Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V08/V8_375.TXT

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Date: Sun, 25 Sep 88 01:08:18 PDT
From: Ted Anderson <[e-mail]>
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Subject: SPACE Digest V8 #375

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 8 : Issue 375

Today's Topics:
NASA and McDonnell Douglas sign commercial launch agreement (Forwarded)
     NASA/AIAA to conduct space technology conference (Forwarded)
        Re: "It's because of all those satellites..."
National student finalists present space station proposals to NASA (Forwarded)
              Re: "What's New"  09/02/88
               Reminders for Old Farts
               Re: Berserker hypothesis
          Re: wealth of mature spacefaring societies
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 8 Sep 88 16:56:07 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA and McDonnell Douglas sign commercial launch agreement (Forwarded)

Jim Ball
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                  September 7, 1988


RELEASE:  88-124

NASA AND McDONNELL DOUGLAS SIGN COMMERCIAL LAUNCH AGREEMENT


     NASA and the McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company, St.
Louis, announced today the signing of an agreement providing for
the firm's use of facilities at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.,
and technical support from the Goddard Spaceflight Center,
Greenbelt, Md., in support of commercial launches.

     Advancing the government's objectives to encourage and
assist the growth of a robust U.S. commercial launch industry,
the umbrella agreement enables McDonnell Douglas to gain access
to NASA-managed launch support facilities when the firm begins
conducting commercial launches of the Delta rocket.

     The Delta program was initiated by NASA in 1959 and the
first launch took place in 1960.  Since then, the Delta rocket,
manufactured by McDonnell Douglas under contract to NASA, has
been a reliable workhorse of the space program.

     McDonnell Douglas expects to begin commercial launches of
the Delta in 1989.

------------------------------

Date: 9 Sep 88 00:04:34 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA/AIAA to conduct space technology conference (Forwarded)

Mary Sandy
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                  September 8, 1988


EDITORS NOTE:  NASA/AIAA TO CONDUCT SPACE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE


     NASA's space technology program will be the focus of a joint
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics/NASA
conference, September 12-13 at the Capital Hilton, Washington,
D.C.

     The conference, "Technology for Future NASA Missions," will
examine key space program activities in the Office of Aeronautics
and Space Technology (OAST), including the Space Research and
Technology Base program, the Civil Space Technology Initiative
and Project Pathfinder.

     First-day proceedings will be devoted to overviews of these
programs and discussions by a panel of potential users of new
space technology.  The second day will involve more detailed
reviews of the technical efforts and discussions of how
universities and industry can become more involved in these
programs.

     Speakers include Dr. William F. Ballhaus, Jr., acting
associate administrator for OAST and president, AIAA; Norman R.
Augustine, chairman and chief executive officer, Martin Marietta
Corp.; and Paul J. Coleman, Jr., president, University Space
Research Association.  Nearly all NASA centers will have
participants in the program.

------------------------------

Date: 8 Sep 88 19:12:24 GMT
From: rochester!rocksanne!entire![e-mail]  (Edward L. Taychert)
Subject: Re: "It's because of all those satellites..."


I remember back in the Apollo days that it always seem to rain
when NASA was going to launch. Everyone in Tidewater Va came to
know that moonshots caused rain!
--

____________________________________________________________________________

Ed Taychert                Phone: USA [phone]
Entire Inc.                UUCP: rochester!rocksanne!entire!elt
445 E. Commercial Street
East Rochester, N.Y. 14445
_____________________________________________________________________________

------------------------------

Date: 9 Sep 88 00:06:47 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: National student finalists present space station proposals to NASA (Forwarded)

Terri Sindelar
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                  September 2, 1988

Shelagh Lane
National Science Teachers Assoc., Wash., D.C.


RELEASE:  88-122

NATIONAL STUDENT FINALISTS PRESENT SPACE STATION PROPOSALS TO NASA


     Seven high school students will present proposals for space
station experiments as national finalists of the 8th Annual Space
Science Student Involvement Program (SSIP).  The program,
cosponsored by NASA and the National Science Teachers Association
(NSTA), gives high school students the opportunity to propose
experiments which theoretically could be conducted in space.  The
students will be competing for scholarships and other awards.

     In addition to these seven students, three national student
winners in separate competitions including the student newspaper
competition and the national aerospace internship competition, will
he honored during the NASA/NSTA National Space Science Symposium,
Washington, D.C., Sept. 17-21.  The key events follow.

