Frontier Status 217

August 25, 2000

by Dale M. Gray

Frontier Historical Consultants

Two attempts resulting in one launch lead the news this week on the Space Frontier. Boeing launched a Delta 3 rocket on August 23 as proof that their new system works. The August 25 launch of Dnepr, a converted Soviet missile, was halted due to technical problems. Other news includes the journal Science report on evidence gathered by Galileo that Europa has an ice covered ocean. Iridium shut down its phone system. Dennis Tito passed his first physical and has begun training as the world's first space tourist. Amateur Rocketry societies are up in arms. NASA continues preparations for its fall ISS flights.

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Highlights of the week of August 25 include:

Delta 3 successfully launches dummy satellite
NASA awards Alternative Access study contracts
First Space Tourist begins training at Star City
Dnepr launch aborted, delayed to September
China displays Shenzhou mock-up in Hong Kong
Iridium ends operation of phone system

SHUTTLE

This past week, the Kennedy Space Center entered Hurricane Condition IV as a precaution for Hurricane Debby. Shuttle Managers assessing weather conditions decided to press on with preparations for STS- 106 when the hurricane was downgraded and took a westerly turn (NASA; Spaceflight Now).

Atlantis

In preparation for the Sepember 8 launch of the Shuttle Atlantis, technicians mated the SpaceHab tunnel inside the Orbiter and have completed the payload interface verification test. Prelaunch propellant launch began on Wednesday. Hot firing of the auxiliary power unit No. 1 occurred on Friday. Aft compartment close-outs are scheduled for August 28, with payload bay doors set to close for flight on August 30 (NASA; Spaceflight Now).

Discovery

Discovery started the week in Orbiter Processing Facility bay 1, but was transferred on August 21 to bay 3. Rollout to the Vehicle Assembly Building was delayed by Hurricane Debby uncertainty, but was completed on Friday, August 25. The Orbiter was mated with the external tank and SRBs the same evening. Testing will follow on Saturday. Rollout to Pad 39A is expected on August 30 (NASA; Spaceflight Now).

The primary payload for the STS-97 mission, the Z-1 truss was partially disassembled this week. The thermostat heater assemblies from the four Moment Control Gyros were removed and sent to their manufacturer for adjustment to assure operation in extreme cold. The reassembled Z-1 Truss will be transferred to the launch pad in early September. The October 5 launch remains on schedule (NASA).

Columbia

Inspections of the Shuttle Columbia, currently being refurbished at Palmdale, California have revealed that the fleet's oldest orbiter has five times the number of wiring problems as its three sister ships. Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavor previously were subject to intense wiring inspections and repairs following a wiring related problem on a July 1999 mission. While the new Orbiters averaged 600 - 700 wiring defects, the 20 year-old Columbia has been assessed with 3,500 defects ranging from nicked paint on wire covering to more serious abrasions. The additional wiring repairs have set back completion of work several months, it as originally expected to be completed in July. The wiring work was performed in addition to planned work to upgrade the avionics and instrumentation while removing over 1,000 pounds of instruments and wiring associated with Columbia's early use testing Shuttle performance. This is Columbia's second maintenance overhaul. Columbia's next scheduled flight is slated for July of 2001 when it will be used on the 4th Hubble Space Telescope maintenance mission (Florida Today).

Shuttle Cockpit

NASA has awarded five $200,000 Phase 1 contracts for the NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter Cockpit Avionics Upgrade Program. Ball Aerospace & Technologies with Kaiser Electronics as subcontractor is one of the winners of the proof of concept contract. The field will be narrowed to three companies for the $2 million Phase II awards in November 2000. The final phase of the upgrade will be completed in 2003 (Ball Aerospace PR; Spaceflight Now).

ISS

During the past week, the International Space Station's orbit was raised 4.5 statute miles by two firings of the engines of the attached Progress supply vessel. Another firing is scheduled for September to fine-tune the station's orbit in preparation for the Docking of Atlantis. The station is currently in a 228 x 222 statute mile orbit (NASA).

The pumping of oxidizer and fuel from the Progress into tanks on the Zvezda module continues with one set of tanks on Zvezda filled as a result. The transfer is now filling a second set of tanks. The process was halted briefly last week due to a sensor problem, which was resolved (NASA).

