HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update #2 - 10/01/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 15:42:05 GMT

Forwarded from:
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011

                  MARS OBSERVER MISSION STATUS
                         October 1, 1992

     Two science instruments on the Mars Observer spacecraft --
the Gamma Ray Spectrometer and the Magnetometer/Electron
Reflectometer -- were turned on today for preliminary calibration
testing.  The Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer was turned on
at 9:10 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time and the Gamma Ray Spectrometer
was turned on at 9:15 a.m. PDT.  The instruments are located on
the spacecraft's two 20-foot (6-meter) booms, which are now
partially deployed for the journey to Mars.  The Gamma Ray
Spectrometer will remain on through the end of the mission, while
the Magnetometer will be powered off again on Tuesday, Oct. 6,
1992, and turned on later in the mission.  

     The Pressure Modulator Infrared Radiometer will also be
turned on tomorrow, Oct. 2, 1992, for one hour beginning at 9
a.m. PDT.  Controllers will open the instrument's aperture and
radiator doors to make sure they are operating properly.

     The spacecraft's Payload Data Subsystem was also powered on
to receive data from the instruments.  The spacecraft team
verified that data packets from the two instruments were being
received today by the science teams.

     The spacecraft is on its proper trajectory for cruise to
Mars and all other spacecraft systems are operating normally.

     Today Mars Observer is about 1.1 million miles (1.9 million
kilometers) from Earth, traveling at a speed of about 7,800 miles
per hour (10,800 kilometers per hour) with respect to Earth.  The
spacecraft is traveling at a heliocentric velocity of about
74,200 miles per hour (119,000 kilometers per hour).

                             #####  
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Einstein's brain is stored
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | in a mason jar in a lab
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | in Wichita, Kansas.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Miscellaneous items from KSC [Release 138-92/KSC] (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 23:34:41 GMT

          Bruce Buckingham
          407/867-2468                                      October 1992

          KSC RELEASE NO. 138 - 92


          KSC FEATURE STORY IDEAS -- OCTOBER 1992


          MAPPING AND MONITORING OF SCRUB JAY ACTIVITY AT KSC.

               The life sciences office at KSC routinely sends scientists
          out in the field to track and study the endangered scrub jay, an
          indigenous subspecies of the more popular blue jay.

               Scrub jays are native to Florida and found only in low brush
          or scrubs. The development of Florida and loss of habitat caused
          a drop in the scrub jay population and resulted in their being
          placed on the threatened species list. Much of the undeveloped
          land on KSC is the type of habitat scrub jays prefer. KSC is home
          to nearly half of the known population of this bird.
          (Public Affairs Contact: Mitch Varnes)



          SPACE STATION PROCESSING FACILITY CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES

               The construction of the 475,000-square-foot building to
          support prelaunch activities of the Space Station Freedom
          continues in KSC's industrial area. The facility is divided into
          an operational area and various support areas. Construction of
          the facility began in early 1991 and is scheduled for completion
          in the summer of 1994.
          (Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham)


          KSC ASSISTS IN HOMESTEAD AIR FORCE BASE MEDICAL RECORDS RESTORATION

               The Biomedical Operations and Research Office was contacted
          by medical personnel of the Homestead Air Force Base Flight
          Surgeon's Office concerning the use of NASA facilities and
          expertise in the restoration of medical records that had become
          waterlogged from Hurricane Andrew. KSC's Biomedical Office
          coordinated efforts with the Failure Analysis & Materials
          Evaluation Office to effect the restoration of these records.

               The records were received on Sept. 10 and the refurbishment
          was complete prior to close of business the following day.
          (Public Affairs Contact: Bruce Buckingham)



          MANATEE STUDIES AND RANGE MONITORING.

