SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1114 * SpaceNews 14-Nov-94 * BID: $SPC1114 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY NOVEMBER 14, 1994 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution. * SATELLITE PROMPTS RETHINK OF SUN * ==================================== A European space agency satellite currently flying over the sun's south pole has already gathered enough information to warrant a rethink of our understanding of the sun's magnetic fields and other solar phenomena. The Ulysses probe, which is providing the first measurements taken directly above the solar poles, has been described as "a total success so far" by the European Space Agency. Ulysses began passing over the south polar region in June, reaching a point almost directly above the pole in mid September. It completes its southern pass in November and flies on to the sun's north pole in June 1995. The most surprising result of the mission has been the apparent absence of a south magnetic pole, contrary to the models predicted by scientists. The low cosmic radiation there compared with the rest of the solar surface is also of much interest to researchers. They had expected the sun to have a relatively simple magnetic field, such as that of the earth or that of a magnetized iron bar. All evidence so far has suggested that the sun has no south magnetic pole. Scientists hope that the passage over the sun's "Antarctic" will reveal important information about solar wind, the continuous flow of magnetic gas from the sun's surface. The effects of solar wind on the earth include interference with radio communications and sometimes the disruption of power supplies (surges on the national grids). In space it can cause the loss of satellites and is a major source of worry to astronauts. It is still too early to establish what impact the findings will have on our understanding of the sun and the interplanetary wind that it generates. It will take many months to analyze the billions of bits of information that have already been gathered. The information gleaned by the satellite will help fill in the gaps of the understanding of how the sun works. Recently the Anik satellite had its navigation knocked out by a solar event. These satellites cost over one hundred million dollars each. [Info via the IRTS Radio News by Steve Wright, EI5DD] * WXSAT NEWS * ============== Observed at station 50.7 NLat, 7.1 ELon, NOV 01, 1994: NOAA-9: APT 137.62 On NOAA-10: APT 137.50 *OFF* NOAA-11: APT 137.62 Burst on, no image NOAA-12: APT 137.50 On Meteor 2-21: APT 137.85 *OFF* Meteor 3-5: APT 137.85 On Okean 1-7: APT 137.40 *OFF* Okean 1-7 was quiet during all available passes. There is not much hope that we will see regular APT-service. Imaging of NOAA-11 is dead. NOAA-10 APT is off due to VHF-conflict with NOAA-12. [Info via Peter Henne] * STS-66 MISSION NEWS * ======================= Science teams at the Spacelab Mission Operations Control Center in Huntsville, Alabama, monitored the activities of atmospheric instruments for the third Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS 3) mission flown in STS-66. Preliminary results, available for the first time during an ATLAS mission, continue to provide scientists and the crew with insights to both the investigations and the processes occurring in the atmosphere. Among the results to date is the detection of increasing amounts of Freon-22 in the stratosphere. This chemical, used as a replacement for Chlorofluorocarbons, is not as great a threat as Chlorofluorocarbons to the ozone layer, but is still a growing source of stratospheric chlorine. The Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy (ATMOS) experiment is viewing sunrises and sunsets through the Earth's atmospheric limb, measuring the trace gases involved in the chemistry of the stratosphere and mesosphere. The ATMOS onboard recorder approached capacity, and observations were downlinked live from the orbiter Atlantis toward the end of the mission. ATMOS Principal Investigator Dr. Mike Gunson commented that the data are posing a "challenging scientific puzzle" as well as providing a "really interesting story to tell about the ozone hole and the processes leading to its formation." "I'm really happy with the way things have gone," he added. The Solar Spectrum Measurement (SOLSPEC) instrument, which measures solar radiation in the ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared wavelengths, viewed the Earth during mission STS-66. Although primarily a solar instrument, SOLSPEC took advantage of the Earth-viewing position of the orbiter to record ultraviolet and visible light as it was scattered back >From the atmosphere. This data will be combined with information from SOLSPEC's solar observations to determine concentrations of trace gases in the atmosphere. The Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SSBUV) instrument obtained measurements of nitric oxide concentrations as the instrument viewed the Earth. These observations were performed in conjunction with the MAHRSI instrument to produce a more comprehensive understanding of nitric oxide distribution in the atmosphere, which is active in the chain of chemical reactions that destroys ozone in the middle atmosphere. The Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere (CRISTA) experiment acquired very high resolution data through "oversampling," or making double measurements in specific altitudes to obtain better resolution, during its scans. CRISTA took observations in all of its operating modes, and the science team is very pleased with its performance. [Info via NASA Spacelink] * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Mail to SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the following paths: FAX : 1-908-747-7107 PACKET : KD2BD @ N2KZH.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : magliaco@pilot.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19, FUJI-OSCAR-20 MAIL : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX