Jet Propulsion Laboratory UNIVERSE Pasadena, California - Vol. 24, No. 15 - July 29, 1994 __________________________________________________________________ Moon still glitters for laser-ranging scientists The Legacy of Apollo Last of a three-part series By DIANE AINSWORTH During their brief moon walk 25 years ago, the Apollo 11 astronauts deployed a variety of scientific experiments, including a reflector array--left in the fine powder of the Sea of Tranquility--that continues to measure the moon's orbit around Earth to unprecedented accuracy. Scientists who analyze data from the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment have reported some watershed results from these long- term experiments, said JPL team investigator Dr. Jean Dickey. The team's findings appear in the July 22 issue of Science magazine, which commemorates the silver anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. "Using the Lunar Laser Ranging Experiment, we have been able to improve, by orders of magnitude, measurements of the moon's rotation," Dickey said. "We also have strong evidence that the moon has a liquid core, and laser ranging has allowed us to determine with great accuracy the rate at which the moon is gradually receding from the Earth." The laser ranging retroreflector was positioned on the moon in 1969 by the Apollo 11 astronauts so that it would point toward Earth and be able to reflect pulses of laser light fired from the ground. By beaming laser pulses at the reflector, scientists have been able to determine the round-trip travel time of a laser pulse and provide the distance between these two bodies at any given time down to an accuracy of about 3 centimeters (about 1 inch). The laser reflector consists of 100 fused silica half-cubes, called corner cubes, mounted in a 46-centimeter (18-inch) square aluminum panel. Each corner cube is 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) in diameter. Corner cubes reflect a beam of light directly back toward the point of origin, allowing scientists to measure the Earth-moon separation and study the dynamics of the Earth, the moon and the Earth-moon system. Once the laser ranging experiments began to yield valuable results, more reflectors were left on the moon. A reflector identical to the Apollo 11 mission reflector was left by the Apollo 14 crew, and a larger reflector using 300 corner cubes was placed on the moon by the Apollo 15 astronauts. French-built reflectors were also left on the moon by the unmanned Russian Lunakhod 2 mission. Several observatories have regularly ranged the moon with these reflectors: One is located at McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis, Texas; another is located atop the extinct Haleakala volcano on the island of Maui in Hawaii; another is located in southern France near Grasse. The Lick Observatory in Northern California also has been used in the past for the lunar laser ranging experiments, and ranging programs have been carried out in Australia, Russia and Germany. Despite the difficulty of detecting reflected laser light from the moon, Dickey said that more than 8,300 ranges have been measured during the last 25 years. "Lunar ranging involves sending a laser beam through an optical telescope," she explained. "The beam enters the telescope where the eyepiece would be, and the transmitted beam is expanded to become the diameter of the main mirror and is then bounced off the surface toward the reflector on the moon." The reflectors are too small to be seen from Earth, so even when the beam is precisely aligned in the telescope, actually hitting a lunar retroreflector array is technically challenging. At the moon's surface the beam is roughly four miles wide. Scientists liken the task of aiming the beam to using a rifle to hit a moving dime two miles away. Once the laser beam hits a reflector, scientists at the ranging observatories use extremely sensitive filtering and amplification equipment to detect the return signal, which is far too weak to be seen with the human eye. Even under good atmospheric viewing conditions, only one photon--the fundamental particle of light--will be received every few seconds. The range accuracy of these reflectors has been improved over the lifetime of the lunar laser ranging experiments, the team noted in Science. While the earliest ranges had accuracies of several meters (or several yards), continuing improvements in the lasers and the detection electronics have led to recent measurements that are accurate to about 3 centimeters (about 1 inch). From the ranging experiments, scientists know that the average distance between the centers of the Earth and the moon is 385,000 kilometers (239,000 miles), showing that modern lunar ranges have relative accuracies of better than one part in 10 billion. "This level of accuracy represents one of the most precise distance measurements ever made," Dickey said. "The degree of accuracy is equivalent to determining the distance between Los Angeles and New York to one fiftieth of an inch." Laser ranging has also made possible a wealth of new information about the dynamics and structure of the moon. Among many new observations, scientists now believe that the moon may harbor a liquid core. The theory has been proposed from data on the moon's rate of rotation and very slight bobbing motions caused by gravitational forces from the sun and Earth. Other recent findings from the laser ranging experiments include: -- Verification of Einstein's theory of relativity, which states that all