Conference 7.286::space

    I would think if it's an earth-resources sat then it would be in
    a polar orbit (low altitude passing over the poles and everywhere
    else too).  A dedicated sat wathing a single pole would be fairly
    useless even if you could balance it there, where a polar orbit
    allows you to pass over every point on the earth's surface.
    
    Willie

    Most polar or near polar orbit satellites have been at fairly low
    altitudes in nearly circular orbits. 
    
    For a lot of observation missions (esp things like Landsat, the
    ESSA/NOAA series of metsats etc) a sun-synchronous orbit is used. This
    is a not-quite-polar (i.e. inclination is not 90 degrees) orbit
    designed to bring the satellite over areas of interest at the same time
    each day. It makes photo interpretation much easier if you can
    eliminate shadow effects this way. If I remember correctly, the current
    metsats (TIROS-N family) have two passes over each location each day,
    for example. The Soviet Meteor metsats use similar orbits. 
    
    If you are not interested in earth observation, then a true polar
    orbit can be used. These tend to be mostly scientific missions looking
    at things like changes in the magnetosphere around the poles. 
                                         
    The Molinya type orbit is generally not considered to be a polar orbit,
    although its intent is to have the satellite spend a lot of time
    visible from the poles. Other than the Molinya comsats, the only other
    birds that regularly use highly elliptical orbits with fairly high
    inclination are the SDS series of military comsats. They provide comsat
    coverage for military ops in the north pole region. 
    
    A side issue on Molinya... one of the reasons put forward for the
    Soviets using this orbit for their early comsats was the lack of
    availability of Proton launchers in the 60s. They didn't launch too
    many then and most that were launched had missions that were related to
    the Soviet Manned Lunar program. Molinya uses the A-2-e variant of the
    vehicle used for Voshkod/Soyuz. They didn't move to geostationary
    comsats in a big way until priorities changed and Protons became more
    available. 

    I'd guess that the 'Polar Platform' would use a sun-synchronous
    orbit.
    
    gary

    re .0
    
     A polar orbit cannot be a stationary over the north pole. The earth
    will pull the sucker down. This means that you can't have an orbit
    around the SUN, and be stationary over the north
    pole. Also, if you could, the station would crash into the earth
    after traveling 180 degrees around the sun. This is because all
    orbital planes must pass through the center of the body about which
    it is orbiting. You can't have an orbit around the sun whose plane
    is parallel to earths'. Since the orbital plane must pass through
    the center of the sun, the earths orbital plane, and the orbital
    plane of a station hovering over the north pole intersect - BOOM.
    
     			Gregg

    re:4
    
    so if a orbit around the Sun would not produce an economical 
    polar orbit they must be talking about a highly elliptical orbit
    so that it can spend most of its time over a pole ( one of the
    stated goals was continous observation  of Polar information
    such as the orbit of Russian Early Warning birds ( 62.8 inclination 
    altitude 400-40000 km) but with a different inclination.
    
    That is the only way I can think of that would  observe the poles
    for a long period of time. A constelation of these could provide
    that continuous coverage.
                         
    

    'Continuous' probably doesn't mean second-by-second 24 hour coverage.
    
    Low altitude, sun-synchronous 'polar' orbits give the bird plenty
    of time over the polar regions each day. If really continuous coverage
    is the goal then a constellation of small satellites in this orbit
    could do it.
    
    But consider that the only reason for needing second-to-second coverage
    is military early warning. Most natural phenomena simply do not occur
    that rapidly. I did not think that early warning was part of the polar
    platform mission. BTW, that function is currently performed for the US
    by the DSP (Defense Support Platform) satellites in geosynchronous
    orbit. 
    
    gary

    I forgot to add to one of my earlier replies that a sun synchronous
    orbit is a near polar orbit with its plane aligned towards the sun.
    
    FWIW, there are other orbits that could a satellite extended periods
    above the polar regions. The Soviet Prognoz series used an unusual
    orbit (especially as viewed from the ground) that may work. At least
    one of their Zond spacecraft used a 'fake' lunar trajectory,
    essentially a highly elliptical orbit. Such an orbit in a polar plane
    could be arranged to spend a lot of time above the pole, at the expense
    of very great distances and very expensive launch. You cannot use the
    earth's rotation to give you a velocity boost, in fact it may work
    against you. 
    
