about
115 nautical miles overhead on its 103rd orbit.  The scenes covered the San
Joaquin Valley, San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, Los Angeles, Vandenberg
Air Force Base and San Diego Bay. 
 
During the next few days, scientists will test a new technique called
"interferometry" as the earth observations data collection continues.  The
technique is expected to yield topographic information of unprecedented
clarity by using slightly different shuttle positions to provide
three-dimensional images of the terrain below. 
 
Among the Space Radar Laboratory observations today were the North Sea,
where scientists intentionally released small oil and algae spills to see
how well the SRL-2 instruments could track them, as well as observations
of Bebedouro, Brazil; the Western and Northeast Pacific Ocean; Chickasha,
Oklahoma; the Gulf of Mexico; Ruiz, Colombia;  Sena Madureira, Brazil;
Weddell Sea; the Kliuchevskoi Volcano in Kamchatmka;  Stovepipe Wells,
California; and the Galapagos Islands. 
 
Earlier today, the Mission Management Team extended STS-68 by one day to
allow additional science.  Endeavour is now expected to land at the Kennedy
Space Center at about 10:36 a.m. Tuesday. 
 
The orbiter continues to perform well. The only problem reported during
the day was the failure of a primary reaction control system jet.  The jet
problem is not expected to have any effect on the mission since the
orbiter has two other jets thrusting in the same direction. 
 
Endeavour is currently in an 118 by 115 n.m. orbit, but upcoming maneuvers
will begin to lower the orbit to about 112 n.m. in support of the
interferometry experiments. 

    I pulled this article off the USENET with a fairly lengthy
    explanation of the SIR-C & X-SAR radar. I've read the press
    kit on this, and there are some holes I think this article
    fills. Info on polarization modes & interferometric techniques
    are interesting.
    
    Bob
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Article: 23109
From: [email protected]
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: RE: Details on Powerful Radar
Date: Thu,  6 Oct 94 21:59:58 GMT
Organization: Industrial Research Ltd., New Zealand.
 
In Article <[email protected]>
[email protected] (Gary Mart) writes:
>   Newspaper articles speak of the 'powerful radar' carried into orbit 
>on the shuttle Endeavour and the plan to scan nearly 600 sites.
>
>   What is the resolution of the radar?  Can it capture elevation 
>data?  How can I access the data, images created from the data or
>DEM's (digital elevation model) created from the data?
>
>Gary Mart
>[email protected]
 
There is quite a bit of information about the mission, but perhaps less
on the radar itself, at least in the last few weeks, so probably the
question is worth answering.  So, here goes...
 
STS-68 is carrying SIR-C/X-SAR - a dual radar.  SIR-C (Shuttle Imaging
Radar-C) is the third (hence "C") flight of SIR, and X-SAR is an X-band
(wavelength 3.1 cm) synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
 
The unique capability of SIR-C/X-SAR (for they may as well be treated as
a combined instrument) is that it provides multiple wavelength,
multiple look angle, multiple polarisation SAR.  SIR-C provides L (23.5
cm) and C (5.8cm), while X-SAR provides obviously X-band (3.1 cm)
wavelength data.  SIR-C provides four polarisations: HH, VV, HV and VH,
providing a comprehensive view of the complicated scattering of SAR on
a pixel by pixel basis.  In case it is not clear, the first letter refers
to the transmit polarisation direction, the second letter to the receive
polarisation; thus HV is horizontal transmit, vertical receive.  Later
ground processing can produce any other form of polarisation from these
fundamental polarisation components, such as circular polarisation. X-SAR
is a VV SAR.
 
The look angles can be from 17 to 63 degrees from the nadir (the nadir
direction is looking straight down).
 
The resolution of images is typically 30 by 30 metres on the ground,
over a swath width that depends on the look angle.  SIR-C scenes are
between 15 and 90 km, and X-SAR from 15 to 40 km.
 