bodies fall with the same acceleration regardless of their mass. -- The length of an Earth day has distinct small-scale variations, changing by about one-thousandth of a second over the course of a year. These changes are caused by the atmosphere, tides and the Earth's core. -- Precise positions of the laser ranging observatories on Earth are slowly drifting as the crustal plates on Earth drift. The observatory on Maui is seen to be drifting away from the observatory in Texas. -- Ocean tides on Earth have a direct influence on the moon's orbit. Measurements show that the moon is receding from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters (1.5 inches) per year. -- Lunar ranging has greatly improved scientists' knowledge of the moon's orbit, enough to permit accurate analyses of solar eclipses as far back as 1400 B.C. Continued improvements in range determinations and the need for monitoring the details of the Earth's rotation will keep the lunar reflector experiments in service for years to come, Dickey stated in her article. "For the immediate future, we have under way the implementation of dramatically increased station computing power, offset guiding capability and hands-off auto guiding," she reported. "The benefits from these improvements will not only be an increased number of normal points spread over significantly more of the lunar phase, but also a significantly increased number of photons within a given normal range. "Farther down the road, we foresee the availability of more precise and more efficient photon detectors, such as micro-channel plates, significantly improved timing systems and shorter-pulse, more powerful lasers," she added. "This will increase data, provide higher accuracy ranging and improve sensitivity to lunar signatures, or conditions brought about by the phases of the moon." The Lab's lunar ranging analysis is carried out by scientists Drs. Dickey, James G.Williams, X X Newhall and Charles F. Yoder. The work is sponsored jointly by the Astrophysics Division of NASA's Office of Space Science and the Solid Earth Science Branch of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth Office. Additional work is done at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics at the University of Colorado at Boulder; at the University of Texas in Austin; and in France. ### __________________________________________________________________ Results of SL9's impacts thrill scientists By KARRE MARINO The impacts may be over, but the aftermath of comet Shoemaker- Levy 9's (SL9) thrilling collision with Jupiter's atmosphere has left astronomers, scientists and amateurs fairly buzzing with excitement. It could hardly have been a more spectacular event--one that "far surpassed astronomers' expectations," according to Dr. Paul Chodas, dynamicist in JPL's Solar Systems Dynamics Group in Section 314, and one that has left us with dramatic images and a wide variety of data to be scrutinized. Indeed, that is SL9's next phase, which the comet's co- discoverer, Eugene Shoemaker, hopes will answer three important questions: How deep into Jupiter's atmosphere did the fragments reach? "We have hints that the fragments deposited their energy high in the atmosphere," he said in a press briefing from Goddard Space Flight Center, July 22, the day the last fragment hit. Knowing this, he said, may help scientists learn what materials comprise comets. "Are they rubble piles or snowballs?" Secondly, Shoemaker wondered if new chemicals had been revealed via spectroscopic observations of the scars the fragments left after impact. Finally, is water present on Jupiter? Shoemaker said that Galileo--which, because of its unique vantage point to the side of Jupiter, was able to make the first direct observations of SL9 impacts--would play a vital role in providing researchers with time histories, including the exact moments of impact. In fact, some data were already available only two days after the first impact, via the spacecraft's photopolarimeter radiometer instrument--a small telescope-like light meter on the spacecraft's scan platform--according to Dr. Terry Z. Martin, science coordinator for the instrument. "The instrument observed Jupiter on July 18 and detected infrared light at a wavelength of 945 nm coming from the impact of the H fragment. Impact time was determined to be UT 19:31:59, and intensity was about 3 percent of the brightness of Jupiter itself. The brightening lasted for 25 seconds." Such a measurement, according to Martin, "will help establish the sequence of events for these impacts, in which an initial meteor flash is followed by a plume of material seen by Earth- based observers. The timing will also permit the Galileo team to pinpoint data being stored on its tape recorder by other instruments, including the camera." This is significant, he explained, "because only a small part of the data recorded can be returned to Earth." Martin said the team had captured data for fragments B, H, L, Q and S, and saw impact flashes for H, L and Q. The impact times measured by the Galileo instrument and the times at which ground- based observers reported seeing plumes are being used to estimate the actual times of the impacts, which will indicate where on the Galileo tape recorder to start reading out the data. The impact times predicted by Chodas and Dr. Don Yeomans, senior research scientist in Section 314, were off by only two to 10 minutes. More cause for amazement has been the scarring of the planet. "The large size and dark color of the