Doli wrrell , 205-453-~V33 Residence, 205-881 -09tX
NINM SPAR FLIGHT SET FOR MID-JANUARY MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -- NASA's ninth Space Processing Applications Rocket (SPAR IX) is scheduled to be launched from White Sands, New Mexico, in- mid-January. The SPAR IX science payload, developed and tested by the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., contains four experiments which will be pro- cessed during about five minutes of near-zero-gravity achieved in the coast phase of the sub-orbital sounding rocket flight. . The SPAR project, a countinuing series .of materials processing in space rocket flights, was initiated in 1975. It is part of a larger Materials Processing in Space program, also managed by Marshall, exploring materials science and technology using zero-gravity as a research tool leading toward future application of the technology in commercialization on Earth or, where practical and economical, in space, by private enterprise. The SPAR IX payload will be parachuted back to earth, where the experiments will be recovered and returned to principal investigators for study and reports on results of the experiments. The recovery system incorporates modifications by the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md..,to correct annornolies experienced in the parachute system on the SPAR VI11 flight in November. -more- January 5, 1981 The payioad will carry three different types of furnaces for' processing various materials--a general-purpose rocket furnace, for an aluminum-indium imiscible experiment and a foam copper experiment; a,large casting furnace for a tin-bismuth experiment; and a directional-solidification furnace, 'or a magnetic composites experiment. Dr. Mary Helen Johnston, of the Marshall Center's Materials and Processes Laboratory, is principal investigator for the tin-bismuth experiment, officially entitled "Comparative Alloy Solidification." The objective of the experiment is to study how castings form by using a metal system that behaves like, but is less complicated than, commercial stwctural alloys. This work is directed toward pro- ducing higher-strength, more uniform castings. Dr. Johnston has had related experiments on several previous SPAR flights. Dr. Claude Potard, of the French Atomic Energy Commission, Grenoble, France,
is -1principal investigator for an experiment called "Directional Solidification of 1mni.scible Aluminum-Indium Alloys." The objective is to study the influence of low gravity and temperature gradient on materials that do not normally mix in the one-g environment on Earth, with the hope of being able to make new alloys. Principal Investigator for the "Foam Copper" experiment is Dr. Robert Pond, of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. The experiment will seek to demonstrate the feasibility of producing foamed metal alloys in a low-g environ- ment for light-weight, high-strength structural applications. Dr. Ran Pirich, of GrummanAerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.; is responsible for-the fourth experiment, "Directional Solidification of Magnetic Composites,'' which will continue study of the increased magnetic properties achieved by making
margan_eserbismuth&I*. -- composites in low-g, compared to material made on Earth. This work may eventually lead to higher-strength magnets.
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I' National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Right Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Dave Drachlis, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-837-1990 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-5
MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM TEST SCHEDULED
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -- The next pre-flight
static test firing of the Space Shuttle's main propulsion system
at the National Space Technology Laboratories in Mississippi has
been scheduled for Jan. 17.
At a planned run of approximately 10 minutes, 35 seconds,
this will be the longest firing yet of the cluster of three Space
Shuttle Main Engines coupled to a flight-type external propellant
tank and a simulated Orbiter aft section.
During the Jan. 17 test, the engines will be fired at 100
percent of rated power level, using the same size and similar
type nozzles (77:l expansion ratio) as those being used on the
Shuttle Orbiter's flight engines. Smaller, test (stub) nozzles
have been used during many of the previous firings.
The major test objectives include the shutting down of one
engine 235 seconds into the run to simulate the shutdown of an
engine during an actual launch and gimballing of the flight
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t' nozzles during operation. The test will be run wlthout the anti- geyser line on the external propellant tank, to verify the feasibility of eventually removing it from the External Tank.
The anti-geyser line provides a circulation path to reduce accumulation of gaseous oxygen in the oxygen feedline during fueling operations. This is not related to the first flight, which will use an anti-geyser-equipped tank.
The upcoming test will bring the firing time on the combined main propulsion system to more than one hour, Total firing time on just the Space Shuttle Main Engines is much greater; engines tested to date in all programs have exceeded 100,000 seconds -- more than 28 hours -- of operating time.
The testing is conducted by Rockwell International Space Operations personnel, under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., the NASA center responsible for managing development of the Shuttle propulsion systems. - 30 - For Release John Taylor, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-881-7843 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-8
FINAL PREFLIGHT TEST OF SHUTTLE'S MAIN PROPULSION SYSTEM SUCCESSFUL MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --On Saturday, Jan. 17, NASA's test version of the Space Shuttle's main propulsion system successfully completed its last scheduled test firing before the Shuttle's maiden flight planned €or March. The firing, which lasted 10 minutes, 29 seconds, was the 12th, and longest, test of the system to date. It brings the total firing time on the main propulsion test article to mere than one hour -- the equivalent of more than seven Shuttle flights. This included six firings that were programed to meet or exceed the duration necessary to put a Shuttle into orbit. The Shuttle's main propulsion test article consists of three high-performance, liquid-fueled main engines mounted in a simulated tail section of an Orbiter; a large external propellant tank, and associated hardware. The Shuttle's main propulsion system, together with its two Solid Rocket Boosters, will -mo r e -
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generate the thrust necessary to launch the vehicle on its flight to orbit. With Saturday's successful firing, all main propulsion system test objectives for the first flight, and some objectives
for later missions, have been achieved, according to James 1;I. Sisson, manager of the Shuttle's Engineering and Major Test Management Office at Marshall. During the test, the cluster of three engines, equipped with flight type (77.5:l expansion ratio) nozzles, was fired at 100 percent of rated power level for 239 seconds, at which time one engine was shut down. This was done to simulate the inflight shutdown of an engine and an aborted mission where the crew would return the Shuttle to the launch site for landing. Gimballing and pogo pulsing were alternated during the firing. Gimballing is the movement of the engines to redirect their thrust and help steer the Shuttle during launch. Pogo pulsing is the intentional introduction of pressure pulses into the feedlines to test the propulsion system's ability to damp out
' ,these induced oscillations.
This test was also run without the anti-geyser line on the External Tank to verify feasibility of eventually removing it fr,om later versions of the tank. This is a line that provides n circulation path for the liquid oxygen, to maintain proper propellant temperature and prevent the format ion of a gas blockage in the feedline. This part of the test was not related to the first flight which will use an anti-geyser equipped tank. Other test objectives included investigating the engine
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cutoff sequence that will be used during the first Shuttle flight, and evaluatin: the system for burning off excess h:,-drcz-it gas that accumulates at the base of the engine cluster prior to
1.7.- ; i ‘’‘7 3’ . il * --“he test was conducted at the National Space Technology Laboratories, near Bay St. Louis, Miss., and was run by Rockwell International Space Operations personnel. Testing was done under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center, the NASA organization responsible for the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engines, External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. -30-
. .. t 1 ._ . . News NatlGnai Aeronautics and Saxa Adninistratior George C. Marshall Space flight Center biarsnaii Space Flight Center. Alaoama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 A /I a,,\\,-
,/.\ Press Kit
Release No. 81-15
Wet Countdown Demonstration 1' and Flight Readiness Firing
Contents
GENERAL RELEASE...... 1 WET Wu" DEMONSTRATION TEST/FLIGHT READINESS FIRING..... 4 COU" AND FLIGHT READINESS FIRING...... 5 Countdown Sequence - Flight Readiness Firing ...... 7 Flight Readiness Firing ...... 9 MISSION VERIFICATION TEST...... 9 Return-to-Launch-Site Abort Exercise...... 9 Abort-Once-Around Exercise...... 10 Mission Simulation...... 10 End-of-Mission Exercise...... 11 PROGUM MANAGEMENT...... 11
February 2, 1981
1- .. News 'iatmai Aeronautics ana ;cas? Acninisrrarim George C. Marshall Space night Cater hAarsharI Soace hgnt ~~anter.AlaDama 3581 2 4C 205 453-2034
=nr Pe!ease David Garrett Headquarters, Washington, 3.C. I?,%EDI ATE (Phone: 202/755-3090) Dick Young (Also released in Kennedy Space Center, Fla. IVashington D.C.) (Phone: 305/867-2468) Dave Drachlis or Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034)
FIELEASE NO: 81-15 SPACE SHUTTLE DRESS REHEARSAL SET FOR FESRU-ARY
A dress rehearsal of all aspects of the first Space Shuttle mission (STS-1) will be conducted by NASA in February to clear the way for the launch of the Shuttle's first orbital flight, now scheduled for no earlier than the week of April 5.
The exercise will touch upon all segments of the mission -- including countdown and launch, ascent and orbital operations, and reentry and landing under normal and abort conditions.
The Ill-day test series will involve operations at the t- I -' Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif., the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., and the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. February 2, 1981
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It will be divided into two major sections: the Wet Count- down Demonstration Test/Flight Readiness Firing, which will in- clude a 20-second test firing of the orbiter's three main en- gines, and a Mission Verification Test, which will be centered on flight and landing operations.
The first Space Shuttle mission (STS-1) will be 54 hours, 30 minutes in duration with launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Mission operations will be controlled by the Johnson Space Cen- ter. The Dryden Flight Research Center is the primary landing site, but provisions exist for a return-to-launch-site abort landing at the Kennedy Space Center and an abort landing after less than a singla or5it (sbort-once-around) at the Northro? Strip, White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
Astronauts on the prime crew for the STS-1 mission are John Young, comnander, and Robert Crippen, pilot. Backup crew members are Joe Engle, comnander, and Richard Truly, pilot.
The STS-1 space vehicle, consisting of the orbiter Columbia, the external tank which supplies liquid hydrogen and liquid oxy- gen propellants to the orbiter's three main engines, and two solid rocket boosters, was moved from Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad A at Launch Complex 39 on Dec. 29.
The space vehicle and mobile launcher platform on which it rests were connected with ground support equipment for the Pad Validation Test which began on Jan. 2.
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An extensive series of flight and ground system tests in Jmuary and early February set the stage for the 11-day dress re- hearsal which must be successfully comgleted to clear the way for launch.
The Wet Countdown Demonstration Test/Flight Readiness Firing and Mission Verification Test will exercise all elements of the new Space Transportation System, including personnel, facilities, space vehicle and computer programs in a demanding real time en- vironment to demonstrate the proper integration of all elements prior to the STS-1 mission.
The Wet Countdown Demonstration/Flight fieadiness Firing at
Kennedy will be followed by approximately three weeks by 8 launch simulation with the external tank unloaded and the prime crew on board. During this dry countdown test, the space vehicle will be processed through the final five hours of the countdown to a simulated ignition and liftoff.
This test in which the crew will participate is primarily a checkout of flight and ground support systems.
(END OF GENERAL RELEASE)
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WET COUNTDOWN DEMONSTRATION TEST/FLIGdT READINESS FIRING The Wet Countdown Dernonstrstign Test/?light Re3dinoss Firing is a detailed practice run for the STS-l launch and is aimed at identifying any failures or weaknesses in spacecraft and ground systems before launch day. Conditions and timelines for the test and firing duplicate as close as practicable those planned for STS-1 launch, and include tanking and detanking of the orbiter Columbia and the external tank (hence "wet") and 3 cgmplete checkout of Pad A at Complex 39. Columbia's cabin will be unmanned when propellant loading begins, and orbiter systems \vi11 be remotely operated durin5 the test. The six-day demonstration test will culminate in a 20- second firing of Columbia's three main engines at throttle set- tings ranging from 94 to 100 pereent of rated thrust while the engine nozzles are tilted in their gimbals as they would be in flight to control the direction of thrust. Extra experience and training will be gained from the test and readiness firing by other NASA facilities involved in Shuttle operations. Flight controllers in the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center in ?iouston ~i!iTonitor Ca!umbis's 4:~s- terns during the tests. At the Xarshaii Space ?light Center, Huntsville, Ala., 8 group of design experts will nonitor the tests in real-time to provide advice ana trouble-shooting capability on Shuttle main propulsion and booster systems. While the main engines, orbiter, external tank, solid rocket boosters and ground support systems have been tested individu- ally, the demonstration test and readiness firing will be the only chance to test the full vehicle "stack" in launch conditjons without proceeding to an actual launch. A successful test will provide confidence that the Space Shuttle is ready for flight. Both wet and dry launch rehearsals were conducted prior to all 13 Saturn V and four Saturn 1B launches from Complex 39, but those tests did not include the on-pad rocket engine firing which will be such a significant part of this exercise. Among the purposes of the test and firing are: o To test all elements of the Space Transportation System in a real time launch countdown which will culminate in the firing of the orbiter's three main engines and a simulated launch to in- sure their proper integration prior to the STS-1 flight. o To verify the capability of the launch facility to provide propellants to the Shuttle under launch conditions. The external tank and orbiter systems will be exposed to the same thermal en- vironment they will experience during STS-1 launch preparations.
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l 1 .. The main propulsion system control elements also will be re- quired to maintsin pressure in the external tank and in :he main engines duri:ig the test fi?ing as they would during an actual launch. o To verify the ability of the orbiter's auxiliary power units and hydraulic system, and the flight control system to throttle and gimbal the main engines. o To evaluate the performance of avionics and computer pro- grams in controlling and monitoring the interaction of the exter- nal tank and main engines under the vibration and sound condi- tions they will experience during ignition and the pre-liftoff phase. o To verify that Kennedy's Launch Processing System and Columbia's bank of general purpose computers can work together in controlling the launch countdown sequence. o To verify compatibility of the Space Shuttle's onboard avionics equipment with the radio frequencies used by ground sup- port elements during the launch phase. o To assess the ''tivan(S" effects of the orbitsr's three nain engines. At main engine i;Snition, a bending movement is created, causing the upper extremities of the entire Space Shuttle "stack" to bend toward the external tank side of the stack and to twang back as the spring action of the hold down mechanisms react against the main propulsion system bending forces. The twang effect occurs over a period of a few seconds (approximately 5 seconds) at the end of which the solid rocket boosters would be fired for liftoff. This test will certify the time phasing of the orbiters main engines and solid rocket booster ignition. o To exercise the ground data processing system and methods and make any needed fixes before the STS-1 launch. o To compare earlier dynamic and vibroacoustic testing data to actual conditions during launch.
COUNTDOWN AND FLIGHT READINESS FIRING The Wet Countdown Demonstration Test/Flight Readiness Firing preparation phase begins on the first day of the 11-day STS-1 simulation and ends of the sixth day. The schedule includes a number of built-in holds. All operational elements supporting the STS-1 mission will participate and demonstrate their readi- ness by exercising all countdown functions and interfaces. T-0 will be planned to occur at the opening of the launch window, which is approximately five hours in duration.
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-1s for the STS-1 launch, the ~indowwill open at siinrise alus 45 minutes. The Fligt7t Readiness Firin? is scheeuled for Fe5. 16. S'lindow oFening time for ?h?t date is 7:l-t a.m. EST. The firing pre-count ;vi11 be gicked up at T-53 hours with the powerin5 up of the solid rocket boosters. orbiter and ground support equipment. The STS-1 launch ore-countdown begins at T-68 hours. Eowever, for the Flizht Readiness Firinz, R number of events which would normally occur between T-68 hours and T-53 hours (such as loading hypergolic propellants for t5e orbiter's auxiliary power units and the 500sters' hydraulic power units) vJi11 have already been accomplished as a part of eflrlier tests. Hypergolic propellants for the orbiter's orbital maneuvering system and reaction control system were to Se loaded in late January . The Flight Readiness Firing pre-count includes the capa- bility for three built-in holds. These could include one of 12 hours duration at T-24 hours and two of six hours duration, occuring at T-15 hours, 30 minutes and at T-5 hours, 30 minutes. ildditional holds are planned during the countdown which 5egirls at T-5 hours. T+ese ?re indic3t9d at t3e ~~~roprinte ?!3ces in t3e Fiia;!it Rezdiness Firii?: C3L!?tcov:rn Sequence ~liic? fo 1 lovrs .
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Countdown Sequence - Flight aeadiness Firin5 Count Tine nrunct ion T-53 hours Start of PRF call to stations. T-11 hours Extend fixed service structure external tank gaseous oxygen vent arm/start retraction of rotating service structure. T-9 hours, 30 minutes Retract external tank intertank access arm on fixed service structure. T-5 hours, 30 minutes Clear launch pad to begin countdown. T-5 hours Start countdown. Chilldown liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen transfer system. T-4 hours, 30 minutes Begin liquid oxygen fill of external +.nk 2nd Lti?. ’IPS faci 1 i tylor5i ter ch i l1down. T-4 hours, 15 minutes Segin liquid hydrogen fill of exter- nal tank. T-2 hours, 4 minutes One-hour built-in hold. ET cry0 loading complete. Start ET pre- pressurization tests. No activities planned. (During STS-1 countdown, crew entry will begin following this hold and be completed by T-l hour, 5 minutes.) T-l hour, 50 minutes External tank ice/frost evaluation. T-20 minutes 20-minute built-in hold. T-9 minutes 10 minute built-in hold. T-9 minutes Go for launch/start launch process- ing system ground launch sequencer (automatic sequence). T-7 minutes Start crew access arm retraction (fixed service structure). T-5 minutes Start orbiter auxiliary power units. T-3 minutes, 45 seconds Run orbiter aero surfaces profile,
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T-3 minutes, 30 seconds Orbiter placed on internal power.
T-3 minutes, 10 seconds ?tun gimbal slew profile, space Shuttle main engine. T-2 minutes, 55 seconds External tank oxygen to flight pressure. T-2 minutes, 50 seconds External tank gaseous oxygen vent arm retracted. T-1 minute, 57 seconds External tank hydrogen to flight pressure. T-25 seconds Solid rocket booster hydraulic power units activated/orbiter onboard general purpose computer assumes control of terminal countdown/ground launch sequencer remains on line supporting. "-18 seconds Verify solid rocket.booster nozzle 90s i t ion. T-11 seconds Initiate pre-liftoff sound suppres- sion system water (post-liftoff sys- tem - "rainbirds" - inhibited for Flight Xeadiness Firing). T-3.8 seconds Main engine start sequence begins. T+.24 second All engines at 90 percent thrust. T+2.88 seconds Simulated external tank umbilical retract/simulated solid rocket booster ignition and holddown post re1ease. T+3 seconds Simulated liftoff. T+18.2 to 20 seconds Main engine shutdown comnands issued. T+22 seconds Solid rocket booster hydraulic power units shut down. T+22.7 to 25.9 seconds Main engine LOX/LH2 prevalves closed.
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Flight Readiness Firing The Flight Readiness Firing operation is limited to approx- ima.tely 20 seconds of main stage operation with the start identi- cal to that planned for the STS-1 launch. The engines will be tested at 94 percent and 100 percent rated power level with shut- down occurring from 100 percent. Gimbaling of the main engine will be performed at both power levels. The three engines are not ignited simultaneously but start commands are issued at intervals of about 120 milliseconds. The start comnand for engine 3 is issued at T-3.8 seconds, that for engine 2 at T-3.68 seconds, followed by the start comnand for engine 1 at T-3.56 seconds. The engines are throttled to 100 percent at approximately T-0. Part way through the burn, the engines are throttled back to 94 percent of rated thrust. Near the burn's end, they are throttled up to 100 percent of rated thrust. The engine nozzles are gimbaled during both peak and reduced thrust. The Wet Countdown Demonstration Test/Flight Readiness Firing will end when all propellants and cyrogenics have been removed from the vehicle after engine firing. The seventh day of the overall 11-day dress rehearsal will be reserved for securing pad operations and will not include any flight simulation test activity.
MISSION VERIFICATION TEST A series of four coordinated tests and simulations will fol- low the Countdown Demonstration Test/Flight Readiness Firing at the Kennedy Space Center. The simulations begin on the eighth day of the 11-day series. They include a return-to-launch-site abort simulation at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility; an abort-once- around landing simulation at the White Sands Missile Range; a 56- hour-long duration mission simulation at the Johnson Space Center of the flight phase of the mission from solid rocket booster ig- nition to a routine landing at the end of the flight; and an end- of-mission landing exercise at the Dryden Flight Research Center in California. Return-to-Launch-Site Abort Exercise This will involve a series of four activities at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility to demonstrate the ground team's readi- ness to support various situations following a return-to-launch- site abort. The exercise is a simulation of the orbiter approach and landing from approximately 12,200 meters (40,000 feet) after a return-to-launch-site abort and runs through landing and post- landing activities and orbiter safing.
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The major differences between this abort exercise and such an actual abort will be related to using a T-38 jet aircraft instead of an orbiter for the approach and landing and a simu- lated orbiter aircraft with simulated interfaces for ground connections. The T-38 landing will be planned to occur at a time of day compatible with a liftoff at the opening of the launch window. The purpose of the simulated return-to-launch-site abort is to exercise the flight control team, post-landing operations team, crash and rescue team, and airspace and chase aircraft control organizations. Abort-Once-Around Exercise A similar series of four acti-ities will also be conducted on the eighth day at the Northrop Strip, White Sands Missile Range, in parallel with the return-to-launch-site abort exercise at Kennedy. This exercise is a simulation of approach, landing and post-landing activities following an abort-once-around from approximately 12,200 m (40,000 ft.) through orbiter safing. As at Kennedy, a T-38 aircraft will be used to simulate the orbi- ter's approach and landing and the post-landing activities on the ground. The purpose of the simulated approach and landing and sub- sequent activities is to exercise the flight control team, post- landing operations team, crash and rescue team, and airspace and chase aircraft control organizations. Mission Simulation A Shuttle mission simulator and the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center will be electronically linked to pro- vide a realistic, 56-hour simulation of the STS-1 mission from solid rocket booster ignition and liftoff to a landing at the primary landing site, the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. This exercise will be conducted on days 9, 10 and 11 with the simulated liftoff to occur at the opening of the launch window. This will be the seventh and final long-duration mission simulation for the STS-1 flight crews. During the months of training leading up to the Mission Verification Test, prime and backup flight crews and flight con- trol teams have routinely run mission phase simulations (launch, entry, aborts, on-orbit operations) on a Tuesday and Thursday schedule, with long-duration simulations spaced a month to six weeks part. This full-duration mission simulation during the Mission Verification Test will be the final "walk-through" of the STS-1 flight profile and timeline before the actual flight begins.
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End-of-Mission Exercise This is a series of four activities at Dryden Flight Re- search Center to demonstrate the ground team’s readiness to sup- port various situations following the end-of-mission landing at the primary landing site. They will be conducted on the 11th day of the test series and wrap up the combined Countdown Demonstra- tion Test/Flight Readiness Firing and Mission Verification Test. A T-38 jet aircraft will be used to simulate the orbiter approach and landing phase beginning at an altitude of approxi- mately 12,200 m (40,000 ft.). The landing will be timed so that touchdown coincides with that of the long-duration mission simu- lation underway at the Johnson Space Center in Texas. After land- ing, the T-38 will taxi past an orbiter mockup which will be placed at the nominal wheels stop point. The orbiter mockup has the appropriate interfaces for ground connections to enable ground crews in the recovery convoy to simulate post-landing saf- ing operations and turnaround initiation. Both on-runway and off- runway contingency situations will also be simulated as they were during the return-to-launch-site abort exercise at Kennedy and the abort-once-around abort exercise at White Sands.
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT NASA Headquarters
Dr. Alan Lovelace Acting Administrator John F. Yardley Associate Administrator for Space Transportation Systems L. Michael Weeks Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Transportation Systems David R. Braunstein Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Transporation Systems (Management) Daniel M. Germany Director, Orbiter Programs Walter F. Dankoff Director, Engine Programs Edward P. Andrews Director, Ground Systems and Flight Test LeRoy E. Day Director, Systems Engineering and Integration Frank Van Rensselear Director, Expendable Equipment
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Dryden Flight Research Center
Isaac T. Gillam IV Director Robert F. Johannes Deputy Director John A. rvlanke Chief of Flight Operations Me1 Burke Shuttle Project Manager
Johnson Space Center
Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Director Robert F. Thompson Manager, Space Shuttle Program Donald K. "Deke" Slayton Manager, Orbital Flight Test Aaron Cohen ?*lanager, Space Shuttle Orbiter Project Office George W.S. Abbey Director of Flight Operations Maxime A. Faget Director of Engineering and Development Lynwood C. Dunseith Director of Data Systems and Ana 1 y s i s
Kennedy Space Center
Richard G. Smith Director Gerald D. Griffin Deputy Director Raymond L. Clark Associate Director for STS Development Dr. Robert H. Gray Manager, Shuttle Projects Office George F. Page Director, Shuttle Operations
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Marshall Space Flight Center
Dr. William R. Lucas Director Thomas J. Lee Deputy Director Robert E. Lindstrom Manager, MSFC Shuttle Projects Office James E. Kingsbury Director, Science and Engi- neering Directorate James B. Odom Manager, External Tank Project George B. Hardy !Manager, Solid Rocket Booster Project James R. Thompson Jr. Manager, Space Shuttle Main Engine Project James M. Sisson Manager, Engineering and Major Tes t Management Off i ce
-end-
. .. News National Aeronautics and Ssace Ad mi n isr;ation George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Dave Drachlis, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-83 7-1 990
L yn C yw ano w i cz, 20 5 -45 3 -00 3 4 Residence, 205-88 1-60 21 Release No. 81-19
NOTE TO EDITORS/NETVS DIRECTORS
The Varshall- ."-.<_.. CdU S~acevvFlight-CF,Huntsville, Ala., will support a "dress rehearsal'' Tuesday morning, Feb. 17, of the first Ssacg, Shgttle launch. The rehearsal will consist of a 53-hour coun~o~n-cuTminatin~-ina 20-seconrmght Readiness Firing test of the Shuttle's three main engines on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
During the countdown and firing, engineers and project managers will man I consoles in the Huntsville Operations Support Center, at Marshall, to monitor real-time data from the vehicle. Their purpose will be to assist in the early detection, evaluation and solution of potential problems with Marshall-developed Shuttle hardware: the Space Shuttle Main Engines, External Tank, and Solid Rocket Boosters. This is the same function the Marshall group will perform during the actual launch, now scheduled for not earlier than the week of April 5. -
The Flight Readiness Firing of the Shuttle's engines is scheduled to occur at 6:44 a.m. Huntsville time. For news media representatives interested in coming to Narshall for the event, a news center will open in the Marshall Center Headquarters Building (Bldg. 4200) at 5:30 a.m. on the 17th. Launch control commentary on the countdown and firing, and television coverage, will be available for monitoring in the press center. Tapes of both will be made available if requested. A spokesman on Marshall's role in the Shuttle program, will be available for inter views.
For additional information, media representatives may call the Marshall Center Public Affairs Office at (205) 453-0034. Media representatives planning to attend, and desiring to be notified of any changes in the schedule which might occur over the holiday weekend, should provide their names and a contact number to the public affairs office by Friday, Feb. 13. -30- February 10,1981
MSFC - FOm2914-18 (August 1976)
1 News . .,'J i-
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center A,?(jr:7'1di Space Flrghf Cenler Aiabamd 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Terry Eddlemm, 205 453-0034 For Release: Upon Receipt Release No. 81-24
EARLY NASA SOLAR OBSERVATORY DECLARED SURPLUS
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -Something of Rn era is passing.
At the 5'lllarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., the back-up twin of the Apollo Telescope Mount-a pmt of Skylab that served as the nation's first manned
astronomicnl observotory in space-is being declared surplus and made Rvailable for
other uses. Some of the components, hoxever, may yet fly in space.
Assembled at Plarshall in the late 1950s and early OS, and identical to the
payload flown 4s a part of Skylab from 1973-74, the oSservatory has been kept in
storage at Narshall for nearly 10 years.
Rut now it's out of date.
"We had to have a back-up observatory when it was first desiqned in the mid-
1950s," said IIerman Gierow, director of the Advanced Systems Office at hlarshall,
"because space exploration was still new to us, and we would have been taking a great
risk in not having a duplicate unit in case something happened to the original. But 15 years have passed since then and technology has advanced so rapidly that the
observatory is antiquated by todav's StandRrds."
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February 26, 1981
MSFC- Form 2114-11 (AuCUt l¶TK)
-1 Orice described bv R prominent nstroriomcr 11s "one of the most importtint
milestones in the history of solnr nsti*ophysics,ttthc orbiting observatory vms an arrnv
of eiyht sepmate solar telescopes thnt observed the Sun in X-ray, ultraviolet and
visible light. Weiqhing 25,000 pounds, it was hunched with Skylab on May 14, 1973, and was operational throughout the three mnnncd missions thnt were to follow. When
the last crew returned to Emtb on Feb. 8,1974, the cameras of the observatory had
taken over 150,000 successful exposures.
The R?nrshall team of engineers that had assembled the cluster of telescopes
had used state-of-the-art equipment. Each of its instruments, provided by U. S.
scientific institutions, was the most advanced of its type ever to be flown in space at that time, and ench took full advantaqe of the unique conditions of Skylab's orbit.
None of the instruments would have served any purpose on the ground or in a
mountain-top observatory. The X-ray and ultraviolet instruments needed the altitude
of Skylab's orbit to lfet nSove the atmosphere, which completely absorbs radiation in
these regions. This ideal condition enabled the X-ray instruments to peer at the complete corona of the Sun-not just at its edqe, as with visible light ovservations. In
addition, a visible light coronagraph took advantage of the negligible sky briyhtness at
Skylab's altitude find enabled observation of the Sun's thin outer corona. And the
ultraviolet instruments provided a look At the mysterious layerings of the Sun in all
their varying temperatures, densities nnd chemical compositions.
"The Apollo Telescope Plount was an incredible boon to solar observation," said
Gierow, "but as advanced as it was, we have even better equipment today to send into
space. We kept the instruments in storage ~llthese vears because we felt there might be a fc'me need for them, but none materialized-at least not for the entire cluster of telescopes as it's presently structured. We want to remove the instruments and put
them to use individually-for example, there's R good possibility some elements of
them may be flown aboard Spacelab (the orbitine; laboratory scheduled for its first
mission in the Space Shuttle in 1983)."
.^ . -3-
After removal of the instruments, otlicr parts of t~eobservntory may he dismantled ond put to use. All NASA centers rind nll Federn1 aqencies will be screened by the Rlarshall Center to determine who will receive the components. Ultimately, some of the observatory's equipment could be sold to the public through government auction.
-30- NASANews N,illr )11,11ACIU~I~ILI~IC,:; ,it)d S~,~ic:t'Admiiiistr,itiori George C.Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center Alabama 35812 AC205 453 0034
For Release Terry mlem an, 205-45 3-00 34 Residence, 205-534-2369 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-28
SPACE PLA'I'FOlZI1: TYORKSIIOP TO l3E IIOSTED BY RlARSHALL CENTER
MARS!lALL SPACE FLIGE-IT CENTER, AIR. -A briefing and workshop on
geostntiorwry platfor~mw-i]l.behosted by NASA's Rlarshall Space Flight Center,
J 0-12 for approximately 70 representatives of federal ,?gencies, *6s ...-=..@ and space communications carriers.
Gcostationarv platforms, the focus of the workshop, we large space systems
planned for the late 1980s and '90s that NASA engineers and scientists hope will reduce satellite system costs. A platform - placed in a "geostationary," or Rpparently fixed, point in the sky - would be economical beenuse it would share common utilities and
serve as "renl estote in the sky" for R host of other payloads.
On the first dav of the three-dny workshop, NASA executives will bricf the conferees on the current status and future direction of platform programs. On the
second and third days, three panels organized among the workshop attendees will address
the institutional, operational Rnd technical issues that will influence the implementation
of such platforms.
Presenting one of the briefinys will be Ted Carey, chief, Applications Group, of
the l'.Iarshall Center's Advanced Systems Office. Marshall participants in panel
discussions will be Ronald IIarris, deputy director of the Preliminary Design Office;
-more-
," March 4, 1981 MSFC- Fo~n12914-18(August 1976)
.I 1 1- -2-
llr. George l:cI)ono\iyh, deputv nssocinte director for engineerinq; and Clnv llr!niilton, technic81 assistnnt to tlic director of the Prelirninarv Design Office.
Follov,iny the close of the workshop, NASA will assemble a report doc\rmcntinp; the participants' insights developed on the primary issues nffecting platforms, the technologies required for their implementntion rind scenarios throuqh which platforms may evolve.
-30- N!ANews National Aeronautics and Space Ad mi n1st rat ion George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Terry Eddleman, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-534-2359 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-30
NASA SEEKS CONTRACTOR BIDS FOR COR'IPUTER CORIPLEX OPERATION
LlARSIIALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA's Marshall Spwe Flizht
Center, iluntsville, Ah., todsy released n Request for Proposal inviting firms to compete
for (1 contract to operRte the Marshall Center's Slidell Computer Complex in Slidell, La.
The contr8ct, expected to be awarded in July 1981, will be for nn initial period of
one year. Included will be options for four one-year extensions.
The contractor selected will become responsible for operating and maintninina; the
computers; designing storage and filing systems for data; maintaining inventory control
over the equipment in the facility; and studying ways to improve the compiiter's
opera tion.
Other services to be provided include preparation of technical reports, nnd the
gnthering and processing of data from experiment tests on NASA systems.
The contractor will ~lsobe responsible for mm-mging the fmilitv operations Rt the
Slidell Computer Complex. This includes plant engineering and maintenmce, supply,
utilities, and other services.
The Request for Proposal includes opportunities for subcontracting with small
businesses and with small, disadvanteged business concerns.
A Source Evaluation RoRrd at the bltirshall Center will evaluate all proposals from
prospective contractors and will make recommendc\tions to the NASA Headqurters in
Washington, 1). C., which will make the final selection.
MSFC- Form 1814-18 (August 1976) -30- March 5,1981
1 1 .. NEANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Curt Hunt, 205-453-0038 Residence, 205-852-1763 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-31
LEAK I NG IIYDROGEN CAUSED EXPLOS ION AT MARSIiALL CENTER
MmSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -- The explosion Oct. 31, 1980, at an unoccupied test stand at NASA's hlarshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., was caused by a leak of gaseous hydrogen from an underground pipe, according to the report of a Rkrshall Board of Investigation. The board reported that there was evidence that the gas was ignited by an electrical sump pump switch in the basement of a small building at the site. The walls of the unsealed junction box housing the automatic switch were bulged outward and the cover was blown Rway, indicating that an explosion occurred inside the box. The hydrogen leak developed, according to the board, as a result of galvanic corrosion in a carbon steel pipe. The hydrogen line was installed in 1965. Other such lines have been taken out of use. -more- March 6, 1981
1 -2-
Hydrogen escaped into the sand and gravel under the stand's concrete apron and found its way through openings, such as cable ducts, cable pulls and air-conditioning ducts, into an electrical and instrumentation terminal center building. It was then carried through air-conditioning ducts to a shop and support building about 90 feet away. The initial explosion occurred in the terminal building's basement. A shock wave traveled through the air-conditioning ducts to another structure and caused a second explosion of lesser magnitude there. Damage nt the site included the destruction of the two small support structures plus minor damages to the lower level of the test stand superstructure and other structures and systems in the imnediate area. The stand was not in use. It had been undergoing modifications for future systems tests. The incident is not expected to cause delays in major Marshall Center programs. The incident occurred at about 3:55 p.m., some 25 minutes after the normal workshift ended and the crew departed. Since the accident in October, the area has been cleared of debris. Design of a replacement piping system has been completed.
-30-
.. hatimal Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Lyn Cywanowicz, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-881-5021 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-32
E.YTEWAL TANK FOR SEOSEUTTLE TO BE TESTED
ElARSHALL SPACE FLIGEIT CEXTEX, Ala. --The external propellant tank for t'he second Space Shuttle flight has been transported by barge to NASA's National Space Technology Laboratories, Bay St. Louis, Miss. The ExteFnal Tank, developed under direction of NASA's Wirsha11 Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., was shipped Saturday from 3Iarshall's Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, where it !vas manufactured. Early this week the tank will be lifted into a vertical position and installed in the ?&in Propulsion test stand. It will be filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants
during ti one-day test, scheduled for the first week in April. The purpose of this test is to validate under cryogenic conditions exceeding the expected flight level that the Thermal Protection System is properly bonded to the tank's aluminum skin. TV cameras on the test stand will allow Jlarshall Center and Rockwell International engineers to monitor the surface of the -more- n,mch 9, 1981
UFc-FOm2Bl4-18 (Au#uCIST1) tank's insulation vhile the tan!< is being filler?. After the propellants have keen drained, a close-^? visual inspection -:rill be made of the tank's insulation.
