sampex press kit

8/7/2019 Sampex Press Kit

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SAMPEXSOLAR, ANOMALOUS AND MAGNETOSPHERICPARTICLE EXPLORER

Press Kit

JUNE 1992

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CONTENTS

PUBLIC AFFAIRSCONTACTS ................................................................ 1GENERAL RELEASE.............................................................................. 2SCIENCE OBJECTIVES ......................................................................... 3SAMPEX INSTRUMENTS ....................................................................... 3SCHEMATIC OF SPACECRAFT.............................................................. 5LAUNCH OPERATIONS.......................................................................... 6LAUNCH VEHICLE AND LAUNCH PREPARATIONS ................................ 7MISSION TIMEL1NE .............................................................................. 8LAUNCH VEHICLE ............................................................................... 9SCIENCE OPERATIONS....................................................................... 10SMALL EXPLORER DATA SYSTEM ...................................................... 10GROUND SEGMENT OPERATIONS...................................................... 10COOPERATIVE SATELLITE LEARNING PROJECT ................................ 11SPACECRAFT SPECIFICS .................................................................... 12PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES............................................................ 12CO-INVESTIGATORS........................................................................... 13MISSION MANAGEMENT..................................................................... 13

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PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACTSPaula Cleggett-HaleimOffice of Space Science and Applications

NASAHeadquarters, Washington, D.C.(Phone: 202/453-1547)

Don SavageNASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.(Phone: 202/453-8400)

Dolores BeasleyGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt.Md.(Phone: 301 /286-2806)

Lisa Malone/Dick YoungKennedy Space Center, Fla.(Phone: 407/867-2468)Jan Cooksey. KSC/VAF3Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.(Phone: 805/734-8232, ext. 53820)

Lt. Col. Tom WorsdaleVandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.30 SPW/PA(Phone: 805/734-8232, ext. 63595)

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RELEASE: 92-88SAMPEX MISSION TO STUDY ENERGETIC PARTICLES FROM SPACE

NASA's Solar, Anomalous and Magnetospheric Particle Explorer (SAMPEX)satellite, an international collaboration with Germany, will contribute newinformation on the composition of energetic particles arriving at Earth from thesolar atmosphere and interstellar space.The satellite is scheduled for launch on a four-stage, Scout expendable launchvehicle from VandenbergAir Force Base, Calif., on Jun e 19, 1992. The launchwindow extends from 10:22 .m. to 10:41 a.m. EDT. SAMPEX s designed tosupport a minimum mission duration of 1year, with a potential mission lifetime of3 r more years.This small explorer carries a payload of four particle detectors and is designed

to detect solar energetic particles, precipitating energetic electrons, anomalouscosmic rays and galactic cosmic rays. Determining the abundance of each elementand the abundances of isotopes for many of the elementswill enable scientists tolearn more about the sun, the interplanetary environment and the interstellarenvironment. SAMPEX also will measure the number of relativistic electrons (atspeeds just below the speed of light) that enter the Earth's atmosphere andcontribute to the destruction of ozone.SAMPEX was developed by the Small Explorer (SMEX) project at NASA'sGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., in just 3 ears since the mission wasinitiated. SAMPEX, NASA's 68th Explorer mission, is the first in a series of smallexplorer missions that NASA began in 1989 to perform astrophysics and space

physics investigations with satellites launched on small expendable launchvehicles. Two other small explorer missions are currently manifested: the FastAuroral Snapshot Explorer, scheduled for launch in 1994, and the SubmillimeterWave Astronomy Satellite, which will be launched in 1995. A n announcement ofopportunity for other small explorer missions will be released later this year.Dr. Glenn M. Mason, University of Maryland, College Park, is PrincipalInvestigator for SAMPEX, and there are 10 co-investigators from American andGerman institutions. Gilbert0 Colon is Mission Manager, Dr. Daniel Baker isProject Scientist and Roberto Aleman is the SAMPEX Instrument Manager. Allthree are from the Goddard Space Flight Center, as is Orlando Figueroa, ProjectManager for SMEX.