Battery problems have once again emerged. One of five batteries on the Zvezda module has begun to show erratic behavior. Controllers are trouble shooting the problem. The set of batteries will be augmented with three more during the Atlantis visit (NASA).

Nadir Window

The Aerospace Corporation has completed the 20-inch optical quality research window that will be placed in the U. S. laboratory. The window is an improvement over the originally planned window, which was to be a derivative of the Shuttle windows -- derived from X-15 window requirements. The new window will be able to support high-resolution telescopes and precision remote-sensing instruments. The window is constructed of four pieces: an external "debris" pane, primary and secondary pressure panes and an internal "scratch" pane. The window completed a week of calibration tests necessary to prepare it for spectral remote-sensing research before being installed in the U.S. laboratory module. Dr. Karen Scott of The Aerospace Corp. led the 30-member test team testing the window. For their efforts the team was awarded the Johnson Space Center group achievement award (Aerospace Corp. PR; Spaceflight Now).

Alternative Access

NASA has awarded four 90-day contracts totaling $902,000 to four small companies to develop concepts and requirements to provide access to the International Space Station. The studies will reveal potential launch service providers, develop concepts for alternate access, determine what is needed to meet requirements; and to offer suggestions in risk reduction activities. Companies selected include: Andrews Space and Technology of El Segundo, CA, $195,000; Microcosm, Inc. of El Segundo, CA, $198,000; HMX Ltd. (headed by Gary Hudson) of Reno, NV, $245,000; Kistler Aerospace Corp. of Kirkland, WA, $264,000. The contingency plans would seek capability to launch within a week if needed and could cover delivery if primary delivery systems go off-line. Established launch service providers are also studying these access plans under existing contracts. The proposed 2001 NASA budget has earmarked $40 million to begin Alternative Access studies as part of its Space Launch Initiative (Marshall SFC PR; SpaceViews; Spaceflight Now).

MIR

Citizen Explorer

MirCorp announced this past week that its Citizen Explorer Dennis Tito (59) had successfully passed the pre-flight physical for his trip to Mir. He received a rigorous physical and psychological screening to obtain a medical certificate. The certification cleared the way for the American businessman to begin training at Star City. He will alternate training with trips hope to run his business. Tito has begun a series of regular payments that will total $20 million and will culminate in the first paid tourist flight to space in mid-2001. Tito will receive extensive training in Star City prior to the 7 - 10 day flight (AP; MirCorp).

LAUNCHES

Delta 3

At 7:05 a.m. EDT on August 23, Boeing launched a Delta 3, rocket with a dummy satellite payload (DM-F3) from SLC-17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Listed as a $85 million demonstration flight, the Delta 3's upper stage delivered the 5.5 foot high, 4,348 kg steel demonstration payload into an elliptical GEO transfer orbit. The satellite, based upon the mass of an Orion 3 HS- 601 satellite will be used to calibrate optical instruments. This was the third attempt by Boeing to successfully launch its new Delta 3 rocket. The new rocket can carry up to 8,400 pounds, about twice the capability of the Delta 2 rocket. The company has three Delta 3 launches scheduled for 2001 and four to six in the following years. In all 18 launches have been booked on the rocket. The rocket is slated for replacement by the Delta 4 around 2005 (AP; Bo eing Press Release; Space.com).

At T=0 the main engine and six ground-lit solid rocket boosters ignited. The six SRBs completed their burn at T+1:17 minutes and were jettisoned at T+1:20. At the same time (T+1:19) three air-lit SRBs began their 90 second burns. At T+2:40 minutes the air lit SRBs were released. The payload fairing was jettisoned just before T+4 minutes with the first stage main engine cut off at T+4:20 minutes. The RL-10B-2 second stage ignited at T+4:43 minutes and completed its first burn to depletion at T+13:50 minutes. The second burn began at T+21:26 minutes and ended at T+24 minutes. The satellite was released at T+35 minutes into a 190 x 20,655 km x 27.5-degree orbit. This orbit was widely reported to be a thousand miles too low, but it was within limits determined by variables related to atmospheric conditions and fuel depletion, not a predetermined orbit (Jonathan's Space Report; Bo eing Press Release; Spaceflight Now Mission Status; Spaceflight Now Article).

