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, 31 Aug 89 03:18:01 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Thu, 31 Aug 89 03:17:52 -0400 (EDT) Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #7 SPACE Digest Volume 10 : Issue 7 Today's Topics: Voyager Color Pics Re: Voyager Color Pics HR2674 -- Why it is needed Re: voyager audio NASA Headline News for 08/25/89 (Forwarded) Hazmat in Space/Emergency medicine RTG's and nuclear reactors. Question ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 25 Aug 89 19:17:57 GMT From: polyslo!usc!ganelon.usc.edu!robiner@decwrl.dec.com (Steve) Subject: Voyager Color Pics Question: while watching the PBS "Neptune All Night" broadcast, all they showed were black and white images. Are there separate RGB images transmitted of for each frame sent back, or just some pre- designated frames. Also, I've heard it takes 90 seconds to take a picture, or is it 90 seconds to *transmit* the picture? Can anyone knowledgable clarify - its so hard to get the facts from any TV news source. Thanks, =Steve= ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 89 21:41:57 GMT From: jupiter!karn@bellcore.com (Phil R. Karn) Subject: Re: Voyager Color Pics >Question: while watching the PBS "Neptune All Night" broadcast, all >they showed were black and white images. Are there separate RGB >images transmitted of for each frame sent back, or just some pre- >designated frames. Also, I've heard it takes 90 seconds to take >a picture, or is it 90 seconds to *transmit* the picture? Can anyone >knowledgable clarify - its so hard to get the facts from any TV news >source. Thanks, Yes, the "real time" images are in black and white, because there is only one imaging sensor in each camera (unlike three in a conventional color TV camera). Color images must be built from multiple B&W images taken through different color filters. The data at the bottom of the display can tell you when this is happening. I haven't seen a cheat sheet explaining what all of it means, but I've been able to figure some of it out. INSTR=ISSNA means that you're seeing the output of the narrow angle camera, and INSTR=ISSWA is the wide angle camera. FILTER is self-explanatory; if you see the same scene taken several times with different filters, you can be reasonably sure that a color separation is being taken and you'll eventually be able to see this scene as a color image. EXP is the exposure time in seconds. I've seen this vary from less than a second (for shots of Neptune without any filters) up to 255 seconds this afternoon for what looked like a very nice backlit image of the rings. Voyager images are 800 pixels square by 8 bits per pixel. I understand that the image compression software developed for Uranus is also being used here, so only 3 bits per pixel are actually required. At a 21.6 kb/s downlink rate it would therefore take about a minute and a half to send each compressed picture if the entire downlink capacity is used. If I have any of this info wrong, or if anyone can explain the rest of the data in the RAMTEK image, I'd greatly appreciate comments. I'm particularly interested in knowing the meaning of the IHA EMA and PHA figures; they appear to be pointing angles of various kinds. PHil ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 89 22:41:26 GMT From: agate!usenet@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (William Baxter) Subject: HR2674 -- Why it is needed NASA press release 89-92 (June 14, 1989) says, "NASA is assisting the commercialization of the nation's fledgling ELV industry by making available use of its unique personal expertise, services and facilities that are not available from the private sector. "NASA also is purchasing its ELV launch services needs directly from commercial operators, whenever possible, to support its scientific and applications missions that are not assigned to fly on the Space Shuttle. Missions that do not require the unique capabilities of the Space Shuttle are being placed on ELV's in support of NASA's policy to use a mixed fleet of Shuttles and ELVs to assure access to space for its programs." I wrote the Office of Commercial Programs at NASA, asking them for a list of all launch services NASA has purchased from private firms on a commercial basis, and a list of times when NASA facilities have been used by private launch firms. They sent the following letter in reply. ----Reply from NASA Office of Commercial Programs Dear Mr. Baxter: Your letter dated June 22, 1989, requested information on NASA's commercial expendable launch vehicle (ELV) activities; specifically, a list of consummated launch service contracts and a list of occasions whereby NASA allowed commercial ELV operators use of NASA facilities. Consistent with National Space Policy directives, NASA utilizes a Mixed Fleet Space Transportation Strategy, the Space Shuttle and ELV's, to assure access to space for civilian Fovernment missions and also negotiates agreements under which NASA ELV property and services can be made available to the commercial sector on a direct cost reimbursable basis. NASA has consummated two separate Atlas I commercial launch services contracts with General Dynamics Corporation, one to launch a series of NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and one to launch the