    I don't think any of these apply to the polar platform.
    
    gary

Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Management of polar platform to change (Forwarded)
Date: 24 Jan 90 19:52:13 GMT
Reply-To: [email protected] (Peter E. Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
 
Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                   January 24, 1990
 
Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
 
Mike Braukus
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
  
    RELEASE:  90-10
 
    MANAGEMENT OF POLAR PLATFORM TO CHANGE
 
     NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly has approved a plan to
transfer the management of the polar orbiting platform, currently
under development by the Office of Space Flight as part of the Space
Station Freedom program, to the Office of Space Science and
Applications which has responsibility for the proposed Earth Observing
System (EOS) program. 
 
     President Bush has made preservation of the environment a top
priority.  NASA's EOS is a key element of the overall Mission to
Planet Earth initiative, the purpose of which is to produce the
understanding needed to predict changes in the Earth's environment. 
EOS will observe the Earth from polar orbit to understand the
processes that control the global environment. 
 
     EOS is planned to be a major new effort within NASA, and the
unmanned polar platform will be the first piece of hardware to be
built for this program.  "This gives the responsibility for managing
the EOS platform to the office responsible for carrying out the EOS
mission," said Dr. William B. Lenoir, Associate Administrator for
Space Flight.  "In a management sense, it puts the development and
operation of the platform closer to the users of the platform." 
 
     Plans for EOS observations have been developed in coordination
with NASA's international partners.  "This transition plan was
discussed with our international partners and we have assured them
that agreements between us will be honored in all regards," said
Lenoir. 
 
     The role of the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.,
which manages the EOS program and the polar platform, has not been
altered by this decision.  Goddard will continue to play a vital role
in the Freedom program as the NASA center responsible for developing
the Flight Telerobotic Servicer, a space robot that will be used in
the assembly and maintenance of the manned base. 
 
     Goddard will retain its management responsibility for developing
the platform with General Electric Astro Space, Princeton, N.J., as
the prime contractor.  Current plans call for the U.S. platform to be
launched in 1998 on a Titan IV rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif.  The platform will have an orbital lifetime of at least 5 years. 
 
     Transition of management of the polar platform will be conducted
during the 1990 fiscal year.  Beginning in FY 1991, complete
responsibility for the polar platform will be transferred to the
Office of Space Science and Applications. 

EOS INSTRUMENT SELECTION FACT SHEET 

                  FACTS
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Washington, D.C. 20546


% EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM INSTRUMENTS %
% HOW THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER %
% EOS INTERDISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS %
% WEIGHT AND POWER CONSIDERATIONS % 


% EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM INSTRUMENTS %

The following instrument investigations have been confirmed for flight 
on the first EOS-A satellite:

AIRS/AMSU-A/-B (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder/Advanced Microwave Sounding
Units). Team Leader: Moustafa T. Chahine, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,
Calif. AIRS and AMSU-A/-B will measure atmospheric temperature profiles with an
accuracy of 1 degree Celsius and will provide data on atmospheric water vapor,
cloud cover, and sea- and land-surface temperatures.  AMSU-B is a planned
contribution from the European Organization for the Exploitation of
Meteorological Satellites.

ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection, formerly known as
the ITIR). Team Leader: Hiroji Tsu, Geological Survey of Japan, Tsukuba, Japan.
ASTER, to be provided by the Japanese Ministry of International Trade and
Industry, will provide high-resolution images (15 to 90 meters) of the land
surface and clouds for climatological, hydrological, biological and geological
studies.

CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System). Principal Investigator:
Bruce R. Barkstrom, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA. CERES will continue
long-term measurements of the Earth's radiation budget through observations of
both short- and long-wave radiation.  CERES is also planned to fly on one of
ESA's polar platforms.

EOSP (Earth Observing Scanner Polarimeter). Principal Investigator: Larry D.
Travis, Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, NY. EOSP will make
global observations of polarized light to quantify the role of aerosols and
clouds in heating and cooling the Earth, as well as help characterize cloud
feedbacks in global change processes.

HiRDLS (High-Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder). Principal Investigators: John
C. Gille, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, and John J.
Barnett, Oxford University, Oxford, England. This will be a joint instrument
development with the United Kingdom. HiRDLS will use an infrared radiometer to
measure levels of trace gases--such as ozone, water vapor, chlorofluorocarbons,
and nitrogen compounds--that are contributors to the greenhouse effect.