Dnepr

An attempt to launch a Russian-Ukrainian Dnepr rocket was halted moments before ignition by an on-ground technical problem. The converted RS-20 (SS-18 "Satan" missile by NATO nomenclature), was to carry five small satellites for Italy (MegSat-1 and UniSat), Saudi Arabia (SaudiSat 1A and 1B), and Malaysia (TiungSat-1). The launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome's complex 109 was at first rescheduled for Saturday but later delayed until sometime in September. The silo-launched rocket is marketed through ISC Kosmotras, which is converting the former Soviet missiles. The robust three-stage missiles can be launched at any temperature and humidity. The first stage is powered by a RD-265 engine with four chambers and four nozzles. The second stage is a RD-0229 engine. It is capable of placing the five-satellite payload into a circular 650-km orbit (Interfax; Spaceflight Now).

LAUNCH SYSTEMS

H2A

The Japanese National Space Development Agency recently completed a 150-second test firing of the LE7A first stage engine for their H2A rocket. The test took place at the H-II Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture on August 23. The fourth in the series of Ground Test Vehicle-1 firings was delayed 30 minutes because of a problem with a tube containing liquid oxygen. The test provided good data for the engine, which will have to fire for 400 seconds during an actual flight. The H2A maiden flight is slated for February 2001 (NASDA PR; SpaceDaily.com).

Proton /Raduga-1

A technical problem has pushed back the scheduled launch of a Proton rocket carrying the Raduga-1 military satellite from August 26 to August 28. The cause was stated as a "loss of electric signals of the initial state of the satellite". The problem was resolved, but it pushed the launch preparations back (Interfax).

TECHNOLOGY

SPADUS

Using an instrument designed by the University of Chicago, NASA scientists have been able to track the creation of small, high speed particles for the first time. The SPADUS instrument, which made the observation, is part of the USAF ARGOS satellite launched in February 1999. The instrument recorded a spike in the number of small particles, which scientists have been able to link to the explosion of a Chinese Long March 4 upper stage. While larger particles are routinely tracked, smaller particles have up till now been undetectable. To date 160 explosions have been recorded in space (AP; Un iversity of Chicago Press Release; SpaceViews).

USPI

The National Reconnaissance Office has awarded a $300,000 contract to AeroAstro for the design of a standardized piggyback payload accommodation system. The design will allow secondary payloads to be easily integrated inside U.S. launchers such as the Delta and Atlas launch systems. The device, designated the Universal Secondary Payload Interface, will be used to launch low- budget scientific satellites into different orbits during ascent. The USPI would be used in association with the Sport upper stage orbital transfer system (Spacelift Washington).

LEGISLATION

Beal

The proposed launch site for the Frisco, Texas rocket company Beal Aerospace has become subject of highest- level discussions between Venezuela and Guyana. At stake is the contested Essequibo region rich in oil, timber, gold and other natural resources that is within the 1899 Guyana border, but has been contested by Venezuela since the 1940s. Foreign Ministers Jose Vincente Rangel of Venezuela and Clement Hohee of Guyana will meet next week in Caracas to prepare for the meeting of Venezuela President Hugo Chavez and Guyanan President Bharrat Jagdeo in Brazil at the end of August (AP).

Engine Technology Safeguards

The powerful RD-170 engine will be the subject of an agreement between Russia and the United States. Russia government directive No. 1114r from August 11 directs the Russian Aerospace Agency and Russian Foreign Ministry to hold talks with United Technologies Corp. of the US to organize safeguard to prevent unauthorized technology transfer and unsanctioned use of the engine (Interfax).

Amateur Rocketry

Amateur rocketry groups are banding together to protest unneeded regulation of their sport by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Members have been visited by agents of the BATF to assure that their rocket motors are properly stored in magazines. The expensive magazines became necessary when the Bureau decided rocket motors using ammonium percolate propellant were explosives. The BATF maintains that there has been criminal use of ammonium percolate. The Tripoli rocket association with 3,800 members has filed charges against the BATF arguing that its actions were "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and/or not in accordance with the law. The suit was filed after a BATF agent visited the home of Bill Spadafora and asked to inspect his rocket motor magazine. Sport rocketry has become increasingly regulated with $100 licenses granted only after passage of a test. The sport is also regulated by the Transportation Department, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which set rules on the use and storage of rocket engines. Tripoli maintains that no one has been killed or injured by a model rocket. A legal defense fund has been set up on the Tripoli web site ( Space.com).

