NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION STS-78
PRESS KIT
JUNE 1996

Life and Microgravity Spacelab

For Information on the Space Shuttle

Ed Campion        Policy/Management         202/358-1778
  Headquarters, 
  Washington, DC

Rob Navias        Mission Operations        713/483-5111
  Johnson Space Center,      Astronauts
  Houston, TX

Bruce Buckingham  Launch Processing,
    KSC Landing Information                  407/867-2468
  Kennedy Space Center, FL 

June Malone External Tank/Shuttle Propulsion 205/544-0034
  Marshall Space Flight Center,
  Huntsville, AL

Cam Martin     DFRC Landing Information      805/258-3448
  Dryden Flight Research Center, 
  Edwards, CA

STS-78 Experiments & Activities


Mike Braukus    LMS                          202/358-1979
  Headquarters, 
  Washington, DC


CONTENTS


GENERAL BACKGROUND

1.0 General Release
2.0 Media Services Information
  2.1 NASA Television Transmission
  2.2 Status Reports 
  2.3 Briefings
  2.4 Internet Information
3.0 Quick-Look Facts
4.0 Shuttle Abort Modes
5.0 Mission Summary Timeline
6.0 Orbital Events Summary
7.0 Payload and Vehicle Weights
8.0 Crew Responsibilities
9.0 DEVELOPMENTAL TEST OBJECTIVES/DETAILED 
SUPPLEMENTARY OBJECTIVES
          
10.0 THE LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SPACELAB MISSION
  10.1 Musculoskeletal Investigations
  10.2 Metabolic Investigations
  10.3 Pulmonary Investigation
  10.4 Human Behavior and Performance Investigations
  10.5 Neuroscience Investigations
  10.6 Space Biology Experiments
  10.7 Bubble, Drop and Particle Unit
  10.8  Advanced Gradient Heating Facility
  10.9 Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility
  10.10 Accelerometers
11.0 STS-78 Mission Management 
12.0 STS-78 Crew Biographies
  12.1 Tom Henricks, Commander (CDR)
  12.2 Kevin Kregel, Pilot (PLT)
  12.3 Rick Linnehan, Mission Specialist 1 (MS 1)
  12.4 Susan Helms, Payload Cdr, Mission Specialist 2 (MS 2)
  12.5 Charles Brady, Mission Specialist 3
  12.6 Jean-Jacques Favier, Payload Specialist 1
  12.7 Robert Thirsk, Payload Specialist 2 (PS 2)

1.0 General Release

RELEASE:  96-116

LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SCIENCES RESEARCH 
HIGHLIGHT SHUTTLE MISSION STS-78
 
          The flight of Space Shuttle Columbia on Mission 
STS-78 will utilize an orbiting research laboratory to 
conduct a diverse slate of experiments on how human beings 
and other living organisms along with various materials 
change in a weightless environment.

     Launch of Columbia is currently targeted for June 20, 
1996 at 10:49 a.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center's Launch 
Complex 39-B.  The STS-78 mission duration is currently 
planned for 15 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes.  However, Mission 
Control will be carefully managing and monitoring Columbia's 
electrical power consumption with an eye towards extending 
the flight one day so additional science work can be 
performed.  If the extension day happens, the mission 
duration would become 16 days, 22 hours, 2 minutes and would 
make the STS-78 flight NASA's longest Shuttle mission to 
date.  An on-time launch and one day mission extension would 
set Columbia up for a landing on July 7th at 8:51 a.m. EDT at 
Kennedy Space Center.

     The STS-78 crew will be commanded by Terence T. "Tom" 
Henricks, making his fourth Shuttle flight.  Payload 
Commander and Mission Specialist-2 Susan 
J. Helms, is making her third flight. The pilot for the 
mission, Kevin R. Kregel, is making his second flight.  There 
are two other mission specialists assigned to the flight.  
Richard M. Linnehan, serving as Mission Specialist-1, is 
making his first flight.   Charles E. Brady, serving as 
Mission Specialist-3, is making his first flight.  There also 
are two payload specialists serving as part of the STS-78 
crew.  Jean-Jacques Favier from the French Atomic Energy 
Commission (CEA) and an astronaut of the French Space Agency 
(CNES) will serve as Payload Specialist-1.  Robert Brent 
Thirsk from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) will serve as 
Payload Specialist-2.  Both Favier and Thirsk will be making 
their first space flight.

          The flight will involve the Life and Microgravity 
Sciences (LMS) payload being carried in the pressurized 
Spacelab module in Columbia's cargo bay and
will focus on two main areas.  The LMS life science studies 
will probe the responses of living organisms to the low-
gravity environment and highlight musculoskeletal physiology.  
LMS microgravity experiments will focus on understanding the 
subtle influences at work during processing of various 
samples, such as alloy materials, when gravity's effect is 
greatly reduced.  On Earth, gravity distorts scientific 
results.  Materials processed on orbit reveal underlying 
secrets masked or distorted in ground-based laboratories.  
Likewise, free from gravity, the human body undergoes changes 
that can affect astronaut performance.  While LMS life 
sciences information will help prepare crews for longer 
duration missions, the causes of, and cures for, similar 
ailments experienced on Earth may be found.

     The STS-78 crew also will take on the role of teachers 
as they educate students in the United States and other 
countries about their mission objectives.  Using the Shuttle 
Amateur Radio Experiment-II, which is carried aboard the 
Shuttle on a regular basis, crewmembers will talk with 
students around the world about what it is like to live and 
work in space.  

     STS-78 will be the 20th flight of Columbia  and the 78th 
mission flown since the start of the Space Shuttle program in 
April 1981.

- end of general release -

2.0 MEDIA SERVICES INFORMATION

  2.1 NASA Television Transmission

     NASA Television is available through the Spacenet-2 
satellite system.  Spacenet-2 is located on Transponder 5, at 
69 degrees West longitude, frequency 3880.0 MHz, audio 6.8 
MHz.

   The schedule for television transmissions from the Orbiter 
and for mission briefings will be available during the 
mission at Kennedy Space Center, FL; Marshall Space Flight 
Center, Huntsville, AL; Dryden Flight Research Center, 
Edwards, CA; Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX; and NASA 
Headquarters, Washington, DC.  The television schedule will 
be updated to reflect changes dictated by mission operations.

     Television schedules also may be obtained by calling 
COMSTOR at 713/483-5817.  COMSTOR is a computer data base 
service requiring the use of a telephone modem.  A voice 
update of the television schedule is provided daily at noon 
Eastern time.

     Television schedules also may be obtained via the 
Internet on:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/ntv.html

  2.2 Status Reports

     Status reports on countdown and mission progress, on-
orbit activities and landing operations will be produced by 
the appropriate NASA newscenter.

  2.3 Briefings

     A mission press briefing schedule will be issued prior 
to launch.  During the mission, status briefings by a flight 
director or mission operations representative and when 
appropriate, representatives from the payload team, will 
occur at least once each day.  The updated NASA television 
schedule will indicate when mission briefings are planned.

