| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 952.1 | | TROOA::SKLEIN | Nulli Secundus | Thu Nov 09 1995 14:00 | 4 |
|
Re: -1
Claude Nicollier is a mission specialist, not payload specialist.
|
| 952.2 | Web access is verrry slow today..... | NETCAD::BATTERSBY | | Thu Feb 22 1996 16:23 | 3 |
| Anybody hear if this puppy launched today?
Bob
|
| 952.3 | | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Fri Feb 23 1996 03:22 | 9 |
|
Yep.
Actually saw the launch on CNN. - rare these days to see a launch
on TV in the UK. - just doesn't grab the news.
NASA seem to be slow in updating their Web pages - are they still
suffering the Gov. cuts or anything ??
|
| 952.4 | NASA's PAO office has been cutting staff.... | NETCAD::BATTERSBY | | Fri Feb 23 1996 11:05 | 10 |
| I thought I recalled hearing that the different NASA site PAO's
(public affairs offices), have been quietly shedding themselves
of staffing, and as a result there are fewer PAO staff left at
each site to update their web sites. As usual as in any organization
"down-sizing" the resultant worker-bees to managers ratio becomes
skewed.
When I got home, I replayed the launch on my vcr & also got to watch
the replays on NASA Select early in the evening.
Bob
|
| 952.5 | STS-75 Mission Control Status Report # 1 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Fri Feb 23 1996 11:31 | 31 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Status Report # 1
5:30 p.m. CST, Thursday, Feb. 22, 1996
Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off on time at 2:18 p.m. CST today,
beginning a two-week mission of scientific experimentation.
An erroneous reading on some engine performance indicators added some
temporary excitement to an otherwise normal launch today. About four
seconds after liftoff, Shuttle Commander Andy Allen reported that his
instruments showed that one of the shuttle main engines was operating
at only 45% of its normal power level. Flight controllers in Houston
quickly responded that all engines were performing nominally. The
engines throttled as expected about 1 minute into the launch, and
operated normally all the way to main engine cutoff at 8 and a half
minutes into the flight. Engineers will look at data from the launch
to try to understand the faulty reading.
A brief firing of the orbital maneuvering engines halfway around the
Earth placed Columbia in its operating orbit on time. The
seven-member crew got a go for orbit operations as expected and opened
the payload bay doors to begin cooling with the radiators.
Just before 5 p.m. Central time, astronauts Claude Nicollier and
Franklin Chang-Diaz begin activating the support equipment for the
Italian Tethered Satellite System. Other equipment and experiments
were scheduled for their first activation later today. On Friday,
activities with the TSS begin in earnest leading up to Saturday's
reeling out of the tethered satellite.
Our next report will be issued Friday morning.
|
| 952.6 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 2 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Fri Feb 23 1996 11:31 | 42 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 2
Friday, February 23, 1996, 7 a.m. CST
Setting up shop was the order of business aboard Columbia overnight
and early Friday as the seven astronauts split into three shifts to
support the many experiments scheduled throughout the 14-day mission.
Much of the astronauts' time was spent verifying the health of the
Tethered Satellite System in anticipation of its scheduled deployment
Saturday afternoon. The 1,400 pound satellite will be deployed to a
distance of almost 13 miles while it remains attached to its support
structure in the orbiter's payload bay by a pencil-thin cable. TSS
deployment is currently scheduled for Saturday at 2:37 p.m. Central
time.
Before turning in for his first on-orbit sleep period, Mission
Specialist Jeff Hoffman tested the latching mechanisms that secure the
satellite atop its docking ring on an extendable boom structure.
These latches will be released just prior to the start of the six hour
process to reel out the satellite.
The crew also checked out and activated several other experiments
that
will be carried out after the Tethered Satellite is retrieved Monday.
A glovebox device on the middeck was set up and will be used later in
the flight to conduct combustion experiments in an enclosed
environment.
The astronauts also activated the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth
experiment designed to grow nearly perfect crystals for study back on
Earth for the possible development of better pharmaceuticals.
Columbia will remain in a near circular 160 nautical mile orbit for
most of the mission, circling the Earth every 90 minutes to provide
the crew with views of a sunrise and sunset 16 times each day.
The Johnson Space Center newsroom will be open from 6 a.m. to 5
p.m. Friday and will reopen at 8 a.m. Saturday.
|
| 952.7 | STS-75 NASA Select TV schedule | NETCAD::BATTERSBY | | Fri Feb 23 1996 13:14 | 365 |
| Article: 42955
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
From: [email protected] (mary-frances jagod)
Subject: STS-75: NASA Select TV schedule, Revision A
Sender: [email protected] (News Administrator)
Organization: The University of Chicago
Date: Thu, 22 Feb 1996 23:19:42 GMT
[Downloaded from NASA Spacelink]
***********************************************************************
NASA TV SCHEDULE
STS-75/TSS-1R/USMP-3
Rev A
2/22/96
***********************************************************************
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 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 is also available via the Internet. The address is
FTP.HQ.NASA.GOV. Change directories to /PUB/PAO/STATRPT/JSC/TVSKED.
********************************************************************
******PROGRAMMING NOTE******
During the STS-75 mission, there will be Public Affairs commentary
available on NASA Television 24 hours around the clock through the
completion of Tethered Satellite operations. Beginning on flight day 6
Public Affairs commentary will be available on NASA Television from
5am CST to 11pm CST. There will be no commentary from 11pm CST to
5am CST even though science operations will continue onboard Columbia.
Public Affairs commentary will resume overnight, however, if
developments warrant. Downlink television from Columbia, Earth views
and programming information will continue to be carried on NASA
Television during the period the Public Affairs console is unstaffed.
----- Launch occurred at 2:18pm CST on February 22, 1996 -----
* Asterisk denotes change from previous schedule
-------------------------- Thursday, February 22 ----------------------
FD 1
ORBIT SUBJECT SITE MET CST
----- ------- ---- --- ---
2 NASA TELEVISION ORIGINATION KSC 00/01:12 03:30 PM
SWITCHED TO KSC
2 POST LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE KSC 00/01:12 03:30 PM
2 NASA TELEVISION ORIGINATION JSC 00/02:12 04:30 PM
SWITCHED TO JSC
3 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 00/03:12 05:30 PM
4 * DELTA/POLAR PRE-LAUNCH VAN 00/04:12 06:30 PM
NEWS CONFERENCE REPLAY
4 * Ku BAND ANTENNA DEPLOY 00/04:30 06:48 PM
(not televised)
4 NASA TELEVISION ORIGINATION KSC 00/05:12 07:30 PM
SWITCHED TO KSC
4 LAUNCH ENGINEERING REPLAYS KSC 00/05:12 07:30 PM
T=30:00
4 NASA TELEVISION ORIGINATION JSC 00/05:42 08:00 PM
SWITCHED TO JSC
5 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 00/06:12 08:30 PM
--------------------------Friday, February 23 -------------------------
FD 2
9 * DELTA/POLAR PRE-LAUNCH VAN 00/13:12 03:30 AM
NEWS CONFERENCE REPLAY
10 * DELTA/POLAR COVERAGE BEGINS VAN 00/13:42 04:00 AM
11 * DELTA/POLAR LAUNCH VAN 00/15:05 05:23 AM
11 TSS OPERATIONS TDRW/E 00/15:50 06:08 AM
T=45:00
12 * DELTA/POLAR POST LAUNCH VAN 00/17:12 07:30 AM
PRESS CONFERENCE
14 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 00/20:42 11:00 AM
16 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 00/22:42 01:00 PM
MSFC
16 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 00/23:42 02:00 PM