               Miles of waterways around KSC make an ideal location for
          manatees to safely swim and breed. Hundreds of the endangered sea
          cows make their way to KSC in the spring and summer to enjoy the
          calm and protective environment of KSC's warm waters. NASA and
          the Fish and Wildlife Service are studying the manatees and
          monitoring their range of travel via satellite transmitter
          attached to the tail of the mammals.
          (Public Affairs Contact: Mitch Varnes)
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: oler@rho.uleth.ca (Cary Oler)
Subject: AURORA WATCH: Low Latitude Auroral Activity Watch
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: University of Lethbridge
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 07:18:14 GMT

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                     LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WATCH

                        ISSUED: 06:15 UT, 29 SEPTEMBER

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\


MODERATE RISK PERIOD: 29 Sep - 30 Sep (UT days)

POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY:  LOW - MODERATE

POTENTIAL EQUATORWARD POSITION OF AURORAL OVAL:  >43 North Latitude

POTENTIAL LUNAR INTERFERENCE:  LOW

OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM LOW LATITUDES:  FAIR

AURORAL ACTIVITY MAY BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM...

        OREGON TO SOUTHERN IDAHO AND PARTS OF NORTHERN UTAH TO WYOMING TO
        NEBRASKA TO NORTHERN MISSOURI TO ILLINOIS TO INDIANA AND POSSIBLY
        PARTS OF KENTUCKY TO WEST VIRGINIA TO DELAWARE.


SYNOPSIS...

     An intense burst of auroral activity has occurred over the last three
     hours.  The source of this disturbance is uncertain, but is likely
     related to a well placed solar coronal hole.  The equatorward edge of
     the auroral oval was observed at the zenith near geographic 115W48N at
     06:00 UTC.  Moderate levels of auroral activity may be observed over the
     lower latitude regions if this disturbance continues. Lunar phase will
     not inhibit attempts to view activity. Conditions are therefore optimum.

     This watch will remain active until 19:00 UT on 30 September when it
     will either be updated or allowed to expire.


**  End of Watch  **
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Magellan Update - 10/06/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Magellan, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 07:41:21 GMT

Forwarded from the Magellan Project

                      MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT
                          October 6, 1992

1.  The Magellan spacecraft, now in its fourth 243-day cycle
    at Venus, continues to operate normally.  All starcals
    (star calibrations) yesterday were successful and the
    transmitter continues to peak at 55.4 degrees C.

2.  Yesterday controllers sent express commandss to perform a
    memory readout of the on-board fault protection records.
    This verified that a double TWTA (Traveling Wave Tube
    Amplifier) SSO (Spurious Shutoff) had occurred on
    Sunday.

3.  Throughout the mission-to-date, Magellan has had 25 SSOs
    on TWTA-A and 39 on TWTA-B.  With the current fault
    protection configuration, the spacecraft immediately
    returns to normal operations, with no commanding from the
    ground.

4.  The following is a statistical summary of the mission to
    date:

DAYS
TOTAL DAYS . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .  791 DAYS
         DAYS OF SCIENCE DATA ACQUISITION . . . . . . 596

ORBITS
TOTAL ORBITS . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5550 ORBITS
         MAPPING ORBITS . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . 4828
         GRAVITY DATA ONLY ORBITS . . . . . . . . .  .192

PERCENTAGE OF VENUS SURFACE AREA IMAGED

TOTAL CYCLE 1 COVERAGE:                              83.7%
TOTAL CYCLE 2 COVERAGE:                              54.5%
TOTAL CYCLE 3 (STEREO)                               22.8%
TOTAL CYCLE 4 (GRAVITY)                               9.3% **
  MISCELLANEOUS RECOVERED GAPS                      +14.6%

PERCENTAGE OF VENUS SURFACE IN CAPTURED DATA . 99.0%

** Percent of the total planned orbits in Cycle 4.  Gravity
   data requirement is for one in every four orbits.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Einstein's brain is stored
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | in a mason jar in a lab
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | in Wichita, Kansas.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update - 10/01/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 05:59:45 GMT

[The Mars Observer spacecraft lost inertial reference on September 29, 1992,
 and began sun coning at 7:58 PM PDT (in other words, the spaceraft lost its
 bearings and began to search for the Sun to re-establish itself).  The project
 is attempting to command the spacecraft back into inertial reference.  No
 spacecraft emergency has been declared.  The project also wants to better
 characterize the downlink sequence.