  2.4 Internet Information

     Information on STS-78 is available through several 
sources on the Internet.  The primary source for mission 
information is the NASA Shuttle Web, part of the World Wide 
Web.  This site contains information on the crew and their 
mission and will be regularly updated with status reports, 
photos and video clips thoughout the flight.  The NASA 
Shuttle Web's address is:

http://shuttle.nasa.gov

If that address is busy or unavailable, Shuttle information 
is available through the Office of Space Flight Home Page:

http://www.osf.hq.nasa.gov/

General information on NASA and its programs is available 
through the NASA Home Page and the NASA Public Affairs Home 
Page:

http://www.nasa.gov
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/hqpao/hqpao_home.html

Information on other current NASA activities is available 
through the Today@NASA page:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/NewsRoom/today.html

Status reports, TV schedules and other information is also 
available from the NASA Headquarters FTP server, 
ftp.hq.nasa.gov.  Log in as anonymous and go to the 
directory /pub/pao.  Users should log on with the user name 
"anonymous" (no quotes), then enter their E-mail address as 
the password. Within the /pub/pao directory there will be a 
"readme.txt" file explaining the directory structure. 

NASA's Spacelink, a resource for educators, also provides 
mission information via the Internet.  The system fully 
supports the following Internet services:

World Wide Web       http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov
Gopher               spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov
Anonymous FTP        spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov
Telnet               spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov

Spacelink's dial-up modem line is 205-895-0028.

Access by CompuServe

     Users with CompuServe accounts can access NASA press 
releases by typing "GO NASA" (no quotes) and making a 
selection from the categories offered.

3.0 Quick-Look Facts

Launch Date/Site:       June 20, 1996/KSC Launch Pad 39-B
Launch Time:            10:49 AM EDT
Launch Window:          2 hours, 30 minutes
Orbiter:                 Columbia (OV-102), 20th flight
Orbit Altitude         153 nautical miles
Orbit Inclination:     39 degrees
Mission Duration:      15 days, 22 hours
Landing Date:           July 7, 1996
Landing Time:           8:49 AM EDT
Primary Landing Site:  Kennedy Space Center, FL
Abort Landing Sites:
   Return to Launch Site - KSC
   Transoceanic Abort Sites
       Ben Guerir, Morocco
       Moron, Spain
       Zaragoza, Spain
   Abort-Once Around
       Edwards Air Force Base, CA

Crew:
   Tom Henricks, Commander (CDR)
   Kevin Kregel, Pilot (PLT)
   Rick Linnehan, Mission Specialist 1 (MS 1)
   Susan Helms, Payload Cdr, Mission Specialist 2 (MS 2)
   Charles Brady, Mission Specialist 3 (MS 3)
   Jean-Jacques Favier, Payload Specialist 1 (PS 1)
   Robert Thirsk, Payload Specialist 2 (PS 2) 


EVA Crew (if required):
   Susan Helms (EV 1), Rick Linnehan (EV 2)

Cargo Bay Payloads:
          LMS
          EDO Pallet
                    
In-Cabin Payloads:
          SAREX
                         
4.0 Shuttle Abort Modes

     Space Shuttle launch abort philosophy aims toward safe 
and intact recovery of the flight crew, Orbiter and its 
payload.  Abort modes for STS-78 include:

     Abort-To-Orbit (ATO) -- Partial loss of main engine 
thrust late enough to permit reaching a minimal 105-nautical 
mile orbit with the orbital maneuvering system engines.

     Abort-Once-Around (AOA) -- Earlier main engine shutdown 
with the capability to allow one orbit of the Earth before 
landing at the Kennedy Space Center, FL.

     Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) -- Loss of one or more 
main engines midway through powered flight would force a 
landing at either Ben Guerir, Morocco; or Moron, Spain.

     Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) -- Early shutdown of one or 
more engines, and without enough energy to reach a TAL site, 
would result in a pitch around and thrust back toward Kennedy 
until within gliding distance of the Shuttle Landing 
Facility.

5.0 Mission Summary Timeline


Flight Day One:
Launch/Ascent
OMS-2 Burn
Spacelab Activation
LMS Operations

Flight Days 2-5:
LMS Operations

Flight Day 6:
LMS Operations
Off Duty Time

Flight Days 7-10:
LMS Operations

Flight Day 11:
LMS Operations
Off Duty Time
Crew News Conference

Flight Day 12-15:
LMS Operations

Flight Day 16:
LMS Operations
Flight Control System Checkout
Reaction Control System Hot-Fire
Spacelab Deactivation
Cabin Stowage

Flight Day 17:
Deorbit Prep
Deorbit Burn
KSC Landing

6.0 Orbital Events Summary
(Based on a June 20, 1996 Launch)


EVENT                MET            TIME OF DAY (EDT)


Launch                   0/00:00          10:49 AM, June 20

OMS-2                    0/00:43          11:32 AM, June 20

Crew News Conference     9/23:50          10:39 AM, June 30

Deorbit Burn            15/21:00          7:49 AM, July 6

KSC Landing             15/22:00          8:49 AM, July 6


7.0 Payload and Vehicle Weights


Vehicle/Payload                       Pounds

Orbiter (Columbia) empty and 3 SSME's      160,330

Shuttle System at SRB Ignition           4,517,152

Orbiter Weight at Landing with Cargo       256,170

Spacelab Module                             21,272

8.0 Crew Responsibilities


Payloads             Prime             Backup

Spacelab                Kregel, Henricks     Helms, Linnehan
LMS Experiments         Helms               
AGHF                    Favier               Helms
BDPA                    Favier               Helms
PGF                     Helms               Favier
Other microgravity      Helms               Kregel
TVD experiments         Thirsk               Linnehan
ALFE                    Linnehan               Thirsk
COIS                    Thirsk               Helms
Metabolic               Brady               Linnehan
PAWS                    Helms               Henricks
SACS                    Thirsk               Brady
TRE                     Thirsk               Brady
EVA                     Helms (EV 1)          Linnehan
 Intravehicular Crewmember Kregel (EV2)          --------
SAREX                   Brady               Helms
DTO's                   Henricks               Kregel
DSO's                   Henricks               Kregel
Earth Observations      Kregel               Henricks

9.0 DEVELOPMENTAL TEST OBJECTIVES/DETAILED 
SUPPLEMENTARY OBJECTIVES

                    
DTO 301D: Ascent Structural Capability  Evaluation
DTO 307D: Entry Structural Capability
DTO 312:  ET TPS Performance
DTO 319D: Shuttle/Payload Low Frequency Environment
DTO 623:  Cabin Air Monitoring
DTO 667:  Portable In-Flight Landing Operations Trainer
DTO 675:  Voice Control of Closed Circuit Television System
DTO 1126: KCA Video Teleconferencing Demonstration
DSO 487:  Immunological Assessment of Crewmembers
DSO 491:  Characterization of Microbial Transfer Among 
             Crewmembers
DSO 493:  Monitoring Latent Virus Reactivation and Shedding 
             in Astronauts
DSO 802:  Educational Activities
DSO 901:  Documentary Television
DSO 902:  Documentary Motion Picture Photography
DSO 903:  Documentary Still Photography

     
10.0 THE LIFE AND MICROGRAVITY SPACELAB MISSION

     The STS-78 crew will conduct a diverse slate of 
experiments divided into a mix of life science and 
microgravity investigations.  

