yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (09/30/89)
hormone, Auxin, in corn shoot tissue (Zea Mays).
Mounted in foam blocks inside two standard middeck lockers, the
equipment consists of four plant cannisters, two gaseous nitrogen freezers
and two temperature recorders. Equipment for the experiment, excluding
the lockers, weighs 97.5 pounds.
A total of 228 specimens (Zea Mays seeds) are "planted" in special
filter, paper-Teflon tube holders no more than 56 hours prior to flight. The
seeds remain in total darkness throughout the mission.
The GHCD experiment equipment and specimens will be prepared in a
Payload Processing Facility at KSC and placed in the middeck lockers. The
GHCD lockers will be installed in the orbiter middeck within the last 14
hours before launch.
No sooner than 72 hours after launch, mission specialist Ellen Baker will
place two of the plant cannisters into the gaseous nitrogen freezers to
arrest the plant growth and preserve the specimens. The payload will be
restowed in the lockers for the remainder of the mission.
After landing, the payload must be removed from the orbiter within 2
hours and will be returned to customer representatives at the landing site.
The specimens will be examined post flight for microgravity effects.
The GHCD experiment is sponsored by NASA Headquarters, the Johnson
Space Center and Michigan State University.
POLYMER MORPHOLOGY
The Polymer Morphology (PM) experiment is a 3M-developed organic
materials processing experiment designed to explore the effects of
microgravity on polymeric materials as they are processed in space.
Since melt processing is one of the more industrially significant
methods for making products from polymers, it has been chosen for study in
the PM experiment. Key aspects of melt processing include polymerization,
crystallization and phase separation. Each aspect will be examined in the
experiment. The polymeric systems for the first flight of PM include
polyethelyne, nylon-6 and polymer blends.
The apparatus for the experiment includes a Fournier transform infrared
(FTIR) spectrometer, an automatic sample manipulating system and a
process control and data acquisition computer known as the Generic
Electronics Module (GEM). The experiment is contained in two separate,
hermetically sealed containers that are mounted in the middeck of the
orbiter. Each container includes an integral heat exchanger that transfers
heat from the interior of the containers to the orbiter's environment. All
sample materials are kept in triple containers for the safety of the
astronauts.
The PM experiment weighs approximately 200 lb., occupies three
standard middeck locker spaces (6 cubic ft., total) in the orbiter and
requires 240 watts to operate.
Mission specialists Franklin R. Chang-Diaz and Shannon W. Lucid are
responsible for the operation of the PM experiment on orbit. Their interface
with the PM experiment is through a small, NASA-supplied laptop computer
that is used as an input and output device for the main PM computer. This
interface has been programmed by 3M engineers to manage and display the
large quantity of data that is available to the crew. The astronauts will
have an active role in the operation of the experiment.
In the PM experiment, infrared spectra (400 to 5000 cm-1) will be
acquired from the FTIR by the GEM computer once every 3.2 seconds as the
materials are processed on orbit. During the 100 hours of processing time,
approximately 2 gigabytes of data will be collected. Post flight, 3M
scientists will process the data to reveal the effects of microgravity on
the samples processed in space.
The PM experiment is unique among material processing experiments in
that measurements characterizing the effects of microgravity will be made
in real time, as the materials are processed in space.
In most materials processing space experiments, the materials have
been processed in space with little or no measurements made during
on-orbit processing and the effects of microgravity determined post facto.
The samples of polymeric materials being studied in the PM experiment
are thin films (25 microns or less) approximately 25 mm in diameter. The
samples are mounted between two infrared transparent windows in a
specially designed infrared cell that provides the capability of thermally
processing the samples to 200 degrees Celsius with a high degree of
thermal control. The samples are mounted on a carousel that allows them
to be positioned, one at a time, in the infrared beam where spectra may be
acquired. The GEM provides all carousel and sample cell control. The first
flight of PM will contain 17 samples.
