Subj:	KENT READ THIS ...[Fwd: (meteorobs) Fwd: DEEP SPACE 1 MISSION STATUS]
Date:	98-10-26 14:02:19 EST
From:	zodiac1@bellsouth.net (Joseph DiVito)

                       DEEP SPACE 1 MISSION STATUS
                               October 24, 1998


Deep Space 1, the first spacecraft in NASA's New Millennium Program
of missions to flight-test new technologies, blasted into space at
8:08 a.m. Eastern time today from Cape Canaveral Air Station, FL. 

Deep Space 1 separated from the Delta II launch vehicle about 550
kilometers (345 miles) above the Indian Ocean and was sent on its
way to test 12 technologies in coming months. The spacecraft is on
a trajectory to fly by asteroid 1992 KD in July 1999, allowing
further validation of two science instruments. 

All critical spacecraft systems, such as power, temperature and
attitude control were performing well, the spacecraft team reported
from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Two technologies --
large solar arrays and a new radio transmitter/receiver -- were
validated within the first two hours after launch. "The Deep Space 1
spacecraft is in fine health and is ready to begin its mission of
technology validation," said Deputy Mission Manager Dr. Marc Rayman
at JPL. 

Telemetry was received from the spacecraft through NASA's Deep Space
Network at 1 hour, 37 minutes after launch, and 13 minutes later it was
determined that the spacecraft's two solar arrays had been deployed. A key
new technology, the spacecraft's ion engine, will be tested for the first
time in approximately two weeks. 

The New Millennium Program is designed to test new technologies so
that they can be confidently used on science missions of the 21st century.