Feb 21 1991
From The Space Library
NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly was scheduled to teach ninth grade geometry students at George Washington Junior High School, Alexandria, Virginia, on February 22. Selected as an "All-Star" engineer by the National Engineers Week 1991 committee, Truly was to share his engineering and aerospace knowledge with students. Astronauts Mary Cleave and Bonnie Dunbar were among the more than 10,000 engineers participating in the teaching program. (NASA Release N91-13)
Scientists from several U.S. government and university laboratories reported finding the rare atmospheric isotope Beryllium-7 present on the surface of NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Dr. Gerald J. Fishman of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, commented on the significance as twofold: to date, the isotope is known to be produced at much lower altitudes than the LDEF was orbiting; and only one atmospheric gas, atomic oxygen, is previously known as interacting with orbiting spacecraft. The LDEF was returned from space by Space Shuttle Columbia in January 1990 after nearly six years in Earth orbit and was still being analyzed. The LDEF program was managed by NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia. (NASA Release 91-30)
Data analysis of cracks on the external door mechanism of Discovery continued, and fuel will be loaded without a decision as to whether the launch would proceed on schedule. The door mechanisms of Space Shuttles Atlantis and Columbia were also examined, and cracks were discovered on Columbia. (NASA Release, Feb 21/91; C Trin, Feb 22/91)
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