Dale M. Gray is the president of Frontier Historical Consultants. Frontier Status reports are a free weekly annotated index chronicling the progress of the emerging "space frontier".

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Congress is Closing The Wrong Barn Door

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Wither Iridium?

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Robotic Spacecraft: Loaded for Bear or Barely Loaded?

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Forging Plowshares into Spears

Amateur Rocketry Takes Flight

Why Compton Had to Die

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Frontier Status 234

December 22, 2000

by Dale M. Gray

Frontier Historical Consultants

Following a frantic couple of weeks of space activity, space activities continue to make headlines. News items include a wiring problem may delay the launch of Atlantis and NASA approves the redocking of a Progress supply vehicle to the International Space Station. Perhaps the most important news of the week was the approval of commercial sale of half-meter resolution satellite photographs. Two launches, an Ariane 5 and a Chinese Long March 3A put four payloads into orbit. As Cassini approached Jupiter, one of its reaction wheels developed a problem and put the fly-by observations in jeopardy. The ESA announced this week that it had selected a landing site on Mars four its Beagle 2 lander.

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Highlights of the week of December 22 include:

Shuttle wiring may cause delay
Progress redocking approved by NASA
Ariane 5 successfully launches with three payloads
China Long March launches navigation satellite
Cassini experiences and corrects problem approaching Jupiter
Pluto Express back on drawing boards
US approves half-meter resolution commercial satellite images
China tests ICBMs developed with stolen US technology

SHUTTLE

Atlantis

A brittle and crumbling cable may cause the scheduled launch of the Shuttle Atlantis to slip a few days. During recent inspections of the Shuttle's Solid Rocket Boosters, x-ray examinations revealed the damaged cable. Atlantis was originally slated for roll-out to pad 39A on December 11, but the inspections put the move on hold. On December 15, a flaw was found in a cable connector in Atlantis' left-hand booster lower strut. While replacing the connector, workers discovered the crumbling cable shielding. The inspections of wiring on the SRBs was triggered when the primary system on an explosive bolt failed during the recent Endeavour flight. Managers have tentatively set January 2 as the new roll-out date, but no new launch date has been issued. The launch date is still officially listed as January 18, but this will likely slip several days (NASA; Spaceflight Now).

SpaceHab

NASA recently exercised a $30.9 million option in its contract with SpaceHab Inc. The option covers costs associated with a new Space Shuttle research mission designated as STS-112. The science mission will feature the second flight of SpaceHab's Research Double Module (RDM). The RDM is 18.4 feet long x 13.5 feet in diameter and can accommodate up to 9,000 pounds of research equipment. A smaller Research Single Module has flown on five previous missions. The National Space Development Agency (NASDA) and the German Aerospace Center have already contracted for $8 million of payload accommodation services on STS-112. The research flight originated in Congress, which mandated that at least one research flight be flown each year to maintain the continuity and quality of microgravity research until the ISS Space Station is functional. The first flight of the RDM will be on STS-107 in late 2001 ( SpaceHab).

ISS ALPHA

Activities

This past week the Expedition One crew spent their time conducting biomedical experiments, tracking inventory and preparing for the December 26 redocking of the Progress supply vessel (see below). Environmental systems appear to be working well, but crew and managers are working to assure that sufficient spare parts arrive with the next spaceship to dock with the station. The crew will have Christmas off to open presents, talk to family in private conferences, eat a reconstituted Turkey dinner and watch the world revolve below them.

Progress Redocking

On December 19, NASA put its conditional stamp of approval on a Russian plan to redock a Progress M1-4 supply vessel to the International Space Station on December 26. The redocking will test a software patch on the docking system. The 25-foot long spacecraft was launched on November 16 and originally docked with the station on November 18. It was undocked from the station December 1 to make way for the US Space Shuttle and has been in parking orbit since that time. If all goes as planned, the spacecraft operating on the KURS system will slowly approach the station and stop at a point 200 yards away. Then Yuri Gidzenko will use the TORU system, which features a camera and a joy stick, to manually guide the spacecraft to contact. Images from the docking will be relayed live to controllers on the ground. Once firmly attached and hatches opened, the capsule will be filled with station trash -- items range from meal scraps to packing straps. The vessel will be undocked and sent to a fiery destruction in the atmosphere prior to the next Shuttle docking. The redocking has been controversial because a similar docking attempt resulted in the infamous Mir station collision on June 25, 1997. However, that attempt did not use the KURS system and relied only on the TORU system. The Progress M1-4 carried out a rocket firing on December 20 to raise its orbit and start its approach to the station (Florida Today; Spaceflight Now).

