America’s gateway to the universe. Leading the world in preparing and launching missions to Earth and beyond.

September 17, 1999

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Vol. 38, No. 19

Spaceport News

She’s the oldest member of thefamily and tips more pounds on thescales than her sister ships, butanyone who has ever worked withher will tell you she’s a realworkhorse and a star performer. The orbiter Columbia,commonly referred to as OV-102for Orbiter Vehicle 102, is apioneer. She was the first SpaceShuttle to fly into Earth orbit in1981, holds the record for 11 ofthe 12 longest Shuttle missions andfor the fastest turnaround betweenflights (56 days), and was the firstorbiter to undergo scheduledinspection and retrofitting. Now, after her 26th flight,Columbia is scheduled to leaveKSC on Sept. 23 for anotherscheduled maintenance period,known as an Orbiter MaintenanceDown Period, or OMDP. She isscheduled to arrive at Boeing’sorbiter assembly facility inPalmdale, Calif., on Sept. 24, andnot return to KSC until July 2000. Orbiters are disassembled almostdown to the airframe at thePalmdale factory for an extensiveand vigorous inspection processthat analyzes every part of thevehicle. Even difficult-to-reachareas around the antennae areexamined. Many thermal protection tileswill be removed to get to where theantennae are stored so special X-ray equipment and a videoborescope can look for areas ofpossible trouble. (A borescope is asnake-like fiber optic camera thatcan see in tight spaces.) The sameequipment will be used to inspecthard-to-reach areas of the entireorbiter. One of the goals for the mostexperienced orbiter in the fleet (tiedonly with Discovery for the numberof flights to date) is to shave off afew of her extra pounds.

Where next, Columbia? Palmdale, California

The Space Shuttle Columbia blazed a trail for others to follow when it made history onApril 12, 1981, lifting off on STS-1. The primary mission objectives of the two-daymaiden flight were to check out the overall Shuttle system, accomplish a safe ascentinto orbit and return to Earth for a safe landing. All of these objectives were met, provingthe Shuttle's worthiness as a space vehicle. Although the orbiter sustained some tiledamage on launch and from an overpressure wave created by solid rocket boosters,Columbia came through the flight with flying colors and flew the next four missions.

(See Columbia, Page 4)

As inspections and repairsof electrical wiring continue,Space Shuttle managersrecently announced tentativetarget launch dates for thenext two Shuttle missions —STS-103 and STS-99. Managers establishedSTS-103, the Hubble SpaceTelescope Servicing Mission3A, as the next Shuttle flightwith a launch targeted for noearlier than Oct. 28. A targetlaunch date of no earlierthan Nov. 19 was set for thelaunch of STS-99, the SpaceRadar Topography Mission. These are target datesonly and subject to change,depending on the progress ofthe current wiring work. “We’ve established theseplanning dates so that thoseinvolved in flightpreparations can establishthe proper order of priorityfor work on each mission,”Space Shuttle ProgramManager Ron Dittemoresaid. “However, we arecontinuing to review theprogress of wiringinspections and repairs onEndeavour and Discoveryand, as part of ourcontinuing evaluations ofthose activities, we mayneed to revisit the subjectand further adjust our targetlaunch dates as those repairsprogress.” The wiring work wasdeemed necessary followinga short circuit that occuredduring Columbia’s Julyliftoff of STS-93. TheShuttle made it safely intoorbit using backupcomputers, but fleetwideinspections were ordered tomake sure no other wiringproblems existed.

Mission update

How do you get a space station off the ground?

For the Space Station toperform optimally in space,it has to work well on theground first. Find out howKSC technicians andengineers test the manyelements of the Stationbefore it gets off theground. See story, page 6.

