Dolores Beasley
Headquarters, Washington, DC                   March 23, 2000
(Phone: 202/358-1753)

Nancy Neal
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
(Phone: 301/286-0039)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N00-11

FUTURE OF COMPTON GAMMA RAY OBSERVATORY NEWS BRIEFING MARCH 24

     For the past nine years NASA's Compton Gamma Ray Observatory 
(CGRO) has explored a violent but invisible and little-known world 
of gamma-ray bursts, antimatter fountains, and particle jets 
streaming millions of miles per hour away from black holes.

     Compton, a workhorse for nine years, exceeded NASA's 
expectations for a two- to five- year mission.  However, in 
December 1999 one of its three gyroscopes failed, leaving CGRO 
with two working gyroscopes. Currently, the spacecraft is 
continuing its science program with the two remaining gyroscopes.

     After extensive study to consider all options -- which 
include directing the satellite back to Earth via a controlled-
entry operation or extending its mission by controlling the 
spacecraft without the use of its gyroscopes -- NASA officials 
have made a decision regarding Compton's future.

     The decision will be announced at a news conference at 1 p.m. 
EST Friday, March 24, at the James E. Webb Auditorium at NASA 
Headquarters, 300 E St., SW, Washington, DC. 

     Briefing participants will include: 
     *  Dr. Edward Weiler, Associate Administrator for Space 
Science, NASA Headquarters
     *  Alphonso V. Diaz, Director, NASA Goddard Space Flight 
Center, Greenbelt, MD
     *  Martin E. Frederick; Associate Chief, Guidance, 
Navigation, and Control Center; Goddard 
     *  Dr. Neil Gehrels, project scientist, Compton Gamma Ray 
Observatory, Goddard 

     The event will be carried live on NASA Television with two-
way question-and-answer capability for reporters covering the 
briefing from participating NASA centers.  NASA television is 
broadcast on satellite GE-2, transponder 9C, at 85 degrees West 
longitude, vertical polarization, frequency 3880 MHz, audio of 6.8 
MHz.

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