
SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1017
* SpaceNews 17-Oct-94 *
 
 
BID: $SPC1017
 
 
                               =========
                               SpaceNews
                               =========
 
 
                         MONDAY OCTOBER 17, 1994
 
 
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA.  It is
published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution.
 
 
* KEPLERIAN DATA AVAILABLE*
============================
The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are
carried on the Celestial BBS, +1.205.409.9280, and are updated daily (when
possible).  Documentation and tracking software are also available on this
system.  The Celestial BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 
4800, or 9600 bps using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.
 
Element sets (also updated daily), shuttle elements, and some documentation
and software are also available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil
(129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space.
 
[Info via Dr. Thomas S. Kelso]
 
 
* SPACE RADAR IMAGES AVAILABLE *
================================
Several images of Earth from the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-Band 
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) instrument flying on space shuttle 
Endeavour on the recent STS-68 mission are available at the Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory's electronic access site.
 
The images are:
 
Chernobyl, Ukraine:                         P-44705
  SC-CHERN.GIF     167K
  P44705.JPG      1235K
 
Kliuchevskoi Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia:    P-44707
  SC-KLIUC.GIF     122K
  P44707.JPG      3147K
 
Mt. Rainier, Washington State, USA:         P-44703
  SC-RAINI.GIF     276K
  P44703.JPG      2879K
 
In addition, the following recently released image from SIR-C/X-SAR's 
flight 1 in April 1994 is also available at the site:
 
Silk Road, China:                           P-44535
  SC-SILK.GIF       88K
  P44545.JPG       905K
 
By World Wide Web over Internet, the images may be accessed from JPL's home 
page, http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/, under the heading "News flashes."
 
They may also be accessed by anonymous file transfer protocol (ftp) to 
jplinfo.jpl.nasa.gov.  The GIF browse files are in the `news' directory, 
while the JPEG full-resolution files are in the `sircxsar/images' directory.
 
The site may also be accessed by dialup modem at +1 (818) 354-1333, up to 
14,400 bps, N-8-1.  The GIF browse files are in the NEWS library, while the 
JPEG full-resolution files are in the SIRCXSAR library.
 
Hardcopy photographic prints of these images may be ordered by quoting the 
"P-" file number from the following vendor:
 
     Newell Color Lab
     221 N. Westmoreland Avenue
     Los Angeles, CA 90064
     USA
     telephone +1 (213) 380-2980
     fax +1 (213) 739-6984
 
[Info via JPL]
 
 
* MAGELLAN MISSION ENDS *
=========================
The successful five-and-a-half-year mission of NASA's Magellan spacecraft 
to map the surface and measure the gravity of Venus ended on 12-Oct-94 when 
ground controllers lost contact with the spacecraft.  Magellan was expected 
to burn up in the planet's upper atmosphere within two days of the lost of
signal.
 
The final chapter of the Magellan story was written as Earth-based tracking 
stations lost the spacecraft's radio signal at 10:02 Universal Time (3:02 AM
Pacific Daylight Time).  The loss of signal, which was anticipated, was due
to low power on the spacecraft, exacerbated by Magellan's orientation as it 
performed a final experiment in the upper atmosphere of Venus.
 
The spacecraft's thrusters were fired in four sequences on Tuesday, 11-Oct,
to lower Magellan's orbit into the thin upper atmosphere and set up the 
final experiment, before the spacecraft's failing power system or dynamic 
forces and friction from the Venusian atmosphere shut off communication.
 
Magellan gathered scientific data on the planet's upper atmosphere, 
including aerodynamic interactions with it during the spacecraft's final 
descent, by orienting its wing-like solar panels in opposite directions, 
like a windmill.  The termination experiment was an extension of the 
windmill experiment performed in early September.  It was carried out as 
the spacecraft was within weeks, if not days, of the end of its useful life 
due to expected decreases in solar power output from the thermal stress
produced by more than 15,000 orbits of Venus.
 
Launched in May 1989, Magellan entered Venus orbit in August 1990 and 
gathered data for over four years.  The mission exceeded all of the 
objectives defined for its exploration of Venus.  It used radar to map 98 
percent of the planet's cloud-covered surface to an average resolution of 
better than 300 meters and compiled a high-resolution, comprehensive 
gravity field map for 95 percent of the planet.  The gravity data will 
allow scientists to see "underneath the planet's skin" and compare that 
knowledge of the interior to the wealth of surface features revealed by 
Magellan's radar imaging, said Project Manager Doug Griffith at NASA's Jet 
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, California.
 
Magellan also performed a first-of-a-kind "aerobraking" maneuver by dipping 
into the atmosphere to reshape its orbit.  This technique is now being used 
in the design of the Mars Glal Surveyor mission to enable the spacecraft 
to enter orbit around the planet Mars in 1997 using less fuel, resulting in 
significant savings of weight and cost.
 
"The Magellan mission to Venus has been successful beyond all expectations," 
said JPL Director Dr. Edward C. Stone.  "It not only fulfilled its science 
and mission objectives, it also demonstrated innovative technologies for
future missions."
 
[Info via JPL]
 
 
* THANKS! *
===========
Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews,
especially:
 
                VE3WBZ          ZS6BMN          N9XJY
 
 
* FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED *
===========================
Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any
of the following paths:
 
FAX       : 1-908-747-7107
PACKET    : KD2BD @ N2KZH.NJ.USA.NA
INTERNET  : kd2bd@ka2qhd.de.com -or- kd2bd@amsat.org
SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19
 
MAIL      : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD
            Department of Engineering and Technology
            Advanced Technology Center
            Brookdale Community College
            Lincroft, New Jersey  07738
            U.S.A.
 
 
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/EX