LIS (Lightning Imaging Sensor). Principal Investigator: Hugh Christian,
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL. LIS will collect data on
lightning distribution and variability across the Earth, contributing an
understanding of lightning, convective thunderstorms and rainfall.

MISR (Multi-Angle Imaging Spectro-Radiometer). Principal Investigator: David J.
Diner, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. MISR will obtain global
observations of the directional characteristics of reflected light, information
needed for studying aerosols, clouds and the biological and geological
characteristics of the land surface.

MODIS-N/-T (Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer). Team Leader: Vincent V.
Salomonson, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. MODIS consists of two
imaging spectrometers, one nadir viewing (MODIS-N) and one with a tilt
capability (MODIS-T), for the measurement of biological and physical processes
in the study of terrestrial, oceanic and atmospheric phenomena on a scale of 1
square kilometer.

STIKSCAT (Stick Scatterometer). Principal Investigator: Michael H. Freilich,
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Scatterometers are microwave radars
that measure surface wind speeds and directions over global oceans.  The data
will be used to study atmosphere-ocean interactions, model upper-ocean
circulation and tropospheric dynamics and improve global weather predictions.


The following instrument investigations have been conditionally confirmed for
flight on the first EOS-A satellite (final confirmation, pending resolution of
technical issues, is anticipated by early summer 1991):

MIMR (Multifrequency Imaging Microwave Radiometer). Team Leader: TBD. MIMR, to
be provided by the European Space Agency, will obtain global observations of a
variety of parameters important to the hydrologic cycle: atmospheric water
content, rain rate, soil moisture, ice and snow cover, and sea surface
temperature.

MOPITT (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere). Principal Investigator:
James R. Drummond, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. MOPITT, to be
provided by Canada, is planned to obtain global measurements of carbon monoxide
and methane in the troposphere; the distribution of carbon monoxide is a key to
the atmosphere's capacity to oxidize pollutants, while methane is the most
important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide.

The following instrument has been confirmed for flight on a platform of
opportunity:

ACRIM (Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor). Principal Investigator:
Richard C. Willson, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. ACRIM will make
long-term measurements of the total solar irradiance; this will help
determinate the influence of variations in solar output on climate change.

The following instrument investigation has been confirmed for development:

HIRIS (High-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer). Team Leader: Alexander F.H.
Goetz, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. HIRIS will use its high- resolution
imaging capabilities (30 meters) to study biological and geophysical processes,
as well as interactions along borders of different ecosystems.


% HOW EOS-A INSTRUMENTS WILL WORK TOGETHER%

The primary goal of the EOS-A satellite is to provide a suite of measurements
related to potential global warming and other critical aspects of global
change.  Specific observations include the Earth's radiation balance,
atmospheric circulation, air-sea interaction, biological productivity and
land-surface properties.  Nine of the instruments constitute a minimum set of
synergistic instruments to make simultaneous observations of related
environmental variables.  Simultaneity is essential for scientists studying the
Earth as a global, integrated system because it allows for cross-calibration of
instruments and avoids the impact that rapid atmospheric and illumination
changes can have on measurements.  Two examples of the synergistic benefits of
flying these instruments as a group are:

% Depending on their type, clouds can reflect incoming solar radiation and cool
the Earth's surface, or trap heat emitted by the Earth and warm the surface.
To better understand the role of clouds in global change, EOS will measure
incoming and emitted radiation at the top of the atmosphere (the function of
the CERES instrument).  Then, to study characteristics of the atmosphere that
influence radiation transfer between the top of the atmosphere and the surface,
EOS will observe clouds (with MODIS-N), water vapor and cloud water (with
MIMR), aerosols (with EOSP and MISR), temperature and humidity (with
AIRS/AMSU-A/-B), and directional effects (with MISR).

% Through their intake and emission of carbon dioxide, the primary
anthropogenic greenhouse gas, terrestrial and marine plants are a key part of
the global carbon cycle.  To better understand their role as a source or sink
for carbon, EOS will observe the biological productivity of lands and oceans
(with MODIS-N and MODIS-T respectively).  However, to do so accurately, EOS
must also estimate atmospheric characteristics as noted above.  Additionally,
EOS will study surface properties that affect biological productivity at high
spatial resolution (with ASTER). For oceanic gas exchange, EOS will estimate
surface winds (with STIKSCAT).

	A 10th instrument (HiRDLS) will extend the monitoring of important
stratospheric chemical constituents beyond the planned lifetime of UARS,
scheduled for launch in 1991.  An 11th (MOPITT) will provide an initial
capability to monitor carbon monoxide and methane in the lower atmosphere.