French Cosmonaut

Frenchwoman Claude Andre-Deshays has been selected to a crew slot in a nine-day ESA mission to the ISS. The 43-year-old rheumatologist will fly on a Shuttle mission in October of 2001. Andre-Deshays previously flew on a 16-day mission to Mir in August of 1996. She will be the first French citizen and second woman to visit the station (Agence France-Presse).

LAUNCHES

Ariane 5/GE-8/ASTRA

On Tuesday, December 19, an Ariane 5 rocket was launched from Kourou, French Guiana at 7:26 p.m. EST. Flight 508 carried the Societe Europeenne des Satellites' Astra 2D and GE Americom's GE-8. The twin solid rocket boosters were jettisoned on schedule at T+2:35 minutes. At T+3: 30 minutes the rocket reached an altitude of 118 km where payload fairing separated to reduce weight. The main engine cut off at T+ 10:10 minutes. The upper stage then began its long duration burn, which lasted until T+27 minutes -- shutting off at an altitude of about 2000 km. The upper stage then spun up to 5 rpm in preparation for satellite deployment. The upper stage was placed into a 200 x 35,883 km orbit, which was exactly on planned perigee and only 13 km lower than planned apogee. Astra 2D was released into orbit at 28:40 minutes. The Sylda 5 dual payload adapter was then jettisoned. At T+34 minutes the GE-8 was released. The LDREX antenna experiment, a secondary payload attached to the upper stage, was deployed 41 minutes into the flight. This was the 12th and last flight for Arianespace in 2000 ( Ariane Space; Spaceflight Now; Spaceflight Now Mission Log).

Astra 2D was built by Boeing Satellite Systems on its popular 376 HP configuration. At lift-off the fueled satellite had a mass of 1,414 kg. The satellite has 16 Ku-band transponders for direct to home digital television transmission to Britain and Ireland. It is the 11th satellite of the SES fleet and will be placed into the 28.2 degree East longitude orbital slot. The deployed cylindrical satellite is 7.98 meters tall and 2.16 meters in diameter and has an orbital mass of 825 kg. It has an expected service life of 12 years. It is the first spin-stabilized satellite to be purchased by SES. The satellite's first signals were picked up about 111 minutes after launch (Spaceflight Now; Business Wire; Arianespace PR; Boeing).

The 2,015 kg GE-8 telecommunications satellite was built on the A2100 (a) platform by Lockheed Martin (LMCSS). It carries 24 C-band transponders (36 MHz) and will be placed in the 139 degree West longitude orbital slot. It will provide television programming for cable, broadcast television and radio. It will also provide telecommunications services, business television and broadband services. In addition to its regular telecommunications duties, the satellite will provide emergency communications for remote Alaska. This additional duty has the designation of Aurora III. It will replace GE Satcom C-5, which will become an on-orbit spare. Acquisition of first signal occurred 85 minutes after launch (Spaceflight Now; Arianespace PR; GE Americom; Lockheed Martin GE-1).

The 182 kg LDREX antenna experiment is a six-meter reflector antenna built by Toshiba as a technology demonstrator. The 20 minute deployment sequence was to be observed by an on-board camera system. No confirmation of deployment has been made. The half-scale experiment will be used to validate the deployment mechanism and antenna design for NASDA's Engineering Test Satellite-8 (ETS-8), which will be launched on an H-2A rocket in 2003. After the antenna unfurls, it is to separate from the Ariane upper stage (Spaceflight Now; Arianespace PR).