SPACEPORT NEWS September 17, 1999Page 2

A strip of gentle, rollingplains near the Martian southpole will serve as a welcomemat when NASA’s Mars PolarLander touches down on thered planet on Dec. 3. NASA unveiled the landingsite, a swath of terrainmeasuring about 1,500 squaremiles, at a briefing Aug. 25 atNASA Headquarters,Washington, D.C. The landing site is locatednear the northern edge of thelayered terrain in the vicinityof the Martian south pole. “We believe this layeredterrain is a record of climate

Comparison of the Mars Polar Lander (MPL) landing site region with California. The left half of the figure shows a mapof Mars' south polar region created from Viking images. The cratered surface is blanketed by sedimentary layers of iceand dust up to two kilometers thick. South is at the top of the map and the illuminatIon is from the bottom. The right halfof the image is a digital elevation model of the state of California overlain with MPL's landing ellipse. The scale of thismap has been reduced by a factor of two relative to the Mars map. Below, the Mars Polar Lander launched from CapeCanaveral Air Station’s Launch Pad 17B on Jan. 3, 1999. This unusual view of the boosters falling from the rocket wastaken from a camera mounted on the side of the Boeing Delta II rocket.

changes on Mars and, in asense, digging into its surfacewill be like reading tree ringsor layers in an ice core,” saidProject Scientist Dr. RichardZurek of NASA’s Jet Propul-sion Laboratory, Pasadena,Calif. “The presence of fine layersof dust and ice with varyingthickness will indicatechanges in weather patternsand layer formation that havebeen repeated in recenthistory,” he added. “Inaddition, we may find

evidence of soil particles thatformed in ancient seas on Mars andwere later blown into the polarregions.” The site was selected after theproject team studied pictures andaltimeter information gathered byNASA’s Mars Global Surveyor,which is currently orbiting theplanet. The search was narrowed to foursites before the final location waschosen. A backup landing site islocated nearby. The Dec. 3 landing will occurtoward the end of spring in theMartian southern hemisphere. The sun will shine all day,

moving higher and lower in thesky but never dipping belowthe horizon. This nonstopsunshine will power thelander’s solar panels for 90days, until the Martian seasonschange and the lander’smission ends. Launched on Jan. 3, 1999,from Cape Canaveral AirStation, Mars Polar Lander willstudy the soil and look for icebeneath the surface of the Martiansouth pole. Kennedy Space Center is thelead center for the acquisition and

management of expendablelaunch vehicle (ELV) launchservices. The lander also carries twoDeep Space 2 microprobes thatwill be deployed about fiveminutes before the spacecraftenters the Martian atmosphere.The microprobes will smashinto the planet’s surface andpenetrate the soil to look forwater ice. The microprobeswere developed under NASA’sNew Millennium Program. Images of the landing siteand additional informationabout Mars Polar Lander areavailable at the following web

site http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/lander/ Additional informationabout Deep Space 2 isavailable on the web at http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov/ds2/

Mars Polar Lander landing site selected

Kennedy Space Center willcelebrate the Hispanic HeritageMonth from Sept. 15-Oct. 15. The central theme for this year’sobservance is “Hispanics: LookingForward to the 21st Century.” The activities include the annualluncheon and an art exhibition. The Hispanic EmploymentProgram Working Group will holdits fifteenth annual “Meet yourDirectors’ Luncheon” on Friday,Oct. 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the LunchPad cafeteria at the VisitorComplex. Employees are invited to join inthis year’s observance and toparticipate in the planned activities. The luncheon program willfeature a guest speaker and Spanishsongs performed by local talent. The menu will consist of paella,roast pork, beans and rice, roastedcorn, tortillas and salad. The tickets are $10 per personand available from Joe Tellado at867-6064. An art exhibition from Hispanicartists will be displayed at the KSCVisitor Complex. Additional information on theexhibit will be provided inCountdown, the KSC Bulletin, andthe Postmaster’s 10 o’clock News. For more information on thisyear’s activities, please contact ReyDiaz at 867-1160 or Maria Lopez-Tellado at 867-9494.