 Ron Baalke
]

Forwarded from the Mars Observer Project

                         MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                              October 1, 1992
                               11:00 AM PDT
                              Launch +6 days

     The Mars Observer spacecraft is on a nominal trajectory for cruise
to Mars.  At 6:41 PM PDT last evening, the spacecraft was real-time
commanded back to array normal spin state from the sun star init state
to which controllers had commanded it to on Tuesday evening.  Preliminary
analysis of Tuesday's events indicate that the spacecraft may have lost
inertial reference due to boom deployments which had recently taken
place.  Investigation is continuing.

     At 8:33 PM PDT last evening, the spacecraft fault protection software
powered off the Celestial Sensor Assembly "Fan" A, and enable "Fan" B.
The switch was made automatically by on-board software because more than
4 consecutive transits were detected on the Celestial Sensor Assembly slit
A3.  Investigation of this occurence is under way.  The flight sequence
C1C load was uplinked at 10:30 PM PDT last evening for execution this
morning.  C1C was successful in turning on the Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS)
and Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer (MAG) instuments.  The Payload Data
Subsystem (PDS) was also powered on.  The spacecraft team subsystem verified
that data packets from GRS and MAG were being received by science teams, and
that  PDS packets would be received shortly.

     A real-time command to perform a Gamma Ray Spectrometer "Random
Access Memory Load" is planned for this morning.

     The spacecraft status, as reported by the spacecraft team at 10:30
this morning is that all subsystems are go.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Einstein's brain is stored
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | in a mason jar in a lab
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | in Wichita, Kansas.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update - 10/06/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 04:33:09 GMT

Forwarded from the Mars Observer Project.

                       MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                           October 6, 1992
                             11:20 AM PDT
                           Launch + 11 Days

(Note: all times are PDT)

The Mars Observer spacecraft is on a nominal trajectory for cruise to
Mars.

Flight Sequence C1 D was uplinked this morning for execution at 9:00 on
October 7.  C1 D includes the 3rd Digital Tape Recorder 2 playback looking
for TOS (Transfer Orbit Stage) indications; C1 D completes on the morning of
October 10.

Just prior to this report, Spacecraft and MCT teams decided to uplink the
star/ephemeris load already sent up this morning for a second time.  A
telemetry interruption occurred (Ground Communications Facility Interface
"crash") before command verification was received at JPL.  A requested
playback of data from DSS-15 (Goldstone 34 meter antenna) recorders may not
be received by controllers before the useful life of the current on-board
star/ephemeris tables has expired if the re-uplink is not performed.
The "Use" command instructing the spacecraft to use the star/ephemeris
table loaded earlier today will be withheld pending a confirmed load command
verification.

The GRS (Gamma Ray Spectrometer) instrument team (University of Arizona)
reports that at about 5:00 AM PDT this morning, their instrument was running
from RAM.  Two test sequences were successfully run, the first a power on of
the gamma high voltage for the first time to 900 V; the first real gamma
spectra have been collected.  The second GRS sequence was the detailed
neutron test, intended to turn on the neutron high voltage and collect
spectra at staggered gains.  The sequence ran as programmed, but the command
to turn on the high voltage was incorrectly prepared and sent a "turn off"
command instead.

Flight Sequence C2 executes October 10, at 9:00 AM.  C2 includes
Trajectory Correction Maneuver 1.

The Celestial Sensor Assembly "B" side continues to be in use.  Teams are
continuing their investigation of what may have caused slit 3 on the A
side to have seen false star transits Wednesday, September 30.

As of 10:30 AM this morning, the spacecraft status, as reported by the
Spacecraft Team, is that all subsystems are "Go".
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Einstein's brain is stored
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | in a mason jar in a lab
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | in Wichita, Kansas.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update - 10/02/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 23:12:14 GMT

Forwarded from the Mars Observer Project

                         MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                              October 2, 1992
                                1:30 PM PDT
                               Launch +7 Days

The Mars Observer spacecraft is on a nominal trajectory for cruise to
Mars.

The Flight Sequence C1 C load continues to clock out as planned. After
powering on Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) and Magnetometer/Electron
Reflectometer (MAG) instruments yesterday, the Pressure Modulator Infrared
Radiometer (PMIRR) was powered on today in order to open the aperture and
radiator doors to prepare for future operation.  PMIRR is scheduled to be
powered off today.  The magnetometer is scheduled to be powered off on
Tuesday, October 6th.  GRS is to remain on through end of mission.

