European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 6 a the stars and stripes wednesday april 24, 1991 / Washington a the Hubble space Telescope is a i year old suffering with problems of old age it s nearsighted it trembles in the morning and has a balance problem. Nonetheless the $1.5 billion Telescope is expanding human knowledge of the vast universe startling astronomers with its vision. Engineers Hope its contributions will increase in 1993 when a repair Mission is scheduled for com Pic Tion. A. A a a a a a a thursday Marks one year since the i Bubble was launched from the cargo Bay of space shuttle discovery. The Telescope had been launched with promises that it would look farther into space than any other instrument recording scenes from the very Edge of the universe. / the National aeronautics and space administration said the Craft held Hope of measuring the size of the universe of finding unknown planets in Distant solar systems and of probing inner secrets of stars galaxies and Black holes. Those Hopes within months turned to despair. In putting the Hubble through an engineering checkout Nasa officials discovered that the telescopes main Mirror had been Cut to the wrong prescription. In effect the most sophisticated astronomy instrument Ever put into orbit was nearsighted. Since those dark Days of last summer experts have Learned that although the Hubble is not As Sharp sighted As they had hoped the space Telescope is still very Good. Orbiting above the distorting effects of the atmosphere Hubble routinely sees objects More clearly than any astronomy instrument before it though some ground based telescopes come close on exceptional nights. De Weiler the Hubble a chief scientist at Nasa said that although the Telescope has lost two magnitudes of Resolution for very faint objects it is still Able to see Bright stars As clearly As experts had expected. It just has to focus for a longer period. In addition to the Mirror problem Hubble also suffers from what Weiler Calls a the each time the spacecraft orbits through a Dawn or Sunset a solar panel warms from the heat of the Sun or cools in darkness. The result is a Thermal expansion or contraction that sends shudders through the Craft. In effect Hubble has morning and nighttime tremors that last about eight minutes. These tremors cause Hubble a precision aim to waver slightly Weiler said. A instead of hitting a dime at 200 Miles the accuracy expected we Are hitting a pizza pie Quot he said noting that he was referring to a 10-Ineh-wide pizza. A. A a still another problem is Hubble a balance mechanism. One gyroscopes that keep the spacecraft stable has failed. The Craft works Fine with just two gyros but its still worrisome to the experts. All the problems will hopefully be corrected in 1993 when a space shuttle is to Chase Down the orbiting Hubble capture it and return it to a space shuttle cargo Bay for repairs. Space walking astronauts will switch put one instrument the wide Field planetary camera altogether. The new Model will have internal optics that Correct for the flawed Mirror. The astronauts also will install no vibrating solar panels and a Gyroscope. If the preparations go As Nasa Hopes the astronauts also will install a set of a a spectacles to improve the focus of three other to buy 140 two passenger cars Washington apr Amtrak agreed on monday to buy 140 double decked super Amer cars the first new Long distance cars to be ordered by the passenger Railroad since 1982. The contract with Bombardier corp also includes an option to buy 39 additional cars. The $340 million agreement Calls for construction of 38 coaches 12 dormitory cars for train Crews 15 lounge curs 20 dining cars 49 sleeping cars and six deluxe sleeping cars. A the Large cars will be built in Bombardier a plants in la Poca tier in Canadas Quebec province and in Barre it. Delivery is expected to begin in mid 1993. Amtrak said the new cars will be used to upgrade the City of new Orleans which runs from Chicago to Louisiana the Capitol limited which runs from Chicago to Washington and the Auto train which runs from Lor Lon va., near Washington to Sanford Fla. It the new sleeping cars will also be used on Amtrak a Western routes. W. Graham Claytor jr., Amtrak s president said the passenger line intends to place an order next year for new single level viev liner cars for use on Long distance routes in the East. and vie Wlmer car orders As Well As an order for 52 new locomotives last december Are a critical part of Amtrak s plan to improve service and increase revenues to cover All of us operating costs by the end of the decade.,&Quot Claytor said in a statement. A we must be Able to Olter a Superior Quality service with enough capacity to meet demand in we Are to reach our goal Quot he said. Double Decker super liner cars such As these Are expected to be in use on three Amtrak lines by 1993. Icily toughens client s resolve to pursue rape Case lawyer says Palm Beach Fla. A a a lawyer representing the woman who said she was raped at the Kennedy family estate says the headline making events that have unfolded in recent weeks have strengthened her resolve to pursue the Case. A attorney David Roth said in an interview monday that the 29-year-old woman has not made a statement to the Media because both she and Roth do not want to prejudice the Case he said she and her daughter arc in seclusion. The woman has accused William Kennedy Smith the Nephew of sen. Edward Mkennedy of raping her March 30. Smith who has denied the allegations has not been charged. Police have said he is the prime suspect in the three weeks since the alleged attack occurred the woman a name and photograph and detailed stories about her background have appeared in several newspapers and on network television. His client has been Quot shocked and appalled to see her name publicized Roth said but she has not lost her resolve to see the Case through. V her name has been published in the Globe a supermarket tabloid As Well As by neg news the new York times the Reuters news Agency and other organizations. A a a athe associated press has not identified the woman and does rape victims except in extraordinary cases. Palm Beach state attorney David Bludworth said he has asked a judge for a ruling on whether he can prosecute the news organizations that identified the woman. Authorities have faced some criticism for not investigating the Case More quickly. However Roth said he and his client have no complaints with the Way the Case has been handled. A she and i Are totally satisfied w Ith the handling of the investigation by police and the Palm Beach county attorney a Roth said. A her focus is to see that Justice is done and she s not going to be detracted by collateral issues, said. Roth said he Wras unhappy with some news reports that he believes made it sound As though he accused investigators hired by the Kennedy of bullying witnesses. He said the Only statement he made was that he was told of a apparent attempts at intimidation but added that he had no firsthand knowledge of that. Roth and his partner Douglas Duncan and Smiths attorneys Mark Schnapp of Miami and Herbert j. Miller of Washington d.c., Are to meet with Bludworth within two weeks to discuss the we Are conducting an investigation with the intention of supplying evidence to the authorities a Schnapp said in a statement monday Bludworth acknowledged monday that he has been criticized for not moving faster in the Case. He said however that he wont Bow to pressure. A a we re not going to be pushed a he said. A people Are saying a do something do it now a but i done to get stampeded into making a note Chicago up a transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner says he will invite a heavy Metal band helping out with a National safety Belt Campaign to lunch at the White House if the program succeeds. A i Hope it s a Day the president is on the Road a Skinner joked monday. His remarks came As part of a Media Blitz that incorporates the Rock band Iron Maiden in television and radio spots. The Campaign also features televisions crash Accident dummies Vince and Larry who spearhead a drive air cd at convincing More men to buckle up. Men traditionally Are less inclined to Wear seat belts studies show Skinner at a news conference with the creators of the and Campaign said he will follow through with his Promise if the Blitz achieves its goal of increasing seat Belt use to 70 percent of Drivers and Auto passengers
