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NASA Magazine ‘ SuMmer 1993 ee ee te a from the administrator The most fruitful intersection of NASA’s mandates for change likely will be in the area of small scientific satellites, and I am tremendously excited by the possibilities. n this issue of NASA to NASA to pursue more scientific enigmas that Second, small satel- sider multi-vear funding. Magazine, we cele- industrially relevant could be solved by such lites are an ideal match That is a wondertul trade. ,b rate exci*t.*i ng sci° en- advanced technology an incredible fleet! with the needs of the A Russian expert on | tific observations made presents us with an ideal In a separate effort, university Community the histor of science in by the Galileo spacecraft way to re-establish the an enthusiastic and inno- which needs manageably his culture once wrote bound for Jupiter and the Agency's “can-do” repu- vative group out at the price “hardware projects “Every scientist is an TOPEN/POSEIDON tation: the development Jet Propulsion Labora that start and finish agent of cultural change satellite mapping Earth's of a diverse fleet of small tory is pursuing a cheap within the academic He jor she} may not be a oceans. By the end of Earth-orbiting and plan- and fast mission to Pluto, lifetime of a graduate champion of change. he their stellar missions. etary science spacecratt. a project with natural student. We are going to may even resist it. But to each of these spacecraft Very few things that scientific and public prove this new technol- the extent that he is a will have earned a right- NASA has proposed in appeal. ogy before we proceed true professional, the ful place in the “Hall of the past decade have Our Office of Mission with a mission by making scientist is inescapably an Fame” for robotic space stirred as much interest to Planet Earth, already reasonable investments in agent of change. His tools explorers. within the space science well-known for its Earth technology test beds. And are the instruments of However. after their community as the Dis- Probe series, is consider- when we start a fight change: skepticism, the compatriot Cassini leaves covery small spacecraft ing a smaller follow-on to project, we are going to challenge to established Earth in 1997 on its way program that we will TOPEN POSEIDON, sign up toa budget and authority. criticism, to survey Saturn and its pursue in earnest this and a second tropical live with it rationality and individual- intriguing moon Titan, it vear. rainfall-measuring satel- | explained NASAS ity. may be a long while The top 11 proposals lite to succeed the commitment to this The most fruitful before such a combina- that recently won TRMM Earth Probe philosophy duringa intersection of NASA’s tion of scientific merit $100,000 each in study we are building jointh hearing before the House mandates for change and adequate funding money include two mis- with Japan. \ppropriations subcom- likely will be in the area intersects again. sions to Mercury, two to Small satellites are mittee with NASA over- of small scientific satel- The combination of Venus, one to Mars, four attractive for many rea sight. The panel's chair- lites, and Tam tremen- federal budget con- missions to small bodies, sons, but two stand out man. Rep. Louis Stokes, dously excited by the straints, a need to im- an Earth-orbiting tele- First, they force us to said that if NASA could possibilities. prove our links with scope to study Jupiter design components that sign up to do that with universities, and Presi- and a solar wind sample are Cheaper, lighter and small programs, the dent Clinton's challenge return. Think of the usc less electrical power committee would con- G-d CONTENTS summer 1993 ~ ate on The great asteroid lant resumes this summer with Galileo's fyb of Ida. WASA MAGAZINE Acting Associate Acting Manage’ of internal Commumcations Beth Schmid Space Shuttle frogs Editor help children learn about Beth Schr everthing from . cmbrvolog to chginecrnng sist \ ky | Editorial and ARCHAEOLOGY Production A Sonya Alexand FROM ABOVE NASA's one and ooh THE FLYING LAUNCH — lie J | . b Hi FLY PAD Steye Chamber eS Gas aera The oldest B-52 in the sky | iTmiangeena to helipp him on i—s *2 08 deli—v_e-r ing the qnads Art —Di rector Spectrum the job. for NASA. Robert Schulma Statt Photographer Bill Ingal! NASA MAGAZINE published quarierly ty the National Aeronautics and pace Ad ation tor the +i h ‘ it juarters and ai a +? NiWaA Yy MAGAZINE 21 Communica Down to Earth | NASA Headgua | Wa }t DE 2054 p \ 36 OCEAN VIEW NASA MAGAZINE ist or sal As | See It TOPEN/POSEIDON mia by the Superintendent ot , Documents US