------------------------ Saturday, February 24 ------------------------
FD 3
30 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 01/20:42 11:00 AM
32 TSS OPERATIONS TDRW/E 01/22:30 12:48 PM
T=52:00
33 TV OPPORTUNITY MILA 02/00:14 02:32 PM
T=9:00
33 * TSS FLYAWAY TDRW 02/00:20 02:38 PM
(may not be televised live)
34 TV OPPORTUNITY MILA 02/01:43 04:01 PM
T=6:00
34 TV OPPORTUNITY GDS 02/01:53 04:11 PM
T=7:00
34 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 02/02:12 04:30 PM
(time subject to change)
35 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 02/03:12 05:30 PM
------------------------- Sunday, February 25 -------------------------
FD 4
46 TV OPPORTUNITY MILA 02/19:35 09:53 AM
T=8:00
46 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 02/20:42 11:00 AM
48 * CBS RADIO INTERVIEW TDRE 02/22:45 01:03 PM
(audio only)
48 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 02/23:12 01:30 PM
MSFC
49 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 03/00:12 02:30 PM
------------------------- Monday, February 26 -------------------------
62 TV OPPORTUNITY MILA 03/19:43 10:01 AM
T=6:00
62 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 03/20:42 11:00 AM
63 TSS DOCKING OPERATIONS TDRE 03/21:20 11:38 AM
T=23:00
63 TSS DOCKING OPERATIONS TDRE 03/21:52 12:10 PM
T=8:00
63 * TSS DOCKING TDRW 03/22:28 12:46 PM
(may not be televised)
64 TSS BOOM RETRACT & SRL LATCH TDRE 03/22:55 01:13 PM
T=17:00
65 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 04/00:12 02:30 PM
(time subject to change) MSFC
65 VTR DUMP - TSS RETRIEVAL TDRE 04/00:20 02:38 PM
T=25:00
65 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 04/01:12 03:30 PM
71 VTR DUMP - TSS OPERATIONS TDRW 04/09:30 11:48 PM
T=30:00
------------------------ Tuesday, February 27 -------------------------
FD 6
78 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 04/20:42 11:00 AM
80 * CNN INTERVIEW TDRW 04/22:40 12:58 PM
80 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 04/23:12 01:30 PM
MSFC
81 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 05/00:12 02:30 PM
83 * CONUS INTERVIEW TDRW 05/03:35 05:53 PM
------------------------ Wednesday, February 28 -----------------------
FD 7
91 * C-SPAN INTERVIEW TDRW 05/16:25 06:43 AM
94 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 05/20:42 11:00 AM
96 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 05/22:42 01:00 PM
MSFC
96 SPACE SCIENCE UPDATE HQ 05/23:42 02:00 PM
97 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 06/00:42 03:00 PM
101 * VTR DUMP - FFFT TDRW 06/06:45 09:03 PM
T=30:00
------------------------ Thursday, February 29 ------------------------
FD 8
110 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 06/20:42 11:00 AM
111 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 06/22:42 01:00 PM
MSFC
112 VTR DUMP - CSD TDRW 06/22:55 01:13 PM
T=25:00
112 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 06/23:42 02:00 PM
114 * WPHL-TV/WPVI-TV INTERVIEW TDRW 07/02:02 04:20 PM
115 * USIA WORLDNET INTERVIEW TDRW 07/03:50 06:08 PM
-------------------------- Friday, March 1 ----------------------------
FD 9
126 * ITALIAN MEDIA INTERVIEW TDRW 07/19:50 10:08 AM
126 * VTR DUMP - CSD TDRE 07/20:20 10:38 AM
T=20:00
126 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 07/20:42 11:00 AM
127 * ITALIAN ASI VIP EVENT TDRW 07/21:25 11:43 AM
127 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 07/22:12 12:30 PM
MSFC
128 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 07/23:42 02:00 PM
129 * ESA SWISS EDUCATIONAL EVENT TDRW 08/00:30 02:48 PM
131 * VTR DUMP - RITSI TDRW 08/03:35 05:53 PM
T=40:00
------------------------- Saturday, March 2 ---------------------------
FD 10
141 * VTR DUMP - FFFT TDRE 08/18:50 09:08 AM
T=30:00
142 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 08/20:42 11:00 AM
143 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 08/22:42 01:00 PM
MSFC
144 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 08/23:42 02:00 PM
146 * NBC SPANISH NEWSCHANNEL/ TDRW 09/02:15 04:33 PM
CNN INTERNATIONAL INTERVIEW
147 * VTR DUMP - CSD TDRW 09/03:45 06:03 PM
T=40:00
-------------------------- Sunday, March 3 ----------------------------
FD 11
156 * VOICE OF AMERICA INTERVIEW TDRW 09/18:25 08:43 AM
157 * VTR DUMP - RITSI TDRW 09/19:45 10:03 AM
T=40:00
158 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 09/20:42 11:00 AM
159 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 09/22:42 01:00 PM
MSFC
160 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 09/23:42 02:00 PM
162 * VTR DUMP - CSD TDRW 10/02:20 04:38 PM
T=35:00
166 * VTR DUMP - FFFT TDRW 10/08:55 11:13 PM
T=25:00
-------------------------- Monday, March 4 ----------------------------
FD 12
170 * ESA ITALIAN EDUCATIONAL EVENT TDRW 10/15:25 05:43 AM
174 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 10/20:42 11:00 AM
175 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 10/22:42 01:00 PM
MSFC
176 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 10/23:42 02:00 PM
176 * VTR DUMP - RITSI TDRE 10/23:56 02:14 PM
T=26:00
-------------------------- Tuesday, March 5 ---------------------------
FD 13
184 * VTR DUMP - FFFT TDRE 11/11:05 01:23 AM
T=30:00
185 * VTR DUMP - CSD TDRE 11/12:45 03:03 AM
T=30:00
187 * CREW NEWS CONFERENCE TDRE 11/15:45 06:03 AM
190 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 11/20:42 11:00 AM
191 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC/ 11/22:42 01:00 PM
MSFC
192 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 11/23:42 02:00 PM
195 * UNIVISION/TELENOTICIAS INTERVIEW TDRW 12/04:20 06:38 PM
-------------------------- Wednesday, March 6 -------------------------
FD 14
204 MISSION STATUS BRIEFING JSC 12/18:42 09:00 AM
206 "MISSION UPDATE" JSC 12/20:42 11:00 AM
207 * Ku BAND ANTENNA STOW 12/21:45 12:03 PM
(not televised)
207 MISSION SCIENCE BRIEFING MSFC 12/22:42 01:00 PM
208 FLIGHT DAY VIDEO FILE JSC 12/23:42 02:00 PM
-------------------------- Thursday, March 7 --------------------------
FD 15
218 * DEORBIT BURN 13/15:14 05:32 AM
(not televised)
219 * KSC LANDING KSC 13/16:14 06:32 AM
LANDING REPLAYS KSC L + 20 minutes
POST LANDING PRESS CONFERENCE JSC L + 60 minutes
ASTRONAUT POST LANDING PRESS
CONFERENCE (COMMANDER AND OTHER
AVAILABLE CREW MEMBERS) KSC L + 6 hours
***********************************************************************
DEFINITION OF TERMS
***********************************************************************
CSD: Comparitive Soot Diagnostics
CST: Central Standard Time
FD: Flight Day
FFFT: Forced Flow Flame-Spreading Test
GDS: Goldstone Tracking Station
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
MILA: Merritt Island Tracking Station
MSFC: Marshall Space Flight Center
RITSI: Radiative Ignition and Transition to Spread Investigation
STS: Space Transportation System
T=: Time equivalent: used for duration of event
TDRE,W: Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, East and West longitudes
TSS: Tethered Satellite System
USMP: United States Microgravity Payload
VAN: Vandenberg Air Force Base
|
| 952.8 | Failure | DEVLPR::ANDRADE | | Mon Feb 26 1996 10:38 | 6 |
| The tether broke, after it extended almost to max.
Bye-bye mission, it will be a long time before they try anything
like this again. They failed 4 years ago, and again now...
Gil
|
| 952.9 | | CLUSTA::MAIEWSKI | Bos-Mil-Atl Braves W.S. Champs | Mon Feb 26 1996 10:51 | 6 |
| Can't say I'm surprised, those things never work.
NASA is always at their worst trying to unwind or release something
mechanical.
George
|
| 952.10 | | MPGS::REITH | [email protected] - Have subroutine, will travel. | Mon Feb 26 1996 11:38 | 3 |
| I assume it was active during the unreeling so they should have gotten SOME
readings before the break. I haven't seen any reports on it, where in the
tether (which end) did it break?
|
| 952.11 | | 19472::petert | rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty | Mon Feb 26 1996 11:47 | 4 |
| They did get some data and electricity generated. The tether disconnected
at the boom end, after about 12 miles were played out.