KSC celebratesH i s p a n i cHeritage MonthSept. 15-Oct. 15

SPACEPORT NEWS Page 3September 17, 1999

This year’s KSC CombinedFederal Campaign (CFC) willofficially open with a kick-off rallyin the Training Auditorium at 9a.m. on Oct. 1. The campaign will begin that dayand will run through Oct. 31. All NASA employees are invitedto the kick-off rally to learn moreabout the Combined FederalCampaign and where their contri-butions will go. This campaign is the time forNASA employees to reach out andsupport less fortunate people in thelocal community, our nation andthroughout the world. Last year, Kennedy Space Centerfederal employees generouslycontributed $229,000 — exceedingthe campaign goal of $210,000. This year’s goal is $216,000. Guest speakers at the kick-offrally will include Brenda Harris,executive director, ExchangeClub Center for the Prevention ofChild Abuse (also known asYellow Umbrella) and RobRaines, president, United Way ofBrevard. Training for unit coordinatorsand key solicitors will be con-ducted immediately following thekickoff program. Unit coordinators and keysolicitors will personally share themessage of the campaign with allemployees. A contest was held to come upwith this year’s campaign slogan. The winning slogan, submitted

by Alice Smith, EnvironmentalProgram Office, is “Those whocare, share.” As the winner of the slogancontest, Smith will receive two VIPpasses to an upcoming launch. All Combined Federal Campaigncontributors will be eligible to wina prize in a weekly drawing to beheld during each of the four weeksof the campaign, as well as beingentered for the grand prize drawingto be held at the conclusion of thecampaign. Weekly drawing prizes arestill being finalized, but thegrand prize will be provided byCenter Director Roy Bridges inthe form of two passes on thecenter director’s bus for a futurelaunch and a photo of the winnerwith Bridges. Information concerning thecampaign can be found on theKennedy Space Center CombinedFederal Campaign website at http://cfc99.ksc.nasa.gov/ This website will be activated onOct. 1. It will include an on-linecontribution form and brochurewhich will make participation inCombined Federal Campaign eveneasier. Barbara Brown, NASA chiefinformation officer, is KennedySpace Center’s 1999 CombinedFederal Campaign chairperson. Brown is hopeful that contribu-tions will again exceed the cam-paign goal set for this year.

KSC’s CFC set to begin

The 1999 KSC/Cape CanaveralAir Station Employee Open Househas been rescheduled for Saturday,Nov. 6. The event, with the theme“Space Partners Opening theGateway to the Future,” includesKennedy Space Center, CapeCanaveral Air Station (CCAS) andthe Naval Ordnance Test Unit. The event, which is open to allKSC and CCAS badged employeesand their guests, will run from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. Many of the mostpopular facilities at KSC and

CCAS are scheduled to be open,and other planned highlightsinclude appearances by severalastronauts. Food services will beprovided as well. At least one badged employeemust be in each vehicle, which canbe no larger than a 15-passengervan. More information will bepublished in future issues of KSCCountdown and Spaceport News. Adetailed brochure including mapsof the open facilities will be mailedto employees before the event.

Saturn-bound Cassini takesa close look at Earth’s moon

New images and brief movies of the Earth’s moon, takenby the camera system on NASA’s Saturn-bound Cassinispacecraft when it flew by Earth four weeks ago wererecently released by the Cassini Imaging Team. Cassini’simages can be viewed at http://condor.lpl.arizona.edu/ . Cassini, launched Oct. 15, 1997, from Launch Complex40 on Cape Canaveral Air Station, flew past Earth to gainenough energy to reach distant Saturn in 2004, where thespacecraft will make detailed studies for four years. The images released include a wide-angle movie, anarrow-angle video clip, the moon in ultravioletand a “triptych” (a three-paneled composite image) of themoon. They were taken from a distance of about 234,000miles about 80 minutes prior to Cassini’s closest approachto Earth. No images of Earth were planned or takenduring Cassini's flyby.

Page 4 SPACEPORT NEWS September 17, 1999

Columbia ...(Continued from Page 1)

Above, Shuttle Columbia rolled out to KSC’s Pad 39B for STS-87, a 16-day flight of theUnited States Microgravity Payload-4 mission. This mission also featured a spacewalkto demonstrate assembly and maintenance operations for future use on the InternationalSpace Station.

Above, the orbiter Columbia is lifted on Oct. 24, 1997, in KSC’s Vehicle AssemblyBuilding transfer aisle in preparation for mating to its solid rocket boosters and externaltank before roll-out to Pad 39B for STS-87. The external tank and solid rocket boostersare stacked and mated on a mobile launcher platform prior to mating with an orbiter.Orbiter connections then can be made, and the fully integrated Shuttle vehicle is thenchecked and ordnance is installed. If the payload was not installed in the OrbiterProcessing Facility, it will be installed at the launch pad followed by prelaunch activities.Below, on March 31, 1981, Columbia waited patiently on Pad 39A showered with lightsin a nighttime preparation for a Flight Readiness Firing at KSC prior to STS-1.