CHARISMA

Shenzhou

A full-size mock-up of the Shenzhou capsule complete with solar panels was unveiled on August 21 at the Hong Kong Science Museum as part of the Chinese Aerospace Science and Technology Exhibition. The exhibit also includes documentary films, technical lectures and souvenirs that have flown in space. Sale of the objects, which include stamps, silver medallions, small metal strips and scale models of the Shenzhou capsule is hoped to raise $20 to 30 million HK ($2.5 - 4 million US). The exhibit runs until October 22. Rumors place the launch of Shenzhou-2, China's first manned space mission around October 1 (SpaceDaily.com).

Olympics

The lighting of the Olympic flame at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney will be made available to 4 billion people thanks to a linkage of eight Intelsat satellites. The system is prepared to carry an estimated 40,000 hours of television coverage of the Games (Intelsat Web Site).

EXPLORATION

Galileo

The evidence is mounting for the presence of a liquid ocean under Europa's icy crust. The August 25 issue of Science reported that data from Galileo's fly-by of the Jovian moon showed magnetic readings "best explained by the presence of a layer of electrical conducting liquid such as salt water, beneath the ice." The magnetic readings taken by Galileo during its January fly-by were opposite that found during the 1996 and 1998 passes. Krishan Khurana, a geophysicist at UCLA, stated that the European ocean could be from four to 60 miles deep. David Stevenson at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) stated that a global layer of water 10 km (6.2 miles) thick would explain the data received from Galileo. The liquid ocean is thought possible by deep heat sources generated by Jupiter's gravitational effect on the moon. Galileo continues to explore the Jovian system and is currently playing back data from its May encounter with Ganymede (Reuters; SpaceViews; NASA Press Release; NASA Headlines; Spaceflight Now).

Pluto Express

A proposed expedition to Pluto to observe its atmosphere before it freezes is in danger of cancellation. At a distance from the sun that is 40 times further than Earth, the Pluto / Charon double planet is the last remaining planet unvisited by probes from Earth. The mission to Pluto and possibly other Kuiper Belt objects is threatened. Advanced technologies such as a lightweight radiation hardened electronics are proving harder to develop than originally anticipated. NASA also hoped to use a radioisotope power source three times more efficient than current systems. A third problem is delays in the creation of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, which was to have been used to carry the probe to space in December of 2004. Any delays in launch would put Jupiter out of position for use as a gravity slingshot. Other options exist, but are either too late or carry a heavy economic penalties. The probe must reach Pluto by 2016 to study its atmosphere before it freezes (SpaceDaily.com).

SATELLITES

Cluster

The four Cluster II satellites, Salsa, Samba, Rumba and Tango, have rendezvoused and are now flying in a tetrahedral formation. Antenna and experiment booms on the satellites have been extended and the month long process of activating scientific instruments has begun. The gathering of the satellites occurred despite an under performance of the Soyuz second stage. The new Fregat upper stage, with its capability of restarting, was able to make up for the Soyuz and allowed the Cluster mission to proceed as schedule (ESA PR).

GOES-11

The latest American weather satellite, GOES-11, has completed its on-orbit checkout and is ready to go into action when needed. Launched on May 3, 2000, the satellite will function as an orbiting spare to assure unbroken weather observation should either GOES-8 or -10 fail. GOES-11 can begin work two days after activation (NOAA PR; Spaceflight Now).

Estrela do Sul

Loral Space & Communications has announced that it will expand its satellite services with the construction and launch of a new Estrela do Sul satellite to serve Loral Skynet do Brasil customers. The Loral 1300 bus satellite will carry 36 Ku-band transponders with two spot beams. It is expected to be launched in mid-2002 and be placed in the 63 degrees West Longitude slot. In the interim, Loral Skynet do Brasil has acquired Anik-C1 from Telesat Canada. The Hughes-built HS376 satellite is being moved from 106.8 degrees to 63 degrees. It will begin service with its 8 Ku-band transponders. Loral Skynet do Brasil obtained rights to the 63 degree West longitude orbital slot as the results of an auction in March of 1999 (SpaceDaily.com).