The 151-foot-long, 27.5-foot-diameter tank is covered v:i th Q foam insulation approximately one inch thic!c. In certain nreas that will be subjected to bizher temperatures 6urinT flight due to aerodynamic heating, a cork-filled ablator is agplied under the foam. Earlier this year, during the first propellnnt tankin: of the first flight tank at the Kennedy Space Center, 3 small portion of the underlying ablator debonded from the tank's aluminum skin. Engineers devised this extra test to preclude a possible recurrence of the problem during launcb processing of the second Shuttle flight. After test results have Seen evaluated, the second tank will be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The tank is expected to arrive at Kennedy the last week in April. -30- NASANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: 1, y n Cy w an0 w i cz, 2 0 5 -4 5 3 -0 0 3 4 Itesidence, 205-882-5021 Release No. 8'1-34
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIKECTORS
The lnst in R formd series of national news medin 5riefinp;s on the development of
NASA's Space Transportation System will be held fit 1 prn. CST, Tiresdoy, Blprch 17, nt
the Alnrshall Spnce Flicht Center in ~irrntsville. Topics to be coverccl in this briefing will
be Space Shuttle %?inEngines, Solid Rocket Roosters 3nd External Tnnk.
AppeRrinS et the briefin: will be J. R. Thompson, rl'lmnger, Spnce Shuttle "Inin
Enzine Project; Georqe 73. Iiardy, ?lnnnTer, Solid Rocket Booster Project; and James C.
Odom, P,innnger, External Tnnk Project. Thompson snd €3nrdy, ivho hriefed tbc press on
their projects in October 1980, will provide nn update on work thnt has taken plnce since
thst time. Odom will Cover the External Tmk stntris in more detail.
The presentntions will be followed by a question nnd answer session. The briefin?
mny be monitored by ncws people at NASA Headqunrters in \VRshinf$on D. C., nt the
Johnson Space Center in Houston, the Kennedy Spnce Center in FloridR snd rrt t!x
Dryden Flight Resenrch Center at Edwards AFB, Cnl. Ouestions *,vi11 be taken from all
participating locntions. For thosc attendine; at the i':hrshall Center, interviews on other projects ilnderwy
at the center including Spacelab, Space Telescope nnd materids processiq in spRce, can
be arranged upon c\dvance request.
For ndditional informntion, cnll the Marsliall Space Flisht Center Piihlicr Affairs
Office at (205) 453-0034. -30- March 12, 1081
MSFC-Form 1B14-18 (Aueuat lBTC)
1 1' .. NKANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research Center Hampton, Virginia 23665 AC 804 827-2934
Maurice Parker For Release: (804) 827-2934 On Receipt
RELEASE NO. 81 -37
NASA LANGLEY SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK ALL YEAR LONG
NASA's Langley Research Center is helping celebrate National Small Business Week, May 10-16, by awarding a total of $58 million in contracts with small business firms during this fiscal year. As part of the national' small business program, NASA has established a 1981 goal of allocating $420 million to small businesses. While Langley's $58 million share of that goal is ambitious, it is considered realistic and achievable by the program's coordinators. Small business firms are doing many jobs at Langley, including building and grounds maintenance, warehousing, transportation, security, custodial service, data management, and research and development. Among the highlights of special projects being done by small businesses are these:
0 More than $10 million in construction costs for the National Transonic Facility, Langley's newest transonic wind tunnel, is allotted to small business firms, including one contract, valued at $1.75 million, for the installation of complex insulation inside the tunnel.
May 6, 1981 --more--
I I' * I. - -- NASA LANGLEY SUPPORTS SMALL BUSINESS WEEK ALL YEAR LONG 2
0 Rehabilitation of the Flight Control Research Laboratory and Data
Reduction Center is being done by a small, local minority-owned firm, with work valued at $365,000.
0 The first phase of upgrading electrical research equipment at the Gas
Dynamics Laboratory is be ng negotiated with a small, local minority-owned f rm.
Langley managers have taken an active part in several business development conferences that support small businesses. The most recent meeting was a "Small
Business Day" symposium, sponsored by the Small Business Administration and the
National Contract Management Association.
Langley's small business program is coordinated by Joseph F. Braig and
Samuel J. Scott, both of the Acquisition Division.
###### National Aeronautics and I Space Administration ,I GeorgeC.MarshdlSpscenightCenter Marshall Space Right Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Terry Eddleman, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-534-2369 Upon Receipt Release No, 81-44
UTILITY CONTROL SYSTEH NOW OPERATING
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --In a major step toward
improved energy conservation, NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, Ala., has activated the first phase of the Utility Control System -- an array of remote sensors and mechanisms, tied to a central computer, that automatically
monitors and controls the heating, ventilation and air
conditioning equipment throughout the Center.
When completed, the system will monitor and control the 45
largest of the Center's 200 buildings and facilities. "Out of
200 buildings," said Ed Demirjian, chief engineer for Harshall's
Facilities Office, "45 of them -- which is about 22 percent of the total facilities at Marshall -- use 75 percent of the total energy consumed here. Placing these particular 45 buildings
under the Utility Control System was the most cost-effective
approach. We now have portions of three buildings connected to
the system. By August, we plan to have the other 42 buildings on
line. 'I
-mo re-
April 10, 1981
1 -2-
The sensors of the control system monitor such conditions as temperature, indoor and outdoor humidity, kilowatts-per-hour electrical metering, steam consumption and chilled water pressure.
If the sensors detect anything amiss, the computer will either correct the malfunction, make an adjustment to negate a problem trend, or alert the terminal operators that a piece of equipment has failed and requires attention.
"A number of data/control points -- sensors and adjusting mechanisms -- keep the system operators advised of the conditions of the buildings," said Demirjian. "For the three buildings now under the Utility Control System, 260 data/control points maintain proper air handling conditions. After all 45 buildings are on line, we'll have more than 2,000 data/control points functioning 24 hours a day."
Presently the computer terminal and operating console is in the communications center, but that will become the auxiliary operating terminal when the construction is completed. The main operating console will then be located in the maintenance plant. "We'll need the main terminal in the maintenance building," explained Demirjian, "because, during normal working hours, that's where the control system experts will be. But we need an additional terminal that's manned around-the-clock. The communications center has been selected for this function."
Utility Control System operator Teddy Stephens described the system as "remarkable for its versatility." The systen not only
-more-
l -3-
performs such basic functions RS thermostat control, but it also
~ets8s an analyzer. For example, it judges when to turn an air- hnndlinq system on, depending on outside weather conditions. If,
for instance, the inside air of R building is excessively warmec! bv sunliqht on t-i cool d~v,the control system will allow outsicle air to be drawn in, rather than turn on energy-usinq air conditioner chillers.
"The control svstem is R great trouble-shooter, too," srlid Stephens. "If a particular building sets an undersirable trene toward high consumption in a Tiven period of time, the svstem will alert the terminal operators before the Des4 is re~ched. This qives the ooerators time to inquire into the reasons for the hizb demand and forestall it. The svstem CRT! also be programed to turn off low prioritv electrical loads if reauired to limit oea!: loads. (' Total cost of the project, when completed, will he $!.2 million, but the svstem saves six million kilowatt-hours of
electricity and 44 million pounds of stettm each vent-. "That's a savings of $700,000 a yenr," said Demirjian. "The svstem oavs for itself in less than two vears." NASA has a 5081 for all Centers to reguce enerp consumption SO percent below the 1973 levels, Tkrsha11 Center has Rlrendv
reduced energy consumption h!7 48 oercent during the last fiscal vear," said Horton Webb, director of the Facilities Office.
W?-ien the Utilitv Control Svstem is co~~~letel~~OF line, it'll save nearlv three percent bv itself, find that will ?ut us over
t'le 50 percent mark. Wen that dav comes, that'll 5e a Droud
8cbievernent for all of us at the Center." -30- NASANews National Aeronautics and Space Administratlon George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Dave Drachlis, 205-453-0034 Residence, 20 5-88 2-2941 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-49
MARSHALL'S ELEMENTS SHOW SOLID PERFORMANCE
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --"Flawless!11 That was the initial
report from Robert E. Lindstrom, Shuttle Projects Office manager at NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., on the performance of the Space Shuttle's three
main engines, External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) during the ascent phase of the Shuttle's maiden flight April 12.
"Everything looks great, and we are ready to go (with STS-2)," said Lindstrom following several days of preliminary flight data analysis by Marshall Center engineers
and Shuttle project managers. "We have no anomalies in the boost phase performance of our systems, and we see nothing that would require any design changes or modifications for the next flight," he added.
"We have looked at the engine data and it looks exceptional. The engines were
extremely close to predicted performance," said Lindstrom. "The External Tank and the
SRBs performed within specification with the proper performance in all subsystems."
The only problems noted came after the successful boost phase of flight. There
was a problem with the valve on the tank which is supposed to cause the tank to tumble -more- April 21,1981
MSFC- Form 2914-18 (August 1976)
I 1 . -. -2-
after it is jettisoned. SRB water impact loads were slightly greater than expected, which resulted in some damage to the booster's aft skirts, and one parachute on each of the boosters was lost after the water landing, when their flotation systems apparently malfunctioned. Some damage due to heating also occurred during reentry.
The SRB problems impact the reuseability and refurbishment of the SRB systems, and MSFC engineers will address these issues in the coming months.
The performance of the system stands in tribute to the efforts of Marshall Center and contractor employees, according to Lindstrom. "It demonstrates the thoroughness with which they work the development of a new system, and it continues the pattern of success and excellence we have established over the past 30 years."
The Marshall Center is responsible for managing development of the Shuttle's main engines, External Tank and SRBs and has participated with the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas, in the integration of the main propulsion system and the ascent flight system.
-30- NASANews NdtiOIl;11 Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center I Marshail Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 105 453-0034
For Release
Mary Fitzpatrick Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIATE (Phone: 202/755-8370) Also released in Washington, D. C.
John B. Taylor Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034) RELEASE NO: 81-50
JAMES M. BEGGS NOMINATED FOR NASA ADMINISTRATOR'S POST
President Reagan today announced the nomination of bwiness executive Zames
Montgomery Beggs to become Administrator of the Nationh Aeronautics and Space Administration and Dr. Hans Mark as Deputy Administrator.
Beggs has been Executive Vice President, Aerospace, and a director of General
Dynamics Corp., St. Louis, Mo. Mark is former Secretary of the Air Force and former
Director of NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.
Beggs, if confirmed, will succeed Dr. Robert A. Frosch who resigned on Jan. 20,
1981, to take over as the first president of the American Association of Engineering Societies in New York. Frosch had been Administrator since June 21, 1977.
Beggs, who would be the sixth man to head the nation's civilian space agency, has
been responsible for General Dynamics Convair, Electronics, Fort Worth and Pomona Divisions. -more-
April 24, 1981 MSFC-Form 2914-18 (August 1976)
1 . .. c -. -2-
He served with NASA in 1968-69 as Associate Administrator, Office of Advanced
Research and Technology. From 1969 to 1973, he was Under Secretary of
Transportation. He went to Summa Corp. as Managing Director, Operations and joined
General Dynamics in January 1974. Before joining NASA, he had been with Westinghouse Electric Corp. for 13 years.
A 1947 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served with the Navy until 1954.
In 1955, he received a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
A member of the Board of Governors of the National Space Club, the National
Security Industrial Association and the American Astronautical Society, his other professional affiliations include the National Academy of Public Administration, the
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the American Society of Naval
Engineers and Sigma Tau.
He holds an honorary LL.D. degree from Washington and Jefferson College,
Washington, Pa., and an honorary doctor of engineering management degree from Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan. 9, 1926, Begs and his wife, the former Mary
Harrison, have five children.
Mark served as Secretary of the Air Force from July 1979 to 1981. He had served as Under Secretary since 1977.
A physicist and nuclear engineer, he joined Ames Research Center in February
1969 and prior to that was a professor and resemcher and had served RS a consultant to several government agencies and held a number of university committee assignments.
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l 1- -3-
He was chairman of the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of
California, Berkeley from 1964 to 1969 and was administrator of the Berkeley Research
Reactor during the same period.
Born June 17, 1929, in Mannheim, Germany, Mark came to the United States in
1940 and became a citizen in 1945. He received his bachelor's degree in physics from the
University of California at Berkeley in 1951 and a doctorate in physics from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1954.
Mark has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in physics and engineering at Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California at both the Berkeley and Davis campuses and held an appointment as consulting professor of engineering at Stanford University.
He and his wife, the former Marion G. Thorpe, have two children.
-end- -NASANews Nallrmal Aeronautic:; ;mcl Spax Arlministralion George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release. Don Worrell, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-881-0909 Upon Receipt
I' Release 81-52 I 1 No. Also released in 1' Washington D.C.
HEAO-2 COMPLETES FLIGHT MISSION
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA's second High Energy
Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-2) has expended its control gas supply, thus completing its flight mission.
HEAO-2 is one of a family of three highly successful scientific satellites managed
by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. With two years and five months of operations, HEAO-2 like its predecessor, HEAO-1, performed more than twice
as long as its design called for-a feat expected to be equaled by the third observatory
which is still in operation.
The HEAO-2 spacecraft was launched Nov. 13,1978. It carried aboard it the
world's largest focusing X-ray telescope and an array of imaging and analyzing astronomy instruments. During its extra-long lifetime, it performed thousands of studies of X-ray- emitting stars, supernova remnants, galaxies and quasars. Although it will take years for participating astronomers to completely analyze all
the data they received, important discoveries have already been made concerning the X-
ray output of normal stars, the composition of supernova remnants, the distribution of
mass in galaxies and clusters of galaxies, and the origin of the extragalactic X-ray
background. -more- April 27,1981
MSFC - Form 291 4-18 (August 1976)
l' . .. -2-
The spacecraft was operating extremely well, Marshall Center officials reported, when it expended the last of its reaction control gas Saturday afternoon and could no longer maintain its pointing attitude. Spacecraft and instrument engineering tests were performed until the batteries were discharged, and on a subsequent orbit Sunday morning
when the solar panels were receiving sunlight, all systems were powered down. Re-entry and burn-up are expected to take place next year.
Science direction for the HEAO-2 mission was provided by a scientific consortium which included the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory,Cambridge, Mass.; the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
Cambridge; and the Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, New York City. American
Science and Engineering, Cambridge,was prime contractor for the telescope and
instruments. TRW Systems, Inc.,Redondo Beach, Calif., HEAO-2 prime contractor,
developed, integrated and supported the operation of the spacecraft. Overall mangement
and direction of the HEAO Project was performed by the Marshall Center.
-30-
1 News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: John B. Taylor, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-881-7843 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-53
SHUTTLE CREW TO VISIT MARSHALL CENTER
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --The STS-1 crew members, Comnander John Young and Pilot Bob Crippen, will visit the NASA- Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., May 7 to give workers a brief report of their flight and to thank them for their participation. This will be the first of a number of visits to principal Space Shuttle locations, both government and contractor. Details of the visit to Marshall have not yet been arranged, but it is expected to include a pictorial report to workers in the Morris Auditorium and, through closed-circuit television, throughout the Center. On May 8, the astronauts will visit the National Space Technology Laboratories, Bay St. Louis, Miss., and the Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. -more- April 30, 1981 -2-
The Marshall Center is responsible for the provision of the Shuttle's main engines, Sol d Rocket Boosters and External Tank, as well as certain systems testing including main propulsion testing which it has conducted at NSTL. The New Orleans facility, an element of Marshal1,'is the production site for the External Tanks which carries propellants for the main engines. Other Shuttle location visits will be announced later. -30- NEANews National Aeronautics md :,~XN (! Admi n i c,t rat i c) n George C. Marshall Space Flight Center M,ir,,hall Space Fliqht Cknter Alabama 35812 AC 305 453 0034
For Release. Terry Eddleman, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-534-2369 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-62
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ISSUED FOR TEST MIRRORS FOR ADVANCED X-RAY ASTROPHYSICS FACILITY
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center, Huntsville, Ala., today released a "request for proposal" to prospec tive
contractors inviting them to describe how they would build precision mirrors
representative of those to be flown in NASA's Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility, an
orbiting X-ray observatory currently being studied and proposed for launch later in the
decade.
The request for proposal will remain open for 45 days. Plans call for the selection
of two contractors who will perform parallel but independent work toward the building of separate test mirrors.
The test mirrors will be smaller than those actually to be built for the
observatory. "Their purpose is not to be flown in space," said Cnrroll Dailey, a study
manager in Marshall's X-ray astrophysics program, "but to allow NASA to evaluate the
ability of these contractors to achieve the level of performance we're demanding. We're
seeking a greater precision than previously achieved in X-ray optical systems."
The observatory will be the latest in a series of orbiting X-ray instruments that
date back to the Uhuru satellite launched in 1970. It is expected to peer into space for
X-ray sources toward the very edge of the observable universe. "And these mirrors are -more- May 20,1981
MSFC-Form 2914-18 (August 1976)
*. - 1 1' . .. . crucial to that capability," said Dailey. "They're the heart of the observatory." The mirrors will focus the X-rays on imaging detectors. Coded pictures will be trmsmitted back to Earth, where the images will be decoded by computers.
The mirror designs called for in the request for proposal would be the grazing incidence tvpe - meaning that the mirrors would be designed to be struck at a shallow angle by the X-rays. "Otherwise," said Dailey, "if the mirrors were faced more directly toward the stars, RS with visible light telescopes, the X-rays wouldn't be reflected - they'd be absorbed by the mirrors themselves. But with the mirrors lying almost flat in relation to the direction of the stars, the X-rays bounce off the surfaces much like stones skipping on a pond."
The 11-ton observatory, measuring 14 by 43 feet, will be carried by the Space
Shuttle and placed in an orbit 300 miles above the Earth for operation over a lifetime of about 15 years. It is expected to see X-ray sources that are 50 to 100 times weaker than those seen by its predecessor, the second High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-2) launched in 1978. "HEAO-2 performed exceptionally well," said Daileg, ?'and we're looking forward to similar success with the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility.
There will be a long gap between the completion of HEAO-2's operation and the beginning of the AXAF's. HEAO-2 far exceeded its lifetime, but it did end last month - and it's going to be a long while before the AXAF is placed in orbit. We're all eager to see the more advanced X-ray observatory hunched in the 1980s for the scientific knowledge to he gained.''
The Marshall Center's work on the X-ray telescope is sponsored by tho Solar
Terrestrial and Astrophysics Division of the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
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'1 NASA News \
George C.Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center Alabama 3581 2 A0?OS 453 0034
For Release- Don Worrell, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-881-0909 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-78 Also released in Washington, D.C.
NASA, DEERE AND COMPANY SIGN AGREEMENT TO STUDY EFFECTS OF LOW-G ON PROCESSING OF IRON ALLOYS
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --A Technical Exchange Agreement (TEA)--the first of its kind--has been signed between NASA and Deere and Company, Moline, Ill., to study the effects of low-gravity on the processing of various iron alloys. The Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., will be NASA's lead center for implementation of the agreement, under direction of the center's Materials Processing in Space Projects Office. One of the new technologies which has emerged from the space program is the processing of materials in an environment where the effects of gravity are greatly reduced or eliminated. This
reduced gravity is sometimes called low-gravity or microgravitg. Early work done in the field has shown that low- gravity eliminates or greatly reduces the effects of bouyancy, sedimentation and convection on materials processes. This opens a new frontier for materials scientists and processors by -more- July 2, 1981 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1916)
I . .. -2- providing new insights into the pervasive role of gravity on materials properties and process mechanisms. Under the agreement signed with Deere, the Marshall Center will use low-g facilities available to it--including drop tubes, KC-135 and F-104 aircraft, and ~ossiblysoundinq rockets--to substantially reduce gravity conditions during alloy solidification experiments. Deere and Company will do sample preparation, ground-based characterization of the sample, extensive sample Rnalyses Rnd data reduction, as well as thermal characterization of the furnace used for melting and solidifving the samples. The experiments and investigations per formed under the TEA could eventually lead to Deere conducting research aboard R future Space Shuttle mission. Data will be shared between the two parties. Marshall Center and Deere personnel will visit each other's facilities and participate in experiment planning and analyses. The TEA is expected to be in effect for one year, but may be extended if needed. Several other comnercial firms are now involved in TEA discussions with the Marshall Center.
The TEA represents one of several new concepts NASA hRs developed to involve the private sector in the definitive stnges of a low-gravity research program where technological edvancement is needed and there is a potential comnercial application. In the TEA and other concepts for involving industry, NASA and a private company agree to be responsible for specific -more-
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portions of the research effort and no funds are transferred between parties. The allocation of rights to resulting inventions and data is subject to negotiation between the parties for each effort undertaken. NASA currently is carrying out low-g processing in such areas as alloy solidification, crystal growth, biological separations and chemical and fluid physics. NASA's Materials Processing in Space program has developed a varietv of ground- based and flight facilities and experiment hardware to utilize the low-gravity environment, and has invited industry to participate in joint invest gations and projects. Informetion about NASA s program for involving industrial concerns can be obtained by writing to: Comercial Applications Office, Materials Processing in Space Projects Office, Fkrsha11 Space Flight Center, Ala. 35812.
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1 ., NASANews I
Cyn Cywanowicz, 20 5-45 3-00 34 Residence, 205-88 1-60 21 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-90
Also released in Washington D. C. and Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
FIRST REUSABLE SPACESHIP PREPARED FOR SECOND MISSION
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - The Orbiter Columbia, the world's first reusable spaceship, is scheduled to move out of its hangar at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., no earlier than Aug. 4, a milestone in preparations for the second launch of the Space Shuttle, now scheduled for no earlier than Sept. 30.
The Orbiter, which performed almost flawlessly on its maiden voyage, will be towed from the Orbiter Processing Facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building for mating to its External Tank and twin Solid Rocket Boosters. Columbia arrived at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facilitv on April 28, 1981, exactly two weeks.after its pinpoint landing on Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB, Calif., at the completion of its historic first trip into space.
Columbia was returned to the spaceport on the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards.
Preparations began immediately to remove the 98-ton spaceship off the top of its carrier aircraft. The following morning, it was towed from the Landing Facility to the Orbiter Processing Facility. The vehicle was powered up and preparations started for removing the twin Orbital Maneuvering System pods and the Forward Reaction Control System.
July 27, 1981
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Once Columbia was in the processing facility, engineers spent about two weeks troubleshooting any minor problems recorded by Astronauts John Young and Robert (:rippen during their successful 54-hour mission - such RS the fniled WastC Manngcment f3ystc.m Rncl the fmilty henter bed on Auxilinry Power Unit No. 5. Hoth the Waste Mnnngcment System md poww unit were rcplaced while Columhin wns in the processing fwili t y.
On May 7, the left-hand Orbital Maneuvering System pod wm removed and trnnsported to the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility in Kennedy's Industrial Area. The right-hand pod md Forward Reaction Control System were removed the following day.
The Shuttle's powerful three main engines were thoroughly inspected inside and out. The engines were left on the Orbiter for the inspection; however, the high-pressure fuel pumps on each engine were removed and closely examined for any sign of problems as a result of the flight. No problems were found and the turhopurnps were reinstalled. Leak and functional checks were made first of each individual engine, followed by checks of the entire Main Propulsion System.
A total of 264 tiles were removed from the two pods, 129 on the right pod and 135 on the left pod. Some 36 square feet of the felt reusable surface insulation had to be taken off each pod so the graphite-epoxy skin underneath could he repaired. About 6 square feet of the reusable insulation on each pod was replaced with tiles - 2S on ench pod. Other work performed on the Orbiter's engine pods included replacement of relief valves on the fuel and oxidizer systems.
Five struts which support the forward reaction control system propellant tanks were replaced. During the post-flight inspection of the system, one strut was found partially crumpled due to the unexpectedly high overpressure created by the powerful boosters at liftoff. Other struts located in the Orbiter's base heat shield were replaced with new, strengthened ones as a result of the overpressure problem.
Modifications will also be made at Launch Complex 39's Pad A to reduce the amount of overpressure created by the boosters. Regulators for the system which provide the pressurizing medium - gaseous helium - to the orbital maneuvering and reaction control systems propellant tanks were removed and replaced in both pods and the Forward Reaction Control System. One right- hand thruster was replaced on the Forward Reaction Control System and a new fuel prohc was installed in the right-hand maneuvering system fuel tank. The maneuvering system engine nozzle on the left-hand pod was also replaced.
On May 11, the Mobile Launcher PlRtform was moved into the Vehicle Assembly Building's High Bay 3. Some structural beef-up work was done on the transportable kiiinrth base as a result of minimal damage to the platform from the first Shuttle launch.
Most of that work WBS performed on the eight holddown posts which support and restrain the Shuttle before liftoff. New ablative material was applied to the holddown posts.
The Orbiter was powered down May 12 so modifications could begin to prepare the reusable spaceship for its second mission. D.ilany of the modifications were made in the payload bay to support power and cooling requirements to supply supercold liquid oxygen
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and liquid hydrogen to the fuel cells, and the three electricity-prodricing fuel cells were also removed and repheed.
A number of avionics boxes in the Orbiter were replwcd. Most of thew were pnrt of either the Orbiter's instrumentation system, used to send commnnds to other Shuttle components, or to the electrical power distribution and control svstem which takes electricity from the fire1 cells and distributes it to v~rioiisOrbiter systems. Many of these boxes were sent back to Rockwell's Downey, Calif., facilitv for inspection to lenrn more about their performance during the Shuttle's first mission.
The Development Flight Instrumenttition pallet, which recorded the effects of launch, orbit and reentrv on the Orbiter during its first flight, was moved to R location further back in the Orbiter's cargo hav to make room for the OS'TR-1 payload.
Assembly of the STS-'2 Solid Rocket Boosters on the Mobilc Lamcher Platform stnrted on May 20 with the stacking of the two aft assemblies. Stacking of the 45- meter-(l50-foot)-tall boosters was completed on June 2 when the two forward assemblies were added to the twin booster rockets.
Engineers reported the Orbiter's thermal protection system withstood the rigors of the first launch extremely well. Most of the damnge incurred during the first mission is thought to have occurred during ascent from H combination of frost, ice and thermal insulation debris from the External Tank. A detailed inspection of the Orbiter's tiles revealed about 350 tiles that would have to be removed and replaced with new tiles. Another 818 would be removed for densification and about 2,000 tiles would be repaired in place.
The RblRtive material around the Orbiter's elevons was removed Rnd replaced with new ablative material. The elevons are the only areas where ablative material is used for thermal insulation.
Tiles on the bodv flap caught the brunt of the heat loads from the first Shuttle I~unch. For STS-1, hi bonding agent was placed in the gaps between neighboring tiles on some regions of the body flap as a temporary, one-flight onlv, thermd barrier.
Some of the bonding agent that was exposed to the extreme temperatures of reentry boiled out between the sides of the tiles. The bonding agent eroded the edges of about 36 tiles on the sides of the'bodg flap. These tiles were repaired by routing out the eroded edges and filling the cleaned-out area with a mixture of small tile chips. These gnps will be filled with permanent, multi-mission gap fillers on subsequent flights to avoid this type of repair between missions.
All three landing gear were inspected. Only the wheels on the two main landing gear were replaced.
On June 9, the Orbiter was powered up for the first time since the start of the power-down modification period. Checks were first made of the main electrical buses that supply power to thc vehicle, followed by extensive checks of each of the Orbiter's systems including: interior and exterior lights, caution and warning system, Orbiter corn mun ications system, Space Shuttle Main Enginc elcc trival inter faces, hydraulic svstem, nevigation aids, purge, vent md drain system, flight controls and aerodynamic surfaces, environmental control and life support svstem, active thermal control system, fuel cells and power reactant storage find distribution system.
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Also, leak and functional checks were performed of the Plain Propulsion System and Auxiliary Power Units. The twin Mass Memory Units were checked by loading the rinits with flight programs, then dumping the dRta for comparison against desired data for discrepancies.
The Inertial Measurement Units, A critical part of the Orbiter's navigation system, were calibrated and functionally checked. A review of data gathered during the mission revealed a 1-hour 20-minute period when cooling air to unit No. 3 stopped, allowing some of the sensitive components inside to overheflt. This unit was subsequently replaced and retested.
The External Tank arrived at Kennedy on April 22. It W~Sbrought by barge from the Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans and was offloaded at the Turn Basin at Complex 39. It was transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building and hoisted into the checkout cell in High Bay 4 for checkout and application of insulation around various areas of the tank.
Range Safety Svstem antennas, htteries and ordnance were installed. Both the External Tmk liquid hvdrogen and liquid oxygen tanks were pressurized and leak-tested. The External Tank WRS powered up for the first time May 11 so that vent valves could be tested and checks started of the various instrumentation systems onboard.
Technieians performed an entry into the liquid oxygen tank June 3 to replace some bolts connected to the External Tank's tumble valve system. On June 15, workers started removing seven instrumentation islands.
Cables were also installed and cable covers put in place while the tank was in its pheckout cell. Following the liquid oxygen entry task, the liquid oxvgen pressure transducers were retested, followed by 8n all-systems test of the tank which began June 22.
A new nose cone was installed June 22 on the tank. The new nose cone had a modified gaseous oxygen diffuser, part of a modification to the tank that is expected to remedy A problem with the gaseous oxygen vent arm "beanie cap" which did not work properly for the STS-1 countdown. The "beanie cap" collects the oxygen vapors vented from the tip of the External Tank during the loading operation. This prevents ice from forming on the tank which could break off at liftoff Rnd damage the tiles on the Orbiter.
The Remote Manipulator Arm, a 15-m-(50-ft)-long mechanical arm used to deploy and retrieve Shuttle payloads, arrived at Kennedy April 22 and was taken to the Operations and Checkout Building for assembly and checkout. It was moved to the processing facility on July 21 for installation in the Orbiter's poyload hay. Electrical checks were made first with the arm connected only by cable to the Orbiter. The arm was mechanically connected to the Orbiter on July 24. A new End Effector arrived at Kennedy July 13 and was installed on the arm and retested.
The Shuttle's External Tank was moved out of the checkout cell on June 29 and attached to the twin Solitl Rocket Boosters. The tank was reported hard down at 3:20 a.m. June 30. Installation of forward md aft struts began immediately, followed by pre- loading of the attach points. Electricd cables between the tank md boosters were hooked up and ordnance installed. Covers were then installed over the attach struts.
The OSTA-1 scientific package was transported frorn the processing facilily to the Operations nnd Checkout Building July 1 rind installed in Columbia's cavernous cargo
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br~y. The OSTA-1 Interface Verification test was cohcliictf?dJuly 18-20 to make certnin Orbiter and payload were properly integrated.
The Forward Rmction Control System was moved out of the Hypergolic Maintenance Facility on July 2 and was installed on Columbia. The left and right Orbital R'Ianeuvering System pods were delivered on July 11 arid 18 and mated with the Orbiter. Parallel with checkout of the OSTA-1 payload, all the Orbiter's flight control systems were tested and functional checks made of the Orbital Maneuvering System and Reaction Control System. The Orbiter Integrated 'rest started on July 27.
This test is an extcnsive two-day test involving prime flight crew members Joe Englc and Richnrd Truly arid the backup crew of Ken Mattingly and Henry FIartsfield. Thring the test, every svstem onboard the Orbiter, as well as the OSTA-I pallet and its experiments and the Remote Manipulator Arm, will be powered up and exercised the way it will be expected to operate during the S'rS-2 mission.
The test will also verify the on-orbit computer software that operates the vehicle in orbit, nnd ensure thRt all the various systems onboard the spacecraft and the cargo function together properly.
Following the integrated test, preparHtions will begin for moving Columbia to the Vchirle .Assembly Building for mating with the tank and twin boosters. Explosive charges will he installed in the Orbiter. The pavload bay will be closed out for flight and a final verification made of the fuel cells prior to the move. The Orbiter will then be weighed and the center of gravitv calculated. Finally, the Orbiter will be taken off the jacks that support the vehicle in the processing facility and lowered onto its landing gear for the tow over to the Vehicle Asse mbly Building.
The move of Columbia and subsequent mating operations with the External Tank will require about five days. The physical move from the processing facility to the Vehicle Assembly Building - n distance of about 274 m (300 yards) - is expected to require about one hour.
Once in the Vehicle Assembly Building, it will take about six hours to install the handling sling to the 98-ton Orbiter. It will then spend two davs on the trnnsfer aisle floor being re-waterproofed. The heat of reentry burns away the protective water- proofing agent baked into the tiles before they are Rttached t9 the Orbiter.
The mating operation, scheduled 'io start Aug. 7, begins hv raising Columbia about 15 centimeters (6 inches) above the floor and then leveling the vehicle, an operation that will take about one hour. A landing gear and wheel well inspection will follow, taking another hour to complete. After the inspection, tire pressure transducers will be installed requiring another 90 minirtes. The Orbiter's landin? gear will then be retracted, which will take about two hours.
It will take another 90 minutes to hoist and rotate Columbia from the horizontal to the vertical position. Three hours will be needed to reconfigure the sling for the hoist-md-mate operation. The Orbiter will be lifted vertically 58 m (190 feet) above the flom of' the transfer aisle so that it clears the trnnsverse beam separating the transfer aisle from the assemblv bays. Then it will be swung over the large beam and gently lowered to just above the deck of the launcher pletform in the assembly bay for mating with the tank. This part of the move will require approximately two hours.
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External Tmk/Orbitcr mRting opernrions will follow, rcquirinc nbout 12 hows. On the completion of mechnnicnl mRte, the handling slinlf will bc removd, tRking tihiit five hours. Mating of the tmk/Orbiter trmbilicals will require 24 hours. The Space Shuttlc is scheduled to spend less thnn three weeks in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The major test conducted with the Shuttle during this time is the Shuttle Interface Test. It is scheduled to begin Aug. 12, or about five days after the Orbiter is completely mated to the External Tank. This interface test is an extensive checkout of all the flight elements - the Orbiter, External Tank and twin boosters - to make sure they have been properly integrated.
The current schedule calls for the rollout of the assembled Space Shuttle to Pad A at Launch Complex 39 on Aug. 26.
An extensive four-day series of checks -- the Shuttle Launch Pad Validation - will follow its transport to the pad. This test will verify the Shuttle is properly hooked to pad systems which provide power, propellants, gases, communications and data-gathering support required to check out and launch the vehicle.
A dress rehearsal of the STS-2 countdown with prime crewmen Engle and Truly in the cockpit of Columbia will be conducted on Sept. 2-3. This test is called the Dry Countdown Demonstration Test. It involves the flight crew Rnd Kennedy launch team. The test duplicates as closely as possible all launch day events, including a mock countdown and liftoff. No propellants are londed into the Shuttle's External Tank. The astronauts simulate their launch day activities during this test, including the traditional launch day breakfast, suit-up and ride to the launch pad in the Astronaut Van. The test helps to establish a timeline for astronaut activities on launch dav.
At the completion of the dry test CDDT, an Integrated Cryogenic Loading and Auziliary Power Unit recertification test will be conducted. For this test, the supercold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen will be loaded into the External Tank the same way the propellants are put in the tank on launch day. The test will continue through a terminal countdown to a simulated T-0, at which Auxiliary Power Unit No. 2 will be "hot fired" to verify it operates properly. Only this unit is being tested, because it is the only one that was replaced after the STS-1 mission.
If all events go as planned, the countdown preparations will begin on Sept. 18. The Shuttle Launch Countdown will pick up on Sept. 26 and launch of the Space Shuttle with nstronauts Engle and Truly for a five-day mission would occur on Sept. 30.
THE STS-2 MISSION - --~A PRELIMINARY SKETCTI
The plans for the STS-2 mission Rre virtually complete, but are still susceptible to change until the flight plan has been finRlized. Current plans call for the launch of STS-2 from the Kennedy Space Center no earlier than Sept. 30. The first window for that date opens at 8 a.m. EDT and closes at 11:53 a.m. EDT. G second and shorter window opens at 12:18 p.m. EDT and extends for one hour, 38 minutes, to 1:56 p.m. EDT.
The nominal mission length is 124 hours, Sfi minutes (5 drlvs, 4 hours, 55 minutes). There will be 83 orbits of the Earth with the landing taking place on the 84th orbit at Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFR, Calif., fit 12:55 p.m. EDT on Oct. 5.
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Following the shutdown of the Orbiter's mRin engines nnd jettison of the External Tank just under nine minutes after liCtoff, a series of five Orbital Maneuvering System burns will be performed to place Columbia in a circuhr 252-kilometer (137-nautical-mile) orbit inclined 38 degrees to the equator.
