Dwayne C. Brown
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                        
March 7, 1994
(Phone:  202/358-0547)

RELEASE:  94-36

 NEW TECHNOLOGY TO BE TESTED FOR NASA SAFETY OFFICE

      NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (OSMA), 
Washington, D.C., will obtain valuable data from a flight test of a 
new laser-diode initiated ordnance system on Orbital Sciences Corp. 
(OSC) Pegasus air-launch space booster from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., in 
June.  The system is essential to OSMA's goal of using faster, better 
and cheaper systems in space and aeronautic systems. 

     "A successful test of the system will allow future spacecraft to 
perform operations more efficiently and safely, " said Fred Gregory, 
Associate Administrator for the OSMA.

      The system is part of OSMA's Laser Initiated Ordnance System 
Validation Program and until now the absence of operational experience 
and critical test data was the major hurdle preventing the use of the 
system for future NASA activities. The system can be used for a 
variety of pyrotechnic applications such as escape systems, spacecraft 
separation devices and flight termination systems.  Currently, NASA 
and industry rely on electric current to activate these mechanisms 
which require many safeguards to avoid accidentally setting off the 
initiators. 

     Under the planned concept, the laser initiated system may replace 
electrical bridgewire initiation systems to reduce hazards from 
electromagnetic interference and develop systems with no moving parts 
to increase reliability of electrical systems. 

     "The safety record using electric current is excellent because 
there are many elaborate safeguards designed to avoid accidental 
ignition.  However, the laser initiated ordance will improve design, 
testing and operations to achieve an even higher level of safety," 
said Norm Schulze, Manager of Safety, Reliability and Quality 
Assurance Technologies, OSMA.


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     Ensign Bickford, Inc., Simsbury, Conn., developed the system and 
will test the technology for NASA.  OSC will provide the flight 
vehicle at no cost to NASA while costs to integrate the system 
demonstration will be funded by OSMA.  Results of the test will be 
transferred to industry and NASA. 

     "Government and industry will work as a team to test and  conduct 
the flight demonstration of the system.  Industry will be able to 
market the product and NASA would have demonstrated the system's 
technical feasibility, safety and the potential for cost savings on 
future spacecraft and aeronautical systems, " Schulze said.


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