1 Space Science Review Division 81: Physics & Astronomy May 5, 1998 Science News “Solar Flares Zap Spacecraft Cameras with Protons -- 23rd Solar Cycle

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Space Science ReviewDivision 81: Physics & Astronomy

May 5, 1998

Science News

• “Solar Flares Zap Spacecraft Cameras with Protons -- 23rd Solar Cycle begins with a bang” - Ed Reichmann

• The May 4 issue of Newsweek features “The Birth of Planets” as the cover story. Research by former SSL employee Charles Telesco is described.

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May 5, 1998

Operations Report

• Struct. & Evol. Universe:– BATSE/CGRO (Koshut)

• Kulkarni reports that GRB971214 shows redshift of 3.4. Cycle 8 proposals are due May 7.

• Sun-Earth Connection:– TIDE/Polar (Chandler)

• No Report

– UVI/Polar (Spann)• Detector Tests are completed. Preparing for AGU.

– UVCS/SOHO (Suess)• No Report

– SWOOPS/Ulysses (Suess)• No Report

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Mission & Payload Development• Struct. & Evol. Universe:

– AXAF(O’Dell)

• TRW moved AXAF into thermal/vac chamber for pump-down on May 12.• Project-Science-chaired Calibration Analysis Team continued activities, leading to

final calibration report this summer.

– GPB(Geveden)

• No Report

– INTEGRAL (launch 2001) (Ramsey)• The first set of mechanical ground support equipment for the IBIS instrument on

INTEGRAL was shipped to Italy early this month. Further equipment will be shipped in early June after inspection and testing at MSFC. Italian representatives from the leading contractor, LABEN, will be present for these tests.

– Spectrum X (launch ‘99) (Ramsey)• The Italian-lead MART/LIME experiment scheduled to fly on Spectrum X will be

brought to MSFC for environmental testing in mid-June.


May 5, 1998

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• Sun-Earth Connection:

– Space Station (Stone)• ES83 has been asked to provide a multi-sensor Differential Ion Flux

Probe (DIFP) for the Space Station Environment Monitoring Package (EMP). Basic requirements and schedules have been discussed and are being finalized. Funding is being worked. We are recommending that the instrument for this application (a stationary, non-spinning platform) include eight sensors to allow full 4 pi coverage. A rough mechanical layout of the EMP-DIFP has been developed by ES91

– Solar B(Davis)

• The Solar-B AO was released May 1. It contained a few surprises but no apparent show stoppers.

– SXI(Davis)

• No change. Instrument is still awaiting integration to the spacecraft.


May 5, 1998

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• Sun-Earth Connection: Continued

– IMAGE

• WIC (Spann)– WIC Aperture Door Assy is completed. Vibration and thermal cycling tests have

begun. Anticipated shipping Assy to UCB within the week. Preparations for receipt of WIC detector and optics are underway. Presenting at IMAGE/FUV Science Meeting on May 7, 1998.

• T&M (Gallagher)– Work is being performed, in support of a June 4-5 meeting, to verify the viability

of using IDFS as a standard format for IMAGE telemetry distribution to all researchers.

– MSFC will soon be responding to a call for papers to be included in a special issue of Space Science Reviews for the IMAGE mission. The expectation is that this publication would have everything in it that a researcher would need to be able to effectively obtain and analyze IMAGE data.

– Solar Lite (Davis)• Recovery plan in place and progress is being made now that the subcontract with IABF

(Germany) is in place.


May 5, 1998

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• Code M:

– ProSEDS (Stone)• A preliminary team review of the ProSEDS project was completed this week.

The purpose of this review was to clarify the current status of the project and to bring new team members up to speed. The mechanical, thermal, power, and data interfaces for the DIFP and other instrumentation were discussed with S & E personnel and we are meeting next week to lay out responsibilities for testing, thermal and stress analysis, etc.