% EOS INTERDISCIPLINARY INVESTIGATIONS %

Coupled Atmosphere/Ocean Processes and Primary Production in the Southern Ocean
Principal Investigator: Dr. Mark R. Abbott, Oregon State University, Corvallis,
OR.

Global Water Cycle: Extension Across the Earth Sciences Principal Investigator:
	Dr. Eric J. Barron, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

The Development and Use of a Four-Dimensional Atmospheric/Ocean/Land Data
Assimilation System for EOS Principal Investigator: Dr. John R. Bates, Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

Long-Term Monitoring of the Amazon Ecosystem through the EOS: From Patterns to
Processes Principal Investigator: Dr. Getulio T. Batista, Instituto de
Pesquisas Espacias (INPE), Sao Jose Dos Campos, Brazil.

Biogeochemical Fluxes at the Ocean/Atmosphere Interface Principal Investigator:
	Dr. Peter G. Brewer, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole,
	MA.

Northern Biosphere Observation and Modeling Experiment Principal Investigator:
	Dr. Josef Cihlar, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing, Ottawa, Ontario,
	Canada.

NCAR Project to Interface Modeling on Global and Regional Scales with Earth
Observing System Observations Principal Investigator: Dr. Robert E. Dickinson,
National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO.

Hydrology, Hydrochemical Modeling, and Remote Sensing in Seasonally
Snow-Covered Alpine Drainage Basins Principal Investigator: Dr. Jeff Dozier,
University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA.

Observational and Modeling Studies of Radiative, Chemical, and Dynamical
Interactions in the Earth s Atmosphere Principal Investigator: Dr. William L.
Grose, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA.

Interannual Variability of the Global Carbon and Energy Cycles Principal
	Investigator: Dr. James Hansen, Goddard Institute for Space Studies,
	New York, NY.

Climate Processes over the Ocean Principal Investigator: Dr. Dennis L.
	Hartmann, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Tectonic/Climatic Dynamics and Crustal Evolution in the Andean Orogen Principal
	Investigator: Dr. Bryan L. Isacks, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

The Hydrologic Cycle and Climatic Processes in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands
	Principal Investigator: Dr. Yann H. Kerr, Laboratoire d'Etudes et de
	Reseaches en Teledetection (LERTS), Toulouse, France.

Estimation of the Global Water Budget Principal Investigator: Dr. William K.
	Lau, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

The Processing, Evaluation, and Impact on Numerical Weather Prediction of AIRS,
HMMR, MODIS, and LAWS Data in the Tropics and Southern Hemisphere Principal
Investigator: Dr. John Francis LeMarshall, Bureau of Meteorology Research
Centre,.Melbourne, Australia.

Interdisciplinary Studies of the Relationship between Climate, Ocean
Circulation, Biological Processes, and Renewable Marine Resources Principal
Investigator: Dr. Graham P. Harris, Commonwealth Scientists and Industrial
Research Organisation, Canberra, Australia.

The Role of Air-Sea Exchanges and Ocean Circulation in Climate Variability
Principal Investigator: Dr. W. Timothy Liu, Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, CA.

Changes in Biogeochemical Cycles Principal Investigator: Dr. Berrien Moore III,
	University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.

A Global Assessment of Active Volcanism, Volcanic Hazards, and Volcanic Inputs
to the Atmosphere from EOS Principal Investigator: Dr. Peter Mouginis-Mark,
University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

Investigation of the Atmosphere/Ocean/Land System Related to Climate Processes
Principal Investigator: Dr. Masoto Murakami, Meteorological Research
Institute,Tsukuba, Japan.

Chemical, Dynamical, and Radiative Interactions through the Middle Atmosphere
and Thermosphere Principal Investigator: Dr. John A. Pyle, University of
Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Polar Ocean Surface Fluxes: The Interaction of Oceans, Ice, Atmosphere, and the
Marine Biosphere Principal Investigator: Dr. Drew Rothrock, University of
Washington, Seattle, WA.

Using Multi-Sensor Data to Model Factors Limiting Carbon Balance in Global
Grasslands Principal Investigator: Dr. David S. Schimel, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, CO.