     LMS life science studies will probe the responses of 
living organisms to the low-gravity environment of the Space 
Shuttle in orbit and highlight musculoskeletal physiology.  
LMS microgravity experiments will focus on understanding the 
subtle influences at work during processing of various 
samples, such as alloy materials, when gravity's effect is 
greatly reduced.  On Earth, gravity distorts scientific 
results.  Materials processed on orbit reveal underlying 
secrets masked or distorted in ground-based laboratories.  
Likewise, free from gravity, the human body undergoes changes 
that can affect astronaut performance.  While LMS life 
sciences information will help prepare crews for longer 
duration missions as our role in space expands, the causes 
of, and cures for, similar ailments experienced on Earth also 
may be found.

     In a manner very similar to future Space Station 
operations, LMS researchers from the United States and abroad 
will share resources such as crew time and equipment. 
Experiments for the mission were developed on a fast-track 
schedule -- about 21 months, versus 36 to 48 months for most 
Spacelab missions.  This faster turnaround time from 
selection to flight also will hold true for many Space 
Station experiments.  To develop effective countermeasures, 
the crew will perform various motor-skill tests and 
participate in measurements of bone and muscle density.  
These data will be supplemented and verified through ground-
based studies and will be compared to data gathered before 
and after the flight.

     LMS life science studies are divided into two fields -- 
human physiology and space biology.  The five areas of human 
physiology are musculoskeletal, metabolic, pulmonary, human 
behavior and performance, and neuroscience.  Three space 
biology experiments will study growth of pine saplings, 
development of fish embryos, and bone changes in laboratory 
rats.


Human Physiology Experiments

     Four major space agencies sponsor the human physiology 
experiments that make up the Johnson Space Center Human Life 
Sciences Project.  They are NASA, the European Space Agency 
(ESA), the French Space Agency (CNES) and the Canadian Space 
Agency (CSA).  Since each complementary experiment studies a 
different body area, a well-rounded data base will be 
generated to help researchers understand how the body changes 
in low gravity so they can develop effective countermeasures.


  10.1 Musculoskeletal Investigations -- Muscles that 
Control Movement 

Effects of Weightlessness on Human Single Muscle Fiber 
Function
Dr. Robert Fitts, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

     Objective:  Although the skeletal muscles continue to 
control and move the body when on orbit, astronauts 
experience muscle wasting similar to the aging process or 
inactivity.  This muscle loss seems to be short-lived and 
reversible, but long-duration flight effects are unknown.

     Procedure:  During crew sessions on an exercise 
ergometer, breathing and heart-rate measurements will be 
made.  Right calf muscle performance will be evaluated using 
the Torque Velocity Dynamometer workstation.  Measurements 
made several times during the mission will be compared to 
data collected before and after flight.  Muscle fiber samples 
will be taken 45 days before launch and soon after landing 
for laboratory analysis.

Relationship of long-term Electromyographic Activity and 
Hormonal Function to Muscle Atrophy and Performance
Dr. V. Reggie Edgerton, University of California/Los Angeles, 
Los Angeles, CA

     Objective:  In space, muscle inactivity may modify 
movement control and alter chemicals secreted that protect 
against weakening.  Researchers want to know whether 
unstressed muscles and the nervous system compensate for 
changes due to lack of adaptation and atrophy and restore 
movement ability both on Earth and in microgravity.

     Procedure:  Right arm and leg muscle movement will be 
measured by the Torque Velocity Dynamometer and 
electromyograph electrical impulses.  Subjects also will 
compress a Hand-Grip Dynamometer to measure hand strength.  
To indicate the importance of nervous system fatigue versus 
tired muscles, the right calf muscles will be tested by 
repeated exercising to measure both force and electrical 
activity.  Blood samples will monitor growth hormone levels.

Effects of Microgravity on Skeletal Muscle Contractile 
Properties
Dr. Paolo Cerretelli, Central Medical University, Geneva, 
Switzerland

     Objective:  On Earth, we take muscle contraction for 
granted.  In space, without gravitational resistance, muscle 
function is impaired.  This investigation will identify the 
effects of selective fiber atrophy, or shrinking, by 
examining muscle contraction data in the left calf.

     Procedure:  Muscles are made of fibers.  Slow-twitch 
fibers generate force for prolonged, continuous activity, 
while fast-twitch muscles produce force for rapid movement 
and exercise.  The Percutaneous Electrical Muscle Stimulation 
device will stimulate muscle contractions, enabling the 
Torque Velocity Dynamometer equipment to measure physical 
capabilities of both these muscle types.  Contraction 
measurements will be correlated with Magnetic Resonance 
Imaging made before and after flight.

Effects of Microgravity on the Biomechanical and Bioenergetic 
Characteristics of Human Skeletal Muscle
Dr. Pietro di Prampero, University of Udine, Italy

     Objective: Studies have shown that the maximum velocity 
at which a muscle can contract is inversely related to 
applied load, or resistance.  Investigators want to know 
whether, and to what extent, this inverse relationship 
changes in microgravity.

     Procedure:  Using the Torque Velocity Dynamometer, crew 
members will exert a series of short elbow and ankle 
contractions made at different joint angles.  Electromyograms 
will be collected to determine the role of nerve input on the 
total force output of the muscles.  Measurements will be made 
before, during and after the mission.  Findings will be 
complemented by a bedrest study conducted before the mission.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Exposure to Microgravity 
(Ground Study)
Dr. Adrian LeBlanc, Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of 
Medicine, Houston, TX

     Objective:  Many changes have been found in bone, muscle 
and blood from humans and animals exposed to microgravity.  
For example, astronauts often experience varying degrees of 
back pain, possibly related to lengthening of the spine in 
microgravity.  These changes must be understood before longer 
missions are undertaken.

     Procedure:  Pre- and post- mission Magnetic Resonance 
Imaging (MRI) will measure the body's muscles.  Muscle volume 
will be compared to performance measurements gathered on 
orbit during other experiments.  As a complement to MRI data, 
Dual Energy Absorptiometry will measure total body and 
regional fat and lean tissue mass, and will monitor fluid 
redistribution after flight.  Investigators also will study 
changes in the cross-sectional areas of discs in the lower 
back.

An Approach to Counteract Impairment of Musculoskeletal 
Function in Space (Ground Study)
Dr. Per Tesch, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

     Objective:  Investigators are seeking the mechanisms 
responsible for impaired musculoskeletal function in response 
to orbital flight.  Whether it be muscle atrophy, or some 
other mechanism, overcoming these effects will enable crews 
to endure long missions.

