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Friday, June 1, 1990                 Audio Service:  202/755-1788
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This is NASA Headline News for Friday, June 1........

Kennedy Space Center ground crews are working around the clock to 
check the fuel leak in the orbiter Columbia's main propulsion 
system.  Preliminary visual inspections of the 17-inch disconnect 
area to isolate the leak did not identify the problem.  Although 
the first low pressure leak checks were performed with the valve 
open, no leaks were detected.  Technicians will be draining the 
on-board tanks of propellants and the payload bay doors will be 
opened to allow workers access to service the Astro-1 payload.

                            ********

Administrator Richard Truly yesterday announced that NASA has 
launched an Outreach Program.  The goal is to explore new and 
innovative ideas, systems and technologies as well as alternate 
architectures to carry out the nation's Space Exploration 
Initiative.  Former astronaut U.S.A.F. Lt. General Thomas 
Stafford will lead a three-pronged approach to search for 
technologies to construct missions to the moon and Mars.

                            ********

The Soviet Kristall module, which is scheduled to dock with the 
Mir on June 6, will become a permanent fixture to the orbiting 
station.  According to Space Fax Daily, it has a special docking 
port designed to accommodate the Soviet Union's Buran Space 
Shuttle.  The orbiter is scheduled to fly to the space station 
sometime next year.
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The People's Republic of China plans to build a satellite 
communication network for Burma, according to Via Satellite.  
China will be providing the country with a satellite receiving 
and broadcasting system worth $16.52 million by late November.

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According to a PR Newswire report, Arianespace announced that it 
has signed a contract with the French Space Agency to launch the 
Helios, a military Earth observation satellite.  Helios will be 
jointly developed with Italy and Spain.  It will be launched into 
a sun-synchronous orbit in 1993.  

                            ********

In 1996, the Japanese plan to explore the moon.  Japan's 
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science next month is 
expected to propose a $100 million mission to explore the moon 
with probes that would penetrate the lunar soil.  






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Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA 
Select TV.  All times are Eastern.


Friday, June 1.........

        4:30-8:30 P.M.     Delta II/ROSAT launch coverage
                           at KSC.


Wednesday, June 6, 

        2:00 P.M.          Voyager I Solar System "Family
                           Portrait" news conference.


Thursday, June 7

       11:30 A.M.          NASA Update will be transmitted.





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All events and times are subject to change without notice.  These 
reports are filed daily, Monday through Friday, at 12:00 Noon, 
EDT.  This is a service of the Internal Communications Branch, 
NASA HQ.  Contact: JSTANHOPE on NASAmail or at 202/453-8425.
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NASA Select TV:  Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, C-Band 72 Degrees 
West Longitude, Audio 6.8, Frequency 3960 MHz.
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