Investigation of the Chemical and Dynamical Changes in the Stratosphere Up to
and During the EOS Observing Period Principal Investigator: Dr. Mark Schoeberl,
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions Principal Investigator: Dr. Piers Sellers,
	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

Use of a Cryospheric System to Monitor Global Change in Canada Principal
	Investigator: Dr. Rejean Simard, Canada Centre for Remote Sensing,
	Ottawa, Canada.

Middle- and High-Latitude Oceanic Variability Study Principal Investigator: Dr.
	Meric A. Srokosz, Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, Surrey,
	United Kingdom.

Earth System Dynamics: The Determination and Interpretation of the Global
Angular Momentum Budget Using EOS Principal Investigator: Dr. Byron D. Tapley,
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX.


    An Interdisciplinary Investigation of Clouds and Earth s Radiant Energy
System: Analysis Principal Investigator: Dr. Bruce A. Wielicki, Langley
Research Center, Hampton, VA.

% WEIGHT AND POWER CONSIDERATIONS %

The EOS-A instrument confirmations represent a conservative approach to the EOS
program with respect to launch and power considerations.  When it is launched
aboard a Titan-IV booster, the EOS payload will account for only 81 percent of
the booster's allocation for payload mass.  Other weight reserves are included
in the overall launch plan:

                                               	       Pounds     KG
TITAN-IV total lift capability	                       33,000	  15,000
Less allowance for fuel and flight-support equipment   -6,600     -3,000
Less unallocated "reserve"                             -2,200  	  -1,000
Total lift capability available to EOS-A               24,200     11,000
Less unallocated "margin"                              -2,200  	  -1,000
Total mass of EOS-A satellite                          22,000     10,000

Total mass allocated to payload	                        7,700      3,500
(including c. 30 percent contingency)
Actual planned payload mass for first EOS-A payload	6,237      2,835
	
Percentage of total payload allocation                     81         81

	% At the beginning of its 5-year mission, the first EOS-A satellite's
power requirement (3.1 kilowatts) will use only 46 percent of the
solar-generated power allocated for the payload.  By the end of the mission,
power output will be reduced by approximately one-half, meaning the satellite
will need 93 percent of the power allocated for the payload.

	% EOS will take up only 35 percent of the peak TDRS data-link capacity.

	% EOS represents only a small increase in number of instruments and
payload mass from the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), which is
finishing development and scheduled for launch later this year:
 
	Number of Confirmed         	Payload Mass
	Instrument Investigations	(Pounds/kg)
UARS                    10             5,500/2,500
First EOS-A Satellite	11        	6,237/2,835

(Note: the UARS payload mass is 74 percent instrument and 26 percent 
cryogen.)

	% EOS is less massive than the Gamma Ray Observatory, which will be the
largest satellite to be deployed by the Space Shuttle:

	TOTAL DRY MASS
Gamma Ray Observatory	30,800 pounds (14,000 kg)
First EOS-A satellite	22,300 pounds (10,140 kg)

Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.             September 23, 1991

EDITORS NOTE: N91-64

        NASA today is releasing the report that recommends a restructuring
of the Earth Observing System (EOS) component of Mission to Planet
Earth.  The report was prepared by a committee of prestigious scientists
and engineers, led by Dr. Edward Frieman, who were asked to perform an
engineering review of the program.

        The committee was established by NASA at the request of the Vice
President in his capacity as Chairman of the National Space Council, the
Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of Science and
Technology Policy.

        The report provides important technical inputs to the restructuring
of the EOS program, and NASA is in the process of redefining the program
along the lines recommended by the committee.  The report also makes
recommendations regarding the broader U.S. Global Change Research
Program involving other agencies other than NASA.

Brian Dunbar
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                          March 20,1992

EDITORS NOTE:  N92-22

        Copies of NASA's report to Congress on the Restructuring of the Earth
Observing System is available to members of the media from the NASA
Headquarters Newsroom, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.

The Earth Observing System (EOS) is the centerpiece of NASA's
Mission to Planet Earth, a coordinated program to study the Earth's
environment as a complete, global system.  Under the new start approved by
Congress in late 1990, EOS was to consist of two series of spacecraft to
collect data over 15 years.

        Following Congressional guidance, NASA began restructuring EOS in
1991.  An external engineering review committee made recommendations
and the EOS science team prioritized the science mission to refocus EOS on
climate change.  The restructured program increases EOS' resilience and
flexibility by flying multiple, smaller platforms and reduces the cost of EOS
from $17 billion to $11 billion through the year 2000.