The PM experiment is being conducted by 3M's Space Research and
Applications Laboratory. Dr. Earl L. Cook is 3M's Payload Representative and
Mission Coordinator. Dr. Debra L. Wilfong is PM's Science Coordinator, and
James E. Steffen is the Hardware Coordinator.
The PM experiment, a commercial development payload, is sponsored by
NASA's Office of Commercial Programs. The PM experiment will be 3M's
fifth space experiment and the first under the company's 10-year Joint
Endeavor Agreement with NASA for 62 flight experiment opportunities.
Previous 3M space experiments have studied organic crystal growth from
solution (DMOS/1 on mission STS 51-A and DMOS/2 on STS 61-B) and
organic thin film growth by physical vapor treatment (PVTOS/1 on STS 51-I
and PVTOS/2 on mission STS-26).
STUDENT EXPERIMENT
Zero Gravity Growth of Ice Crystals From Supercooled Water With Relation
To Temperature (SE82-15)
This experiment, proposed by Tracy L. Peters, formerly of Ygnacio High
School, Concord, Calif., will observe the geometric ice crystal shapes
formed at supercooled temperatures, below 0 degrees Celsius, without the
influence of gravity.
Liquid water has been discovered at temperatures far below water's
freezing point. This phonomenon occurs because liquid water does not have
a nucleus, or core, around which to form the crystal. When the ice freezes
at supercold temperatures, the ice takes on many geometric shapes based
on the hexagon. The shape of the crystal primarily depends on the
supercooled temperature and saturation of water vapor. The shapes of
crystals vary from simple plates to complex prismatic crystals.
Many scientists have tried to determine the relation between
temperature and geometry, but gravity has deformed crystals, caused
convection currents in temperature-controlled apparatus, and caused faults
in the crystalline structure. These all affect crystal growth by either rapid
fluctuations of temperature or gravitational influence of the crystal
geometry.
The results of this experiment could aid in the design of radiator cooling
and cryogenic systems and in the understanding of high-altitude
meteorology and planetary ring structure theories.
Peters is now studying physics at the University of California at Berkeley.
His teacher advisor is James R. Cobb, Ygnacio High School; his sponsor is
Boeing Aerospace Corp., Seattle.
Peters also was honored as the first four-time NASA award winner at the
International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which recognizes
student's creative scientific endeavors in aerospace research. At the 1982
ISEF, Peters was one of two recipients of the Glen T. Seaborg Nobel Prize
Visit Award, an all-expense-paid visit to Stockholm to attend the Nobel
Prize ceremonies, for his project "Penetration and Diffusion of Supersonic
Fluid."
MESOSCALE LIGHTNING EXPERIMENT
The Space Shuttle will again carry the Mesoscale Lightning Experiment
(MLE), designed to obtain nighttime images of lightning in order to better
understand the global distribution of lightning, the interrelationships
between lightning events in nearby storms, and relationships between
lightning, convective storms and precipitation.
A better understanding of the relationships between lightning and
thunderstorm characteristics can lead to the development of applications in
severe storm warning and forecasting, and early warning systems for
lightning threats to life and property.
In recent years, NASA has used both Space Shuttle missions and
high-altitude U-2 aircraft to observe lightning from above convective
storms. The objectives of these observations have been to determine some
of the baseline design requirements for a satellite-borne optical lightning
mapper sensor; study the overall optical and electrical characteristics of
lightning as viewed from above the cloudtop; and investigate the
relationship between storm electrical development and the structure,
dynamics and evolution of thunderstorms and thunderstorm systems.
The MLE began as an experiment to demonstrate that meaningful,
qualitative observations of lightning could be made from the Shuttle.
Having accomplished this, the experiment is now focusing on quantitative
measurements of lightning characteristics and observation simulations for
future space-based lightning sensors.
Data from the MLE will provide information for the development of
observation simulations for an upcoming polar platform and Space Station
instrument, the Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS). The lightning experiment
also will be helpful for designing procedures for using the Lightning Mapper
Sensor (LMS), planned for several geostationary platforms.