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SAMPEX SCIENCE OBJECTIVESWhile SAMPEX, with its four instruments, is expected to provide unprecedenteddetail about the composition of energetic particles from the pvwky Way galaxy(galactic cosmic rays) and from the sun (solar energetic particles), the mostdramatic, new results are expected to come from measuring the composition of

"anomalous" cosmic rays. Anomalous cosmic rays are thought to be atoms of thelocal, interstellar gas that enter the solar system, are ionized and then acceleratedto cosmic ray energies at the shock wave at the end of the solar wind.At low latitudes, the Earth's magnetic field can turn back most charged,energetic particles before they reach the 342-statute mile to 419-statute milealtitude of SAMPEX's orbit. Nonetheless, SAMPEXs instruments are so sensitivethat during the time spent near the Earth's north and south magnetic poles,SAMPEX will obtain 10 to 1 0 0 times more galactic cosmic rays and solar energeticparticles than any previous mission.More importantly, SAMPEX will be able to use the shielding power of the

Earth's magnetic field at somewhat lower latitudes to discriminate energeticparticles coming from the sun and the galaxy from anomalous cosmic rays. If thetheory of anomalous cosmic rays is correct, the atoms should be only partiallyionized and therefore, able to penetrate the Earth's magnetic field at lowerlatitudes. SAMPEX will confirm the theory if it observes anomalous cosmic rays atthe lower latitudes and will tell scientists much more about the atoms as well. Thepossibility of directly measuring the composition of a sample of local interstellarmatter in this way has very high scientific value.

SAlMpEX INSTRUMENTSThe SAMPEX mission will carry four scientific instruments: the Low Energy IonComposition Analyzer, the Heavy Ion Large Telescope, the Ma s s SpectrometerTelescope and the Proton/Electron Telescope.

Low Energy Ion Composition Analyzer (LEICA)The LEICA instrument is a mass spectrometer that identifies incident mass andenergy by simultaneously measuring the time-of-flight and residual kinetic energyof particles that enter the telescope and stop in one of four silicon, solid-statedetectors. An earlier model of this instrument flew on the Space Shutt le in 1989as a Get Away Special (GAS) experiment. LEICA is provided by the University ofMaryland, College Park.

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Heavy IonLarge Telescope (HILT)HILTwill measure galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles when it isnear the Earth'smagnetic poles. In addition, this instrument is designed todetermine the energy and elemental composition of anomalous cosmic rays atenergies where they are most abundant. HILTwill measure the direction, energy

and charge of each nucleus from helium to nickel. HILT is provided by the MaxPlanck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany. An earlierversion of HILT also flew as a GAS experiment in 1989.Mass Spectrometer Telescope (MAST)

This nstrument will determine the direction, energy, element and isotope ofatoms from all elements up to nickel entering the instrument with velocitiesbetween about 12 percent and 75 percent of the speed of light. MAST is providedby the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.Proton/Electron Telescope (PET)

The PET system is designed to complement MAST by measuring the energy ofelectrons, protons and helium nuclei coming from the Earth's radiation belts, thesun, interplanetaxy space and interstellar space. The electrons will be moving veryclose to the speed of light (186,000 iles per second) and could have a significanteffect on the destruction of ozone high in the Earth'satmosphere. PET is providedby the California Institute of Technology and is housed in the same instrument boxas MAST.These four instruments were constructed at the separate institutions and

integrated with a Data Processing Unit (DPU) provided by the Aerospace Corp. of ElSegundo, Calif. The DPU is responsible for overall control of the science payloadand controls instrument housekeeping functions.

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The 8 hour, 10 minute launch countdown is scheduled to begin at 2:12 a.m.EDT on June 18. Included in the countdown is one built-in hold at the T minus 10minute mark which extends from 10:02 to 10:12 a.m. EDT on June 19. Lift-off isscheduled for 10:22 .m. EDT. The 19-minutelaunch window closes at 10:41a.m.EDT.

Major tasks in the countdown include a communications check, activating thevehicle ground support equipment, check-out of the vehicle's electronic systemsand fueling the reaction control system. In addition, the vehicle and launcher willbe secured and erected, and a test of the ignition and destruct systems will beconducted. A weather briefing and a status of the countdown is held about 1 hourprior to launch.A 24-hour turnaround can be supported depending on the nature of a launchpostponement. In the event of a 24-hour scrub, the vehicle and spacecraft will belowered from the launch platform and secured in the shelter at Space Launch

Complex (SLC)-5.About 90 seconds after launch at an altitude of about 24 nautical miles thesecond stage ignites and the first stage is separated from the vehicle. Next, heheat shield encapsulating the SAMPEX payload will be jettisoned at 2 minutes, 28seconds after launch.The third stage is ignited and the second stage is separated about 2 minutes,30 econds after launch. This bum lasts for approximately 48 econds. Thevehicle is oriented to the proper fourth stage attitude before spin up of the fourthstage which occurs about 10minutes after launch when the vehicle is at analtitude of 300nautical miles. Then, the third stage separates and performs a

retromaneuver to move safely out of stage four's path. The fourth stage is ignitedand bum s for about 30 seconds. The Scout rocket delivers its payload into orbitabout 15minutes after launch.

