Despite the tragic loss of the
Space Shuttle Columbia and its crew, a sizeable body of high quality
science data was acquired during the mission for each of the Glenn
payloads. This was possible because ground-based science teams
received experiment results via telemetry while the shuttle was
in orbit. This data and the many scientific papers that will be
published about the science are the enduring legacy of the astronauts
of STS-107.
The Glenn-based experiments are fortunate to be a large part of
this legacy story since most of their data were collected. To
share this “good news” from STS-107, contained below
and in the Photo
and Video Gallery page are the preliminary results
for each Glenn-based experiment, including the following:
- Percentage of Flight Data Acquired for Glenn Experiments
- Mission Status Reports
- Photos (mission control teams, combustion hardware and flames
burned during mission)
- Videos (combustion hardware and flames burned during mission)
Percentage of Flight Data Acquired for Glenn
Experiments:
• Laminar Soot Processes-2 (LSP-2)—50%
The CM-2/LSP Experiment Team obtained important science results
from STS-107. Following a brief struggle with experiment data
and control due to the KU problems of the mission, extra crew
time recouped lost test runs and LSP completed 14 out of 15 planned
runs. The experiment was deemed completely successful. Although
data downlink was difficult, the team managed to downlink sensor
and image data from 7 of the 14 tests (thus the 50% score), along
with partial data from another 7. The PI indicated that the quality
of each of these flames equaled the best quality flames from STS-94,
in which only two flames met the science criteria for a perfect
"paradigm flames" which have identical physical properties
at the same distance along any of the streamlines in the flame,
allowing the PI to extend the mathematical models to the more
practical, turbulent flames found on Earth. Future experiments
similar to LSP planned for ISS have gained valuable insight and
experience from this success.
• Structure of Flame Balls at Low Lewis-number-2
(SOFBALL-2)—65%
The CM-2/SOFBALL Experiment obtained 15 of 15 planned initial
burns, 15 of 15 planned reburns (resparked same mixture), and
also 7 extra reburns on-orbit. Hardware and operations were a
complete success. SOFBALL data return is due to the successful
downlink of all sensor data and Gas Chromatograph files, and many
image files. The data percentage is increased from 50% given earlier
due to the PI Team’s detailed assessment of flame ball positions
vs. time from the downlinked digital video frames. Less than 50%
of the video frames were downlinked, but more combustion tests
(37) were accomplished than planned (30 including reburns) because
of multiple reburn test points (a “data feeding frenzy!”).
Some video frames were acquired from every mixture tested. However,
almost no downlinked video was received from the 3rd camera (narrow
field of view) intended for higher resolution images of the flame
balls. Given the results evaluated thus far, new discoveries and
new space flight records for lean burning combustion have already
been documented by the PI. CM-2/SOFBALL-2 GC data quality exceeded
those of previous flights due to the elimination of residual gases
and the addition of more bake-outs on-orbit.
• Water Mist Fire Suppression Experiment
(Mist)—90%
Water Mist experiment operated nominally after the initial leak
problem was repaired by the astronauts. The team was able to perform
94% of the runs that they had originally planned and approximately
90% of the data were downlinked to the MCC, making it a highly
successful experiment. Important scientific results were obtained
on mist behavior characterization and on suppression and extinguishment
of lean, stoichiometric, and rich flames, as well as on exploratory
suppression tests of near lean-limit flames.
• Critical Viscosity of Xenon-2 (CVX-2)—90%-100%
Critical Viscosity of Xenon (CVX-2) was a complete success, and
the data will aid in the predictions of the flow of new plastics..
The object of the experiment was to rapidly stir Xenon, one of
nature’s simplest fluids.
• Space Acceleration Measurement System-Free
Flyer (SAMS-FF)—60%-90%
SAMS presently has approximately 60% of the data from the mandatory
CM-2 sensor, and another 25-30% (of the CM-2 data) may be available
on a laptop presently stored at JSC. Most (98%) of the non critical
SAMS data was lost, including data to: support MGM, characterize
the SDM, and compare the roll rate sensor against the OARE to
facilitate the development of a next generation quasi-steady low
frequency acceleration measurement system.
• Orbiter Acceleration Research Experiment
(OARE)—90%
OARE collected and down linked approximately 90% of the mandatory
data to support SOFBALL and MIST. The OARE data analysis will
be impacted by the loss of bias data stored on the main unit.
This will affect the accuracy of the OARE data below 10 micro-g.
Also significant is the loss of the unique OARE sensor that was
the flight spare for the MAMS system on ISS.
Mission Status Reports
January
31, 2003
January 30,
2003
January 29,
2003
January 28,
2003
January 27,
2003
January 26,
2003
January 25,
2003
January 24,
2003
January 23,
2003
January 22,
2003
January 21,
2003
January 20,
2003
