ELV Updates
Upcoming launch schedules have been revised. The
TDRS-J is now first in line, but not until November. NASA and Lockheed Martin have agreed on a three-week postponement of the launch to accommodate final Atlas/Centaur (AC-144) launch vehicle assembly work.

Launch date for the GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer) spacecraft aboard a Pegasus XL rocket is now under review. Planned hardware and software changes to the spacecraft's logic unit were implemented and testing and data analysis is underway.

SORCE (Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment), another Pegasus launch, is scheduled for Dec. 1.

NASA and The Law
JSC's Image Science and Analysis Group specializes in making quantitative meas-urements and qualitative enhancements of imagery for pro-grams like the Space Shuttle, the Space Station and the Hubble Space Telescope. This same image analysis can also be applied to forensic analysis. Recently, they were able to use their expertise to help law enforcement agencies by enhancing photos and videos of crime scenes. The Friendswood, Calif., Police Department and the Pasadena Arson Division came to NASA for help. NASA researchers captured still images and digital movies from videotapes provided by investigators and performed enhancements of that imagery to bring out details that were not readily apparent in the original.

"Our enhancements of the original imagery helped these law enforcement agencies obtain indictments and even confessions from suspects," said Mike Snyder, Lockheed Martin project manager for the JSC Image Science and Analysis Group confession."

Education Opportunities
1) The Florida Space Institute is offering a new course in Rocket Propulsion Technology at the Center for Space Education located next to the KSC Visitor Complex. The course will include the principle of rocketry; solid, liquid and hybrid rocket stages; specific impulse computations; fuel and thrust calculations; nose cone and nozzle designs; and ignition systems. Contact Bob Petty or Carol Cox at (321) 452-9834 ext. 201, or visit the web site at http://fsi.ucf.edu.

2) The popular Master of Science in Engineering Management program offered at KSC by the University of Central Florida Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems will continue for all employees at KSC and the Cape Canaveral Air force Station. Applica-tions are being accepted for the next class that starts in the Fall 2002 semester. Applications packets are available from the UCF Division of Continuing Education. Please call Amy Wedel, (407)882-0241, or Carol Cox (321) 452-9904) for an application. Information sessions will be held at AMF, Center for Continuing Education, ESI-A. Date and time will be announced later.

Nutrition Tip from KSC Fitness Center
Leisurely eaten meals are better for you! Many people who habitually overeat consume their food very quickly and take large bites. Many digestive problems like heartburn seem to crop up or worsen with weight gain. Eating more slowly will not only improve digestion and possibly improve health, but eating mindfully will allow you to appreciate what you are eating, as well as helping you to practice portion control and to stop eating when you feel satisfied.

Did You Know. . .
The Shuttle's two solid rockets consume 10 tons of fuel each second at launch, producing 44 million horsepower.

KSC Countdown is published Tuesdays & Thursdays. Deadlines: 10 a.m. Mondays & Wednesdays. Send information, comments or questions to: E-mail -- Anita.Barrett-1@ksc.nasa.gov Telephone -- 867-2815