usher mahnew era ol long— G0oVv ernment Printingy u Office term climate prediction Washington DC 20402 Cover. The Galileo spacecratt snapped the first pictures of a NASA MAGAZINE ts printed real asteroid- -951 Gaspra Countdown ecycled/recyciable paper SESS ESSE ETH SESE HEHE SEETHER EHH HEHEHE EH Ee NASA SPECTRUM the microgravity in April US A Foree. Engi- cnviromment onboard Worn inside an neers at Jolson then the Shuttle. astronauts space suit Hnproved the technol \ir Force Col the liquid-cooled ou. vsine if to transat Sidnes M. Gutierrez will garment used a batter medical data from command the STS-59 powercd pumypy to astronauts back to Earth Space Radar Laboraton circulate chilled water The svstem, still used for 7 mission onboard through a series of astronaut momtoring John H. Casper and Sidney M. Gutierrez \thantis. with Air Force tubes. Although it was today. has been w iclely Col. Kevin P. Chilton as developed at the Ames used around the world Two New Crews pilot. Mission specialists Research Center and Thanks to telemetry. a Astronaut crews for two Jay Apt. Ph.D. and Johnson Space Center nurse at a central station Space Shuttle missions Aron Lt. Col. Michael for the Apollo progr, can sinvaltane “oust scheduled for launch R. Rich” Clifford will the technology was later monitor the conditions carly next vear were join Linda M. Godwin. adapted by the Langley of several patients at selected in March. Air PhD... and Thomas D. Research Center to different locations. This Force Col. Jolin HH. Jones, Ph.D... who were meet real-life needs enables heart patients Casper will Command assigned to the flight The cool suit is now for example. to return the STS-62 mission with previously, used by patients home and still receive the second U.S. STS-59's Space suffering frome cvsty constant medical Microgravity: Payload Radar Laboraton will fibrosis, multiple Heowntorng onboard Columbia. take radar images of the sclerosis (MS) and Other crew members Earth's surface for related neure Nowic Stargazing at Mach 3 are Marine ¢ SOFps May. studies in geok me disorders and al Andrew M. Allen as pilot geography. lwdrology. condition known as One of NASAS high and Navy Cdr. Pierre J. oceanography agronon ly pohicdrotic ectodermal thing SR-TLA “Black Thnot, Army Lat. Col. and botany. The mission dysplasia, in which the birds” (NASA Magazine ~ Charles D. “Sam” also will measure carbon loch lacks sweat ghands Winter 1992) has a new Gemar and Marsha S. dioxide in the atmo Since L991, approxi mission: conducting Ivins as mission sphere and gather data mately 300 suits have high-altitude astronony specialists. for designing future been sold to MES pratients studies at three times Experiments on radar systems, including alone. Armin soldiers the speed of sound. The STS-62. a 13-clay that of NASA’s Earth wore the licquaidl cooled former spy plane, which extended duration Observing System. garments during the is based at the Divden orbiter mission, inclide Persian Gull war, and helt Research Facility, growing crystals of Fame thes also have ben nace its Hirst scence semiconductor materi- A “cool suit” originalls wort by race car drivers Hight on March 9 with als: investigating the developed to keep hazarch mis taternals an ultraviolet video properties of enon astronauts from handlers. nuclear reactor camera for studying stars during phase transitions: overheatingo n the workers. and paper mill and comets riding in its studving the fundamen- Moon and a NASA nose hav, and shipyard personnel, tal behavior of niaterials pationt monitoring The praticnt Future fights will as they solidify, and device were inducted monitoring device carn a variety of monitoring Cquipment into the U.S. Space originally was developed jastrumcnts, including al that will measure and Foundation’s Technol during the Mercury and fiber optics device and record disturbances in ogy Hall of Fame CGeomini programs by the an ultraviolet spectrom: - NASA Magazine Summer 1993 program. which will Early Bird Catches Earlier Data pron ide a technical foundation for U.S The Jet Propulsion aerospace Companies to Laboratorn reported in make business decisions March that due to about future supersonic surplus fuel reserves on transports. the Mars Obsener Langley researchers spacecraft, the space- are working on wavs to craft will begin Wapping reduce the overall operations sooner than structural weight and expected Scrence improve aerodvnamic operations are now performance for such a planned to begin on vehicle. Engineers at the November 22. three Lewis Research Center weeks ahead of sched- are working on technol- ule. Mars Observer is set SR-71 streaks into the twilight on its first