     On Monday, Sept. 19, the seven student finalists will present
their experiment proposals to a panel of scientists and educators
at the Capitol Holiday Inn, Columbia South Room, 550 C. St., S.W.
Also attending will be 10 students from each Washington-area magnet
school.

     The students and teacher/advisors will attend a Monday evening
reception at the National Air and Space Museum.  Guest speakers
will include Capt. John A. McBride, NASA astronaut and assistant
administrator for congressional relations; Kenneth S. Pedersen,
NASA deputy associate administrator for external relations; Bill G.
Alridge, executive director of NSTA; Dr. Helenmarie Hofman,
director of SSIP at NSTA; and Dr. Martin O. Harwit, director of the
National Air and Space Museum.  Members of Congress are invited.

     On Tuesday, Sept. 20, the students will tour the Capitol and
meet their congressmen.

     The students will attend the awards ceremony Tuesday evening
where NSTA will announce the top national scholarship recipients.
Featured speakers will be Dr. Lemoine Motz, president of NSTA; Dr.
Robert W. Brown, director of educational affairs at NASA; and Dr.
Joseph P. Allen, a former astronaut.

     Selected from over 900 proposals, the following are the
proposals of the seven national student finalists, one student
newspaper competition winner and two national aerospace internship
competition winners:

                 SPACE STATION PROPOSAL FINALISTS:
     Kevin M. Chalmers, Mechanicsville, Va.  Topic:  "The Effect of
Microgravity on Vital Lung Capacity of Human Respiratory System."
     John C. Marschhausen, Glastonbury, Conn.  Topic:  "Detrimental
Loss of Calcium Due to Microgravity."
     Elexis Benzco, Uniontown, Ohio.  Topic:  "With the Use of
Natural Bioluminescent Chemicals, Calcium and ATP Levels Can Be
Related to Muscle Atrophy in a Microgravity Environment."
     P. Martin Johnson, Baton Rouge, La.  Topic:  "Frogs in Space:
The Growing and Muscular Training of Rana Pipens in a Weightless
Environment."
     Alison M. Cheney, Overland Park, Kan.  Topic:  "Application of
Electrical Stimulation of Skeletal Muscle to the Problem of Disuse
Atrophy in a Microgravity Environment."
     Kartik A. Parekh, Los Angeles, Calif.  Topic:  "Effect of
Space Environment on the Proliferation of Resting, Activated and
Malignant T-(213) Lymphocytes.
     Michael P. McCart, Anchorage, Alaska.  Topic:  "Increased
Growth Rate of Penicillin Notatum in Microgravity."

             NATIONAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER AWARD WINNER:
     DeAnne M. Nevins, Lambert, Mont.  Article:  "Hey Student!
It's Your Chance To Get SPACY!"

           NATIONAL AEROSPACE INTERNSHIP AWARD WINNERS:
     Eliah D. Novin, Sherman Oaks, Calif.  Topic:  "Control Surface
Testing on a Forward Sweep Prototype Aircraft."
     Kenneth L. Riley, Akron, Ohio.  Topic:  "Measurement of
Tensile Strength on Pure Water."

     The SSIP competition objective is to stimulate interest in
science and technology by directly involving students in a space
research program.  When space flight resumes with Space Shuttle
mission 26, two student experiments will fly aboard Discovery.  To
date, 15 student experiments have flown aboard the Shuttle.

------------------------------

Date: 9 Sep 88 00:40:37 GMT
From: gryphon![e-mail]  (Steven Walton)
Subject: Re: "What's New"  09/02/88


In the referenced article, the question is raised, "Why does it matter
that the Hubble Space Telescope is delayed?  Won't the universe wait
a bit?"

Well, yes, but consider:
(1) It is certain that parts of HST have a finite life, and are aging
    while it sits on the ground;  time on earth subtracts from
    useful life in orbit.
(2) The closer launch gets to the next solar maximum in 1991, the
    higher the likelihood that HST will have a very premature re-entry
    unless a second shuttle flight is used to boost it up.
(3) It has been six years since the last launch of a US astronomy
    spacecraft--hardly a record which inspires bright young people
    to get involved with space or astronomy.