In this experiment, Atlantis' payload bay camera will be pointed
directly below the orbiter to observe nighttime lightning in large, or
mesoscale, storm systems to gather global estimates of lightning as
observed from Shuttle altitudes. Scientists on the ground will analyze the
imagery for the frequency of lightning flashes in active storm clouds
within the camera's field of view, the length of lightning discharges, and
cloud brightness when illuminated by the lightning discharge within the
cloud.
If time permits during missions, astronauts also will use a handheld
35mm camera to photograph lightning activity in storm systems not
directly below the Shuttle's orbital track.
Data from the MLE will be associated with ongoing observations of
lightning made at several locations on the ground, including observations
made at facilities at the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.;
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.; and the NOAA Severe Storms Laboratory,
Norman, Okla. Other ground-based lightning detection systems in Australia,
South America and Africa will be intergrated when possible.
The MLE is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center. Otha H. Vaughan
Jr., is coordinating the experiment. Dr. Hugh Christian is the project
scientist, and Dr. James Arnold is the project manager.
IMAX
The IMAX project is a collaboration between NASA and the Smithsonian
Institution's National Air and Space Museum to document significant space
activities using the IMAX film medium. This system, developed by the IMAX
Systems Corp., Toronto, Canada, uses specially designed 70mm film
cameras and projectors to record and display very high definition
large-screen color motion pictures.
IMAX cameras previously have flown on Space Shuttle missions 41-C,
41-D and 41-G to document crew operations in the payload bay and the
orbiter's middeck and flight deck along with spectacular views of space and
Earth.
Film from those missions form the basis for the IMAX production, "The
Dream is Alive." On STS 61-B, an IMAX camera mounted in the payload bay
recorded extravehicular activities in the EAS/ACCESS space construction
demonstrations.
The IMAX camera, most recently carried aboard STS-29, will be used on
this mission to cover the deployment of the Galileo spacecraft and to
gather material on the use of observations of the Earth from space for
future IMAX films.
AIR FORCE MAUI OPTICAL SITE CALIBRATION TEST
The Air Force Maui Optical Site (AMOS) tests allow ground-based
electro-optical sensors located on Mt. Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii, to collect
imagery and signature data of the orbiter during cooperative overflights.
Scientific observations made of the orbiter while performing Reaction
Control System thruster firings, water dumps or payload bay light
activation are used to support the calibration of the AMOS sensors and the
validation of spacecraft contamination models. AMOS tests have no
payload-unique flight hardware and only require that the orbiter be in
predefined attitude operations and lighting conditions.
The AMOS facility was developed by Air Force Systems Command (AFSC)
through its Rome Air Development Center, Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y., and
is administered and operated by the AVCO Everett Research Laboratory,
Maui. The principal investigator for the AMOS tests on the Space Shuttle is
from AFSC's Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, Hanscom Air Force Base,
Mass. A co-principal investigator is from AVCO.
Flight planning and mission support activities for the AMOS test
opportunities are provided by a detachment of AFSC's Space Systems
Division at Johnson Space Center, Houston. Flight operations are conducted
at JSC Mission Control Center in coordination with the AMOS facilities
located in Hawaii.
SENSOR TECHNOLOGY EXPERIMENT
The Sensor Technology Experiment (STEX) is a radiation detection
experiment designed to measure the natural radiation background. The STEX
is a self-contained experiment with its own power, sensor, computer
control and data storage. A calibration pack, composed of a small number
of passive threshold reaction monitors, is attached to the outside of the
STEX package.
Sponsored by the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, the STEX
package weighs approximately 50 pounds and is stowed in a standard
middeck locker throughout the flight.