• SSL (ES91) was considering accepting the job of designing and producing the ProSEDS flight data system. However, this week, the ProSEDS manager decided to leave the job in PD. My main concern with this arrangement is that only one individual will be involved and, hence, will constitute a “single point failure” on a critical piece of hardware and software. Without the data system, there can be no mission.


May 5, 1998

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Advanced Technology and Mission Studies• Struct. & Evol. Universe: mission candidates: GLAST/SIFTER,

Constellation, OWL, ACCESS– Constellation X (O’Dell)

• Proposal from consortium including MSFC selected to perform technology study for hard x-ray telescopes for the Constellation X mission. (Ramsey)

• Continued progress in developing electroplated enhanced nickel materials. (O’Dell)

• Electroformed small shells with some problems. (O’Dell)• MSFC mandrel production is behind schedule; investigating purchase of mandrels

from outside vendors.

– Orbiting Wide angle Lens (OWL): (Parnell) EB51 has received $300k ATD funding for advanced Fresnel lens development.

The major part of that funding will be contracted to the Center for Applied Optics at UAH to design the OWL 2 meter, wide angle (30o half angle) lens. Tom Parnell and Mark Christl are coordinating.

– ACCESS (Parnell)


May 5, 1998

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• Struct. & Evol. Universe: mission candidates: GLAST/SIFTER, Constellation, OWL, ACCESS Continued

– GLAST (Fishman)

• Sun-Earth Connection:

– NGST(Bilbro)

• Five cryogenic actuator contracts have been awarded.• Enabling technologies under development by MSFC: large, low areal density, cold

mirrors, and active optics; integrated optical/mechanical/thermal control modeling.

• Struct. & Evol. Universe:


May 5, 1998

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Research and Analysis

• Struct. & Evol. Universe:

– Wilson-Hodge selected as GI on Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer.

– Joy and Bankston begin S-Z Effect observing run at Owens Valley Radio Observatory, end of May.

– Balloons: Super-JACEE flight anticipated in April 1999 - Australia and South America.

– Petawatt Laser: Laser firing series begins April 27; ES84 supports with emulsion technology analysis expertise.

• Sun & Earth Connection:

– Porter selected PI on SOHO


May 5, 1998

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• Sun & Earth Connection: Continued– Sounding Rockets:

• CAPER:(Coffey)

– Starting optics testing for the TICHS instrument on CAPER. SWRI passed the ground support equipment (GSE) task to MSFC to complete.Integration in

August, launch in January. • MSSTA:

(Hoover)– The Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array has been selected for re-flight under the

new name “The Chromospheric/Coronal Spectroheliograph” Dr. Arthur B.C. Walker II of Stanford University, is Principal Investigator and Richard B. Hoover is Co-I. This instrument represents an upgrade of the Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array (MSSTA) which flew on October 23, 1987, May 13, 1991, and November 3, 1994. The payload will be re-furbished and launched from White Sands Missile Range.

• Solar System Exploration:

• Astronom.. Search for Origins:


May 5, 1998

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Current R& D Financial Status: (Reed)

Funds Received in AprilPROGRAM AMOUNT

UVI 27,000 Spann

COSTA - Catch on to Space Science 7,000 Harmon

RXTE Proposal 2,000 Wilson-Hodge


May 5, 1998

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ES81 TOTAL

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

OCT '97 NOV

DEC J AN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

J UN

J UL

AUG

SEP

OCT FY

98NOV

DEC J AN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

J UN

J UL

AUG

SEP

$'s

in K

AUTHORITY INITIATIONS COMMITMENTS OBLIGATIONS COST COST PLAN COST METRIC

80%80%

9/30/97 COST vs.

JAN AUTH:

$2,986K / $3,417K = 87%

9/30/97 COST vs.