PeterT
|
| 952.12 | | MPGS::REITH | [email protected] - Have subroutine, will travel. | Mon Feb 26 1996 12:01 | 6 |
| I wondered about that. I seem to remember the mention of a cutting device at
the boom ent to handle the jamming incident of last time and wondered if it
might have misfired due to static from the test. At least they got some more
realistic data. Better than the 600 meters from the last time.
Thanks for the info
|
| 952.13 | Can you say *Boing!* 12 miles long? | NETCAD::BATTERSBY | | Mon Feb 26 1996 12:51 | 20 |
| There was a note I saw in the shuttle newsgroup that said that
they supposedly got telemetry indicating as much as about 1600 volts
(very low current). The camcorder footage they down-linked after
the break was quite interesting. They had 2 separate cameras focused
on the tether. One was inside the shuttle, and the other was a camera
in the payload bay I believe. When the tether broke, the in-cabin
camcorder showed the tether going slack, and then someone bumped the
camera. It took them a few seconds to get the camera back into
position. The Tether acted like a huge rubber band, and must have
released the energy stored in it and allowed the tether satellite
to accelerate away from the shuttle. They said it rapidly reached
a separating velocity of about 85 mph within a very short time.
It's too bad, but they *are* dealing with experimental situations,
and things like this can happen with things like this.
The camcorder closeups they got while doing a visual inventory
afterwards showed the frayed end of the tether, so it wasn't a
clean break or cut. More like it was a stressed place in the tether
where there was a defect.
Bob
|
| 952.14 | next 13 replys are MCSR reports | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:52 | 21 |
| I have been out of the country the last few days - catching up now !
I managed to see a lot of what happened as the Hotel TV room had CNN.
Re -.1 BOING - exactly what I mentally pictured when I saw the tether
going of into space.
Lots of shots of the frayed end - look like it really did tear apart.
Things I have not been able to find out.
How has the (ex)Tethered Satellite managed to get into a higher
orbit ?
I thought with the tension breaking in the tether, the Shuttle
would go one way, the TS the other.
They were also talking about using a pendulum swing to put satellites
into a higher orbit - how do you get a pendulum swing in such system ?
|
| 952.15 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 3 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:52 | 48 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center
Status Report # 3
Friday, February 23, 1996, 4:30 p.m. CST
Although running into tethered satellite computer problems that remain
under investigation by flight controllers and scientists,
Columbia's crew pressed ahead this afternoon with checkouts and
preparations for a Saturday deploy of the satellite.
The tethered satellite itself was powered up and appears to be in
excellent condition. However, activation and checkout of the
satellite-related experiments that are mounted in Columbia's cargo
bay fell behind schedule when a computer relay for data and commands
experienced problems. The Smart Flexible Multiplexer Demultiplexer
(SFMDM), or "Smartflex", as the computer relay is called, was
switched to a backup component after experiencing an apparent overload
when some of the cargo bay experiments were first powered up.
The backup "Smartflex" equipment is working well, but controllers are
evaluating its performance for several hours before attempting to
repower the cargo bay-mounted satellite experiments and put further
demands on the unit. At this point, there is still enough time prior
to Saturday's planned 2:37 p.m. satellite deploy to reactivate
those experiments and perform all needed checkouts and fine-tuning.
Flight controllers currently plan to begin those procedures this
evening aiming toward an on-time satellite flyaway.
In addition to the computer relay trouble, the crew reported apparent
balky processing by an onboard laptop computer used as one method of
displaying information from the satellite experiments. The Portable
General Purpose Support Computer (PGSC) was switched for a backup
laptop computer by the crew, and the data connections to the computer
ports also were switched to backup ports. However, the apparent slow
processing persisted. Flight controllers are evaluating the cause of
the trouble, and any impact it may have on the planned operations.
The "Smartflex" must be operating for a deploy of the tethered
satellite since it provides data and commands to the satellite-related
experiments and equipment in the cargo bay. Communications and
commanding of the satellite itself during deploy, however, is done by
a radio link to Columbia.
Columbia's systems are functioning well, with virtually no Shuttle
problems encountered by the crew. It remains in a 184-mile-high
circular orbit of Earth.
|
| 952.16 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 4 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:53 | 54 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 4
Saturday, February 24, 1996, 8 a.m. CST
Troubleshooting a balky experiment data relay box was the focus of
work aboard Columbia throughout Friday night and into this morning as
the astronauts and flight controllers attempted to track down the
problem and preserve their options for deploying the tethered
satellite at 2:37 this afternoon.
Early this morning, in a methodical step-by-step process, the crew and
flight control team slowly activated several experiments individually
at first and then together trying to isolate the problem. At about 2
a.m., all experiments were activated and data was being transferred
through the relay box to a laptop computer on the flight deck of the
orbiter and data was transmitted successfully to the ground. The
computer relay is continuing to perform well and is not evidencing any
of the communications problems previously observed. Mission Managers
are meeting this morning to review the system's status and make a
determination on whether to deploy TSS on time or to delay 24 hours.
Called a Smart Flexible Multiplexer Demultiplexer, or "Smart Flex"
for short, the relay box reset itself several times and even
switched to an alternate system on occasion when it perceived it was
being overloaded by the checkout work associated with ensuring the
experiments were ready to support Tethered Satellite System
operations.
The relay box is used as a way station for obtaining and distributing
data collected from four science experiments designed to take
measurements during the deployment, on- station, and retrieval
operations of the satellite. The "Smartflex" must be operating
for a deploy of the tethered satellite since it provides data and
commands to the satellite-related experiments and equipment in the
cargo bay.
Once deployed, the tethered satellite will slowly fly away from
Columbia, eventually reaching a distance of 12 miles (20 kilometers).
Communications and commanding of the satellite itself during deploy
and retrieve is done by a radio link to the Space Shuttle by ground
commands from NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville,
which has overall program management for the TSS project.
The tethered satellite will slowly be deployed to a 12 mile distance
over a five and a half hour period. The satellite will remain "on
station" for science operations for about 24 hours. The retrieval
process would follow with the satellite being reeled back in during
another five and half hour period.
Columbia continues to function with no systems problems at an altitude
of 184 miles, circling the Earth every 90 minutes.
|
| 952.17 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 5 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:53 | 27 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 5
Saturday, February 24, 1996, 10:30 a.m. CST
STS-75 mission managers Saturday morning decided to delay deployment
of the Tethered Satellite by 24 hours to give flight controllers time
to gain additional confidence in the operations of a data relay that
provides satellite system information during deploy and science
operations.
The Smart Flex data relay box has been stable since early this
morning, but mission managers wanted additional time to understand its
previously observed behavior. The relay box had experienced several
unexpected "restarts". It has been performing without incident,
however, since early this morning.
The 24-hour delay also gives flight controllers the opportunity to
enhance any contingency procedures that might be used in the event the
Smart Flex develops problems during the deploy operations.
Late this afternoon, the astronauts will begin a standard
one-day-before-deploy timeline, allowing them to catch up on some
activation steps which were omitted during the compressed timeline
which would have been required if TSS were deployed as originally
scheduled this afternoon.
|
| 952.18 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 6 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:53 | 44 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 6
Sunday, February 25, 1996, 8 a.m. CST
Columbia's crew will begin the deploy sequence of the Tethered
Satellite System about 2:45 this afternoon after a one-day delay to
allow flight controllers and the astronauts additional time to
properly check out the various science instruments and equipment that
will be used throughout the two-day operation.
The delay also gave flight controllers time to refine any
troubleshooting procedures that might be used in the event the Smart
Flex computer relay system develops problems during the deploy
operations. The system has been operating trouble-free for more than
24 hours since being systematically checked out early Saturday
morning.
Prior to initiating the deploy sequence, the boom supporting the
Tethered Satellite will be raised out of the payload bay to a height
of about 39 feet. The satellite will be released from its docking
ring capture latches at the top of the boom and will slowly and
deliberately be deployed to a distance of slightly more than 12 mile
(20 kilometers) over a five and a half hour period. The satellite
will remain 'on station' for science operations for about 22
hours.