Prime crew members are Joe Engle, commander, and Richard Truly, pilot. Rack- up crew members are Kenneth Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield.
Full details of the STS-2 flight will be contained in the mission press kit which will be released in September.
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1' 1' . I. NKANews National Aeronautics and Space aiciinrriistr ation George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Icldrsliall Spacc Flight Center Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-00J4
For Release Dave B. Drachlis, 205-453-0034 Residence, 20 5-88 2-2941 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-94
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA headquarters in Washington has announced that it is now accepting applications for press accreditation for the second flight of Space Shuttle, set to begin no earlier than Sept. 30. "
There are four sites for which accreditatisnin-advance is required: the Kennedy
Space Center in Florida, the launch site; the Johnson Space Center in Houston, from where the flight will be controlled; the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB,
California, where the Shuttle Orbiter is scheduled to land; and Northrop Strip at White Sands, New Mexico, an alternate landing site.
Requests for accreditation should be submitted by Sept. 23 to: NASA Headquarters Code LFD-10 Accreditation Washington, D. C. 20546
Such requests must be made by a news executive on company letterhead, and must list the name or names of the individuals to attend, together with the assignment of each person (reporter, technician, photographer, etc.). Freelance writers and photographers must offer proof of assignment or evidence of professional activity. Accreditation will be valid for all news centers. August 10,198 1 -more-
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You may also wish to have members of your staff visit the Marshall Space Flight
Center, in Huntsville, during the mission to report on participation here in the Tennessee
Valley. Marshall Center employees and contractors will consoles at operate the
Huntsville Operations Support Center to support the Kennedy Center with expertise on
Shuttle propulsion systems during the preparation and countdown process. Headquarters accreditation will not be required at Marshall, which uses its own badging systems.
Those planning to cover the Shuttle activities in Huntsville are asked to contact the
Marshall Center Public Affairs Office at 205-453-0034 before the launch so that gate
passes and other materials can be sent to them in advance.
Here is a review of the NASA ground rules for newsmen covering the mission.
-NASA can make no travel or housing arrangements. -Only working newsmen will be accredited at the news centers. Publishers and other news and advertising executives will not be accredited. They should apply to
NASA's Protocol Office.
-Friends, dependents or relatives not covering the mission will not be
accommodated. Special arrangements can be made only at the Kennedy news center
where dependents may view the launch from a special dependents' site.
-No one 16 years old or younger will be allowed at the press site. Violation of this rule will result in cancellation of press site privileges for the responsible parties.
-Philatelic publications must be publications for general sale or publications of national organizations. They are restricted to two representatives each. Newsletters to
local clubs do not qualify. Representatives of philatelic organizations may not conduct
other business while at the press site.
-College news media are limited to two accredited correspondents.
-You must present your letter of acceptance in person to obtain a news badge at
the appropriate news center. If you lose your accreditation letter, a record that it was
issued will be available at each center. Remember, launch dates are subject to change.
Check the dates as launch time gets closer.
-30- NASANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Lyn Cywanowicz, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-881-6021 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-108 .j/
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --During the second flight of the Space Shuttle, tentatively scheduled for launch
Oct. 9, NASA will make available to the news/--- media two Public \, --."-"-/- ~ c ...- Affairs audio program channels that will enable reporters to listen to key mission participants during preparation for launch, the launch itself, on-orbit operations and the landing. One channel, Mission Audio, will include conversation between the Shuttle crew and ground controllers. Accompanying this feed will be explanatory comnentary by NASA Public Affairs Officers. The second channel, NASA Select Audio, will carry press conferences and periodic "change of shift" briefings held during the flight at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The Mission Audio service will begin approximately five hours before launch and will continue throughout the 5-day, six- hour mission. Launch time is planned for sunrise plus 45 minutes or approximately 7:OO CDT. -more- September 4, 1981
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Should you desire to monitor either of these program circuits, you may do so by arranging with your telephone compnny account representative to lease lines from your newsroom to the Marshall Space Flight Center comnunications building. You should tell the telephone company representative to contact Mr. Ed Hildreth at 205 453-3470 to arrange for proper audio tie-ins. The only costs to you are those involved with your leased lines to Marshall. NASA makes no charge for its service. If you need additional information, please contact the Marshall Public Affairs Office at 205, 453-0034.
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f 1- f r- - -* NASA News National Aeronautics and Space Ad ministration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Lyn Cywanowicz, 205 -45 3 -00 34 Residence, 205-881-6021 Upon i?cceipt Release No. 81-125
OVERPRESSURE TES'I'ING COMP1,ETEI; FOR S'TS-2
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center has coriapleted a 3-month series of tests aimed at developing and proving out a
way to reduce the excessive overpressure experienced during the launch of the Space Shuttle last April. On that launch, several milliseconds after the Shuttle's Solid
Rocket Boosters were ignited a pressure "pulse" bounced back up through the holes in
the Shuttle's Mobile Launch Platform, causing excessive stress loads on the Orbiter's
aft heat shield and flight control surfaces.
Marshall Center Test Laboratory engineers worked the problem using a 6.4
percent scale model of the Shuttle, complete with working solid propellant boosters,
and a scale model of the launch platform. "%'e began by firing the complete model
Shuttle to set up instrumentation and duplicate the overpressure we saw on the real
Orbiter," explained James T. Ralston, assistant to the director of Marshall's Test
Laboratory, "but the miniature boosters we used were not as sophisticated as the real boosters and would not ignite precisely at the same time. This gave us a problem
duplicating the overpressure.tf
According to Ralston, a "splitter plate" was installed on the mini-launch
platform to divide the Shuttle model in half. "Using half the model and only one -more-
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booster we were able to duplicate the pressure pulse and start trying out possible fixes developed by a committee of engineers from the Marshall, Johnson and Kennedy
Center%,t' he said.
Those ideas ranged from installing metal plates to cover holes in the Mobile Launch Platform, to a plumbing system that would spray water directly into the exhaust plume as the boosters ignited to absorb the shock wave generated. "We tried out a number of ideas that the committee came up with," said Dr. George McDonough, director of the Marshall Center's Systems Dynamics Laboratory. "We explored the idea of using a mesh type covering over the holes and looked at water troughs-- hammock-like devices, filled with water, that could be suspended around each booster ." In all, 37 firings of the model Shuttle were conducted in the Marshall Center's
East Test Area to try out these potential launch platform changes. "We were confident from the beginning that water spray would be effective from earlier experience on sound suppression and, after about 20 tests, we knew that the water spray system would be at least part of the fix," said McDonough.
After looking at the data, NASA Shuttle program officials agreed and ordered the system installed on the launch platform at the Kennedy Space Center.
But the testing at Marshall continued. Other methods were thoroughly tested on the small launch pad and the results analyzed. "We knew that the water system would be effective in somewhat reducing the pressure pulse, but we felt we needed additional insurance by installing a second system on the pad," said Robert Ryan, chief of Marshall's Structural Dynamics Division. He added, "NASA Headquarters decided about ten days ago that of all the systems we tested, the water troughs would be the most effective."
That system is now being added to the launch platform along with the water spray system. -more-
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How confident are these engineers that the model Shuttle tests reflert what the real Shuttle will experience at liftoff Nov. 4th? ''We have worked this problem as thoroughly as we could, using both analysis and test," says Systems Dynamics
Laboratory Director McDonough. "We have challenged and tested our assumptions and conclusions which is as much as you can do in engineering. We all are confident ?hst the overpressure problem is solved for the second Shuttle flight."
-30- NKANews National Aeronautics and Space Ad mi n1st rat ion George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Carl Jones, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-882-9654 Upon Receipt Release No. 81P-138 Negative No. 2-17195
GRAVITY PROBE-B DEVELOPMENTAL TESTING
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - Engineers Sally Little (left) and
Don Ford of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., are shown conducting
solar array sun shadow anaylsis on a model of the Gravity Probe-B satellite now under study at the Marshall Center. Gravity Probe-B is a satellite being designed to verify a portions of Einstein's general theory of relativity. The shadow analysis was being done to
establish data on the path that shadows take as they move across the solar arrays used to
provide electrical power to the spacecraft. This data will then be used to determine the
optimum configuration of the solar arrays to insure they capture enough sunlight to
maintain a continuous level of power throughout the year-long experiment.
-30- October 22,1981 NKANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Terry Eddleman, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-88 2-21 35 Upon Receipt Release No. 81P-134 Negative No. 2-17198
MAJOR PIECE FOR NASA's SPACE TELESCOPE DELIVERED MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - Just arriving at the Perkin-2 -Elmer Corp. in Danbury, Conn., is the Space Telescope's "main ring," which houses the primary mirror of NASA's optical observatory, scheduled for launch in 1985. With the arrival of the ring from Exelco Corp., a Perkin-Elmer subcontractor in Silver Creek, N.Y., most of the major components of the Optical Telescope Assembly can now be fitted into a unified structure. The telescope is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
Ala.
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October 23,1981
MSFC-Form 2914-18 (August 1976)
f r- - -- _" t- -T- NASANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Terry Eddleman, 205-453-0034 Residence, 20 5-88 2-21 35 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-135
NASA RECEIVES RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR STUDY PROPOSALS
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA has been considering the idea
of a "mixed fleet," in which the Space Shuttle missions would be augmented by an unmanned vehicle developed from recoverable Shuttle components. That unmanned
vehicle, sometimes referred to as the "!3RB-X," is the subject of a proposed study for which NASA may award a contract by as early as November. The %RB" refers to the Shuttle's recoverable Solid Rocket Boosters.
A "request for issued nationwide last month by the Marshall Space
Flight Center in Huntsvlle, Ala., invited interested firms to describe how they would
accomplish preliminary definition of unmanned launch vehicles that would use Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters and motors as principal components. Responding by the Oct. 19 deadline were the Boeing Aerospace Co. of Seattle, and Martin Marietta Aerospace of Denver.
After evaluation of the responses to the request for proposal, the Center expects
to award a 12-month contract valued at $250,000. The award is expected before the end
of the year, possibly by the end of November.
The contract would be divided into two six-month study areas. During the first half-year period, the contractor would be expected to analyze the various configurations
-more-
October 27,1981 MSFC - Form 29 14-1 8 (August 19 76 )
1. ?'- * 7-- c -* -2- that such an unmanned vehicle might take. During the second half-year, the firm would be required to define in greater detail those particular options that seem most promising.
NASA has assigned management responsibility of the SRB-X study to the Marshall
Center, since it is responsible for the Space Shuttle propulsion system and has specialized in the design, development and testing of NASA propulsion systems.
- 30 -
NASA-MSFC
1 .- * ,. ... -- - News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
David B. Drachlis, 205-453-0034 For Release: Residence, 20 5 -8 8 2 -2 94 1 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-145
Also released in Washington,D. C. and Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY DELIVERS SPACELAB FOR U.S. SHUTTLE
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - The major components of Spacelab - Europe's contribution to the NASA Space Transportation System - are scheduled for shipment to the United States from West Germany aboard a U.S. Air Force transport today.
Spacelab is being developed and built under the aegis of the European Space
Agency (ESA) by a European industrial consortium under the leadership of the West German firm ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GMBH. It consists of a habitable module and several unpressurized experiment support structures called "pallets." When placed inside the cargo bay of the Shuttle orbiter, Spacelab components will convert the Shuttle into a versatile on-orbit, scientific research center for both astronauts and civilian scientists. The module and one pallet that will be used for the first Spacelab flight - which will be a joint U.S./European mission in September 1983 - are among the components being shipped to the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.. They are scheduled to arrive this afternoon.
The laboratory was formally delivered to NASA at a ceremony on Dec. 4 at the ERNO facilities in Bremen, West Germany. It was then transported overland to Hanover -more-
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1976) December 11,1981 -2-
where it was readied for flight to the United States aboard an Air Force C5 Galaxy. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., has prime NASA
responsibility for Spacelab's procurement and operation and will manage its first three
scientific missions. The laboratory will be prepared for flight and installed on the Space
, Shuttle at Kennedy Space Center. The Marshall Center is also responsible for developing and providing some additional associated components and computer software. NASA is
purchasing a second flight unit for approximately $300 million. Delivery of the second
Spacelab is due to be completed by 1984. Acceptance and delivery of Spacelab marks a major milestone in a historic program
of European-American space cooperation. Under ESA's nearly $1 billion Spacelab
development program, which began in 1973, the 10 participating European states are supplying an engineering model and flight version of the laboratory, associated ground
support equipment and some computer software - all at no cost to NASA. They will also
provide 50 percent of the payload to be flown on the first mission.
-30- News ! P&itlonal Aeronautics and ~S~xmAdministration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center M,irshall Space Flight Center Alabama 3581 2 AC; 205 453-0034
For Release: David B. Drachlis, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-882-2941 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-146
SPACELAE! 1 PAYLOAD CREW TRAINING IN JAPAN
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --The Spacelab 1 payload crew is in Japan this week training to operate a group of instruments scheduled to fly on the first mission of the spaceborne research facility in 1983. These instruments, used in an investigation called Space Experiments with Particle Accelerators, or SEPAC for short, are designed to help scientists gain an understanding of the Earth's magnetosphere and how it interacts with the upper atmosphere. The magnetosphere is an envelope of magnetic fields and charged particles that surrounds the planet. Principal investigator for the NASA-sponsored experiment package is Professor Tatsuzo Obayashi, of the University of Tokyo. The six-member payload crew arrived in Japan Dec. 6. They will undergo several days of classroom training, according to Chuck Lewis, a crew training coordinator from the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., who is accompanying the group. -mor e - December 8, 1981
MSFC- Forrn2911-18 (August 1975) -2-
The crew will also practice operating the actual flight experiment hardware which is installed in a vacuum chamber at Japan's National Space Development Agency on the outskirts of
Tokyo. The crew is scheduled to leave Japan Dec. 15. The payload crew for the first Spacelab mission--a joint NASA/European Space Agency mission--consists of four civilian scientists called payload specialists and two NASA mission specialist astronauts. They are Drs. Byron Lichtenberg and Michael Lampton of the United States, Drs. Ulf Merbold of West Germany and Wubbo Ockels of the Netherlands, payload specialists; and Drs. Owen Garriott and Robert Parker, mission specialists. Two of the payload specialists will actually fly aboard the mission with the two mission specialists, and two will support the mission from the ground. The Marshall Center is responsible for managing the first three Spacelab missions. -30-
NASA-MSFC
- * r- -- T I- 1- NnSANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Tim Tyson, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-53 3-25 38 Upon Receipt Release No. 81-148
SPACE TELESCOPE PRIMARY MIRROR COATED
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA's Space Telescope has passed
a major milestone in its development: the coating of the telescope's 94-inch primary
mirror.
Space Telescope, being developed under the management of NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., is an optical instrument to be placed in Earth orbit
in the mid-1980s. It will enable astronomers to see seven times deeper into space than is now possible with the finest ground-based telescopes. The telescope will use two mirrors to focus light from stellar objects to a group of scientific instruments at the rear of the telescope assembly. The primary mirror is an 1800-lb., polished glass blank coated with aluminum three-millionths-of-an-inch thick. The Perkin-Elmer Corporation of Danbury, Conn., responsible to Marshall for the
design and production of the telescope's optical assembly, completed coating the primary
mirror with the highly reflective metal Dec. 5. Perkin-Elmer and Marshall engineers have since verified the coating adhered to
the mirror and had the proper reflectivity.
-30-
December 10,1981
MSFC-Fo11112914-18 (August 1976)
t' NIANews Natronai Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Terry Eddlem an, 2 0 5 -45 3 -0 0 34 Residence, 205-882-2135 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-2
NASA CENTER TESTS "THERMOS BOTTLE" COOLING SYSTEM FOR TELESCOPE
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - A large infrared telescope cooling system is now undergoing thermal performance tests by NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The cooling system is part of the Marshall-managed Helium-Cooled Infrared
Telescope Experiment. The experiment is planned for a 1984 flight aboard Spacelab 2, a manned laboratory which will fit inside the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle. The cooling
system of the telescope must maintain the infrared detectors at a super-cold
temperature in order for the instrument to work. "Since the telescope will be scanning newly forming stars and other sources of infrared radiation, which is emitted from warm objects, we have to make sure that the instrument doesn't measure infrared within itself," said Co-Investigator Dr. Eugene Urban of Marshall's Space Sciences Laboratory. '?30 we have to keep parts of the telescope as cold as possible - about minus 450 degrees
Fahrenheit .'I
Liquid helium, the coolant used in the system, will be stored during the mission in
a 250-liter container called a "We've sometimes compared the dewar to a
thermos bottle," said Urban, "although it's far more sophisticated. It has vacuum jackets,
insulation, thermal radiation shields and a highly complicated plumbing system." -more- January 6,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1 f r- - -- -2-
Vaporized helium, drawn from the liquid in the dewar and nearly as cold as the liquid helium itself, will be circulated through various channels of the telescope to keep the instrument near absolute zero - the coldest possible temperature, at which all molecular action ceases.
The mechanical and cooling systems of the experiment are under Marshall Center development, while the telescope itself is being designed by the University of Arizona under a joint effort agreement among Marshall, the university and the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory. The University of Alabama at Huntsville is assisting Marshall in the development of the dewar system. Among the tests being at the Marshall Center is a measure of the flow rate of the helium as it boils off from the liquid, which is a determinant of thermal efficiency.
Scientists are also measuring the temperatures of various components of the cooling system, to ensure that the super-cool conditions are evenly maintained. "One of the objectives of these tests is to see how long the cooling system can store such a cold liquid," said Dr. Dan Ladner, a Space Sciences Lab physicist who assists Urban in the telescope experiment. "We want the cooling system to last for several weeks, because the dewar would be filled with liquid helium one or two weeks before the launch of Spacelab 2 and then undergo a mission of seven days. So we'd like to see a capability of the dewar to maintain the helium for perhaps 30 days."
The testing of the cooling system will continue until March 1982.
- 30 - NEANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 a AC 205 453-0034
Tim Tyson, 205-355-2538 For Release Residence, 20 5-45 3-00 34 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-7
IECM RETURNED FOR NEXT FLIGHT
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - The Marshall Space Flight r:enterls Induced Environment Contamination Monitor has been shipped back to the Kennedy Space
Center after being serviced at Marshall in preparation for the third Shuttle flight.
The Induced Environment Contamination Monitor is a desk-sized detector of ten instruments which will check the environment in and around the cargo bay of the Shuttle Orbiter for contaminants that may damage or interfere with sensitive scientific
equipment. On the next mission, the monitor will play a dual role. In addition to its normal
functions, a crewman will use the Remote Manipulator Arm to pick up the nearly j,OOO- pound package in an exercise of the arm's maneuverability. All of the instruments on the Induced Environment Contamination Monitor operated successfully during its maiden voyage into space last fall. Date collected during that mission is still being analyzed with the first full report on the findings of the experiment due in mid-January. -30- January 15,1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1976)
1- 1- -.- 1 -- N!ANews Natioiial Aeronautics and Space Ad ministration I,: i I f George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center Alabarna 35812 AC 305 453 0034
Tim Tyson, 205-453-0034 For Release Residence, 205-533-2538 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-9
LATEX REACTOR SHIPPED TO KSC
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -The Monodisperse Latex Reactor, a
Marshall Space Flight Center-managed experiment with major medical and industrial applications, has been shipped to the Kennedy Space Center to be put aboard the Orbiter Columbia for flight on the third Space Shuttle mission.
The experiment, designed to study the feasibility of making monodisperse
(identical size) polystyrene latex microspheres, will be mounted on the forward bulkhead of the Orbiter crew locker area.
The latex spheres produced by the reactor resemble tiny plastic beads. They can
be used in medical research to mesure the size of pores in the intestine in cancer
research and as a carrier of drugs and radioactive isotopes for treatment of cancerous
tumors, according to experiment co-investigator Dale Kornfeld of Marshall's Space Sciences Laboratory.
The plastic beads can also be used to measure the size of pores in the eye in
glaucoma research, he added. The National Bureau of Standards has indicated its interest in routine use of the
beads as calibration standards in medical and scientific equipment. -more-
January 19,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751 -2-
According to Kornfeld, such monodisperse beads can be produced on Earth, but only up to about three microns in size. In the low gravity environment of space, the beads will "grow" to a much larger size, up to 20 microns, and still remain monodisperse. ?"he experiment hardware consists of a two-foot-tall metal cylinder containing four, one-foot-tall reactors. Each reactor houses a cylindrical chamber containing a latex-forming chemical recipe. The chemical recipe is a suspension of very tiny, micron- size, beads in water. Different recipes will be used on later flights.
Prior to launch, each of the reactors is loeded with 100 cc's of the chemical recipe. In orbit, a small onboard computer controls the experiment after the Shuttle crew turns it on. Processing begins with the latex mixture being heated to a constant 70- degrees centingrade. This initiates a chemical reaction to form, or grow, the larger plastic beads.
A tape recorder will store all data produced during operation of the experiment.
After 12 hours, the experiment turns itself off.
The reactors will be removed from the Shuttle at the landing site and returned to the experimenters for sample and data analysis. After a cleanup and refurbishment of the experiment, it will be ready for another flight.
The principal investigator on the experiment is Dr. John W. Vanderhoff of Lehigh
University. Kornfeld, and two Lehigh University professors, Dr. Fortunato J. Micale and
Dr. Mohamed S. El-Aasser, are the co-investigators. Responsibility for providing and testing the flight experiment lies with Marshall's
Materials Processing in Space Projects Office, supported by the Center's Science and Engineering Directorate.
Experiment safety and interfacing requirements for the Shuttle flight are directed by the Marshall Center's Spacelab Pay load Project Office. The experiment is to be conducted on three more early Shuttle missions beyond the third Shuttle flight.
-30-
* *- 1' N!ANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
David B. Drachlis, 205-453-0034 For Release Residence, 205-881-7727 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-11
EUROPEAN PAYLOAD SPECIALISTS BASED AT THE MARSHALL CENTER
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -- European Space Agency (ESA) Spacelab payload specialists Dr. Wubbo Ockels of the Netherlands and Dr. Ulf Merbold of West Germany have arrived at the Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, Ala., where they will be based while completing training for the first Spacelab mi ss ion. Spacelab is a reusable space research facility developed by the ESA, in cooperation with NASA. Spacelab will be carried in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter. Ockels, Merbold and two other payload specialists, Dr. Michael Lampton and Dr. Byron Lichtenberg of the United States, have been in training for the mission since August 1978. Ockels and Merbold moved to the United States because training for the September 1983 flight will intensify over the next several months. -more- January 21, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) ,. 1' 1- . -2-
Payload specialists are scientists selected to operate experiments aboard Spacelab. Of the four payload specialists trRinfng for the first mission, one American and one European will actually go into space. The other two will operate ground- based support equipment and support the pair in orbit. Spacelab 1 is to be a seven-day, joint NASA/ESA mission during which some 70 investigations in five different disciplines will be conducted. ESA is managing development of the laboratory facility and the Marshall Center is responsible for technical and programnatic monitoring of design and development activities in Europe. The Marshall Center is also responsible for overall management of the first three Spacelab missions.
- 30 - National Aeronautics and Space Aclministralion George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space F Iiqht Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Lyn Cywanowicz, 205-453-0034 For Release, Residence, 205-881-6021 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-12
FOURTH SHUTTLE TANK SHIPPED
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. --The external propellant tank for the fourth Space Shuttle was shipped from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans to the Kennedy Space Center, Fla,. on Sunday, Jan. 17. The External Tank, designated ET-4, was loaded aboard the NASA barge, Orion, Sunday evening and began its five-day trip to Florida late Sunday night. After arriving at the Kennedy Center, the tank will be transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building where it will be prepared for flight. The fourth Space Shuttle launch is scheduled for mid-1982. The Space Shuttle External Tanks are built at Michoud by Martin Marietta Aerospace, Michoud Division, under contract to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. -30-
January 19, 1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (AUglJSt 1975) 1 1 * I. NASA News National Aefonautrcs and %ace Administration I* i George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 3501 2 AC 205 453 0034
Tim Tyson, 205-453-0034 For Release Residence, 205-533-2538 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-13 I
JOINT ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT SIGNED
MARSHALL SPACE 'FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA's Office of Space Science and
Applications and the GTI Corporation, San Diego, Calif., have signed a Joint Endeavor Agreement which is expected to lead to the flight of a GTI-developed materials
processing device on four future Shuttle flights.
Andrew J. Stofan, acting associate administrator for Space Science and
Applications, NASA, and James La Fleur, chairman of the board, GTI, signed the joint endeavor agreement, Wednesday, Jan. 20.
The joint endeavor agreement is a new NASA approach to government-industry
partnerships which could develop future applications or technologies for space-flown devices.
The agreement is being managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville,
Ala., as pRrt of the Center's on going materials processing in space activities.
This agreement will consist of three phases. During the first phase GTI will design
a low-cost, multichamber, alloy solidification furnace system which can be operated in
the micro-gravity environment of space. The second phase will consist of the
development, testing and integration of the GTI furnace into NASA's Space
Transportation System. The final phase will consist of the Shuttle flight of the GTI
furnance and GTI's further efforts to assess the flight system and the commerical
feasibility of the products it manufactures. -more-
MSFC - Form 291418 (August 19751 January 21,1982 -2-
Of principal interest to GTI is investigating the manufacture of immiscible alloys in the micro-gravity environment of space. Alloys are blends of metallic and often non- metallic elements which create a new material with combined properties of the various constituent elements. On Earth many theoretical alloys cannot be produced due to the settling of one or more of the elements during the mixing stage. This is often due to the density variations of the elements themselves and the effect of gravity on the heavier elements.
This has been found to be reduced substantially or completely in the micro-gravity conditions of Earth-orbiting spacecraft. GTI is interested in pursuing the commercial application of some of these speciality alloys.
The NASA joint endeavor program in space-borne materials processing experiments is authorized for the purpose of engaging in research programs directed to the development and/or enhancement of U.S. commercial leadership in the field of materials processing in space and for encouraging the commercial application of this technology. GTI will fund the furnance design, development and test effort; NASA will fund the integration and flight aspects associated with the GTI furnance.
Under the terms of the agreement, GTI promises to make the results of the endeavor available to the general public on reasonable terms and conditions and also provide information indicating the performance of the furnace system in low gravity environment. In addition, GTI agrees to make furnace experiment time available to NASA for its own use.
-30-
- 1' NASA News National Aeronautlcs and S pd;e Ad m 1i ri Is t rat i on George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Fhght Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Tim Tyson, 205-453-0034 For Release Residence, 205-53 3-25 38 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-14
IECM PROVIDES INFORMATION ON CARGO BAY ENVIRONMENT
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -The Induced Environment
Contamination Monitor taken into space aboard the second Space Shuttle flight worked
properly and has provided the first information about the environment in the Shuttle
Orbiter's cargo bay in orbit.
The desk-sized package of sensors has been undergoing an extensive month-long
analysis at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., where it was developed. A
preliminary report on the data produced by the monitor during the Shuttle mission
indicates that the monitor performed up to design expectations, according to Project
Scientist Edgar Miller, of Marshall's Space Sciences Laboratory.
Of major significance is the fact that every contamination producing activity,
such as, thrust firings and water dumps, was clearly identified, the report indicated. This
is important in that it assures that during future missions, a differentiation can be made in evaluating contaminants that may be present from other sources, Miller said. The 54-hour duration of the second Shuttle mission provided insufficient time to
evaluate the potential breadth of contamination. The worst case potential for contamination is when the payload bay is exposed to the sun, a condition which did not occur on the flight. However, with the bay orientation that did exist, no surprises with
regard to contamination were encountered, Miller added. -more-
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) January 25,1982 -2-
"The contamination monitor systems performed normally throughout the mission and responded properly to all commands,1' he said. !!The second Shuttle flight proved out the operation of the monitor, and its inslruments added significantly to our knowledge of the Orbiter's induced environment. The results are encouraging considering the length of the mission."
The ten instruments that comprise the rnonitoi. revealed the following:
* Humidity remained low in the cargo bay area during ascent and descent; * Particulate matter oi' sizes greater 'than 5 rnierometers were relatively absent from the bay, but particles less thm five nicrorne'ters in diameter exceeded expec tetions;
* The cargo bay was successfdly sealed from engine by-products during liftoff and descent ; * Water molecules other early-mission contaminants began boning off rapidly and there was a 90-percent reduction etfter approximately 35 hours in orbit; * Other data was obtained showing that when the Orbiter's attitude control system is used, or 8 wate-i' clump is made, ti ;cernparwy 9r~1~~d11of particulates is generated. "In one instanceYr1Miller s~,id,"the Orbiter was flying with the cargo bay open pointed straight ahead. At that point, molecular readouts were high because Orbiter- generated particulates were deflected by the atmosphere back into the bay.
"Procedures will have to be worked out so that such instances don't occur when sensitive telescopes and other scientific instruments are in use;"
"Longer flight times on future flights are essential in understanding our data," he added.
The third Shuttle flight will enhance the capability of the monitor because of the planned solar orientation of the bay producing high temperatures as compared with the relatively mild temperatures produced by the Eartii orientation utilized on the second
Shuttle flight. -more-
1' -3-
In the next mission, a planned seven-day flight, NASA scientists will gain more extensive data on the rate of decline in the amount of offgassing contaminants, the effects on the bay area in different thermal orientations, my effects of different payloads and the effects of an extensively cleaned Orbiter Processing Facility. Time permitting during the flight, the monitor will map effluents utilizing the Remote
Manipulator System to maneuver the monitor to selected points around the orbiter.
The monitor was returned to the Marshall Center Dee. 7, 1981 and placed in a "clean room" in the Center's Test Laboratory where the instruments were removed for
analysis and refurbishment. The film and samples to be analyzed in the laboratory were
removed within a few hours after arrival at Marshall and the tape recorder containing
the bulk of the data from the monitor was also removed and taken to Marshall's
Computer Services Office for data reduction.
After the instrument package was refurbished, the monitor was shipped to the
Kennedy Space Center and re-installed in the Shuttle Orbiter cargo bay on Jan. 7, 1982.
-30- News ./,' National Aeronautlcs and Space Administratlon George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 /'
* Lyn Cywanowicz, 205-453-0034 For Release: Residence, 205-88 1-60 21 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-16 Also released in Washington D. C.
SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH DATE SET
MARSRALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -The third launch of the Space Shuttle from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., has been set for March 22, 1982, at 1O:OO - _- a.m. EST. The crew for the third Shuttle mission, STS-3, is Jack Lousma, commander, and C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot. Objectives of the STS-3 flight, the third in a series of four development flight
tests, will be to continue engineering evaluation of the reusable spacecraft with
particular emphasis on its thermal characteristics. In the Orbiter Columbia's cargo bay
will be a space science payload (OSS-1) with astronomy and space plasma physics
instruments. AIso in the bay will be the Canadian-built remote manipulator arm which
will be extensively tested for the second time. Following seven days and three hours in Earth orbit, the Columbia is scheduled to
land on the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on March 29, 1982. -30-
February 5, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914.18 (August 1975)
I' 1- * ... f -- NASA News
For Rc,lease James Kukowski, 202-755-3090 Upon Receipt NASA Headquarters Release No. 82-19
Lyn Cyw ano wicz, 2 0 5-4 5 3 -0 0 34 Also released in Marshall Space Flight Center Washington, D. C.
S€3 U TT L E B 0OST E R M 0 TIIF I CAT10 N P R 0 P OS ED
IMARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA plans to make a change to
the Space Shuttle’s Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) that will reduce their weight
substantially and provide an increase in the Shuttle’s payload carrying capacity by about
6,000 lbs.
Pending approval for reprogramming of funds, NASA plans to replace eight of the
eleven metal segments of the current SRBs motor case with four segments made from
composite filament material. Other motor components, including the metal forward and aft domes and the External Tank attach segment of the metal case, would remain unchanged.
4 request for proposals has been issued for design and development of the filament wound case.
The new filament wound case is needed for high performance launches primarily into near-polar orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The lightweight motor case
will help pompensate for reduced lift capabilities when launches from the west coast
cannot t8ke advantage of the added velocity provided by the Earth’s rotation. The filament wound case can also be used to boost extra heavy payloads into Earth orbit from the Kennedy Space Center, Fls. -more-
March 2, 1982 MSFC For”, 7914 18 (kiigtist 1975)
f ,- - -- I 1- The lightweight case for the SRBs was one of several options studied by NASA to increase the Shuttle's payload capacity. First use of the motor would be in late 1985.
Should the plans be approved, a series of test firings using filament wound case configurated solid rocket motors will be conducted by the Thiokol Corp., Wasatch Div.,
Brigharn City, Utah, under the direction of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala.
-30-
1- . .- .- -. N!ANews
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Spdr,: Flight Center AI Aianla 3581 2 AC 205 453 0034
Lyn Cywanowicz, 205-453-0034 For Release Residence, 20 5 -88 1-6 0 2 1 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-20
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala.---NASA Headquarters in Washington
has announced that it is now accepting applications for press accreditation for the third
flight of the Space Shuttle. Launch is targeted for March 22 from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., with mission control at Johnson Space Center, Houston, and landing at
Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif. seven days later.
Requests for accreditation should be submitted by March 17 to:
NASA Headquarters
Code LFD-10 Accreditation
Washington, D. C. 20546
Such requests must be made by a news executive on company letterhead, and must list the name or names of the individuals to attend, together with the assignment of each
person (reporter, technician, photographer, etc.). Freelance writers and photographers
must offer proof of assignment or evidence of professional activity. Accreditation will
be valid for all news centers. You may also wish to have members of your staff visit the Marshall Space Flight
Center, in Huntsville, during the mission to report on participation here in the Tennessee
Valley. Marshall Center employees and contractors will operate consoles at the Huntsville Operations Support Center to support the Kennedy Center with expertise on
Shuttle propulsion systems during the preparation and countdown process and through
-more- February 23,1982 MSFC . Form 2914-18 (Augiist 19751 -2- launch md flight to orbit. Also, during on-orbit operations, news media representatives will have the opportunity to view activities here related to the operation of scientific payloads developed or managed by the Marshall Center.
Headquarters accreditation will not be required at Marshall, which uses its own badging systems. Those planning to cover the Shuttle Rctivities in Huntsville are asked to contact the Marshall Center Public Affairs Office at 205-453-0034 before the launch so that gate passes and other materials can be sent to them in advance.
Flere is fl review of the ground rules set by NASA Headquarters for newsmen covering the mission at the Kennedy, Johnson and Dryden centers.
- NASA can make no travel or housing arrangements.
- Only working newsmen will be accredited at the news centers. Publishers and other new and advertising executives will not be accredited. They should apply to
NASA's Protocol Office.
- Friends, dependents or relatives not covering the mission will not be accommodated. Special arrangements can be made only at the Kennedy news center where dependents may view the launch from a special dependents' site.
- So one 16 years old or younger will be allowed at the press site. Violation of this rule will result in cancellation of press site privileges for the responsible parties. - Philatelic publications must be publications for general sale or publications of national mganizations. They are restricted to two representatives each. Newsletters to local clubs do not qualify. Representatives of philatelic organizations may not conduct other business while at the press site.
- College news media are limited to two accredited correspondents. - You must present your letter of acceptance in person to obtain a news badge at the appropriate news center. If you lose your accreditation letter, a record that it was issued will be available at each center. Remember, launch dates are subject to change. Check the dates as launch time gets closer.
-30-
NASA-MSFC
1' 1- . .. - _. NIANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Lyn Cywanowicz, 205-453-0034 For Release: Residence, 20 5-88 1-602 1 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-21
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala.-The final pre-mission news con- ference with the prime crew for the third flight of the Space Shuttle will be at 9 a.m. CST Friday, Feb. 26 at the Johnson Space Center, Houston.
Astronauts Jack R. Lousma, commander, and C. Gordon Fullerton, pilot, are to fly
the Orbiter Columbia on a seven-day mission with launch scheduled for March 22.
There will also be briefings on the STS-3 experiments, Remote Manipulator
System, and flight plan conducted at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. CST, respectivly, on
Thursday, Feb. 25.
Dr. Robert Snyder, chief of the Marshall Center's Space Science Laboratory,
Separation Processes Branch will be in Houston to participate in the Thursday , experiments briefing. He will explain and answer questions about the functions of the
Monodisperse Latex Reactor. And he will also be available to answer questions on the Marshall-provided flight hardware of the Electrophoresis Equipment Verification Test of which he is a principal investigator.
