Wednesday, February 05, 2003

Technical Services Division (TSD) Involvement with Shuttle Columbia, Mission STS-107 Technical Services Division (TSD) Involvement with Shuttle Columbia, Mission STS-107 http://www.orbital.com     The MEIDEX (Mediterranean Israeli Dust Experiment) project began in late 1999 for Tel-Aviv University.  Tel-Aviv supplied TSD with a special Radiometric camera, which is like a video camera with a spinning filter wheel to measure reflected light intensity at different wavelengths from aerosols (dust particles).  The data is correlated with ground based and airborne observations.  The experiment is aimed at dust storms that come off the Sahara desert.  As secondary science MEIDEX was to obtain data on Sprites and Elves, which are lightning bolts that go into space from thunderstorms. TSD was responsible for the overall implementation of the MEIDEX instrument. This included system design, technical reviews, testing and Shuttle integration.  Technical reviews for the scientists and engineers from Tel-Aviv University (our customer) were held here in Greenbelt, MD.  Col. Ramon attended several of the engineering meetings.   The development included integration of the Tel-Aviv provided cameras and digital VCRs into a Hitchhiker Canister.  TSD also developed the overall system concept including: a power system, C&DH processor, video switching systems, a pointing mechanism, a vibration isolated optical bench to carry the camera, and flight software for the control of the experiment from the crew’s cabin on a laptop computer.  Secondary control of the camera was also possible from a laptop at the Payload Operations Control Center, at NASA GSFC, where Israeli scientists could monitor the video and control the experiment if necessary.   As part of the development process, TSD also prepared the safety data package and safety analyses of the hardware, including the Israeli provided COTS hardware that had been hardened for space flight.  This analysis was used to obtain Payload Safety Review Panel approval for Ground Processing/Flight by NASA/JSC and KSC.   MEIDEX was only one of six experiments carried in the Shuttle’s cargo bay as part of the Fast Reaction Experiments Enabling Science, Technology, Applications and Research (FREESTAR) payload that was mounted to a Hitchhiker Bridge. The other experiments were: Solar Constant Experiment Shuttle Ozone Limb Sounding Experiment Critical Viscosity of Xenon Low Power Transceiver Space Experimental Module TSD personnel working on the Mechanical Systems Engineering Services (MSES) Contract at NASA/GSFC, under subcontract to Swales were responsible for the electrical interfaces between the FREESTAR experiments and the Shuttle; the electrical integration of the FREESTAR to the Orbiter; and the performance of the integrated comprehensive performance test at NASA KSC. Press information from CNN.com (January 20, 2003):   Israel scientists in charge of Space Shuttle Columbia’s desert dust-monitoring experiment said Monday they have yet to find any dust storms but are zooming in on thunderstorms with electrifying results. A pair of cameras aboard Columbia have captured video images of an elf—a luminous red, bagel-shaped electrical phenomenon that occurs above a thunderstorm in less than a millisecond, said Yoav Yair, an atmospheric scientist at the open University of Israel in Tel Aviv.   These are the first scientific images of an elf ever recorded from space, and they were captured by chance, Yair said…It was not until the images were transmitted to Yair and other scientists back on Earth that they realized what they had.  “It’s causing really great excitement”, Yair said from NASA’S payload control center in Greenbelt, MD.  “bingo, we nailed one almost in the first data take.  It was amazing.”   The astronauts beamed images of these other electrical phenomena in the atmosphere to the Ground Station. Tel Aviv University scientists have focused on plumes of pollution coming from Europe.  Their goal is the same; to see how the particles affect cloud formation and, consequently, climate.   Press information from CNN.com (January 26, 2003): Most of the pre-launch media attention focused on Ramon, who is Israel's first astronaut and the son of a Holocaust survivor… an Israeli Air Force colonel chosen in 1998 to be his nation's first spaceman...  Invariably described as a modest family man, he acknowledged the symbolic importance of his flight, but always tried to steer attention to the scientific goals of the mission and their potential for human progress… Since the January 16 launch, with the exception of a few brief exchanges with reporters and a pre-planned Earth-to-orbit hook-up with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Ramon has mostly been heard reading out various measurements and describing progress on research projects…Ramon is not the only Israeli performing well in space, though. The Israeli MEIDEX camera last week captured the first calibrated images from space of elusive electrical phenomena known as elves that occur on top of thunderclouds.  Scientists may also have captured a similar but never-before-seen phenomenon that has yet to be named… especially good news for the tiny Israel Space Agency, which gets only about $1 million a year from its government, and wants to someday fly a version of the MEIDEX on the International Space Station. Postscript: On January 29, the last day of observations, the MEIDEX, concurrently with airplane imaging, observed a phenolic dust storm over the Sahara desert near Tel-Aviv, thus satisfying all mission objectives. 7:06:26 PM    comment []