Retrieval of TSS would follow with the satellite being reeled back in
during another five and half hour period, stopping for additional
science data gathering at a distance of about one mile from the
Shuttle. This second 'on station' operation is scheduled to
last for nine hours before the final retrieval and docking of the
satellite. The entire TSS operation is scheduled to last about 48
hours.
Communications and commanding of the satellite during deploy and
retrieve is done by a radio link to the Space Shuttle by ground
commands from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
which has overall program management for the TSS project.
With Columbia's systems in excellent shape, activities today are
focused on the deploy of the Tethered Satellite. Columbia continues
to circle the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of 184 miles.
|
| 952.19 | STS-75 Mission Control Status Report # 7 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:54 | 46 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Status Report # 7
6 p.m. Sunday, February 25, 1996
Three and a half years after an errant bolt halted its deployment, the
Italian Tethered Satellite successfully began its journey from the
Shuttle Columbia for two days of scientific studies.
Suspended at the end of a slim tether, the satellite's thrusters
nudged TSS away from a docking ring atop a 40-foot boom towering over
Columbia's cargo bay at 2:45 PM Central time. The satellite slowly
moved away from Columbia into the darkness of space as the astronauts
reported little oscillation in the long tether. An hour later, the TSS
had passed the distance of maximum deployment achieved on its previous
flight, 843 feet, during the STS-46 mission in the summer of 1992.
Astronauts and ground controllers overcame previous difficulties
with data handling equipment and portable computers which had caused a
one-day delay in the deployment. Operating on a normal timeline
today, the crew checked out the satellite and its associated systems
before extending the TSS boom above the bay like a giant tower. After
making sure that Columbia and the TSS could communicate over radio
links, a power umbilical to the satellite was released, placing the
satellite on internal battery power. Columbia's maneuvering jets
were temporarily disabled during the TSS deployment, to avoid any
disturbances to the tether during the satellite's initial flyaway.
TSS is expected to reach its farthest distance from Columbia,
almost 13 miles, by late this evening for more than 24 hours of
scientific studies on electromagnetic phenomena and the use of tethers
for satellite management. The satellite will begin its slow creep back
to Columbia Monday night in advance of its final retrieval and docking
back on its boom at about 12:43 PM Central time Tuesday afternoon.
Columbia is functioning perfectly in support of TSS operations as it
orbits the Earth every 90 minutes at an altitude of about 180 statute
miles.
The JSC newsroom will close for the night at 9 p.m. Sunday and will
reopen at 6 a.m. Monday.
|
| 952.20 | STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #8 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:54 | 26 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #8
9:30 p.m. CST Sunday, February 25, 1996
The tether on the Italian Tethered Satellite broke about 7:30 p.m. CST
Sunday as the satellite was nearing the full extent of its deployment
from the Shuttle. The satellite, which was nearing the end of its
planned 12.8 mile distance, immediately began accelerating away from
Columbia at a rapid rate as a result of normal orbital forces. TSS is
separating from Columbia at a rate of 420 miles each 90 minute orbit.
The tether apparently snapped near the top of the 39-foot TSS boom
in Columbia's cargo bay. Neither the astronauts nor the Space
Shuttle were ever in any danger.
Following the break, Mission Control asked the astronauts to record
television of the boom and broken tether for post-flight analysis.
Flight controllers now will be determining when and how to secure
the TSS support equipment, including the deployment boom, before
moving on with other mission objectives. Scientists and engineers
managed to gather about five hours of data on the performance of the
satellite and tether dynamics before the break.
|
| 952.21 | STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #9 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:54 | 44 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #9
10:00 a.m. CST Monday, February 26, 1996
Columbia's astronauts are preparing to retract the Tethered Satellite
boom structure today after the Italian science probe suddenly
seperated from the Shuttle last night following a break in the
tether. The boom tower, upon which TSS was anchored prior to its
deployment Sunday afternoon, will be slowly lowered back into its
berthing platform once the remaining tether inside the boom is reeled
in.
After its connecting cable seperated from Columbia last night, the
Tethered Satellite is trailing the Shuttle at a distance of more than
3,000 nautical miles this morning.
The satellite is in an orbit about 30 miles above Columbia and the
distance between the two spacecraft continues to increase at a rate of
about 280 nautical miles with every orbit of the Earth. At the time
the tether broke, it was extended 12.2 miles from Columbia, just short
of its planned 12.8 mile fully-deployed length.
About 32 feet of tether remains on the reel assembly inside the TSS
support boom in Columbia's payload bay. Once the tether is fully
retracted, the 39-foot boom will be restowed to its launch
configuration. On Columbia, the astronauts this morning saved TSS
onboard computer data for post-flight analysis.
Once the tether is retracted and the boom is restowed, the crew
members will turn their attention to the science activities involving
the U. S. Microgravity Payload. The USMP experiments will study
various aspects of materials science investigation.
The astronauts are scheduled to hold a crew news conference today at
2:03 p.m. Central time to discuss the loss of the Tethered Satellite
and other aspects of their flight.
Columbia continues to perform flawlessly, orbiting the Earth every
90 minutes at an altitude of about 180 statute miles.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
|
| 952.22 | STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #10 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:54 | 40 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #10
5 p.m. Monday, February 26, 1996
Astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Columbia today reeled back the
remaining length of tether and stowed the mast for the Tethered
Satellite System following last night's loss of the satellite. The
crew and flight control teams spent much of the day putting TSS
equipment in a safely stowed condition and preparing for experiment
operations with the U.S. Microgravity Payload.
The Italian Satellite unexpectedly separated from Columbia about 7:30
p.m. CST Sunday as the tether broke within the mast. No immediate
explanation for the incident was apparent and the crew and Mission
Control concentrated last night and today on gathering any data that
might be useful in discovering the cause. NASA today named a board
chairman for the investigative body looking into the incident.
Members to the board are expected to be named within a few days.
Following separation from Columbia Sunday, the satellite moved rapidly
away from the Shuttle into its higher orbit. The satellite is in an
orbit about 30 miles above Columbia and the distance between the two
spacecraft continues to increase at a rate of about 280 nautical miles
with every orbit of the Earth. At the time the tether broke, it was
extended 12.2 miles from Columbia, just short of its planned 12.8 mile
fully-deployed length.
The crew members will now turn their attention to the science
activities involving the U. S. Microgravity Payload. The USMP
experiments will study various aspects of materials science
investigation.
The astronauts held a crew news conference today at 2:03 p.m. Central
time to discuss the loss of the Tethered Satellite and other aspects
of their flight.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 6
a.m. Tuesday.
|
| 952.23 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 11 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:55 | 52 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 11
Tuesday, February 27, 1996, 10 a.m. CST
Columbia's crew is preparing to move into the second major portion
of the STS-75 mission activating the United States Microgravity
Payload, or USMP, after completing work with several experiments
associated with the tethered satellite portion of the flight.
The USMP experiments will gather data on various materials science
investigations including crystal growth, materials solidification and
fluid dynamics. TSS-related experiments have been operated by the
crew throughout the night gathering data on the orbiter's payload
environment. Investigations included measuring glow and
electrodynamic phenomena around the orbiter surfaces during thruster
firings. At about 2:30 this afternoon, the crew will begin shifting
to USMP operations for the remainder of the flight.
In the meantime, tethered satellite payload and ground controllers are
taking snapshots of data from the satellite sending data through
available ground stations around the world. Commands were scheduled
to be sent directly to the satellite during several passes throughout
the day over Houston as it passed within range of the Electronics
Signal Test Lab at the Johnson Space Center. Data collection will
continue as long as the TSS batteries remain fuctioning, about 24 - 48
hours.
Initial configuration data received from TSS indicates that the
thruster valves, which were commanded to a closed position as the
satellite was being reeled out from Columbia, are open and that no
gaseous nitrogen remains on board. Additionally, two of four
stabilizing gyros on the satellite give indications of being in the
"off" position. This and all other data gathered during dumps
to the ground stations will be gathered for post-flight analysis.
The satellite unexpectedly separated from Columbia about 7:30 p.m. CST
Sunday as the tether broke within the mast. The latest information on
the satellite shows it trailing Columbia at a distance of 8,500
nautical miles, in an orbit 221 nm by 170 nm. Columbia remains in an
orbit 30-40 miles lower than the satellite causing the distance
between the two spacecraft to increase by about 350 nm per orbit.