Express-A

Insurance money from the destroyed Express- A1 satellite will be used to construct its replacement according to a recent Interfax article. The original satellite was lost when its Proton carrier rocket crashed in October of 1999. NPO PM (Reshetnev Scientific Production Association of Applied Mechanics) has been contracted by state company Kosmicheskaya Svyaz to produce the replacement in just 15 months. This will allow a program to replace the national satellite network to proceed on schedule. The new satellite will be augmented with L-channel capabilities. Since the October crash, two other Express-A satellites have been successfully placed into orbit on March 12 and June 24. These satellites are already working at full capacity (Interfax; SpaceDaily.com).

REMOTE SENSING FRONTIER

Forecast

The Teal Group has announced that it has completed it first Commercial Imaging Satellite Forecast for 2001-2010. The report estimated that 43 commercial remote sensing satellites will be built during this period. The numbers represent only three percent of the launches during the period. The estimated value of the satellites is $3.62 billion, which is also three percent of the total value of satellites launched during the period. In the past decade, 1.8 commercial satellites have been launched each year. This is expected to rise to 4.3 satellites per year for the next decade. Teal noted that commercial imaging has improved to the point that the U.S. military is now looking at commercial sources for some of its remote sensing requirements (PRNewswire).

SATELLITE RADIO FRONTIER

Sirius

Serious Satellite Radio continues to expand its content. This week the company announced that it will carry Comedy World programming as part of its 50 channels of news, entertainment and sports. Sirius Radio will also provide 50 channels of commercial-free, digital music from its three-satellite broadcast system (PRNewswire; Sirius Radio Web Site).

StarGuide

In addition to satellite direct broadcast radio programming, satellites are also being used to distribute radio programming to local affiliate stations. Jones Broadcasting recently selected StarGuide Digital Networks, Inc. to provide satellite-based distribution equipment for its radio programming. Deployment of the equipment will begin in early 2001. Radio programming will be beamed to affiliates through SatCom C-5 (Business Wire; StarGuide Web Site).

SELLING SPACE

Profits off of Challenger

A former Navy sailor has pleaded guilty on the charge of possessing government property with intent to sell. Charles Starowesky of Somerset, Ohio, was given two years probation as the result of his attempt to sell a Challenger heat-shield tile on e-Bay. Starowesky recovered the tile out of the Atlantic following the Challenger disaster in 1986 while on-board the USS Aubry Fitch, which was engaged in recovery efforts. All Challenger debris is interred in a sealed missile silo at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (Space.com; CollectSpace).

Selling Apollo 11

A silver handle removed from the Apollo 11 capsule was auctioned off at Butterfields on August 27. An unnamed buyer bid $35,000 for the 18.5-inch long external handle from the Apollo 11 command module. Charles Barnes, a former NASA radiation safety office, sold the handle. The handle was removed from the capsule after recovery because it contained a small amount of a radioisotope to make it glow. The self-illumination was to help astronauts locate it in the dark. The handle was tested in the 1970s, but has been kept in a safe owned by Barnes since that time. NASA struck a deal with Barnes and Butterfields to allow the auction. A condition of the sale is that if an on-going investigation of the Office of Inspector General for NASA determines the handle must be returned to the space agency, then the buyer's money will be returned (Florida Today; CollectSpace).

BUSINESS

Iridium

The clock is down to the final ticks for the doomed Iridium satellite phone constellation. As of August 24, Iridium users could no longer place or receive calls to non- Iridium phones in the Americas. Iridium phones retained some ability to send and receive calls from other Iridium phones. Motorola has advised users that any remaining Iridium services could be ended at any time without further notice. Motorola has started proceedings to deorbit the constellation. In the past six months several attempts have been made to resurrect the bankrupt service: Craig McCaw in February and Castle Harlin in June. Both found they could not operate the network profitably. Motorola has not yet responded to an 11th hour bid of $30 million by CMC International. The $5 billion system contains 88 satellites (both functional and non-functional) as well as on-the- ground assets. Motorola, the majority owner of the system, was given permission by Bankruptcy Court in March to destroy the constellation, but it has kept the system operational at an estimated $10 million per month in hopes that a new buyer would emerge. Iridium LLC has filed an injunction against Motorola to prevent it from destroying the constellation (Motorola User letter August 22, 2000; AP; Reuters).