impact scars are completely unexpected," Chodas said. "It's spectacular to see the suddenly changed appearance of Jupiter, clearly visible even through small telescopes." He noted that the scars, some of which are two to three times the size of Earth, "are only gradually fading, and may last for months." During the collisions, JPL became the nerve center for Internet access to SL9 images pouring in from observatories worldwide. A collection of 470 images on a Lab computer prompted more than 1 million downloads via the World Wide Web access system in the two weeks around the events. "Ron Baalke of Section 335 deserves kudos for a great deal of time he put into organizing the Shoemaker-Levy access pages on a volunteer basis," said Frank O'Donnell, acting manager of the Public Information Office. ### ________________________________________________________________ JPL to implement leadership training JPL Director Dr. Edward Stone has decided that all JPL managers and supervisors will receive leadership training through "The New Leadership" course developed by Organizational Dynamics Inc., the consulting firm that implemented the Total Quality Advantage course in 1992 and 1993. As reported in the May 20 issue of Universe, a six-session pilot evaluation was run by JPL, whereby more than 100 JPL management and nonsupervisory employees from every Lab Directorate and all levels of the organization took part in the ODI course in order to evaluate the program. Participants also made written comments for improving instructional material and program delivery, according to Susan Stephenson, TQM administrator. Evaluations indicate that "The New Leadership" course (modeled after the New Science metaphor described in the book "Leadership and the New Science") is capable of producing satisfactory and appropriate learning outcomes at JPL after improvements have been made according to Lab specifications, Stephenson said. During its July 8 meeting, the JPL Executive Council discussed desired attributes and behaviors it believes JPL managers and supervisors should develop and exhibit in today's environment of organization culture changes. The list of desired attributes and behaviors identified in the meeting will be used to tailor "The New Leadership" course to JPL's needs. Rollout is estimated for mid-September. "The New Leadership" training sessions are targeted to begin after ODI finishes customizing course material for JPL. An introductory video will be produced in which Stone establishes JPL objectives and expectations for the leadership training program. JPL Professional Development and Staffing Section will administer the program, sponsored by the TQM Office. ODI will facilitate program sessions. ### ________________________________________________________________ First lunar landing saluted By KARRE MARINO JPL served as the site for the first unveiling of the U.S. Postal Service's two new moon landing postage stamps July 20--the 25th anniversary of the first successful Apollo lunar landing. Designed by father and son team of Paul and Chris Calle, the new postage stamps include a 29 cent commemorative stamp showing an astronaut on the surface of the moon, and a $9.95 Express Mail stamp depicting two astronauts on the moon with the Apollo 11 landing module in the background. Pasadena is one of 11 venues to make the new stamps available. The ceremony on the mall, presided over by Chief Engineer John Casani, began with a color guard and featured remarks by Deputy Director Larry Dumas, who noted that Apollo's legacy lives on today as we stand on the brink of a new era of exploration. "By the turn of the century, we will have robotic spacecraft throughout our solar system. "Apollo's legacy is appropriately honored with the issuance of these new U.S. Postal Service stamps, and JPL is delighted to be serving as the venue for first-day distribution in the Pasadena area." Kurt Lindstrom, manager of NASA Management Office at JPL, sounded the theme of global cooperation as man continues to explore space. "While the moon landing was a defining moment and one of man's greatest achievements, new challenges face us. To meet them, we'll have to work with our global partners. We have the chance to redefine the world and build a truly global community in which everyone can participate and gain from the human endeavors of the space program." Pasadena Postmaster Robert M. Mysel thanked the JPL community and saluted "those who made it happen." Dumas and Lindstrom then unveiled the images to an appreciative Lab and local-community crowd. The day also marked the first opportunity to purchase the stamps, which went on sale nationwide July 21. ### ________________________________________________________________ SIR-C science team ready for August launch By MARY HARDIN "A total success." "100% of objectives completed." "Stunning!" Those were just a few of the comments being passed around by the 150 Spaceborne Imaging Radar C/X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar science team members as they convened at JPL last week to share their results from the April flight and prepare for the upcoming mission in August. Project Scientist Dr. Diane Evans had asked her team to address specific questions when presenting results, the most significant of which was how important is the radar's multiparameter capability to the study of ecology, geology, hydrology and oceanography? Speaker after speaker during the four-day conference gave testimony to the fact that the SIR-C/X-SAR multiple