With the TSS operations winding down, the crew will begin
concentrating its attention on the remaining payload activity and
Commander Andy Allen will begin shifting his schedule to match that of
the Red Team of astronauts which includes Pilot Scott Horowitz,
Mission Specialist Maurizio Cheli and Payload Specialist Umberto
Guidoni. Mission Specialist Jeff Hoffman has shifted his schedule to
match the Blue Team of mission specialists Claude Nicollier and
Franklin Chang-Diaz.
|
| 952.24 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 12 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:55 | 50 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 12
Tuesday, February 27, 1996, 5 p.m. CST
Columbia's crew moved into the second major objective of their flight
this afternoon, turning attention to the weightless investigations of
the United States Microgravity Payload-3.
The crew performed further checks this afternoon of the Middeck Glove
Box Experiment, readying the equipment on Columbia's lower deck for
several studies of combustion planned later in the mission. Crew
members this evening will have a light day of activities, each
enjoying a half-day of free time as is customary on two-week long
shuttle flights.
The crew also took a break from today's experiments for interviews
by the Cable News Network and the syndicated Conus Communications
Network.
Earlier today, ground controllers used tracking stations scattered
around the world to receive information from the Tethered Satellite
which broke free from the shuttle on Sunday. Now in an orbit of 219 by
170 nautical miles, experiments on the satellite recorded emissions of
electrons from Columbia's cargo bay, almost half a world away,
scientists reported. Although a variety of ground tracking sites
received transmissions from the satellite, commands were sent to the
satellite only from a ground station at the Johnson Space Center in
Houston. The opportunities for ground contact with the satellite for
today are finished, but controllers plan to attempt further
communications with the satellite during orbital passes tomorrow.
Flight controllers reported that the satellite is orbiting the Earth
in a different configuration that it was in at the time its tether
broke, with its thruster fuel depleted and no ability to receive
commands to deploy its twin science booms. But science officials said
valuable data is being received from TSS regarding the
characterization of electromagnetic fields in low Earth orbit. The
satellite, dragging about 12 miles of tether, is expected to begin to
drop out of orbit sometime in the next 30 days and will burn up in the
atmosphere during its reentry.
Columbia, meanwhile, is functioning to near perfection, with no
mechanical problems of concern to flight controllers. The shuttle is
in a 184 by 177 statute mile orbit of Earth.
The JSC newsroom is now closed and will reopen at 6 a.m. Central time
on Wednesday.
* * *
|
| 952.25 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 13 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:55 | 33 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 13
Wednesday, February 28, 1996, 7 a.m. CST
With the focus of work aboard Columbia turning to weightless
investigations of the United States Microgravity Payload, flight
controllers in Houston and Huntsville continue to gather as much data
from the tethered satellite as possible before its batteries run out.
USMP experiments are collecting data on various materials science
investigations including crystal growth, materials solidification and
fluid dynamics.
Half of the crew enjoyed a half day of free time as is customary on
two-week long shuttle flights. During the break, Pilot Scott
Horowitz, Mission Specialist Maurizio Cheli and Payload Specialist
Umberto Guidoni discussed the flight with the C-SPAN network and
answered questions from viewers.
The ground commanding to the tethered satellite began yesterday and is
expected to continue today as it passes within range of the ground
station at the Johnson Space Center. Payload officials will again
take snapshots of data from the satellite to determine its health
before its batteries completely discharge; this is expected within the
next couple of days.
Columbia, meanwhile, is functioning normally, with no problems of
concern to flight controllers.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 6 a.m. Thursday.
* * *
|
| 952.26 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 14 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:56 | 39 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 14
Wednesday, February 28, 1996, 5 p.m. CST
NASA managers decided today not to return Columbia to the Tethered
Satellite for either a close inspection or a possible retrieval after
concluding that propellant margins would not be adequate to support
the operations.
Officials were asked to investigate the possibility of a rendezvous
with TSS. After reviewing propellant margins, spacewalking
considerations, and radar requirements, a decision was made not to
fire Columbia's engines to begin what would have been a six-day
phased approach to meet up with the satellite.
The Tethered Satellite is currently 7,100 nautical miles ahead of
Columbia with the distance between the two spacecraft closing at the
rate of 340 nm with every revolution of the Earth. The two spacecraft
will pass within 50 nm of one another about 11:48 p.m. Thursday, at a
Mission Elapsed Time of 7/09:30.
Earlier today, Mission Specialist Jeff Hoffman set a record for the
most hours flown on a Space Shuttle, breaking the previous record of
975 hours 18 minutes held by Kathy Thornton. Hoffman will break the
1,000 hour mark aboard the Shuttle on Thursday.
Work with the United States Microgravity Payload experiments continues
with the astronauts supporting a variety of investigations including
crystal growth, materials solidification and fluid dynamics.
Columbia is functioning normally, with no problems being tracked by
the flight control team as the Shuttle orbits the Earth every 90
minutes at an altitude of 180 statute miles.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 6
a.m. Thursday.
|
| 952.27 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 15 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Feb 29 1996 11:56 | 44 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 15
Thursday, February 29, 1996, 9 a.m. CST
Columbia's crew continues its work with the United States Microgravity
Payload experiments supporting a variety of investigations including
crystal growth, materials solidification and fluid
dynamics. Meanwhile, payload controllers continue to obtain snapshots
of data from the tethered satellite as it passes within range of
available groundstations around the world.
As TSS battery power diminishes, plans are in work to turn on science
instruments, Earth sensors and stabilizing gyros in anticipation of
the closest approach of TSS to Columbia at about 11 p.m. central time
today (approximately 07/08:50 mission elapsed time). At that point,
the orbiter should pass within about 50 miles of the satellite
possibly allowing payload bay instruments a chance to gather data on
the satellite as well.
Because of the instability of the satellite and its varying
gravitational drag, the distance between the two spacecraft and the
time of closest approach likely will change. In any case, there is no
concern about Columbia passing too close to the satellite. Whether or
not the crew can visually observe the satellite during the fly-by will
depend on lighting conditions at that time.
The Tethered Satellite is currently about 3,000 nautical miles ahead
of Columbia with the distance between the two spacecraft closing at
the rate of 340 nm with every revolution of the Earth.
Later today, several of the crewmembers will participate in two
in-flight interviews. The first at 4:20 p.m. is with two Philadelphia
television stations and the second at 6:08 p.m. is with the United
States Information Agency's Worldnet program.
Columbia is functioning normally, with no problems being tracked by
the flight control team as the Shuttle orbits the Earth every 90
minutes at an altitude of 180 statute miles.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 6
a.m. Friday.
|
| 952.28 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 16 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Mon Mar 04 1996 03:06 | 30 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 16
Thursday, February 29, 1996, 5 p.m. CST
Columbia and the Tethered Satellite will pass within about 51 nautical
miles of each other at 11:17 p.m. central time today (approximately
7/08:59 MET), providing the astronauts a chance to glimpse the errant
spacecraft since it separated from the orbiter Sunday night.
Tonight's encounter with TSS marks the point of closest approach
for the two spacecraft before they begin to separate once again.
Currently, the orbiter trails TSS by a distance of about 1900 nautical
miles, with Columbia closing on the satellite at the rate of 340 nm
with each revolution of the Earth. Whether or not the crew will be
able to see the satellite during the fly-by will depend on lighting
conditions and orbiter position.
This afternoon, crewmembers discussed the progress of the flight
during an in-flight interview with two Philadelphia television
stations. A second interview, at 6:08 p.m., is with the United States
Information Agency's Worldnet program.
Columbia is functioning normally, with no problems being tracked by
the flight control team as the Shuttle orbits the Earth every 90
minutes at an altitude of 180 statute miles.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 6
a.m. Friday.
|
| 952.29 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 17 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Mon Mar 04 1996 03:08 | 38 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 17
Friday, March 1, 1996, 8 a.m. CST
Columbia's astronauts had a clear view of the Tethered Satellite as
the two spacecraft passed within about 46 nautical miles
overnight. The closest approach occurred at 11:17 central time last
night (approximately 7/08:59 MET), and was captured on videotape as
the satellite and its 12-mile tether came into view.