“Columbia is a heavy vehiclebecause she has a lot of additionalwiring and instrumentation leftover from her initial development,being the first orbiter for actualflight,” commented George Jacobs,NASA OV-102 lead project engi-neer. “We’re going to remove someof that additional wiring, known asdevelopment flight instrumentation[DFI] at Palmdale.” In addition to the removal of itsDFI wiring, Columbia will have afull wiring inspection coveringmuch of the main electrical wiringfrom nose to tail. When completed,technicians will have inspectedroughly 100 miles of electricalwiring for Columbia, as they willhave in each of the four Shuttle

orbiters. Orbiter electrical wiringinspections and repairs werescheduled for each of the orbitersafter a short occured on the flightof STS-93 in July. Other wiringupgrades scheduled for Columbia’smaintenance period include makingthe vehicle capable for an orbiterdocking system. Columbia is theonly one of the fleet without thatcapability at present. “We will put in the wiring for theorbiter docking system from thecrew module to the interface in thepayload bay,” said Jacobs. This will give the Columbiaground crew the flexibility to beable to add an external airlock toColumbia here at KSC, ifnecessary. “We’re not going to replaceColumbia’s internal airlock with an

Page 5SPACEPORT NEWSSeptember 17, 1999

Above, the orbiter Columbia was towed from KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility to theVehicle Assembly Building on March 25, 1979, two years before its first orbital flight.

Left, with sunrise just minutes away, theSTS-80 mission concluded with a perfectlanding by Columbia at KSC's ShuttleLanding Facility, runway 33. Below, therecovery convoy crew greeted Columbiafollowing main gear touchdown of STS-80 on Dec. 7, 1996. Prior landing attemptson Dec. 5 and 6 were scrubbed due toweather conditions, and the extended timealoft allowed the five-member crew to seta (then) new record for long-durationShuttle flight. At main gear touchdown,mission duration was 17 days, 16 hours.The current launch manifest has Columbiascheduled for another long-durationmission in late 2000 — with about a 16-day mission.

external airlock, like the otherorbiters have for docking with theInternational Space Station, but byadding the wiring for the dockingsystem, this will give Columbia theability to receive an externalairlock should the opportunity arisefor her to dock with theInternational Space Station,”Jacobs noted. Columbia is not scheduled in thecurrent launch manifest to dockwith the Space Station. The addition of an external airlock at this time would take awayfrom one of Columbia’s uniquefeatures — her big belly. “We want to keep the 60-footcargo bay because there are stillpayloads, like the Chandra X-rayObservatory, that only Columbiacould fly,” he stated. The largest payload ever to belaunched by a Shuttle, Chandra —at more than 45 feet in length andweighing more than five tons —could only have been launched byanother orbiter in the fleet if theorbiter had its external airlockremoved, but then the flight crewwould have lost the capability forspacewalks during the mission,which is an option best left open incase there’s a concern with thepayload on orbit. Chandra had its own main-tenance issues, too, before it couldget off the ground, so the cracker-jack Columbia team on the groundtook advantage of the extra timebefore flight to shave off a fewpounds before the liftoff of STS-93. “Because our mission keptgetting delayed due to payloadissues, we took time to perform afew initial weight savingsmodifications,” Jacobs recalls.“They’re little things, but they alladd up. For example, there used tobe two layers of aluminum tapeinside on the walls of the landinggear, inside the wheel wells. Wereplaced those two layers with onelayer, which may only be a fewpounds, but it makes headwaybefore the OMDP in Palmdale.” The team was able to completesome weight-savings measures hereat KSC, while others will have tobe completed when Columbiareaches Palmdale. There, Columbiais also scheduled to receive aspace-to-space orbiter radio,intended to facilitate communica-tion between Shuttle crew

members, space-walking astronautsand the International Space Stationcrew members without relying onground stations for transmission. Columbia is scheduled to receivewireless video capability, too, foruse during extravehicular activity,or spacewalks. In addition to becoming“docking-ready,” Columbia willreceive the capability to use aglobal positioning system, or GPS,while on orbit. Although the systemmay not be used in her next fewflights, it will be ready for use oncethe system has proven its effective-ness on orbit. Perhaps one of the mostextensive parts of the overhaul forColumbia, however, will be theaddition of a multi-functionalelectronic display system (MEDS),also known as the “glass cockpit.”