The press conference and briefings may be viewed on closed-circuit TV at the
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Two-way audio will enable media
representatives at Marshall to participate in the question and answer session. For additional information, please contact the Public Affairs office at 205-453-0034.
-30- February 23,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 19751
I- - T~ T- - T- NASA News
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center i I Marshdll Spd' i: Flight Center Alabarrid 35817 AC 205 453 Of134
Terry Eddleman, 205-453-0034 For Release Residence, 205-882-21 35 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-22
NASA CENTER DIRECTOR TO GUEST LECTURE AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - Dr. William R. Lucas, director of
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has been invited to deliver the
third annual Roger W. Jones Lecture at American University in Washington, D.C., Friday,
Feb. 26. Jones lecturers are chosen from former recipients of the Roger W. Jones
Award, established by the university several years ago to recognize federal employees for "outstanding executive leadership.'! Dr. Lucas was presented the Jones Award in May
of last year.
A committee of American University's College of Public and International Affairs
asked Dr. Lucas to deliver the lecture to a specially invited audience. Attending will be American University administrators, faculty and graduate students, and a select group of senior government managers and other invited guests.
The topic of Dr. Lucas' lecture will be "Constants and Variables in the
Management of United States Civil Space Programs."
Among those attending the lecture will be John W. Macy, Jr., former chairman of
the U. S. Civil Service Commission; Phillip S. Hughes, undersecretary of the Smithsonian
Institution; Dr. Walter B. Olstad, NASA Associate Administrator for Management; Robert F. Allnutt, NASA Acting Associate Administrator for External Relations and
NASA Deputy General Counsel for Policy Review; and A. Thomas Young, director of the
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. -more- February 23, 1982 MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751 -2-
The award and lecture series are named for Roger W. Jones, a federal career executive, now retired, who served in high civil service positions and was an advisor to Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson. Among previous award recipients are Dale McOmber, assistant director for budget, Office of Management and Budget; Harry Havens, assistant comptroller general for program evaluation, General Accounting Office; and Dr. Christopher Kraft, director of the NASA Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston.
Dr. Lucas has been a member of the Marshall Center and predecessor organizations for more than 28 years in scientific and management positions. He became center director in 1974. Prior to assuming the highest post at the center he served as deputy center director, head of the Program Development directorate, and as director of one of the center's key laboratories. During Dr. Lucasl association with the center, Marshall has been involved in most of NASA's important development programs for manned space flight. The center was responsible for the development of the Saturn family of launch vehicles that took man to the Moon; the Lunar Roving Vehicle used to explore it; and Skylab, America's first space station. Under Dr. Lucasl direction, the center is now responsible for the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engines, External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters, and other important projects including Spacelab and the Space Telescope.
In 1980, then President Carter conferred on Dr. Lucas the new rank of
Distinguished Executive in recognition of "extraordinary accomplishmentT1in career federal service. Last year Dr. Lucas was awarded, for the second time, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal - the highest award the agency can bestow on a federal employee - for his significant contributions to the success of the first Space Shuttle mission.
-30 -
NASA-MSFC
* ,. - -- N!ANews National Aer-onautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453 0034
Carl Jones, 205-453-0033 For Release Residence, 205-88 2-9654 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-23
MARSHALL CENTER SCIENTISTS DISCOVER THIRD FASTEST PULSAR
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - Scientists at NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala, have discovered the third fastest pulsar known to exist . A pulsar is a neutron star observed to turn "onr1and cfoffffat intervals consistent with the rate of rotation. Neutron stars are normally formed by the collapse of a normal
star, such as our sun, and the reduction of a star's matter to neutrons.
"The pulse rate of this pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud system is once every
69 thousandths of a second," said Dr. Martin Weisskopf of Marshall Center's Space
Science Laboratory. "There are only two faster than that, the Crab Pulsar which pulses
once every 33 thousandths of a second and the Binary Radio Pulsar which pulses once every 59 thousandths of a second."
Dr. Weisskopf, along with Drs. Ronald Elsner and Dennis Leahy of Marshall
Center's Space Sciences Laboratory, made the discovery in conjunction with Dr. Gerald
Skinner of the University of Birmingham, England.
"Dr. Skinner made some initial observations of an X-ray source in this system
from data obtained with the HEAO-1 satellite and requested further study with the Monitor Proportional Counter aboard HEAO-2," said Dr. Weisskopf. -more- February 24,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751
1 1- * .- - -- -2-
"The Monitor Proportional Counter gave us the capability of measuring the X-ray pulsations more accurately," said Dr. Skinner. "Our data from HEAO-1 only told us there was something interesting to study in that region of the system."
'?The data from HEAO-2 showed the extremely fast pulsation from an X-ray source to be that of a puISm,ll said Dr. Weisskopf. "Our analysis so far indicates the pulsar% size is approximately 10 miles in diameter, which is extremely small, but it possesses the same mass as our sun, which is 430,000 miles in diameter."
"The new pulsar's magnetic field, as in most pulsars, is similar in shape to a bar
magnet. The rotations, much as the Earth rotates around its axis, result in pulses when the poles of the pulsar point in Earth's direction every 69 thousandths of a second. Additionally, the pulsar 'lorbitsl' around a normal, or primary star, much as a planet would rotate around its sun. The "orbitr1takes 16.6 days.
Wesurmise there were two stars present in the system and one collapsed.
Normally this would cause the disintegration of the entire system, but the system was organized well enough that it adjusted to the new circumstances and the pulsar began orbiting the remaining star," said Dr. Weisskopf. "Our first opportunity to study the area again, and confirm our data, will be with
the European EXOSAT satellite proposed for launch later this year," said Dr. Skinner. "This satellite will have two telescopes similar to those on HEAO-2, but smaller, and a
Monitor Proportional Counter larger than HEAO-2. I hope we can get a really good
constant study for the entire 16.6 day rotation cycle."
'lMuch of our data indicates this system is out of the ordinary, which entices one
to find out how it all works, and why it is different,'' concluded Weisskopf.
-30- NASA News National Aeronautics and Space Admiriic,tration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Spm: Flight Center Alabama 3581 2 AC '05 453 0034
For Release: Carl Jones, 205-453-0033 Residence , 2 0 5 -8 82 -96 5 4 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-24
PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES ANNOUNCED
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - Several key personnel assignments and organizational changes at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., have been announced by Center Director Dr. William R. Lucas.
James R. Thompson, Jr., manager of Marshall's Space Shuttle Main Engine
Project, has been named associate director for engineering in the Center's Science and
Engineering Directorate, replacing Fred S. Wojtalik. Thompson has served as manager of
the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project for the past eight years. He has served in this
capacity almost from the inception through the initial flights of the most advanced liquid
propulsion rocket engine developed to date.
Dr. Judson A. Lovingood, deputy manager of the Shuttle Projects Office, will serve as acting manager, Space Shuttle Main Engine Project, until a permanent manager
is selected.
Wojtalik has been named director of a new laboratory, the Information and Electronic Systems Laboratory. The new lab was formed by combining the Electronics -more-
February 24, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914 18 (August 19751
- T' -2-
and Control Laboratory and the Data Systems Laboratory. Wojtalik had been serving as acting director of the former Electronics and Control Laboratory as a additional duty.
Before becoming associate director for engineering in 1980, he served as chief engineer on the HEAO Project, and deputy director of the Electronics and Control Laboratory.
William C. Bradford, director of the former Data Systems Laboratory, has been named deputy director of the new Information and Electronic Systems Laboratory. Since joining the Marshall team in 1975, he has served in various other assignments including deputy director of the Data Systems Laboratory and chief of the Systems Software
Office in the Systems Analysis and Integration Laboratory. Bradford's background and experience in software systems complement the background of Wojtalik, making the ideal combination to organize and direct this new laboratory.
With completion of Marshall's role in solar energy activities, William A.
Brooksbank, Jr., manager of the Solar Energy Applications Project since 1977, has been appointed manager of Applications and Technology Missions in the Spacelab Payload Projects Office. Brooksbank previously served as deputy manager, Spacelab Program
Office.
All assignment and reorganization actions were effective Monday.
-30-
1' N/'EANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Lyn Cywanowicz, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-88 1-60 2 1 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-25
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -NASA will provide two ways for the media to listen to air-to-ground conversation between the Space Shuttle crew and ground
controllers during the third Space Shuttle mission, now set for launching March 22.
First, NASA itself will make available directly to the news media the two Public
Affairs audio program channels that enable reporters to listen to key mission participants during preparation for launch, the launch itself, on-orbit operations and the landing. One
channel, Mission Audio, will include conversation between the Shuttle crew and ground controllers. Accompanying this feed will be explanstory commentary by NASA Public
Affairs Officers. The second channel, NASA Select Audio, will carry press conferences
and periodic "change of shiftv1briefings held during the flight at the Johnson Space
Center in Houston.
The Mission Audio service will begin approximately five hours before launch and will continue throughout the seven-day three-hour mission. Launch time is planned for 9 a.m. CST.
Lines may be leased through your telephone company account representative to connect your newsroom to the Marshall Space Flight Center communications circuits
where you can have continuous access to these two circuits. You should tell. the -more- March 3,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) ,- - -- I. - -2- telephone company representative to contact Mr. Ed Hildreth at 205-453-3470 to arrange
for proper audio tie-ins. The only costs to you are those involved with your leased lines to Marshall. NASA makes no charge for its service. The second way you c8n have access to these circuits is through a special telephone number established to NASA and the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. to allow the media to use their existing phones to listen in, for a charge, to the air-to- ground conversations.
The number to call is 900/410-6272 (which spells out "NASA"). The service will begin at 6 a.m. EST on March 22 and will continue throughout the Shuttle's seven-day flight.
Each call - from anywhere in the United States, including Hawaii - will cost 50 cents for the first minute and 35 cents for each additional minute. In Alaska, calls will
cost 50 cents for the first minute and SO cents for each additional minute.
Callers may stay on the line for approximately 2 1/2 hours. After that, they will
be disconnected automatically and will have to re-establish the call by dialing again. All calls to the 900 number must be dialed directly. Coin-telephone calls, calls from hotels or motels or operator-assisted calls cannot be made to a 900 number.
The service is being offered by NASA and the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. to provide wider access to NASA's mission audio line. Because the system does not
have unlimited calling capacity, the 900 number is intended to be used primarily by the
media and will not be promoted to the general public. Please do not publish or air the phone number.
Callers will be charged for each minute they stay on the line. At some periods, when gaps occur in conversations between the Shuttle and ground control, a status report on the Shuttle mission or change of shift briefings may be substituted. Some periods of
dead air may occur.
If you encounter any difficulties, call toll free 800/847-4036 to report your problem. In New York state, Alaska and Hawaii, call collect 212-334-4972. A telephone company representative will answer your call and offer assistance.
-30-
*- 1 NEANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release John B. Taylor, 205-453-0034 Residence, 20 5-8 8 1-78 4 3 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-26
SUSAN MCGUIRE SMITH NAMED CHIEF COUNSEL AT MARSHALL
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - Susan McGuire Smith has been named chief counsel at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. The appointment was
announced this week by Center Director Dr. William R. Lucas, to whom Mrs. Smith reports.
As chief counsel, Mrs. Smith heads a 15-member legal office that provides legal
counsel and assistance to all elements of the Marshall Center. She is also responsible for
insuring that the center eonforms to all legal and policy requirements of the government and
NASA. Her office administers the NASA patent program at Marshall.
Mrs. Smith has served as Marshall Center deputy chief counsel since coming to Huntsville in 1980. She served previously as deputy assistant general counsel for general law at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D. C. Before joining NASA, Mrs. Smith was in private
practice in Washington and served as assistant counsel to the U. S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics.
A native of Arlington, Virginia, Mrs. Smith attended George Washington University in Washington, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in 1969 and a doctor of jurisprudence degree in 1973. She is a member of the National Contract Management Association and the Federal
Bar Association.
Mrs. Smith is married to Ralph R. Smith. They have a son, Ian McGuire Smith, age 3. -30-
March 4,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) + ,- r -- I 1- IW\S/\News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Carl Jones, 453-0033 Residence, 20 5-88 2-9654 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-29
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER HOSTS SHUTTLE STUDENT SYMPOSIUM
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., will host a symposium next week for student winners from two of the ten regions in the National Space Shuttle Student Involvement Project, a joint
effort of NASA and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
The symposium, for regions IV (Alabama, Canal Zone, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and the Virgin Islands) and VI (Illinois, Indiana and
Kentucky) will be held here Monday and Tuesday.
The 36 semifinalists from regions IV and VI, and their teachers, will attend the two-day symposium at Marshall to present their proposed experiments to fellow semi-
finalists, Marshall representatives, NSTA officials and university scientists.
To become a regional semifinalist, the students competed with more than 500
students in their two regions. The proposals were evaluated by a team of teachers, scientists and engineers in each region.
Overall, more than 2,000 students submitted proposals in 10 geographical regions
of the United States. -more- March 11,1982
\
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1- . .- The objective of the project is to stimulate the study of science and technology in grades 9 through 12 by engaging students in competition to develop payload experiments suitable for flight aboard the Space Shuttle. Winning student experiments will be considered for Shuttle flights on a space available basis.
Since announcement of the 1981-82 competition, the National Science Teachers
Association has received more than 85,000 requests for contest material.
Todd Nelson, a finalist in the 1980-81 national competition, will be flying his "Insects in Plight Motion Study" aboard STS-3, scheduled for launch March 22. Center Director Dr. William R. Lucas will welcome the 36 students to the symposium at Marshall during their first session Monday morning. Following welcoming remarks and introduction of the students scientific consultants, the students will be divided into three groups and will present their proposals in concurrent sessions. During the afternoon Monday, the students will be given an opportunity to see some of the facilities at Marshall.
Tuesday morning the students will meet with their individual consultant to discuss their experiments. Each student will have a consultant to assist them in improving their experiment proposal for resubmission prior to a final decision in May on which experiments will be selected for possible flight aboard the Shuttle. James E. Kingsbury, director of Marshall Center's Science and Engineering Directorate, will address the student winners and other symposium participants during a closing luncheon Tuesday at the Redstone Arsenal Officers Club. Topic of his presentation will be I'Experiments in Space - A Team Effort." -30- 1 ews National Aeronautics and Space Administration t George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center Alabama 35812 , b 1') AC 205 453-0034 I
For Release: Terry Eddleman, 205-453-0034 Residence, 20 5-8 8 2-2 13 5 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-31
LAST OF NASA OBSERVATORY SERIES RE-ENTERS ATMOSPHERE, BURNS UP
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. -HEAO-2, NASA's second in a series
of three High Energy Astronomy Observatories launched into space in the late 1970s and
the last to re-enter, fell from orbit today at 1:27 a.m. CST and burned up harmlessly in -- the atmosphere, according to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., which managed the HEAO series. "Tracking stations indicate that it broke up over the South Pacific just east of Australia," said John Stone, HEAO project manager at the Marshall Center. The entire family of HEAO satellites, designed to study high energy radiation in the universe such as X-rays and cosmic rays, had returned significant data to scientists over a period of several years. The first observatory, HEAO-1, re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and was destroyed in 1979. The third spacecraft in the series, HEAO-3, experienced a similar fate last December. Until today, only HEAO-2 had remained in orbit, although it had not been operational for nearly a year. In April 1981, the observatory expended its control gas supply and could no longer maintain its pointing
attitude, and the spacecraft was powered down. -more- March 25, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1976) -2-
All three of the High Energy Astronomy Observatories have been described by NASA officials as "highly successful" HEAO-1, launched in August 1977, scanned the heavens in a general survey and mapped X-ray sources throughout the celestial sphere. The initial survey was completed in February 1978, the design lifetime of the satellite, but it continued to study the skies until its control gas was exhausted in January 1979. During that l7-month survey, HEAO-1 increased the number of known celestial X-ray sources from 350 to 1,500. It discovered a new black hole candidate and indicated the possible existence of a universal hot plasma which would constitute a major fraction of the mass ofthe universe. HEAO-1 also discovered a superhot halo of gas, 1,200 light-y,ears in diameter, surrounding the celestial Northern Cross. The halo, or "superbubble," is about 6,000 light-years from Earth in the next spiral arm of our galaxy. Its discovery has formed the basis of a new theory of star formation. The second high energy observatory, HEAO-2, focused upon specific observation partially guided by the general celestial survey of its predecessor. Nicknamed the "Einstein observatorgl by astronomers because its launch date was approximately that of
the late scientist's 100th birthday anniversary, HEAO-2 was rocketed into orbit in
November 1978. Although the observatory was designed for a mission life of twelve months, it operated for nearly two and a half years. Carrying the largest X-ray telescope ever built and a variety of sensitive
astronomy instruments, HEAO-2 conducted the detailed imaging and spectroscopic
observations of approximately 300 known bright X-ay sources and discovered thousands of new faint X-ray sources. Almost every type of star in the galaxy was shown to have an X-ray-emitting atmosphere. HEAO-2 obtained the first X-ray photographs of supernova remnants, pulsars, star clusters, galactic diffuse X-ray sources, bright sources
in other galaxies, and of diffuse emission from clusters of galaxies. Hundreds of active 'more- -3-
galaxies and quasars were detected, some of which may be the most distant objects ever observed at any wavelength. The Einstein observations have already had a significant impact upon most fields of astronomy. The f€nal observatory in the HEAO series was launched in September 1979. Unlike its predecessors which were designed to study X-rays, HEAO-3 furthered knowledge about cosmic-ray particles and gamma-ray photons, the two highest energy radiations in the universe, Throup the study of cosmic rays, which are the nuclei of elements and are the highest energy particles known, HEAO-3 measured the relative abundance of elements in the galaxy. The observatory found significant differences between the abundances of certain nuclei in the galaxy and the abundance of these same elements in the solar system. Gamma rays, higher on the energy spectrum than X-rays, are emitted from galactic sources which may be unobservable to conventional telescopes. HEAO-3 detectors achieved precise, high-resolution measurements of gamma-ray "line emission" from solar flares and from positive and negative electrons combining near the galactic center. "he data sent from HEAO-3 are expected to further the understanding of the strength and extent of interstellar magnetic fields, the distribution of interstellar matter, and-most importantly-the stellar nucleosynthesis process which has created the heavy elements contained in most ordinary matter. According to theory, the 'big bang" formed hydrogen and helium and led to star formation. All heavier elements are produced in normal and explosive stellar processes. Although the HEAO series has already expanded man's knowledge of the universe, scientists say that they will require years to complete their analysis of the massive amount of data returned from the three observatories. -30- NEANews National Aeronautics and Space Ad ministration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 %
~~ ~
For Release Tim Tyson, 205-453-0034 Residence, 205-533-25 38 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-35
NOLA NAMED NASA CO-INVENTOR OF YEAR
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - A Marshall Space Flight Center,
Huntsville, Ala., engineer was one of two persons named NASA Inventors of the Year,
according to John E. O'Brien, NASA deputy general counsel in Washington, D. C.
Frank J. Nola of the Marshall Center's Guidance, Control and Instruments Division
of the Electronics and Control Laboratory, and Frank Byrne of the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., were selected as NASA nominees for the National Inventor of the Year com petit ion.
Nola's selection was based on an improvement he made on the Power Factor
Controller he invented several years ago. Nola's Power Factor Controller is designed to
reduce the amount of energy wasted in the operation of motor-driven equipment.
The improvement he made to the controller was to accommodate the specific characteristics of a group of motors and insure more efficient operation of the con troller.
At present more than 200 licenses have been issued to companies in the United States to manufacture the Power Factor Controller. -30-
April 7, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1976) . .. . -- 1 NASANews I.I; 1 t I ( ri, i I r j I !; i I it Ic!; n d ',[ J: If.I; /-( 1 r r 11 r i ,I r ;it lor1 George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Mar:;h;ill :;;l~;eFlight Center. Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453 0034
For Release Terry Eddlem an, 20 5 -45 3 -00 3 4 Residence, 20 5-88 2-21 35 Upon Receipt Release No. 82-38
NASA AWARDS CONTRACT FOR TEST
MIRRORS FOR X-RAY OBSERVATORY
MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER, Ala. - NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala., has awarded twin $1 million contracts to two optical
companies to build precision mirrors representative of those to be flown on NASA's
Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility, or "AXAF," an orbiting X-ray observatory
proposed for launch later in the decade.
The double contract award, announced April 6, assigns responsibility for parallel
but independent work toward the building of these test mirrors - not intended to be flown in space - to ITEK Corp. in Lexington, Mass., and to Perkin-Elmer Corp. in
Danbury, Conn. Each of the contracts is two years in duration.
At the end of the contract period, the two companies will be expected to present
their individual approaches to the grinding and polishing of the actuel mirror which will
be built for the observatory in the late 1980s.
The test mirrors will be smaller than the mirror to be flown in space. According to Carroll Dailey, the study manager of Marshall's AXAF activity, "The purpose of the
test mirrors is to allow NASA to evaluate the ability of these contractors to achieve the
-more-
April 7, 1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975) -- I l - -2-
level of performance we desire. We're seeking a greater precision than previously
achieved in X-ray optical systems."
Proposed for launch in 1989 or 1990, the observatory would be technologically superior to any X-ray facility previously sent into space. Weighing 11 tons and measuring
14 by 43 feet, it would be carried by the Space Shuttle and placed in an orbit 300 miles
above the Earth for operation over a lifetime of about 25 years. The observatory is expected to view X-ray sources toward the very edge of the observable universe.
- 30 - News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Dave Drachlis Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. IMMEDIATE (Phone: 205/453-0034) Also released in Leon Perry Washington, D. C. Headquarters, Washin ton, D.C. (Phone: 202/7 55-8 3707
RELEASE NO: 82-41
SHUTTLE TO BE FEATURED AT 1982 WORLD'S FAIR
The Space Shuttle Program will be a featured attraction at the NASA exhibit during the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tenn. The exhibit will be open during July, the "Shuttle Month" at the fair.
NASA's 4,000-square-foot Shuttle exhibit will focus on "future uses and the role of the Space Shuttle.'' It will be located in the Lifestyle and Technology center building at the fair site.
The exhibit will include large models depicting the Shuttle on the launch pad and in Earth orbit. Smaller models will illustrate the Shuttle in operational phases. The Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., is coordinating the assembly, set-up and staffing of the exhibit.
April 23, 1982
MSFC. Form 2914-18 (August 1975) -more- - -. * .- T-- I -2-
NASA is working on plans to bring Astronauts Thomas Mattingly and Henry Hartsfield to the World's Fair exhibition following their flight on the STS-4 mission, targeted for launch June 27 for a seven day mission. In conjunction with the fourth flight of Columbia, a television system is being developed by NASA and the World's Fair officials, that will allow visitors the opportunity to view, live, the in-space operations of the flight.
President Reagan is expected to sign a proclamation declar- ing the week of July 16-23 "National Space Week." Fair officials are also planning a special event to celebrate the 13th anniver- sary of man's first walk on the moon on July 20.
The fair runs from May 1 through Oct. 31. -30-
-1 N!ANews National Aeronautics and Space Ad min 1st rat ion George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453-0034
Lyn Cywanowicz For Release Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-51
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
NASA Headquarters in Washington has announced that it is now accepting
applications for press accreditation for the fourth flight of the Space Shuttle. Launch is
targeted for June 27 from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., with mission control at Johnson Space Center, Houston, and landing at Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards Calif. seven days later. The news center will open at Kennedy five days prior to launch, at Johnson three
days and Dryden one day prior to launch. Decision on the status of White Sands will be
made at a later date.
Requests for accreditation should be submitted by June 22 to: NASA Headquarters Code LF D-10 Accreditation
Washington, D. C. 20546
Such requests must be made by a news executive on company letterhead, and must
list the name or names of the individuals to attend, together with the assignment of each -more-
May 14,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
T 1 . ,. -2-
person (reporter, technician, photographer, etc.). Freelance writers and photographers
must offer proof of assignment or evidence of professional activity. Accreditation will be valid for all news centers. You may also wish to have members of your staff visit the Marshall Space Flight Center, in Huntsville, during the mission to report on participation here in the Tennessee Valley. Marshall Center employees and contractors will operate consoles at the Huntsville Operations Support Center to support the Kennedy Center with expertise on Shuttle propulsion systems during the preparation and countdown process and through launch and flight to orbit. Also during on-orbit operations, news media representatives will have the opportunity to view activities here related to the operation of scientific payloads developed or managed by the Marshall Center.
Headquarters accreditation will not be required at Marshall, which uses its own baaing system. Those planning to cover the Shuttle activities in Huntsville are asked to contact the Marshall Center Public Affairs Office at 205-453-0034 before the launch so that gate passes and other materials can be sent to them in advance. Here is a review of the ground rules set by NASA Headquarters for newsmen covering the mission at the Kennedy, Johnson and Dryden centers.
- NASA can make no travel or housing arrangements. - Only working newsmen will be accredited at the news centers. Publishers and other news and advertising executives will not be accredited. They should apply to NASA's Protocol Office. - Friends, dependents or relatives not covering the mission will not be accommodated. Special arrangements can be made only at the Kennedy news center where dependents may view the launch from a special dependents' site.
- No one 16 years old or younger will be allowed at the press site. Violation of this rule will result in cancellation of press site privileges for the responsible parties. - Philatelic publications must be publications for general sale or publications of national organizations. They are restricted to two representatives each. Newsletters to
1 1 * r. -. -. -3- local clubs do not qualify. Representatives of philatelic organizations may not conduct other business while at the press site. - College news media are limited to two accredited correspondents. - You must present your letter of acceptance in person to obtain a news badge at the appropriate news center. If you lose your accreditation letter, a record that it was issued will be available at each center. Remember, launch dates are subject to change. Check the dates as launch time gets closer. - Any organization needing still pictures of the mission must have one representative register with the photo office at the Kennedy Space Center or Dryden Flight Research Facility as soon as they arrive. Only one photo card will be issued to each organization. On site photos will be delivered only to organizations meeting deadlines: other will receive photos by mail.
- No alcoholic beverages are allowed on government property. - A number of these sites, notably Kennedy, Dryden and White Sands are located on large government reservations remote from the motel areas. Ample time should be allowed for travel and gate clearance. -30-
T- . .- N/PSA News Nation,jl Awor lautlcs ,rriri Space Ad m I n1 t ration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center MC~!rsluliSpace Fliqht Center Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 353 0034
For Release Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034) Also released in James Kukowski Washington D. C. NASA Headquarters, Washington D. C. (205/755-3090) RELEASE NO: 82-52
NASA AWARDS CONTRACT FOR SHUTTLE BOOSTER M3DIFICATION
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has selected Hercules, Inc. and Votaw Precision Tool Inc., a joint venture, as a subcontractor to Thiokol Corporation for negotiation under the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Contract for the development of a Filament Wound Case for the Solid Rocket Motor used in the Space Shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters. The Filament Wound Case subcontract will be a cost plus/incentive award fee type for design, development, test and delivery of four flight cases for a proposed cost of approximately $33 million. The filament wound case segments will replace portions of the current steel case segments for high performance launches. The performance increase is achieved by a reduction in the Shuttle liftoff -more- May 14, 1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975) - -. 1 1 -2-
weight of approximately 66,000 pounds from the baseline steel case motors. The first use of the wound case motors is expected late in
1985.
A request for proposals was released to industry on February 22, 1982, for the design and development of the filament wound case. The other bidder was Thiokol Corp., Wasatch Div., Brigham City, Utah. The Marshall Center is responsible for the development and production of the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters. Prime contractor for the Solid Rocket Motors is Thiokol Corporation, Wasatch Division, Brigham City, Utah. -30-
1' . .. NASANews National Aeronautics and Space Ad minist ration George C. Maohall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. I MDI ATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE No: 82-53
NOTE TO EDITORS/t\EWS DIFECTGRS
Three Marshall Space Flight Center scientists and managers will be featured at a Space Shuttle news------conference to be held Thursday at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to acquaint the national press with what is planned for the upcoming fourth Shuttle flight. During the science briefing planned for 1:OO p.m. CDT time Dr. Robert Naurnann and Otha Vaughan, of the center's Space Sciences Laboratory, and Walter Wood, of its Materials Processing in Space project office, wi I I describe the Marshal I Center's four major payloads scheduled to fly aboard STS-4. This briefing is one of several set for Thursday and Friday of this week in Houston which will also be available to representatives watching NASA centers via closed circuit television. -more- May 19, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
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Sessions scheduled are: Thursday, May 20 1O:OO a.m. (all times CDT) -- STS-4 flight plan briefing by Charles R. Lewis, lead flight director. 1:OO p.m. -- STS-4 science briefing on Marshall Space Flight Center payloads including: Monodisperse Latex Reactor(Dr. Naumann); Induced Environment Contamination Monitor (Dr. Nawnann); Nighttime/Daytime Optical Survey of Lightning (Mr. Vaughan); and the Joint Endeavor/Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System (Mr. Wood). 2:OO p.m. -- Getaway Special and Student Experiments for STS-4. 3:OO p.m. -- Public Affairs guidelines for STS-4 DOD payload Friday, May 21 9:OO a.m. -- News conference with STS-4 astronauts T.K. Mattingly and Henry W. Hartsfield. The STS-4 flight crew wi I I not be available to the media again until after the mission.
You are invited to attend or send a representative to view these Houston briefings over closed-circuit television.at the Marshall Center. Two-way audio will enable participants at Marshall to ask questions directly of the participants. For additional information please contact the Marshall Public Information Branch at 205 453-0034. -30-
1' News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205,453-0034
For Release. Terry M. Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0 034)
RELEASE NO: 82-54
NASA CENTER ISSUES REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL ON SPACE STATION STUDIES
In a move to better understand how man would permanently live and work in space, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., plans to award several study contracts for aerospace firms to explore the early uses of a space station. In a "request for proposal," the
Center has invited the firms to describe how an early space station could be used as a test facility to develop certain mission requirements for a later, operational space station in the late
1990s. The request for proposal will eventually result in the award of three contracts, each addressing a particular area in which such an operational manned facility would play an active role. One study area would look at the role of a manned space station with regard to building large structures in orbit, such as huge communications antennas; a second study area would deal with the servicing and maintaining of satellites from the manned facility; and a third study area would examine the relationship of the space station with an "orbit transfer vehicle," or "OTV," a space vehicle for moving payloads from lower to higher orbits that could be kept in space and serviced by a manned facility. -more-
May 21,1982 -2-
"In brief, these studies mume that an early space station will be in orbit by 1990," said
William G. Huber, manager of the Space Station Task Force at the Marshall Center. "Given that premise, the studies will then suggest what kinds of experimental operations would be performed with such an early space station so that we can evolve to a fully operational station in the late 1990s. The fully operational space station would be capable of effectively carrying out missions involving the construction of large systems in space, as well as keeping satellites up'to full operational capacity. And, based upon experiments to be carried out with the early manned facility around 1990, we would know how better to use an orbit transfer vehicle and to carry out related activities with it. "For example," continued Huber, "servicing these transfer vehicles in orbit requires the storage and transfer of large quantities of cryogenic, or super-cooled, propellants. This type of servicing is beyond today's state of the art. Resolving this problem requires zero gravity testing, and some experimects are in fact planned for a future Shuttle mission. But those Shuttle tests will be limited both in the quantity of propellants and in the duration of the mission, which is only about five to seven days. The space station, however, would allow us to use greater quantities of propellant and much longer duration times for testing."
The Marshall Center has been studying large space structures construction, satellite servicing, and the orbit transfer vehicle 8s separate activities. The request for proposal, however, seeks additional answers for these activities in relation to the space station itself.
"What we are asking for in these new studies," said Huber, % to define the role of an early space station in the development of these space construction, satellite servicing and transfer vehicle activities. The three contracts to be awarded will examine what experiments we need
to carry out with an early space station in order to learn how to build and use most effectively a fully operational statim by the end of the 1990s."
Responses to the request for proposal are due by June 21,1982. Contracts are expected
to be awarded by August of this year, and the three studies will run concurrently for eight months.
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1' 1- NASA News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Ftight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Lyn Cywanowi cz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. INaMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-56
SPACE SHUTTLE LAUNCH SET FOR FOURTH FLIGHT
The fourth and final development flight of the Space Shuttle is scheduled for launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on
June 27, 1982, at 1O:OO a.m. CDT. // Columbia's fourth mission is scheduled for seven days and will complete the shakedown of the Shuttle Orbiter and booster systems as the nation's space transportation system becomes operational with flight five. Among activities set for this flight are four space experiments for which the Marsh'all Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. has management responsibility. The mission will also continue studies of the effects of long-term thermal extremes on the Oribter subsystems. The flight crew for STS-4 is Comnander Ken Mattingly and pilot Henry Hartsfield. The Columbia is scheduled to land on the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. on July 4, 1982.
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June 8, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1 1- - .. -NASANews
Terry Eddleman For Release Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-58
NASA SCIENTIST PREDICTS EXCITING FUTURE FOR RADIO ASTRONOMY
Radio astronomy is likely to take a giant step in the next decade, according to
physicist Dr. Samuel Morgan of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Morgan is study manager for a future NASA space-based radio astronomy system known as the Very Long Baseline Interferometer. The system would link an orbiting radio astronomy antenna to one or more antennas on Earth in a way that would provide
extremely detailed coverage of the universe. "In years past," said Morgan, "ground-based radio telescopes have produced some
spectacular results, including the discovery of pulsars, quasars and other galactic
phenomena. But now we're looking to space-based systems for even better results."
A long baseline interferometer is a system of antennas, placed thousands of miles apart, that simultaneously study radio frequencies emanating from the heavens. This linkage of antennas makes possible high-resolution images of celestial sources that can't
be achieved with a single, independent radio astronomy antenna. The signals received by
each antenna in an interferometer system are recorded and synchronized by extremely -more- June 15, 1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975)
1 1- . .. -2-
accurate atomic clocks. These signals are later added together in a special way to produce radio images of the celestial sources being studied. The longer the distances, or "baselines," between the antennas, the larger the effective telescope diameter. Two radio telescopes, placed a thousand miles apart, in effect make a radio antenna fldishffa thousand miles across. "One of the longest baselines on Earth is 6,600 miles," said
Morgan, "with interferometer antennas in California and Australia, and that system is highly sensitive. But imagine the resolution you'd get if you were to link it with an antenna far out in space." Morgan is a member of the Very Long Baseline Interferometer Working Group,, which met for its quarterly meeting recently at NASA Headquarters. Comprised of members of universities, laboratories and other NASA centers, the working group was chartered in 1981 by NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications to develop the rationale and a technical plan for placing an interferometer in space. The group has proposed sending into orbit an interferometer experiment aboard the Space Shuttle in the late 1980s. "We believe that space is the only answer to achieving the ultimate potential of radio astronomy," said Morgan, "because the maximum length of baselines has been reached on Earth. Of course, ground-based interferometers have been in use for years and have given us some exciting insights into our universe. Take quasars, for example, which are enormously powerful objects of radiation far out into space, possibly at the edge of the universe. According to Einstein's special theory of relativity, the speed of light is the ultimflte speed that can be achieved. But Earth-bound interferometers have suggested that certain components of some quasars we've studied are splitting off from the main bodies at velocities that apparently exceed the speed of light. We know that -more-
1- . .. -3-
this is probably not the case, but it's just this kind of interesting puzzle that motivates to extend the length of the interferometer baseline into space with an Earth-orbiting antenna. That way, we'll be able to study these anomalies far more closely."
One proposal of the working group is to position a large antenna interferometer in a 5,000-kilometer orbit sometime in the late 1990s. '?By interfacing it with sister interferometer antennas on Earth, resolution greater than a milli-arc-second could be achieved," said Morgan. A milli-arc-second is approximately the angle of view a person in Los Angeles would have of a dime placed in New York.
An additional advantage in placing an interferometer system in space would be the expansion of view such a system would make possible. Antennas are generally placed only on temperate-zone land masses where scientific activities are concentrated. Since most of the heavy science interest in the world is found in the United States, Europe and
Asia, which occupy only the northern hemisphere, only east-west separations of antennas exist. Limited science activities on relatively limited land masses in the southern hemiwhere make northsouth separations of antennas - with the additional views of the heavens they could offer - virtually nonexistent. A space-based interferometer in a 5,000-kilometer orbit, however, would overcome that problem.
"But ultimately we'd like to place an interferometer about 200,000 kilometers out, which would give us a radio astronomy capability that far exceeds what we have today," said Morgan. "An interferometer placed that far from Earth may be possible by the turn of the century."