Meanwhile, flight controllers monitored the Tethered Satellite through
ground stations as its batteries drained, but not before holding in
for last night's fly-by.
About 6 a.m. today, weak signals from the satellite, indicating its
battery life was waning, were observed through the Merritt Island
tracking station and the Bermuda tracking station. During a second
pass across the southern United States about 7:30 a.m. today (7/17:12
mission elapsed time), ground controllers confirmed there was no
acquisition of signal from the satellite, effectively ending its
mission.
Three in-flight special events are planned for the crew this morning
and early afternoon. An Italian media interview is set for about 10
a.m.; an Italian VIP call to crewmembers Maurizio Cheli and Payload
Specialist Umberto Guidoni is set for 11:50 this morning and a Swiss
educational event with Mission Specialist Claude Nicollier is
scheduled for 2:48 this afternoon.
Columbia is continuing to provide a stable platform for microgravity
investigations as Columbia sails 180 statute miles above the Earth,
circling the globe every 90 minutes.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 8
a.m. Saturday. Weekend hours are 8 am. to 2 p.m.
|
| 952.30 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 18 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Mon Mar 04 1996 03:08 | 25 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 18
Friday, March 1, 1996, 4 p.m. CST
Science investigations occupied much of the crew's time on board
Columbia today as the astronauts continued to support the
U.S. Microgravity Payload.
Experiments into convection and the behavior of flame patterns in
microgravity were the focus of activity on Columbia's middeck
today. The astronauts also took time today to share their thoughts
during an Italian media interview and a Swiss educational event.
Late in the afternoon, Commander Andy Allen, Mission Specialist
Maurizio Cheli and Payload Specialist Umberto Guidoni accepted a
congratulatory phone call from Giorgio Salvini, the Italian Minister
of Universities and Scientific Research.
Columbia continues to perform in near flawless fashion as it sails 180
statute miles above the Earth, circling the globe every 90 minutes.
The JSC newsroom will close at 5 p.m. today and will reopen at 8
a.m. Saturday. Weekend hours are 8 am. to 2 p.m.
|
| 952.31 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 19 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Mon Mar 04 1996 03:09 | 29 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 19
Saturday, March 2 -- 8 a.m. CST
While science investigations continued on the middeck -- specifically
studying how fire spreads and soot develops in the microgravity
environment of space -- a procedure was performed to remove ice from
the core of Columbia's flash evaporator system which shutdown
earlier this morning.
The FES core flush procedure was identical to one carried out on the
last Shuttle flight to melt ice and recover use of the subsystem which
is designed as a subtle method for dumping excess water overboard
without disrupting the experiments on board. The FES also cools the
freon used to keep orbiter and payload electronics at operating
temperatures.
Later today, Franklin Chang-Diaz (from Costa Rica) will be interviewed
by the Spanish NewsChannel and CNN International. Joining him for the
4:30 interview are Andy Allen, Jeff Hoffman and Claude Nicollier.
At 7:30 this evening, Jeff Hoffman with other available crew members
will receive a congratulatory call from organizers of the annual
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Columbia's systems continue to operate well, providing a platform for
USMP operations in orbit 180 miles above the Earth.
|
| 952.32 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 20 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Tue Mar 05 1996 03:03 | 27 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 20
Sunday, March 3 -- 8 a.m. CST
Flying 180 miles above the Earth, Columbia continues to provide a
stable platform for the experiments comprising the United States
Microgravity Payload mission with all orbiter systems performing well.
Science investigations continued through the night without
interruption. Among the activities, crew members worked with an
experiment called the Forced Flow Flamespreading Test which studies
how flames react in the absence of gravity.
This morning, Commander Andy Allen had some time to relax while Pilot
Scott Horowitz, Mission Specialist Maurizio Cheli, and Payload
Specialist Umberto Guidoni talked with Voice of America about the
progress of the flight so far. Later in the day, Horowitz, Cheli and
Guidoni will have a break from their payload activities while Allen
continues the scientific investigations.
The Blue Team will wake for its next shift at shortly after 3
p.m. Central.
Columbia continues to orbit the Earth in smooth fashion at an altitude
of 180 miles, completing one revolution of the Earth every 90 minutes.
T
|
| 952.33 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 21 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Tue Mar 05 1996 03:04 | 26 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 21
Monday, March 4 -- 8 a.m. CST
Science investigations continue aboard Columbia as mission managers
on
the ground contemplate extending the flight at the request of the
United States Microgravity Payload customer.
Meanwhile, studies into how flame behaves in the absence of gravity
continue in a controlled environment on the middeck of the orbiter.
The investigations will hopefully provide additional data for improved
fire-fighting techniques on Earth.
From an orbiter standpoint, Columbia is in excellent shape supporting
the USMP operations. One of the three navigation units on board --
Inertial Measurement Unit number 3 -- was turned off yesterday after
controllers monitored small drifts in its gyroscopes. Drifts such as
these are compensated through alignments periodically and pose no
problem for the flight duration since only one IMU is required for on
orbit operations. The unit will be turned back on before landing day.
Columbia is in an orbit 182 by 171 statute miles above the Earth
circling the globe every 90 minutes.
|
| 952.34 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 22 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Wed Mar 06 1996 03:04 | 29 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 22
Monday, March 4 -- 5 p.m. CST
Columbia's astronauts will spend an additional day in orbit after
flight controllers opted to extend the flight to support ongoing
scientific investigations with the United States Microgravity Payload.
Commander Andy Allen responded to the news by telling flight
controllers the crew was ready to support any additional mission
extensions. With the additional day, landing is now set for 6:13
a.m. CST on March 8.
Columbia's astronauts also may have an opportunity to view the
Tethered Satellite once again as the two spacecraft will pass within
40-50 nautical miles of each other mid- morning Tuesday. Flight
controllers will work through the night to refine the exact time of
tomorrow's close approach. Currently, Columbia trails the satellite
at a distance of 3,900 nautical miles, closing the gap at the rate of
314 nautical miles with every orbit of the Earth.
The seven-member crew will discuss the progress of the mission with
reporters in the United States and Europe during the traditional
in-flight news conference at 5:54 central time Tuesday morning.
Columbia continues to provide a stable platform for the USMP science
activities.
|
| 952.35 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 23 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Wed Mar 06 1996 03:06 | 41 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 23
Tuesday, March 5 -- 8 a.m. CST
Aboard Columbia, crew members continue to work around the clock
investigating flame behavior in a controlled, microgravity
environment. Early today, a balky cooling system froze up again but
was cleared using the same procedure run a couple of days ago.
The flash evaporator system core flush procedure was identical to the
one carried out on Saturday to melt ice and recover use of the
subsystem which is designed as a subtle method for dumping excess
water overboard without disrupting the experiments on board. The FE
also cools the freon used to keep orbiter and payload electronics at
operating temperatures.
The unit was turned on to evaluate its operation with freon running at
a slightly higher temperature than usual to prevent ice formation in
the core. The test was conducted on one of two controllers for the
unit. A second test on the alternate controller may be conducted
later.
Columbia is scheduled to pass within 50 to 60 miles of the tethered
satellite at 10:25 this morning, just as the satellite enters orbital
sunrise. It is unclear whether the crew will be able to view the
satellite as it did several days ago.
This morning, the astronauts took time out from science operations to
discuss the progress of the mission with reporters in the United
States and Europe.
With an extra day on orbit for science operations, the seven
astronauts will continue work supporting the United States
Microgravity Payload experiments. The end of Columbia's 19th
mission is now scheduled for 6:19 a.m. central on Friday.
Despite the intermittent freeze-up of the FES, the orbiter continues
to provide a stable environment for USMP operations. Columbia is in
an orbit 181 by 173 statute miles.
|
| 952.36 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 24 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Wed Mar 06 1996 03:07 | 32 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 24
Tuesday, March 5 -- 4 p.m. CST
Columbia's astronauts had one last look at the Tethered Satellite
late this morning telling flight controllers they could see both the
satellite and the tether hanging beneath it.