During Columbia’s cockpitmodification, all of the old dials,gauges and knobs will be replaced

with the latest in computertechnology, similar to work alreadycompleted on Atlantis. Finally, added protection will bea part of Columbia’s OMDP. Aradiator impact protection mod-ification will be performed toprotect the coolant lines on theoutside of the orbiter from anypossible orbital debris. Although the overhaul is bothnecessary and good for Columbia,OMDP isn’t always a welcometime in an orbiter’s life. “The crew that works on thevehicle day in and day out willmiss Columbia,” said Jacobs, buttheir devotion and attention todetail doesn’t go unnoticed. “One of the comments we hadfrom the flight crew of STS-93 wasthat it was the cleanest vehiclethey’d ever seen,” Jacobs added.“Since the vehicle had beengrounded for more than a year priorto that flight, that was a realcompliment.”

SPACEPORT NEWS September 17, 1999Page 6

The ground testing, known as the multi-element integration test (MEIT) program, forthe International Space Station (ISS) hasfinished a significant number of the test objec-tives identified for completion this year. These tests have yielded important flightreadiness data for engineers who are preparingthe hardware for launch at KSC’s Space StationProcessing Facility (SSPF). Parts of the Space Station are being poweredup and initialized in the same order as astronautsand cosmonauts will activate them in space. “We run these tests in order to minimizeproblems or additional work for the crews inspace,” said John Straiton, NASA chief of theMEIT Implementation Office. “We have to besure before we send the elements up that we’vedone as much as possible on the ground toassure the elements perform together on orbit.” The tests include checks of power, data andfluid systems interconnections, and elementsoftware and hardware. While there have notbeen many hardware problems, there have beensome software problems that require additionalwork and retest. The MEIT program is divided into threephases. A fourth phase is under development.Each phase is also segmented into test configu-rations and subsets called “slices.” As an example, engineers recently completedPhase I of test configuration 4 (TC4) for theU.S. Laboratory “Destiny” and the Canadianremote manipulator system, both of which are tobe launched next year. It is crucial that the lab and the arm’s elec-tronic systems are fully compatible because the

lab will house a portablecomputer system that willoperate everything on theStation. The astronauts willbe able to manipulate thearm from within the labusing an integrated videosystem receiving livepictures from cameraspositioned on the arm andthe Station’s structure. Initially, all assemblyoperations will take placeoutside of the lab, so it isextremely important thatthe astronauts can see allviews associated witheverything they’ll need toaccomplish their tasks,”said Jim Werpy, a primary test conductor forBoeing. Their team is supporting NASA and theinternational partners as well as other contrac-tors working on the ISS program at KSC. “We’re fortunate to have a great civil serviceand contractor team working together onMEIT,” he continued. “That’s especially important when you haveto work on unanticipated anomalies that occurduring testing, particularly when late into thenight or on weekends,” said Straiton. “Youreally need a good, reliable team.” During the MEIT testing, engineers andtechnicians often worked around the clock,seven days a week in three shifts to complete thebattery of complex tests. As the effort pro-gressed, the MEIT test team had the opportunity

Destination: Station — MEIT places ISS one step closer to next launch

A Multi-Element Integration Test (MEIT) was performed in KSC’s Space Station Processing Facility to ensure thatcomponents of the International Space Station (ISS) work properly together before they are launched into orbit.Within the framework at right is the U.S. Lab, called Destiny, and at left is the Z-1 truss. The most recent MEITcombined the P-6 photovoltaic module, the Z-1 truss and Pressurized Mating Adapter 3. Electrical and fluid connectionswere hooked up to verify how the ISS elements operate together.

