From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA Daily News for 08/28/92 (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 20:22:55 GMT

Daily                News
Friday August 28, 1992  24-hour audio service at 202/755-1788

 % Mars Observer launch to be rescheduled;
 % NASA technology assistance pays off in Southwest Florida;
 % NASA's exhibit for World Space Congress opens Tuesday; 
 % Crew assignments announced for STS-58 and STS-61.

        
The launch of Mars Observer aboard a Titan III rocket from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., originally scheduled for September
16, is being postponed.  During an inspection of the payload contained
within the Titan nose fairing atop the rocket, particulate
contamination was observed on the surface of the Mars Observer
spacecraft.

A precautionary decision has been made to remove the payload from the
Titan and return it to a spacecraft facility on the Kennedy Space
Center for cleaning.  The planetary launch window extends through
October 13; however, a launch before the end of September is expected.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A decade ago, Charlotte County, Fla., was appraising its thousands of
acres of citrus groves much like Florida counties had been doing for
years -- sending workers into the groves to physically count each and
every individual tree.  But now, thanks to space technology,
high-flying aircraft  fitted with infrared scanners are doing all the
leg work, Kennedy Space Center reports.  Assessments that once took
seven months to complete, are now being done in less than seven weeks,
and the savings are being transferred directly to the taxpayers.

The idea of using the NASA-derived technology to count and assess the
health of citrus trees appealed to Charlotte County's Property
Appraiser, Oliver Lowe and his staff after they saw some examples of
infrared photo- graphy.  The interest from citrus growers and county
managers about using this concept was said to be incredible.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As part of the World Space Congress, NASA has designed an exhibit that
will open on Tuesday, September 1.  The World Space Congress opens
today in Washington, D.C., and continues through September 5.  Located
at the entrance to the exhibition hall, the NASA exhibit is designed as
a portal to welcome visitors to the exhibition, that is hosted by the
IAF, COSPAR, NAS, AIAA, and NASA.  The centerpiece of the exhibit is a
dramatic film presented on 47 TV monitors highlighting the work of
NASA's major programs.  A display of over 30 spacecraft models,
hardware, and photo murals depicts a range of the agency's current and
future scientific and engineering programs.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

John E. Blaha will command the Spacelab Life Sciences-2 Space Shuttle
mission STS-58 scheduled for launch next summer.  This mission will
continue life sciences research on adaptation to microgravity in
preparation for Space Station Freedom and future planetary
exploration.  STS- 58 pilot is Richard A. Searfoss, a member of the
1990 astronaut class, making his first flight.

Also from the class of 1990 and making his first flight is William S.
McArthur, Jr., who will be a mission specialist.  Previously assigned
crew members are Payload Commander M. Rhea Seddon, and mission
specialists Shannon Lucid, Ph.D., and David Wolf, M.D.

For the STS-61 Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission scheduled for
late 1993, the Payload Commander is Story Musgrave, M.D., and three
mission specialists Tom Akers, Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Ph.D., and Kathryn
C. Thornton, Ph.D.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
        
Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select
TV.  Note that all events and times may change without notice, and that
all times listed are Eastern.  Live indicates a program is transmitted
live.


Friday, August 28, 1992

    12:00 pm  Technology 2001
    12:15 pm  Aeronautics and Space Report
     1:00 pm  Shuttle Life in Weightlessness
     1:30 pm  Life in the Universe #5
     2:00 pm  Launch Box #5
     2:30 pm  Where Dreams Come True
     3:00 pm  TQM #30 (Univ. of New Mexico series)

This report is filed daily at noon, Monday through Friday.  It is a
service of NASA's Office of Public Affairs.  The editor is Charles
Redmond, 202/453-8425 or CREDMOND on NASAmail.  NASA Select TV is
carried on GE Satcom F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees West
Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960 MegaHertz, audio subcarrier is
6.8 MHz, polarization is vertical.
Newsgroups: sci.space.news