Mar 18 1992
From The Space Library
Researchers from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Virginia, used laser-ranging instruments aboard the Wallops P-3B (HL) Orion aircraft to measure the Arctic sea ice above the water and the Greenland polar glacier elevations in order to study global climate changes. The data gathered was to be compared to previous studies and used to develop a baseline for future studies. Scientists are interested in developing accurate measurements of sea ice and glaciers because changes in these systems may indicate trends in world climate. Appreciable changes in these ice systems, such as increased melting, could directly affect global climate. (NASA Release 92-38)
Managers at NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory were implementing a new set of operating procedures because of a problem in the playback of recorded data. Scientific and spacecraft data was to be transmitted directly to the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) and then to a ground control center, without using tape recorders. However, because of the capability of TDRSS, using two of its spacecraft would enable nearly full coverage of each Compton orbit. This procedure will be used while an investigation continues into the cause of the problem. Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the second of NASA's Great Observatories, was launched April 5, 1991, by the Space Shuttle Atlantis to study high-energy radiation from space. The spacecraft was developed and is managed and operated by GSFC for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications, Washington, D.C. (NASA Release 92-39)
A German and two Russian astronauts were launched into space in the first space mission of the post-Soviet era. The 160 foot Soyuz TM-14 rocket was scheduled to rendezvous on March 19 with the Mir Space Station orbiting 200 miles above Earth. Russian officials hoped the launching would attract more foreign investment for future joint missions to help finance future space explorations. (NY Times, Mar 18/92; W Post, Mar 18/92; LA Times, Mar 18/92)
The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, in its annual report to officials of NASA, questioned the Agency's decision to save money by eliminating several engine improvement programs, which could compromise the safety of future Space Shuttle flights. Although the panel said NASA was generally doing a good job on safety issues, the panel said it was unwise for the Agency to stop developing a new main combustion chamber for the engine and a new hydrogen fuel pump. (NY Times, Mar 18/92)
A draft report issued by the National Research Council claimed that NASA was failing to provide the technological support needed by the U.S. aircraft industry to face down foreign rivals. The study raised serious questions about NASA's role in supporting basic technology that U.S. manufacturers of air-craft jet engines and components rely on in meeting international competition. (LA limes, Mar 18/92)
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