NASA Daily News Summary

For Release: Dec. 16, 1999

Media Advisory m99-259

SUMMARY:

No Press Releases Today.

Video:

Today's video file runs approximately 1 hour, 35 minutes.

The news conference on the delay of STS-103 will replay

immediately following the 3:00 p.m. video file and will repeat in
that sequence throughout the day. Video file will run at 3:00
p.m., 6:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m., and midnight.

Video File for Dec. 16, 1999

ITEM 1 - TERRA MISSION PRE-LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS

- GSFC (replay from Nov. 23, 1999)

ITEM 2 - SCIENCE STORIES FROM LANDSAT - GSFC

ITEM 3 - SOLAR MAX - MSFC (REPLAY)

ITEM 4 - CHANDRA X-RAY TELESCOPE VIEWS SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION

(REPLAY)

ITEM 5 - HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING MISSION VIDEO -

STS-103 (replay)

Live Television Events This Week:

December 16, Thursday

*2:00 pm - (immediately following Terra launch coverage) - STS-103
Shuttle Lauch Delay Briefing - KSC (Questions from KSC only)

December 17, Friday

*3:30 pm - Live Commentary and Launch Coverage of the Hubble Space
Telescope Servicing Mission - STS-103 - KSC
*8:47 pm - Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission Launch - STS-
103 - KSC

----------------------

Subject: Live Shots on NASA Virtual Airport Tower Dec. 21, 1999

To: Assignment Editors and Morning News Producers

From: Laura Lewis 650/604-2162, pager 650/317-0551

NASA Ames Research Center

Airline passengers will soon benefit from NASA FutureFlight

Central, the world¹s first full-scale virtual airport-control
tower located at NASA Ames Research Center. Opened for business
on Dec. 13, 1999, NASA FutureFlight Central is a world-class
research facility dedicated to addressing the future needs of the
nation¹s airports. It is designed to test-under realistic
airport conditions and configurations--ways to solve potential air
and ground traffic problems at commercial airports.

The new facility will benefit airline passengers by providing

safer air travel with fewer airport delays and greater cost
efficiencies.

NASA FutureFlight Central uses supercomputers and twelve rear-

projections video screens to provide a seamless, 360-degree high-
resolution view of an airport from the control tower. The
facility can be configured to provide realistic views of any
airport in the world--either existing or under construction--under
all weather and seasonal conditions. Real people interact during
live-action simulations to test new technologies, fine-tune
airport operations, and evaluate airport improvements under risk-
free conditions.

For more information about how this exciting new NASA technology
will benefit your viewers, interview Yuri Gawdiak, NASA Systems
Manager, or Nancy Dorighi, NASA FutureFlight Central facility
manager. Yuri will be available from 5:00 - 8:00 a.m. EST (2:00 -
5:00 a.m. PST) and Nancy will be available from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
EST (5:00 - 7:00 a.m. PST) on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Interviews will
be live from NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Ask Yuri or Nancy:
* What is NASA FutureFlight Central?
* How will the new facility benefit air travelers?
* In what ways can airports and airlines benefit from
the new facility?
* What are the other uses for the facility?

Contact Laura Lewis at 650/604-2162 to book an interview window on

December 21.

Further information about the facility can be found at:

http://ffc.arc.nasa.gov

*****************************

If NASA issues any news releases later today, we will e-

mail summaries and Internet URLs to this list.

Index of 1999 NASA News Releases:

http://www.nasa.gov/releases/1999/index.html

*****************************

Video File for Dec. 16, 1999

ITEM 1 - TERRA MISSION PRE-LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS-----approx. TRT

31:50
- GSFC (replay from Nov. 23, 1999)

Contact at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD: Allen

Kenitzer (Phone 301/286-2806).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

URL: http://terra.nasa.gov

ITEM 1a - TERRA, THE EOS FLAGSHIP-------------------------TRT 2:00

NASA will launch and deploy the "flagship" to the Earth Observing
System (EOS) series of satellites, part of a precedent setting
program designed to provide daily information on the health of the
Planet. Terra will be the most comprehensive tool ever launched
for scientific studies of our home planet.

ITEM 1b - TERRA INSTRUMENT SYNERGY------------------------TRT :40

Terra is uniquely designed to be an Earth-observing laboratory

with onboard research instruments that can be used both
independently and cooperatively.