to modify several key processes and proceduresto gain efficiency which ultimately contributedto the success of the test. For the remainder of the year, the test teamwill perform regression slices of TC2 (Z1 andP6 elements and the laboratory) and TC4 toretest software and hardware “fixes.” Phase I of MEIT is expected to be fullycomplete in February 2000. Phase II will beginnext April. This will be followed by Phase III that willinclude tests of the Japanese ExperimentModule and Node 2, a pressurized elementsimilar to Node 1 (Unity) which is already inorbit with the Russian-built Zarya. Elements for the next five assembly missionsof the International Space Station are currentlyundergoing integration in the SSPF and haveparticipated in various stages of MEIT testing. After the regression tests are complete, thenext major objective will be an end-to-end(ETE) test and a Mission Sequence Test (MST),set to begin before the end of December 1999. The ETE communications test will connectthe flight hardware in the SSPF with MissionControl in Houston via the Tracking and DataRelay Satellite (TDRS). This test will verify thecommunication links and the ability of theMission Control flight controllers to commandand monitor the flight elements as they will oncethe hardware is on orbit. The MST will be a dress rehearsal of theactivities once the elements are initially on orbit. The actual timelines will be validated usingcrew procedures, just as on orbit. This willinvolve flight crew members, who will come toKSC to participate, and the Mission Controlflight controllers at Johnson Space Center in asclose to final flight hardware and softwareconfiguration as can be performed on theground. Subsequent to the MEIT completion, theflight elements will go through final prepara-tions, close-outs, and readiness for launch.

SPACEPORT NEWSSeptember 17, 1999 Page 7

Drumming up a solvent solution Webster’s Dictionary providesone definition of the word solventas “something that provides asolution.” In the case of a recent study ofozone-depleting substances for theShuttle Program, it meant someoneproviding a solution. NASA Propellants EngineerChuck Davis, in the LogisticsOperations Directorate, had beenworking on the study when mem-bers of the NASA Space ShuttleProgram Launch Integration Officeand the USA Logistics groupdetermined that 247 more drums ofS113 cleaning solvent would beneeded above KSC’s existinginventory in order to continueoperations until 2020. The Shuttle is planned to flyuntil at least that year. S113 is used to precision cleancritical Shuttle flight componentsthat are not able to be cleaned withany of the new non-ozone depletingsubstance cleaning solvents or therecently implemented aqueouscleaning method. “I had already talked with oursupplier about buying someadditional S113,” said Davis.“ Thiswould most likely be the lastopportunity to buy any ‘new’ S113since production had actuallyceased in 1995.” In discussing the situation witha colleague, Davis learned thata Defense Logistics Agency(DLA) Ozone Depleting Sub-stances Reserve (ODSR) inVirginia may have extra S113available. After several days andnumerous phone calls to variousorganizations, Davis located theadministrator of the ODSR depot

Part of the team that worked on getting the solvent to KSC included, left to right in thefront row, Tim Gibbs, Space Gateway Support (SGS); Jim Newberry, Defense LogisticsAgency (DLA); Keith Walters, DLA; Steve Manning, DLA; Juan Santos, SGS; and ChuckDavis, NASA. On the fender is Brad Freed, SGS.

and told him what KSC wasseeking. The administrator toldDavis he’d have to look into thesituation and get back to him. A few days later, Davis receiveda phone call back with the goodnews. There were more than 300drums of the S113 solvent locatedat a DLA depot in Lathrop, Calif.,that the DLA had planned on‘excessing,’ and it was availableto NASA through an interagencyexchange — at no acquisition cost! Now Davis and his team neededto see if the solvent met therequirements for KSC’s needs.After a trip out to the Sharpe Depotin Lathrop, Davis and a teamdetermined that it was exactly whatthe Shuttle Program needed. Letters were exchanged betweenNASA and the DLA to agree totransfer the solvent, worth about

$2.6 million, for the cost oftransportation. Not only did this save NASAmillions of dollars, it saved theDefense Logistics Agency the costof disposing of the solvent. Davis and eight individualsfrom Space Gateway Supportwent out to California with twotankers, a railroad tank car andseveral boxes of tools, hosesand pumps to salvage the solventfor the Shuttle program. During the trip, it was so hotthat the solvent in the drums wasactually boiling (boiling point is117F) while the technicianspumped the solvent from the drumsinto the tankers. The tankers carried the solventcross country back to KSC inSeptember. The railroad tank car is due backat KSC this month.