NASA Announcement NRA-03-OES-03: INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE IN THE NASA EARTH SCIENCE ENTERPRISE NRA 03-OES-03 This NASA Research Announcement (NRA) provides an opportunity for members of the scientific community to propose interdisciplinary research in response to seven questions taken from the NASA Earth Science Enterprise (ESE) Research Strategy.  These questions are below. How are global ecosystems changing? ·What trends in atmospheric constituents and solar radiation are driving global climate?  How is global sea level affected by climate change?  How are variations in local weather, precipitation and water resources related to global climate variation?  What are the consequences of climate and sea level changes and increased human activities on coastal regions?  How well can long-term climate trends be assessed or predicted?  How well can cycling of carbon through the Earth system be modeled, and how reliable are predictions of future atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane by these models? Investigations selected under this NRA will constitute the next phase of the ESE Earth Observing System Interdisciplinary Science Program (EOS/IDS).  EOS/IDS investigations should integrate research from more than one of the Earth science disciplines traditionally supported by ESE.  NASA encourages investigations using data and models from multiple satellites and sensors.  Results of selected research should provide inputs to or promote the development of models that advance our understanding of important aspects of the Earth system. Participation in this NRA is open to all categories of institutions, including educational, industrial, non-profit organizations, NASA centers and other US agencies.  Participation by non-U.S. institutions must meet specific guidelines contained in the NRA and include a no-exchange-of-funds provision. The complete NRA will be available electronically on the release date, via the Internet at the Research Opportunities Web Page at http://research.hq.nasa.gov under "Office of Earth Science (Code Y)".  A paper copy will be available to those who do not have access to Internet by calling (202) 358-3552 and leaving a voice mail message. This announcement will be open from February 14, 2003 through May 1, 2003, and proposals may be submitted at any time throughout this period.  Notice of Intent is due March 14, 2003. Point of Contact Name:      Mr. Woody Turner Title:        Program Scientist Phone:     (202) 358-1662 Fax:         (202) 358-2770 Email:     wturner@hq.nasa.gov 7:01:19 PM    comment []

Tribute to STS-107 Larry, I would like to add my condolences as well and the hope that NASA will not cave in with a protracted shutdown of the shuttle program. While horribly regrettable, people need to realize that in spite of all the good intentions and best of safety programs, space is a dangerous place and the loss of only 17 astronauts in a thirty year time span is an amazingly small number. If you have a way to do so, please pass my condolences to the astronaut's families. Here is my very small contribution as well. http://www.mnsdesigns.com/columbia_tribute/ Steve Smith M and S Designs An extra verse to the Navy Hymn: "Almighty Ruler of the all Whose power extends to great and small, Who guides the stars with steadfast law, Whose least creation fills with awe; Oh, grant thy mercy and thy grace To those who venture into space." (from "Ordeal in Space", 1948 By Robert A. Heinlein) 6:32:09 PM    comment []

California Columbia Images Go to the following URL for some additional footage of the Columbia breakup as taken from California. - LRK - http://www.eclipsetours.com/sat/index From Paul Maley's SATELLITE PAGE. IMAGES FROM THE REENTRY OF COLUMBIA BEFORE ITS FINAL DISINTEGRATION OVER TEXAS!! Here are two sets of photos, the first 2 are from actual prints while the latter 3 are stills from video. The two reporting satellite observers, Rick Baldridge, Campbell CA and John Sanford, Orange County, CA are to be commended for their competency and diligence in recording the reentry and also in submitting the information to NASA. Both are very experienced observers and were very diligent in observational methods and reporting. The following photographs were taken with a 16mm and 28mm lens respectively by amateur astronomer Rick Baldridge observing the reentry of STS-107. http://www.eclipsetours.com/sat/index Paul D. Maley's Homepage http://www.eclipsetours.com/maley.html 7:27:46 AM    comment []