        "The restructured EOS program meets the concerns for a less costly,
more flexible program while maintaining the science observations needed to
support global change research," said Dr. Lennard A. Fisk, NASA's Associate
Administrator for Space Science and Applications.  "In addition, under the
restructured program, the launch of the first EOS spacecraft is moved
forward 6 months, to June 1998," said Dr. Fisk.

        The restructuring report outlines EOS' science priorities, spacecraft
and instrument configurations and the role of the EOS Data and Information
System.
-

Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.         August 10, 1992


Randee Exler
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


N92-71
NOTE TO EDITORS

        NASA today issued the following statement regarding
the Earth Observing System Data and Information System Core
System acquisition:

NASA CALLS FOR REVISED PROPOSALS FOR THE EARTH OBSERVING DATA
AND INFORMATION SYSTEM CORE SYSTEM ACQUISITION

        The government has completed its evaluation of
proposals received for the Earth Observing System Data and
Information System (EOSDIS) Core System (ECS) Acquisition.
ECS will, over the 10-year period of the contract, be a
geographically distributed system supporting the operations
and management of the Earth Observing System in-orbit
payloads and other U.S. Earth observing spacecraft.  ECS will
support the acquisition, processing, archival and
distribution of EOS data and selected non-EOS data (e.g.,
Earth probe data systems, pathfinder data sets) and will
facilitate a wide range of scientific research.

        As prescribed by NASA source selection regulations,
the evaluation of proposals included a "most probable cost"
analysis of each proposal as reflected in the "best and final
offers" submitted by the offerers.  Despite NASA's repeated
attempts during the solicitation and evaluation processes to
encourage the submission of realistic cost estimates, the
government's analysis clearly indicates that the offerers
significantly underestimated the cost of the respective
technical approaches.  Accordingly, NASA is unwilling to
select an offerer for further negotiations leading to award
of a contract.

        Extensive analysis of the proposed technical
approaches shows that the proposals reflect sound technical
approaches and exhibit a reasonable understanding of the
program to be accomplished.  Whatever the reason for the
underestimation of cost, the end result is unrealistic cost
proposals that do not provide a satisfactory basis for
constructive negotiations.

        NASA has elected, therefore, to offer an additional
opportunity for offerers in the competitive range to adjust
the proposed costs to a more realistic level.  In
instructions issued by the Goddard Space Flight Center on
Aug.10, 1992, as an amendment to the solicitation, NASA has
directed the offerers to submit revised cost proposals.
Changes to the previously submitted technical and business
management proposals will not be considered.

        In addition, Goddard Space Flight Center has provided
the offerers with the provision that will be used to evaluate
the contractor's cost performance during the contract period.
This provision assesses significant reductions to the award
fee if the contractor fails to manage and control the program
in accordance with the costs proposed.

        Revised cost proposals that realistically reflect the
requirements of the solicitation and the proposed technical
approach are to be submitted by 1 p.m.  EDT on Aug. 31, 1992.
By the end of September 1992, NASA intends to select an
offerer for negotiations leading to contract award.

Randee Exler
Office of Public Affairs

Release No. 92-124                                August 17, 1992

     NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., selected five
companies to negotiate firm fixed-price contracts for definition studies for
the Earth Observing System (EOS) PM spacecraft and the EOS chemistry
spacecraft.  The companies selected are GE Astro-Space Division, Princeton,
N.J.; Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, Calif.; Lockheed Missiles & Space
Company, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.; Martin Marietta Civil Space & Communications,
Denver, Colo.; and TRW Federal Systems Division, Redondo Beach, Calif.

     There were no other proposals for the definition study contracts.  NASA
plans to spend approximately $12 million on these five studies.

     EOS is part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, designed to provide a
continuous, global data base on the environment to improve understanding of the
Earth's operation as a system.  Goddard manages the EOS project for NASA's
Office of Space Science and Applications, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

     The EOS PM spacecraft will accommodate a suite of up to six Earth
observing instruments.  The instruments may collectively provide data on cloud
formation, dissipation, and radiative properties; large scale hydrology and
moist processes, including precipitation and evaporation; exchange of energy
between ocean and atmosphere; improved estimates of runoff into oceans; sources
and sinks of greenhouse gas; and exchange of moisture and energy between land
surface and atmosphere.