Lighting precluded a viewing opportunity during the point of closest
approach between the two spacecraft, but one orbit later the crew saw
and filmed TSS from a distance of about 450 nautical miles. The
videotape was played back for flight controllers on the ground this
afternoon. Today's pass of the satellite marks the final viewing
opportunity for the seven astronauts on board Columbia.
Shortly before 7 p.m. central today, Franklin Chang-Diaz, Jeff Hoffman
and Claude Nicollier will participate in the final on-orbit interview
for the flight. The three crew members will discuss their missions
with both Univision and Telenoticias, the two largest Hispanic
television networks.
Wednesday morning, Commander Andy Allen will attempt to make contact
with the crew of Atlantis on Launch Pad 39-B. STS-76 Commander Kevin
Chilton and the crew of the next Shuttle/Mir mission will be on board
Atlantis participating in a final dress rehearsal of their planned
March 21 launch.
Columbia continues to provide a stable platform for the continuing
scientific investigations being conducted in the United States
Microgravity Payload.
|
| 952.37 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 25 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Thu Mar 07 1996 03:09 | 37 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 25
Wednesday, March 6 -- 8 a.m. CST
Columbia flew over the Shuttle launch site this morning allowing
STS-75 Commander Andy Allen and STS-76 Commander Kevin Chilton the
opportunity to talk briefly while the Atlantis crew practiced its
launch countdown at the Kennedy Space Center.
STS-76 remains scheduled for launch in the early hours of March 21 to
begin the third docking mission of a Shuttle to the Russian Space
Station Mir. The mission commanders exchanged greetings as the STS-75
crew crowded around Columbia's overhead windows to catch a glimpse
of KSC as they passed overhead.
Meanwhile, with an extension day ahead of them, Columbia's seven
astronauts continue around the clock operation and oversight of the
various microgravity investigations that make up this third mission of
the United States Microgravity Payload.
Small thruster firings to put Columbia into a subtle 360-degree
rotation were conducted to allow experimenters the opportunity to
gather data into how movements such as these affect samples being
grown in the quiet, stable environment of space.
Mission managers are evaluating the long-range weather forecast for
Friday -- the scheduled day for landing -- to determine if it will be
acceptable for landing. The current landing time is 6:19 a.m. central
on the first of three available opportunities that day. Columbia has
enough consumables on board to stay in space into the early part of
next week.
Columbia continues to provide a stable platform for the continuing
scientific investigations being conducted in the United States
Microgravity Payload.
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| 952.38 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 26 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Fri Mar 08 1996 03:07 | 37 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 26
Wednesday, March 6 -- 4 p.m. CST
After 13 days in orbit, Columbia's astronauts are preparing for
their return trip to Earth.
Tonight, the crew will deactivate and stow the Middeck Glove Box
experiment, used during the flight to study the behavior of flame in a
microgravity environment. A special low-light camera in Columbia's
payload bay, called TOP, will make some final observations of the
luminous glow that surrounds the shuttle as its surfaces react to
atomic oxygen.
Early Thursday morning, Commander Andy Allen, Pilot Scott Horowitz and
Mission Specialist Maurizio Cheli will perform the standard checks of
Columbia's flight control surfaces and reaction control system to
prepare the orbiter for reentry and landing. Allen and Horowitz also
will fine tune their landing skills using a portable laptop computer
called PILOT which simulates the orbiter's reentry and landing
profile.
There are three opportunities for Columbia's return to the Kennedy
Space Center on Friday morning. The targeted landing time is 6:19
a.m. central, with back-up opportunities at 7:55 a.m. and 9:31 a.m.
Mission managers are evaluating the long-range weather forecast for
Friday to determine if it will be acceptable for landing at KSC.
Current predictions call for low, broken and scattered clouds, and a
chance of rain and gusty winds. The alternate landing site at Edwards
Air Force Base in California, will not be called up to support a
Friday landing, but weather conditions at Edwards are expected to be
acceptable throughout the weekend.
Columbia continues to perform well as its 19th journey in space nears
its end.
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| 952.39 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 28 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Fri Mar 08 1996 03:09 | 45 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 28
Thursday, March 7 -- 4 p.m. CST
Columbia's astronauts have readied their ship to return to Earth after
a journey of more than 6 million miles. Landing at the Kennedy Space
Center is targeted for 7:52 a.m. central time, the first of two
opportunities to KSC tomorrow.
Early this morning, during the standard pre-landing check of
Columbia's flight control system, one of four data channels
failed. The command path involved is one of four that commands an
actuator to move flight control surfaces during reentry. The command
path is considered "failed", but the three remaining command
paths remain healthy and in position to support tomorrow's planned
landing.
Throughout the night, the reentry flight control team will continue to
review weather conditions at the primary landing site at KSC, as well
as the alternate landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Flight controllers opted to forego an earlier KSC landing opportunity
at 6:16 a.m. central time, because of forecast low clouds and the
possibility of rain and gusty winds. Weather conditions are expected
to improve later in the morning to support the two KSC landing
opportunities.
The first landing opportunity would see a deorbit firing of
Columbia's engines at 6:49 a.m. central time, with a landing on
Runway 33 at 7:52 a.m. The second opportunity, one orbit later, has a
deorbit burn at 8:25 a.m., followed by landing at 9:27 a.m.
If weather precludes a landing at KSC, there are two opportunities for
a Friday landing at Edwards Air Force Base. The first would see a
deorbit burn of Columbia's engines at 8:15 a.m. central time, with
landing on Runway 22 at 9:27 a.m. The second opportunity, has a
deorbit burn at 9:54 a.m. central time with landing at 10:54 a.m.
Weather in California is predicted to be acceptable to support
landing.
If Columbia remains in orbit an additional day due to weather
conditions, there are three landing opportunities available on
Saturday at KSC and three at Edwards.
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| 952.40 | It's down. | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Mon Mar 11 1996 03:31 | 25 |
| Flight Day 17
Space Shuttle Columbia completed a 16-day science mission this morning
with a landing at 7:58 a.m. CST at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
An early landing opportunity this morning was passed over because of
cloudy conditions at the landing site, but weather conditions improved
for the one-orbit later end of mission.
The seven-member flight crew will return to Houston to a welcoming
ceremony at Ellington Field Saturday mid-afternoon at the Hangar 990
area. The event is open to the public. This recording will be updated
later today as the crew return time becomes known.
Columbias flight covered approximately six and a half million miles in
251 orbits of the Earth. It was the 75th mission of the Shuttle program
and Columbias 19th trip into space. Originally scheduled to end
Thursday, the flight was first extended one day to gain additional
science time on orbit and extended until Saturday after landing
opportunities Friday were missed due to unacceptable weather in
Florida.
Columbias entry ground track took it across Mexico, the center of Texas
and Louisiana before tracking over the Gulf of Mexico on its way to the
Florida landing site. The orbiters main gear touched the runway at 7:58
a.m. and 21 seconds.
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| 952.41 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 29 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Tue Mar 12 1996 08:02 | 31 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 29
Friday, February 8, 1996, 9 a.m.
Shuttle managers today elected to wait for better weather in Florida
on Saturday due to unpredictable cloud cover this morning at Kennedy
Space Center. The weather forecast indicates improved conditions
Saturday.
Today's landing opportunities slipped by one by one as the flight
control team saw some improvement in cloud cover at the KSC landing
site, only to be faced with a prediction of bands of low clouds moving
over the runway area at the scheduled landing time. Weather was
generally good at Edwards Air Force Base, the alternate site, but with
some hope of better weather in Florida Saturday, managers decided to
keep Columbia in orbit one additional day.
Early Friday, Columbia's astronauts prepared the vehicle for entry,
packing up gear aboard the shuttle and closing the payload bay doors.
They will now reopen the doors to provide necessary cooling and go
through the deorbit preparations again Saturday morning.
The first opportunity Saturday for a KSC landing comes on orbit 250
with a deorbit burn at 5:23 a.m. CST and a landing at 6:24 a.m. CST.
The second KSC opportunity is at 7:59 a.m. CST and the final
opportunity in Florida comes at 9:35 a.m.
Edwards landing opportunities Saturday morning are at 7:51, 9:26 and
11:01 CST.
