NASA Daily News Summary For Release: April 6, 2000 Media Advisory m00-68 SUMMARY NEWS RELEASES: SUSPECTED PROTOPLANET MAY REALLY BE A DISTANT STAR NASA AND NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE JOIN TO DEVELOP NANO-EXPLORERS FOR THE HUMAN BODY ------------------- VIDEO FILE FOR APRIL 6, 2000 Ulysses Sails Through a Comet Hubble Heritage: Glowing Eye Arctic Ozone: The Gaping Hole Students Shoot For the Moon Wind Research Turbine Test at Ames Research Center ***************************** NEWS RELEASES: SUSPECTED PROTOPLANET MAY REALLY BE A DISTANT STAR Follow-up observations of an unusual object initially suspected to be the first directly detected planet outside our solar system have shown that the object is too hot to be a planet. Astronomers now believe it is more likely that the strange object is a background star whose light has been dimmed and reddened by interstellar dust. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope photographed the mysterious object, called TMR-1C, in 1997. Because of its potential importance and the compelling nature of the image, NASA also released the picture to the public with the caution that future observations would be critical in verifying whether or not this object actually is a planet. Full text: ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/2000/00-058.txt Headquarters contact: Donald Savage (Phone: 202/358-1547) Goddard Space Flight Center contact: Nancy Neal (Phone: 301/286-0039) Space Telescope Science Institute contact: Ray Villard (Phone: 410/338-4514) ------------------- NASA AND NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE JOIN TO DEVELOP NANO-EXPLORERS FOR THE HUMAN BODY To treat symptoms of the common cold, most people take a gel capsule containing hundreds of granular pieces of medicine as a remedy for coughing, sneezing and a runny nose. Now, imagine ingesting a capsule of similar size, containing microscopic sensors to detect, diagnose and treat disease inside the human body. It sounds like science fiction. However, NASA, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is working to turn this vision into "science fact." Full text: ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/note2edt/2000/n00-015.txt Headquarters contact: Renee Juhans (Phone: 202/358-1712) ------------------- If NASA issues any other news releases later today, we will e- mail summaries and Internet URLs to this list. Index of 2000 NASA News Releases: http://www.nasa.gov/releases/2000/index.html ***************************** VIDEO FILE FOR April 6, 2000 VIDEO Item 1 - Ulysses Sails Through a Comet 1a - During an unplanned rendezvous, the Ulysses spacecraft found itself gliding though the immense tail of Comet Hyakutake, revealing that comet tails may be much, much longer than previously believed. Animation shows the path of Ulysses as it sails through the tail of Comet Hyakulake on May 1, 1996. TRT - :30 1b - This b-roll shows the Ulysses spacecraft, a joint venture between NASA and the European Space Agency, as it was being assembled at the Dornier Systems in Germany. Ulysses was launched on Octover 6, 1990, on a mission tostudy the Sun's solar wind, and it continues to send back data. TRT - :33 1c - Interview Excerpts Dr. Nathan Schwadron Ulysses Team Member University of Michigan TRT - 1:40 Contacts: Jane Platt 818/354-0880 Dolores Beasley 2002/358-1753 Item 2 - Hubble Heritage: Glowing Eye 2a - Glowing Eye of NGC 6751 This image of the strikingly unusual planetary nebula NGC 6751 was first discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1998 and is the featured image in the Hubble Heritage program for April. The blue regions mark the hottest glowing gas which forms a circular ring around the central stellar remnant. Orange and red mark the cooler gases. See http://heritage.stsci.edu for more information. TRT - :15 Contacts - Ray Villard 410/338-4514 Don Savage 202/358-1727 Item 3 - Arctic Ozone - The Gaping Hole 3a - An Arctic Ozone Hole Opens Due to a combination of factors, Arctic ozone levels last winter reached their lowest point in eight years. Despite the dry conditions in the polar stratosphere, temperatures plunged far enough to enable the early formation of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) at an unusually early date. PSCs are necessary for the conversion of chlorine from benign molecular forms into chlorine monoxide, an ozone destructive compound. The moving blue patch in the animation illustrates the ozone hole. TRT :27 3b - The Polar Vortex During winter, stratospheric winds tend to form a vortex around the North Pole. This becomes a container for cold, high altitude air where ozone is lost due to chemical changes motivated by the creation of clouds in the stratosphere. Measurements of atmospheric ozone were taken by NASA's high altitude ER-2 aircraft, and the space agency's DC-8. Readings from NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) Earth Probe showed a clear ozone minimum over the polar region during February and March. TRT :25 3c - Ozone Loss Ozone is produced by intense ultra-violet radiation in the upper stratosphere. This radiation breaks typical oxygen atoms into ozone. The ozone molecule generally absorbs ultra violet radiation. But ozone is destroyed when it reacts with one of a variety of chemicals in the stratosphere such as chlorine, nitrogen, bromine, or hydrogen. These are commonly called CFCs or chloroflourocarbons. TRT 1:16 3d - Deployment Site Kiruna, Sweden was chosen as the deployment site for SOLVE for two reasons. First, the Arena Arctica facility at the Kiruna airport is a superb hanger for the ER-2 and DC-8 operations. Second, Kirunas extreme northern latitude is ideally located for measurements of the lower stratospheric polar vortex. Kiruna is marked by the black point on the map, and a 2000 km circle is drawn around town, illustrating the range of both the ER-2 and DC-8 during this mission. TRT 2:05 3e - Scientist B-Roll The following b-roll shows researchers affiliated with the SOLVE project working in Kiruna, Sweden. TRT :49 3f - Interview Excerpts Dr. Paul Newman Atmospheric Scientist NASA/GSFC TRT 1:55 Contacts: Wade Sisler 301/286-6256 Dave Steitz 202/358-1730 Item 4 - Students Shoot for the Moon Description: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center is hosting the Moonbuggy Races on April 7th-8th at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. The challenge is for students from high schools and colleges across the country to design, build and race their own moonbuggy. The construction is based on the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle, and each team has 18 months to design a buggy. Footage shows students in the first stages of designing and building their vehicles. 4a- Lunar Rover Apollo era footage of the lunar rover on the moon. TRT - :47 4b - From metal scraps to lunar sculpture Students from Arizona State University are starting the beginning stages of building their moonbuggy. The students are involved with every detail when it comes to building their moonbuggy. They have to weld, measure, sandblast and drill to get their moonbuggy the right size and shape. TRT - :55 4c - Building a buggy Students from various colleges and high schools are working day and night in their garage to finish the last minute touches such as tightening bolts and adjusting their seats in order to get their moonbuggy finished. They still have several months to test it out around campus before the competition. TRT- 1:12 4d - From parts to a finished product Students load their moonbuggy on a truck to transport it to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. They have to bring their moonbuggy in an unassembled state to Huntsville, Alabama, where they will unload it off the truck and put it back together. Although many students collaborate on the moonbuggy, only two students per moonbuggy are allowed to race. High school students race Friday, April 7th and college students on Saturday, April 8th. TRT- 2:10 4e - The Great Moonbuggy Race Students prepare for and endure the event. The staggered races are along a 1/2 mile track, which is full of potholes and obstacles similar to the lunar surface. Winners are those who complete the course in the least amount of time, and one of the rules is that a team can not get outside the moonbuggy if they get stuck. TRT - 3:27 4f - Moonbuggy Winners High schools and colleges each have winners for the moonbuggy event. The award ceremony at the end of the day congratulates the 1999 winners with a good dousing of silly string. TRT - 1:12 4g - Interview slates: Frank Brannon University Relations Coordinator Marshall Space Flight Center TRT - 1:09 Contact: Jerry Berg 256/544-0034 Item 5 - Wind Research Turbine Tests at NASA Ames 5a - B-roll Exterior shots of NASA Ames 80x120 foot wind tunnel. TRT - 00:25 5b - B-roll Shots of the NREL Reserach Wind Turbine being set up in NASA Ames' Wind Tunnel. TRT - 3:03 5c - B-roll Shots of engineers in the control room preparing to test a research wind turbine in the NASA Ames Wind Tunnel. TRT - 1:19 5d - B-roll Shots of windmill farms at Altamont Pass near Livermore, CA. TRT - 1:41 5e - Interview excerpts: Dave Simms NREL Project Director TRT - 4:12 5f - Interview excerpts: Bob Kufeld NASA Project Director NASA Ames Research Center TRT - 1:15 Contact: John Bluck 650/604-5026 Item 6 - Special request replay of Zarya launch, preparation in the clean room and mission animation for the International Space Station. TRT - 17:00 ----------------------------- LIVE TELEVISION EVENTS THIS WEEK: April 7, Friday - 6:00 - 10:00 am - Moon Buggy Races Live News Interviews - MSFC - 10:00 am - 12:30 pm - FY 2001 Budget Posture Hearing before the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee (recorded on 4/6/00) - HQ - 1:00 - 6:00 pm - FIRST Robotics National Finals - Epcot Center, Orlando, FL (direct uplink to NTV) - 7:00 am - 9:30 pm - FY 2001 Budget Posture Hearing before the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee (recorded on 4/6/00) - HQ - *9:30 - Midnight - FY 2001 Budget