     Procedure:  Before and after flight, electromyograms 
will determine the magnitude of nerve signals to the muscles 
being exercised.   Using an ergometer with a resistive 
flywheel, subjects will establish individual values of force-
velocity and joint angles and joint angle velocity.  
Voluntary leg press exercises will define maximum force and 
power output for each subject.  MRI scans will make cross-
sectional measurements of crew members' calf and thigh 
muscles.

  10.2 Metabolic Investigations -- Regulatory 
Functions

Direct Measurement of the Initial Bone Response to Space 
Flight
Dr. Christopher Cann, University of California, San 
Francisco, CA

     Objective:  The dynamic human skeleton continually makes 
and removes bone from the body.  In space, reduced 
gravitational loads may induce the skeleton to discard 
calcium; bone loss begins shortly after reaching orbit.  
While seeking countermeasures, researchers may discover 
treatments for the debilitating disease osteoporosis.

     Procedure:  Crew members will take a nonradioactive 
calcium isotope at each meal, from 10 days before the mission 
to 7 days after.  By tracing the isotope in relation to food 
and drink intake, scientists will distinguish calcium intake 
from that shed through waste to determine the amount used by 
bones.

Measurement of Energy Expenditure During Space Flight with 
the Doubly Labeled Water Method
Dr. Peter Stein, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New 
Jersey, Stratford, NJ

     Objective:  This is the first measurement of the 
relationship between energy needs and calorie intake in 
space.  During missions, crew members often lose weight.  
Like malnourishment, burning more calories than are ingested 
results in the breakdown of the body's protein reserves, 
which can lead to impaired performance and illness.     

     Procedure:  The doubly labeled water method accurately 
measures energy output.  Participants drink water with two 
nonradioactive isotopes that are shed by the body at 
different rates and by different paths.  Energy expenditure 
will be analyzed using urine and saliva specimens.  To learn 
how the energy needs in space vary from requirements on 
Earth, researchers will compare in-flight data with preflight 
and bedrest data.

  10.3 Pulmonary Investigation -- Lung Function

Extended Studies of Pulmonary Function in Weightlessness
Dr. John West, University of California/San Diego, La Jolla, 
CA

     Objective:  Previous flight studies indicate gravity is 
not the only factor in perfusion/ventilation gas flow and 
blood flow differences between the top and bottom of the 
lung.  These changes will be measured before and during 
exercise to determine the mechanisms of ventilatory changes.  

     Procedure:  Using astronaut lung function experiment 
equipment, the crew member will inhale either cabin air or a 
test gas.  Exhaled gases will be monitored continuously.  A 
wired vest will gauge rib cage and chest motion to learn how 
microgravity affects the musculoskeletal aspects of breathing 
during heavy exercise, deep breathing and rest periods.  Data 
also will be collected before and after flight and several 
weeks following the mission. 

  10.4 Human Behavior and Performance Investigations 
-- Sleep, Schedule and Skills

Human Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Performance in Space
Dr. Timothy Monk, University of Pittsburgh, PA (Ground Study)
Dr. Alexander Gundel, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, 
Cologne, Germany

     Objective:  This is the first simultaneous study of 
sleep, 24-hour circadian rhythms and task performance in 
microgravity.  While cues such as sunrise and sunset help 
"set" our biological clocks, in low-Earth orbit light and 
dark periods alternate every 45 minutes as the Shuttle 
circles the globe.

     Procedure:  Periodically during the mission, crew 
members will wear a beltpack connected to a temperature 
sensor and another to a sleep cap with electrodes that will 
measure brain waves, eye movements and muscle tone while 
sleeping.   Mood and performance tests will be performed.  
Urine will be collected to help track normal daily rhythms.  
An identical ground study will be conducted after the 
mission.

Microgravity Effects on Standardized Cognitive Performance 
Measures using the Performance Assessment Workstation
Dr. Samuel Schiflett, U.S. Air Force Armstrong Laboratory, 
Brooks Air Force Base, TX

     Objective:  Cognitive, or thinking, skills are critical 
to successfully performing many on board tasks.  This 
experiment will identify the effects of fatigue versus 
microgravity on specific information processing skills.  In 
the future, this information may be used to optimize work 
schedules in space under a variety of conditions.  The goal 
is to maximize productivity and job satisfaction of 
astronauts on extended missions.

     Procedure:  Astronauts will use the Performance 
Assessment Workstation laptop computer to gather performance 
data including the speed and accuracy of responses to rotated 
letters, math problems, letter sequences, etc.  Data will be 
collected before and after flight, and on alternate days 
during the mission.

  10.5 Neuroscience Investigations -- Adapting to 
Space

Torso Rotation Experiment
Dr. Douglas Watt, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

     Objective:   Space adaptation syndrome, a common symptom 
of adjusting to microgravity, produces motion sickness.  
Although symptoms disappear in a few days, this syndrome is 
uncomfortable and affects performance.  
     
     Procedure:  The flight crew at times will wear sensor 
packages that measure eye, head and torso movements during 
normal on-orbit activities early, midway and late into the 
flight.  This information will be compared to data obtained 
before flight to help researchers recommend ways to move in 
order to reduce discomfort and improve performance.


Canal and Otolith Interaction Studies
Dr. Millard Reschke, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

    On Earth, we take balance for granted.  Those with 
balance problems, as well as astronauts, will benefit from 
neuroscience research.

     Objective:  On orbit, the vestibular system, in the 
inner ear, becomes confused as to which way is up or down.  
Disrupting inner ear motion sensors -- semicircular canals 
and otolith organs -- leads to nausea and disorientation.  It 
is vital to understand how the human vestibular system 
adapts.

     Procedure: The experiment will study head movement and 
eye coordination in microgravity four times during the 
mission.  Crew members will use special head gear with a 
screen that displays visual and motion targets; data will be 
collected on how the head and eyes track these cues.  
Readaptation times after flight also will be monitored.

  10.6 Space Biology Experiments

     The three space biology experiments and associated 
science support are managed by Ames Research Center, Mountain 
View, CA; Kennedy Space Center, FL; and Walter Reed Army 
Institute of Research, Washington, DC.

Lignin Formation and the Effects of Microgravity:  A New 
Approach
Dr. Norman Lewis, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

     Objective:  Trees form inferior "reaction" wood when 
they right themselves from a bend.  Lumber and paper 
industries want to know how to control and prevent this 
process.  Biologists will study how pine seedlings respond on 
a cellular level to bending stress in microgravity to study 
the mechanism of this tree growth.

     Procedure:  The middeck locker Plant Growth Unit 
provides lighting, air control and specimen chambers that 
support growth up to 30 days.  Pine seedlings will be placed 
in the chamber in a way that favors reaction wood formation 
on Earth.  The crew will photograph the specimens each day 
and periodically preserve cuttings for ground-based study.

Development of the Fish Medaka in Microgravity
Dr. Debra Wolgemuth, Columbia College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, New York, NY

     Objective:  During embryonic development, a single cell 
divides into many cells, which become organs and function as 
a living system.  Medaka fish embryos will help researchers 
determine gravity's role in normal development.  This 
knowledge will contribute to theories about development 
conditions for other vertebrates, such as humans.

     Procedure:  The fish embryos will grow in a culture 
system called the Space Tissue Loss Module in the middeck.  
This module, designed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of 
Research, is fully automated except for startup, video 
transmission and reentry stowage.  Scientists will observe 
the embryos on orbit via video and preserve them at various 
stages for later study.

Role of Corticosteroids in Bone Loss During Space Flight
Dr. Thomas Wronski, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

     Objective:  Corticosteroid hormones are produced by the 
adrenal gland in response to stress.  Excess corticosteroids 
may contribute to bone changes during space flight, as well 
as other stressful periods.  To develop effective 
countermeasures, scientists need to determine how 
microgravity affects bone mass, levels of bone formation and 
resorption, and bone cell activity.

     Procedure:  The two self-contained Animal Enclosure 
Modules, located in the orbiter middeck, will house 12 
laboratory rats.  While feeding is automatic in this habitat, 
the crew will monitor the rodents.  After flight, the rats 
will be euthanized for study at a ground-based laboratory.

MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS

     In the microgravity environment of space, the masking 
forces of gravity are stripped away, allowing scientists to 
pursue research not possible on Earth.  The goal of this 
research is to improve both production methods and final 
products of Earth-based industries.

     STS-78 microgravity science experiments involve basic 
fluid physics investigations, advanced semiconductor and 
metal alloy materials processing, and medical research in 
protein crystal growth.  These are conducted primarily 
through "telescience," a mode of operation where scientists 
on the ground remotely command experiments in orbit.  Crew 
involvement is complementary -- they will check out and 
activate equipment once on orbit and install and remove 
samples.

  10.7 Bubble, Drop and Particle Unit -- Fluid 
Physics Research

     Fluid physics research in the Bubble, Drop and Particle 
Unit (BDPU) may lead to advances in materials processed on 
Earth.  To enable this type of progress, scientists need a 
better understanding of fluid processes that play a role in 
the production of most materials.  On Earth, gravity-induced 
flows, such as convection, often hide more subtle effects.  
By contrast, in space-based investigations these more subtle 
fluid processes often dominate movements in fluids.  Using 
the BDPU, the fluid physics investigations will help uncover 
processes involving either gas bubbles, liquid drops or 
liquid layers.  Products that will benefit from this research 
include new high-strength metals and temperature-resistant 
glasses and ceramics for building everything from better 
electric power plants to future spacecraft.

     The BDPU was developed by the European Space Agency.  
Commands sent from the ground will inject bubbles or drops 
into liquid-filled test cells and then subject the cells to 
specific changes in temperature.  Cameras and sensors will 
observe and record temperature, pressure and position of the 
bubbles or drops.  The test cells will be used to study how 
bubbles and drops react in liquids with varying temperatures 
and concentrations, how they affect solidification, how 
convection affects liquid layers at different temperatures, 
and how evaporation and condensation affect bubble creation 
and growth, and how liquid columns react to electrical 
fields. 

Bubbles and Drops Interaction with Solidification Fronts
Dr. Rodolfo Monti, University of Naples, Italy

     Objective:  As molten crystal and glass begin to 
solidify, gas bubbles may form, causing imperfections in the 
final product.  Also, ingredients of liquid metal mixtures 
may separate during melting or solidification, forming 
bubbles or droplets in the mixture.  This investigation will 
provide insight into better ways to prevent these flaws from 
occurring.

     Procedure:  A solid tetracosane test sample with 
implanted gas bubbles will be melted at low temperatures.  
Once melted completely, the liquified tetracosane, now 
transparent, will be cooled, and a new solidification process 
will occur.  The resulting interaction between moving pre-
formed air bubbles and the solidifying edge will be studied.

Evaporation and Condensation Kinetics at a Liquid Vapor 
Interface; and Efficient Cooling of High Powered Small 
Electronic Devices by Boiling under Microgravity
Dr. Johannes Straub, Technical University of Munich, Germany

     Objectives:  The main goal of the first study is to 
investigate vapor bubble formation and collapse during 
evaporation and condensation.  This will provide a better 
understanding of these processes, with applications for many 
technical operations that use heat and mass transfer.

     A second study investigates heat transfer during 
boiling, using small heaters of different shapes and sizes.  
Since boiling is a very efficient way to exchange heat, it is 
used in many energy conversion systems that will benefit from 
research in this field.  For example, boiling can be used to 
cool small, high-powered electronic devices, such as computer 
chips.

     Procedures:  These experiments flew on the second 
International Microgravity Laboratory (IML-2) in 1994.  The 
test liquid is an alternative refrigerant, R123, which allows 
higher pressures and temperatures than the refrigerant used 
on IML-2.  In the Evaporation and Condensation Kinetics at a 
Liquid Vapor Interface experiment, a vapor bubble is 
generated by a short heating pulse from a heater in the 
liquid.

      The bubble remains and grows where it forms and is 
observed over time.  Cooling or pressure increases are used 
to force the gas bubbles to collapse or condense back to 
liquid.  For the second experiment, investigators will use 
advanced hardware, combining optical and electronic systems, 
to examine heat transfer between the heater, the liquid and 
the vapor that is formed on boiling.

The Electrohydrodynamics of Liquid Bridges
Dr. Dudley Saville, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ

     Objective:  This investigation will provide information 
about the stability of columns of a dielectric material (in 
this case, a liquid) that barely conducts electricity when 
placed in another liquid or in air and is subjected to an 
electric field. 

 This research may find application in industrial processes 
where the control of a liquid column or spray is necessary, 
such as ink-jet printing and polymer fiber spinning.

     Procedure:  The experiment will focus on the shape 
changes that occur in a fluid bridge suspended between two 
electrodes.  While applying direct or alternating electrical 
fields, scientists can study the bridges change as its ends 
are draw apart and the field is changed from a cylinder to a 
vase-like shape until the column finally breaks.  The 
electric fields generated should stabilize the liquid columns 
even as they are stretched past the point when surface 
tension would normally cause them to break.  Fluids to be 
studied include castor oil, eugenol and silicone oil.  

Nonlinear Surface Tension Driven Bubble Migration
Dr. Antonio Viviani, Second University of Naples, Aversa, 
Italy

     Objective:  This experiment continues investigations 
into the motion of bubbles immersed in a liquid in a 
container with hot and cold walls on opposite sides.  The 
study of this phenomenon applies to controlling defects in 
many aspects of materials processing in space, such as the 
solidification of better and stronger metals, alloys, 
glasses, and ceramics.

     Procedure:  Air bubbles of various sizes will be 
injected into a water-and-alcohol solution that is hot on one 
end and cold on the other.  Investigators will vary the 
temperature and determine the speed and position of the 
bubbles.  Of particular interest is the ability to control 
bubble motion at the temperature of the liquid in which the 
bubble has little tendency to move.  Video images will assist 
scientists controlling the experiment from the ground.