frequency, multiple polarization radar system was indeed providing scientists with a valuable new way for studying the Earth. A few of the early results include: -- A map of flooding under the forest canopy in Manaus, Brazil. -- A map of the regrowth of a forest in Landes, France, and land-use classification maps of Raco, Mich. -- A snow wetness map showing the water content of the snow pack on Mammoth Mountain. -- Soil moisture maps of Chickasha, Okla. -- New volcanic features observed in Columbia and Ecuador. The team is confident that additional discoveries will be made as more data from the first flight are processed, and the team begins to acquire a second set of images from the second flight. STS-68 and the second flight of the joint U.S./German/Italian SIR-C/X-SAR is scheduled to be launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Aug. 18. ### ________________________________________________________________ NASA honors group of Lab employees By KARRE MARINO Twenty-one Lab employees have been selected as part of the Manned Flight Awareness Honoree Program, and will receive the Launch Honoree Award--the highest tribute paid by NASA to government and industry workers. The award recognizes sustained excellence in the performance of tasks. The 1994-95 honorees are: Chuck Ames, Section 316; V. Pete Aneiro, Section 357; Noel Burden, Section 397; Grace Fan, Section 671; Jean Fradet, Section 892; John F. Garren, Section 661; Steve E. Halperin, Section 623; Elizabeth Herrera, Section 700; Gerald Humphrey, Section 430; Dr. James P. McGuire, Section 385; Patricia R. McLeod, Section 324; Arlene Minuskin, Section 332; Cheryl T. Montavon, Section 330; Neil Nakamoto, Section 220; Robert J. Niedzialek, Section 648; Wendell G. Packard, Section 343; Tom Ramsey, Section 512; Julia Ruh-Vazquez, Section 611; Bonnie Theberge, Section 348; Flora Wilcox, Section 396; Shirley Wolff, Section 109; and Leslie Berridge, Section 600--chosen as part of the 1993-94 honorees. Nine members of the group--Fan, Fradet, Humphrey, McGuire, McLeod, Minuskin, Nakamota, Wilcox and Berridge--traveled to Kennedy Space Center July 5-8 to receive their accolades, meet with some 30 astronauts, Deputy Director Larry Dumas and more than 300 other honorees and VIPs at a reception in their honor, tour KSC and take their seats in the VIP viewing site to watch the launch of the space shuttle Columbia. The award is significant, as only a small percentage of Lab personnel receives it: Since officially becoming a program participant in 1987--after major payload projects were incorporated into the program--JPL has nominated 156 people, according to Betty Shultz, program coordinator. To be eligible for the program, employees (including contractors) must have significantly contributed beyond their normal work output to shuttle, payload or space station programs; accomplished single specific achievements that have had significant impact on the attainment of a particular shuttle, payload or space station goal; contributed to a major cost savings or a series of lesser cost savings pertaining directly to shuttle, payload or space station systems or missions; been instrumental in developing modifications to shuttle, payload or space station systems or equipment that increases reliability, efficiency, safety or performance; assisted in operational improvements that increase efficiency or performance; or been key players in developing a beneficial process improvement of significant magnitude. Generally, assistant Laboratory director--now directorates-- organizations solicit from divisions, sections and groups the names of deserving individuals, who then become nominees, Shultz said. The directorates make the final decisions on who actually receives a Launch Honoree Award. The program, managed and directed by the astronauts, was formalized after the Mercury and Gemini missions, and has played an integral role in Saturn, Apollo, Skylab and Apollo-Soyoz. Its role is to impress upon NASA and industry employees the importance of their work on flight systems and other critical mission-support tasks that contribute to safe spaceflight. The first nine honorees will be honored at a reception, where they'll receive framed certificates and pins. Laboratory Director Dr. Edward Stone is scheduled to address the honorees. The Manned Flight Awareness Program is directed by the Office of Space Flight at NASA Headquarters. The program's national panel is composed of representatives from most NASA centers, major industry contractors and other participants. Information on these awards can be obtained from Shultz, JPL's program coordinator, at ext. 3-6914. ### ________________________________________________________________ Low-cost wave comes to JPL's mission ops By KARRE MARINO Change is in the air at JPL. That means finding innovative ways to cut costs on projects, salaries, operations and more. Such goals were the driving force behind an on-Lab three-day Low-Cost Mission Operations Workshop, jointly sponsored by the Flight Projects Mission Operations Development Office and the Multimission Operations Systems Office in April, with attendees from a wide range of JPL offices, projects, universities and industry. The resulting changes in mission operations processes are expected to reduce significantly project cost and the number of people working on project teams, according to Gael Squibb, manager, Flight Projects Mission Operations Development Program Office. It seemed clear that such a workshop was necessary in light of the