DOWNRANGE LAUNCH SUPPORTTracking station support to receive launch vehicle telemetry and data from thefirst three stages will be provided by NASA and Air Force telemetry stations.Fourth stage data will be provided by an Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraftwhich is a modified C-135 ircraft and serves as an airborne tracking station.

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SCOUT LAUNCH VEHICLEAND SAMPEX LAUNCH PREPARATIONSKennedy Space Center (KSC),Fla., is responsible for the preparation andlaunch of the Scout launch vehicle which wi l l loft the SAMPEX payload into orbitfrom NASA'sWestern Test Range at VandenbergAir Force Base (VAFB),Calif. TheScout is a four-stage solid propellant unmanned launch vehicle that has a 98

percent success record over the last 20 years.A eam of 30KSC employees rotate duty at Vandenberg so that five are on handduring the assembly of the Scout rocket and the payload at Vandenberg. The fourrocket motors arrived at the west coast facility by truck during the period fromFebruary 18 to March 29, 1991 for a previous mission that was canceled. Themotors were stored at VAFB until build-up commenced in early Jan uary 1992.Following the motor build-up, a series of vehicle systems tests were conductedMarch 12-27.The vehicle was installed on the launcher at SLC-5, located at the VAFB southbase, May 15-18. An electronic functional test was conducted May 20.The SAMPEX payload arrived at Vandenberg by truck on May 20. I t wastransferred to the Dynamic Balance Facility on May 28 where it was mated to thefourth stage and went through static and dynamic balancing operations. Thepayload is scheduled to be transported to SLC-5 on June 5 where it will beattached to the Scout rocket.The Scout program is managed by Goddard's Orbital Launch Services Projectfor NASA's Offce of Space Science and Applications, Washington, D.C. From April1959 to January 1991,Scout was managed by NASA's Langley Research Center,Scout Project Office, Hampton, Va.

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MET(MISSION ELAPSED TIME1L- o:oo:ooL-08:0:00L-04:5: 0G O :55:00

L-00:4: 0

L-00:02:00boo:00: 0L+00:01:24W00:O1:28

L+00:02:09L+00:02:22

Li-O0:03:10L+OO:O9: 4Li-00:09:59Li-00:10:32L+OO:14:44L+OO: 14: 6h04:2 :00

EVENTSpacecraft CloseoutBegin CountdownBegin Scout FuelingPower on Spacecraft, Begin ConfiguringLaunchBegin Spacecraft Terminal Phase(Switch to Internal Power, Final TelemetryCheck)Final Spacecraft Go/No Goscout LiftoffFirst-Stage BurnoutFirst-Stage Separation and Second-StageIgnitionSecond-Stage BurnoutThird-Stage Ignition and Second-StageSeparationThird-Stage BurnoutThird-Stage SeparationFourth-Stage IgnitionFourth-Stage BurnoutSpacecraft SeparationSolar Array DeploymentInitial Ground Station Pass (Madrid)

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Separate From

Separate From4th Stage

Orient VehicleTo Proper FourthStage Att i tude

Ignite Thirda Stage ti Separate

Third StageBurnoutT= 3 : l O

Ignite Seco ndStage & SeparateFirst StageT = 1 :28T = 0O :OO T = Mission E lapsed Time(min:sec)

SpacecDespinSolar ADeployT = 141


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SCIENCE OPERATIONSThe University of Maryland Science Operations Center (UMSOC), located inCollege Park, is responsible for all science operations. After NASA captures theda ta from the spacecraft, the UMSOC will receive the scientific data and distributeLevel 1 data and line plots to all co-investigator institutions and the National Space

Science Data Center at Goddard. Higher level science processing is carried out atthe remote investigator sites.SMALLEXPLORER DATA SYSTEM

The SAMPEX control and data handling functions are performed by the SmallExplorer Data System (SEDS). The SEDS provides on-board computers that canbe programmed to perform mission unique functions as required and providesautonomous operation of the spacecraft when it is not in contact with the ground.The data system uses computer memory instead of more conventional taperecorders to record spacecraft telemetry data.The management of the Mission Operations and Data Analysis phase of theSAMPEX mission will be transferred from the SMEX Roject Office to the OrbitingSatellites Project Office within 30 days after launch. Both project offices arelocated at Goddard.