LongMarch / Bei Dou 2

On Thursday, December 21, China launched a Bei Dou navigation satellite on a Long March 3A rocket. The rocket was launched from the Xichang space center in the Sichuan province. The satellite, built by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology, will likely be placed in either the 80 or 110.5 degrees East longitude orbital slots -- though Aviation Week speculated that it may be placed in the 70 degrees East orbital slot. A similar satellite was launched on October 31 and placed into the 140 degrees East longitude orbital slot. Beijing reported that the satellite would be used for territorial surveys, city planning, crop yield assessments and disaster monitoring. China reported that the Bei Dou 2 satellite will complete the orbital deployment of China's first satellite navigational system. However, in the past the Chinese have also talked about a four Bei Dou system with one on-orbit spare. This was the 64th launch of the Long March Series (Reuters; Phillip S. Clark; Orbital Report; Space.com citing Xinhuan source; Spaceflight Now).

LAUNCH SYSTEMS

Vega

The European Space Agency (ESA) announced on December 19 that it will proceed in the development of the Vega launch system. The solid-fuel rocket is based on technology associated with the Ariane 5 rocket's solid rocket boosters and the planned upgrades for the boosters. The first of the rocket's three stages is the Ariane 5 solid-fuel booster outfitted with a yet-to-be tested gimballing nozzle. The second stage will be based upon the Italian Space Agency-funded Zefiro motor fitted on a 15-foot long, 6-foot diameter stage. Three static firings of this motor have occurred, the most recent on December 15. Details of the third stage have not been set, but drawings show it to be about half the size of the second stage, though with the same diameter. An upper stage will be fueled with liquid propellants, the Attitude and Vernier Upper Module (AVUM). The rocket will likely be launched from the retired ELA-1. The configuration is expected to be able to loft 1500 kg to a 500 mile orbit. First launch is slated for 2005 ( Spaceflight Now).

TECHNOLOGY

ATMS

On December 20, NASA awarded Aerojet a $206.6 million contract to build the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS). The device will be used for weather forecasting and climate change research. The device, which measures emitted microwave energy scattered by the atmosphere, will be delivered in 2004. It will replace instruments about three times its size and mass. The ATMS will first be used on the NPOESS Preparatory Project mission, a joint effort between NASA and the NPOESS program office (Aerojet PR).

Space Cycle

University of California, Irvine researches led by Dr. Art Kreitenberg have developed a new exercise device to reduce the loss of bone and muscle density in space. The device, dubbed the space cycle, is a two-person centrifuge powered by the pedaling occupants. In addition to the exercise and acceleration provided by the machine, a special sprocket provides small jolts to simulate Earthly exercise. The International Space Station is currently equipped with a treadmill and a stationary bicycle to help crew members maintain their physical condition. The first model of the machine was developed with the help of Cook Bros., a mountain bike manufacturer. In 1995, Kreitenberg's team won a $70,000 NASA grant to work on a prototype. Kreitenberg estimates that $200,000 has been spent on the project to date and that another $300,000 will be needed to complete the project. The researchers are currently working on a virtual reality system to combat the dizziness caused by the spinning. The system, when installed in space will also have dampening mechanisms to keep vibrations from being transferred to the station (AP).

CHARISMA

Bigelow Prize

The Space Transportation Association announced this week that it will award a $10,000 prize to recognize US citizens, groups or companies for their contributions to the advancement of the commercialization of space. The prize is named after Robert T. Bigelow the source of the award funding and a board member of the STA. The award will be presented on June 25 at the Space Tourism Conference in Arlington, Virginia. The prize is being established to encourage new directions in the commercialization of space -- therefore established industries such as satellite manufacturing are not eligible ( Space.com).

EXPLORATION

Cassini

On Wednesday, December 19, ground controllers put a halt to Cassini's Jupiter observations when one of four reaction wheels started behaving abnormally. The move came after the spacecraft automatically shut off the reaction control system on Friday, December 15 and began to use thrusters to maintain position. The transition was discovered when telemetry sent December 17 was investigated. Rather that use up precious hydrazine fuel, controllers opted to stop the observations until the reaction wheel problem was understood. The reaction wheels are used to control the orientation of the spacecraft, but not its direction of flight (AP; NASA; Spaceflight Now).