ITEM 1c - TERRA LOOKS CLOSELY AT EARTH--------------------TRT :43

Montage of instrument swaths and key science objectives for each

of the five instruments on Terra. The instruments (in order) are
ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection
Radiometer), CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System),
MISR (Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer), MODIS (MODerate-
resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer), and MOPITT (Measurements of
Pollution in the Troposphere).

ITEM 1d - TERRA LAUNCH AND DEPLOY ANIMATION---------------TRT

1:23

An Atlas II rocket will hoist the Terra satellite into orbit from
Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA.

ITEM 1e - TERRA SCIENCE OBJECTIVES------------------------TRT :52

Terra begins a new generation of Earth science--one that studies

the Earth's land, oceans, air, ice and life as a total global
system. Terra will help us to understand how the complex coupled
Earth system of air, land water and life is linked.

ITEM 1f - TERRA SCIENCE OBJECTIVES------------------------TRT :28

Terra will simultaneously study clouds, water vapor aerosol

particles, trace gases terrestrial and ocean properties, the
interaction between them, and their effect on atmospheric
radiation and climate. Data sets in visualization: Earth as seen
by Galileo spacecraft, radiant energy, vegetation anomalies,
temperature, fires, aerosols, clouds, methane, water vapor, and
global biosphere.

ITEM 1g - TERRA SCIENCE OBJECTIVES------------------------TRT :32

Terra will help scientists to examine the Earth as one integrated

system by looking closely and examining the major spheres of its
environment--the biosphere, aerosols, radiant energy, air
pollution, temperature, and water vapor.

ITEM 1h - TERRA SCIENCE OBJECTIVES--VEGETATION------------TRT :58

Terra will help monitor biospheric productivity and will detect

subtle changes in forest and ocean ecosystems.

1. Global Biosphere
2. Changes in Vegetation Index

ITEM 1i - TERRA SCIENCE OBJECTIVES--AEROSOLS--------------TRT 1:01

Terra carries sensors that will measure aerosol amounts over land
and ocean, as well as particle size and composition. Aerosols
come from dust storms, forest and grassland fires, volcanoes,
living vegetation, and sea spray. Human activities, such as the
burning of fuels and changing the land's surface cover, also
generate aerosols.

1. Aerosols Maps
2. Global Fires

ITEM 1j - TERRA SCIENCE OBJECTIVES--HEAT FLOW & CLIMATE---TRT

2:26

The Earth's climate is governed by a balance between sunlight that

reaches the Earth and heat that is radiated back into space.
Terra will help scientists monitor this delicate balance and
better understand the relationship between greenhouse gases, cloud
cover and long-term climate change.
 1. Radiation Budget
2. Water Vapor
3. Methane
4. Global Temperatures
5. 1997-98 El Nino

ITEM 1k - TERRA SATELLITE B-ROLL--------------------------TRT :30

Engineers work on Terra in the clean room at Lockheed-Martin,

Valley Forge, PA.

ITEM 1l - EARTH SCIENTISTS AT WORK------------------------TRT :35

B-Roll of Earth Scientists

ITEM 1m - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT :54

Yoram Kaufman, Terra Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight

Center, Greenbelt, MD.

ITEM 1n - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT 1:35

Jon Ransom, Terra Deputy Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space

Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

ITEM 1o - TERRA INSTRUMENTS--ASTER-----------------------TRT 1:27

ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection

Radiometer) will measure snow and ice distribution, vegetation
types, rock and soil properties, surface temperatures, and cloud
properties.

Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA: Diane

Ainsworth (Phone 818/354-5011).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1p - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT :24

Simon Hook, ASTER Project Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, CA.

Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA: Diane

Ainsworth (Phone 818/354-5011).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1q - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT 1:49

Ann Kahle, ASTER U.S. Science Team Leader, Jet Propulsion

Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA: Diane

Ainsworth (Phone 818/354-5011).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1r - TERRA INSTRUMENTS--CERES-----------------------TRT 1:08

CERES (Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System) will study the
radiation balance on Earth; how much heat is absorbed and
reflected from the Earth's surface to the top of the atmosphere.
By collecting data on how different cloud formations absorb or
reflect various amounts of energy, scientists can develop new
predictive models about weather systems and how the Earth
maintains its delicate balance in temperature.

Contact at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA: H.

Keith Henry (Phone 757/864-6120/24).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1s - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT :22

Bruce Wielicki, CERES Principal Scientist, NASA Langley Research

Center, Hampton, VA.

Contact at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA: H.