GROUND SEGMENT OPERATIONSGoddard's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va., is the primary groundstation for communication with the spacecraft. Other ground stations are inMadrid, Spain; the Canberra Deep Space Tracking Station in Australia and the

Goldstone Deep SpaceTracking Station, Goldstone, Calif.SMALL SPACE MISSIONS

SAMPEX is the first in a series of small explorer missions initiated to address anumber of important scientific problems using small scientific satellites in Earthorbit. The misisons are relatively low cost, and NASA's goal is to launch one smallexplorer mission per year following a relativelty short development time frame. Thelaunch of SAMPEX comes ju st over 3 years since its inception in April 1989.

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COOPERATIVE SATELLITE LEARNING PROJECTThe Cooperative Satellite Learning Project is a unique educational partnershipbetween Laurel High School, Laurel, Md.; Bendix Field Engineering Corp.,Seabrook, Md.; Falcon Microsystems. Landover. Md.; and Goddard that involveshigh school students in the process of developing and operating SAMPEX.This pilot program provides students with an understanding of the overall "end-to-end" system used to support SAMPEX and will demonstrate how NASAimplements a specific mission for a given scientific endeavor. I t also introduces thestudents to careers in space.A Mission Monitor System in the high school will receive and process SAMPEXsatellite data and provide computer-assisted tutoring. In this way, students willparticipate directly in SAMPEX tests, simulations and orbital operations.

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SPACECRAFT SPECIFICS

Payload:SAMPEX Orbit:Orbit Inclination:Weight:Length:Diameter:Design Life:Launch Vehicle:Foreign Participation:

SpacecraftScience OperationsLaunch OperationsScout Launch Vehicle

Four particle detectors342 x 419 statute miles82 degrees348pounds4.5 feet stowed2.8 eet stowed3 earsscoutMax Planck Institute, Garching, Germany

PROGRAlvI RESPONSIBILITIESGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.University of Maryland, College ParkKennedy Space Center, Ma.Goddard Space Flight Center

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SAFWEX CO-INVESTIGATORSDr. D. Baker

Dr. J . BlakeL. callisDr. D. Hamilton

Dr. D. Hovestadt

Dr. B. KleckerDr. R. Mewaldt

Dr. M. ScholerDr. E. Stone

Dr. T. Von Rosenvinge

Goddard Space Flight Center. Greenbelt, Md.Project ScientistAerospace Corp . , El Segundo, Calif.Data Processing UnitLangley Research Center, Hampton, Va.Data AnalysisUniversity of Maryland, College Park, Md.LEICAMax Planck Institute, Garching, GermanyHILTM ax Planck Institute, Garching, GermanyHILTJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute ofTechnology, Pasadena, Calif.MAST, PETMax Planck Institute, Garching, GermanyHILTCalifornia Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.MAST, PETGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.MAST, PET

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SAMPEX MISSION MANAGEMENTNASA HEADQUARTERS, WASHINGTON, D.C.Dr. Lennard A. Fisk Associate Administrator, Office of Space Science and

ApplicationsAlphonso V. Diaz Deputy Associate Administrator, Offke of SpaceScience and ApplicationsDr. Dave Gilman Program ManagerDr. Vernon Jones Program ScientistCharles R. GUM Director, Expendable Launch Vehicle Division

GODDARD SPACE FLIGHTCENTER, GREENBELT, MD.Dr. John KlinebergPeter T. BurrOrlando Figueroa Project ManagerDr. Dan Baker Project ScientistGilbert0 Colon SAMPEXMission Manager

Director, Goddard Space Flight CenterDeputy Director, Goddard Space Flight Center

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.Robert L. CrippenJames A. "Gene" ThomasJohn T. ConwayJames L. WomackGeorge E. Looschen

Director, Kennedy Space CenterDeputy Director, Kennedy Space CenterDirector, Payload Management and OperationsDirector, Expendable Vehicle OperationsChief, Expendable Launch Vehicle Operations

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARKDr. Glenn Mason Principal Investigator

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