The HST delay is a symptom, really.  I think the US, via its elected
representatives in Washington, DC, has decided to cede leadership in
space to Japan and Western Europe and the USSR.  I predict a major drain
of American space scientists to these other places within 5 years; yes,
even to the USSR if perestroika and glasnost hold up.

--
Stephen Walton, hanging out until my USENET feed at work is back up.
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 Sep 88 04:00:11 PDT
From: Eugene Miya <[e-mail]>
Subject: Reminders for Old Farts

Hints for old users (subtle reminders) You'll know these.

Minimize cross references, [Do you REALLY NEED to?]
Edit "Subject:" lines especially if you are taking a tangent.
Send mail instead, avoid posting follow ups. [100 mail messages mean more than 1
follow-up.]
Read all available articles before posting a follow-up. [Check all references.]
Cut down attributed articles.  Summarize!
Put a return address in the body (signature) of your message (mail or
article), state institution, etc. don't assume mail works.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 Sep 88 07:31:11 EDT
From: Chuck Musciano <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Berserker hypothesis

     After reading about Berserkers for many digests now, I can't believe that
someone hasn't come up with the best hypothesis: we are the Berserkers, early
in our life cycle, just getting ready to go out and start destroying things.
Why, we haven't even reached another planet yet, and people are already giving
thought to dropping nuclear devices to form landing pads.  Seems like our
Berserker intuition is coming along nicely.

Chuck Musciano
Advanced Technology Department
Harris Corporation
[phone]
ARPA: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 8 Sep 88 15:28:05 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Robert Eachus)
Subject: Re: wealth of mature spacefaring societies

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Peter Nelson) writes:
> First of all, you don't know that Roman soldier : rich American is a
> reasonable comparison.  Neither is particularly representative of the
> species at his time in history.  To make another silly comparison--
> Today only the rich can own a horse, a hundred years ago horse ownership
> was common.

     Silly is right.  A hundred years ago, even in America, you had to
be rich to own a horse for personal transportation,  and many farmers,
even in America, did not own plow horses.  If you live  in a city with
paved streets, a bicycle is a much more useful form of transport, then
and now. Care to check  bicycle ownership figures?   Also, at least in
the town where  I live, horse ownership  is still common.   Of  couse,
Hollis, N.H. is not a poor town, but I would say that the  town riding
rink gets more use that the town tennis courts.

> Anyway most people CANNOT own a car.  Your ethnocentrism is showing.

     Hmmm.  Since a large percentage of the  population (especially in
the third world) is underage you may be right.   However, if you meant
to say  that a majority  families in the world cannot  afford to buy a
car today, you would be wrong.

> More to the point, extrapolations can be tricky.  It's true that the
> average American is richer than he was a hundred years ago but he is
> *poorer* than he was in the 60's.  Nowadays, two incomes are required
> to maintain a standard of living that one could maintain at that time.
> Which way is the curve heading these days?

     The  "average" American  is richer  today   than he was  in   the
sixties.  In the forties, fifties and  early sixties the growth in the
American standard of living was very rapid, then came  LBJ's "guns and
butter" economics, and the oil shocks of the early seventies resulting
in a decade of slow  growth.  In  the late  seventies the standard  of
living  of the "average"   American  actually did  decrease.  You  may
remember that Reagan made this a campaign issue.

     However,   the last   six years have   been a period of sustained
economic growth similar to the fifties, and our  hypothetical "average
American" is somewhat better off than he was in  1976, and much better
off than he was in 1966.

     There  are   several  disturbing  demographic   trends,   and the
Democrats are trying to make political hay with them, but these do not
affect the overall upward trend.  The poor were hurt much worse during
the Carter years and by the 1982 recession.  This made the gap between
rich  and  poor  greater, and  it  is  not  closing.   (Neither is  it
widening, the rising tide really is raising all boats equally. Its the
falling tides which hurt the poor.)  The other disturbing fact is that
for the last twenty years, the middle middle class has been shrinking.
Most of this shrinking has  been due to  people moving  up from to the
upper middle class (good), but it also means that the  mobility of the
lower  middle class has been  decreasing (bad).  This   is primarily a
problem with the educational system, but it needs to be fixed.

> If you had extrapolated from the time when dinosaurs first appeared on
> earth to when Brontosaurus existed you might have concluded that there
> would be lots of huge, powerful dinosaurs around today.