paradigm changes from one of maximizing science to one of acceptable scientific return at the lowest possible operations cost, Squibb noted. "From an operations point of view, JPL has had a reputation of being innovative, maximizing the scientific return and expensive, including having large teams--200 to 300 people--for major complicated missions like Galileo, and Voyager during its primary mission, and Cassini during its initial planning phase," he explained. During the last several years, NASA Code SL has funded JPL to put together a multimissions set of capabilities that can be adapted to various missions, enabling lower operations costs, he said. The workshop focused on the paradigm change and the multimission capabilities. It also allowed managers in Operational science analysis, planning and sequencing, telemetry, and spacecraft analysis to demonstrate to principal investigators what JPL has achieved in the multimission arena with technology that has drastically reduced operations costs, and which, according to Squibb, will "change the way we do operations and lower significantly the number of people required on those teams." Four themes emerged from the meetings, beginning with defining a "standard way to look at operations," said Squibb. "We cited 13 different elements--mission planning and integration; sequence development; mission control; data transport and delivery; navigation; spacecraft planning and analysis; science planning and analysis; archiving and mission database; system engineering, integration and test; computers and communication support; development and maintenance; and management. "When [project managers] consider the operational aspects of the mission, they should think in these terms as sort of a checklist of things that need to be done, and then ascertain whether this mission does or does not need these capabilities." A second theme was the idea of developing an operations concept during the study phase, which enables the team to understand how it will operate the mission, delineate each of the mission's operational characteristics, define the spacecraft payload and how this affects the complexity and staffing of an operations teams, he explained. Thirdly, the meeting participants noted areas of technology for which the Lab is requesting funding and described the "technology that we believe will lower operations cost," he said. "It is important to understand that the technology comprises two areas-- automation of the spacecraft and the processing capabilities on the ground, and the second is in the operability of the spacecraft, implying larger processors, larger memory, and more margins in areas of power and telecommunications," Squibb explained. "In other words, mission operations technology is not only ground processing but it's also the spacecraft's capabilities and operability." As a result of the three days, according to Squibb, a "significant portion of the Lab was brought together to offer concepts and discuss whether or not this is the right way to go, as well as reach a consensus of functions and how to discuss operations concepts with new projects." He noted that the workshop enabled "a broad spectrum of the Lab to understand the current capabilities. The workshop also fostered the discussion of operations approaches and concepts between elements of the Lab involved in operations." Participants were able to present and discuss options with science representatives of potential Discovery missions. As a result, one partnership was formed between JPL and one of the Discovery program's principal investigators. Some 100 industry representatives attended the workshop on the third day, at which time JPL "requested that they contact us with ideas on how to lower costs, use their services to be more competitive or enter into partnerships with us in order to obtain our capabilities and tools," Squibb said. He reported, however, that JPL has not received even one follow-up phone call, prompting him to speculate that industry "perceives JPL's capabilities for planetary exploration as state of the art. Perhaps they used the workshop as an opportunity to understand and to be more competitive in future responses to our proposals." He was surprised but offered that the lack of response also means that "we're on the right track [in terms of cost containment]." Overall, Squibb said "a common understanding of the need to address operational issues early in the studies exists, as does a need to understand the current capabilities--be it in telemetry- processing systems, mission-planning systems, or sequencing systems that exist. We must minimize lifecycle costs by using capabilities that are appropriate and design spacecraft to assure that we can use those existing capabilities." He pointed to two projects that have altered how they design and implement mission-operation functions: "Mars Pathfinder is a good example. They designed the spacecraft's telemetry system to be compatible with the multimission capabilities that the Multimission Operations System Office had. "Pluto Fast Flyby is aggressively looking at new techniques to reduce operations costs by having more spacecraft capability specifically designed to lower these costs. They're sending down average telemetry values during a four-hour period. If there is a problem, you can interrogate the spacecraft to see detailed telemetry measurements. But in general, all they're sending down in standard fashion is the summary data. This saves time and money." While it makes sense to save