Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from corsica.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr1/ota/space/space.dl@andrew.cmu.edu (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr1/ota/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests) ID ; Thu, 29 Jun 89 00:31:47 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Thu, 29 Jun 89 00:31:35 -0400 (EDT) Subject: SPACE Digest V9 #519 SPACE Digest Volume 9 : Issue 519 Today's Topics: Apollo program benefits (Forwarded) Re: HST update - from the horse's mouth Vaguely-space-related queries Final Frontier Summary V2,N3 Final Frontier Summary V2,N1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 26 Jun 89 23:36:54 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: Apollo program benefits (Forwarded) June 1989 APOLLO PROGRAM BENEFITS "We have taken to the moon the wealth of this nation, the vision of its political leaders, the intelligence of its scientists, the dedication of its engineers, the careful craftsmanship of its workers and the enthusiastic support of its people. "We have brought back rocks, and I think its a fair trade. For just as the Rosetta Stone revealed the language of ancient Egypt, so may these rocks unlock the mystery of the origin of the moon and indeed, even of our Earth and solar system." Michael Collins Address to a joint session of Congress Sept. 16, 1969 Any discussion of the benefits of the Apollo program must be considered a progress report to be continued in the 21st century. That is true because the fullest application of scientific research and technological development usually takes decades to accomplish. Nevertheless, in the 16 1/2 years since American astronauts last walked on the Moon, Apollo's legacy already has been profound. That legacy includes both tangible and intangible benefits for the United States and for all mankind. Some of the major areas of benefits are: Environmental Consciousness The first photos of Earth from hundreds of thousands of miles away were taken by the crew of Apollo 8, the first humans to orbit the Moon. Those photos depicted Earth as a bright blue and white ball floating in a sea of darkness. They reminded people the world over of the fragility of planet Earth and of the need to preserve and protect its resources. Increased Technological Capability for the United States The "within the decade" goal of Apollo forced the advance of technology at a more rapid rate than normal, some estimate at twice the normal rate. The new level of technological capability resulted in a vast library of technological knowledge and know- how, and rapid advances in electronic miniaturization,advanced computers, remote sensing and other technologies. The visible spin-offs of Apollo technology already have already found application in literally thousands of products, processes and devices. Indeed, new technology arising from the space program has helped the United States maintain a lead in the world market for aeronautic, computer, medical, electronic and other products. Scientific Benefits The Apollo program increased our knowledge of the moon beyond expectation. We now know the moon's age, its gross structure, its internal temperature and a good bit about its composition. Apollo provided new knowledge and techniques for study of both Earth and the sun. It produced a rich harvest of knowledge in geology, astronomy, physics, biology and other scientific fields and has taught us much about the evolution of our own planet Earth. National Self Confidence Apollo was a response to the Soviet challenge. The success of Apollo was viewed worldwide as the success of a democratic free enterprise system over that of a society with a centrally directed economic system and a tightly controlled population. It also demonstrated the inherent superiority of American technology. Thus, Apollo contributed significantly to restoring American confidence and willingness to accept difficult challenges. International Relations Apollo continues to contribute greatly to international cooperation and understanding. The samples and data returned from the moon have been shared with many nations and are still being studied by scientists around the world. The Apollo 11 landing on the moon had a tremendous psychological impact on humanity. It is estimated that billions of people watched by satellite-relayed television. This shared experienced, if only for a relatively brief moment in time, provoked a feeling of "oneness" of the human race and is a unique achievement of the Apollo program. In addition, people in emerging countries, where forms of government were evolving, saw the American model of government in a different light - one that could send people to the moon while simultaneously providing a good life for its ordinary citizens. Economic Benefits Econometric studies estimate that Apollo returned five to seven dollars to the United States' economy for every dollar invested in it. These returns came in the form of new industries, new products, new processes and new jobs. Conclusion Apollo did more than reach for the future. It refreshed our spirits and heightened the awareness of mankind of the human potential and of our options as a species. For the United States, Apollo provided renewed confidence that given the resolve, resources and commitment of a free people the United States can lead mankind in the great human adventure of space exploration. ------------------------------ Date: 26 Jun 89 14:04:44 GMT From: calvin!johns@cu-arpa.cs.cornell.edu (John Sahr) Subject: Re: HST update - from the horse's mouth In article <638@stsci.edu> sims@stsci.EDU (Jim Sims) writes: [comments on the problems of refurbishing the Hubble Space Telescope] > .... And now, you back to where you >started on the original deployment mission, except you've spent all that extra >fuel to get here, are at a lower altitude than before, _and_ have a mandatory >EVA if you want to reboost (to replace the solar panels). ugly. THIS is just >ONE good reason we need a space station - drop by _anytime_ & fix the sucker.. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > Jim Sims Space Telescope Science Institute Baltimore, MD > UUCP: {arizona,decvax,hao,ihnp4}!noao!stsci!sims > ARPA: sims@stsci.edu SPAM: STOSC::SIMS In general, this is not such a good reason. Many scientific satellites are in polar orbits, and other satellites are in awkward orbits, such as Molniya (highly elliptic) and geosynchronous (a ways further up the gravity well, and more exposed to energetic particles in the magnetosphere). If you wanted to get something in polar orbit, starting from equatorial orbit, you would have to change your velocity by at least 40% more than a ground launch. If you go get a polar satellite, bring it to the space station, give it a lube job, take it back to polar orbit, and then come back to the space station, you will have changed enough velocity for 6 ground launches into space. If you fix a polar satellite in place, it will still take less velocity change to get there from the ground than from the Space Station. Of course, you don't have to fight the atmosphere, and you can use pretty small engines, but you will spend a lot of fuel or reaction mass. In fact, satellites seem to be pretty reliable. Should we bill the Space Station as a satellite fixer if the only satellite worth fixing was the HST? (This argument was pointed out here some months back, but not by me) my own opinions,of course -- John Sahr, Dept. of Electrical Eng., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 johns@{alfven,calvin}.ee.cornell.edu, {rochester,cmcl2}!cornell!calvin!johns ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 26 Jun 89 15:49:12 CDT From: Will Martin Subject: Vaguely-space-related queries There are several questions that have arisen in my mind based on postings in the Space list over the past, and I solicit answers, comments, or explanations from those out there who know about such things. They aren't specifically and uniquely space-related, but the topics have all been mentioned here from time to time: 1) Regarding X-ray astronomy -- the X-ray detectors must be placed into space, either into orbit or on brief sounding-rocket flights, because the X-rays are absorbed by the atmosphere and do not reach the surface. I accept that this is *a good thing*, otherwise we probably never would have evolved past some sort of radiation-hardened and -resistant lichen or the like... :-) But WHY are X-rays absorbed by the atmosphere when they can penetrate materials that are opaque to visible light? If light can get through the atmosphere and hit the surface, one would expect X-rays to have even greater pepnetrating ability. The answer is probably simple, but it is something I never happened to run across in my reading, and I don't have the physics training to have learned it in the past. 2) Regarding elementary particles -- one of their characteristics is called "spin". Is this REALLY "spin" the way a top or gyroscope spins -- that is, the particle is actually physically rotating in space? Or is it a term that is convenient and used to describe a quality of the particle, like "charm". "color", and "strangeness", which does NOT correspond with anything in normal human experience? (If "spin" really means that the particle is rotating, what happens when you squeeze it between other particles? Does "friction" exist at the subatomic level, and can you slow down the rotation? I thought "spin" existed only in quantized units, so a particle has "spin" of 0, 1/2, 1, 3/2, etc. [Or something like that.] Anyway, if you slowed the spin of a particle down *slightly*, it would no longer have an exact multiple. Does the particle then vanish in a *poof* of quarks or does the universe come to an end or what? :-) 3) The 11-year (or so) Solar Cycle -- I realize the duration of this cycle varies, and the one we are in now seems to be a mite shorter than normal. Do we know what causes this cycling? Is it some sort of resonance effect from vibrations or "ringing" of the sun? (Like standing waves?) Or is the mechanism behind these variations unknown? 