The reaction wheels were tested on December 18 and December 20. During the first test, the wheels were spun up to 308 rmp. Number Two wheel exhibited excessive friction up to 50 rmp, but began spinning freely as the test moved to higher rpm. All four wheels showed nominal operation during the second test. Scientists believe that the original drag on the reaction wheel Number Two could have been caused by a small bit of material that worked its way into contact with the wheel. This material then either wore away or became dislodged. Another theory is that the bearings of the wheel became underlubricated due to prolonged operation at low rotation speeds. If the latter theory is correct, the initial high speed test on December 18 restored function. New operational parameters will be implemented to restrict low-speed operations of the wheels (NASA; Spaceflight Now).

Late December 21, the reaction wheels on the Cassini spacecraft were turned back on by NASA controllers. The imaging of Jupiter will be put on hold for several days as spacecraft operation is evaluated ( JPL Cassini Page; Spaceflight Now)

Cassini will conduct a fly-by of Jupiter on December 30 when it will pass within 9.7 million km of its surface. The spacecraft will use the gravity assist to speed it on its way to its rendezvous with Saturn in July of 2004. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory will celebrate the fly-by with a two- hour multi-media event at "Jupiter in Myth, History, & Science". The event will be held at Pasadena City College's Vosloh Forum auditorium on Saturday, December 30 at 7:00 p.m. PST (NASA).

Cassini Jupiter Images

Beagle 2

A landing zone has been selected for the lander of the Mars Express spacecraft, the Beagle 2. The area selected is in the Isidis Planitia, a flat region between the ancient highlands and the northern plains. The site represents the northern limits of a temperature zone where the lander can operate during the early Martian spring. The site is low enough for parachutes to be effective and free of slopes and excessive rocks. The landing zone is an ellipse 500 x 100 km. The site selection was announced during the Mars Express science working team meeting in ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands ( Beagle 2 Web Page; ESA Web Page; Space.com).

Pluto Express

Bowing to the wishes of scientists and space enthusiasts, NASA has reinstated a planned mission to Pluto. A stop work order had been given to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, because of cost over runs. However, NASA will reactivate the program in January 2001 with an "announcement of opportunity" in which it will seek alternative plans for a mission to Pluto that will fit in NASA's budget. The mission cost will be capped at $500 million. The mission will have to be launched in either 2004 or 2006 to take advantage of Jupiter in a gravity assist fly- by. The mission must reach Pluto in the next decade for scientists to study its atmosphere before it freezes around 2020. Pluto's elliptical orbit is currently moving the planet away from the Sun. Pluto takes 248 Earth years to complete one revolution of the sun. If scientists miss this window of opportunity, the science community will have to wait a very long time for the next Pluto thaw. NASA's decision to resurrect the Pluto Express could delay a mission to Europa to 2008 (NASA; Space.com).

Mars Exploration Rover 2

This past week, NASA exercised an option with Boeing for a Delta II rocket to launch the Mars Exploration Rover 2. The rover must be launched during a 21 day window beginning on June 27, 2003. The launch services contract is reported to be worth about $68 million (KSC PR).

SATELLITES

AMSAT/OSCAR 40

The AMSAT/OSCAR (AO-40) satellite appears have been lost. On December 11, the first of a series of planned thruster firing did not occur due to a software glitch that failed to pressurize helium tanks, which in turn would have been used to open propellant tanks. The pressurization problem was resolved later in the day and the firing took place. However, the thruster continued to burn three minutes longer than scheduled. Contact with the spacecraft was lost shortly after. Controllers continue work to reestablish contact. The AO-40 was built by the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation of North American and its German counterpart. Originally known as Phase 3D, the satellite hitched a ride as a secondary payload during the November 15 Ariane 5 launch of PAS-1R and two British military research satellites. The satellite was successfully placed into a GEO transfer orbit. The spacecraft was to use its 400 -N thruster to push it into its planned 4,000 x 47,000 km orbit (Business Wire; Spaceflight Now).

