[sci.astro] Magellan Update - 12/14/90

baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) (12/15/90)

                        MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT
                          December 14, 1990
 
     The Magellan spacecraft is in good health and performing nominally.  All
seven STARCALS (star calibrations) since yesterday were successful with small
attitude updates.
 
     Later today the M0349 mapping sequence will be sent up, the first of six
occulted mapping sequences.  This sequence will shorten the mapping pass by
6.5 minutes in order to accommodate 46 minutes of earth occultation during
the playback.
 
     Spacecraft engineers met yesterday to discuss the probable causes of the
tape recorder A deterioration.  There is no concern at this time about the
continued use of tape recorder B.  The single tape recorder strategy remains
scheduled to start on December 22.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Ron Baalke         | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  M/S 301-355        |
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/   Pasadena, CA 91109 |