NASA Daily News Summary
For Release: Dec. 17, 1999
Media Advisory m99-260


SUMMARY:

YOUNG TO LEAD MARS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT TEAM

GALILEO SEES DAZZLING LAVA FOUNTAIN ON IO


Video:

NOTE: DUE TO STS-103 LAUNCH COVERAGE, THE VIDEO FILE TODAY WILL
RUN AT NOON ONLY.


ALL TIMES EASTERN

Video File for Dec. 17, 1999

ITEM 1 - DAZZLING LAVA FOUNTAIN ON IO SEEN BY GALILEO - JPL

ITEM 2 - TERRA MISSION PRE-LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS
         - GSFC (replay from Nov. 23, 1999)

ITEM 3 - SCIENCE STORIES FROM LANDSAT - GSFC (replay)

ITEM 4 - HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING MISSION VIDEO -
         STS-103 (replay)


Live Television Events This Week:

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

December 18, Saturday
*9:30 - 11:30 am - Live Commentary and Launch Coverage for
Terra Mission - Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
*11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Switch back to Space Shuttle coverage if
STS-103 launches on Friday, Dec. 17.
*12:30 - 2:15 pm - Resume Live Commentary and Launch Coverage for
Terra Mission - Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
*1:33 pm - Terra Mission Launch - Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA


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


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



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


YOUNG TO LEAD MARS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT TEAM

A. Thomas Young has been named by NASA Administrator Daniel S.
Goldin to chair the Mars Program Independent Assessment Team which
will review the agency's approach to robotic exploration of Mars
in the wake of the recent loss of the Mars Polar Lander mission.


Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  Doug Isbell (Phone
202/358-1753).

For full text, see:
ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1999/99-147.txt


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


GALILEO SEES DAZZLING LAVA FOUNTAIN ON IO

During a recent close flyby of Jupiter's moon Io, NASA's Galileo
spacecraft observed a fiery lava fountain shooting more than a
mile above the moon's surface.  The images, showing a curtain of
lava erupting within a giant volcanic crater, will be unveiled
today during the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting in San
Francisco.  Galileo took the pictures on Thanksgiving night,
November 25.  These lava fountains were hot enough and tall enough
to be observed by the NASA Infrared Telescope atop Mauna Kea, HI.
By combining data from this telescope and Galileo observations,
scientists have their best chance ever to pin down temperatures of
the extremely hot lava on Io.

Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  Doug Isbell (Phone
202/358-1753).
Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA:  Jane
Platt (Phone 818/354-5011).

For full text, see:
ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1999/99-148.txt

See http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/pictures/io

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



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. 17, 1999


ITEM 1 - DAZZLING LAVA FOUNTAIN ON IO SEEN BY GALILEO - JPL

A fiery lava fountain shooting more than a mile above the surface
of Jupiter's volcanic moon Io has been captured by the camera
onboard NASA's Galileo spacecraft during a recent close flyby.
The images, showing a curtain of lava erupting within a giant
volcanic crater, will be unveiled today during the American
Geophysical Union's fall  meeting in San Francisco.  Galileo took
the pictures on Thanksgiving night, November 25.

The new Io images are available at (as of noon today):
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/pictures/io

Contact at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA:  Jane
Platt (Phone 818/354-5011).
Contact at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC:  Doug Isbell (Phone
202/358-1753).



ITEM 2 - 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 2a - 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 2b - 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 2c - 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 2d - 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 2e - 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 2f - 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 2g - 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 2h - 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 2i - 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 2j - 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 2k - TERRA SATELLITE B-ROLL--------------------------TRT  :30

Engineers work on Terra in the clean room at Lockheed-Martin,
Valley Forge, PA.


ITEM 2l - EARTH SCIENTISTS AT WORK------------------------TRT  :35

B-Roll of Earth Scientists


ITEM 2m - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT  :54

Yoram Kaufman, Terra Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center, Greenbelt, MD.


ITEM 2n - INTERVIEW EXCERPTS------------------------------TRT 1:35

Jon Ransom, Terra Deputy Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.


ITEM 2o - 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 2p - 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 2q - 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 2r - 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 2s - 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 2t - 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 2u - 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 2v - 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 2w - 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 2x - 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 2y - 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 2z - 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 3 - SCIENCE STORIES FROM LANDSAT - GSFC (replay)

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 3a - 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 3b - 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 3c - 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 3d - 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 3e - 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 4 - HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE SERVICING
         MISSION VIDEO - STS-103 (replay)


ITEM 4a - 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 4b - CREW TRAINING----------------------------------TRT 13:00


ITEM 4c - MISSION ANIMATION-------------------------------TRT 3:00


ITEM 4d - 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 4e - 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.
and midnight Eastern Time.

NASA Television is available on GE-2, transponder 9C at 85 degrees
West longitude, with vertical polarization. Frequency is on 3880.0
megahertz, with audio on 6.8 megahertz.

Refer general questions about the video file to NASA Headquarters,
Washington, DC: Ray Castillo, 202/358-4555, or Elvia Thompson,
202/358-1696, elvia.thompson@hq.nasa.gov

During Space Shuttle missions, the full NASA TV schedule will
continue to be posted at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/nasatv/schedule.html

For general information about NASA TV see:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv/


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


Contract Awards

Contract awards are posted to the NASA Acquisition information
Service Web site: http://procurement.nasa.gov/EPS/award.html


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


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

end of daily news summary