Oscillatory Marangoni Instability
Dr. Jean-Claude Legros, Free University of Brussels, Belgium

     Objective:  Many manufacturing processes depend on 
melting and resolidifying a material encapsulated by a liquid 
coating in order to make single crystals for use in 
electronics.  Often, the individual liquid components will 
flow due to Marangoni convection -- fluid flows caused by 
surface tension.  Understanding this process is important for 
manufacturing of this nature.

     Procedure:  Scientists will gather data to accurately 
model these flows.  A layer of methanol fluid will be placed 
between two layers of n-octane, a fluid that will not mix 
with methanol, and will be subjected to temperature 
differences.  Investigators will study the flows in each 
layer to identify the temperature at which convection becomes 
unstable.  Results will be compared with computer model 
predictions.

Thermocapillary Migration and Interactions of Bubbles and 
Drops
Dr. Shankar Subramanian, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY

     Objective:  Bubbles and drops are components in the 
formation of metal mixtures and other materials processing 
applications, such as solidification.  In long-duration space 
missions, for example, separation processes for waste 
material recycling might involve bubbles and drops.  This 
experiment studies bubble and drop movements in a liquid 
under varying temperatures.

     Procedure:  Up to six test-run series will be conducted, 
each lasting about four hours, at various temperatures.  In 
each series, six to ten bubbles or drops will be injected, 
two at a time, while investigators on the ground monitor 
their motions and interactions through on-orbit video.

  10.8  Advanced Gradient Heating Facility -- 
Materials Processing

     Scientists perform materials processing experiments to 
understand the conditions at which freezing materials change 
from solidifying with a flat boundary or transition surface 
(edge) to solidifying with cellular and dendritic (tree like) 
transition shapes.  They also want to determine the 
influences that affect these changes, to enable achieving the 
exact structure desired in a material.  Using the Advanced 
Gradient Heating Facility (AGHF) furnace for solidifying 
alloys and crystals, scientists can study these changes in 
ways that are not possible on Earth, improving our 
understanding of materials processing.  

     The AGHF uses pulses of electrical current to mark the 
internal shape of a material's solidifying edge, a process 
called Peltier pulse marking.  By examining cross-sections of 
these crystals, scientists can locate these marks and 
determine the precise growth rate for each portion of a 
sample, as well as the shape of the crystal edge at the time 
of the pulse.  The six materials processing experiments in 
this facility will increase knowledge of the physical 
processes involved in solidification, improving materials 
processing on Earth and in space.

Comparative Study of Cells and Dendrites During Directional 
Solidification of a Binary Aluminum Alloy at 1-g and under 
Microgravity
Dr. Henri Nguyen Thi, University of Marseille, France

     Objective:  The growing edge of a solidifying material 
forms cellular shapes as its temperature changes quickly, and 
tree-like dendrite shapes when its temperature changes very 
quickly.  Although researchers have conducted numerous Earth-
based studies about the exact conditions at which these 
shapes change, many questions remain about how to improve 
microscopic qualities of materials by controlling this 
process.

     Procedure:  This experiment will melt and solidify two 
samples of an aluminum alloy at a precise growth rate.  Then, 
they will be flash-cooled to preserve the shapes of their 
solidification boundaries.  After the mission, these samples 
will be cut and polished so that investigators can determine 
the structure's qualities.

Coupled Growth in Hypermonotectics
Dr. Barry Andrews, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 
Birmingham, AL

     Objective:  Scientists are interested in a number of 
unique alloys that cannot be easily produced on Earth because 
the ingredients separate during processing.  Controlling the 
internal structure of these materials during solidification 
could lead to alloys for engineering, chemical and electronic 
applications.  On Earth, however, gravity hinders 
solidification studies.

     Procedure:  This experiment will process aluminum and 
indium samples, maintaining a flat edge as the material 
solidifies, so that indium fibers are more evenly spread and 
aligned in the final product.  After the mission, 
investigators will cut, etch and chemically analyze sections 
of the samples to study the evenness of their structures.

Effects of Convection on Interface Curvature during Growth of 
Concentrated Ternary Compounds
Dr. Thierry Duffar, Atomic Energy Commission, Grenoble, 
France

     Objective:  As a metal alloy or semiconductor crystal 
solidifies, fluid flows and the movement of the solid's 
growing edge can cause the material's ingredients to 
separate, forming an uneven sample.  Studies of this 
undesirable effect are hindered by gravity, which changes the 
shape of the sample's solid edge and causes flows that hide 
diffusion effects.

     Procedure:  This experiment will melt and resolidify a 
ternary, or three component, gallium-indium-antimony sample.  
The crucible containing the experiment will control the shape 
of the sample's solidification front and mark it with Peltier 
pulses.  After flight, scientists will analyze curvature of 
the front and the sample's compositional uniformity.

Equiaxed Solidification of Aluminum Alloy
Dr. Denis Camel, Atomic Energy Commission, Grenoble, France

     Objective:  Depending on its temperature and other 
conditions, solidifying metal mixtures form either ordered, 
long column-like grains or unordered round grains that form 
around core particles, or nuclei.  Investigators will compare 
samples processed in this experiment with theoretical models 
to better understand the influence of natural fluid flows in 
Earth-based metal alloy processing.

     Procedure:  Two samples of an aluminum-copper mixture 
will be solidified in a cartridge, one at a nearly constant 
temperature and the other in a high temperature gradient.  
One other cartridge with a different quantity of nuclei in 
the sample will be processed under identical conditions.  The 
samples structure then will be compared with those of 
theoretical models.

Interactive Response of Advancing Phase Boundaries to 
Particles
Dr. Ulrike Hecht, Aachen Center for Solidification in Space, 
Germany

     Objective:  Many composites, such as metal mixtures with 
particles in their crystal structures, offer unique 
properties such as strength and flexibility.  Understanding 
the interaction between free-floating particles and the 
growing edge of a solidifying material will help verify 
theoretical models used to develop new materials and design 
better industrial processes.

     Procedure:  This experiment investigates the effects of 
solidification conditions on the spread of particles in a 
sample as it crystallizes.  It focuses on the different 
shapes that form on the growth boundary of the solid region 
and how the development of these shapes is affected as the 
boundary contacts floating particles.

Particle Engulfment and Pushing by Solidifying Interfaces
Dr. Doru Stefanescu, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

     Objective:  This experiment is designed to improve the 
understanding of the physics of liquid metals containing 
ceramic particles as they solidify.  It also will investigate 
aspects of processing metal mixtures in microgravity to 
improve such processing on Earth.

     Procedure:  Two pure aluminum samples and one aluminum-
nickel alloy will be solidified in the AGHF.  Scientists will 
examine the samples after the flight to determine how fast 
the metal's solidification front must grow to engulf zirconia 
particles, instead of pushing them.  A complementary ground-
based experiment will use organic and polystyrene materials 
to simulate the solidification and help validate theoretical 
models of the process.