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1" News
For Release Dick McCormack IMBED I ATE Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/755-8204) Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-62
NASA ANNOUNCES NEW SHUTTLE LAUNCH PRICES FOR 1985-88
NASA Administrator James M. Beggs today announced a new price schedule for Space Shuttle launch services for payloads launched between Oct. 1, 1985, and Sept. 30, 1988. The newly announced price of $38 million per launch is fixed in 1975 dollar values. When adjusted for inflation, the cost of a Shuttle launch will be approximately $71 million in 1982 dollars. This represents a standard charge with additional services to be provided at cost. Most of the non-U.S. Government payloads scheduled for launch during the three-year period covered, as is the case for missions through 1985, will be telecomnunications satellites that require only a portion of the Shuttle's launch capability. Such payload launches are priced according to a shared flight formula. -more- June 15, 1982
MSFC . Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
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For example, the 1986 launch costs for a payload of the class launched on the Delta 3920 launch vehicle will be approxi- mately $26 million. This price is for launching a payload into a geosynchronous transfer orbit and includes the estimated price of the upper stage and nominal optional services. For launch of a payload of the class launched on the Atlas Centaur launch vehicle, the cost of launch on the Shuttle will be approximately $41 million for optimized configuration. Again, this is the cost for launch into a geosynchronous transfer orbit and includes the estimated price of the upper stage and nominal optional services. The new Shuttle launch services price is expected to remain competitive with the cost of expendable launch vehicles such as the Delta, Atlas Centaur and the French Ariane.
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1 r -- NASA News
For Release Carl Jones Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-63
MARSHALL CENTER TO HOST SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS FRIDAY
Sixteen young science fair winners, representing schools in eight states, will visit the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., Friday to attend a Science Fair Award Winners' Conference. The students are being recognized for their outstanding achievement on aerospace-related projects. Their projects, some of which were judged by Marshall
Center employees, appeared in science fairs in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Louisiana.
The students will be welcomed to the Center by J. E. Kingsbury, director of
Marshall Center's Science and Enginnering Directorate, and will have the opportunity to
discuss their projects with other winners. They will also hear a presentation by Pete
Leberte, manager of the Marshall Center's Huntsville Operations Support Center, on the
STS-4 mission. -more-
June 22, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914 18 (August 1975)
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Accompanied by parents, grandparents, and-or teachers, the students will tour Marshall Center facilities including the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator, Spray-on Foam Insulation Facility, Space Shuttle, Spacelab Payload Crew Training Complex, and Space
Sciences Laboratory.
Marshall Center provided five judges for local science fairs. Judges were: Robert
Shurney and Jack Loose, both from the Systems Analysis and Integration Laboratory; Joe
Cremin of the Spacelab Payload Project Office; Jerry Owens of the Space Sciences
Laboratory; and Dr. Mathias Siebel, manager of the Michoud Assembly Facility.
This is the fourth year the Marshall Center has conducted the conference. This year, the Center received 33 requests from seven states for participation in science fairs.
The following students will participate in the conference: Doug Bechtel, Des
Moines, Iowa; James Richard Bullington, Athens, Ala.; Stanley J. Burks, Jr., Hattiesburg, Miss.; Gayla C. Finl-ey, Eugene, Mo.; Farida Ghogawala, Overland Park, Kans.; Gary M.
Griner, Jr., Huntsville, Ala.; Robert W. Holifield, Hattiesburg, Miss.; Frank Hoover, Jr.,
Schriever, La.; Melissa Kirksey, Paragould, Ark.; Amit Lal, Huntsville, Ala.; David
Powers, Florissant, Mo.; Clinton Riley, Cookeville, Tenn.; David Silber, Ballwin, Mo.;
Phillip Stafford, Bentonville, Ark.; Scott St. Clair, White Bluff, Tenn.; and Danny Wilborn, Benton, Ark.
-30 - NEANews
For Release Carl Jones Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
Miles Waggoner Headquarters, Washington, D. C. (Phone: 202/755-8341)
RELEASE NO: 82-64
SPECIAL TELEPHONE SERVICE SET UP FOR SHUTTLE MISSION
NASA and the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. have established a special number to allow the public to listen in, for a charge, to air-to-ground conversations between the Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia, on its fourth trip into space, and ground contiol at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.
The number to call from U.S. phones is 900-410-6272.
Offered by NASA through AT&T's 900 Service, the special number will be activated at 9 a.m. CDT (1400 GMT), an hour before launch time Sunday. The service will continue throughout the Shuttle's flight. Each domestic call - from anywhere in the contiguous United States and Hawaii - will cost 50 cents for the first minute and 35 cents for each additional minute. Special rates apply in Alaska. -more-
June 22,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975)
* .. .. -- '1 1- I -2-
Callers may stay on the line for approximately 2 1/2 hours. After that, they will be disconnected automatically and will have to dial again if they wish to re-establish the call.
All calls to the 900 number must be dialed by the callers. Coin-telephone calls, calls from hotels and motels and operator-assisted calls cannot be made to 900 numbers.
Callers will be charged for each minute they stay on the line. At some periods, gaps may occur in conversations between the Shuttle and ground control. During such periods of "dead" air, callers will hear a beep every 10 seconds as assurance that a connection has been made. During some of the gaps, status reports or change of shift briefings may be substituted for conversation.
NASA and AT&T first offered this service to U.S. media during Columbia's
November 1981 flight in an effort to provide wider access to NASA's flight information line. That trial drew about 15,000 calls. The service was extended to overseas media during the Shuttle's March flight, prompting more than 70,000 calls - 34,000 from domestic points and 40,000 from overseas. The response led NASA to offer the service to the American public during the June mission.
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* -- NEANews
For Release Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (Phone 205/ 453-0034) Also released in Washington, D. C.
RELEASE NO: 82-70
FIRST OPERATIONAL FLIGHT OF SPACE SHUTTLE SCHEDULED
The flight of the first operational Space Shuttle mission, STS-5, is currently I ,. I_.< I *- scheduled for launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Nov. 11, 1982. *_-_ __ .., r*: The fifth flight of Columbia will carry a crew of four: Vance Brand, commander;
Robert Overmyer, pilot; and Joseph Allen and William Lenoir, mission specialists.
Two commercial satellites will be deployed during the planned five day mission. They are the Satellite Business System SBS-C, a commercial communication satellite, and Telesat-E, a domestic Canadian communication satellite.
Shuttle program officials evaluated the option of advancing the launch date of the
first operational mission and concluded that while this advancement is possible from the Shuttle systems capability standpoint, there are other overriding advantages for
maintaining the previously planned launch date, Nov. 11.
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July 19, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
-T NEANews
F or Release Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0 0 34) Also Released at Kennedy Space Center, FL
RELEASE NO: 82-73
SHUTTLE BOOSTER PARTS TO BE RECOVERED
NASA officials have decided to attempt salvage of some parts of the two Solid
Rocket Boosters (SRB) which sank in the Atlantic Ocean after the launch of the fourth
Space Shuttle mission on June 27, 1982. Recovery efforts will begin as soon as possible.
Underwater cameras have mapped the sites where booster parts lie and have revealed that the boosters were broken up by the force of water impact. One of the boosters was broken into a large number of parts. The largest part of this booster is a section of the forward skirt stiffener ring with at least two parachutes attached. It measures approximately two by two and one-half meters (six by eight feet). The other booster has the forward skirt and the top solid rocket booster segment intact, a section about 12 meters (40 feet) in length. It is this section which contains the flight recorder and other electronic equipment that is of interest to the NASA board investigating the failure. This investigation is still underway and no findings have yet been announced.
None of the hardware to be recovered is expected to be usable. However, recovery of equipment such as the flight data recorders and the parachute mechanisms will be valuable in determining the cause of the deceleration system failure. -more- August 9,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751
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At this time, procedures are being developed to perform the recovery operation. The largest piece of debris has no built-in lifting points and probably has a large amount of sea water trapped inside. Detailed procedures for the recovery operation will probably take some time to develop.
Vessels and equipment to be used for the operation will most likely include both the UTC Freedom and Liberty (the SRB recovery ships), salvage ships, and the SCARAB tethered submersible vehicle which is used to take photographs of the boosters.
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Photographs of this activity are available upon request by calling 205-453-0034.
1' i -- NASA News
For Release Terence T. Finn Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IWDIATE (Phone: 202/755-1833) Also released in Washington, D. C. Jacqueline McGowan Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/755-8348) Terry Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-75
NASA SELECTS OONTRACTORS FOR SPACE STATION STUDIES
NASA has selected eight companies for final negotiations leading to firm fixed-price contracts of less than $1 million apiece for space station mission studies. The studies will con- tribute to the development of specific mission requirements and overall architectural options which will be incorporated in NASA studies of a Shuttle-tended, permanent orbiting facility.
The eight companies selected are: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle; General Dynamics, Convair Div., San Diego; Grumnan Aerospace Corp., Bethpage, N.Y.; Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.; Martin Marietta Aerospace, Denver
Aerospace, Denver; McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Co., Huntington
August 10, 1982
-more- MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
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Beach, Calif.; Rockwell International, Space Operations/ Integration and Satellite Systems Div., Downey, Calif.; and TRW, Inc., Defense and Space Systems Group, Redondo Beach, Calif.
These studies are part of a space station planning activity underway at NASA for consideration by the Administration and Congress as the next major initiative in space.
The studies conducted under these contracts will be eight months in length and are expected to identify and analyze the scientific, comnercial, national security and space operational missions that could be most efficiently conducted by a space station. From this analysis, the contractors will develop alternative concepts for a station.
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For Release David Drachlis Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034) Also released at Washington, D. C.
RELEASE NO: 82-76
EUROPEAN ENGINEERS ARRIVE AT MARSHALL
Seventeen European engineers comprising a European Space Agency (ESA) team
have arrived at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., to prepare for the
first mission of Spacelab. The engineers will be based at Marshall until spring 1983. The
Marshall Center has management responsibility for the mission. Spacelab, a reusable space research facility developed by the European Space
Agency, is Europe’s contribution to the NASA Space Transportation System. Spacelab 1,
a joint NASA/ESA mission, will fly aboard the Space Shuttle in September 1983.
While at Marshall, the ESA team including two European payload specialists
already based at the Center will complete the final stages of its preparation for the
Spacelab 1 mission. This will involve extensive training and simulations with the Spacelab payload crew, investigators and the Marshall cadre of Spacelab payload
operations engineers supporting NASA experiments on the mission. Several months prior
to the mission, the NASA/ESA team will begin supporting operations from the Payload
Operations Control Center (POCC) at the Johnson Space Center. -more-
August 13,1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975) ,. T 1- * .- -2-
"With the mission getting close, both the Marshall POCC cadre and the ESA team are working extremely close," said Tom Recio, Marshall's payload operations director.
"We have already developed a fantastic working relationship with the dedicated and experienced team from ESA."
The ESA team has been preparing for the Spacelab mission over the past 5 years, according to Bob Chesson, an engineer from Great Britain and manager of ESA flight operations at Marshall. This preparation has included developing on-board computer software and displays, writing crew procedures, developing experiment simulators for
training the crew and the POCC team, developing the on-board and POCC computer data bases and developing the POCC displays and procedures," said Chesson.
''It's difficult to realize how much effort goes into preparing such a complex scientific mission unless you're involved in the details," said Chesson. "Every procedure,
every bit of data, every command has to be prepared in the exact sequence it will run
during the mission and then checked thoroughly by hand and by tests with the experiment hardware and software to make sure it is right. Spacelab 1 is only a seven day mission
and mistakes could be extremely costly to the scientists."
The ESA team supports experiments from 11 European countries and is made up of
engineers from 6 different countries including a large contingent from the German Space
Operations Center.
During the Spacelab 1 mission, a total of 38 experiments from five different
scientific disciplines will be conducted. The experiments will involve the NASA/ESA team in performing numerous experiment configuration changes - turning experiments off and on, changing power levels, etc.
The ESA engineers will support the operation of 25 ESA experiments aboard the
Spacelab 1 mission from the Payload Operations Control Center at the Johnson Space
Center. -more-
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"Our task during the mission is to provide operations support to the payload crew and European investigators and allow them to concentrate on their scientific investigations as well as providing the ESA experiment operations expertise needed to support the Marshall Cadre of Spacelab payload operations engineers for their direction of the total mission operations," said Chesson. ESA is responsible for the funding and development of Spacelab as well as its part of the payload and the Marshall Center is responsible for overall management of the first three Spacelab missions. The Marshall Center is also responsible for NASA's technical and programmatic monitoring of design and development activities in Europe.
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George C. Marshall Space Flight Center -4 Mdr\hnll Smre I hiht ('i nter A ilL,ciIna 35813
A(' ''(1 ! 4'1 i Oli j'l
For Release David Drachlis Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-77
SPACELAB FLIGHT ELEMENTS ARRIVE IN UNITED STATES
The final elements of the first set of Spacelab flight hardware have arrived in the United States from the European Space Agency's (ESA) prime contractor plant in Europe. The elements, including three Spacelab pallets, an igloo, ground support equipment, and some spare parts, were delivered to the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,
aboard two jumbo-jet aircraft late last month. The hardware will be kept at Kennedy
and used to support Spacelab 2 and future Spacelab missions.
Spacelab is a reusable, modular scientific research facility that will be carried in
the Space Shuttle Orbiter cargo bay beginning in September 1983. It consists of
pressurized modules in which scientists will work, and pallets which will support
experiments requiring direct space exposure.
Spacelab is being developed and built under the aegis of the European Space
Agency in cooperation with the United States and is Europe's contribution to the NASA
Space Transportation System. The Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., has prime NASA responsibility
for Spacelab development activities in Europe, for development of flight hardware items -more- August 13,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
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such as the transfer tunnel between the orbiter and module, for systems integration, and for managing the first three Spacelab missions. The Kennedy Space Center is responsible for preparing the Laboratory for flight aboard the Shuttle.
ESA's prime contractor in the development of Spacelab is the West German firm
ERNO Raumfahrttechnik GmbH. Some 50 firms in ESA's 10 participating nations funnel parts to ERNO in Bremen, West Germany, for assembly and integration. McDonnell Douglas Technical Services Corporation is the integration contractor for both the
Marshall and Kennedy Centers.
The first set of flight hardware was provided at no charge to NASA. NASA is purchasing a second Spacelab flight unit for approximately $300 million.
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, T i NKANews
For Release Tim Tyson Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034) Also released at Ames Research Center
RELEASE NO: 82-78
LIGHTNING EXPERIMENT FLIES ON U-2
An experiment designed at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., to aid in the development of a sensor system to "mapTtlightning from space is being flown aboard a NASA U-2 aircraft this month. Marshall scientists took the experiment package to Ames Research Center, Mountain View, California,for the flight. Ames is the home of three high altitude Earth Resources Survey Aircraft - two U-2 aircraft and a newer, larger ER-2. According to Hugh Christian, project scientist at Marshall's Space Sciences Laboratory, the Optical Lightning Detection Experiment will measure optical "signatures" of lightning from above thunderstorms.
This experiment complements the Nighttime/Daytime Optical Survey of Lightning which was taken into space on the second and fourth flights of the Space Shuttle to provide a wide field of view from orbit. The U-2 flight provides for use of more sensors, larger cameras and a longer duration over a single storm system. This U-2 flight is the seventh in a series of flights over the tops of thunderstorms to look at the relationship between storm severity and lightning activity, how lightning rates correspond to cloud top motions and measure the amount of lightning occurring in -more- August 17,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) .. -1 1" - T -- -2-
severe storm systems. "The measurements are necessary for the development of a lightning mapper which could enhance our knowledge of lightning-related weather phenomenon once it is installed in a geostationary weather satellite,1Tsaid Christian. "The major problem which must be solved before such a lightning mapper could be installed in a geostationary weather satellite is detecting the lightning in the daytime," he said. The light reflecting off the tops of the clouds is brighter than the lightning emissions. We are studying several approaches to filtering the light in order to detect the weaker flashes. !?This may be a good way to track a severe storm in real time, or 'nowcasting' as opposed to forecasting. Large amounts of lightning may provide immediate indications of a severe storm before long-range radar would indicate it," Christian said.
The overflight with the U-2 plane is providing opportunities for the experiment during an eleven day period which began August 9 on a target of opportunity basis. "We are flying when we have a good storm," he said. The experiment, consisting of seven sensors, is mounted on a pallet which fits into the belly of the plane.
The U-2 aircraft flies at 740 kmhr (400 knots) at an altitude of 65,000 feet and can remain aloft for up to six hours at a range of 4,700 km (2,500 nmi). The U-2 and ER-2 aircraft were built by Lockheed-California Company, Palmdale, Calif. Otha Vaughan is a co-investigator on the experiment and Larry Frost is responsible for the engineering aspects of the experiment. Both are with Marshall's
Space Sciences Laboratory. The U-2 aircraft are part of the Ames High Altitude Missions Branch, managed by Jim Cherbonneaux. -30- __ * - NE,News
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For Release Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMVEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-80
CHALLENGER ENGINE TEST FIRED
The first of three Space Shuttl Main Engines which will soon power NASA's new Shuttle Orb'ter/ Challenger into space was successfully test firedThursday. The firing was the first in a series of acceptance tests which will qualify the engines for flight. The Thursday firing of engine number 2012 was a 1.5-second ignition test designed to verify engines' start sequence. Each of the engines will undergo such an ignition test, a 100-second calibration test, and a 500-second endurance test approximating time the engines must operate to propel the Shuttle into space. During the calibration and endurance test firings, the engines will be throttled up to a power level nine percent higher than the thrust capability of the engines in use now on the Orbiter Columbia. This additional thrust capability, which will allow Challenger to carry heavier payloads into space, is the result of -mo r e - September 3, 1982
MSFC . Form 2914-18 (August 19751
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development work done on the Space Shuttle Main Engines since Columbia's engines were subjected to a similar acceptance test series in 1979. Each engine must complete its series of test firings, and subsequent detailed mechanical and electrical checkouts, before they are formally accepted for flight by officials at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. After acceptance by Marshall, they will be shipped to the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. for installation aboard the Challenger. Engine number 2012 is expected to be shipped in late September. The remaining two engines which will makeup Challenger's flight set, numbers 2015 and 2011, are scheduled for shipment in October. Challenger's first flight is now scheduled for launch no earlier than January 1983. The Space Shuttle Main Engines are manufactured and tested by Rocketdyne Division, Rockwell International, Canoga Park, Calif. under contract to the Marshall Center. Testing is being conducted at NASA's National Space Technology Laboratories in Mississippi.
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*. r -- 1' News -
I or i ill ,risi: Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (20 5 /4 5 3 -00 34)
RELEASE NO: 82-81
FIRST LIGHTWEIGHT SHUTTLE TANK TO BE ROLLED OUT
A major milestone in the Space Shuttle program will be reached on Friday,
September 10, when the first lightweight External Tank (LWT-1) is rolled out of the manufacturing plant at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. The large brown External Tank carries the super-cold liquid oxygen and hydrogen,
propellants for the Space Shuttle Main Engines, and acts as the structural "backbone" of the Shuttle vehicle. The tank's three major components are an oxygen tank, a hydrogen
tank and a collar-like intertank which connects the two propellant tanks and houses the entire structure's instrumentation.
6-4, $14- -1 is r than the External Tank
used for the Space Shuttle's maiden flight in April of 1981. The tank's reduced weight
will provide the Shuttle with extra payload carrying capability of almost one pound for
every pound of tank weight shed.
According to James Odom, manager of the External Tank Project Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center, the weight reduction was accomplished by eliminating
portions of stringers (structural stiffeners running the length of the hydrogen tank), using
fewer stiffener rings and by modifying major frames in the hydrogen tank. -more-
Sept. 8,1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 19751
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Also, large portions of the tank were milled differently to reduce thickness and weight, and the weight of the tank's aft Solid Rocket Booster attachments was reduced by using a stronger, yet lighter and less expensive titanium alloy.
??Severalhundred pounds was also eliminated by deleting an anti-geyser line,'? said Odom. This line acted as a built-in refrigeration system, keeping liquid oxygen at its super-cold temperature while filling the oxygen tank prior to launch. NASA officials decided to remove the line after assessing propellant loading data from ground tests and the first few Shuttle missions.
Although most of the tank's alterations will not be apparent to the casual &bo 14. ? observer, one change is already obvious: Lsix hundred pounds of white latex paint was eliminated from the tank's surface before the third Shuttle flight. After analyzing data from the first Shuttle mission, NASA officials determined that the External Tanlc's thermal protection system would adequately protect the tank without the paint.
After rollout Friday, the tank will be loaded aboard a NASA barge for shipment to the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., where it will be prepared for flight. The new lighter- weight tank will be flown on the sixth Space Shuttle mission, now scheduled for January
1983.
The External Tanks are manufactured by Martin Marietta AerosDace, Michoud
Division, under contract to the Marshall Space Flight Center.
-30- NIANews
RELEASE NO: 82-83
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
Errata sheet to Release No. 82-81 - FIRST LIGHTWEIGHT SHUTTLE TANK TO BE ROLLED OUT
The actual weight of the first lightweight External Tank is 66,824 pounds, which is more than 10,000 pounds lighter than the External Tank used for the Space Shuttle's maiden flight in April 1981.
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September 15, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
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David Drachlis For Release Marshall Space Plight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (20 5/45 3 -0 0 34)
RELEASE NO: 82-84
SOLAR ARRAY EXPERIMENT SUCCESSFULLY TESTED
An experimental solar array wing as taU as a ten story building was successfully extended and retracted during initial testing last week in preparation for flight aboard the Space Shuttle in 1984.
The wing is part of NASA’s Solar Array Flight Experiment, developed for the
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., by Lockheed Missiles and Space
Company. The experiment is undergoing extensive testing at the contractor facility in
Sunnyvale, Calif., prior to acceptance by the Marshall Center this fall.
The flight experiment is part of an activity to develop technology necessary to pave the way for using solar arrays to produce large amounts of electrical power from sunlight in space, according to the project manager, Henry Hill, of the Marshall Center
Spacelab Payload Project Office. The additional power could significantly expand space- based mission operations by meeting the high energy, long term requirements of space experiments and space platforms, he said.
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September 20, 1982
MSFC . Form 2914.18 (August 1975)
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One of the major objectives of last week's tests was to check the extension/ retraction system that will deploy the wing from its packaged configuration aboard the
Shuttle during the flight experiment, Hill said.
During launch, the accordian-like array wing which measures 105-feet long and
13-1/2 feet wide, will be folded in the Shuttle Orbiter's cargo bay in a package less than four inches thick. Once on orbit, it will be extended to its full length and retracted several times to verify the structural and dynamic characteristics.
A coilable, extension mast will provide the mechanism needed to extend, retract and hold the array in a planar configuration.
This solar array departs from rigid metal structures currently used on long-life spacecraft. Instead, it is made of lightweight, flexible plastic called Kapton and contains wrap-around contact solar cells that are welded directly to the array blanket. This printed circuit approach eliminates heavy adhesives and allows greater flexibility during handling and during extension and retraction of the wing. To minimize costs, the experiment will contain only one wing panel with live solar cells. By contrast, an array with all 84 panels populated with solar cells could convert energy from the sun to produce 12.5 killowatts of power. The experimental wing can provide 66 watts per kilogram compared with 20 watts per kilogram in present systems.
With current high efficiency cells, up to 75 watts per kilogram are feasible using the same structural concepts.
-30- For Release Charles Redmond IMMED IATE Headquarters., Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/755-3680) Debra Rahn Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/755-3897) David Drachlis Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034) Jointly released with European Space Agency, Paris
RELEASE NO: 82-86 /f5/ /4h3,’
SPACELAB 1 FLIGHT AND BACK-UP PAYLOAD SPECIALISTS NAMED
The European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA have named their prime and back-up payload specialists for the first Spacelab mission, SL-1, scheduled for launch on Sept. 30, 1983, on STS-9.
ESA has assigned Ulf -Merbold, a German physicist, and NASA has assigned Byron K. Lichtenberg, a biomedical engineer, as onboard payload specialists. The second European, Wubbo J. Ockels, a Dutch physicist, and the second American, Michael Lampton, a physicist, will act as flight back-ups and will be deeply involved with the payload operations from the ground throughout the duration of the mission. -more- September 20, 1982
MSFC . Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
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The Spacelab-1, STS-9, crew, thus, consists of IJlf Merbold and Byron Lichtenberg, payload specialists, Owen Garriott and Rob Parker, mission specialists, and John Young and Brewster Shaw, comnander and pilot respectively. Merbold and Lichtenberg will perform experiments aboard the Spacelab using 38 different scientific packages (experiments and experiment facilities) both inside the habitable module and on the pallet. In this role, they will represent more than 70 different scientific investigators from Europe, Japan, and the United States. The Spacelab 1 mission experiments were developed by scientific institutes in the ESA member states, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and in Japan and the United States. Since January, 1982, the payload specialists have been undergoing mission operational training in the Payload Crew Training Facility at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., where they are faced with operational situations very similar to those they will encounter during the Spacelab-1 flight. They are, in this way, gaining considerable experience before the launch thus ensuring a maximum scientific return from the flight. The Marshall Center is responsible for overall management of the first mission. In December 1977, ESA selected Ulf Merbold, Germany, Claude Nicollier, Switzerland, and Wubbo Ockels, the Netherlands, as -more-
1 - 3- payload specialist candidates from amongst some 2,000 European applicants. Since January 1978, they have been preparing for the Spacelab-1 mission. During their training, which has been carried out in Europe, Japan and in the United States, the payload specialists have acquired an in-depth knowledge of the individual experiments comprising the first Spacelab payload and will thus be in a position to operate and monitor them closely and to execute minor repairs or adjustments which may be required during the flight. During this period, Claude Nicollier was assigned to undertake mission specialist training and, as a result, was no longer considered a European payload specialist. He is now a candidate for a mission specialist position on the German Spacelab mission, D-1, scheduled for launch in mid-1985. In May 1978, Michael Lampton, University of California at Berkeley, and Byron Lichtenberg, Massachussetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, were selected by the Spacelab 1 Investigators Working Group (IN), to be the American payload specialists.
BIOGRAPHICAL DATA ON ALL FOUR FOLLOWS.
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Michael L. Lampton Spacelab 1 Payload Specialist
PRESENT DUTIES: Dr. Lampton is a payload specialist in training to operate experiments aboard Spacelab 1.
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born in Williamsport, Pa., in 1941.
NATIONALITY: U. S. citizen.
MARITAL STATUS: Married, with one child.
PROFESSION: Physicist.
EDUCATION: Received a bachelor of science degree in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1962, and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1967.
EXPERIENCE: Dr. Lampton is a research physicist at the Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley. His main fields of research include X-ray astronomy, W astronomy, space physics and optical and electronics engineering. Lampton was selected to train for the Spacelab 1 mission in June 1978 as one of two U. S. payload specialists.
ORGANIZATIONS: Dr. Lampton is a member of the American Astronomical Society and the Audio Engineering Society. -more-
l . .. -- -5- Byron K. Lichtenberg Spacelab 1 Payload Specialist
PRESENT DUTIES: Dr. Lichtenberg is a payload specialist in training to operate experiments aboard Spacelab 1.
BIRTHPLACE (WD DATE: Born in Stroudsburg, Pa., in 1948.
NATIONALITY: U. S. citizen.
MARITAL STATUS: Married, with two children.
PROFESSION: Biomedical Engineer/Pilot,
EDUCATION: Received his bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering from Brown University, Providence, R, I., in 1969. He did graduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass., receiving his master's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1975, and his SC.D. in Biomedical Engineering in 1979.
EXPERIENCE: Dr. Lichtenberg is a member of the research staff at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is actively involved in an experiment which is to be flown on Spacelab 1. His primary area of research is biomedical engineering. In June 1978, Lichtenberg was selected to train for the Spacelab 1 mission as one of two U. S. payload specialists. Between 1969 and 1973 he served in the U. S. Air Force. He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses during his tour of duty in Vietnam. At present he is a fighter pilot in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, flying the A-10 close air support aircraft.
ORGANIZATIONS: Lichtenberg is a member of Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi honor societies and the Aerospace Medical Association. -more-
- r. -- l 1' -I -6- Ulf Merbold Spacelab 1 Payload Specialist
PRESENT DUTIES: Dr. Merbold is a payload specialist in training to operate experiments aboard Spacelab 1.
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born in Greiz, Germany, in 1941.
NATIONALITY: German citizen.
MARITAL STATUS: Married, with two children.
PROFESSION: Physicist.
EDUCATION: Received a diploma in physics in 1968 and a doctorate in science (Dr. rer. nat.) from Stuttgart University in 1976.
EXPERIENCE: Dr. Merbold joined the Max-Planck Gesellschaft at Stuttgart, Germany, first on a scholarship in 1968, and later as a staff member. He worked as a solid-state physicist on a research team of the Max-Planck Institute for Metals Research. His main fields of research were crystal lattice defects and low-temperature physics. He was involved in the investigation of the irradiation damage on iron and vanadium produced by fast neutrons. In 1978 he was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as one of two European payload specialists to train for the Spacelab 1 mission.
ORGANIZATIONS: Dr. Merbold is a member of the German Society for Physics. He holds a private pilot's license. -more- -7 - Wubbo J. Ockels Spacelab 1 Payload Specialist
PRESENT DUTIES: Dr. Ockels is in training as a payload specialist to operate experiments aboard Spacelab 1.
BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Born in Almelo, The Netherlands, March 28, 1946, but he considers Groningen, The Netherlands, to be his hometown.
NATIONALITY: Dutch subject.
MARITAL STATUS: Married, with two children.
PROFESSION: Physicist.
EDUCATION: Received a doctorate in physics and mathematics from the University of Groningen in 1973. Finished a thesis (Ph.D.) on the basis of experimental work at the Nuclear Physics Accelerator Institute (K.V.1.) in Groningen in 1978.
EXPERIENCE: From 1973 to 1978, Dr. Ockels performed experimental investigations at the Nuclear Physics Accelerator Institute in Groningen. His work concerned the gama-ray decay of nuclear systems directly after formation and the development of a data-handling system involving design of electronics and programing of realtime software. He also contributed to the design and construction of position-sensitive charged particle detectors. While at K.V.I., Dr. Ockels supervised the practical work of first- year physics students at the University of Groningen. In 1978, he was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) as one of three European payload specialists to train for the Spacelab 1 mission. In May 1980, under agreement between ESA and NASA, Dr. Ockels was selected to begin the basic astronaut training for mission specialist together with the NASA astronaut candidates at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas. He successfully completed this training in August 1981 and has rejoined the Spacelab 1 crew.
ORGANIZATIONS: Dr. Ockels is a member of the American Physical Society and the European Physical Society. -30-
1' NASA News
For Release Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (2 0 5 /4 5 3 -0 0 34)
RELEASE NO: 82-87
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
-.
News media briefings in preparation for the fifth flight of the Space Shuttle will
be conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, October 5 and 6 at the Johnson Space Center, Houston.
On Tuesday, October 5, lead flight director Tommy Holloway will brief media
representatives on the STS-5 flight plan at 1:00 p.m. Subsequent briefings will be on
extra-vehicular activities at 2:OO p.m.; payloads, 3:OO p.m.; and student experiments,
4:OO p.m. (all times are CDT).
Shuttle astronauts Vance Brand, commander; Bob Overmyer, pilot; and Joe Allen and Bill Lenoir, mission specialists, will be available for questions at a news conference
at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 6.
Huntsville area news media may view the briefings over closed-circuit television at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Two-way audio will enable media
representatives at Marshall to participate in the question-and-answer sessions. For additional information, please contact the Marshall Public Information Branch
at (205) 453-0034.
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September 28,1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 19751
f I. 1 1' For Frelease Tim Tyson Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. 1MMED I ATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-89
I LIGHTNING ~PERIMENTRESULTS
First-of-a-kind pictures of lightning in cloud tops, plus unusiial lightning photography reccircied during the fourth Space
Shuttle flight, have yielded 8n impressive array of new data, according to atmospheric scientists at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. The €irst such ?loud top photography, taken from a NASA U-2 aircraft in May .during a thunderstorm over Oklahoma, shows one
instance'of seven simultaneous lightning bolts. The pictures were taken from a NASA U-2 aircraft as part of the Thunderstorm Overflight Project (TOP) developed by the Marshall Center's Space Sciences Laboratory. Meanwhile, photographic data gathered during the fourth Space Shuttle mission by the Nighttime/Daytime Optical Survey of Lightning (NOSL), shows lightning bolts which formed a huge nYtl shape illuminating an area as large as 400 kilometers, according to the Centerls experiment co-investigator Othn Vaughan, Jr. NOSL was also developed at the Space Sciences Laboratory. -more-
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 19751 September 30, 1982 - 1. 1' - .- T -- c -2-
The photographs of the thunderstorm from orbit, taken over South America during a night pass, revealed lightning bolts as long as 40 kilometers, and simultaneous occurrences of lightning at 100 kilometers from the apparent center of the storm activity. The TOP experiment is composed of two separate Space Sciences Labo.ratory experiments, the Optical Lightning Detection Experiment (OLDE) and the Lightning Detection and Convective Phenomena experiments. TOP compliments the NOSL experiment in recording optical "signatures" of lightning from above thunderstorms, said Dr. Hugh Christian, OLDE principal investigator. The objective of the OLDE experiment is to investigate techniques for filtering out the bright background so that a space-based sensor can detect the actual strength of the lightning strikes. The NOSL experiment, which records motion pictures and photo cell readings of lightning storms from orbit, was first flown on the second Space Shuttle mission. On STS-4, "lightning bolts were also observed deep within the clouds and not near the upper levelsYq1Vaughan said. Unlike NOSL, TOP provides a smaller field of view than from orbit. The U-2.flight was the seventh in a series of flights over the tops of thunderstorms to look at the relationship between storm severity and lightning activity, how lightning rates correspond to cloud top motions and to measure the amount of lightning occurring in severe storm systems. -more- -3-
The measurements of lightning are necessary for the development of a lightning mapper which, once it is installed in a geostationary weather satellite, could enhance the knowledge of lightning-related weather phenomenon. "The combined data produced a significant step forward in scientific fa'ct gathering toward the development of a space-based sensor to 'map' lightning," Vaughan ssid. The major problem which must be solved before such a lightning mapper could be installed in a geostationary weather satellite is to distinguish the lightning from background brightness, the scientists said. The light reflecting off the tops of the clouds is brighter than the lightning emissions. Atmospheric scientists are studying several approaches to filtering the light in order to detect the weaker flashes.
Scientists hope the lightning detector will prove to be a good way to track a severe storm in real time. Large amounts of lightning may provide indications of a severe storm before long- range radar would indicate it. -30-
-1 NASA News
Lyn Cywanowi cz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. I NWIEDI ATE (205/453-0034) Also released at Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
RELEASE NO: 82-90
NASA NAMES STS-10 ASTRONAUT CREW
Four of the five crew members who will man the Space Shuttle on its first dedicated Department of Defense mission have been selected. They are NASA astronauts Thomas K. Mattingly, Comnander; Loren J. Shriver, Pilot; Ellison S. Onizuka and James F. Buchli, Mission Specialists. The fifth crew member, an Air Force manned spaceflight engineer, will be named at a later date. STS-10 is currently scheduled for launch from the Kennedy Space Center in the last quarter of 1983.
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October 5, 1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751
1 NASA News
t or Releasc Tim Tyson Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82P-91
FIRST-TIME LIGHTNING PHOTOS
As many as seven different lightning bolts dart across the top of a thunderhead over Oklahoma. The picture, taken in May 1982, is one of the first photographs taken of lightning bolts in a cloud top. This photo of lightning activity was taken from a NASA U-2 aircraft during the Thunderstorm Overflight Project of the Space Sciences Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. -30- October 8, 1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
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Lyn Cywanowicz For Release Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-OO34)
RELEASE NO: 82-94
HIGH PERFORMANCE SRM TESTED IN UTAH
A high performance development motor for the Space Shuttle
Solid Rocket Booster will be test fired for the first time
Thursday, Oct. 21, in the Utah desert. The motor has been redesigned to increase the initial thrust of the Shuttle boosters at liftoff, providing the Shuttle with an increased payload carrying capability.
Thursday's test firing is the first of two tests necessary
to qualify the motors for flight.