JAN AUTH:

$2,986K / $3,417K = 87%

56%56%

OCT '97 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPAUTHORITY 0 1,355 1,471 3,417 4,617 4,689 4,966 5,287 5,335 5,329 5,341 5,353INITIATIONS 0 134 802 1,791 2,410 3,574 4,217 4,719 4,845 5,028 5,220 5,273

COMMITMENTS 0 48 706 1,767 2,305 3,325 3,782 4,297 4,753 4,847 5,062 5,251OBLIGATIONS 0 4 628 933 1,495 2,042 2,746 3,247 4,052 4,273 4,439 4,821

COST 0 0 542 584 897 1,271 1,682 1,647 2,365 2,588 2,382 2,986COST PLAN 0 0 100 205 475 858 1,281 1,765 2,136 2,932 3,744 4,263

COST METRIC 4,443

OCT '98 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPAUTHORITY 5,388 5,391 5,383 5,383 5,383 5,392INITIATIONS 5,320 5,332 5,357 5,363 5,363 5,371

COMMITMENTS 5,272 5,323 5,348 5,356 5,356 5,348OBLIGATIONS 4,890 4,974 4,997 5,278 5,285 5,304

COST 3,106 3,795 4,148 4,514 4,564 4,790

Physics Astronomy Division FY97 Financial Status

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ES81 TOTAL

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

OCTFY98

NOV DEC J AN FEB MAR APR MAY J UN J UL AUG SEP

$'s

in K

FY98 PLAN AUTHORITY INITIATIONS COMMITMENTS OBLIGATIONS COST COST PLAN COST METRIC

ES81 TOTALOCT FY98 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP

FY98 PLAN 1,807 3,652 3,914 4,021 4,591 5,353 5,353 5,353 5,353 5,353 5,353 5,353AUTHORITY 1,287 2,694 2,961 3,301 3,937 4,792INITIATIONS 217 778 1,412 1,786 2,208 3,294

COMMITMENTS 217 217 1,288 1,537 1,970 2,581OBLIGATIONS 136 196 1,075 1,388 1,784 1,927

COST 0 18 101 124 251 730COST PLAN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

COST METRIC 0

OCT FY99 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPAUTHORITYINITIATIONS

COMMITMENTSOBLIGATIONS

COST

Physics Astronomy DivisionFY98 Financial Status

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• Proposals/Research Prospects: (ALL)

– Preparing to submit MIDEX Proposal (Spann)– Proposals: Two proposals (Gary, Porter) submitted by ES82 for Guest Investigator work

with ongoing missions. (Davis)– Hathaway (NRA-98--OSS-03): “Nearly Steady Photosphere Flows from SOHO/SOI – Astrobiology Proposals: Richard B. Hoover is Co-Investigator on two proposals

submitted in response to Cooperative Agreement Notification for NASA Astrobiology Institute: “Institute for the Study of Astromaterials and Biomarkers” Dr. David S. McKay-PI, NASA-JSC): “Co-evolution of Geology and Biology in the Solar System: Lessons from an Early Earth and its Ecosystems.” Dr. Kenneth Nealson-PI, NASA-JPL. (Hoover)

– Two proposals are being considered for submission to the cosmic ray RTOP review due 22 June. One is Sampling Calorimeter Experiment (SCALE) based on the SOFCAL. Another is Sub-orbital Wide Angle Light Collector (Sub-Owl). Collaborators include the usual suspects. We may also submit a third based on the direct Coulomb pair production of electron-positron pairs by heavy ions in material (: decision on this will depend on calculations now in progress).(Parnell)


May 5, 1998

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Partnering Efforts

• A third series of " test shots of the Petawatt Laser at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory was complete d on 4 April. The highest energy achieved in this series was 500 kiloJoules with a pulse length of 1 pico second. A focus of about 1mm was achieved with a new deformable mirror. Walt Fountain was on site to install and analyze the MSFC supplied emulsion spectrometers which is the prime diagnostic technique for the "temperature" achieved in these experiments. Electron energies of up to 100 Mev were predicted for these shots. DOE has extended the closing of the NOVA laser facility until the end of FY 99 , largely because of the new information about plasma temperatures, particle acceleration, and flash radiography resulting from this series of tests.(Tom Parnell )


May 5, 1998

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Partnering Efforts: continued