  10.9 Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility -- 
Medical Research

     The Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility (APCF) is 
the first facility ever designed to use three methods of 
protein crystal growth.  By examining the molecular structure 
of proteins, medical researchers will gain insight into these 
basic building blocks of life.  The APCF experiments could 
improve food production, as well as lead to innovative new 
drugs to combat disease.

     Protein crystals, like snowflakes, are structured in a 
regular pattern.  Earth-grown crystals show the effects of a 
growth process analogous to a sports stadium filling with 
fans who all have reserved seats.  Each molecule of a crystal 
also has its own "reserved" seat.  Once the gates open, 
people flock to their seats and in the confusion often sit in 
someone else's place.  On Earth, gravity-driven convection 
keeps the molecules crowded around the "seats" as they 
attempt to order themselves.  Unfortunately, many molecules 
take the wrong place or collapse.  Such flaws are greatly 
reduced in microgravity.

     Upon reaching orbit, the crew will activate the APCF, 
monitor the facility as it operates and deactivate the 
equipment prior to re-entry.  After the mission, 
investigators will study approximately 5,000 video images to 
determine why and how crystal formation occurs.  The space-
grown crystals will be analyzed to determine their internal 
molecular arrangement.  As X-rays diffract off the atoms of 
the space-grown crystals, a computer will map each atom's 
position.

Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility on the Life and 
Microgravity Sciences Mission
Dr. Alexander McPherson, University of California, Riverside, 

     The experiment team will work from remote sites and will 
be linked by teleconferencing instead of being based at a 
centralized facility.  This foreshadows the way experiments 
will be conducted during the International Space Station era.

     This investigation provides a particularly valuable 
opportunity because a large variety of experiments covering a 
broad range of samples and conditions can be conducted 
simultaneously.  These experiments will contribute to better 
understanding of crystal growth on Earth and to the ability 
to define that process in conventional laboratories, possibly 
accelerating important advances in biotechnology, medicine, 
agriculture and industry.  This experiment will grow a 
variety of protein and virus crystals.  While protein samples 
will be included among the samples, the emphasis will be on 
viruses.  

Crystallization of EGFR-EGF
Dr. Christian Betzel, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 
Hamburg, Germany

     The receptor for the epidermal growth factor is an 
important predictor for a series of human diseases.  
Knowledge of the three-dimensional shape of this molecule 
could open the possibility of tailoring appropriate drugs for 
the treatment of numerous types of tumors.

Crystallization of Crustacyanin Subunits
Dr. Naomi Chayen, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom

     Crustacyanin is a member of the lipocalin protein group, 
which binds to certain pigments found in many plants and 
animals.  Knowledge of the structure of the lipocalins will 
enable scientists to engineer proteins that will bind more 
strongly to pigments with anti-cancer properties.

Crystallization of Engineered 5S rRNA Molecules
Dr. Volker Erdmann, Free University of Berlin, Germany
     
     The ribonucleic acid (RNA) 5S rRNA interacts with a 
number of proteins in cells and is essential for the 
biological activity in the part of the cell that produces 
proteins.  Performed with intact and active RNA molecules, it 
will increase knowledge about the effects of microgravity on 
the crystallization of biological molecules.

Crystallization of Thermus Thermophilus AspRS
Dr. Richard Giege, National Center for Scientific Research, 
Strasbourg, France

     Ground-based investigations have successfully 
crystallized two tRNA proteins.  The crystal quality of the 
first protein complex, however, is inferior to that of one 
with natural rRNA.  On the LMS mission, researchers will grow 
these crystals in dialysis cells to obtain higher resolution 
X-ray data than is obtainable in ground-based laboratories.

Monitoring of Lysozyme Protein Crystal Growth in Microgravity 
via a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer and Comparison with Earth 
Control Data
Dr. John Helliwell, University of Manchester, United Kingdom

     Essentially perfect lysozyme crystals grown on earlier 
missions were three times more uniform than Earth-grown 
samples.  Investigators want to determine the best duration 
of a microgravity mission for protein crystallization.

Crystallization of the Nucleosome Core Particle in Space
Dr. Timothy Richmond, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 
Zurich, Switzerland

     The nucleosome core particle is the larger part of the 
nucleosome, part of the complex forming the major portion of 
the core material in cells that have a definite center.  On 
LMS, scientists hope to obtain crystals with high uniformity 
that will allow more precise data collection.

Enhanced Resolution Through Improved Crystal Quality in the 
Crystal Structure Analysis of Photosystem I
Dr. Wolf Schubert, Free University of Berlin, Germany

     In photosynthesis, the proteins Photosystem I and 
Photosystem II are responsible for the main conversion of 
visible light into chemical energy.  This experiment will 
reveal details of the complete arrangement of chlorophyll 
molecules, which efficiently perform this conversion process.

Mechanism of Membrane Protein Crystal Growth:  
Bacteriorhodopsin -- Mixed Micelle Packing at the Consolution 
Boundary, Stabilized in Microgravity
Dr. Gottfried Wagner, University of Giessen, Germany

     Bacteriorhodopsin converts light into voltage in the 
skins of light-sustained microorganisms, which are chemically 
and genetically different from bacteria and higher life 
forms.  Resolution of the three-dimensional shape of this 
protein will help scientists understand the processes used to 
convert light to growth energy.

Crystallization in a Microgravity Environment on CcdB, a 
Protein Involved in the Control of Cell Death
Dr. Lode Wyns, Free University of Brussels, Belgium

     Better understanding of the shape and behavior of the 
CcdB protein may lead to the design of new antibiotics and 
anti-tumor drugs.  Specifically, crystal quality needs to be 
improved.  On STS-78, researchers want to crystallize three 
specific samples that are large enough for data collection.

Crystallization of Sulfolobus Solfataricus Alcohol 
Dehydrogenase
Dr. Adrian Zagari, University of Naples, Italy

     Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is found in large amounts in 
the livers of mammals and plays an important part in several 
functions, including the breakdown of alcohol.  Mammalian ADH 
is unsuitable at high temperatures.  This limits its 
application to the making of organic compounds.  ADH from 
certain bacteria that grow in high temperatures has greater 
stability, however, and is less affected by high 
temperatures.  This substance is a good candidate for 
industrial applications.

Growth of Lysozyme Crystals at Low Nucleation Density
Dr. Juan Garcia-Ruiz, University of Granada, Spain

     This experiment will use a new approach to lysozyme 
crystallization to evaluate the usefulness of ground-based 
experiments in predicting growth behavior under microgravity 
conditions.  It also will test the accuracy of computer 
simulations of one-dimensional cells developed in terrestrial 
laboratories.