Looking at SIR-C/X-SAR imagery is a bit like looking at colour imagery.
It may in some cases give you quite a different view of the ground you're
looking at, provided you can reason the difference between the various
bands that are used.  The principal difference between conventional
optical colour imagery and multi-band SAR of earth resource targets is
that in the former case the different wavelength dependencies are related
to the reflectance characteristics of such targets are vegetation.  It is
not at all obvious to an observer who is only modestly experienced how
the colours precisely relate to a specific feature on the ground.  It is
an enormous advantage if you know what you're looking at before-hand.  In
SAR, on the other hand, it is somewhat easier to reason the differences
in the different bands on the basis of the physical target.  That is, to
reason that, say, short grasses are good reflectors of short wavelength
SAR but appear as a smooth target to longer (L-band) wavelengths.  Therefore,
the image should be bright in short wavelength and dark in longer wavelength.
 
Such distinctions are not always so stright-forward, and it gets awfully
complicated when different polarisations are introduced, and when orientation
effects start to become important, as in the case of a lot of man-made
structures.  The key point is that radar is a complementary kind of sensor
to visible and near infra-red imaging.
 
>   Can it capture elevation 
>data?  How can I access the data, images created from the data or
>DEM's (digital elevation model) created from the data?
>
 
The answer is : yes and no.  Perhaps I should explain.
 
No.  SAR is an imaging system.  The brightness of a point is related to the
backscatter characteristics of the target point.  The position of a point is
determined by the slant range, at least in the the cross track direction.
 
Yes. Since SAR is a coherent imaging system, if you were able to obtain
two images that were close enough in space, but looking at the same point
on the ground, you could find the phase between the two images with respect
to a common reference point in space.  In practice, this would mean that
you could calculate the slant range directly, which in turn means you could
calculate the height of the appropriate point.  Or, in other words,
create a digital elevation model (DEM).  This is interferometric SAR, or
INSAR.
 
SIR-C/X-SAR has planned INSAR data takes.  I believe that some of the
INSAR pairs are to be derived from data between the two SIR-C/X-SAR flights
(April and September/October), and that some are between two orbits.  I
am a little unsure of the latter activity.  It seems to me that INSAR
with two scenes within a few orbits is the ideal mode, as there is less
temporal change on the ground.
 
There are, however, a lot of practical problems in generating DEMs from
INSAR pairs.  The images have to be "close enough" in a well defined 
sense.  The DEMs are modulo-wrapped by the radar wavelength.  Noise makes
life "somewhat" difficult.  I'm doing INSAR at the moment (not on SIR-C
data) and it really is difficult to do well !
 
Summary.
 
Sorry for the long reply.  One gets worked up about these things.
 
I urge you to go and have a look at the jplinfo.jpl.nasa.gov anonymous
ftp site and try and grab an image.  Perhaps wait a few days, or a week,
and it'll get fast again (the images will probably stay there a while).
 
It's good science, it's a good instrument, and if it is interpreted with
care and due caution will give a lot of useful results.
 
One in-depth publication that can give a reasonable overview is:
 
   "SIR-C/X-SAR Mission Overview"
   JPL Publication 93-29
   December 15, 1993
   200 pages
 
I don't know how much it would cost you.
 
Cheers
 
Stephen
 
(crossing fingers and still hoping that SIR-C/X-SAR imagery of
New Zealand will be taken...)
 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Dr Stephen McNeill                    Phone   : +64-4-569 0180           |
| Image Processing Team                 Direct  : +64-4-569 0183           |
| Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd     FAX     : +64-4-569 0181           |
| Box 38-491                            Internet: [email protected] |
| Wellington Mail Centre                Omnet   : s.mcneill                |
| New Zealand                           Packet  : zl4hg @ zl4hg.wlg.nzl.oc |
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------+

[Downloaded from ftp.pao.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER 
STS-68 Status Report #13
 
Friday, October 7, 1994, 8 a.m. CDT 
 
On board Endeavour, Commander Mike Baker, Pilot Terry Wilcutt and Mission Specialist 
Jeff Wisoff have begun their work with the Space Radar Laboratory payload.
 
Observations made during the night included the volcano Merapi on the Indonesian island 
of Java; Duke Forest in North Carolina; the Gulf of St. Lawrence; Sydney, Australia; and 
the volcano Mt. Pinatubo in the Phillipines.
 
Tom Jones, the Payload Commander for this second flight of SRL, spent some time this 
morning explaining the importance of the radar�s volcanic studies.  Demonstrating with 
three common types of volcanic rock, Jones explained how the radar�s various frequencies 
allow it to map lava and ash flows around volcanoes.  The work one day may lead to a 
permanent radar platform in orbit for use in assisting predictions of impending volcanic 
eruptions and safeguarding people living near active volcanoes.
 
