Daily News Wednesday, July 8, 1992 24-hour audio service at 202/755-1788 % STS-50 USML-1 crew landing delayed until tomorrow due to weather; % Spacelab science mission termed a "technological triumph..." % USML-1 pioneered investigations into the role of gravity; % Galileo spacecraft health and performance excellent; % Associate Administrator for Russian Programs announced; The STS-50 United States Microgravity Laboratory-1 crew was waved off from landing at Edwards Air Force Base this morning due to deteriorating weather conditions. Continuous rain showers and cloud cover caused officials to delay the landing until tomorrow. The first landing opportunity at Edwards tomorrow would be at 9:09am EDT. There is an earlier opportunity to land at the Kennedy Space Center tomorrow at 7:43am EDT. While Edwards is currently the favored landing site, the final decision will be made later tonight or very early tomorrow morning. Spacelab activities ended early this morning as Mission Specialist Carl Meade deactivated the Spacelab module and the crew prepared to come home. Although the crew will be on orbit an additional day, it will not reactivate Spacelab. Mission manager Charles Sprinkle called the mission a "technological triumph and a scientific success." USML-1 pioneered investigations into the role of gravity in five basic areas: fluid dynamics, crystal growth, combustion science, biological science and technology demonstration. It introduced several new large experiment facilities designed for multiple users and multiple flights. It demonstrated the efficiency of interactive science in the operation of experiment hardware, as science teams at Spacelab Mission Operations Control in Huntsville sent remote commands to their equipment or worked with scientists in orbit to adjust their experiments on the spot. The end of the mission is said to be just the beginning of scientific discovery for USML-1 experiment teams. Some will pick up experiment samples at the landing site, and many have gathered reams of information to peruse as they decipher the implications of their results. Mission Scientist Donald Frazier said, "We are really looking forward to analyzing the ground-breaking data brought back by USML-1." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Galileo spacecraft was 251 million kilometers (156 million miles) from Earth last week and almost 176 million miles from the Sun. Its speed in orbit is more than 43,000 mph. Last week the spacecraft turned back from its "warming" attitude after spinning in the sunshine for almost two days to warm and expand the antenna tower to help work the stuck ribs free. This week it will turn away from the Sun for about the same period to cool and shrink the tower in the Galileo Project's continuing temperature- cycling program. The spacecraft health and performance have been excellent. Since June, there has been little spacecraft activity other than routine tests and measurements, thermal cycling and cruise science data gathering. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Administrator Dan Goldin has announced the appointment of Samuel W. Keller as Associate Administrator for Russian Programs. The new function is being established within the Office of the Administrator and will give focus to the many programs involving NASA and the former Soviet Union. Mr. Goldin said, "NASA is actively pursuing opportunities for expanded cooperation in space activities with Russia. This area of international cooperation is critical and warrants creation of this new position." Keller has served as Associate Deputy Administrator, NASA Headquarters, since May 1989. In that capacity, he was the focal point for resolving institutional management and policy issues and provided agency leadership on US/Russian cooperative ventures carried out under agreements between the two governments. Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select TV. Note that all events and times may change without notice and that all times listed are Eastern. Live indicates a program is transmitted live. Wednesday, July 8, 1992 Live All day mission coverage. Live 2:00 pm Today in Space report on the progress of the USML-1 mission. Live 3:00 pm Mission status briefing on crew, orbiter and Spacelab systems. (tentative) 9:00 pm Replay of Today in Space program. Thursday, July 9, 1992 Live 1:27 am Deactivation activities to place Spacelab module and experiments in stowed position for end of mission. Live 3:39 am Preparations for deorbit maneuver of Columbia. Live 7:35 am Deorbit maneuver to place Columbia in proper trajectory for landing at Edwards Air Force Base. Live 8:35 am Landing of Columbia at Edwards Air Force Base, California. (Actual landing scheduled 9:09 am EDT) TBD Replay of landing scenes. Live TBD Post-landing press conference from Multi-use Facility at Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards, California. This report is filed daily at noon, Monday through Friday. It is a service of NASA's Office of Public Affairs. The editor is Charles Redmond, 202/453-8425 or CREDMOND on NASAmail. NASA Select TV is carried on GE Satcom F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees West Longitude, transponder frequency is 3960 MegaHertz, audio subcarrier is 6.8 MHz, polarization is vertical.