  10.10 Accelerometers -- Characterizing the 
Microgravity Environment

Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS)
     Ron Sicker, Project Manager, NASA Lewis Research Center, 
Cleveland, OH 
Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE)
     Bill Wagar, Project Manager, NASA Lewis Research Center, 
Cleveland, OH
Microgravity Measurement Assembly (MMA)
     Maurizio Nati, Project Manager, European Space 
Agency/European Space       Research and Technology Center, 
Noordwijk, The Netherlands

     Microgravity science investigations require a stable, 
low-gravity environment to yield the most accurate data.  
Vibrations caused by crew activity and by the operation of 
thrusters, fans and cameras in the orbiter can impact the 
quality of research.  LMS includes three instruments to 
measure the microgravity environment.  By analyzing types of 
microgravity disturbances, researchers can assess the 
influence of Shuttle accelerations and other disturbances on 
scientific experiments.

     The Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS) 
measures high-frequency accelerations such as Shuttle 
thruster firings.  Several materials and fluid science 
experiments are particularly sensitive to accelerations in 
the frequency ranges that SAMS will record.

     As the Shuttle travels at 17,500 miles per hour, it 
slows down slightly due to atmospheric friction.  Also,  
friction varies as atmosphere density changes from day to 
night and with altitude.  The Orbital Acceleration Research 
Experiment (OARE) makes extremely accurate measurements of 
low-frequency changes in accelerations and vibrations 
experienced during on-orbit operations

     The Microgravity Measurement Assembly (MMA) facility 
determines both high- and low-frequency spacecraft 
disturbances.  This onboard system provides a network of 
sensors at selected locations inside the Spacelab module and 
integrates the output of experiment-dedicated and remote 
sensors into an unified data set.

11.0 STS-78 Mission Management 

     The Life and Microgravity Spacelab mission is directed 
by Program Manager David Jarrett; Life Sciences Program 
Scientist Dr. Victor Schneider; Microgravity Program 
Scientist Dr. Bradley Carpenter and Life Sciences Instrument 
Program Manager Angie Jackman, all of NASA Headquarters, 
Washington, DC.  Responsible for Mission Management at the 
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL are Mission 
Manager Mark Boudreaux and Mission Scientist Dr. James Patton 
Downey. Life Science Project Scientist is 
Dr. Mel Buderer from the Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX. 
Flight Manager is Mr. Denny Holt, also from Johnson.


12.0 STS-78 Crew Biographies


     Terence T. "Tom" Henricks (Colonel, USAF) will serve 
as Commander for STS-78.  Henricks was born July 5, 1952, in 
Bryan, Ohio, but considers Woodville, Ohio, to be his 
hometown.  He graduated from Woodmore High School in 1970, a 
bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the 
United States Air Force (USAF) Academy in 1974, and a masters 
degree in public administration from Golden Gate University 
in 1982.

     Henricks was selected by NASA in June 1985 and became an 
astronaut in July 1986.  A veteran of three space flights, 
Henricks has logged over 620 hours in space. He was the pilot 
on STS-44 in 1991, and STS-55 in 1993, and was the spacecraft 
commander on STS-70 in 1995. 


     Kevin R. Kregel will serve as the Pilot for Mission 
STS-78.  Kregel was born September 16, 1956 and grew up in 
Amityville, New York.  He graduated from Amityville Memorial 
High School, Amityville, New York, in 1974, a bachelor of 
science degree in astronautical engineering from the U.S. Air 
Force Academy in 1978 and a master's degree in public 
administration from Troy State University in 1988.

     Kregel was selected by NASA in March 1992.  He was the 
pilot on STS-70 in 1995, and has logged over 214 hours in 
space. 

     Richard M. Linnehan (DVM) will serve as Mission 
Specialist-1 on the STS-78 mission.  Linnehan was born 
September 19, 1957, in Lowell, Massachusetts.  He graduated 
from Pelham High School, Pelham, New Hampshire in 1975, 
received a bachelor of science degree in animal sciences with 
a minor in microbiology from the University of New Hampshire 
in 1980 and the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from 
the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 
1985. 

     Linnehan was selected by NASA in March 1992.  He 
completed his one year of training to be qualified for 
assignment as a mission specialist in on a future Space 
Shuttle flight crews in 1993.  STS-78 will be Linnehan's 
first space flight.
     26

     Susan J. Helms (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF) is the 
Payload Commander for STS-78 and is also Mission Specialist-
2.  Helms was born February 26, 1958, in Charlotte, North 
Carolina, but considers Portland, Oregon, to be her hometown.  
She graduated from Parkrose Senior High School, Portland, 
Oregon, in 1976, received a bachelor of science degree in 
aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 
1980 and a master of science degree in 
aeronautics/astronautics from Stanford University in 1985. 

     Helms was selected by NASA in January 1990 and became an 
astronaut in July 1991. She has flown as a mission 
specialists on two Shuttle flights - STS-54 in January 1993 
and STS-64 in September 1994.  In completing her two 
missions, Helms has logged a total of 406 hours in space.

     Charles E. Brady, Jr. (Commander, USN) will serve as 
Mission Specialist-3 on the STS-78 mission.  Brady was born 
August 12, 1951, in Pinehurst, North Carolina, but considers 
Robbins, North Carolina, to be his hometown.  He graduated 
from North Moore High School, Robbins, North Carolina, in 
1969, was pre-med at University of North Carolina at Chapel 
Hill, 1969-1971 and received a doctorate in medicine from 
Duke University in 1975.

     Brady was selected by NASA in March 1992 and qualified 
for selection as a mission specialist on future Space Shuttle 
flight crews in 1993.  In May 1995 he was assigned as a 
mission specialist for the LMS mission.  STS-78 will be 
Brady's first space flight

     Jean-Jacques Favier (Ph.D.)  will serve as Payload 
Specialist-1 on the STS-78 mission.  Favier was born April 
13, 1949, in Kehl, Germany.  He attended primary and 
secondary schools in Strasbourg, France, received an 
engineering degree from the National Polytechnical Institute 
of Grenoble in 1971 and a Ph.D. in engineering from the 
Mining School of Paris and a Ph.D. in metallurgy and physics 
from the University of Grenoble in 1977.

Favier has been a CNES payload specialist candidate since 
1985.  He was assigned as an alternate payload specialist on 
Mission STS-65, the second International Microgravity 
Laboratory mission that flew in July 1994.  In May 1995 was 
assigned as a payload specialist for the STS-78 LMS mission.  
This will be Favier's first space flight.

     Robert (Bob) Brent Thirsk (M.D., P.Eng.) will serve 
as Payload Specialist-2 on the STS-78 mission.  Thirsk was 
born August 17, 1953 in New Westminister, British Columbia.  
He attended primary and secondary schools in British 
Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba, received a bachelor of 
science degree in mechanical engineering from the University 
of Calgary in 1976, a master of science degree in mechanical 
engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 
(MIT) in 1978 and a doctorate of medicine degree from McGill 
University in 1982.

       Thirsk was one of the six Canadian astronauts selected 
in December 1983 and served as back up Payload Specialist to 
Marc Garneau for Mission 41-G in October 1984.  In April 
1995, Dr. Thirsk was selected to participate in the Life and 
Microgravity Spacelab mission.  STS-78 will be Thirsk's first 
space flight.

For complete biographical information on NASA astronauts, see 
the NASA Internet astronaut biography home page at address:  
http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/