PAYLOAD AND VEHICLE WEIGHTS
Vehicle/Payload Weight (Pounds)
Orbiter (Atlantis) Empty 172,018
Galileo/IUS (payload bay) 43,980
Galileo support hardware (middeck) 59
SSBUV (payload bay) 637
SSBUV support 578
DSO 49
DTO 170
GHCD 130
IMAX 269
MLE 15
PM 219
SSIP 70
STEX 52
Orbiter and Cargo at SRB Ignition 264,775
Total Vehicle at SRB Ignition 4,523,810
Orbiter Landing Weight 195,283
SPACEFLIGHT TRACKING AND DATA NETWORK
Primary communications for most activities on STS-34 will be
conducted through the orbiting Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System
(TDRSS), a constellation of three communications satellites in
geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth. In addition, three NASA
Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network (STDN) ground stations and the NASA
Communications Network (NASCOM), both managed by Goddard Space Flight
Center, Greenbelt, Md., will play key roles in the mission.
Three stations -- Merritt Island and Ponce de Leon, Florida and the
Bermuda -- serve as the primary communications during the launch and
ascent phases of the mission. For the first 80 seconds, all voice, telemetry
and other communications from the Space Shuttle are relayed to the
mission managers at Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers by way of the
Merritt Island facility.
At 80 seconds, the communications are picked up from the Shuttle and
relayed to the two NASA centers from the Ponce de Leon facility, 30 miles
north of the launch pad. This facility provides the communications between
the Shuttle and the centers for 70 seconds, or until 150 seconds into the
mission. This is during a critical period when exhaust from the solid rocket
motors "blocks out" the Merritt Island antennas.
The Merritt Island facility resumes communications to and from the
Shuttle after those 70 seconds and maintains them until 6 minutes, 30
seconds after launch when communications are "switched over" to Bermuda.
Bermuda then provides the communications until 11 minutes after liftoff
when the TDRS-East satellite acquires the Shuttle. TDRS-West acquires
the orbiter at launch plus 50 minutes.
The TDRS-East and -West satellites will provide communications with
the Shuttle during 85 percent or better of each orbit. The TDRS-West
satellite will handle communications with the Shuttle during its descent
and landing phases.
CREW BIOGRAPHIES
Donald E. Williams, 47, Capt., USN, will serve as commander. Selected as
an astronaut in January 1978, he was born in Lafayette, Ind.
Williams was pilot for STS-51D, the fourth flight of Discovery, launched
April 12, 1985. During the mission, the seven-member crew deployed the
Anik-C communications satellite for Telesat of Canada and the Syncom
IV-3 satellite for the U.S. Navy. A malfunction in the Syncom spacecraft
resulted in the first unscheduled extravehicular, rendezvous and proximity
operation for the Space Shuttle in an attempt to activate the satellite.
He graduated from Otterbein High School, Otterbein, Ind., in 1960 and
received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University
in 1964. Williams completed his flight training at Pensacola, Fla.,
Meridian, Miss., and Kingsville, Texas, and earned his wings in 1966.
During the Vietnam Conflict, Williams completed 330 combat missions.
He has logged more than 5,400 hours flying time, including 5,100 in jets,
and 745 aircraft carrier landings.
Michael J. McCulley, 46, Cdr., USN, will be pilot on this flight. Born in
San Diego, McCulley considers Livingston, Tenn., his hometown. He was
selected as a NASA astronaut in 1984. He is making his first Space Shuttle
flight.
McCulley graduated from Livingston Academy in 1961. He received B.S.
and M.S. degrees in metallurgical engineering from Purdue University in
1970.
After graduating from high school, McCulley enlisted in the U.S. Navy and
subsequently served on one diesel-powered and two nuclear-powered
submarines. Following flight training, he served tours of duty in A-4 and
A-65 aircraft and was selected to attend the Empire Test Pilots School in
Great Britain. He served in a variety of test pilot billets at the Naval Air
Test Center, Patuxent River, Md., before returning to sea duty on the USS
Saratoga and USS Nimitz.
He has flown more than 50 types of aircraft, logging more than 4,760
hours, and has almost 400 carrier landings on six aircraft carriers.
Shannon W. Lucid, 46, will serve as mission specialist (MS-1) on this,
her second Shuttle flight. Born in Shanghai, China, she considers Bethany,
Okla., her hometown. Lucid is a member of the astronaut class of 1978.
Lucid's first Shuttle mission was during STS 51-G, launched from the
Kennedy Space Center on June 17, 1985. During that flight, the crew
deployed communications satellites for Mexico, the Arab League and the
United States.