Boeing / Hughes

The Defense Department has notified the Federal Trade Commission that it has no objections to the pending purchase of Hughes Electronic satellite manufacturing business by Boeing. The Pentagon's approval of the $3.75 billion deal is dependent on undisclosed actions that would preserve competition in the marketplace. The nature of these actions will not be revealed until the FTC review is complete. The deal will make Boeing the largest maker of commercial satellites. It currently is the largest maker of intelligence satellites for the U.S. military (Bloomberg News).

BlockBuster

In its first move to migrate off-planet, Blockbuster video began to sell DirecTV hardware and subscriptions this past week. The move is part of Blockbuster's restructuring to become a pay-per-view and video-on-demand outlet. Over 3,000 corporate-owned stores are now selling DirecTV with 2,000 franchises to follow by year's end (Brett Sporich).

SPACE STOCKS

The stock listing is for informational purposes only and not intended for trading purposes. Frontier Status shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Additional stocks may be listed by request (dalegray@micron.net).

Company Ticker Friday Close Previous Friday Change

Boeing BA 54.1250 45.6875 8.5275

EchoStar DISH 45.125 40.6250 4.5

GlobalStar GSTRF 10.5 8.4375 2.0625

Hughes Electronics GMH 33.9375 31.0 2.9375

Lockheed Martin LMT 28.6875 29.625 -0.9375

Loral Space LOR 8.4062 6.6250 1.7812

Motorola MOT 36.0 36.25 -0.25

Orbital Sciences ORB 9.0 10.0 -1.0

Sirius SIRI 51.1875 50.3750 0.8125

SpaceDev SPDVE.OB 1.3125 1.3438 -0.0313

SpaceHab SPAB 5.6250 5.8125 -0.1875

TRW TRW 47.0625 50.4375 -3.375

COMING EVENTS

Courtesy J. Ray and SpaceViews

August - Zenit-2, Kosmos, Complex 45, Baikonur, Kazakhstan
August 28 - ISC Kosmotras Dnepr, 5 satellites, Area 109, Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
August 28 - Proton K/ Block DM-2, Globus-1, Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
September 5 - ILS Proton/Blok DM, Sirius -2, Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
September 6 - Ariane 4 (flight 132), Eutelsat W1, ELA-2, Kourou, French Guiana.
September 8 - Shuttle Atlantis, STS-106 (ISS 2A.2b), SpaceHab Double Module, pad 39-B, Kennedy Space Center.
SpaceFest 2000, Sand Point Park, Titusville, Florida.
September 14 - Ariane 5, Astra 2B and GE-7, Kourou, French Guiana.
September 19 - Shuttle Discovery, landing, Kennedy Space Center.
September 20 - Titan II, NOAA L G-13, SLC-4W, Vandenberg AFB.
September 20 - Sea Launch Zenit 3SL, Thuraya, Equatorial Pacific.
September 24 - Ukrainian Zenit-2, Badr-2/Meteor- 3M/Maroc-Tubsat/Reflector, Complex 45, Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
September 30 - Minuteman III, GT-173-GM, Vandenberg AFB.
September 30 - Minuteman III, GT-174-GM, Vandenberg AFB.
September 30 - Soyuz-U, Progress M2 (ISS flight 2P), Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
October 6 - Pegasus XL, HETE 2, Kwajalein Missile Range.
October 6 - Shuttle Discovery, STS-92 (ISS 3A), Kennedy Space Center.

FRONTIER CENSUS REPORT

The space population remains at the baseline of zero. Humans have spent a total of 268.5 man-days in orbit in the year 2000. The first element of the International Space Station has been in orbit for 645 days. The occupation of the International Space Station is expected to begin in early November, 2000.

SOURCES

SERVICES

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