science mission last March. ogy that will reduce to arrive at the planet on engine noise and August 24 eter. SR-71 project ments are now in the dramatically lower The mission scientist fackln Green planning stage. including nitrogen ovide emissions cy ratvons team wants to of the Jet Propulsion infrared studies of the that might affect Earths censure that data Laboratory, where the warora borealis and Osi laver collection is well experiments were studies of pollutants in Vines and Divden nndenwvay before | developed, said this is a the stratosphere. also are owolved in the natural events occur a “case of turning swords NASA's three Blackbirds project, with Ames fing December 1993 solar into plowshares 7 also may serve as high-altitude missions to conjunction that will “We are taking what platiorms for aeronautics analyze the impact of hiock spacecralt was once a spv plane and studies in NASA's High- engine exhaust on the communications, and transforming it into a Speed Research atmosphere, and Drvden the beginning of the useful, cost-effective Program testing a drag- reduction Martian dust storm science platform.” savs concept called “lanvinas season next Februar High Speed Green. “This opens up a flow control” which By spending the Research new ultraviolet window could significantly evtra tied tora so-called for research.” During its NASA is teaming up WNpProve the eflicienay of pene iti approach, first mission. the SR-71 with U.S. industry to a SHIPETSOTIC transport s the spacecralt’s descent climbed to an altitude of develop technology for wings to its mapping orbit 378 more than 25 kilometers. an affordable and Phase Lot the hilometers above the above most of the environmentally friendh program. which focnses Martian surface will take atmosphere that blocks high-speed passenger on environmental only 75 davs instead of ground-based ultraviolet aircraft that could Challenges. roms cntil 96 davs. Then, after two observations. revolutionize air travel in 1996. Phase TE which weeks of checkout. the The flight could the next century. The began this vear, focuses spacecraft will begin mark the begining of a Langley Research on technology that observing Mars. Whole new science Center will lead the would make a high- completing one full career for the SR-71 multi-vear High Speed speed transport mapping cvcle-—which Several other experi- Civil Transport research economically viable takes 26 davs—before Summer 1993 NASA Magazine Project Manager for the $20,000 an acte. so it is Grapevine Remote critical to understand Sensing Analysis of the spread ol new Phylloxvera Early Stress infestation sites (GRAPES) project. savs Funding for the that remote sensors can GRAPES project is detect plant stress provided by NASA's before it is visible to the Office of Adv aticed naked eve Concepts and» Amol- “This will help Og) asa demonstration Vinevard managers of new remote sensing develop replanting applic ations for industn plans,” savs Salute “Replanting with Wet World? resistant roots is the onh Data returned by the way to rid the vinevards Pioneer Venus Orbiter of the pest.” before it burned up in Field work using the Venusian atmo- ground-based scanners sphere last October to make initial measur stigvest that the planet ments of leaves began m Which is now a hot April as the leaves were desert. once had thre Mars Observer developing. Lmages trom and a hall times more infested and non- water than previoush the solar conjunction will be aided in their infested grapevines thought. Accordingt o starts on December 20. fight against root louse continue to be analy red Thomas Donahue of the The conjunction will last damage by sensitive to determine the earliest University of Michigan, through January 3. electronic scanners on detectable spectral who heads the Pioneer during which time all aircraft and satellites differences. The first Venus science steering radio commands to the About 65 percent of remote sensing fights group. “Findings that spacecraft will be the vinevards in Napa are scheduled this Venus was once fairly suspended. and Sonoma counties summer as the Crapovine wet do not prove that are planted with a grape foliage Increases Iajor oceans existed, Saving Grapes rootstock vulnerable to a Mondavi. which but makes their The Ames Research new strain of phylloxera, plans continued use of existence far more likely Center is using aerial an aphid-like insect that the technologws. will The new Pioneer data and satellite images to kills grapevines by make the results of the | provide evidence that help battle a serious sucking juice from the jointly financed large amounts of water insect problem facing plants” roots. The bug $350, 000-a-vear, three- were definitely there.” California's $10 billion- nearly destroved the vear study available to Deuterium, a heavy a-vear wine industry. A vinevards of France and other wine growers form of hvdrogen, team that includes the California more than a According to Phil normativ is found ina Robert Mondavi Winery century ago, causing Freese, Mondavi's Vice specific ratio with in Napa Vailey and severe ECOnOTHIC President for wine ordinary hvdrogen. But researchers from three hardship growing, replanting the deuterium on Venus is California universities Joan Salute, Ames vinevards costs about 150 times more NASA Magazine Summer 1993 forming clouds in the Happy Birthday, million words—-each Milky Way present a TDRSS second new challenge to April marked the 10th theories of how galaxies anniversary of NASA's Tracking and Data Relay To Mars evolve. Scentists from the Satellite Svstem. a With Russia Ames Research Center revolutionary “switch- NASA Administrator had been expecting to board in space” thiat Dan Goldin and Russian find “simpler forms of keeps the Space Shuttle Space Agency Director hydrocarbons, molecules and other orbiting Yuri Koptes signed a that make up materials spacecraft in near- contract in April to fh similar to candle wax or constant touch with two US. instruments on gasoline” in the dense Earth. The TDRSS the Russian Mars ‘94 clouds, according to Lou replaced a ground-hased mission planned for Allamandola. head of the network developed in launch in November science observation the early davs of the 1994. The mission will Artist's conception of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter against the Venusian background. team. But instead thes space program that deploy small landing found large quantities— allowed spacecraft to stations and penetrators the equivalent of communicate with Earth and carr a complement abundant relative to planetarn masses —ot only on those rare of vastruments to stuck hydrogen than it is on nuicro-diamonds occasions when they the surface and atone Earth. The new data dominating every cloud were in sight of a sphere ol Mars suggest that this may not they observed. tracking station Under the contract alwavs have been the The Allamandola The first TDRS which has a pote vtial CASE. team puzzled for more satellite was launched value of S15 nlbion. the “We found a new than a vear before from the Shuttle in April Babakin Engineorng and important easy- identifving the micro- 1983. Since then, four Research Center and the escape mechanism diamonds. Having more satellites have Space Research Institute which accelerates observed a prevalence of been put into orbit. the of the Russian Acadeny hydrogen and deuterium softer hwdrocarbons in latest in January of this of Sciences will provide away from the planet” regions between the vear. The existing technical senices for savs Donalme. “This clouds. thes hracl system: which inchides integrating and testing means that much more expected those materials backups. should ser the US) Mars Ovident hvdrogen had to escape to be common inside the NASA's conmmnications Experiment (MOX) to build up the present clouds as well. The needs into the later part estrensents \ duplicate hig’s deuterium finding means that of this decack VON instrament will Ay concentration. A lot astronomers will have to The TDRSS enables on cach of the two more hydrogen lost revise their ideas about uninterrupted. real-tine Russian small stations means a lot more water how matter moves in communications with up The experiment will carh on. and out of the clouds to 24 spacecraft provide chemical “This shoots a hole in Simmultaneoush At its information about the Diamonds a major premise of highest capacity, the Martian soil and will in the Sky galactic chemical system can transfer the enable scientists to Huge amounts of evolution theories.” savs equivalent of a2 0- characterize the physical microscopic diamonds science team member volume encyclopedia and chemical nature of discovered in ster- Scott Sandford containing over 34 the planet's surface Summer 1993 NASA Magazine The Big Red million lightvears from Supergiants Earth in a galaxy known Scientists have long as M81 in the constella- theorized that red tion of Ursa Major. supergiants—stars with Sonneborn savs the diameters as large as “stellar wind” flowing Jupiter's orbit around outward from the Aboard Discovery, astronaut J. Michael Foale, talks to amateur radio operavtiao SrARsEX . the Sun—end their explosion will tell existence in massive scientists much about weight and innovative the Alabama. Mississippi explosions called the late stages of a star's spacecraft components and