The International SpaceStation’s systemscontinue to functionnormally, with no majorproblems. Troubleshooting

continued on one ofthe Space Station’s sixbatteries (Battery No. 1),which is not being used toprovide electrical power.This battery is to bereplaced by the STS-101crew and may be returnedto Earth for examination. Instruments haveindicated the battery wascharging and dischargingin an unpredicted manner. Five other batteriescontinue to provideadequate power for theSpace Station. The Russian-builtService Module will bethe third element to beattached to the orbitingstation. The module isnow scheduled for launchfrom the BaikonurCosmodrome in Russia inNovember. The Space Station isoriented with Unitypointed toward Earth andZarya pointed towardspace in a slow spin toconserve fuel. The Stationis in an orbit with a highpoint of 244 statute milesand a low point of 234statute miles, circling theEarth every 92 minutes. The complex hascompleted more than4,550 orbits since launchof Zarya last November. Space Station viewingopportunities worldwideare available on theInternet at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

Space Station news A NASA satellite instrument iskeeping an eye on an icebergthe size of Rhode Island, the firsttime this space technology hasbeen used to track a potential threatto international shipping. NASA's orbiting SeaWinds radarinstrument, flying aboardthe “QuikSCAT” satellite, willmonitor Iceberg B10A, whichsnapped off Antarctica seven yearsago and has since drifted into ashipping lane. SeaWinds launched

from Vandenberg Air Force Baseon June 19, 1999, aboard a Titan IIrocket. KSC is the lead NASAcenter for the acquisition andmanagement of expendable launchvehicle launch services. The iceberg, measuring about 24miles by 48 miles, was spotted bythe instrument during its first passover Antarctica, demonstratingSeaWinds’ all-weather and day-night observational capabilities.The massive iceberg extends about

300 feet above water and mayreach as deep as 1,000 feet belowthe ocean’s surface. It is breakingup into smaller pieces that couldpose a threat to commercial, cruiseand fishing ships. Although conventional methodsof tracking sea-surface ice areusually sufficient for tracking largepieces of ice, icebergs cansometimes disappear in the poorvisibility of dark, cloudyAntarctic winters.

SeaWinds keeps track of iceberg in Antarctica

John F. Kennedy Space Center

Managing editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bruce BuckinghamEditor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan Maurer

Editorial support provided by Information Dynamics Inc. Writers Group.NASA at KSC is on the Internet at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov

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Spaceport News

Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center andis published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest ofKSC civil service and contractor employees. Contributions are welcome and should be submitted two weeks beforepublication to the Media Services Branch, AB-F1. E-mail submissions can besent to Susan.Maurer-1@ksc.nasa.gov

SPACEPORT NEWS September 17, 1999Page 8

Hubble Space Telescope repair crew prepare for stellar results

This troupe of galaxies, the HicksonCompact Group 87, performs an

intricate dance orchestrated by themutual gravitational forces acting

between them. The dance is a slow,graceful minuet, occurring over a

time span of hundreds of millions of years. This galaxy

group in this Hubble Space

Telescope image has a diameter of

170,000 lightyears.

Images from theHubble Space Tele-scope, such as thisdying star at right,provide us with morethan just a stellarlight-show. Hubble’simages define forastronomers howthese stellar outburstsprovide a way forheavier elements,such as carbon,cooked in the star'score, to be ejectedinto interstellar spaceas raw material forsuccessive genera-tions of stars, planetsand, potentially, life.

Above and above right, the STS-103 crew participated in a Crew Equipment InterfaceTest (CEIT) in KSC’s Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility on Sept. 2 and 3. The CEITgives astronauts a hands-on look at the payloads with which they will be working onorbit. STS-103 is a "call-up" mission, due to the need to replace portions of the HubbleSpace Telescope pointing system, the gyros, which have begun to fail on the telescope.Although Hubble is operating normally and conducting scientific observations, onlythree of its six gyroscopes, which allow the telescope to point at stars, galaxies andplanets, are working properly. The launch is now scheduled for Oct. 28 at 10:31 p.m.