funds in the early stages, that isn't always possible. "When you cut costs on a mission currently flying, you don't have the ability to design a spacecraft to be more operable. "You must look at different ways to do things on the ground that won't endanger the mission's health and safety but may result in higher risk of a sequence not executing properly in some cases," Squibb advised. "Galileo has looked at their uplink process. They formed a team that investigated ways of reducing costs in the uplink process. The team cut out several of its sequence product reviews based on this analysis." According to Neal Ausman Jr., mission director for Galileo, "We have reduced our costs by $13 million by re-engineering the mission's uplink activities. We eliminated steps in the process, developed both sequence and real-time integration. "We're using new tools to automate some of the steps in the uplink process, which will further contribute to the savings," Ausman said. "We've also reorganized the project," he added. "Since well before launch the sequencing function was done by the engineering element of the flight team. Since the Jupiter tour will be primarily science data- taking and playback, we concluded that the spacecraft sequencing should be placed with the science users. "This eliminates the transfer uplink products between organizational elements of the flight team. The same part of the organization builds and validates each sequence, simplifying it for the overall uplink process." As part of another cost-reduction effort, the Galileo project has decided to reduce staffing during real-time tracking periods. Early in the mission, 10 to 12 system/subsystem-level experts were "on console" for each tracking pass. During future passes, only one system-level expert is required to monitor spacecraft telemetry during each tracking pass. The above examples are very important, but are only examples of a very aggressive operations cost-reduction program undertaken by Galileo. Mission operations and data acquisition budget reductions approved by the project since fiscal year 1993 exceeds $77 million in runout, or more than 20 percent of the cost to go during the prime mission. After its budget was slashed, the Voyager team also sought means by which to decrease operations spending. "We halved our staff--because that was really all we could afford," George Textor, Voyager project manager, admitted. "We changed our organization to uplink and downlink teams. That meant we had to cross-train people to pick up functions that we had to drop. We held onto those subsystem people who were responsible for the three computers on board. "The power subsystem staffer also remained, as did one telecommunications analyst because of the receiver problem we'd had with Voyager 2. Those people who worked on temperature, scan platform, celestial star sensor, sun sensor and radio subsystems were moved out." Textor said that "the project was paying into the multimission system money for three controllers. We gave that up, and instead, cross-trained three team members to do mission-control functions. They were clever, coming up with an innovative way to monitor the spacecraft from home. "Voyager's telemetry system allowed us to put in alarms for measurements. If we go beyond these measurements, a computer goes into alarm. It will call two people at home on their beepers," he explained. Once they're beeped, they dial from their home computer to the computer on Lab. "When the computer answers, the team member enters his password, which tells the computer what number to call back. "The individual configures his computer at home in order to connect to the JPL computer," he said. "He then enters another password that takes him into the AMMOS system." He called these security measures. "The computer only knows those home phone numbers belonging to selected Voyager team members." Once connected to the system, the person "can look at the telemetry." Textor also noted that budget cuts forced Voyager to do less work. "Our goal is to try to do as much as in the past, which means we've had to modify how we do sequencing. We used to do 13 weeks; now we do six months." While team members are doing several jobs, Textor reported that "Everyone likes it. They view it as a challenge to learn something new. "We recognize that the person learning another system won't have the same expertise as the individual he replaced. But we are competent enough to maintain the health of the spacecraft." The Voyager team's responses may portend the future for JPL missions. It is unlikely that funding will ever reach past levels. Squibb sees the challenges--and resulting action--as leaving us in "an exciting position, from an operations point of view," he offered. "Within NASA--and JPL primarily--Code SL is initiating advanced technology demonstrations at a funding level that will start in FY `95. It will seek to demonstrate low-cost mission operations technology, as well as the cost-effectiveness in capabilities of microspacecraft and microspacecraft subsystem capabilities. "For example, a simple spacecraft can be attached to an existing Delta launch. It doesn't have a lot of capabilities, but enough to demonstrate--if funded--laser communication capabilities, process-control capabilities and file transfers." He noted that "cost-effectiveness of operations is leading to technology missions demonstrations that will be of the faster, cheaper, better class, probably less than two years from approval to implementation, which will