Tennessee area. supernovas. Now, thanks life. also will be tested, Students from NASA’s to the International including a star tracker. Tri-State Education Ultraviolet Explorer's Oh My Dartin’... an inertial measurement Initiative (TSED) region observation of a new NASA announced in unit, reaction wheels for had three different supernova on March 30, April that Eugene attitude control, a nickel chances to experience they have direct Shoemaker of the U.S. hvdrogen battery and STS-56 activities. First. evidence. Geologic Survey in solar panels 17 students traveled to According to George Flagstaff, Ariz., will head The science team is the Kennedy Space Sonneborn, an IUE the science team for the planning for the Center to witness research scientist at the upcoming Clementine acquisition of science Discover ’s lift-offon Goddard Space Flight mission to orbit the data as well as the April 8. Two davs later Center, the discovery Moon and fly past an archiving and initial 2.000 students gathered substantiates decades of asteroid. Clementine analvsis of those data. ina high school work in stellar structure sponsored by the The Naval Research gvinnasium to speak to theory. The supernova’s Strategic Defense Laboratory is respon- the STS-56 crew via ham nearncss and the Initiative Office, will sible for designing the radio. quickness with which launch a small spacecraft mission, providing the NASA's TSE area IUE was able to observe in January 1994 to orbit spacecraft and conduct- was selected in a it were critical factors in the Moon for several ing mission Operations national competition as determining that the months, gathering The Jet Propulsion one of 12 sites to exploding star is geological data. The Laboraton will be participate in the Shuttle surrounded by a thick spacecraft would then fly responsible for tracking Amateur Radio Experi- shell of slowly expanding by th near-Earth the spacecraft using ment (SAREX) by the gas. Heated to very high asteroid 1620 NASA's Deep Space American Radio Relay temperatures by the Geographos on August Network and for locating League and NASA enormous energy 31, 1994, when the Geographos using its Twenty-one students released in the explo- asteroid is at its closest Near Earth Object acted as representatives sion, the ultraviolet approach to Earth. Center prior to the flyby for the whole group, emissions from the The goals of the asking questions of all glowing gas were mission are to test new, Shuttling the astronauts. Another detected by IUE. lightweight sensors ina Vicariously 30 students quizzed the Scientists expect to space radiation environ- Of the many stories astronauts via satellite gain a wealth of new ment and to demon- surrouraling the link from Mississippi. knowledge from strate autonomous successful STS-56 in a brief but unforget- studying the supernova, navigation and space- mission in April, one table exchange with which occurred about 12 craft operation. Light- involves students within the crew. ® NASA Magazine Summer 1993 TRANSITLON the Meritorious Tenney; from Lewis: CatherG.i Scnhaeuer . Executive Rank Award Henry Brandhorst, and $10,000. The Brent Miller and Joseph Saggio; and from at the Langley Research Marshall: Carolyn first place state awards Griner, Charles Henke, John Lynn and John in the VirginPiraes s Women’s annua! McCarty. communications contest in AprTihel aw.ard s were in Institutional Relations, Government, for her role as the center's chairman and project manager of its 75th anniversary-year Open House brochure. Each entry now goes on to compeatte th e have been left out of natiolenvela flor a carien seciernces a nd National Federation of technology. Press Women award. “I leawvithe t he honor of having been the At the 45th annual first woman of color in presentatoifo tnh e spaacnd ewit,h an ArtSh. Fulemrmin g appreciaoft iNAoSnA— Awaforr excdellesnce in the organizatitohna t government service in gave me the opportunity Matywo ,NA SA to make onoef m y employees received dreams possible,” said recognition. Dryden's Jemison. “The experi- MaRr. Btohn-aMey er encoefs t he NASA was awardfoerd he r Forty-three NASA astronaut program have Sciences and Applica- outstanding achieve- managers received the opemnaney ddoor s, and tions. In April, the menast as NAS A 1992 PresidentiRaaln k provai wdaye tod p ut Office of Exploration scienwthoi dsisttin - Awalasrt Apdril in McHenry, John O'Neill my hard work and guished herself in the recognoift suistoainne d and Harold Stall; from training to use for the field of flight research. extraordinary career Kennedy: George goofo otdhers .” BoMheyern is -the o nly accomplishmentsT.e n English, Walter Murphy The 36-yeaorl