Lucid graduated from Bethany High School in 1960. She then attended
the University of Oklahoma where she received a B.S. degree in chemistry in
1963, an M.S. degree in biochemistry in 1970 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry in
1973.
Before joining NASA, Lucid held a variety of academic assignments such
as teaching assistant at the University of Oklahoma's department of
chemistry; senior laboratory technician at the Oklahoma Medical Research
Foundation; chemist at Kerr-McGee in Oklahoma City; graduate assistant in
the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center's department of
biochemistry; and molecular biology and research associate with the
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City. Lucid also is a
commercial, instrument and multi-engine rated pilot.
Franklin Chang-Diaz, 39, will serve as MS-2. Born in San Jose, Costa
Rica, Chang-Diaz also will be making his second flight since being selected
as an astronaut in 1980.
Chang-Diaz made his first flight aboard Columbia on mission STS 61-C,
launched from KSC Jan. 12, 1986. During the 6-day flight he participated in
the deployment of the SATCOM KU satellite, conducted experiments in
astrophysics and operated the materials science laboratory, MSL-2.
Chang-Diaz graduated from Colegio De La Salle, San Jose, Costa Rica, in
1967, and from Hartford High School, Hartford, Conn., in 1969. He received
a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Connecticut
in 1973 and a Ph.D. in applied plasma physics from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in 1977.
While attending the University of Connecticut, Chang-Diaz also worked
as a research assistant in the physics department and participated in the
design and construction of high-energy atomic collision experiments. Upon
entering graduate school at MIT, he became heavily involved in the United
State's controlled fusion program and conducted intensive research in the
design and operation of fusion reactors. In 1979, he developed a novel
concept to guide and target fuel pellets in an inertial fusion reactor
chamber. In 1983, he was appointed as visiting scientist with the MIT
Plasma Fusion Center which he visits periodically to continue his research
on advanced plasma rockets.
Chang-Diaz has logged more than 1,500 hours of flight time, including
1,300 hours in jet aircraft.
Ellen S. Baker, 36, will serve as MS-3. She will be making her first
Shuttle flight. Baker was born in Fayetteville, N.C., and was selected as an
astronaut in 1984.
Baker graduated from Bayside High School, New York, N.Y., in 1970. She
received a B.A. degree in geology from the State University of New York at
Buffalo in 1974, and an M.D. from Cornell University in 1978.
After medical school, Baker trained in internal medicine at the
University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 1981,
she was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Baker joined NASA as a medical officer at the Johnson Space Center in
1981 after completing her residency. That same year, she graduated with
honors from the Air Force Aerospace Medicine Primary Course at Brooks Air
Force Base in San Antonio. Prior to her selection as an astronaut, she
served as a physician in the Flight Medicine Clinic at JSC.
NASA PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
NASA Headquarters
Washington, D.C.
Richard H. Truly
NASA Administrator
James R. Thompson Jr.