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| 952.42 | STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 30 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Tue Mar 12 1996 08:03 | 24 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 30
Friday, February 8, 1996, 5 p.m.
Space Shuttle Columbia's astronauts were scheduled to awaken about
10:30 p.m. Friday night to begin preparations for a Saturday landing,
concluding over two weeks of science operations in space. Shuttle
managers earlier today elected to pass up landing at the Edwards Air
Force Base in California Friday in the hope that improving weather at
Kennedy Space Center in Florida would allow for a landing there
Saturday.
Early Saturday, Columbia's astronauts will prepare the vehicle for
entry, packing up gear aboard the shuttle, closing the payload bay
doors and getting into their launch/entry suits.
The first opportunity Saturday for a KSC landing comes on orbit 250
with a deorbit burn at 5:23 a.m. CST and a landing at 6:24 a.m. CST.
The second KSC opportunity is at 7:59 a.m. CST and the final
opportunity in Florida comes at 9:35 a.m.
Edwards landing opportunities Saturday morning are at 9:26 and 11:01
CST.
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| 952.43 | STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #31 | ERMTRD::CLIFFE | I'll warp my own space-time ... | Tue Mar 12 1996 08:04 | 29 |
| STS-75 Mission Control Status Report #31
Saturday, March 9 8:30 a.m.
Space Shuttle Columbia completed a 16-day science mission this morning
with a landing at 7:58 a.m. CST at the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida. An early landing opportunity this morning was passed over
because of cloudy conditions at the landing site, but weather
conditions improved for the one-orbit later end of mission.
The seven-member flight crew will return to Houston to a welcoming
ceremony at Ellington Field Saturday mid-afternoon at the Hangar 990
area. The event is open to the public. This recording will be
updated later today as the crew return time becomes known.
Columbia's flight covered approximately six and a half million
miles in 251 orbits of the Earth. It was the 75th mission of the
Shuttle program and Columbia's 19th trip into space. Originally
scheduled to end Thursday, the flight was first extended one day to
gain additional science time on orbit and extended until Saturday
after landing opportunities Friday were missed due to unacceptable
weather in Florida.
Columbia's entry ground track took it across Mexico, the center of
Texas and Louisiana before tracking over the Gulf of Mexico on its way
to the Florida landing site. The orbiters main gear touched the
runway at 7:58 a.m. and 21 seconds.
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| 952.44 | | AUSSIE::GARSON | achtentachtig kacheltjes | Tue Mar 12 1996 20:13 | 7 |
| re .42
> STS-75 Mission Control Center Status Report # 30
>
> Friday, February 8, 1996, 5 p.m.
Gee, that must make it the longest shuttle mission on record.
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| 952.45 | TSS Tether failure analysis report released | NETCAD::BATTERSBY | Don't use time/words carelessly | Wed Jun 05 1996 10:01 | 155 |
|
Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC June 4, 1996
(Phone: 202/358-1979)
Jerry Berg
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
(Phone: 205/544-0034)
Enzo Letico
ASI, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/863-1298)
RELEASE: 96-112
TETHERED SATELLITE INVESTIGATION REPORT IS RELEASED
NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) today released the
report of the investigative board appointed to determine
factors which resulted in the Feb. 25 tether break and loss of
the Tethered Satellite during the STS-75 Space Shuttle mission.
Findings of the board, included in a 358-page document,
identified primary causes which accounted for the tether break
during deployment of the Tethered Satellite.
"The tether failed as a result of arcing and burning of
the tether, leading to a tensile failure after a significant
portion of the tether had burned away," the report concludes.
The arcing occurred because either external foreign object
penetration (but not orbital debris or micrometeoroids) or a
defect in the tether caused a breach in the layer of
insulation surrounding the tether conductor. The insulation
breach provided a path for the current to jump, or arc, from
the copper wire in the tether to a nearby electrical ground.
The board found that the arcing burned away most of the
tether material at that location, leading to separation of the
tether from tensile or pulling force. The break occurred when
approximately 12.2 miles (19.7 km) of tether was unreeled, in
a period when the tether was experiencing normal stresses of
approximately 15 pounds (65 newtons).
In addition to the two primary causes for the tether
break, the board cited, as one contributing factor, that "the
degree of vulnerability of the tether insulation to damage was
not fully appreciated." The board noted that the actual
environment that the tether was exposed to in flight made it
more vulnerable to damage than was expected. And, it noted
that the high voltages under which the system was operating
could, over a period of time, have reduced the ability of the
tether insulation to withstand electrical breakdown due to
contamination found in the tether.
"The tether itself was a remarkable engineering
achievement," said Ken Szalai, who chaired the investigative
board, "and produced some startling scientific discoveries."
Scientific papers recently presented at an American
Geophysical Union conference reported that currents generated
by the tether were three times higher than theoretical models
had predicted prior to the flight.
"Constructing a tether that was strong, lightweight and
electrically conducting took the project into technical and
engineering areas where they had never been before," said
Szalai. "Now, with 20/20 hindsight, they know where the system
is vulnerable and can improve the design."
The Tethered Satellite System is a joint NASA-ASI system
that was flown aboard Space Shuttle Columbia in an experiment
to better understand the electrically charged environment of
Earth's ionosphere, and how tether systems behave in it. ASI
had the responsibility of providing the satellite, while NASA
had the responsibility of the Deployer, which includes the
tether, and the overall responsibility for payload integration
and operations. The provision of science investigations was
shared by ASI and NASA.
The system was generating 3,500 volts DC and up to 0.5
amps of current during satellite deployment. That high level
of electrical energy resulted from the length of conducting
tether extending from the Shuttle, coupled with the 17,500-
mile-per-hour speed at which the Shuttle and tether were
cutting through Earth's magnetic field lines.
The board found sufficient evidence to identify two
possible causes of the breach in the insulation -- foreign
object damage, or a defect in the tether itself. Debris and
contamination found in the deployer mechanisms and in the
tether itself could have been pushed into the insulation layer
while the tether was still wound on its reel. The
investigation found evidence of damage to copper wire in the
tether, and also established that normal forces on the tether
while on the reel could push a single copper strand or foreign
debris through the insulation.
The arcing, which began in an intricate part of the
Tethered Satellite System known as the lower tether control
mechanism, sputtered intermittently for nine seconds as the
moving tether passed through deployer mechanisms and then into
the boom area of the tether system. At the time, tether was
continuing to play out at one meter per second, or slightly
more than three feet per second.
"This arcing produced significant burning of most of the
tether material in the area of the arc," the board found. The
tether was designed to carry up to 15,000 volts DC and handle
tensile forces of up to 400 pounds (1780 newtons). It used
super-strong strands of Kevlar as a strength-providing member,
wound around the copper and insulation. However, postflight
inspection of the tether end which remained aboard Columbia
showed it to be charred. The board concluded that after
arcing had burned through most of the Kevlar, the few
remaining strands were not enough to withstand forces being
exerted by satellite deployment.
Extensive, rigorous tests performed in support of the
investigation established that undamaged tether would not arc,
even when subjected to electrical potentials much higher than
the 3500 volts experienced during the mission.
The board was able to exonerate a number of factors which
clearly did not cause the break. These factors include the
satellite, the science equipment hardware and operations,
which were being conducted prior to the break, in addition to
micrometeoroids or orbital debris impact, and electrical storm
activity.
The investigation panel made several detailed
recommendations which it said should be followed for any
future space missions involving electrodynamic tether systems
such as that flown aboard Columbia. These include more
precautions to ensure any such tether systems in the future do
not suffer from possible debris or contamination damage and
specific attention during design to minimize the possibility
of high-voltage arcing.
The board offered, in the form of observations, its
assessment that the STS-75 tether problem "is not indicative
of any fundamental problem in using electrodynamic tethers."
It also noted that in spite of the break, a "significant
amount" of scientific data was obtained from the Tethered
Satellite operations during STS-75.
The nine-member independent review panel was formed in
consultation with ASI and appointed by NASA's Associate
Administrator for the Office of Space Flight, Wilbur Trafton,
shortly after the tether break. The board was chaired by Ken
Szalai, director of the Dryden Flight Research Center,
Edwards, CA, and included representation from NASA and the ASI.
-end-
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