OBSERVATORIES

EO-1

The Earth Observing-1 satellite, currently flying in formation with Landsat 7, has returned its first images. Alaska was imaged by EO-1 on November 24 almost a year after an identical picture was taken of the area by Landsat 7. The EO-1 Advanced Land Imager returned a sharper picture with 10 meter resolution, compared with Landsat 7's 15 meter resolution. The Hyperion instrument on EO-1 has also taken its first image -- of a mountainous region in Argentina. EO-1's primary mission is to demonstrate new technology. It is the first of three New Millennium Program spacecraft. EO-1 was launched from Vandenberg AFB on a Delta II rocket on November 22 (NASA; Spaceflight Now).

Iridium

The orbital constellation of the beleaguered satellite telephone company has been paying off a dividend to scientists studying the Earth's magnetic and electric fields. Each of the 66 active Iridium satellites orbiting at 470 miles contains a magnetometer. Since February of 1999, Iridium operators have been relaying magnetic field information to scientists at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory. Scientists have been able to obtain continuous measurements of the magnetic fields above the poles. Techniques have been developed that can use this information to map the flow of electric currents between the atmosphere and space. While these currents cannot be seen, they are responsible for the aurora borealis and aurora australis. Iridium-derived information is then used in conjunction with the Arctic-based Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) to provide continuous mapping of currents running between space and the upper atmosphere. This information will allow scientists to create far more accurate models of Earth's space environment and its interaction with the solar wind (NY Times; Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Space.com).

REMOTE SENSING FRONTIER

Space Imaging

Without fanfare, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) granted a license to Space Imaging to sell "extremely high-resolution" imagery. The license covers imagery that is capable of resolving ground objects only 0.5 meters in length from a satellite 400 miles above. Space Imaging received the license a year-long review by the White House, Pentagon, State Department and the intelligence community. One stipulation of the license is that the images cannot be released to non-US Government customers for 24 hours to diminish the satellite's value during armed conflict. The first satellite to support the new standard will be launched in 2004. Space Imaging currently has a commercial Ikonos one-meter resolution satellite that has been in operation for 15 months. Space Imaging is a $700 million joint venture led by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. EarthWatch Inc. of Longmont, Colorado also received a half meter license at the same time (Washington Post; Space.com).

SETI

Seti@Home

In the past 18 months, the Seti@Home project has reaped an amazing half-million years of computer time from the unused capacity of home and office computers. The screen-saver program, which chips away at data gleaned from radio telescopes, has been downloaded by 2.6 million people in 226 countries. Arguably twice as powerful as the world's largest supercomputer, the Seti@Home system produces 1,000 years of processing time each day. While the newest and most powerful supercomputers list at $110 million, Seti@Home has spent only $500,000. The screen- saver computer has looked at 500 million strong radio signals to 125 million that "look interesting". The next step, called the "back-end", will identify signals that have been rebroadcast over the 18 month period. While this back-end analysis has only recently begun, hundreds of repeat signals have been identified. So far all have been explained away. Even though the search has used a staggering amount of computer time, it may take 50 to 100 years to complete the full survey. Signals from the Southern Hemisphere will be added to the data, but increased radio pollution from the Earth may ultimately move the search to an off-planet platform (Wired News).

MILITARY

China

December 16, China conducted the second of two tests on its mobile DF-31 ICBM missile. The missile was launched from Wuzhai Space and Missile Center and landed in a remote area inside China. The flight was tracked by a variety of American resources. The single-warhead missile has a maximum range of 5,000 miles. It is reported to be the first of a new generation of missiles based upon technology stolen from American systems through espionage and other "technology-acquisition efforts". An improved model of the DF-31, the DF-41, is in development and has a designed range of 8,000 miles -- capable of hitting most US targets (media news forward).

NMD

The Pentagon has reported that it is proceeding with plans to award Boeing a $6 billion contract for the development and testing of the National Missile Defense system. The contract will run through September of 2007, but will be contingent on additional money being allocated after 2001. With options, the contract could be worth as much as $13 billion (Aviation Now).