Keith Henry (Phone 757/864-6120/24).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).
ITEM 1t - TERRA INSTRUMENTS--MISR-------------------------TRT 1:45

MISR's (Multi-Angled Spectroradiometer) cameras will allow

scientists to produce stereoscopic (3-D) images of clouds and
aerosol structures. The detailed analysis will help determine how
sunlight behaves and how it interacts as it passes through Earth's
environment. MISR will also monitor long term trends in
pollution, aerosols, cloud heights, and distribution of land
surface cover.

Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA: Diane

Ainsworth (Phone 818/354-5011).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1u - MISER B-ROLL------------------------------------TRT :33

B-Roll of MISR (Multi-Angled Spectroradiometer).

Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA: Diane

Ainsworth (Phone 818/354-5011).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1v - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT :33

David Diner, MISER Principal Investigator, Jet Propulsion

Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA: Diane

Ainsworth (Phone 818/354-5011).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1w - TERRA INSTRUMENTS--MODIS------------------------TRT :53

MODIS (MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) will measure

cloud cover and aerosol concentrations on a global scale so that,
with CERES and MISR data, scientists can gauge the effects on the
Earth's radiation budget. MODIS will study surface temperatures
(including fire detection), ocean sediment, phytoplankton
concentrations, vegetation maps, land cover changes, pollution,
and snow cover.

Contact at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD: Allen

Kenitzer (Phone 301/286-2806).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1x - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT 1:09

Jim Collatz, Terra Associate Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space

Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.

Contact at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD: Allen

Kenitzer (Phone 301/286-2806).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1y - TERRA INSTRUMENTS--MOPITT-----------------------TRT 1:03

MOPITT (Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere) will measure

carbon monoxide and methane levels in the lower atmosphere. By
studying where these atmospheric gases are concentrated, how they
circulate through the atmosphere, and how they form, scientists
hope to gain a more complete picture about how atmosphere
pollution interacts and affects our environment.

Contact in Canada: Marion Neiman (Phone 613/990-8622).

Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).

ITEM 1z - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT :24

James Drummond, Professor, University of Toronto, Canada

Contact in Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Marion Neiman (Phone 613/990-

8622).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: David E. Steitz
(Phone 202/358-1730).
ITEM 2 - SCIENCE STORIES FROM LANDSAT - GSFC

Contact at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD: Wade

Sisler (Phone 301/286-6256).

SYNOPSIS: The final in a unique series of Earth observing

satellites is hard at work cataloguing and analyzing the land
surface of the planet it orbits. From an altitude of 438 miles,
Landsat 7 is able to see features as small as 15 meters, providing
worldwide land resource information for a diverse range of uses.
The satellite is part of a global research effort called the Earth
Science Enterprise, which seeks to acquire a long term
understanding of the changes to our planet.

ITEM 2a - CITIES FROM SPACE

In the following collection of cities seen from space, notice how

clearly Landsat 7's highly sensitive Extended Thematic Mapper Plus
is able to resolve features like roads, buildings and natural
features. The cities shown are San Francisco, Rome, Paris, and New
York. Prior to the San Francisco fly-over, we show you how
Landsat's sensors break down light into various bands of
sensitivity, and how those bands might be assembled to provide
different views of a given area.

ITEM 2b - SEDIMENTATION ALONG THE COAST: LANDSAT

The devastating floods in North Carolina caused by Hurricanes

Floyd, Irene, and a series of heavy rain storms highlight Landsat
7's ability to resolve subtle gradations in surface features.
Here the satellite captures the massive flow of sedimentation and
waste runoff in areas most affected by flooding. Notice the dark
coloration in the engorged waterways, indicating heavy
concentrations of organic material that has been washed into the
water system.

ITEM 2c - BOLIVIAN DEFORESTATION

This time lapse series of images comes from Landsat 7's

predecessor, Landsat 5. Over a period of ten years, the
satellite's sensors measured the growing patterns of regional
clear cutting across wide tracts of South American forest.

ITEM 2d - LANDSAT 7 NATIONAL TOUR OF GRAND SPACES

Recent visualizations generated from Landsat 7 data depict a

number of U.S. national parks and other prominent locations in
spectacular detail. The images displayed here are overlaid on
terrain maps, showing peaks, valleys, water, and human made
structures as viewed from space.