According to Frank Adams, deputy manager of the solid Rocket
Booster Project Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center,
Huntsville, Ala., the thrust increase was achieved in several ways. "TO the casual observer, the motor will look the same as
the motors we are presently using, however, we have decreased the -more-
October 20, 1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) *. 7 1- . throat and increased the length of the motor's exit cone. We have also increased the burn surtace of the propellant by removing some of the inhibiter used at the ends of the four center motor segments," said Adams. "These changes will give the motor a higher specific impulse which increases its performance and thrust. 'I
The higher thrust motors will be used for the first time on the eighth Space Shuttle flight, now scheduled for mid-1983. The two motors will provide an additional four percent thrust capability over the motors currently in use which deliver about
2.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
Two of the giant. Solid Rocket Roosters, of which the motor
is the major component, provide approximately 75 percent bulk of the Shuttle's power for liftoff from the launch pad, and during the first two minutes of flight. After their propellant has burned out, the boosters separate from the Shuttle and parachute
into the ocean where they are recovered and returned to Kennedy
Space Center, Fla. They are then refurbished and reused on subsequent Shuttle missions.
Motors for the Shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters are developed and tested by the Wasatch Division of Thiokol Corp. under contract to the Marshall Space Flight Center.
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T- NASA News
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Tim Tyson r-or RPI~~S~ Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. I M ME DI ATE (205/4 53-00 34)
RELEASE NO: 82-95
PAYLOAD BAY PASSES "WHITE GLOVE TESTS"
According to scientists at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville,
Ala., the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Orbiter has passed a series of "white glove tests" and is now ready to accept commercial and scientific cargoes sensitive to
contaminants in and around that cargo bay. Data from tests conducted aboard the Shuttle during its last three flights have now revealed that Shuttle-induced contamination is at or below promised tolerances. The tests were conducted using the Induced Environment Contamination Monitor,
a desk-sized package of ten instruments developed at the Marshall Center. The monitor recorded levels of such potential contaminants as water, dust and other particles carried
aloft by the Shuttle, plus other contaminants that result from outgassing of materials
used in the Shuttle itself. -more-
October 21,1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 19751
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The contamination data was gathered during the second, third and fourth missions. Data from the fourth flight of the monitor in June 1982, has now confirmed low contamination levels experienced on the previous missions.
"Based on data from the test flights, the induced contamintition environment appears to be within Space Transportation System requirement goals," said Ed Miller, the
Center's project scientist for the monitor.
Some of the findings from the June test are:
The outgassing rates for payload bay surfaces were verified to be below those required. Outgassing is the emission of molecular matter from materials such as plastics in space. Normal particulate deposit levels were recorded, certifying levels recorded during previous flights were genuine.
Camera/photometer data showed that most particulate matter carried aloft in the cargo bay dissipates after 15 to 17 hours in flight. No significant heavy molecules appeared to be present and there was no cabin leakage observed. Data gathering was enhanced during the flight due to a darker background than on previous flights which allowed for viewing of fainter particles.
Water, which can be a contaminant in space, was measured in levels slightly higher than expected early in each mission. The source might have been water that soaked into Shuttle tiles from heavy rains and hail prior to launch, said Miller.
The data gathered by the monitor also signaled users that they must make contingency plans for events such as water dumps and Orbiter thruster firings which momentarily raise the threshold of contamination.
To complete the data gathering on the fourth mission, a llmapping'f of the cargo bay was conducted in which the 800-pound monitor was picked up and placed at various locations in and around the cargo bay by the Orbiter's Remote Manipulator System, a robotic arm used on orbit to deploy Shuttle payloads.
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While the survey of the Orbiter's cargo bay is now complete, the monitor will be used again in about a year to monitor contamination levels around Spacelab, the new
NASA/European Space Agency system that will be used to convert the Shuttle cargo bay into an orbital laboratory. The contamination monitor will fly with Spacelab on its first two flights into space to survey that system for induced contaminants.
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* I- 1 T- NASA News
1-or Rdr!ase Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (20 5/4 53-00 34)
RELEASE NO: 82-96
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
NASA Headquarters in Washington has announced that it is now accepting
applications for press accreditation for the fifth flight of the Space Shuttle. Launch is
targeted for November 11 from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., with mission control at Johnson Space Center, Houston, and landing at Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif. five days later.
The news center will open at Kennedy five days prior to launch, at Johnson three days and Dryden one day prior to launch. Decision on the status of White Sands will be made at a later date.
Requests for accreditation should be submitted by November 5 to: NASA Headquarters
Code LF D-10 Accreditation
Washington, D. C. 20546
Such requests must be made by a news executive on company letterhead, and must
list the name or names of the individuals to attend, together with the assignment of each -more-
October 21,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975)
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person (reporter, technician, photographer, etc.). Freelance writers and photographers must offer proof of assignment or evidence of professional activity. Accreditation will be valid for all news centers. You may also wish to have members of your staff visit the Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville during the mission to report on participation here in the Tennessee
Valley. Marshall Center employees and contractors will operate consoles at the
Huntsville Operations Support Center to support the Kennedy Center with expertise on
Shuttle propulsion systems during the preparation and countdown process and through launch and flight to orbit. Also during on-orbit operations, news media representatives will have the opportunity to view activities related to the operation of scientific payloads.
Headquarters accreditation will not be required at Marshall, which uses its own badging system. Those planning to cover the Shuttle activities in Huntsville are asked to contact the Marshall Center Public Affairs Office at 205-453-0034 before the launch so that gate passes and other materials can be sent to them in advance.
Here is a review of the ground rules set by NASA Headquarters for newsmen covering the mission at the Kennedy, Johnson and Dryden centers. - NASA can make no travel or housing arrangements.
- Only working newsmen will be accredited at the news centers. Publishers and other news and advertising executives will not be accredited. They should apply to NASA's Protocol Office.
- Friends, dependents or relatives not covering the mission will not be accommodated. Special arrangements can be made only at the Kennedy news center where dependents may view the launch from a special dependents' site.
- No one 16 years old or younger will be allowed at the press site. Violation of this rule will result in cancellation of press site privileges for the responsible pwties. - Philatelic publications must be publications for general sale or publications of national organizations. They are restricted to two representatives each. Newsletters to I
-3- local clubs do not qualify. Representatives of philatelic organizations may not conduct other business while at the press site. - College news media are limited to two accredited correspondents. - You must present your letter of acceptance in person to obtain a news badge at the appropriate news center. If you lose your accreditation letter, a record that it was
issued will be available at each center. Remember, launch dates are subject to change. Check the dates as launch time gets closer. - Any organization needing still pictures of the mission must have one representative register with the photo office at the Kennedy Space Center or Dryden
Flight Research Facility as soon as they arrive. Only one photo card will be issued to
each organization. On site photos will be delivered only to organizations meeting
deadlines: other will receive photos by mail. - No alcoholic beverages are allowed on government propertv. - A number of these sites, notably Kennedy, Dryden and White Sands are located on large government reservations remote from the motel areas. Ample time should be allowed for travel and gate clearance.
Remember that launch dates are subject to change, and you should check as
launch time gets nearer.
-30- News
For Release Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Fli.ght Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (2 05/4 53-0 034) Also released in Washington, D. C.
RELEASE NO: 82-97 I
1 NASA EXPANDS PAYLOAD SPECIALIST OPPORTUNITIES
A revised policy expanding opportunities to fly Payload Specialists on the Space
Shuttle has been announced by NASA Administrator James M. Beggs.
Until now, flight opportunities for Payload Specialists have been offered to those
customers that purchased a half or more of a Shuttle mission or were flying a unique experiment that was judged require unique talents of particular scientist to - a or enginee r .
Under the expanded program, to begin in 1984, the minimum required payload
factor is eliminated. When mission requirements and manifesting permit, flight
opportunities for Payload Specialists will be made available on a reimbursable basis to all classes of Space Shuttle major payload customers, including foreign and domestic
commercial customers, international cooperative partners, the scientific and applications
community and the Department of Defense.
On the first four development flights of the Shuttle, there were two crew
members aboard, the commander end pilot. The fifth flight of the Shuttle, scheduled for
Nov. 11, 1982, is the first operational flight of the Shuttle and the crew will expand to
3 -more-
October 22,1982
MSFC . Form 2914-18 '(August 19751
- 1' 1- IC - _c_ .. . .
four, adding two Mission Specialists, who will assist in deploying two commercial
communication satellites. In the future, Mission Specialists, who are experts in extravehicular activity, operation of Remote Manipulator System and payload support systems, will be augmented by Payload Specialists on specific missions. These crew members will be added to selected flights to provide detailed, on-thespot expertise concerning payloads or
scientific experiments to help insure mission success. I Payload Specialists will most often be scientists, with special skills to operate a
scientific experiment, or a specialist proposed by a Shuttle customer who is trained in the critical aspects of deploying and operating a satellite from the Space Shuttle or in the operations of a unique and critical processing experiment.
Proposed Payload Specialists will undergo a short training program in preparation
for space flight. NASA will retain final selection authority to insure that Payload ' Specialists are fully qualified and can function as part of the flight crew. This expansion of the Payload Specialist policy proceeds toward an early major
objective of the Space Shuttle program-for more people to go into space, easily and
safely, in order to enhance the scientific, commercial and national security objectives there.
-30- NASA News
For Release Carl Jones Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-99
MARSHALL DIRECTOR RECEIVES AMERICAN ASTRONAUTICAL SOCIETY AWARD
Dr. William R. Lucas, director of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Hunstville,
Ala., will be awarded the American Astronautical Society's highest honor - The Space Flight Award - in ceremonies to be held in Houston this evening during the Society's annual meeting.
The Space Flight Award is given annually "to the person who through his efforts has contributed the most to the advancement of space flight and exploration," according to the Society.
Lucas was selected for the award "in recognition of his distinguished scientific, technical, and managerial leadership associated with the development of this nation's Space Shuttle," according to Society officials. Twenty-six individuals have received The Space Flight Award since it was first awarded in 1955 to rocketry pioneer Hermann Oberth. Other recipients of the award include Dr. Wernher von Braun (1957), Marshall's first director; James A. Van Allen
(19581, discoverer of the Van Allen Radiation Belt; Dr. Christopher C. Kraft Jr. (19691,
-more- October 26,1982
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1 1' . .. former director of the Johnson Space Center; Rocco A. Petrone (19731, former Marshall Center director; and John F. Yardley (19771, former NASA associate administrator for
Space Transportation Systems. Awards were not presented in 1959, 1963, and 1964.
Also honored at the annual AAS meeting were William R. Marshall, director of
Marshall's Program Development Directorate, and Dr. F. A. Speer, manager of Space
Telescope Project Office, who were elected Fellows of the Society. AAS Fellows comprise the 'highest ranking members of the society," according to Society officials. As director of the Marshall Center, Dr. Lucas is responsible for managing the development of the Space Shuttle Main Engines, Solid Rocket Boosters and external propellant tank, for the development and upcoming flights of the Spacelab orbital research facility, for the development of NASA's new Space Telescope, and for many other key research and development, and space science programs.
-30- NASA News
Terry M. Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-100
NASA CENTER TO HOLD INDUSTRY BRIEFING ON X-RAY OBSERVATORY
An industry briefing on the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility, or "AXAF,"
will be held Nov. 9 at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The briefing is to assist industrial organizations in preparing for competition in the preliminary design phase contracts planned for release early next year.
The telescope, currently under study at the Marshall Center, is an orbiting X-ray
observatory proposed for launch in the early 1990s. It would be the latest in a series of
orbiting X-ray instruments, dating back to the Uhuru satellite launched in 1970, and
would be the most technologically advanced X-ray observatory ever flown by NASA. In
an orbit 300 miles above the Earth, the facility would study X-rays from ordinary stars,
neutron and dwarf stars, quasars, galaxies, and regions containing possible black holes in
space. It is expected to see X-ray sources near the very edge of the observable universe.
The telescope would have a lifetime of 15 years and would feature super-precision
optics and interchangeable observation instruments in the focal plane. Measuring 43 feet
in length, the 11-ton observatory would first be flown into space in the cargo bay of the
Space Shuttle, then placed in its 300-mile orbit. -more-
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975) * * 1 1- .. -. Several months ago the observatory received from the Astronomy Survey Committee of the National Academy of Science the highest endorsement as a subject of study and development in the 1980s. The Marshall Center has completed the initial phase of study of the observatory and plans to enter the second phase - called preliminary design or definition - in 1983. The industry briefing is part of the preparation for that second phase.
The Marshall Center's work on the X-ray telescope is sponsored by the Office of
Space Science and Applications at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
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T' i -- '\
N .. National Aeronadlcs md Spilce Adrmnistr 'tlon George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space f Ilqt?r Center AIacdrna 35812 AC 2b5 453 Oh34
For Release Terry M. Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-102
NASA SELECTS MARTIN MARIETTA AEROSPACE FOR NEGOTIATION OF TETHERED SATELLITE CONTRACT
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has selected Martin
Marietta Aerospace, Denver, Colo., for negotiation leading to a contract for detailed engineering analyses and selected advanced development evaluations of a Tethered Satellite System concept.
The approximate value of the contract will be $1 million. Proposals were received
from Martin Marietta and Ball Aerospace Systems Division, Boulder, Colo., both of which
had completed parallel definition studies of the system under previous contracts.
If approved for final development, the Tethered Satellite System would be carried
into orbit by the Space Shuttle in the late 1980s. There the satellite would be suspended
downward from the cargo bay on a tether up to 60 miles long, and would troll the Earth's upper atmosphere for magnetospheric, atmospheric and gravitational data. The satellite
could also be deployed upward to study electrodpamic and other scientific phenomena. Currently there are limited means by which the upper atmosphere - around 60 to 90 miles up - can be studied. The area is too high for airplanes to reach and too low for satellites to remain in orbit for long.
Y -more- November 5,1982 1- TV- T- . L- f f-
L -- lumber of instrument-laden rockets have been used with some limited success,
- : pass through the upper atmosphere for only a few minutes before falling back beor.1- L i. c-- : -- ,--._ , I. The Tethered Satellite System, however, could study the upper atmosphere for
, a time. -rh--Cs.r..eZ----m - ...- .-- -. . The negotiations for the contract will result in Martin Marietta performing an - .- p- - .. ' z-~medDevelopment Phase, which entails more detailed engineering analyses and ,l-l<>Z :'- _i.- meed development testing of the system, plus testing of some key components
REZ~$S,$Qthose to-be flown in space. A firm option will also be negotiated for the Design and Development Phase, Nhich is full-scale development of the system. Sometimes called a "new start," this final
1 phase has no€ yet been approved. It will not proceed unless NASA Headquarters, the
Office of Management and Budget and the Congress approve it through the usual new start process, and the Marshall Center subsequently exercises the government's option to Y- go forward with development. NASA would then share development of the system in a joint international cooperative project with the government of Italy. NASA would build the deployment system (the reel and related apparatus that would fit in the Shuttle Orbiter's cargo bay) and Italy would build the satellite itself. NASA would be responsible
for systems integration and mission operations. The U.S./Italian agreement for the current study phase evolved from an initiative in 1980 by the Italian government's PSN/CNR (Italian National Space Plan/National Research Council) to NASA for possible collaboration on the Tethered Satellite System which the U.S. space agency had been studying since the mid-1970s. In 1981 a Letter of Agreement was signed by NASA and PSN/CNR which established the tasks each agency
agreed to undertake during the study phase. The agreement also provided for a science working group, co-chaired by NASA and PSN/CNR, to provide science requirements and to develop and recommend the scientific objectives of the Tethered Satellite System. A
subsequent agreement to be negotiated would provide for the actual joint development
project when approved. * -30 -
. f* T' CY T- I
Fur Release Terry M. Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-103
FIRST NASA INERTIAL UPPER STAGE IS READIED FOR JANUARY FLIGHT
The first NASA Inertial Upper Stage, called IUS-1, arrived last week at the
. Kennedy Space Center's Vertical Processing Facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in
preparation for a January 1983 launch.
The upper stage is an unmanned transportation system designed to ferry payloads
from low Earth orbit to higher orbits that are unattainable by the Shuttle. NASA's lead
center for development of the IUS is the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
At the Kennedy facility, the upper stage will be mated to a Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite - the first of four which will comprise NASA's future Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite System - and together the two units will fly in the payload bay of the
Shuttle for the January mission. Once the Shuttle has reached its normal orbit of
approximately 150 miles above the Earth, the mated IUS-1 and satellite will be released
from the payload bay, The upper stage will then be ignited and will carry the satellite to
geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator. In this orbit, ideal for
communications satellites, an object appears to an Earth-bound observer to remain at a
fixed point in the sky. -more-
November 16,1982
1' *.. T -- The upper stage is designed to carry up to 5,000 pounds of payload to geostationary orbit. .. I The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System is a network of satellites which will, among other uses, reduce the number of ground stations presently used to track the
Shuttle when in orbit. The system was conceived as a means of improving the nation's posture for centrally servicing the command and telemetry functions of the ever-growing number of operational satellites. By employing the Inertial Upper Stage, NASA plans to have the system operational by September 1983.
The arrival of the upper stage at the processing facility is yet another milestone leading to the launch of IUS-1 in the payload bay of the Orbiter Challenger in January.
In coming weeks the mated upper stage and satellite will be moved to the launch pad, from which IUS-1 and its payload will be carried by the Shuttle to low Earth orbit.
IUS-1 is the first of six upper stages being built for NASA by the Boeing
Aerospace Corp. under a contract that Boeing has with the Air Force Systems Command.
The IUS is a two-stage vehicle 17 feet long and over nine feet in diameter.
Weighing more than 16 tons, the aft stage of the vehicle contains 21,400 pounds of solid
fuel propellant and generates 45,600 pounds of thrust. The forward stage contains 6,000
pounds of solid fuel propellant and generates 18,500 pounds of thrust.
- 30 -
f .. 1- r- NASA News National Aermautics dnd Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Fliqht Center Aidbama 35812 $ AC 205 453-0034
~-
For Release: Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-104
COLUMBIA'S ENGINES TO BE REFURBISHED FOR USE ON ORBITER ATLANTIS
With the new Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger to make its maiden flight in Jan., the orbiter Columbia will be undergoing refurbishment for the next year before its future operational flights. Also receiving an overhaul during this time will be the three Space Shuttle Main Engines that helped power Columbia to orbit on each of its five flights. According to Dr. Judson Lovingood, manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., the three engines are scheduled to undergo a complete overhaul before they are reused again on the orbiter Atlantis. These engines, which were operated at 100% of rated thrust on Columbia, will be modified and retested to certify them for operation at 109% aboard Atlantis. _.. ." "The engines will be removed from Columbia- and shipped back to the manufacturer-Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International in Canoga Park, Calif.- where they will be modified to run at a higher thrust level," said Lovingood.
After the engines arrive at the plant in late December, the first order of business will be to carefully disassemble them. Then every part will be inspected and tagged to -more- November 24,1982
MSFC . Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
r 1 1' . .. -- determine wear and reusability. "We know that some parts will have to be replaced because of the increased temperatures and pressures they will see at the higher power level," said Lovingood. "But we would also like to see if the flight environment has a different effect on the hardware that we have seen in ground testing." The engines will then be reassembled and throughly checked before being shipped to the Marshall Center's engine test facility at National Space Technology Laboratories, Miss. where they will undergo a series of acceptance test firings. These firings, tentatively scheduled for the fall of 1984, will include an ignition test, calibration test and endurance test. The engines underwent similar test firings before they were installed in the orbiter Columbia.
After the engines have been accepted for flight by the Marshall Center they will be installed in the Atlantis in time for its first mission in 1985. Columbia, which will be outfitted with three brand new engines, is scheduled to make its next flight in September 1983 carrying Spacelab, a reusable scientific laboratory developed for NASA by the European Space Agency.
-30-
1 1' NASA News
Dave Drachlis, i or Rcleasc Tim Tyson Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IWDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-107
SPACELAB EXPERIMENT TESTS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
The first simulation of major segments of the Spacelab 1 mission using the actual flight experiments and portions of the laboratory itself was successfully completed recently at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. "We are very pleased with the way that the equipment performed during the Mission Sequence Test," said Spacelab 1 Mission Manager, Harry Craft, of the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Completion of this test moved the first mission of the European Space Agency (ESA)-developed research laboratory facility a step closer to its scheduled September 1983 launch aboard the Space Shuttle. The purpose of the eight-segment test which began Oct. 29 was to verify the compatibility of experiments with each other and with their Spacelab support subsystems, according to Craft. -more- Nov. 30, 1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751 . .- I 1' T -* The test involved execution of selected portions of the mission timeline during which several experiments are operated simultaneously and selected sections during which experiments interact extensively with the Spacelab subsystems. Each of the segments was conducted and the experiments operated just like would be done on orbit, Craft said. The Spacelab 1 science crew participated in some of the testing. The Mission Sequence Test was conducted by technicians and engineers from NASA and ESA in the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center, where the Spacelab is being integrated for its flight. Teams of engineers also participated in the test from the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) at Marshall. They monitored the activities from consoles in the HOSC and were on hand to support both the payload and the Spacelab subsystems operations. Spacelab is being developed by ESA as Europe's contribution to the NASA Space Transportation System. The modular, reusable laboratory consists of a cylindrical pressurized module in which scientists can work, and a series of pallets which will support experiments requiring direct exposure to space. Spacelab 1, its first mission, is a joint venture of NASA and ESA, during which more than 70 separate investigations will be conducted in five scientific disciplines. The Marshall Space Flight Center has NASA responsibility for
development of the laboratory, and for managing the first three missions. -30-
1- . I. T -- NKANews
Lyn Cywanowicz F or Hpiease Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (20 5/4 53 -0 0 34)
RELEASE NO: 82-109
NASA CONSOLIDATES WORK UNDER MARTIN MARIETTA
NEW ORLEANS, LA - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has
awarded a 33 month contract valued at approximately $42 million to Martin Marietta
Aerospace to provide facility support services at NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility
here. The award is an addition to the company's existing contract to manufacture Space
Shuttle propellant tanks at the facility.
Those services were provided by Martin Marietta Aerospace and other firms under separate contracts with NASA. The activities affected include facility operations and maintenance, security and fire protection, janitorial services, reproduction and photography, medical and food services.
The primary purpose of the Michoud Facility is the manufacture of the Shuttle
tanks. NASA management determined it would be more efficient for the tank manufacturer to have overall responsibility for both production and facility support
functions. The bulk of this support is provided to Martin Marietta and its employees.
After a transition period January 1 through January 14, Martin Marietta will
assume responsibility for this support work January 15, 1983. The contract extends
through September 1985. -more- December 3,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751
T 1' The award was made by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville,
. Alabama, which operates the Michoud Facility. Martin Marietta manufactures the
Shuttle external tanks under contract to the Marshall Center as well.
-30- ruEnNews
Terry M. Eddleman F or HAease Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-110
NASA CENTER NAMES J. N. FOSTER TO HEAD MAJOR DIRECTORATE
J. N. Foster of Huntsville has been named director of the Marshall Space Flight Center's Administration and Program Support Directorate. Center Director Dr. William
R. Lucas announced the appointment Dec. 6. Foster has been deputy director of this 530-person organization since 1973. In his new position, Foster will oversee the Marshall Procurement Office,
Communications Office, Computer Service Office, Facilities Office, Technology Utilization Office, Management Operations Office and the Slidell Computer Complex in Louisiana.
Foster served previously in the Center Director's Office as associate deputy director for management. From 1970 to 1971 he was the deputy assistant administrator
for planning at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D. C., where he served as a key associate to Dr. Wernher von Braun. Foster's earlier assignments at the Marshall Center
-more- Dee. 7,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975)
1 include positions as assistant to the center director, deputy director of Administration and Technical Services, deputy director of the Executive Staff, and director of the Center Plans and Resources Office.
Raised in Chicago, Foster moved to Huntsville in 1955 to work at the U. S. Army's Redstone Arsenal, where he participated in the research and development of the
Redstone and Jupiter missiles. When the Marshall Center was established in 1960, Foster transferred to this new NASA field activity.
Foster graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology earning a bachelor of science in 1955 and a master of science degree in 1959, both in mechanical engineering.
He is a member of the American Society of Professional Engineers, American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Huntsville Rotary. He was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal in 1969.
Foster is married to the former Betty Solomon of Chicago, and they have two daughters, Dr. Sharon Gardepe of Northumberland, Pa., and Carol Foster of Huntsville.
- 30 -
1 INASANews
Jim Kukowski For Release Headquarters , Washing ton, D. C IMMEDIATE (Phone: 202/755-3090)
Mark Hess Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (Phone: 305/867-2468) Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-111 TEST FIRING OF CHALLENGER ENGINES SET FOR DEC. 18
A 20-second on-the-pad test firing of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger's
powerful three main engines will be conducted by NASA no earlier than 10 a.m. CST,
Dec. 18 at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., to clear the way for launch of America's newest
spacecraft and the sixth Space Shuttle mission.
The test is to verify the flight readiness of the orbiter Challenger - the newest of America's fleet of reusable orbiter spacecraft - and its new, more powerful three main engines.
Most elements of the Shuttle vehicle, main propulsion system and computer programs will be exercised during the Flight Readiness Firing in a demanding, launch-day
environment to demonstrate the proper integration of all elements prior to the STS-6
mission. The test will mark only the second time in history that a primary propulsion system
on a manned spacecraft has been static fired at the launch pad. A similar test was Dec. 13,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751 -more-
1 T' * .- T -- -2- conducted of Columbia's three main engines on Feb. 20, 1981, prior to the first launch of the Space Shuttle.
Challenger's more powerful engines, each capable of generating 390,000 pounds of thrust at sea level, were successfully test fired individually at NASA's National Space Technology Laboratories. This will be the first test firing of these three engines in a flight configuration and the first use of engines qualified to run at 104 percent of their rated power level.
Countdown for the Flight Readiness Firing is scheduled to start Dec. 15 with the clock at the T-56 hour mark. The countdown will culminate with a 20-second static firing of Challenger's three main engines.
Successful completion of the Flight Readiness Firing is a major step in clearing the way for the STS-6 mission, currently targeted for launch in late January.
The sixth Space Shuttle mission (STS-6) will be five days in duration with launch from Complex 39's Pad A at Kennedy Space Center. Mission operations will be controlled by the Johnson Space Center, Houston. Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., will be the primary landing site.
The flight crew for STS-6 is commander Paul Weitz, pilot Karol Bobko, and mission specialists Story Musgrave and Donald Peterson.
Besides being the first launch of the orbiter Challenger, the STS-6 Shuttle vehicle will also feature a new lightweight external tank and lighter weight solid rocket booster casings. It will also be the first Shuttle launched from Mobile Launcher Platform-2, the second launch platform to be modified from its use during the Apollo program.
The STS-6 vehicle, consisting of the orbiter Challenger, the external tank which supplies liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants to the orbiter's three main engines, and twin solid rocket boosters, was moved from Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building to Complex 39's Pad A on Nov. 30.
-more-
* ,- 1 1- T- -3- The space vehicle and Mobile Launcher Platform on which it rests were connnected with ground support equipment for the Pad Validation Test which also began Nov. 30.
Maneuvering and reaction control system propellant tanks were filled with hypergolic propellants from Dec. 8-10.
Three days of Flight Readiness Firing preparations, which will include purging the external tank with inert gases, installing special firing instrumentation, and mounting a radiation shield on the deck of the Mobile Launcher Platform to protect the solid rocket boosters during the test firing, will precede the start of the firing countdown.
The Flight Readiness Firing, including pre- and post-test activities, will span six days. The test will involve personnel and operations from various NASA Centers and support organizations including Kennedy Center, Johnson Center and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
A firing simulation on Dec. 13 will kick off preparations for the test. This one- day test is primarily designed to check out critical flight and ground computer systems that will control the actual engine firing, and familiarize key members of the Space
Shuttle launch team with the test procedure. The last 12 hours of the firing countdown will be simulated, leading to a mock firing of Challenger's engines.
Events leading up to the Dec. 18 engine firing will be nearly identical to those that precede an actual Shuttle launch. Built-in holds will be distributed throughout the countdown at the same times they occur in an actual launch countdown.
The final nine minutes of the countdown will be controlled by the automated ground launch sequencer which performs the final series of events in a specific sequence. It also monitors various measurements for out of tolerance conditions and detects system
malfunctions for which it will automatically stop the countdown.
-more-
l -4-
At the conclusion of the test, technicians will begin an exhaustive external and internal inspection of the three main engines, followed by a functional retest of the engines to verify their readiness for flight. The post-firing activities will take about three weeks to complete.
In parallel with these operations, Challenger's cargo will be delivered to the launch pad and installed in the payload bay.
The Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) with its Inertial Upper Stage (IUS)
is scheduled to be delivered to the launch pad on Dec. 27 and will undergo initial pre- mate checkout in the enclosed white room or payload changeout room at the pad.
Approximately two weeks later, it will be installed in the Challenger's cargo bay.
Test Objectives
Among the objectives of the test are:
* To test all elements of the Space Transportation System in a real time launch
countdown which will culiminate in the firing of the orbiter's three main engines to in- sure proper integration of the Challenger main propulsion system prior to the STS-6 mission.
* To verify the capability of the launch facility to provide propellants to the Shuttle under launch conditions.
The main propulsion system control elements will be required to maintain pressure
in the external tank and in the main engines during the test firing as they would during an actual launch.
* To verify the ability of the orbiter's auxiliary power units and hydraulic system and the flight control system to gimbal the main engines.
-more-
I I' . .. -5- * To evaluate the performance of avionics and computer programs in controlling and monitoring the interaction of the external tank and main engines under the vibration and sound conditions they will experience during ignition and pre-liftoff phase.
* To verify that Kennedy's Launch Processing System and Challenger's bank of general purpose computers can work together in controlling the launch countdown sequence.
* To verify compatibility of the Space Shuttle's onboard avionics equipment with radio frequencies used by ground support elements during the launch phase.
Engine Ignition Sequence
The Flight Readiness Firing operation is limited to approximately 20 seconds of
main stage operation with the start identical to that planned for the STS-6 launch. The engines will be tested at 100 percent of rated power level.
The three engines are not ignited simultaneously but start commands are staggered at intervals of about 120 milliseconds. The start command for engine 3 is issued at T-3.8 seconds, that for engine 2 at T-3.68, followed by the start command for engine 1 at T-3.56 seconds.
To provide hydraulic power to cycle engine valves and move the engines during the
main engine gimbal profile checks, the orbiter's three auxiliary power units will be "hot fired," or started, at T-5 minutes. This will serve two purposes: it will certify the units for flight; and provide power to the hydraulic system.
After the Shuttle's main engines have been shut down, the liquid propellants will be drained out of the tank and back into large storage tanks located on the perimeter of
the pad.
-more-
l . r. -6 -
The rotating service structure will be moved back around the Shuttle the day after the test firing and the job of reverifying Shuttle systems to qualify them for a late
January launch will begin. -30-
t” f ... T -- NE,News
Carl Jones, IMMEDIATE Terry Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (205) 453-0034 RELEASE NO: 82-112 NASA EDUCATORS CONFERENCE BEGINS MONDAY AT MARSHALL
The Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., will host a five-day NASA
Headquarters training conference for all NASA Aerospace Education Services Project
lecturers beginning Monday.
NASA's Aerospace Education Services Project provides the services of aerospace specialists to schools to present assembly programs and to work in classrooms with teachers and pupils. The specialists are qualified educators who discuss NASA's
activities - past, present, and future - using simple experiments and scale models of space hardware to explain the basic scientific principles applied to the exploration of air and space, according to Jim Pruitt, Marshall Center coordinator for the conference.
The objective of the annual conference is to provide NASA's aerospace education specialists with current information and skills in helping the public better understand
what it is that the Agency does, why and what the results are, according to Pruitt.
"During two and one-half days of the conference, the education specialists will be briefed on the Marshall Center's major projects to insure that current information on the
center's activities will be part of the specialists' presentations throughout the nation," said Pruitt. -more-
Dec. 9, 1982 Senior Marshall Center managers will talk to the lecturers about Space Station efforts, Space Telescope, Spacelab, space robotics and machine intelligence, tethered satellite and the Marshall-managed Shuttle elements.
As part of the group's orientation to Marshall activities, they will also visit some of the Center's Science and Engineering laboratories.
Approximately 40 people are expected to attend the conference, including the aerospace education specialists, NASA Headquarters education representatives, and representatives of other NASA Centers.
-30- NEANews
Lyn Cywanowicz I or HF.loa:,e Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-113
TWO MSFC EMPLOYEES RECEIVE PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS
George B. Hardy and James R. Thompson of the Marshall Space Flight Center,
Huntsville, Ala., are among 161 members of the Senior Executive Service selected to receive the Presidential rank of Meritorious Senior Executive for 1982. Those selected for the honor receive a presidential citation and a cash award. ------.--..~. Meritorious Senior Executive award recipients are members of the federal government's top career management level and were selected on the basis of sustained exceptional performance during the year.
Hardy and Thompson were selected to receive the awards for their "outstanding
and significant performance" in the direction and management of the development of
major elements of NASA's Space Shuttle: Hardy as manager of the Shuttle's Solid Rocket Booster project; and Thompson as manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine project. Both have since been promoted to new positions. In honoring the award recipients for 1982, President Ronald Reagan said:
"Government service is a partnership that depends upon a solid working relationship
between political leaders and career employees. It is a relationship between those who -more- December 10,1982 do the talking and those who do the work. You we're honoring today are among the very finest career executives in the federal government and you are the people who assure the success of the day-today operations of all of those we call the United States government .It
Hardy came to the Marshall Center in 1962 as a project engineer and has held various engineering and technical management positions. He served as manager of the
Solid Rocket Booster Project in the Shuttle Projects Office from 1973 until October.
Now, as deputy manager for development in the Shuttle Projects Office here, he is responsible for the design, development and testing of all of the Marshall-managed Space Shuttle propulsion systems which include the solid rocket boosters, external tank and main engines.
Thompson joined the research and development team at Marshall in 1963 and has also held various engineering and technical management positions. Thompson was manager of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Project from March 1974 to Feb. 1982. In his present position as Associate Director of Engineering in the Center's Science and
Engineering Directorate, he is responsible for planning and executing the engineering overview, analysis, evaluation and support for all Marshall projects which are in the hardware development stage.
-30- Lyn Cywanowicz For Release Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 82-114
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
The Marshall Space Flight Center will support the Flight Readiness Firing (FRF)
of the Space Shuttle Orbiter Challenger's three main engines on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m. Central Standard Time at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
NASA and contractor engineers will monitor the countdown and engine firing from the Huntsville Operation Support Center just as they normally do on an actual launch day.
The Marshall Press Center in Building 4207 will be open on Saturday from 6 a.m.
until 12 noon to provide news media representatives with information on Marshall-
developed Shuttle systems and the engine firing. Television of the firing and activities in
the support center will be available in the Press Center.
A press briefing by Marshall officials has been scheduled for approximately 30 minutes after the firing is completed. Media representatives planning to attend the FRF activities or needing additional
information should contact the Marshall Public Affairs Office at 205 453-0034. -30-
Dec. 13,1982
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751
1 -NEANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
David Garrett For Release Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIATE (Phone: 202/755-3090) John Lawrence Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas (Phone: 713/483-5111) Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama (Phone: 205/453-0034) RELEASE NO: 82-115
FIF’IH CREWMEMBER NAMED FOR STS-7 AND STS-8
Dr. Norman Thagard and Dr. William Thornton have been added to the crew of STS-7 and STS-8, respectively. Thagard and Thornton, both physicians, have been added to assist in accomplishment of additional mission objectives. Neither have flown in space before. Thagard will join STS-7 Comnander Robert L. Crippen, Pilot Frederick H. Hauck, and Mission Specialists John M. Fabian and Dr. Sally K. Ride. The six-day mission is scheduled for launch in April 1983.
Thornton will join STS-8 Comnander Richard Truly, Pilot Daniel Brandenstein, and Mission Specialists Dale Gardner and Guion Bluford Jr. for the four-day mission to be launched in late June 1983. -mor e - Dec. 21, 1982 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
c r. . .1 “1 1- T -* Both Thagard and Thornton, mission specialists, will conduct medical tests to collect additional data on several physiological changes that are associated with the space adaptation syndrome. These tests will focus on the neurological system and are a con tinuation of the new approach to making inflight measurements which began on STS-4. These efforts are directed toward initiation of an inflight search for countermeasures and to provide a more complete under standing of the space adaptation syndrome.
-30- News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 8246
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
STS-6 BRIEFINGS AT JOHNSON
A series of background briefings for the sixth Space Shuttle mission will be conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 4 and 5, at the Johnson Space Center in
Houston. Several of these briefings will be conducted at Johnson by Marshall Space
Flight Center project officials. They will discuss Marshall's role in the upcoming mission.