     Not if your  extrapolation  correctly included  the   effects  of
meteor strikes.  It doen't  take much effort to   figure out  that  if
humans don't learn to  manage their environment (which  includes large
rocks in solar orbit), they won't be around for long.

> Another BIG difference is that our material standard of living is
> not mainainable in its current form.  We cannot continue to consume
> non-renewable resources or generate pollution and other waste at
> the current rate.  Automobiles are MAJOR pollution sources both
> in their use and their manufacture/maintenance/infrastructure
> requirements.  Also, remeber that the Roman soldier's generous
> payscale was a function of non-maintainable factors, too. (i.e.,
> the Roman Empire)  Of course, this may ALSO be a silly extrapolation.

     It is  a wrong  extrapolation.   One  thing  that economists keep
track of is the amount of energy required to produce a constant dollar
amount of goods.  This figure has been decreasing for the last fifteen
years (and for the last fifty).

> Another factor is that the 'wealth' or standard of living of most
> Americans is illusory.  I doubt you could afford to buy a home
> computer on a day's pay if that computer and all it's parts were
> made by people enjoying an American wage scale.  A lot of our
> standard of living is based on other countries having much lower
> wages, fewer pollution standards, etc.  Roman senators were wealthy
> in the same way.

     This cant has  got to go.    There  are many  computers out there
built in America with American parts which are competitive in the home
computer  market.  The main  competition is not  from the third world,
but from countries with equal  or higher living  standards.  In  1960,
the United  States had the  highest  living standard  in the world, by
1980 we were, I  think, fourteenth.  Since then  we've pulled ahead of
several European countries, but South  Korea and Taiwan are gaining on
us.

> ...Or how bad they can get.  Sure, maybe the world of the future
> will be bright and clean with robots doing all the manufacturing and
> everyday is Saturday and the malls are open and our pockets are
> stuffed with money.  Or maybe it will be a cyberpunk's worst
> nightmare with rain 'sour and acid, nearly the color of piss'
> (William Gibson), respirators required for a simple walk down the
> street, and remote pain inducers implanted at birth by a high-tech
> tyranny to keep 20 billion people passive.

     First,  the problems of  the future will be ones  which  we don't
know about yet.  Mankind has a very good  record for finding solutions
to known  problems.  However, often  these   solutions often cause new
problems.  For example, most of  the problems of  the  health industry
today are due to finding new and  better  ways to  cure patients or to
keep them alive, not by medical failures.

     Second, the  long  term trend  has  been to   keep improving  the
overall quality of life.   The "good old  days" only look good because
you were  younger then.  The  1988 "standard" of living includes  home
computers, VCR's, pocket calculators, cordless telephones, and a whole
host of medications  which simply  were not available  at any price in
1963.  (Well, not quite.  I did have a computer  in the basement then,
but that's another story.)

> These are matters of religion (faith) and science fiction, not sci.space.
> While we fritter our time away in fantasy, other countries have real
> space programs with realistic goals and programs to accomplish them.  If
> anyone on this group ever does get into space it will probably be at the
> whim of the Russians or Japanese.

     Or of   D. D.  Harriman.  Seriously,  even   if  relatively cheap
spaceflight is possible, creating the infrastructure will take lots of
money.  A number of companies in the U. S. are working on building the
necessary industrial base,  but once that  is available,  building the
first Lunar  Hilton is still going to  require megabucks.  Most people
have heard the adage that "when it's steamboat time, people will build
steamboats", but many don't realize that there are a  lot of ideas out
there whose time has yet to arrive.

     The  lunar population  may be  zero on  January  1,  2001, but to
predict  the lunar population as less  than 10 million  on  January 1,
2100 would be lunacy.  Governments can help "steamboat time" to arrive
sooner, they did with steamboats  in the eighteenth century, railroads
in the nineteenth century, and air travel in the  1930's.  I only hope
when  we look  back fifty years from   now we conclude that government
space  programs  helped the   commercial  space industry   (and  space
colonization)  to  get  off  the  ground  earlier than they would have
otherwise.

>                                                 --Peter Nelson

                    Robert I. Eachus

with STANDARD_DISCLAIMER;
use  STANDARD_DISCLAIMER;
function MESSAGE (TEXT: in CLEVER_IDEAS) return BETTER_IDEAS is...

------------------------------

End of SPACE Digest V8 #375
*******************