BUSINESS

Orbtrac

Orbital Sciences announced on December 19 that it had signed a contract with the City of Baltimore to provide ORBTRAC-100 services to track and communicate with its road-maintenance fleet. Initially, the system will be placed on 75 snowplows, but would be added to the 500 vehicle fleet in a phased plan. The system is expected to reap benefits in the efficient use of assets during storms and in the analysis of response. The contract will raise the number of vehicles using the Orbtrac -100 system to about 21,000 -- generating $60 million annually for Orbital Transportation Management Systems, a division of Orbital Sciences (Orbital Sciences PR).

Rotary Rocket

Kern County, California may end up as owner of the Rotary Rocket property at the Mojave Airport. The innovative rocket company missed its $18,000 property tax payment in August, triggering the seizure process by the county. Both company and county officials have expressed confidence that the company will be able to pay the bill. Rotary Rocket reorganized earlier this year after founder Gary Hudson stepped down due to increasing difficulty raising the $150 million needed to fund the Roton project. In June of 1999, the company laid off 80 percent of its workforce. Despite the restructuring, the company has cut its tax debt from $40,000 to the present level, but will almost double its tax debt if it does not make the year-end deadline. Rotary also owes $22,453 in back rent to the East Kern Airport District. Company managers have stated that the company has significant resources remaining and has never failed to pay its bills (Californian).

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 Last Friday Change

Boeing BA 63.4375 64.875 -1.4375

EchoStar DISH 25.75 25.0 0.75

GlobalStar GSTRF 1.0 1.9062 -0.9062

Hughes Electronics GMH 22.35 23.72 -1.37

Lockheed Martin LMT 32.5 31.22 1.28

Loral Space LOR 3.0 3.625 -0.625

Motorola MOT 18.75 19.375 -0.625

Orbital Sciences ORB 4.625 5.1875 -0.5625

Sirius SIRI 27.9375 23.0625 4.875

SpaceDev SPDVE.OB 1.0 0.875 0.125

SpaceHab SPAB 2.5 3.0625 -0.5625

TRW TRW 36.0625 31.5625 4.5

NASDAQ NASDAQ 2517.02 2653.27 -136.25

COMING EVENTS

Courtesy J. Ray, Space.c om Space On-line.

December 25 - Partial Solar eclipse (North America)
December 26 - Progress M1-4 redocking with ISS (4:00 a.m. EST).
December 28 - Galileo Ganymede flyby.
December 30 - Cassini Jupiter flyby.
December - Tsyklon-3, Cosmos 2377, Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Mirniy, Russia.
January 8 - Sea Launch Zenit 3SL, XM-1 (XM Radio), Equatorial Pacific.
January 18 - USAF Titan 2, DMSP-16, SLC-4 West at Vandenberg AFB.
January 21 (No sooner than) - Shuttle Atlantis, 7th ISS Flight (STS-98), U.S. Laboratory, Kennedy Space Center.
January 31 (No sooner than) - Shuttle Atlantis, landing Kennedy Space Center (weather permitting).
January 30 - Delta 2, GPS 2R-7, SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
January 31 - Ariane 44L (Flight 138), SICRAL and SKYNET 4F, ELA-2 at Kourou, French Guiana.
January - Ariane 44P (Flight 137), Eurasiasat-1, ELA-2, Kourou, French Guiana.
February 2 - Titan 4B, Milstar 2-F2, SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Early 2001 - Proton M/ Briz, Russian communications satellite, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Tyuratam, Kazakhstan.

FRONTIER CENSUS REPORT

The space population remains at a baseline of three. One US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts are currently in orbit. Humans have spent a total of 655.275 man-days in orbit in the year 2000. The International Space Station has been occupied for 51 days beginning on November 2, 2000. ISS has been in orbit for 763 days.

NASA Human Spaceflight

SOURCES

SERVICES

127 articles archived; 90 used

Dale M. Gray is the president of Frontier Historical Consultants. Frontier Status reports are a free weekly annotated index chronicling the progress of the emerging "space frontier". Send subscription requests (subscribe or unsubscribe).

Previous postings are archived by FrontierStatus.com and at the Artemis Society

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