allow us to demonstrate capabilities that future missions can use. "It is important to understand that technology money is being spent on spacecraft and ground capabilities. This," he maintained, "is the first time money will be spent to develop capabilities on spacecraft specificallyto lower operations costs. "We've always developed capabilities to maximize science return. Now we're in an arena of operability, and it will be as exciting to make a small capable, operable spacecraft for a focused science mission as it is to design spacecraft with 15 instruments and all the interactions and capabilities that make it difficult to fly and expensive to operate. "The approach to flight operations will change drastically in the next five years, with JPL in a position to set standards for how we operate missions reliably with high-quality science return and low operational costs." ### ________________________________________________________________ JPL now recycling fax and printer cartridges JPL is recycling fax, inkjet and Deskjet toner cartridges, the cubelike types found in most plain-paper fax machines and on all ink jet printers. Recycle both the black and color cartridges, according to Taenha Goodrich-Smith, member of JPL's Recycling Process Action Team. Send the cartridges in a JPL interoffice envelope to Stores Building 171; mark it "Fax Cartridge." Call Goodrich-Smith, ext. 4-1973, for information. ### ________________________________________________________________ JPL offers educators look at latest in technology By KARRE MARINO Twenty-two teachers from eight western states paid a two-week visit to JPL as part of the NASA Educational Workshops for Teachers (NEWEST) program for elementary school teachers. Designed to give outstanding educators the opportunity to experience firsthand NASA's state-of-the-art research and development activities, selected teachers spend two weeks at a NASA center, observing scientists and engineers at work and learning about the latest projects, missions and technology. Participants update their knowledge and develop new science curriculum and instructional strategies, according to Gene Vosicky, educational services specialist with JPL's Educational Affairs Office. Teachers from Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Washington attended a variety of presentations by Lab staff, including a JPL mission overview by Kane Casani, manager, Flight Projects Implementation Development Office; an engineering and science overview by Dr. Jim King Jr., director for Engineering and Science; a Shoemaker-Levy-9 briefing by astronomer Dr. Paul Chodas of the Solar Systems Dynamics Group in Section 314; a TAP overview by Dr. Bob Mackin. Teachers also toured the Space Flight Operations Facility, the Project Design Center, the Digital Animation Laboratory, Spacecraft Assembly Facility and the Multimission Imaging Processing Lab. They attended briefings on Magellan and Venus, Galileo, Voyager, Cassini, Mars and the Hubble Space Telescope. Trips to Dryden, Edwards Air Force Base, the Page Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits rounded out the experience. After each day's sessions, teachers spent time discussing what they'd seen and learned. "We call it translation and integration," Vosicky explained. "It's important that they share ideas and have a chance to synthesize what they've seen and how it can be used in the classroom. In many cases, when a topic was covered, ways to utilize the information was also presented. For instance, when discussing comets, Randii Wessen also demonstrated how to build one." Teachers also keep a workshop log, noting experiences and objectives, according to Vosicky. They must also prepare a plan for teacher in-servicing. Completing a plan for a public awareness program to be presented to schools and community groups is also required. "This program helps make school a more real place," said Vosicky. "We want educators"--who will in turn share with their students--"to see how engineering and science are used in the real world of work. Hopefully this understanding is translated to students, who will see these kinds of jobs as something to aim for." He added that when JPL scientists and engineers are asked to remember at what age they knew they wanted to be scientists and engineers, "the majority knew in elementary school. Some admit to being late bloomers--they realized it in junior high. In many instances, it was one teacher who helped them along." Vosicky sees a "great need for professionals working in the field to work with teachers, especially in science. We find that many instructors are frightened of the course. If they must teach it, they generally do so in a cursory fashion, relying heavily on textbooks. That could turn off any student." NEWEST should hopefully change such a trend. JPL's workshop facilitator was Peter McCloskey; the National Science Teachers Association coordinator was Nel Graham. NEWEST and NEWMAST (NASA Educational Workshop for Mathematics, Science and Technology Teachers)--designed for grades seven through 12-- were implemented in 1985 and are co-sponsored by NASA and the NSTA in cooperation with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the International Technology Education Association.### __________________________________________________________________ Editor, Mark Whalen Assistant Editor, Karre Marino Photos, JPL Photo Lab Universe is published every other Friday by the Public Affairs Office of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.