NASA/USAF Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite. In addition, we are in final negotiation with Martin Marietta Corporation to procure commercial Titan III launch services for the NASA Mars Observer spacecraft. NASA has recently selected McDonnell Douglas Corporation to negotiate a series of three firm and up to 12 optional commercial Delta II launch services to support NASA's scientific spacecraft. Current plans target release of a request for proposal this fall to procure commercial launch services to support the NASA Small Explorer missions. It is NASA's intent to procure all requisite ELV launch services directly from the commercial sector to the maximum extent feasible, or through the U.S. Air Force. In response to policy directives, NASA, like the USAF, has developed use agreements that provide private sector ELV operators access to NASA property and services. NASA has instituted a two-tier commercial use agreements process. Headquarters level agreements specify the general terms and conditions under which ELV operators may use NASA ELV propery and services. In addition, the HEadquarters' enabling agreements authorize industry to negotiate subagreements wigh the appropriate NASA field center for specific property and services. Enclosed is a table which summarizes the support NASA currently provides to the various ELV operators. [see below] I trust this information addresses your initial inquiry. Please contact me if you require additional information. ----Enclosure [summary] The enclosure lists 4 agreements on the Headquarters level. These are: General Dynamics (Atlas I/II) March 1987 Use of prod Tooling, STE, GSE, Launch Service Support, Use of Facilities McDonnell Douglas (Delta II) September 1988 Use of Launch Support Services Martin Marietta (Titan III) October 1988 Use of Launch Support Services LTV (Scout) November 1988 Use of Prod. Tooling, STE GSE, Launch Service Support It also lists two agreements with "First Draft" status: American Rocket (Industrial ELV) Use of Launch Support Services/Facilities E'Prime (E'PAC) Use of Support Services/Facilities ---- Extracting the list I asked for from the letter, I find the following projected commercial launch agreements through 1995 (using the recently posted manifest): Current Commercial Launch Agreements: 2 Atlas I Planned Commercial Launch Agreements: 3 Delta II 2 Small Explorer (Vehicle TBD) 7 Total So, in the decade following the announcement of policy directing NASA to obtain services from commercial providers, they plan to purchase only 7 launches. Does anybody reading this still believe that they are obtaining "ELV launch services needs directly from commercial operators, whenever possible," or could they do a bit more? Visit your congressman and ask him to cosponsor HR2674. It requires NASA to purchase space transportation services from commercial operators, not as policy, but as law. If you need a copy of HR2674, send me email. William Baxter ARPA: web@{garnet,brahms,math}.Berkeley.EDU UUCP: {sun,dual,decwrl,decvax,hplabs,...}!ucbvax!garnet!web ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 89 22:55:44 GMT From: adam@media-lab.media.mit.edu (Adam Glass) Subject: Re: voyager audio hiramc@sco.COM (Hiram Clawson) writes: > adam@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Adam Glass) writes: > >I would like to get a copy of the audio from the voyager's gold LP... > > I asked Frank Drake about this, and he explained that > copyright laws on the various pieces of music made > it impossible to assemble the collection in commercial > form. > That's funny; it was on a Boston radio station the other day (yes, the WHOLE LP). I think the station was WMBR, but I'm not sure... I'll try to get in contact with them, I suppose... Adam -- "What?! He didn't fall? Inconceivable!" (email: adam@media-lab.media.mit.edu) "You keep using that word... I do not think it means what you think it means." (All stolen quotes taken from The Princess Bride) Hmm... 18 spaces left. Moof! ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 89 20:56:18 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: NASA Headline News for 08/25/89 (Forwarded) [This is a new service I am offering. Let me know if you like getting headline news, or would prefer not to see this cluttering up newsgroups and mailboxes. -PEY] ----------------------------------------------------------------- NASA HEADLINE NEWS FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 1989 AUDIO: 202-755-1788 ----------------------------------------------------------------- THIS IS NASA HEADLINE NEWS FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 25...... VOYAGER TWO'S ENCOUNTER WITH NEPTUNE CLIMAXED EARLY TODAY WHEN THE TWELVE-YEAR-OLD SPACECRAFT SUCCESSFULLY PASSED ABOUT 3,000 MILES ABOVE THE GIANT PLANET AND WITHIN 23,000 MILES OF THE NEPTUNE MOON TRITON. YESTERDAY, TWO NEW MOONS WERE DISCOVERED TO BE ORBITING NEPTUNE AS WELL AS EVIDIENCE INDICATING A SECOND COMPLETE RING AROUND THE PLANET. VOYAGER ALSO REVEALED THE FIRST CLOUD SHADOWS EVER SEEN ON AN OUTER PLANET. THE IMAGES SHOW THE PLANET'S BRIGHT CIRRUS-LIKE CLOUDS CASTING SHADOWS ON A LOWER CLOUD DECK. AS A RESULT OF THESE IMAGES, SCIENTISTS YESTERDAY ESTIMATED THAT THE CIRRUS-LIKE CLOUDS ARE 31 TO 46 MILES ABOVE NEPTUNE'S MAIN CLOUD DECK. CHECKOUTS OF THE ORBITER ATLANTIS AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE STS-34 SHUTTLE PACKAGE ARE CONTINUING TODAY INSIDE THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER'S VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING. THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED TO BE MOVED TO ITS LAUNCH PAD BEGINNING AT 12:01 A.M. ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 29. STS-34'S PRIMARY PAYLOAD, THE GALILEO SPACECRAFT, WAS INSTALLED IN ITS PAYLOAD CANISTER YESTERDAY AND TRANSFERRED TO THE PAYLOAD CHANGEOUT ROOM AT LAUNCH PAD 39-B THIS MORNING. THE JUPITER-BOUND SATELLITE WILL BE INPLEMENTED INTO ATLANTIS' PAYLOAD BAY LATE NEXT WEEK. LAUNCH OF ATLANTIS AND THE GALILEO SPACECRAFT REMAINS TARGETED FOR OCTOBER 12. NASA'S MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED THE AWARDING OF A $1.8 BILLION CONTRACT TO THE MARTIN MARIETTA CORPORATION OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. THE CONTRACT CALLS FOR MARTIN MARIETTA TO PRODUCE 60 SPACE SHUTTLE TANKS TO BE DELIVERED TO NASA AND USED IN THE 1990s. UNDER PREVIOUS AWARDS, 59 EXTERNAL TANKS WERE CONTRACTED FOR, AND 52 HAVE BEEN PRODUCED TO DATE. THE EXTERNAL TANK IS THE LARGEST ELEMENT OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE VEHICLE AND HOLDS THE HALF-OF-A-MILLION GALLONS OF LIQUID HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN USED BY THE ORBITER'S MAIN ENGINES DURING LAUNCH AND ASCENT. EXTERNAL TANKS ARE THE ONLY MAJOR NON-REUSABLE ELEMENT OF THE SHUTTLE SYSTEM. * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------- HERE'S THE BROADCAST SCHEDULE FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS EVENTS ON NASA SELECT TV. ALL TIMES ARE EASTERN. ----------------------------------------------------------------- FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 THROUGH TUESDAY AUGUST 29........... DAILY COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE VOYAGER ENCOUNTER WITH NEPTUNE CONTINUES TODAY WITH HOURLY ON-SITE REPORTS AND NEWS BRIEFINGS FROM THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA. COVERAGE WILL RUN FROM 12 NOON TO 2:30 A.M. THROUGH AUGUST 29, WHEN THE ENCOUNTER OFFICIALLY ENDS. VOYAGER COVERAGE CONCLUDES ON AUGUST 29 WITH A PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FROM 12 NOON TO 3 P.M. VICE-PRESIDENT DAN QUALE WILL ADDRESS JET PROPULSION LABORATORY EMPLOYEES AT 11:20 A.M. TODAY AND HOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE AT 12:25 P.M. TRANSPONDER 13 ON SATCOM F2R AND TRANSPONDER 21 ON AURORA 1. ALL EVENTS AND TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. ----------------------------------------------------------------- THESE REPORTS ARE FILED DAILY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT 12 NOON, EASTERN TIME. ----------------------------------------------------------------- A service of the Internal Communications Branch (LPC), NASA Headquarters. . ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 89 21:03:02 GMT From: mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!norby.acns.nwu.edu!wombat@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Colleen Bailey) Subject: Hazmat in Space/Emergency medicine Hi folks! As an eager young neophyte, I am posting this to ask your help in a project that I and a few friends are working on. We are EMTs: Emergency Medical Technicians. We are working on making realistic projections of Emergency Medicine into space and space environments: ships, stations, etc. Our specific concern now is what types of hazardous materials would be found in space: acids, fluorine compounds, poisons, carcinogens, what uses they would serve, what forms they would be in, how they would be shipped. We need to set up a realistic scenario of a hazmat spill in a LEO station, with gore and burns and lots of danger. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, and any info on medicine in space in general will be greeted with paroxysms of joy. Wombat ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 89 21:16:44 GMT From: brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!wuarchive!texbell!uhnix1!jane!cheehh@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Rikhit Arora) Subject: RTG's and nuclear reactors. In response to my original queries regarding Galileo's RTG's, Henry mentioned that one should get rid of RTG's altogether and switch to nuclear reactors. Well, what exactly is an RTG then? It *is* called a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. How much different is it from a genuine nuclear reactor? And what technical difficulty prevents NASA from using a real nuclear reactor for these deep space probes? -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ............. | Rikhit Arora And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod | cheehh@uhupvm1.bitnet The high untrespassed sanctity of space, | cheehh@jane.uh.edu Put out my hand, and touched the the face of God.| ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 25 Aug 89 14:16:13 GMT From: att!mtuxo!lzfmd!rds@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (rds) Subject: Question Question: Would a clock (earth time) placed on voyager 12 years ago be presently running at a different time compared to current earth time due to relativistic effects? Bob Sudano ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V10 #7 *******************