d womin tahe wnorld to honorees received the and James Thomas; from medical doctor was have actively performed Distinguished Executive Langley: H. Lee Beach, selected for the the role of FlighTets t Rank Award, which Darrell Branscome, astronaut program in Engininet hee rMa ch inclaun dawearsd o f Lana Couch, John June 1987. She was a 3+ SR-7a1nd, he r $20,an0d 303 r0ece,ive d Stokes and Darrel science mission Summer 1993 NASA Magazine INSIDE STPSHS ESSS SSS BSSESR LSST SESWS SSEA SEEYR SS SR CR eeeeee ee ee rere We call it The Eternal Opinion surveys show that While most taxpavers favor Question or The Universal a strong space program. space is not an emotional Question. Sometimes we just issuc. call it The Question. The final factor, of course, is money. Although it We hear it from seems ludicrous to sav it, NASA's $15 billion budget scientists, from astronauts, is among the government's more modest expendi- from center directors and tures. The space station costs approximately 17th of from other key NASA one percent of the annual budget. So the rise and figures who visit us inside fall of space spending does not generate the kind of The Beltway to be near the shock wave that comes from, say, the proposed legislative process. As sure Closing of military bases around the country, which as (God intended people to has regional impacts of huge significance. fly, sometime during their NASA also operates under specific guidelines visit they drop The Ques- when approaching the Congress. We can and should tion. The exact wording may educate lawmakers on the President's program and differ slightly, but it's usually budget for NASA, but certain types of lobbying are something along the lines of, prohibited by law. Penalties can be severe, including “Why can't we make fines, jail sentences and mandatory removal from Congress appreciate the important and exciting federal service. Expressly forbidden activities things the agency does?” include: We at NASA take tremendous pride in the Use of appropriated funds in an attempt to unique aspect of our organization. We are unlike influence. directh or mdinecth |n ierbers of anything else in government, or in the private sector. Congress in support of of in opposition to proposed for that matter. Partly because of this uniqueness. no legislation. mobilized, vocal constituency exists that is interested Use of appropriated funds for publicity o1 by Dr. John Lawrence, in NASA’s mission. propaganda designed to support or defeat pending Oiiice of Legislative Affairs, Regulatory agencies have such a constituency. legislation. NASA Hoa. Sav. for instance, the Interstate Commerce Commis- Attempts to accomplish indirectly what cannot be sion took an action that adversely affected the accomplished directly — for example. by assistinog r trucking industry, Or the Federal Communications soliciting private groups or organizations. Commission issued a regulation that affected the We must also be sensitive to NASA's position as broadcast media's First Amendment freedoms. an clement of the Executive Branch of government. Institutions with enormous financial and political Our charter is to defend the President's budget — all power would react immediately, decisively and of it, not just NASA's share. Tan of us were to lowly. Having no regulatory authority, NASA lacks disagree with some aspect of the budget, whether it's a comparable constituency. foreign aid, or defense, or even another part of the Nor does the agency produce goods and services NASA budget. it would be inappropriate to advance that go directly to the public. If the government those personal views while acting in an official were to reduce Social Security payments, for Capacity example, or cut veterans’ benefits. the response \ remarkable fact is that. despite the limuts and would be huge. One can argue that NASA infle- conditions that constrain us, NASA enjoys a good ences technology, the aerospace industry and the deal of success in dealing with the Congress. A quick general economic welfare —- all of which is trac. But look at how other segments of government fare in the effects are less obvious, and taxpayers under discretionary funding shows that NASA does standably tend to react to government programs in comparatively well, That could be why our answer to proportion to their perceived vested interests The Question may sometimes seem lacking Then there are the emotional issues like abortion. because to a great extent, Congress does understand school prayer and gay rights — issues that can and appreciate the important and exciting things that polarize and mobilize people in great numbers NASA does. « NASA Magazine Summer 1993