Late Thursday, Endeavour's astronauts sent down spectacular views of the west coast of 
California recorded as the shuttle passed about 115 nautical miles overhead on its 103rd 
orbit.  The scenes included the San Joaquin Valley, San Francisco, Monterey Bay, Los 
Angeles, Vandenberg Air Force Base and San Diego.
 
This morning, Endeavour's orbit will be lowered from 117 nautical miles to 112 nautical 
miles to support a new technique called "interferometry."  The technique is expected to 
yield topographic information of unprecedented clarity by using slightly different shuttle 
positions to provide three-dimensional images of the terrain below.
 
With the STS-68 mission officially extended by one day, landing is now scheduled for 
Tuesday about 10:30 in the morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  Flight 
controllers spent part of the day adjusting the timelines to reflect the extra day on orbit.
 

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER 
STS-68 Status Report #14
 
Friday, October 7, 1994, 5 p.m. CDT 
 
Astronauts aboard Endeavour and Space Radar Laboratory-2 scientists on the
ground today began in earnest to test the new technique of
"interferometry" to produce even richer images of the Earth's surface. 
 
From an altitude of 111 nautical miles, the Spaceborne Imaging Radar and
Synthetic Aperture Radar recorded long swaths of interferometric data over
central North America, the Amazon forests of central Brazil, and the
volcanoes of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. 
 
This morning, Endeavour's orbit was lowered to support this new technique,
which is yielding topographic information of unprecedented clarity by
using slightly different shuttle positions to provide three-dimensional
images of the terrain below. 
 
The Measurement of Air Pollution from Satellite experiment also continues
to function well, and the crew's infrared film, used to provide
complementary still images of fires investigated by MAPS, has been
expended. Controlled "line fires" in Ontario, Canada, were set as planned
and observed by the crew in an effort to help calibrate the MAPS
measurements. 
 
Flight controllers are tracking no new problems with the orbiter or its
systems. 
 
With the STS-68 mission officially extended by one day, landing is now
scheduled for Tuesday about 10:36 a.m. Central at Kennedy Space Center in
Florida

[Downloaded from ftp.pao.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER 
STS-68 Status Report #15
 
Saturday, October 8, 1994, 8:30 a.m. CDT
 
As Endeavour's seventh mission in space reaches the home stretch, scientific 
observations turn to the gathering of near three-dimensional views of various 
sites around the world to better understand climatic changes.  The six crew 
members discussed the mission and the future of radar observations of the 
Earth during a news conference this morning.
 
The radar array aboard the shuttle began a series of observations above 
volcanoes, glaciers and other sites designed to create 3-D images.  These 
spaceborne radar images, produced regularly on a long-term basis, eventually 
could provide scientists with insight into movements of the Earth's surface 
as small as a fraction of an inch.
 
Such close monitoring may allow scientists to detect pre-eruptive changes in 
volcanoes and movements in fault lines that precede earthquakes, providing an 
early warning of imminent natural hazards.  Other future applications could 
include tracking the rate of global warming by monitoring the movement of 
glaciers and the tracking of floods and mudslides.
 
Earlier this morning, Mission Specialist Dan Bursch took a break from his 
work to provide a television tour of the crew's orbital home office, 
explaining the shuttle's displays, controls, computers and cameras, as well 
as living accommodations.
 
Flight controllers are tracking no new problems with the Orbiter or its 
systems.
 
Landing of Endeavour is scheduled for Tuesday about 10:36 a.m. Central at 
the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

[Downloaded from ftp.pao.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #16
 
Sunday, October 9, 1994, 9 a.m. CDT
 
It has seemed like deja vu on board Endeavour as the crew spent much of the 
last 24 hours precisely repeating many Space Radar Laboratory observations 
to provide scientists with duplicate images for highly accurate 
three-dimensional maps of volcanoes, glaciers and other phenomena.
 