4) Black hole temperature -- Are medium-sized black holes hot or cold? I have read that small black holes would be very hot, putting out radiation, due to the Hawking Effect and the tunnelling of particles through the event horizon and the business of pairs of virtual particles being formed out of the vacuum right by the event horizon, and one of the pair maybe being sucked inside the hole, leaving the unmatched other particle to come out as radiation. At some size, does this stop and the black hole become very cold, being an infinite energy sink? [The main problem with a black-hole-powered refrigerator is carrying it up the stairs... :-) ] 5) Neutronium and similar compressed matter -- is there any theoretical way to keep compressed matter (the stuff that makes up white dwarfs and neutron stars) compressed if a chunk of it could be brought away from the intense gravity field of those bodies? Of would it expand uncontrollably as the piece moves into regions of lower gravity? If it could be kept compressed, what would it look like? I envision it as looking something like lead, but that is just some sort of unreasoning gut feel, not based on science. Would it actually be a perfect mirror? If you touched this stuff, what would it feel like? I have an idea that wouldn't be wise, but I'm not sure just what would happen to your finger... Would it be a perfect conductor of heat and electricity, or a perfect insulator? [I lean toward the latter -- electrons couldn't migrate through it...] Thanks for any info on the above topics! Regards, Will Martin "wmartin@st-louis-emh2.army.mil" ------------------------------ Date: 27 Jun 89 01:22:00 GMT From: beowulf!riley@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Chris Riley) Subject: Final Frontier Summary V2,N3 Final Frontier, June 1989, Vol 2, No 3. Final Frontier is published bi-monthly: Address: FF, P.O. Box 20089, Minneapolis, MN 55420-9829. $14.95 per year. [I have no connection with FF except as a reader.] "The Observator: The Vision Thing" by Congressman Robert S. Walker (R). Mars, a lunar base, and the Space Station are not visions, but projects. The U.S. needs to have a vision with projects leading to it. "Spacefarers: Columbus Days" by Maura J. Mackowski 1992 has been named the International Space Year and the Columbus Quincentennail. "The Private Vector" Pacific American Launch Systems and their Liberty launcher. NASA wants private help to build a water tank to train astronauts Turning over NASA field stations to the private sector. Ariane Supersavers are aimed at mini-satellites. "The Ultimate Vacation" by Jerome Richard A complete guide to space tourism and space camps. "Artificial Gravity" by C.J. Houtchens Combating the effects of no gravity by various means including generating your own. "2015: The Age of Spaceplanes" by T.A. Heppenheimer The United States, Europe, and Japan all have plans for space planes. "Unveiling Venus" by Charles R. Pellegrino Magellan is prepared for launch to Venus. "STS-29 Mission File" Day by day coverage of the Discovery mission of March 13 to March 18, 1989. "Backyard Universe: The Happy Looker" by Blaine P. Friedlander The Moonwatch 1988 was to use volunteers to detect where the first sliver of the new moon was visible. "Earthly Pursuits: Back in Time" by Vincent Kiernan Airborne heat scanners developed by NASA help to find long lost ruins of missions in Florida. "Boundaries: The Case of the Missing Planet" by Beatrice S. Smith. The case for planet X. "Global Currents: Other Voices" by Jean Paschke. Foreign coverage of shuttle launches. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Riley riley@cs.ucsd.edu "From the moment the first flint was flaked, this landing was merely a matter of time." --W.H. Auden, "Moon Landing" 1969 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 27 Jun 89 01:20:11 GMT From: beowulf!riley@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu (Chris Riley) Subject: Final Frontier Summary V2,N1 Final Frontier, Feb 1989, Vol 2, No 1. Final Frontier is published bi-monthly: Address: FF, P.O. Box 20089, Minneapolis, MN 55420-9829. $14.95 per year. [I have no connection with FF except as a reader.] "The Observatory: Confidence Regained" by Dan Rather. A reprint of Rather's September 29, 1988 radio broadcast talking about his reflections on the U.S. space program. "Boundaries: Lunar Excavations" by Patricia Barnes-Svarney A discussion of how excavation on the moon should be done. "Global Currents: Japan's 'Town of the Stars" by Jack D. Kirwan Usuda Japan wishes to become one of Japan's major space centers. "Earthly Pursuits: Keeping an Eye on National Treasures" by Robert Moulton. CCD technology developed at JPL is being used to monitor the health of national documents. "The Next Ten Years in Space" A look at where we may be going. "Hermes" by Robert M. Powers. ESA's mini-shuttle will be one of Europes tickets into space. "Patrick Baudry" An interview with this French test pilot who flew on shuttle mission 51-G and is currently heading the development of Hermes. "We Have Liftoff!" by Dennis Chamberland Inside launch control for Discovery's flight of September 29, 1988. "Diary of a Cosmonaut" by Valentin Lebedev Excerpts from Lebedev's diary from his more than 200 days in orbit on Salyut 7 that began in May 1982. Insert detailing space events that are to happen in 1989. "To Jupiter and Mars, via Iceland" by Ron Miller Space art. "Spacefarers: Peace off Earth" by Maura J. Mackowski An article about the Orbiting Unification Ring Satellite proposed by Arthur Woods. "The Private Vector: Banking on Tanks" by Robert Moulton External tanks may be used by private companies. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Riley riley@cs.ucsd.edu "From the moment the first flint was flaked, this landing was merely a matter of time." --W.H. Auden, "Moon Landing" 1969 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V9 #519 *******************