Release No. 96-014
For Release: Immediately
NASA Langley Story Opportunities - March
Understanding the Effects of Space Debris: The Mir
Environmental Effects Payload
(MEEP) will be attached to the Russian space station Mir
during STS-76 in late March. MEEP will study the frequency and
effects of space debris striking the Mir space station. MEEP will
be attached to the Mir shuttle docking module during a spacewalk by
mission specialists Godwin and Clifford. MEEP will remain attached
to Mir until late 1997, when the four experiment containers will be
retrieved by another space shuttle crew (STS-86) and returned to
Earth for study. Photos, video, fact sheets and interviews are
available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122
Aircraft Flow
Images Available Via Internet. The first schlieren
photographs to show shock waves around supersonic aircraft in
flight are now available on the Internet. The two images show the
shock waves - very strong sound waves - being generated by the
aircraft flying at a distance of several miles. The schlieren
technique uses a bright edged source of light - in this case, the
edge of the sun - to detect regions of varying refraction to trace
otherwise invisible pressure waves. The photos were taken with a
ground telescope equipped with a special optical system. The
technology will be useful for sonic boom and high-speed aerodynamic
studies. Interview also available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Keith Henry (757) 864-6120
Lightweight Fuel Tank for Space Shuttle. NASA Langley
researchers are conducting novel mechanical testing on a new
lightweight aluminum alloy for the space shuttle's external tank.
The engineers hope to develop a new material that will reduce the
weight of the external tank by 8,000 pounds. Engineers are
simulating flight loads on the lightweight tank to help designers
better understand how the new lightweight aluminum alloy will
perform during an actual shuttle flight. Interviews available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Ron Harvey (757) 864-6527
The Success of the Clementine Mission to the Moon. Air
Force Colonel Pedro "Pete" Rustan, Director of the Small Satellite
Development Office in the National Reconnaissance Office, will
discuss the 1994 Clementine mission to the moon at 2 p.m. March 18
at the NASA Langley H.J.E. Reid Conference Center, Hampton, Va.
Rustan, the Clementine mission director, will discuss why the
Clementine program was started, how it was managed and the
implications for future small satellite projects. Interviews are
available.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT: Catherine E. Watson (757) 864-6122
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