News media representatives in the Huntsville area may view these briefings over closed-circuit television at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Two-way audio will enable participants at Marshall to ask questions directly of the briefers.
Also scheduled is the final pre-mission press conference with the STS-6 astronaut crew on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 1:00 p.m. CST. The first flight of the Orbiter Challenger will be crewed by Paul J. Weitz, commander; Karol J. Bobko, pilot; and Donald H. Peterson and Dr. Story Musgrave, mission specialists.
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December 30,1982
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1976) - - .- .I 1 A schedule of briefings follows:
Tuesday, Jan. 4
8:OO a.m. CST STS-6 Flight Director's Briefing
9:00 a.m. Spacesuit and Extravehicular Activity (EVA)
1O:OO a.m. NASA Crew Flight Health Policy ll:OO a.m. Getaway Specials (3) kO0 p.m. STS-6 Crew News Conference Remainder of afternoon reserved for crew interviews (at JSC only)
Wednesday, Jan. 5
8:30 a.m. STS Changes - New Orbiter, Lightweight Tank*, Lighter Weight Booster*, Space
Shuttle Main Engine*
9:30 a.m. Inertial Upper Stage* 1O:OO a.m. Experiments* - Monodisperse Latex Reactor, Nighttime/Daytime Optical Survey of Lightning and Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System
ll:OO a.m. Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System
(TD RSS )
* Marshall Space Flight Center Briefers
For additional information, please contact the Marshall Public Information Branch at
205/453-0034.
1 T -- National Aeronautics and Space Adminisrration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Nabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Dave Drachlis For Release: Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-1
SPACELAB 1 EXPERIMENTS INSTALLED IN MODULE
Racks containing a variety of scientific experiments that will be conducted on the first mission of Spacelab were installed in the can-like shell of the reusable space
laboratory’s habitable module during December. ..+
””. ~ Installation of the ratiis, which occurred at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., marked the transition to a new phase of Spacelab 1 payload integration and brought the international space laboratory facility a step closer to its scheduled September 1983 maiden mission aboard the Space Shuttle. tfDuring the previous phase (referred to as Level IV integration) all Spacelab 1 experiments were brought together in one place for the first time, checked out and assembled into a complete payload,” explained Harry Craft, Spacelab 1 mission manager at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Experiments requiring direct exposure to space, were mounted on the Spacelab pallet, a U-shaped support structure. Other experiments, not requiring direct exposure, were installed in their racks which were then attached to the floor of the laboratory’s habitable module. Level IV integration culminated with a Mission Sequence Test, which verified the compatibility of experiments with each other and with simulated -more- Jan. 5,1983
MSFC ~ Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1 i I I" Spacelab support subsystems, explained Craft. The Mission Sequence Test was the first si' simulation of major segments of the Spacelab 1 mission using the actual experiments and p' r portions of the laboratory itself. - The current phase of integration, known as Level III/II, began with installation of the workshop floor and racks in the module. Next, the pallet with its experiments will be
moved into place behind the habitable module. Then the payload will be checked out
again, this time with the actual Spacelab subsystems that will suppcrt it during the
flight. After completion of Level III/II integration, Spacelab will be installed in the
payload bay of the orbiter for the ninth flight of the Space Shuttle.
The Spacelab facility was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) as Europe's contribution to NASA's Space Transportation System. Spacelab's first mission is
a joint venture of ESA and NASA, with each contributing a share of the more than 70
experiments to be conducted during the nine-day flight. The Marshall Space Flight
Center is responsible for monitoring development activities in Europe and for managing
the first three Spacelab missions. Engineering teams from both ESA and NASA have
been participating in integration activities at the Kennedy Space Center.
-30- News . National Aeronautics and 1 Space Administration '* .+ 1' Gcar.~aC. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: David Garrett Headquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIATE (Phone: 2 02/7 55-3 0 90) Also released in Lyn Cywanowicz Washington, D. C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (Phons: 2 O5/453-0 0 34
RELEASE NO: 83-2
SECOND FLIGHT READINESS FIRING SCHEDULED
A second flight readiness firing (FRF) of the Space Shuttle Challenger's Main PropuLcion System has been scheduled for the end of January 1983. This will result in approxiniately one month delay in the currently scheduled launch of STS-6. The decision to conduct a second FRP resulted from data analysis following the initial test firing conducted on Dec. 18, 1982. This revealed a high level of gaseous hydrogen In the aft compartment which was of concern.
Sirice the first engine test firing, numerous leak checks have been conducted and several minor leaks have been repaired. These included an external leak which developed
when a cooling tube split in the number three engine nozzle.
"All data has been carefully analyzed and we have determined that a confirming
flight readiness firing is the prudent course", said Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson, NASA
Associate Adminkstrator for Space Flight. "This confidence test is planned for approxi-
mately the end of January and will result in a STS-6 launch at about the end of February. A specific launch date will be announced later." -30-
Jan. 7,1983
MSFC Form 2914-18 (Augur? 1976) - _- -. - 1- 1- - CC l-- WANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: James Kukowski Headquarters, Washington, D. C. IMMEDIATE Phone: 202/755-3090 Also released in Lyn Cywanowicz Washington, D. C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. Phone: 205/453-0034 RELEASE NO: 83-4
SECOND TEST FIRING OF CHALLENGER ENGINES SET FOR JAN.25
A second on-the-pad test firing of the Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger's main propulsion system is scheduled for no earlier than 1O:OO a.m., CST, Jan. 25. The decision to conduct another Flight Readiness Firing was made after a thorough analysis of data from the initial test firing of the Challenger's main engines conducted at Kennedy Space Center on Dec. 18, 1982. The data analysis revealed the presence of a high level of gaseous hydrogen in the new spaceship's aft compartment. A thorough review of the data resulted in a decision by NASA officials on Jan. 7 to conduct the second test. The objective of the test is to determine whether the hydrogen gas detected during the initial test was from a source external or internal to the aft compartment and to determine as closely as possible the location of the leakage if it is inside the orbiter's aft compartment. -more-
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) Jan. 21, 1983 1 1' f r. T -. Special instrumentation has been installed in and around Challenger's aft fuselage to provide the data needed. Instrumentation includes additional hydrogen leak detectors, pressure sensors and gas sampling devices.
-30-
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS NASA and contractor engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center will monitor this countdown and engine firing just as they normally do on an actual launch day. The Marshall Press Center in building 4207 will be open at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday to provide news media representatives with information on the Marshall-developed Shuttle propulsion systems and the engine firing. Television of the firing and activities in the support center will be available in the Press Center.
Approximately 30 minutes after the firing, a Marshall official will be available to answer media questions in the Press Center. Media representatives planning to attend the FRF activities or needing additional information should contact the Marshall Public Affairs Office at 205-453-0034. I News National Aeronautics and Space Administration Gemge C. Marshall Space Right Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: David Garrett IrJHMEDIATE H eadquarters, Washington, D.C. ( Phone: 202/755-3090) Also released in Washington, D. C. John Lawrence Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas (Phone: 713/483-5111) Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-6
CKEWS NAMED FOR STS-11 AND STS-12
Astronaut crews for the 11th and 12th Space Shuttle flights were announced today by NASA. Both flights will be comnanded by veterans of earlier Space Shuttle missions--STS-11 by Vance D. Brand, who comanded STS-5 in November 1982 and STS-12 by Henry W. Hartsfield, pilot of STS- 4 in June 1982.. Brand's crew includes Robert L. Gibson, pilot; and mission specialists Bruce McCandless, 11, Robert L. Stewart and Dr. Ronald E. McNair. STS-11 is scheduled for launch in January 1984. It will be ,the fifth flight of the orbiter, Challenger, and will be a seven- day flight featuring the launch of an Indonesian comnunications satellite. -more- February 4, 1983
USFC - Form 2914-18 (AUQIJW 1975) ZC _-~ - f Y- T- With Hartsfield on STS-12 will be Michael L. Coats, pilot; and mission specialists Dr. Judith A. Resnik, Dr. Steven A. Hawley and Richard M. Mullane. A sixth crewmember may be named at a later date under NASA's new policy that allows major customers to provide a payload specialist to enhance mission success probabilities. STS-12 is to be launched in March 1984. It would be the first flight of the orbiter, Discovery. Principal feature of the five-day mission will be deployment of the third Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. -30- .- - News National Aeronauticsand Space Administratron- George C. Marshall Space FIighKbnter Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
David Garrett Headquarters, Washington, D. C. (Phone: 202/755-3098) Also released in Washington, D. C. Lyn Cywanowi’cz Marshall Space Plight Center, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO:, 83-7
SRB FACILITY ANNOUNCEMENT
NASA management today released the following statement concerning the location of a solid rocket booster (SRB) refurbishment and assembly facility: Various; studies and assessments have shown that the current space available for SRB operations in the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) would not support the high production rates required in the 1986 and later time frame. Further, the VAB, with its mobile launch platform stacking operations and lack of environmental control, does not lend itself to the efficient factory operation that SRE3 refurbishment requ i res . . For sometime, MAhas pursued alternate locations in the vicinity of the Kennedy launch site. This included relocating to a complex oti government property at Kennedy or the Canaveral Air Force Statim and an off-site location near the Kennedy Center. All these locations bad problems. -more-
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 19751 .F”h.Eua su -d lap 9 .. -. - - 7 .- T -‘ Therefore, the search for a suitable location was widened and recently NASA examined partially empty industrial facilities that were used to build Saturn rockets at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. -_ --_ -
NASA management will continue to explore all options to determine which location is the most cost-effective as well as the option that best lends itself to recompeting the contract. Every aspect of the final decision on location of the SRB facilities will be responsibly weighed over the next few weeks. The final decision will be announced in early March.
-30- NEANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration :.r , George C. Marshall Space flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (2 0 5/4 5 3-00 34)
RELEASE NO: 83-9
NASA TO TEST IMPROVED BOOSTER PARACHUTES
The first in a series of three "drop tests" planned to check out improvements of the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster's deceleration system is scheduled to begin late this week at the National Parachute Range, China Lake, Calif. According to Royce Mitchell, technical assistant to the manager of the Solid
Rocket Booster Project at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., the three tests are designed to validate the use of larger parachutes for the boosters. The parachutes are used to slow the boosters' rate of descent prior to impact into the ocean.
The boosters are then recovered and refurbished for use on a later flight.
The parachute system currently consists of a small pilot chute, a drogue chute and
three main parachutes which are 115 feet in diameter. The new main parachutes will be
136 feet in diameter.
"By using the larger main parachutes we will reduce the velocity of the boosters
at water impact from 89 feet-per-second to about 75 feet-per-second. This will relieve
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Feb. 22,1983
MSFC ~ Form 2914-18 (August 1975) ,. 1' . the structural loads on the booster at impact by approximately 25 percent and reduce the amount of localized impact damage which occurred during the Shuttle's flight test phase," said Mitchell. The drop tests will be performed using a test article which is one third the size of a booster and one full scale parachute. The test article will be attached to a modified B-
52 aircraft, from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Facility in California, and flown to an altitude of approximately 20,000 feet. After the aircraft releases the test article over the parachute range, both ground-based and chase aircraft will film the mock-booster's descent. "The tests will provide us with the necessary data for evaluating design, deployment processes and parachute performance,11said Mitchell. ??Thetesting and evaluation should be completed later this year and we expect to begin using the larger parachutes by mid-1984.
The booster's deceleration system was designed by Martin Marietta Corporation,
Denver, Colo. under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center. The parachutes are provided by Pioneer Parachute Co. of Manchester, Conn.
-30- NEANews National Aeronautics and Space Administratton George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Carl Jones Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (20 5 /453-00 34)
RELEASE NO: 83-11
MARSHALL CENTER HOSTS SHUTTLE STUDENT PROJECT CONFERENCE
The Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., will host a conference this
month for semifinalists from two of the 10 regions in the Shuttle Student Involvement
Project competition, a joint effort of NASA and the National Science Teachers
Association.
The conference will be held March 28 and 29 for student experimenters from regions IV and VI. Region IV is comprised of Alabama, Canal Zone, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and the Virgin Islands. Region VI is comprised of
Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. Forty semifinalists from the two regions, and their teachers, will attend the two-
day conference at Marshall to present their proposed experiments to fellow semifinalists,
Marshall representatives and industry scientists. This is the third year Marshall has hosted the conference.
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March 7,1983
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1' Among the semifinalists from Region IV are three from Alabama. They are
Constantine N. Costes, an eleventh grade student at Randolph School, Huntsville; James
A. Jenkins, an eleventh grade student at Bradshaw High School, Florence, Ala.; and John
H. Timberlake, a ninth grade student at Dadeville High School, Dadeville, Ala. A total of 200 semifinalists were selected for the IO regions. From the 200 semifinalists, 20 proposals will be selected on the basis of scientific or engineering merit for potential flight aboard the Space Shuttle. These 20 national winners and their teachers will attend a special educational conference at the Kennedy Space Center late this summer. All competition entrants will receive a certificate of participation.
To become R semifinalist, students first submitted proposals to their high school science teachers for review and screening for adherence to the competition rules. The teachers then submitted eligible projects to the National Science Teachers Association for consideration. These proposals were grouped into the 10 geographic regions and reviewed at the regional levels by teams of teachers, scientists and engineers.
The objective of the National Shuttle Student Involvement Project is to stimulate the study of science and technology in grades 9 through 12 by engaging students in a comDetition to develop payload experiments suitable for flight aboard the Space Shuttle.
Since the first year of the project in 1981, six student experiments have already been conducted aboard the Shuttle, and four more have been manifested on upcoming flights. -30-
1' 25th Anniversbry National Aeronaufrcs Jnd 1958-1983 Space kdminiqtration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Spacr' iliqht (:en;er Alab,jri%i ,158 12 AC 205 453 0034
For Release Lyn Cywanowi cz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. I MME 11 I ATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 53-12
MORE POWKFUL SHUTTLE BOOSTEES TO BE TESTED
A test firing of a high performance development motor for the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster is scheduled for Thursday, March 17. The motor has been redesigned to increase the initial thrust of the Shuttle boosters at liftoff, providing the Shuttle with an increased payload-carrying capability. According to Larry Wear, Chief of the Solid Rocket Motor Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., the successful completion of Thursday's test will qualify the high performance motors for flight. The first use of the more powerful motors is scheduled €or the eighth Shuttle mission which will be flown this sumner. "The thrust increase was achieved in several ways," said Wear.. "We increased the length of the nozzle exit cone and decreased the throat diameter to produce an increased expansion
-more March 14, 1983
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975) - ___-_.. 1. ratio. We have also increased the burn surface of the propellant by removing some of the inhibiter iised at the ends of the four center motor segments." These changes will provide about four percent more thrust at liftoff, which translates into a payload- carrying increase of about 3000 pounds. The motors currently in use deliver almost 2.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
Two of the giant solid rocket boosters, of which the motor is the major component, provide approximately 75 percent of the Shuttle's thrust from liftoff through the first two minutes of flight. After their propellant has burned out, the boosters separste from the Shiittle and parachute into the ocean where they are recovered And returned tu Kennedy Space Center, Fla. They are then refurbished and reused on siihscquent Shuttle missions.
Motors for the Shuttle's solid rocket boosters are develoDed, manufactured and tested by the Wasatch Division of Morton Thiokol Corp. under contrnct tn the Marshall Space Flight Center.
-30- Dave Urucfilis Marshall Space Flight Centcr, Ala. (20 5 /45 3-0 0 34)
RELEASE NO: 83-14
Management of thc Astro prcgrnm - A series of Spacclab 8stronoiny -.- missions scheduled for flight aboard the Space Shuttle beginning in 1966 - has been transferred to the hlarshall Space Flight Cmter, Huntsville, Ala. .. / Transfer of tlie progwni, formerly referred io es GSS Missions 3 thi*QLi;;ii 7) from the Goddard Spnc~Flight Center, Xd., began late last yew, and was ret:$h1)tly coinpleted, according to Leon B. Allen, Marshs.ll's Astro mission manager. "l\'c~ are presently in the process of completing design of the scientific instrumcrits fat. the missicri, 2nd arc dcsigning instrument support syzterns," Allen said. "A revi~w of the prcliminAry design of the total payload is scheduled for June.
"The move to rllarshull was nccessitsted by a requirement for an interr>rd resources reallocation at Goddard," Allen explained. ' \Ye were the most likely
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March 23, 1983
r- r- - - candidate to receive the program, bcea!iqe of cIw experimw irr mr9hl;q.i~gSpr!wlnb missions, and bec~irsewe alrenclv had been assigned !3tspon:::biiity for firmlyticol integre tion of the p~yload.~'
The Astro program consists of three, seven- dsy f!$,!:f- of A t :1I'C~~\-teJeSCOI,E ultraviolet astronomy instrument p~c>kqy.The first flight is wh::trtileb fm 1nu:ich in March 1966, with reflights of the p:ickqc in Octoixr IOCC t:~diri July of 1S97.
The three flight program will enable scientist:, to sample 3;;jwts disirituted around the entire celestial sphere, somethin;; tirat ccxlcl r,oI bri accon-~pkiied during a single mission, according to Allen.
"The Astro instruments should provide unprerzdeni e4 fidvant; study of hot stars, gdaxies, quasars, su~ernovo.rernrinnts ~4the inter stclitr mediiim," explainEd Dr. Theodore GcU, Astro mission scimtist, at GoddtLrd. "On: seven-dav Astro miqsion may provide us with AS rnuch rww dntn on tlle ~~ltr*aviolet emission of astronomical sources, 8s previous astronomy mtellites hnve provided in several years."
"Thesc instruments are also vcrv useful tsols with which lo stud] cornels," said Allen. "Therefore, during the first flight these instruments will be used to observe Iialley's Comet HS well. A wide-field camera, selected io rccaord faint cometary tails, wirl also fly os part of the pnckage for the firsi missimi."
The telescopes and camera will be mounted to an Instrument Pointing
System (IPS) now being developed for the Spaceleb 2 iiiission. To provide the necessary pointing stability for Astro, the IPS will be supplemented by Fin Image
Motion Compensation System. The pointing system will be mounted to two
-more- t
tandem Spacelab pallets - x?ructures that support Spacclnb pnyloads in the
. Shuttle cargo boy tlmt require direct cxpmwe to space. Paylond support
subsystems will bc how~din n can-slipped, pressurized corltaincr ccilled an igloo.
The three Rstronomg irxtrumeni:: we: Ih:: Ficpkins Ultraviolet Tclcseopn,
provided by Johns T-lcplcins University, Dr. hrthipr Davidspil, principal investigator;
the Ultraviolet Irnqing Telcscopc, provided by the Goddhrd Sp:iec Flight Center,
Theodore Stecher, principal invc.;tiptor; and Chc TCisconsin Ultrnviolet
Photopolarimctry Experiment, provided by the University of Wisconsin, Dr. hrt’ridr
Code, principd iiivestizator. The wide field cnrnera is being provided by the
Marslid1 Center as P, f:iciIity instrument.
During the missions the effor!s of the principal investigators will he
supplemented by a grout>of guat observers to bc selected hy a competitive
process. ‘This will givc scic,i tists not directly iiivcjlved with the program 8n
opportunity to pi rticipate and increzx the science retim on the mission. Durinq
the first Astro fiight these guest observers will conduct investigctions relating to
Halley’s Comet. Other guest cbservers will be sclected to conduct additional
astronomy investigations darinq the second and third missions.
Instruments abowd the spacecraft will be opersled on orbit by a science
crew of two mission specialists, selccted from tlic? astronriiit corpsr arid Iwo
payload specialists, career scientists in the field of astronomy, selected by the
principal investiqators*
- 30 -
ZC IT’ - r- 1-- -- News 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and 1958-1983 Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: John B. Taylor Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0 031) Also released in Washington, D.C. Dave Garrett Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (20217 55-3 0 90) RELEASE NO: 83-21
IUS INVESTIGATION BOARD MEMBERS NAMED NationaI Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)and the United States Air Force (USAF)have named members of a joint anomaly investigation board to look into the Inertial Upper Stage (IUS) performance on STS-6. The IUS carried the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite from low Earth orbit to near geosynchronous position. The board will be chaired by Air Force Brigadier General Donald W. Henderson, Commander of the Space and Missile Test Organization at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Mr. Thomas J. Lee, Deputy Director of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), will be the NASA counterpart. Other board members are Air Force Colonel Lester S. McChristian, Jr., Air Force Colonel William Foster, Mr. Robert J. Parks, and Mr, Alton E. Jones. The purpose of the board will be to evaluate the circumstances and causes of
Tuesday’s IUS performance and to suggest courses of action to prevent recurrence. The board will hold its first meeting at USAF Space Division, (SD),Los Angela, Calif., on Thursday morning, April I, 1983. For further information contact Lt. Col. Herbert G. Baker, SD, Office of Public Affairs, area code 213-643-0030, or John Taylor MSFC, Office of Public Affairs, area code 205-453-0031. -30-
April 7,1983
MSFC Form 2914-18 (Augun 1975) - r.. ” f4 r- 7- - N 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics ana 1958-1983 Space Administration George C. Marshal! Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Terry Eddleman Marshall Space Flight- Center, Ala. IMWEDIATE (2051453-0034) Also released in Washington, D. C.
RELEASE NO: 83-24
PRESIDENT ORDERS NATIONAL SPACE STATION STUDY
NASA announce today that President Reagan has asked the Senior Interagency Group
for Space to conduct a stu y'to establsh the basis for an Administration decision on whether to proceed with NASA development of a permanently based, manned space station. The interagency group, which is chaired by the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, William P. Clark, will consider four example scenarios of possible approaches for the
continuation of this nation's manned space program, following completed development of the
Space Shuttle. These scenarios are: - Space Shuttle and Unmanned Satellites;
- Space Shuttle and Unmanned Platforms;
I Space Shuttle and an Evolutionary Space Station;
- Space Shuttle and a Fully Functional Space Station.
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April 11,1983
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
-1 The issues addressed by the study will include how a manned space station would contribute to the maintenance of U. S. space leadership and how a Liaison would best fulfill national and international requirements versus other possible means of satisfying them. Foreign policy and
national security implications and overall economic and social impacts will also be considered.
A working group, chaired by NASA and including State and Defense Department and
other representatives of the Senior Interagency Group for Space, has been established to
conduct this study. Results of the study will be presented to the Senior Interagency Group this fall prior to their presentation to the President.
-30- 25th Anniversary National Aeionautics and 1958-1983 Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Lyn Cywanowi cz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. INMEDIATE (%05/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-25
NASA SIGNS AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL SOLID ROCKET MOTORS
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has entered into a $393.9 million supplemental agreement with Morton Thiokol, Inc., Wasatch Division, Brigham City, Utah, to
produce Space Shuttle solid rocket motors for future Space Shuttle flights.
This contract agreement covers the production and delivery of solid rocket motors for
Space Shuttle flights STS-7 through STS-15, the refurbishment of motors flown on STS-1 through SIS-10, and reuseable metal parts to support the required deliveries and future requirements. The agreement also includes the additional tooling and incremental tool releases necessary to
support future solid motor production requirements of 24 Shuttle flights per year. The
supplemental agreement is an add-on to NASA's basic contract with Morton Thiokol for the development and production of Shuttle solid rocket motors. Solid rocket motors comprise the largest part of the Shuttle's solid rocket booster system. Two boosters are used to provide additional thrust during each Shuttle liftoff. After their propellant is spent, the boosters separate from the Shuttle and drop into the ocean on parachutes. They are then recovered and refurbished for use on future Shuttle flights.
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., is responsible for the design and production of solid rocket boosters. -30-
April 18,1983 MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975) -- . _- 1' T- T -* T- -- 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and ,, I. 199-1983 Space Administration George Marshall Space Flight C. Center ....- r- PAarshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-26
PATHFINDER CEREMONY
A full-scale Space Shuttle orbiter simulator is to be loaned to the America-Japan
Society, Inc., by the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., in ceremonies at the Center
Friday, April 22, at 10 a.m. CST. - "--**, Tbsimulator will be exhibited in several Japanese cities this year and through mid-1984 before being returned to Marshall.
Sometimes called the Pathfinder, the simulator was constructed at Marshall in 1977 as a stand-in for the orbiter Enterprise, which would become involved in mated vertical ground vibration testing at the Center. The simulator is nearly the same size and weight as the Enterprise. The America-Japan Society arranged to have the sirnulator refurbished. It had spent months in outside storage following its return from testing in Florida. The work included modifications to allow the simulator to be lightened and sectioned for shipment to Japan. The group will also fund transportation to and from Japan.
Attending the ceremony will be officiab representing the Marshall Center, America- Japan Society and its Great Space Shuttle Exhibition Organizing Committee, and Japanese news media.
-more-
April 19,1983 MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975) __ T" 7' r- I T- NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DlRECTOKS
News media representatives planning to attend the handcrver ceremony should arrive at the Marshall Public Affairs Office, Bldg. 4200, Room 101, no later than 9:40 a.m. on Friday,
April 22. They will be escorted to the ceremony site, approximately two miles away.
In addition, a post-fight press confereiie with the astronaut crew of the recent sixth
Space Shuttle mission will be held at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, on April 22 at 1 p.m. CST. HuntsvilIe area media may view the conference over closed-circuit television at the Marshall Center. Two-way audio will enable participants at Marshall to ask questions directly of the astronauts. -30- ,i( %".. .
1' 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and 1958-1983 Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Fhyht Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Dave Drachlis Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. INJMEDIATE (2051453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-28
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
Spacelab 1 crew members, scientists, and members of the mission management team, will participate in two, day-long training simulations at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., Thursday and Friday April 28 and 29. The purpose of the simulations is to help prepare flight and ground payload crews for the first flight of Spaceleb, the reusable, modular scientific research facility, that will be carried in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle orbiter. The first mission will be aboard the ninth Shuttle flight scheduled for launch September 30. During the simulations, the payload caew will operate experiments in a mockup of the space laboratory while scientists and mission management team members direct and support the simlated mission from consoles in a mock Payload Operations Control Center. During the simulation, participants will practice activities scheduled for day three of the nine-day -more- April 22, 1983 1' l- ICI T- Spacelab 1 mission. The simulation will begin at 6 a.m. and end
6:30 p.m. Thursday. It will be repeated on Friday. News media covering the simulations will be afforded an
ZaYI sfl opportunity to monitor the simulation via audio and video. circuits from the Marshall Center Public Affairs Office in Building 4200, beginning at 8 a.m. both days. Additionally, the press will be able to observe and photograph Spacelab crew activities through a special viewport in the mockup; and mission support activities in the control center from an adjacent viewing room. Interviews with mission management can be arranged upon request. For additional information please contact Dave Drachlis, Marshall Center Public Affairs Office, at (205) 453-0034.
-30- .-IuI\sANews 25th Anniversnr y National Acron;rrltics md 1958 - 1983 Space AdminisIralion George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Mi~r~,hallSpac:ca I Iiqt~t(krWr Alabama 35812 AC 705 4'>'< 00'34
For Release Tim Tyson Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. I NWIEII I A'I'E (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-30
REPAIR OF SOLAR MAXIMUM MISSION SPACECRAFT srwi,ArF:i~
Astronauts for the thirteenth Space Shuttle mission simulated making repairs last
week to a mockup of the Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft in the huge neutral buoyancy
facility at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
The repair simulation was necessary to develop techniques to repair the
spacecraft in early 1984. The mission is to be the first attempt to fix a spacecraft in
orbit.
Launched on Feb. 14, 1980, the Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft operated
successfully for 10 months making importnnt observations of solar flares ond providing
new insights into the physics of thRt solar activity.
Since early 1981 it has been slowly spinning in orbit at a rate of one revolution
every six minutes after fuses were blown open on three of four attitude control
mom ent u m wheels.
During the repRir mission, astronauts will replace the 500-pound attitude control
subsystem nnd the main electronics box on the coronagraph/polarimeter instrument.
Time permitting, other rninor repairs to other instruments will be made.
-more
May 4, 1983
MSFC F3rrrl 7914 18 (AIIO(IPI19751
1. 1' T" Several members of the Shuttle astronauts corps from the Johnson Space Center in tlouston, Texas, took part in the underwater repair simulation in the 40-foot-deep
Neutral Buoyancy Simulator. Dr. George D. Nelson, the lead astronaut on the repair, and
STS-13 mission pilot Francis R. Scobee wore spacesuits to experience the physical restraints the space environment may pose to the repair crew.
Working underwater duplicates working in the weightlessness of space.
Nelson and crew member Dr. James D. van Hoften will make the actual repairs.
The Marshall Center's Dr. Ernie H ildner, a co-investigator on the spacecraft's failed coronograph/polarimeter, watched the mock repairs underwater during part of the si m ula ti ons.
"I was very impressed at how feasible the simulation made it seem," he said. "The simulation made rne more optimistic about the success of the endeavor." Hildner is chief of the Solar Physics Branch in the Center's Space Science Laboratory.
Despite the malfunction of the guidance system, three of the seven instruments on board have continued to make some measurements.
Also during the simulations, astronaut Bruce McCandless donned a spacesuit and practiced using an underwater version of a Mannued Maneuvering Unit. During the mission, Nelson will strap on a maneuvering unit and travel 300-feet froin the Shuttle orbiter to the revolving spacecraft. Nelson is to dock, stabilize the spacecraft md attach a grappling device to the Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft. The orbiter will then move in, capture it with the Remote Manipulator Arm, snd place the spacecraft in the orbiter cargo bay where repairs will be conducted.
After the repairs are completed, the spacecraft will be released and stabilized in a 285-nautical-mile orbit. Scientists hope the spacecraft will once again be able to exercise its unique capability to lock onto the sun, thus providing B stable platform to allow the instruments to take precise mertsurements.
-30- NASA News 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and 1958-1983 Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Right Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034) Also released in Washington, D. C.
RELEASE NO: 83-32
LAUN(2-I DATE SET FOR STS-'7
The seventh flight of the Space Shuttle, which will also be the second flight of the orbiter Challenger, is scheduled for launch from the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on June 18, 1983, at 6:33 a.m. CDT.
The six-day flight of the Space Shuttle will be highlighted by the first landing at Kennedy
Space Center. It will occur at approximately 5:53 a.m. CDT on June 24, 1983.
Challenger's crew will consist of commander Robert Crippen, the first two-time Shuttle astronaut; pilot Frederick H. Hauck; and three mission specialists: Dr. Sally K. Ride, the first American woman to go into space, John Fabian and Dr. Norman E. Thagard. During the mission, Challenger will deploy the Indonesian PALAPA B and Canadian
ANIK C communications satellites. The mission will also feature the first deployment and retrieval of a payload using the Remote Manipulator Arm. A platform for space experiments called the Shuttle Pallet Satellite (SPAS) will be used in the maneuvers. Challenger will also serve as a spaceborne laboratory for OSTA-2, a scientific payload managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center. Getaway Special canisters and materials processing experiments will fill out the complement of payloads on the STS-7 mission. -30-
May 11,1983
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 19751
1' 1- 1 '* r -- NE!News 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and 1958-1983 Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release:
David Garrett IMMEDIATE NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/755-3090) Mark Hess Kennedy Space Center, Fla. (Phone: 305/867-2468) Lynda Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. (Phone: 205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-33
NASA TO RECOMPETE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY OONTRACT
NASA announced today it will recompete the booster assembly contract (BAC), which encompasses the refurbishment, assembly and checkout of Shuttle solid rocket boosters. The competition will not include the solid rocket motors, under a separate contract to Morton Thiokol, Inc. The decision reflects NASA's efforts to find, through the competitive bidding process, the most effective and efficient means of processing SRBs. It also moves the agency another step toward the goal of reducing the cost-per-flight of the Space Shuttle.
May 18, 1983 - more -
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
7 1- 7 .- T -- The successful bidder will be required to construct a Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Refurbishment Facility at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., to handle SRB operations now conducted in the low bay of the Vehicle Assembly Building and other outlying facilities. This new facility will ultimately become the property of the U.S. Government. The first production hardware from the facility should be available in 1986. A request for proposals is expected to be released in the fall of this year, with the successful bidder to be on-board in mid-1984. Prospective bidders will be invited to send on-site assessment teams to the Kennedy Center to view current processing activities to aid in the preparation of their bids. Advantages to NASA of recompeting the booster assembly contract are: maximum contractor self-determination that will promote innovative ideas and spark increased productivity at reduced costs; minimize initial government investment; allow a transition into a new facility before reaching high launch rates; and reduce the government's role in the design and construction of the SRB Refurbishment Facility. Work under the current BAC contract is performed by United Space Boosters, Inc., Huntsville, Ala., under the direction of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. -30- IWEANews 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and 1958-1983 Space Ad mi n 1st ration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Lyn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (Phone: 205/453-0034)
David Garrett Headquarters, Washington, D. C. (Phone: 202/755-3090) John Lawrence Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas (Phone: 7131483-5111)
RELEASE NO: 83-34
ASTRONAUT RECRUITMENT PLANNED ?HIS YEAR
The first of what will become an annual selection of Space Shuttle astronauts will
begin later this year, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Agency anticipates openings for six pilots and six mission specialists in the near future. Pilot-astronauts are responsible for control of Space Shuttles during launch, re- entry and other required maneuvers, and for maintenance of flight systems. Mission
specialists' responsibilities include management and operation of Shuttle systems that
support payloads during flight.
Applications from civilians will be accepted between Oct. 1 and Dec. I, 1983. Selections will be made in the spring of 1984 and successful candidates will report to work that summer. -more- May 18,1983
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1 Later this month, the military services will begin screening their candidates for nomination to NASA. Minimum qualifications for pilot-astronauts are: * A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological or physical science, or mathematics, * At least 1,000 hours flying time as a pilot in command of high-performance jet aircraft. Flight test experience is highly desirable,
* Ability to pass a NASA Class I space flight physical examination, which is similar to military and civilian flight physicals,
* Height between 64 and 76 inches. Mission specialist astronauts, minimum qualifications are: * A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological or physical science, or mathematics, * Degree must be supplemented by at least three years related professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for the experience, * Abilitv to Dass a NASA Class II sDace flight physical examination, which is similar to militaryand civilian flight physical&
* Height between 60 and 76 inches.
NASA has an affirmative action goal f including qualifi d minoriti s and women among the newly selected candidates.
The number of candidates to be recruited in subsequent selection periods will vary, depending upon mission requirements and the rate of attrition in the existing astronaut corps.
-30-
T -- News National Aeronautics and 25th Anniversary Space Administration 1958-1983 George C. Marshall Space flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: David Garrett Headquarters, Washington, D.C. INMEDIATE (Phone: 202/755-3090) Also released in Washington, D. C. Terry Eddleman Macsha11 Space Flight Center, AT, (Phone: 205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-38
SEORELAY SATELLITE DELETED FROM SHUTTLE FLIGIT 8
The second in a series of Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (“DRS), which had been scheduled for launch aboard orbiter Challenger in August 1983, has been officially deleted from the cargo list of the eighth Space Shuttle flight. The decision by NASA on the failure of the Inertial Upper S booster to
propel the first TDRS to deployment from Challenger on April 4 during the STS-6 mission. Reasons for the IUS anomaly and final corrective actions are under continuing evaluation by a joint Air Force and NASA Anomaly Investigation Board. Attempts are under way to gradually boost TDRS-A to the needed 35,890 kilometers (22.300 miles) circular orbit using the -more- May 27, 1983
MSFC Form_29(4-18 LAUpwt 1975) 1’ 1- T” T -- satellite's small attitude thrusters, which are fired on comnands sent by the TDRS ground station at White Sands, N.M. This effort has been highly successful to date, and the TDRS orbit perigee had been raised to 29,870 km (18,559 statute mi.) as of May 27, 1983. This leaves 5,915 km (3,675 mi.) of perigee altitude and 92 km (57 mi.) of apogee altitude remaining to place the satellite in its originally intended geosynchronous orbi t. A Payload Deployment and Retrieval System Test Article (PDRSTA), originally planned to be carried aboard Challenger on STS-11, will be loaded on STS-8 in place of TDRS-B. PDRSTA is a 4.6-by-4.9 meter (15-by-16-foot), 3,855-kilogram (8,500-pound) aluminum and stainless steel structure fitted with four grapple fixtures . The test article simulates a large-mass payload, such as the remote manipulator system robot arm, for flight-testing. The purpose of the tests are to evaluate elbow, wrist and shoulder joint reaction to higher loads and to gain crew experience in operating the 15.2-m (50-ft.) long Canadian-built mechanical arm. Unaffected by STS-8 cargo changes is the Indian National Satellite 1 (INSAT-l), a comnunication and meteorological geosyn- chronous satellite to be carried by Challenger for the Indian Department of Space. INSAT-1 will be boosted from Challenger's 322 km (174-nautical mi.) orbit to geosynchronous altitude by a Payload Assist Module-D (PAM-D), the type that successfully boosted a Canadian comnunications satellite and a Satellite Business Systems payload from STS-5 last November. -30-
- T- -T r- NASA News ?51h Aririversary Nalional Aeronautics and 1958 -1983 Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Lyn Cywanowicz For Release Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83P-46 NEGATIVE NO: 3-35314
SHUTTLE TANKS IN FINAL ASSEMBLY
Shown here are the Space Shuttle external tanks that will fly on missions 11, 12, and 13. This is the first time that as many as three tanks have been in final assembly at the same time, a prelude to future increases in yearly production goals. The tanks are built by the Michoud Divisi’on of’Martin - Marietta Aerospace at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, near New Orleans under the direction of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. External tanks, 154.2 feet long, and 27.5 feet in diameter, carry a combined total of over 526,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and oxygen that fuel the Space Shuttle’s three main engines. -30-
June 30, 1983
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975) - - 1. 1- -7 - T-
NAS/\ News 25 National Aeron,iutlcs ,iritl Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Carl Jones For Release Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (20 5/4 5 3-00 34)
RELEASE NO: 83-48
AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WORKING AT THE MARSHALL CENTER THIS SUMMER
Fifteen high school students are working with scientists and engineers at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., this summer under a program designed to give them hands-on experience in the world of science and technology. The federally funded program - the Senior High School Apprenticeship Research Program - is intended to encourage bright students to pursue careers in technical fields.