A.) Death Valley

B.) Mt. St. Helens (two views)
C.) Yellowstone
D.) Yosemite
E.) The Everglades
F.) Pacific Peaks (A virtual tour of the Pacific Northwest
mountains, ending in Seattle)

ITEM 2e - SPACECRAFT ASSEMBLY, LAUNCH, AND ANIMATIONS

Landsat 7 is the final in a series of satellites. It roared into

orbit aboard a Boeing Delta II rocket, launched on April 15, 1999
from Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. Managed and developed by
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, Lockheed Martin
constructed Landsat 7 at their facility in Valley Forge, PA. Data
is available to researchers through a browsable internet
interface, and can be delivered at a relatively low cost to users.

ITEM 3 - SOLAR MAX----------------------------------------TRT 9:47

Contact at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL:

Steve Roy (Phone 205/544-0034).

ITEM 3a - SOLAR CYCLE TO REACH MAXIMUM IN YEAR 2000-------TRT

4:40

The recent increase in solar flares activity offers a taste of

things to come as the Sun approaches the maximum of its 11-year
sunspot cycle. Solar flares may have the potential to interfere
with satellites and power systems. NASA scientists are studying
the solar maximum cycle and making predictions about the potential
effects of our Sun.

Items include: (in this order):

Solar Cycle animation
Sunspot Averages Chart
Sunspot Position Chart
Solar Magnetic Field Chart
Solar Flare Images
Solar Data Collecting Domes, MSFC
Solar Telescope
Dome doors opening
Sun shots

ITEM 3b - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT 4:10

David Hathaway, NASA Scientist, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center,

Huntsville, AL

ITEM 4 - CHANDRA X-RAY OBSERVATORY-(replay)--------------TRT :20

VIEWS SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION

Chandra Observation of Supernova SN1999em--In late October of

1999, a supernova was detected in NGC 1637, a spiral galaxy that
is 25 million light years from Earth. Chandra observed the
supernova twice soon after the explosion. X rays, shown by
contours overlaid on an optical image, were detected from three-
million-degree gas produced by the supernova. An X-ray source in
the center of the galaxy was also detected.

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: Palomar Observatory Digital

Sky Survey

Contact at Chandra X-ray Observatory Center, Harvard-Smithsonian

Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA: Dr. Wallace Tucker (Phone
617/496-7998).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC: Donald Savage
(Phone 202/358-1547).

http://www1.msfc.nasa.gov/NEWSROOM/news/releases/1999/99-296.html
ITEM 5 - HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING
MISSION VIDEO - STS-103 (replay)

ITEM 5a - CREW ARRIVAL------------------------------------TRT 8:00

The crew arrives at the Kennedy Space Center.

Commander Curtis L. Brown
Pilot Scott J. Kelly
Jean-Francois Clervoy
Steven L. Smith
C. Michael Foale
John M. Grunsfeld
Claude Nicollier

ITEM 5b - CREW TRAINING----------------------------------TRT 13:00

ITEM 5c - MISSION ANIMATION-------------------------------TRT 3:00

5d - REPLACING HUBBLE'S SKIN

Contact at NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH: Pam Caswell

(Phone 216/433-5795).

Cut #1 - Studying Surfaces of Material Retrieved from-----TRT 2:27

Hubble Space Telescope

Description B-roll shows NASA Glenn Research Center researcher

Kim deGroh examining material retrieved from the second Hubble
servicing mission with a scanning electron microscope.

Cut #2 - Retrieved Material Brittleness Demonstration ----TRT 2:16

Description B-roll shows NASA Glenn Research Center researcher

Joyce Dever bending and crimping multilayer insulation outer layer
material. The new, or unexposed, material bends but does not
crack. The piece retrieved from the second Hubble servicing
mission cracks (shown by the sharp crease).
Cut #3 - Interview Excerpts------------------------------TRT 1:31

Joyce Dever, Materials Engineer, NASA Glenn Research Center,

Cleveland, OH

Cut #4 - Interview Excerpts------------------------------TRT 2:09

Kim deGroh, Materials Engineer, NASA Glenn Research Center,

Cleveland, OH

Cut #5 - Multilayer insulation Blanket Repair-------------TRT 1:31

During Hubble Servicing Mission 2

Description B-roll shows repair of large tears in the blanket's

outer layer during the on-orbit repair of the Hubble Space
Telescope on STS-82 in February 1997.

ITEM 5e - MISSION B-ROLL---------------------------------TRT 11:38

-----------------------------

Unless otherwise noted, ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN.

ANY CHANGES TO THE 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.
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Refer general questions about the video file to NASA Headquarters,

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During Space Shuttle missions, the full NASA TV schedule will
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*****************************

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end of daily news summary