     The chemistry spacecraft will accommodate a suite of Earth observing
instruments.  The instruments collectively may provide data on the exchange of
energy between ocean and atmosphere; links to hydrologic cycle and ecosystems;
transformation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and interactions with
climatic change; chemical reactions, solar-atmosphere relations, and sources
and sinks of radiatively important gases; and volcanoes and their role in
climate change.

Article: 71853
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: [email protected]
Subject: Poker Flats Info!!
Sender: [email protected] (USENET News System)
Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1993 03:16:30 GMT
 
Following is info from a friend about Poker Flats, a sub-orbital to soon
orbital launch site, west of Fairbanks, Alaska..
 
The following is a edited composition of a few email messages from a "Poker
Flats" contact point..
 
============================================================================
From:     FYNEWS
Subject:  RE: Re: Space Port Alaska/Poker Flats!
From:     [email protected]
 
This is Debra Damron, information officer at the University of Alaska
Fairbanks.

Your message came through rather garbled, but from what I can tell, you are
interested in some information about Poker Flat Research Range....? Poker
Flat is the only university-owned sounding rocket range in the world. The
5,200-acre facility is located about 35 miles from UAF's main campus in
Fairbanks. The range launched its first rocket in 1969, since then some 235
major suborbital rockets carrying either scientifc experiments, or payloads
designed to gather research data on mid- to upper-atmosperhic phenomenon
have taken place -- primary research is on Aurora Borealis. In 1991, the
Alaska State Legislature created the Alaska Aerospace Development
Corporation, charged with exploring possibility of using Poker Flat
for commercial space launches.

Several firms have exprssed interest, advantages to Poker Flat include less
government red tape and geographic position for launch of polar orbitting
satellites. Is there more you want to know?

Cheers,
 
Yes, please feel free to use me as a contact for Poker Flat Research
Range and Spaceport Alaska. An even better contact is Kathy
Berry, Information Officer for the UAF Geophysical Institute, (907)
474-7798 (FYGIPUB) or Assoicate Director of theU UAF Geophysical
Insittute Merritt Helfferich, (907) 474-7790,E-mail address is FNMRH.
Thanks for your interest, you must doing something right, I've gotten
two E-Mail inquiries already re: PPoker. 
 
Debra Damron
Public Information Officer
(907) 474-7581.
(907) 474-7581
 
====
full email address is [email protected] or [email protected]
 

From:	US1RMC::"VOLCANO%[email protected]" "VOLCANO" 
        15-AUG-1994 19:11:22.73
To:	Multiple recipients of list VOLCANO 
        <VOLCANO%[email protected]>
CC:	
Subj:	EOS Volcano Team Information on WWW

The NASA Earth Observing System Interdisciplinary Science (EOS IDS)
Volcanology Team is pleased to announce their new World Wide Web
pages available at:

           http://www.geo.mtu.edu/eos/

EOS, a major component of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, is
comprised of a series of satellites planned for launches starting
in 1998 and operating over a 15 year period.  The volcanology team
focuses on the use of satellite remote sensing to study volcanoes.
The title of the investigation is: "A Global Assessment of Active
Volcanism, Volcanic Hazards, and Volcanic Inputs to the Atmosphere
from the Earth Observing System."  The Principal Investigator is
Pete Mouginis-Mark (University of Hawaii).

Information on the Web includes:

  General Introduction
  Team Members and Collaborators
     Current EOS activities and future plans for research
     Sample images demonstrating research
     Recent EOS-related publications
  What Volcanic Phenomena Do We Study Using Remote Sensing?
  Team Data Input Requirements During the EOS Mission
  Educational Outreach Slide Sets
     Surface and atmospheric effects of the 1991 eruption of
       Mt. Pinatubo
     Volcano topography
     Volcanoes and volcanic hazards
  SCI.GEO.EOS Frequently Asked Questions
  Links to related sites
     Michigan Tech. Univ. Information on Volcanoes
     NASA Facts: Volcanoes and Global Climate Change
     NASA EOS Information Server and Project Science Office
     Photographs of the 1992 Eruptions of Spurr Volcano,
       Alaska (USGS Open File Report 93-707)

% ====== Internet headers and postmarks (see DECWRL::GATEWAY.DOC) ======
% Date:         Mon, 15 Aug 1994 10:57:55 MST
% Reply-To: VOLCANO <VOLCANO%[email protected]>
% Sender: VOLCANO <VOLCANO%[email protected]>
% From: Joy Crisp <[email protected]>
% Subject:      EOS Volcano Team Information on WWW