The Marshall Center received 15 of the 135 student slots allocated to NASA under the program. The students were nominated by high school principals or counselors in the Madison County area and selected by Marshall managers who screened applications and interviewed the students.
"All the students selected displayed a strong background in math and science with interests in science and engineering," said George Newby, Marshall program coordinator. Students will conduct experiments, work individually on research projects assigned to them, or assist in projects already in progress. Each student is assigned to a Marshall engineer or scientist who acts as his or her adviser during the program. "A vital element to the success of the program is the relationship between the students and their advisers,11said Newby. "The advisers help the students learn about scientific technology in a real-world setting, and this exposure offers the students valuable insight into career opportunities." -more- July 13,1983
MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 1975)
1 At the end of the summer students will prepare formal reports on their work at Marshall. They will present their reports to an audience of parents; advisers; high school teachers, counselors and principals; and Center officials. The final presentation is the highlight of the summer program for the students, according to Evalyn Humphry, student faculty coordinator.
This summer's program will end Aug. 5.
Students participating in the program are: Robert Blake and Ashlie Gibbons of Oakwood College Academy; Everett Crawford and Maurice Davis of Lee High School; Sharon Ford, Brian Tibbs, and David Washington of Johnson High School; Pamela Johnson, George Malone, and Ben Schmid of Bob Jones High School; Karen Miller of Westminster Christian Academy; James King of Sparkman High School; Gordon Sacks and Janet Walker of Huntsville High School; and Wayne Teng of Randolph School.
Marshall Center employees serving as advisers for this summer's program are: John G. Austin Jr., Dr. Mary Helen Johnston, Harry M. King, and Roy A. Taylor of the Materials and Processes Laboratory; William L. Boglio, John C. Davis, and James Kaufmann of the Information and Electronic Systems Laboratory; Dr. Donald Frazier, Ernest H ildner, Edwin Reichman, and Hunter Waite of the Space Science 1,aboratory; Charles A. Cothran of the Systems Analysis and Integration 1,aboratory; Stanley H . Guest of the Systems Dynamics Laboratory; Jack C. Monk of the Structures and Propulsion Laboratory; and Eli G. Osborn of the Test Laboratory. -30-
-1 1' 1- T-- NASA News 25 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and 1958-1983 Space Ad ministration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center. Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453-0034
For Release Lvn Cywanowicz Marshall Space Fliqht Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (2 0 5 I4 5 3 -0 0 3 4) (Also released in Washinqton, DC)
RELEASE NO: 83-60
LOCKHEED WINS SHUTTLE PROCESSING CONTRACT -4T KENNEDY CENTER
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has selected Lockheed Soace Operations of Titusville, Fla., for final negotiation of a contract to oerform %ace
Shuttle launch and landing: activities at the Kennedv Soace Center (KSC) and on behalf of
the U. S. Air Force at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFR), including oDeration of related qround systems at both launch sites.
Fifteen contractors currently provide these services for NASA and the USAF.
The Shuttle Processing Contract (SPC) will consolidate these services into a sinqle
contractual arrangement that will oermit the Space Shuttle launch processing cvcle to
evolve from a research and development Dhase into an operational mode in which mission success and safety will continue to be achieved.
The initial transition phase of the contract will be on a cost-dus-award-fee
basis. Once this transition is COmDkted, the fee structure at both sites will become a cost-plusincentive-fee with an award fee feature. The initial contract period is three vears. The contract will contain one Driced threeyear ootion and three unpriced three- -more- September ?, 1983
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975)
1 1' 7 r- T -- vear options, for a total potential contract period of IS vears. Lockheed's Droposed cost
for the initial six-vear period is aooroximatelv $7 billion.
Lockheed proooses to maintain stahilitv and continuitv by hiring a larpe
percentaqe of emplovees currentlv performing the same or similar work at KSC. The
contractor oroposes a substantial qoal for Small and Disadvantaqed 8usiness par ticioation.
The SPC will be the second comnrehensive contract award olanned 5v NXSA. The
first, the KSC Base ODerations Contrwt fSOC) was awarded to EG+G in December 19q3.
The overall contract for Shuttle orocessing services rvill be administered !,v NASA
and will contain separate statements of work for KSC and VAFB which will be mfina(r4 by NASA/KSC and the USAF, respectively.
Requests for proposals were originallv mailed to 71 comnanies and ?O additional companies received cooies of the RFP. Informational cooies were mailed to seven labor reoresentives.
Two companies submitted proposals. VRjor subcontractors of Lockheed are Grumman Technical Services, Inc.; Morton-Thiokol, Inc.; and Pan-American World
Services, Inc. Rockwell Shuttle Ooerations, Inc., also submitted a proposal supoorted bv
!3oeiny Services International, Martin Yarietta Launch Services Corn., USBI Launc'7.
Services Corm and United Airlines Aerosoace Services Co.
- 30 - NASANews 25th Anniversary National Aeronautics and 1958-1983 Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 3581 2 AC 205 453-0034
For Release: Lyn Cywanowi cz Marshall Space Fliqht Center, Ala. INMEDIATE (20s /453-0034)
RELEASE NO: 83-61
NOTE TO EDITORs/NEWS DIRECTORS
A post-flight pews conference with STS-8 astronauts Richard Truly, Daniel Brandenstein, Dale Gardner, Guion Bluford and William Thornton will be held at 1 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Johnson Space Center, Houston. News media representatives in the Huntsville area may view the news conference over closed-circuit television at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Two-way audio will enable Darticipants to ask questions directlv of the astronauts. For additional information, please contact the Marshall Pub 1 i c I nf orma t i on I3 ranch at 20 S -45 3 -0034. -30 -
Sept. 9, 1983
MSFC Form 2914-18 (August 1975) -1 NKANews National Aeronautics and Space Administratlon George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034
Terrv M. Eddleman For Release: Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205 /4S3-O034)
RELEASE NO: 83-63
NASA ISSUES ANNOUNCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ADVANCED X-RAY OBSERVATORY
NASA has just released an "Announcement of Opportunitvl' to invite scientists around the world to propose telescopic instruments and ways they could be used on a proposed' X-ray observatorv in space. Known as the Advanced X-Ray Astrophysics Facility, or "AXAF," and currently under stuw at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., this orbiting telescope could be launched by the early 1990s. Participating scientists from universities, corporations and other institutions around the world will be separated into three categories under the announcement.
'Instrument PrinciDal Investigators" will describe to NASA the kinds of instruments they would want incorporated into the observatory.
'Telescooe Scientists" will propose the scientific investiqations they would want carried out using the X-ray telescope and ensure that the telescoDe and its related assemblies would be compatible with the scientific requirements of the mission. They will also provide scientific supDort during integration and calibration activities and assist in planning mission operations. - more -
Sept. 13,1983
MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) 1. 1- 7- T -- -2 -
"Interdisciplinarv Scientists" will maintain a broad and critical scientific overview of the development of the observatory and omvide advice on new develooments in related scientific fields that could have a ootential effect on the objectives of the telescope.
'The scientists will probably have a hiqh number of suqqestions on wavs to studv the X-rays," said Carroll Dailey, studv manaFer of the advanced observatory at the Marshall Center. "For examnle, a hish-resolution camera, one that qives verv sharp and detailed images, miqht be oroposed. Or thev could propose a low-resolution camera that wouldn't &e as much detail, but would have a wider field of view.
"Other ideas might include hiTh- Rn3 low-resolution spectroscopv instruments, which would study the soectrum of the X-rays much as we now study the sDectrum of visible lieht. The scientists mnv even propose Dolarimetrv devices, which woitlrl studv polarized X-ravs. In other words, there's a wide range of sugqestions the scientists mav send to us."
A sDecial NASA-chartered review group of Deer srtientists will evaluate the pronosed instruments and their uses before presenting their findinqs to NASA. The agency will then select the instruments for the ohservatorv after determining how thev
will he emoloved.
Interested scientists will meet at the Marshall Center on Oct. 3 to learn more about the AXAF proqram and the results of studies conducted over the Dast several years. This meetiw will nrovide them with necessarv backqround to prepare their proposals. The scientists will have until Oct. 14 to file an "intent to Dropose" an instrument idea to NASA, and until Feb. 17, 1984 to submit the full details of the sugqested instruments.
The observatorv would be the latest in 9 series of orbiting X-ray instruments that
date back to the Uhuru satellite launched in 197r). - more - -3 -
The advanced fmilitv, weichine about In tons and measurinq 14 b~ 4.1 feet, would
Drovide a substantial leap in X-rav astronomv. The observatorv would be used to studv X-ray emissions from essentiallv all known astronomical objects, ranqinq from nearbv stars to quasars at the end of the universe.
The X-ray telescope facilitv wortld succeed HEAO-7, the second Hicyh Energv
Astronomy Observatory launched in November 1978. This earlier observatorv obtained valuable data and discovered manv previouslv undetected X-rbv sources. The HEAO-2 restilts raised new scientific questions that AXAF, with tin to 100 times the sensitivitv of
HEAO-2, will Dossiblv be able to answer.
l-lEAO-9 siiccessfullv completed its mission in April 1981 and has since fallen from orbit and been destroyed in the wper atmomhere. "HEA0-9 Derformed exceptionallv well," said Dailev, "but there is a lonc cap betweerl the completion of HEAD-5's operation and the 5eqinning of the AXAF's. So we're all eaqer to see the more advanced Y-rav ohservatorv launched in the 1990s
3ecause of the scientific knowledqe to he qainecl."
The Marshall Center proposes to launch the advRnced X-ray facilitv in the %ace
Shuttle and deplov it in R 120-mile-hieh orbit, where it would be Deriodicallv maintained over its expected 15year life span.
The Marshall Center's work on the X-ray telescope is sDonsored bv the
4stronhysics Division of the Office of %ape Science and Aoplications at NASA
Headquarters in Washinqton.
- 3Q - NASA News Natioiial Aeroiiiic ilic:; arid Spaw Admir\istl For Release: Dave Drachlis Marshall Space Fliqht Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (2 0 5 /4 5 3 +lo 3 4) RELEASE NO: 83+7 NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS Media background briefimp for the SDacelab l/STS+I Shuttle mission will be held Oct. 3 and 4 at the Johnson Soace Center in Houston, Texas, and Oct. 5 at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Spacelab Davload specialists will be available Oct. S at the Marshall Soace Flight Center for interviews and photo oDportunities in Marshall's SDaCehb training mockup. At noon on the same dav there will be a briefing on the Spacelab activities planned for the joint AmericRn/European mission. Interviews will be conducted before and after the briefing. Preceeding the briefing: and interviews at the Marshall Soace Fliqht Center will be briefings at the Johnson %ace Center on the mission's fliplht plan, STS-9 svstems, Spacelab svstems md the Spacelab mission plan; an STS-9 flicht crew press conference; and round-robin interviews with the crew. -more- September 22,1953 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) - ' 1. l-- 1 *- T- The fliqht plRn briefing will he conducted hv lead flight director Chuck Lewis at I p.m. Oct. 3 in buildinr 2, room 135 at the Johnson Soace Center. The flight plan briefing will be followed the same day by the Spacelab and STS-9 svstems briefin? and the mission plan hriefinq. The following day, Oct. 4, the STS-S fliqht crew will hold a news conference at 9 a.m. Participating in the news conference will be commander John Yomu, nilot Rrewster Shaw, mission specialists Dr. Owen Garriott and Dr. Robert Parker, Einrl Dayload snecialists Dr. nvron Lichtenberq and Dr. Ulf Merbold. Round-robin interviews with the crew will begin after the Dress conference. News media renresentatives in the Huntsville area mav particioate in the hriefinqs on Oct. 3 and 4 over closed-circuit television at the Marshall Soace Fliqht Center. For additional information, contact the Marshall Space Flight Center Public Affairs Office at t?M) 457-0Q34. -yl- National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 Lyn Cywanowicz For Release: Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205/453-0034) Also released in Washington, D. C. RELEASE NO: 83-68 USBI AWARDED $248.9 MILLION FOLLOW-ON CONTRACT The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has awarded United Space Boosters, he. of Huntsville, Ala., a $248.9 million follow-on contract for work related to the Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters. The contract was signed Sept. 26 and encompasses the manufacture, refurbishment, assembly and checkout of the boosters for Shuttle flights 9 through 16. The contract does not include the solid rocket motors, which are under seperate contract to Morton Thiokol, Inc. The booster contract is a follow-on to NASA's original contract with United Space Boosters that went into effect in 1976. Two boosters are used to provide additional thrust during each Shuttle liftoff. After their propellant is spent, the boosters separate from the Shuttle and descend into the ocean on parachutes. They are then recovered and refurbished for use on future Shuttle flights. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville maintains management responsibility for the solid rocket booster project. -30 - Sept. 29,1983 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1976) . 7. 1' NASANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center . Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 3581 2 \I AC 205 453-0034 Carl Jones For Release. Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (20 5 /45 3 4 0 34) RELEASE NO: 8349 INFRARED TELESCOPE TESTING UNDER WAY Final assembl\r of the small Helium-Cooled Infrared Telescope has been completed and testing of the telescope has begun, according to Frank Park, chief engineer for the telescope at the Marshall Space Fliqht Center in Huntsville, Ala. .A ioint Droject of the Srnithsonian Astrophysical Ohservatorv, the Universitv of Arizona and the Marshall Center, the Infrared Telescope experiment is one of 13 experiments that comprise the Spacelah 2 mission. The major elements of the telescope, including a 2rin-liter liquid helium container called a "dewar" and a crvostat that contains a telescope CaDabh? of large area mapping of diffuse infrared radiation, were assembled by the Marshall Center's Test Laboratorv. The telescope will now unclerqo three-and-one-half months of testing, including handling gear and engineerinq model fit checks and electrical, crvqenic, accoustical, thermal and vacuum testing. The objectives of the tests are to verifv that all of the telescope's systems function 8s designed. The dewar, which will contain liairid helium at a temperature of approximately minus 457 deqrees Fahrenheit, is Dart of the cooling system that must maintain the infrared detectors at a super-cold temperature in order for the experiment to work. -more- Oct. 18, 1983 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) -1 The emeriment telescooe consists of a highlv baffled optical svstem with a Drimarv mirror cooled bv the helium Eras. The focal plane wrav consists of nine detectors which cover the far infrared sDectral reqion in four broad overlapping bands. 'Tinee the telescope will he scanninE newlv forming: stars and other faint sources of infrared, or heat, radiation, which is emitted even from cold objects, we have to make sure that the imtrrirnent doesn't measure infrared from within itself," said co-investigator Dr. Euqene Urban, chief of the Infrared Astronomv Branch of the Astrophvsics Division in the Marshall Center's Space Science Laboratorv. Consearientlv, vaoorixed helium, drawn from the liauid in the dewar and nearlv 8s cold as the liquid helium itself, will be circulated throuqh various channels of the telescope to keep the instrument new absolute zero - the coldest Dossible temperature and the temperature at which most rnolewlar action ceases. For certain periods durinq the mission, the telescone will continuously scan a 9fl deqree arc ahout an axis mrallel to the long axis of the Orbiter. The telescooe will be more than 5r)O times more sensitive observing objects in the 100 micron size range than balloon carried instruments, makine: possible extensive measurements of the auantitv, distribution and temneratiire of galactic gas and dust, according to Park. Objectives of the telescope experiment on its first flight are twofold. The orimarv encineering and technical objectives are to measure the induced environment aboirt the Shuttle orbiter makinq measurements of water, carbon dioxide and Other infrared molecules and dust imrticles in the near vicinitv of the orbiter; md, to demonstrate the abilitv to manqe a 1Rrw volume of sunerfluid helium in space. The prirnarv astroohvsical objective is to man extended sources of low surface hriqhtness infrared emissions in and kvond our galaxv. The Warshall Center is resmnsible for the design and develoDment of the structural, mechanical and crvopenic svstems for experiment inteqration and for testing. The Universitv of Arizona is responsible for desiqnine: the telescope and infrared detector svstem, and the Smithsonian Astronhvsical ObservRtorV is responsible for the data svstem, post mission data analysis and overall Droqram manaqement. -30- - News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 For Release: Dave DrRchlis Marshall Smce Fliqht Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (905 /A 5 2 -f)O 14) RELEASE NO: 83-79 NOTE TO EDI"ORS/NEWS DIRECTORS The historic nint+ fliqht of the Space Shuttle, STS-9/Snacelab 1, is scheduled for lnunch Nov. 58 at lfl a.m. Central Standard Time from the Kennerlv %ace Center, Fla. It will be a nine-rlav international research expedition and the maiden fliqht of SDaclelah, the Emmean $Dace Aqencv-develooed laboratorv. The Spacelab I mission, which is manaqed hv the Marshall Some Fliqht Center in Hitntsville, Ala., will he one of NASA's most amhitioils scientific research missions. More than 70 investiqntions in five research areas will be conducted durinq the fliqht, which is also beinq flown to test the lahoratorv facilitv itself. The mission will also mwk the first time that career wientists from outside NASA's astronaut corns will flv aboard a United States snacecraft to conduct their own research. Enclosed is material vou mav find helpful in nrepnrirp vow coveraqe of the mission. We will be nrovidinq more material as it becomes available. For additional information on the mission or how to best cover it, contact the Marsh11 Space Fliqht Center Public Affairs Office at 9flS/4SR4flR4. -30- Nov. 4, MA3 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1976) -1 News National Aeronautics and Space Ad ministration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 For Release: Terry Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (205 /453-O034) RELEASE NO: 83-73 NASA CENTER SELECTS BROWN AND ASSOCIATES MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INCORPORATED, FOR BASE MAINTENANCE SERVICES CONTRACT NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has selected Brown and Associates Management Services, Incorporated, for negotiation leading to the award of a new five-year contract to provide base maintenance services for the Center. Total cost for the first contract year is approximately $7.6 million. The company, located in Titusville, Fla., will furnish the necessary management, personnel, facilities and equipment required to provide these base maintenance services to Marshall. The services include facility operation and maintenance; renovation, modification, and construction; and instrumentation calibration. Marshall is the NASA center responsible for managing the development of the Space Shuttle main engines, solid rocket boosters and propellant tank, as well as the development and upcoming flights of the Spacelab orbital research facility, for the development of NASA's new Space Telescope, and for many other key space research and development programs. Other firms which submitted proposals for the contract are Mabry Engineering Company, Inc., Decatur, Ala.; Base Maintenance Services Company, Huntsville, Ala.; and F erguson- Williams, Inc., Huntsville, A la. -30- Nov. 9, 1983 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) TI T- T *- r- News Natioi?,?iAermciurics ,?nd Spdce Adrninis1r~-tlon George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshal Space I lqnt Ccnter Adkima 35812 b\C L'LJ5 453 o(J 3.1 Terry &I. Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. I &I ME DIATE (205 /453 -0034) RELEASE NO: 83-74 NOTE TO EDITORS/DIKECTORS The annual Marshall Space Flight Center Honor Award Ceremony will be held in the hIorris Auditorium at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15,1983. These awards for 1983 will be presented for outstanding performance in various areas, including outstanding leadership, exceptional scientific achievement, exceptional engineering achievement, and exceptional service. More than two dozen awards will be presented. NASA Associate Deputy Administrator Philip E. Culbertson will speak and assist Marshall Center Director Dr. William R. Lucas in the presentations. The ceremony is expected to last approximately an hour. News media wishing to cover the event are asked to come first to the Public Affairs Office, room 101, building 4200, by 1:15 p.m. Tuesday. -30 - Nov. 10,1983 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) .T r- NASANews For Rdease Terry M. Eddleman Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (2 05 /45 3 -00 34) RELEASE NO: 83-77 HONOR AWARDS FOR 1983 PRESENTED TODAY AT NASA CENTER Seventeen individual medals, four group awards, two longevity certificates, and six director's commendation certificates were presented at the annual Honor Award Ceremony at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., today. The various awards were given for leadership, engineering and scientific achievements, and other contributions to the Marshall Center. Guest speaker was Philip E. Culbertson, NASA associate deputy administrator, who also assisted Center Director Dr. William R. Lucas in the presentation of the awards. In his address, Culbertson remarked about the dedication of Marshall personnel, their contributions to the United States, and how their energies have kept the space program strong. Following his remarks, Culbertson and Lucas began the presentations by awarding the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal to Harold R. Coldwater, director of the Test Laboratory; and James B. Odom, manager of the Space Telescope Project Office. -more- Nov. 15,1983 MSFC Form 2914 18 (August 19751 . 1' Coldwater was recognized for "exceptional leadership and engineering contributions to the development of the lightweight external tank resulting in the achievement of significant Space Shuttle performance improvement." The external tank holds the cryogenic propellants which fuel the Shuttle main engines. Odom was honored for "exemplary leadership and technical expertise in the extremely effective management of the external tank weight reduction program which resulted in an increase in the Shuttle's payload capacity by over 10,000 pounds." Odom had been deputy manager for production and logistics, as well as acting manager of the External Tank Project, in the Shuttle Projects Office before assuming his present post. The NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal was awarded to Gerald J. Fishman of the Astrophysics Branch in the Space Science Laboratory. He received the medal for "distinguished national and international leadership in the observation of gamma-ray and hard X-ray temporal phenomena as well as exceptional contributions to the early balloon-borne observations of quiesent and transient gamma-ray phenomena which resulted in discoveries such as gamma-ray pulsars." Receiving the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal were Ernest 0. Bayless of the Metals Processes Branch in the Materials and Processes Laboratory; Richard R. Foll of Martin Marietta Aerospace, a Marshall contractor; and James E. McBride of the Component Analysis Branch in the Systems Dynamics Laboratory. Bayless was recognized for "exceptional engineering achievement in the successful development of a completely integrated, variable polarity plasma arc welding system; for characterizing the process; and for directing initial production process implementation on the barrel assembly fixture for the Space Shuttle external tank." The medal was presented to Foll for "exemplary contributions as director of engineering for Martin Marietta Aerospace in the definition, design, test, manufacture, I and delivery of the lightweight external tank." - more - . r. 1- 1 '- T -- &Bride was honored for "exceptional contributions and demonstrated engineering abilities through the development of the vibration, acoustic, and shock design and test criteria for components on the lightweight external tank." The NASA Exceptional Service Medal was awarded to Charles R. Darwin, director of the Preliminary Design Office; Billy G. Davis of the Navigation and Control Systems Branch in the Preliminary Design Office; Ronald E. Jewell of the Structural Dynamics Division in the Systems Dynamics Laboratory; Harry M. King of the Ceramics and Coatings Branch in the Materials and Processes Laboratory; Jerrol W. Littles, deputy associate director for engineeering, Science and Engineering Directorate; Phillip H. Taylor of the Space Telescope Division in the Procurement Office; and William A. Wilson of the Metals Processes Branch in the Materials and Processes Laboratory. Darwin was recognized for "exceptional leadership, personal dedication, and technical excellence in the accomplishment of numerous critical preliminary design efforts and establishment of requirements for current and proposed programs including advanced launch vehicles, Shuttle upper stages and Shuttle payloads." Davis was honored for "exemplary performance and technical leadership in advanced systems analysis, conceptual system design, and project leadership for the initial advanced X-ray astrophysical facility definition and Phase A study." The medal was presented to Jewel for "exemplary technical leadership and contributions to the development of the data processing equipment and evaluation software for automation of the SSME test firing data base and to the development of the Large Space Structures technology program." King was cited for "exemplary contributions to the success of the Space Shuttle in the development and flight verification of thermal protection system materials for the solid rocket boosters." - more - - . r' 1- T '- 1-- Littles was recognized for "exceptional engineering expertise in developing a technique for evaluating the external tank thermal protection system which resulted in the removal of the majority of sprayable lightweight ablator insulation on production lightweight tanks." Taylor was honored for "extraordinary dedication and resourcefulness in the conceptualization, development, and implementation of required procurement methodologies and techniques which significantly contributed to an orderly and efficient transition of the external tank program to the production phase." The medal was presented to Wilson for "exceptional technical contributions in materials and process technology development including the development of new insulation material and application procedures for the solid rocket motor and Inertial Upper Stage." The NASA Equal Opportunity Medal was presented to Max H. Sharpe of the Chemical and Non-Metals Processes Branch in the Materials and Processes Laboratory. Sharpe was cited for "exemplary contributions toward achieving equal employment opportunity for all employees through aggressive leadership, professional skill and personal com mitment." Receiving the NASA Public Service Medal were contractor employees William F. Barrett, Benjamin V. Groninger, and Robert F. Hieter, all of Martin Marietta Aerospace. NASA Group Achievement Awards were presented to the Contact Dynamics Simulation Team, the Orbital Flight Test Experiments Team, and the Space Shuttle Light weight External Tank Development Team. The NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award was presented to the Space Shuttle Lightweight External Tank Development Team of Martin Marietta Aerospace. Receiving %-year longevity certificates were Gene T. Carpenter, Facilities Office; and Wilbur E. Thompson, Advanced Systems Office. - more - T 1- T 'a T -- Director's Corn mendation Certificates were awarded to Doris K. Flowers, Materials and Processes Laboratory; Charles E. Henke, Procurement Office; William E. Hill, Materials and Processes Laboratory; David L. Keasoner, Space Science Laboratory; Nobie H. Stone, Space Science Laboratory; and Robert L. Swain, Materials and Processes Laboratory. -30 - NnSA News National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 For Release: Linda Doherty Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IWDIATE (205/453-0034) RELEASE NO: 83-82 NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS The orbiter Columbia can be seen with the naked eye from many U. S. cities during the STS-S/Spacelab 1 mission. Sighting information will be available, after launch, from Marshall Public Af fai rs personnel. Marshall News Center 205-453-0034 -30- Nov. 22, 1983 MSFC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) T- T- T " 1--- .- ORBITER SIGHTINGS FOR SPACELAB 1/STS-9 Prepared by Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. These Orbiter sightings were generated by the Mission Analysis Division of the Marshall Space Flight Center's Systems Analysis and Integration Laboratory. Generally, to be visible, the Orbiter must be in direct sunlight, but the viewer's sky must be dark. Such conditions exist for only a short period twice each day -- just before dawn and just after dusk. During these two periods the sky is dark but the sun is still close enough to the horizon to cast its light on the high-flying Orbiter as it moves overhead. For this reason, not all of the Orbiter's path across the sky will be visi ble . This information is for use in sighting the Shuttle when weather conditions permit. During a viewing pass the Shuttle will appear as a moving star with a variable brightness ranging from -1.5 star magnitude at its brightest (equal to the brightest star in th,e sky) to +6 which is barely visible to the unaided eye. \ 1 AN EXPLANATION OF THE DATA Columns read as follows: Date (Month/Day/Year ) Pick up time (Hours/Minutes/Seconds) - Local Standard Time Direction af Movement Duration of Visibility in Minutes and Seconds Maximum Elevation in Degrees Range in Kilometers and Statue Miles -1 PICK UP TIFF,: The time of the day that the Shuttle becomes Visible at horizon. Time is expressed in terms of a 24 hour clock. If the pickup time is greater than 12 hours, 12 should be subtracted from the hour figure to find the local time between noon and midnight. DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT: The shuttle will first appear above the horizon in the first direction shown, and will travel across the sky and disappear at the horizon in the second direction shown. These compass directions are understood to embrace an angular field of 45 degrees each, and the symbols are defined as N-North, E-East, S-South, W-West, NE-North East, NW-North West, SE-South East, SW-South West. .. T' . -2- HAXIMUM ELEVATION: This figure denotes the highest point Of travel through the sky and is expressed in degrees. Twenty degrees would be quite close to the horizon, while 90 degrees would be directly over head. . RANGE: This defines the line-of-sight distance between the Shuttle and your city at the Orbiter's highest point in the sky. The distance is expressed both in kilometers (KM) and in statute miles (St. miles). SHUTTLE SIGHTINGS FOR LAUNCH NOVEMBER 28, 1983 (1O:OO A.M. CST) DATE(M/D/Y) TIME(H/M/S) DIRECTION DURA. ELEV. RANGE (KM/MI) Montgomery, Ala. 12/03/83 17:04 :57 N to SE 4:06 31 465/289 12/0 4/83 16:54 :17 NW to SE 4:23 54 306/190 12/05/83 16:43 :43 NW to SE 4:26 79 256/159 Huntsville, Ala. 12/02/83 17:15: 02 N to E 4:OO 27 513/319 12/03/83 17: 04:21 NW to SE 4:20 45 350/217 12/04/83 16: 53:45 NW to SE 4:27 82 254/158 12/0 5/83 16:43:15 NW to SE 4:22 53 311/193 Mobile, Ala. 12/03/83 17:05:23 N to E 3:24 18 6 8 9/4 2 8 12/04 /8 3 16: 54 :34 N to SE 4:Ol 28 493/306 3 \, Birmingham, Ala. 12/03/83 17: 04 :38 N to SE 4:11 34 428/266 12/04/83 16:53:59 NW to SE 4:25 61 285/17 7 12/05/83 16: 43: 26 NW to SE 4:25 70 266/165 Phoenix, Ariz. 12/01/83 17:56: 04 N to NE 1:42 11 972/604 12/0 2/8 3 17:44:41 N to E 2:59 15 781/405 12/03/83 17:33: 48 N to E 3:45 22 594/369 Tuson, Ariz. 12/03/83 17:34 :13 N to E 3:42 22 606/376 -12/04/83 17:23:28 N to SE 4:11 35 421/261 Little Rock, Ark. 12/0 1/8 3 17:26:43 NE to NE 0:13 10 1044/648 12/02/83 17:14 :55 N to E 2:31 13 861/535 12/03/63 17:03:57 N to E 3:28 19 680/423 1 1' 1 '- T- -7- , Baltimore, Md. 18:05:32 w to s 2:39 14 830/516 Boston, Mass. 11/3 0/8 3 17:02:57 N to E 3:46 21 653/406 12/01/83 16: 53:47 NW to E 4:12 29 503/312 12/02/83 16: 43:07 NW to SE 4:21 42 369/229 12/03/83 16: 32: 32 NW to SE 4:29 68 274/170 12/0 4/8 3 16:22:00 NW to SE 4:29 73 266/165 Lansing, Mich. 12/01/8 3 18:24:16 NW to SE 4:33 64 288/179 12/02/83 18:13: 41 NW to SE 4:16 38 396/246 12/03/83 18:03:18 w to s 3:53 25 551/342 12/04/83 17:53: 02 w to s 3:15 17 726/451 12/0 5/8 3 17:43:01 w to sw 2:04 12 911/566 Detroit, Mich. 12/01/8 3 18:24:34 NW to SE 4:30 54 318/197 4 12/02/83 18 :14 :00 NW to s 4:09 33 4 4 7/27 8 12/03/83 18:03:39 w to s 3:41 22 612/380 12/04/83 17: 53 :27 w to s 2:54 15 793/493 12/0 5/8 3 17:43:42 w to sw 1:12 10 9 84/6 11 St. Paul, Minn. 11/2 9/8 3 17:40:51 NW to E 4:05 26 552/343 11/30/83 17 :31 :45 NW to E 4:23 37 424/263 12/01/83 17:22:41 NW to SE 4:33 56 313/194 12/02/83 17 :12': 00 NW to SE 4:31 87 257/159 I 12/0 3/8 3 17: 01 :29 NW to SE 4:27 59 296/184 12/04/83 16 :51: 01 NW to SE 4:16 37 405/252 Duluth, Minn. 11/29/83 17:40:34 NW to E 4:28 43 3 76/2 33 11/3 0/8 3 17:31:31 NW to SE 4:36 65 288/179 12/01/83 17:22 :31 NW to SE 4:36 80 268/166 12/02/8 3 17:11:53 NW to SE 4:25 51 324/201 12/03/83 17 :01: 26 NW to SE 4:12 34 4 38/2 72 12/0 4/8 3 16:51:02 w to s 3:50 23 578/3 5 9 12/05/83 16 :40 :45 w to s 3:14 17 734/456 Jackson, Miss. 12/02/83 17:lS: 55 "to E 2:03 12 915/568 12/0 3/8 3 17~0.4:49 N to E 3:16 17 722/449 1 -3- Springfield, Mo. 12/01/83 17: 24: 59 N to E 2:29 13 894/556 12/02/83 17:13: 56 N to E 3:18 17 723/44.9 12/0 3/8 3 17: 03: 0 8 N to E 3:54 25 .I 5 5 6/3 4 5 Sacramento, Calif. 18:04 :20 w to s 2:43 12/03/83 14 819/509 San Francisco, Calif . 18 :04 :06 w to s 3:17 12/0 3/8 3 17 708/440 12/04/83 17: 54:lO w to sw 1:59 12 915/568 Fresno, Calif. 18:04: 57 w to s 2:40 12/03/83 14 824/512 Los Angeles, Calif . 12/03/83 18:05:36 w to s 2:54 15 781/485 12/Q4/83 17:56:13 sw to SW 0:27 10 1005/6 2 4 San Diego, Calif. 18: 06 :00 w to s 2:53 12/03/83 15 780/485 Denver , Colo. 12/01/8 3 17:54:32 NW to SE 4:33 84 260/162 12/02/83 17: 43 :49 Nw to SE 4:20 48 334/207 12/03/83 17 :3'3 :2 4 Nw to s 4:Ol 29 488/303 17:23r07 to 3:26 12/04/83 17:13:03 w to sws 2:22 19 670/416 12/05/83 13 867/539 Hartford, Conn. N to E 3:14 16 778/483 11/30/83 17 :03 :O 3 I N E 3:51 22 12/01/83 16: 53:48 to 624/387 12/0 2/83 16:43:06 NW to ESE 4:084:23 4530 479/297 12/03/83 16: 32:28 351/218 Dover, Del. 12/03/83 18:05:56 w to sw 2:08 12 900/559 f Washington, D.C. I 12/03/83 18:05:25 w to s 2:57 15 778/483 12/04/83 17 :.55 :4 3 w to sw 1:09 10 983/611 NIANews National Aeronautics and Space Administration George C. Marshall Space flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 AC 205 453-0034 Carl Jones For Release: Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala. IMMEDIATE (2 0 5 /4 5 3 4 0 34) RELEASE NO: 83-83 INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT LET NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has selected Management Services Incorporated of Huntsville, Ala., for negotiations leading to award of a new five-year contract to provide institutional mission services at the Marshall I ~ I c +-- Space Flight Center. /--" ' 'I '** I. The contractor will furnish the necessary management, personnel, facilities and equipment required to provide institutional mission services in the areas of vehicle and equipment operations and maintenance; documentation repository; graphic arts, models and exhibits; and supply and equipment management. Total cost and fee for the contract over the first year basic period and two priced option years that follow is approximately $16.6 million. Other firms who submitted proposals are D. P. Associates, Incorporated, Huntsville, Ala., and D. G. Robinson Corporation, Huntsville, Ala. -30 - Dec. 1,1983 MSPC - Form 2914-18 (August 1975) -1 1'