NASA Deputy Administrator
William B. Lenoir
Acting Associate Administrator for Space Flight
George W.S. Abbey
Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Flight
Arnold D. Aldrich
Director, National Space Transportation Program
Leonard S. Nicholson
Deputy Director, NSTS Program
(located at Johnson Space Center)
Robert L. Crippen
Deputy Director, NSTS Operations
(located at Kennedy Space Center)
David L. Winterhalter
Director, Systems Engineering and Analyses
Gary E. Krier
Director, Operations Utilization
Joseph B. Mahon
Deputy Associate Administrator
for Space Flight (Flight Systems)
Charles R. Gunn
Director, Unmanned Launch Vehicles
and Upper Stages
George A. Rodney
Associate Administrator for Safety, Reliability,
Maintainability and Quality Assurance
Charles T. Force
Associate Administrator for Operations
Dr. Lennard A. Fisk
Associate Administrator for Space Science
and Applications
Samuel Keller
Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator
NASA Headquarters
Al Diaz
Deputy Associate Administrator for
Space Science and Applications
Dr. Geoffrey A. Briggs
Director, Solar System Exploration Division
Robert F. Murray
Manager, Galileo Program
Dr. Joseph Boyce
Galileo Program Scientist
Johnson Space Center
Houston, Texas
Aaron Cohen
Director
Paul J. Weitz
Deputy Director
Richard A. Colonna
Manager, Orbiter and GFE Projects
Donald R. Puddy
Director, Flight Crew Operations
Eugene F. Kranz
Director, Mission Operations
Henry O. Pohl
Director, Engineering
Charles S. Harlan
Director, Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance
Kennedy Space Center
Florida
Forrest S. McCartney
Director
Thomas E. Utsman
Deputy Director
Jay F. Honeycutt
Director, Shuttle Management
and Operations
Robert B. Sieck
Launch Director
George T. Sasseen
Shuttle Engineering Director
Conrad G. Nagel
Atlantis Flow Director
James A. Thomas
Director, Safety, Reliability and
Quality Assurance
John T. Conway
Director, Payload Managerment
and Operations
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Ala.
Thomas J. Lee
Director
Dr. J. Wayne Littles
Deputy Director
G. Porter Bridwell
Manager, Shuttle Projects Office
Dr. George F. McDonough
Director, Science and Engineering
Alexander A. McCool
Director, Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance
Royce E. Mitchell
Manager, Solid Rocket Motor Project
Cary H. Rutland
Manager, Solid Rocket Booster Project
Jerry W. Smelser
Manager, Space Shuttle Main Engine Project
G. Porter Bridwell
Acting Manager, External Tank Project
Sidney P. Saucier
Manager, Space Systems Projects Office
[for IUS]
Stennis Space Center
Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Roy S. Estess
Director
Gerald W. Smith
Deputy Director
William F. Taylor
Associate Director
J. Harry Guin
Director, Propulsion Test Operations
Edward L. Tilton III
Director, Science and Technology Laboratory
John L. Gasery Jr.
Chief, Safety/Quality Assurance
and Occupational Health
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Lew Allen
Director
Dr. Peter T. Lyman
Deputy Director
Gene Giberson
Laboratory Director for Flight Projects
John Casani
Assistant Laboratory Director for Flight Projects
Richard J. Spehalski
Manager, Galileo Project
William J. O'Neil
Manager, Science and Mission Design,
Galileo Project
Dr. Clayne M. Yeates
Deputy Manager, Science and Mission Design,
Galileo Project
Dr. Torrence V Johnson
Galileo Project Scientist
Neal E. Ausman Jr.
Mission Operations and Engineering Manager
Galileo Project
A. Earl Cherniack
Orbiter Spacecraft Manager
Galileo Project
Matthew R. Landano
Deputy Orbiter Spacecraft Manager
Galileo Project
William G. Fawcett
Orbiter Science Payload Manager
Galileo Project
Ames Research Center
Mountain View, Calif.
Dr. Dale L. Compton
Acting Director
Dr. David Morrison
Director, Science Projects Directorate
Benny Chin
Probe Manager
Galileo Project
Lawrence Colin
Probe Scientist
Galileo Project
Richard E. Young
Probe Scientist
Galileo Project
Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility
Edwards, Calif.
Martin A. Knutson
Site Manager
Theodore G. Ayers
Deputy Site Manager
Thomas C. McMurtry
Chief, Research Aircraft Operations Division
Larry C. Barnett
Chief, Shuttle Support Office
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Md
Dr. John W. Townsend
Director
Peter Burr
Director, Flight Projects
Dale L. Fahnestock
Director, Mission Operations and Data Systems
Daniel A. Spintman
Chief, Networks Division
Gary A. Morse
Network Director
Dr. Robert D. Hudson
Head, Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics
Ernest Hilsenrath
SSBUV Principal Investigator
Jon R. Busse
Director, Engineering Directorate
Robert C. Weaver Jr.
Chief, Special Payloads Division
Neal F. Barthelme
SSBUV Mission Manager