However, the GRS RAM load attempted yesterday experienced difficulties
and has not yet been completed.  Management, instrument, and spacecraft
engineers are planning to retry the GRS RAM load this afternoon, with hard
restart of the GRS an option to be considered.

An expected momentum unloading event occurred last evening.

The Celestial Sensor Assembly "B" side continues to be in use.  Teams are
continuing their investigation of what may have caused slit 3 on the A
side to have seen false star transits Wednesday.

Upcoming events include a command to power on a MAG heater, and to test
an injector heater.

As of 11:00 AM PDT this morning, the spacecraft status, as reported by
the Spacecraft Team, is that all subsystems are go.

This status will be updated Monday, October 5th at 11:00 AM PDT, or
sooner if events require.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Einstein's brain is stored
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | in a mason jar in a lab
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | in Wichita, Kansas.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: oler@rho.uleth.ca (Cary Oler)
Subject: BULLETIN: New Auroral Activity Service Available
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: University of Lethbridge
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 17:20:38 GMT

                  /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                           ADMINISTRATIVE BULLETIN

                              29 September, 1992

                  New Service Implemented for Internet Users
                                 
                  /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\


NEW AURORAL ACTIVITY SERVICE IMPLEMENTED FOR INTERNET USERS

     A new service has been implemented that can be easily accessed by those
with Internet FINGER capabilities.

     The most recent auroral activity sightings as well as the status of any
auroral activity warnings or watches can now be obtained by typing:
FINGER AURORA@XI.ULETH.CA or FINGER AURORA@142.66.3.29.  After the fingered
connection to xi.uleth.ca has been established, there will be a brief pause
(up to approximately 30 seconds), followed by the most recent list of
sightings.

     The information available through this service is updated once each
hour.  Fresh material is typically available by 30 to 35 minutes past each
hour.  Sighting reports are presently restricted to North America and are
only updated between 22:30 UTC and 17:30 UTC daily (approximately
corresponding to local daylight hours for North America).

     Any questions or comments regarding this new service should be directed
to: Oler@Rho.Uleth.CA, or: COler@Solar.Stanford.Edu.


**  End of Bulletin  **
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: oler@rho.uleth.ca (Cary Oler)
Subject: AURORA WARNING: Middle Latitude Auroral Activity Warning
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: University of Lethbridge
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 07:10:18 GMT

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                   MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WARNING

                        ISSUED: 06:15 UT, 29 SEPTEMBER

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\


    HIGH RISK PERIOD: 29 Sep - 30 Sep (UT days)
MODERATE RISK PERIOD: 29 Sep - 01 Oct

POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY:  MODERATE - HIGH

POTENTIAL EQUATORWARD POSITION OF AURORAL OVAL:  >43 North Latitude

POTENTIAL LUNAR INTERFERENCE:  LOW

OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM MIDDLE LATITUDES:  GOOD

AURORAL ACTIVITY _MAY_ BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM...

        OREGON TO SOUTHERN IDAHO AND PARTS OF NORTHERN UTAH TO WYOMING TO
        NEBRASKA TO NORTHERN MISSOURI TO ILLINOIS TO INDIANA AND POSSIBLY
        PARTS OF KENTUCKY TO WEST VIRGINIA TO DELAWARE.


SYNOPSIS...

     An intense burst of auroral activity has occurred over the last three
     hours.  The source of this disturbance is uncertain, but is likely
     related to a well placed solar coronal hole.  The equatorward edge of
     the auroral oval was observed at the zenith near geographic 115W48N at
     06:00 UTC.  Moderate to high levels of activity will be possible over
     the middle latitude regions throughout the next 48 to 72 hours if this
     disturbance continues at its present magnitude.  An associated WATCH for
     low latitude auroral activity is being issued in conjunction with this
     warning.  Lunar phase will not inhibit attempts to view activity.
     Conditions are therefore optimum.

     This warning will remain active until 19:00 UT on 01 October when it
     will either be updated or allowed to expire.


**  End of Warning  **
Newsgroups: sci.space.news