Overnight, Mission Specialists Jeff Wisoff and Steve Smith replaced one of 
three payload recorders which malfunctioned yesterday.  The procedure, which 
the two astronauts trained for prior to the mission, was completed in about 
an hour and a half.  Although only two of the payload high data rate 
recorders were functioning, the planned observations by the radar lab were 
not interrupted. The two recorders alone were sufficient for retaining the
radar data obtained during the overnight shift of astronauts Smith, 
Dan Bursch and Tom Jones.
 
Small engine firings by Endeavour late yesterday aligned the spacecraft's 
trajectory to within an estimated 65 feet of what had been planned when the 
spacecraft's orbit was lowered on Friday.  This permits the precise repeat 
observations by the radar.
 
During the night, Bursch and Smith took a break from their environmental 
studies to talk with KGO Radio in San Francisco.  The interview included 
phone-in questions from area children.

Yes, it did pop out very low in the sky, much lower than the calculations
predicted.  It caught my eye just before it dropped below the tree line.  I
didn't have time to get the scope on it.  Bummer.  Dragged myself outside at 5AM
just to look at the morning stars.  Oh well, the skies were crystal clear so I
couldn't pass up the chance to probe around a bit.

...Roger...

There are some new elements, but they are from Friday, so I won't bother to post
them, since the shuttle did some manuvering since then.

Burns

[Downloaded from ftp.pao.hq.nasa.gov]
 
MISSION CONTROL CENTER
STS-68 Status Report #17
 
Monday, October 10, 1994, 10 a.m. CDT
 
While radar data gathering continues aboard Endeavour traveling 111 nautical 
miles above the Earth, Space Shuttle Columbia, riding atop the 747 Shuttle 
Carrier Aircraft continues its cross country trek today after spending two 
days in Huntsville, Ala.
 
Columbia arrived at Houston's Ellington Field this morning at about 10 a.m. 
for refueling and possibly an overnight stay on its way to California for 
routine maintenance.
 
The orbiter and 747 will be parked at the north end of the runway near NASA's 
hangar 990 where Space Shuttle crew return ceremonies are held.  The public 
is invited to view the spacecraft and its carrier aircraft from a distance 
of about 100 feet.
 
In low Earth orbit, Endeavour's systems are being checked out today to ensure 
they are healthy and ready to support landing Tuesday.  The flight control 
surfaces will be tested using one of the hydraulic systems called an 
Auxiliary Power Unit, and ground station communications checks will be done.
 
Interferometry data gathering with the radar instruments in the orbiter's 
payload bay continued throughout the night and morning prior to the scheduled 
deactivation of the X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar.  Interferometry will 
allow scientists to overlay radar images of the same site taken on successive 
days forming a three dimensional image of the Earth's surface.  These 
topographical images can be used to create a baseline used to understand the 
changes in the environmental and ecological climate around the world.
 
Landing of Endeavour remains scheduled for Tuesday morning about 
10:36 a.m. CDT.  Two landing opportunities are available at the prime 
landing site at Florida's Kennedy Space Center and two are available in 
California at the Edwards Air Force Base Facility.
 
Mission Control's entry team will be on console Tuesday morning about four 
to evaluate the weather conditions and options prior to the crew preparing 
for the deorbit and landing phase of the mission.

    FWIW - They landed at Edwards today (clouds at KSC).
    

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
Mission Control Center
STS-68 Station Report # 18
 
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 1994, 1 p.m. Central
 
 
The Space Shuttle Endeavour glided back to Earth today, ending an 11-day
mission to gather high-fidelity radar images for scientists studying the
planet's environmental and ecological climates. 
 
Endeavour's landing was diverted to the Edwards Air Force Base landing
facility after poor weather in Florida forced flight controllers to "wave
off" the deorbit opportunities to the Kennedy Space Center. 
 
The flight back to Earth, however, was flawless. Endeavour touched down at
12:02 p.m. Central time, ending STS-68 at a mission elapsed time of 11
days, 5 hours, 46 minutes, and 9 seconds. 
 
The six-member crew will be returning to Houston later today.  Crew Return
Ceremonies are tentatively planned to begin at around 9 p.m. at Ellington
Field at NASA's Hangar 990. 