AF Phillips Lab U. Hawaii, Nat. Solar Obser., Michigan Aerospace,Rautheon, UAH. Montana State (Solar B)

Southwest Research Institute IKI, Russia, Dr. Oleg Vaisberg (Space Plasma Satellite) U. Washington (JACEE, UVI) Lawrence Livermore National Lab (Petawatt Laser) U. Michigan (ProSEDS) Swedish Institute of Space Physics Washington University, St. Louis (SIFTER, ACCESS) U. Alaska, Geophysical Institute LSU (JACEE) MSFC Structural Biology Lab UAH (BATSE, SIFTER, ACCESS, Petawatt Laser) U. California, Berkeley Naval Research Laboratory (ACCESS) Saclay Institute, Paris Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Caltech U. Chicago JPL, astrobiology

Rutgers U. JSC, astrobiology SUNY, Albany GSFC - Ramsey NRL - Ramsey SAO - Ramsey Harvard - Ramsey Columbia University, Brera (Italy)- Ramsey DSRI (Denmark) - Ramsey Nagoya (Japan) (High Energy X-Rary Telescope

Technology Development Program for Constellation X) -Ramsey

ITT Aerospace/Communications New Jersey Institute of Technology


May 5, 1998

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Issues/Announcements/Resources

– Development of Planetary Atmospheres Lab (infrared signatures of aerosol, haze, cloud, dust) to enable participation in missions to investigate planets, comets, asteroids, and meteorites. First measurements of particle charging under the influence of the electron beam.

– Travel: will receive additional increment of about 10%; 1998 budget 80% of 1997 budget; need still exists for reimbursable funds through cross-service orders with other government agencies, e.g.,m DOE, DOD, NOAA, NIST.

– Patent Applications - MSFC encourages employees to submit; fee paid by Center.

– The NRC program debacle is beginning to seriously affect the Laboratory. (Parnell)


May 5, 1998

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Issues/Announcements/Resources continued

Personnel Space Plasma Solar Astrophysics

Staffing:On Board 7 14 20Attrition 3 0 0

Recruiting 3(of which 1*)

1 1*

*: UAH position with research at MSFC

Dr. Elizabeth Newton will be working with the solar group as a UAH employee.Dr. Debi Prasad Choudhury from Udaipur Solar Observatory in India is joining the solar group as a NRC

RRA; advisor - Mona Hagyard.

Note: Personnel Shortages: It is possible to alert Marshall employees in other labs/offices ofopportunities to join SSL through a mechanism known as Reassignment Opportunity Bulletins.

Division Deputy: Dr. John Davis appointedSolar Group Leader to be announced this month.


May 5, 1998

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Education/Outreach (All)

- Open House: May 16 (9a.m. - 6 p.m.) Tom Koshut to coordinate for ES81 Division.


May 5, 1998

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Upcoming Events (All)May

7 - 8 IMAGE/FUV Science Team Meeting - Liege, Belgium (Spann)

20 MIDEX Preproposal Meeting - Washington, D.C. (Spann)

17 - 22 American Society for Microbiology - Atlanta

26 - 29 AGU Spring Meeting - Boston

June

18 - 19 SSES - Washington, DC

30 SEUS - Cambridge, MA

22 - July 3 Cambridge Workshop, Lisbon Portugal (Spann)

July

18 - 25 SPIE Meeting - San Diego - Hoover, O’Dell, Ramsey & Weisskopf

29 SScAC - Washington, DC


May 5, 1998

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ES01/Comments: G. Wilson

Science Communications: J. Horack

Open Discussion:

Communications/Group Meetings

Group Day Time Room

Gamma Ray Group Monday 9:30 107

Astrophysics Branch Monday 3:00 107

X-Ray Group Wednesday 9:00 320A

Solar Physics Branch Wednesday 9:30 369

Space Plasma Branch Wednesday 2:30 369


May 5, 1998

Documents

1 Space Science Review Division 81: Physics & Astronomy May 5, 1998 Science News “Solar Flares Zap Spacecraft Cameras with Protons -- 23rd Solar Cycle