Posture Hearing before the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee (recorded on 4/6/00) - HQ April 8, Saturday - 8:00 am - 6:00 pm - FIRST Robotics National Finals - Epcot Center, Orlando, FL (direct uplink to NTV) April 9, Sunday - Noon - 2:30 pm - FY 2001 Budget Posture Hearing before the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee (recorded on 4/6/00) - HQ - 3:00 - 5:30 pm - FY 2001 Budget Posture Hearing before the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee (recorded on 4/6/00) - HQ - 6:00 - 8:30 pm - FY 2001 Budget Posture Hearing before the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee (recorded on 4/6/00) - HQ - 9:00 - 11:30 pm - FY 2001 Budget Posture Hearing before the House Subcommittee on VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Committee (recorded on 4/6/00) - HQ ----------------------------- SPECIAL NOTICE TO TV PRODUCERS: HUBBLE'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY -------- LIVE SATELLITE INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY -------- Celebrate Hubble's 10th Birthday! - Take a video tour of some of Hubble's greatest hits - Five new stamps to be issued of Hubble favorites In April 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) rocketed into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery - bringing a brilliant new golden age of astronomy. Hubble's stunning pictures have revolutionized astronomy and astounded the public. Though Hubble has only been in operation for 10 years, its phenomenal influence on our civilization's perception of the vast and mysterious universe will be felt for a long time to come. Hubble Project Scientists Dr. David Leckrone and Dr. Malcom Niedner are available on Monday, April 10, from 5:40 - 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss Hubble's legacy of achievement. Ask the scientists about Hubble: - Hubble's images have captivated both scientists and the general public. How has Hubble changed our understanding of our place in the universe? (visual: beauty montage) - What are Hubble's greatest discoveries? (visual: discovery montage) - The Post Office is releasing five new stamps today. Can you give us a sneak peek at the new stamps? (visual: stamp montage) - Hubble is the first and only telescope that is serviceable by spacewalking astronauts. How have the servicing missions extended Hubble's scientific powers? (visual: spacewalk montage). - What new upgrades do you have planned for Hubble and when will the astronauts next visit? - What are the advantages of a spaceborne telescope? - What is your favorite Hubble image? To bool a Window: Deanna Corridon 301-286-0041, Wade Sisler 301- 286-6256, pager 888-474-0914. TV-Control room number 301-286-6146. The interviews: come to you from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. - The interviews from 5:40 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. will be broadcast on GE-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees West longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz. - Interviews from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. will be broadcast on KU-Band - Telstar 5, transponder 11 at 97 degrees West longitude, vertical polarization, frequency - 11929 MHz, and audio at 6.6/6.8 MHz. B-Roll will be fed at 5:30 a.m. EDT on Monday, April 10. Full video package will run April 10 & 11th during the NASA-TV (GE-2 transponder 9C) Video File feed scheduled for noon EDT. ----------------------------- Unless otherwise noted, ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN. ANY CHANGES TO THE VIDEO LINE-UP WILL APPEAR ON THE NASA VIDEO FILE ADVISORY ON THE WEB AT ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/tv-advisory/nasa-tv.txt WE UPDATE THE ADVISORY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. The NASA Video File normally airs at noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight Eastern Time. NASA Television is available on GE-2, transponder 9C at 85 degrees West longitude, with vertical polarization. Frequency is on 3880.0 megahertz, with audio on 6.8 megahertz. Refer general questions about the video file to NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: Ray Castillo, 202/358-4555, or Fred Brown, 202/358-0713, fred.brown@hq.nasa.gov During Space Shuttle missions, the full NASA TV schedule will continue to be posted at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/schedule.html For general information about NASA TV see: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv/ ***************************** Contract Awards Contract awards are posted to the NASA Acquisition information Service Web site: http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/award.html ***************************** The NASA Daily News Summary is issued each business day at approximately 2 p.m. Eastern time. Members of the media who wish to subscribe or unsubscribe from this list, please send e-mail message to: Brian.Dunbar@hq.nasa.gov ***************************** end of daily news summary