[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
 
	      KENNEDY SPACE CENTER SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
		  TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1994 (1:20 PM EDT)
 
KSC Contact: Bruce Buckingham       407-867-2468 (fax 867-2692)
 
 
	       MISSION: STS-68 -- SPACE RADAR LABORATORY - 2
			  FLIGHT DAY 12/LANDING DAY
 
VEHICLE: Endeavour/OV-105                  ORBITAL ALTITUDE: 138 sm
LOCATION: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.   INCLINATION: 57 degrees
KSC LAUNCH DATE and TIME: Sept. 30, 1994 at 7:16 a.m. EDT
EDWARDS LANDING DATE and TIME: Oct. 11 at 1:02 p.m. EDT
MISSION ELAPSED TIME (MET): 11 days/5 hours/47 minutes/8 seconds
 
     Endeavour's two landing opportunities at Kennedy Space Center today 
were waved off due to clouds and the potential for rain in the area of the 
landing facility.  Endeavour was then directed to land at Edwards Air Force 
Base, Calif.  Landing at Edwards occurred at 1:02 p.m. EDT today on concrete 
runway 22.
 
Main gear touchdown: 1:02.09 p.m. EDT (MET: 11 days, 5 hrs., 46 mins., 9 sec.)
Nose gear touchdown: 1:02.21 p.m. EDT (MET: 11 days, 5 hrs., 46 mins., 21 sec.)
Wheels stop: --------1:03.08 p.m. EDT (MET: 11 days, 5 hrs., 47 mins., 8 sec.)
 
CREW: Commander Michael Baker; Pilot Terry Wilcutt; and Mission
Specialists Steve Smith, Dan Bursch, Peter Wisoff and Thomas Jones. 
 

From: [email protected] (Peter Yee)
Subject: NASA radar observes erupting volcano on the ring of fire [Release 94-179] (Forwarded)
Date: 2 Nov 1994 02:10:18 -0800
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
 
 
Brian Dunbar
Headquarters, Washington, DC                            October 24, 1994
(Phone:  202/358-1547)
 
Mary A. Hardin
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
(Phone:  818/354-5011)
 
 
RELEASE:  94-179
 
 
NASA RADAR OBSERVES ERUPTING VOLCANO ON THE RING OF FIRE
 
     Geologists are using radar images and photographs taken during
NASA's most recent Space Shuttle mission to study possible new lava
flows from Mount Kliuchevskoi on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula.
 
      "The Endeavour astronauts were among the first witnesses to the
eruption, which began only eight hours after the launch on Sept. 30,"
said Dr. Jeffrey J. Plaut of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, CA  "The crew tracked the progress of the eruption daily, providing
us with the most detailed documentation of a large eruption ever
obtained from orbit."
 
     Plaut will discuss the dramatic radar imagery of the area in a
presentation today to the annual meeting of the Geological Society of
America in Seattle, Wash.  Plaut is the geology experiment
representative for the Spaceborne Imaging Radar C/X-Band Synthetic
Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR), the international radar system
carried into orbit for 11 days by the Space Shuttle Endeavour.  Plaut will
compare the radar data to the optical photographs of the massive
eruption that were taken by the astronaut crew.
 
     The eruption of Mt. Kliuchevskoi is only one of several  volcanoes
being studied by the SIR-C/X-SAR team.  The radar detected
evidence of recent activity at Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines and the
Rabaul Caldera in Papua, New Guinea.  Scientists hope to use such data to
assist local  authorities in identifying and mitigating hazards posed
by these dangerous volcanoes, Plaut said.
 
     "Radar images also were acquired for dozens of volcanoes around
the  world, including 12 of the 15 volcanoes identified by the
international  volcanology community as deserving special study due
the threats posed to large local populations," Plaut said.
 
     SIR-C/X-SAR, launched Sept. 30, is a joint mission of the U.S.,
German and Italian space agencies.  It is part of NASA's Mission to
Planet Earth, a  long-term, coordinated program to study the Earth's
global environment, to observe environmental changes and to learn
how human beings affect those changes.  JPL manages the SIR-C
portion of the mission for NASA's Office of  Mission to Planet Earth.
 
 
 
NOTE TO EDITORS:  An comparison image of the optical and radar
views of Mt. Kliuchevskoi is available on JPL's Internet public access
site.  FTP at jplinfo.jpl.nasa.gov or http://www.jpl.nasa.gov.