Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V09_5/V9_592.TXT

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Date: Wed,  9 Aug 89 00:28:06 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: SPACE Digest V9 #592

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 9 : Issue 592

Today's Topics:
             SPACE ACTIVIST ALERT
        Re: Catch-A-Planet (was:Re:Curiosity)
                 Re: Modules
            Re: Questions about Apollo 11
             The now defunct Moon beacon
               Re: SPACE Digest V9 #552
               Re: Ranger seismometers
               Re: Space Quest
              Re: S-Band Beacon on Moon
              Re: S-Band Beacon on Moon
              Re: Neil Armstrong
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 26 Jul 89 19:58:26 GMT
From: agate![e-mail]  (William Baxter)
Subject: SPACE ACTIVIST ALERT


Call the National Space Council at 202/395-6175.  Suggest that HR2674,
the Space Transportation Services Purchase Act of 1989, is the
appropriate centerpiece for the new space policy which they are
creating.

Send me email if you need a copy of HR2674.

William Baxter

ARPA: web@{garnet,brahms,math}.Berkeley.EDU
UUCP: {sun,dual,decwrl,decvax,hplabs,...}!ucbvax!garnet!web

CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN NOW AND SCREAM AT HIM UNTIL HE AGREES THAT NASA
IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL SPACE INDUSTRIES.

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

Date: 25 Jul 89 11:03:00 GMT
From: mcvax!ukc!strath-cs!glasgow![e-mail]  (Jack Campin)
Subject: Re: Catch-A-Planet (was:Re:Curiosity)


[e-mail] (Wayne Hayes) wrote:
[ quoting a plausible debunking of Griaule's Dogon mysterious-knowledge-of-
  Sirius-B story ]

>      The important thing to note is that the Dogon are not as dogmatic
>  about their myths as most western religions are, so they are not above
>  changing their myths which are, by the way, passed on completely by
>  word of mouth. Sagan cites another tribe in an adjacent valley that
>  suffered from a rare disease called Kuru, a virus... [goes on to describe
   a similar process of myth adaptation ]

Hardly "adjacent".  Kuru is endemic among the Fore of New Guinea; it became
notorious as the subject of a Western myth that it was transmitted by brain
eating (in fact the route of transmission seems to be through cuts and
abrasions when preparing bodies for burial).

[ I guess this is only tenuously related to these newsgroups now; it really
  belongs in sci.skeptics, if/when that gets created.  So vote for it. ]

On a similar theme: what is the current status of de Santillana and von
Dechend's "Hamlet's Mill"?  Has anything been published to support or refute
their ideas since its publication?  (For those who haven't read it, it claimed
that many traditional mythologies encoded quite detailed naked-eye astronomy,
including the earth's precession).

--
Jack Campin  *  Computing Science Department, Glasgow University, 17 Lilybank
Gardens, Glasgow G12 8QQ, SCOTLAND.    041 339 8855 x6045 wk  041 556 1878 ho
INTERNET: [e-mail]  USENET: [e-mail]
JANET: [e-mail]     PLINGnet: ...mcvax!ukc!cs.glasgow.ac.uk!jack

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

Date: 26 Jul 89 20:55:05 GMT
From: bucsb![e-mail]  (Christopher Davis)
Subject: Re: Modules

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Bill Chiarchiaro) writes:
-In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Doug Krause) writes:
->
-> I lost a couple of articles.  Was Snoopy an LM or CM?  If it was
-> an LM, a historic quote would have a whole new feel.
-
-
-Snoopy was the name for the Apollo 10 LM.  The Apollo 10 CSM was
-called Charlie Brown.

Anyone have a complete list of the callsigns (codenames?) for the Apollo
LMs and CSMs?  Bonus points for the Gemini & Mercury capsules...

+5 for listing all shuttle orbiters by OV-num (spelling counts :-).

-Bill Chiarchiaro

--
  /\  | /  |\  @bu-pub.bu.edu <preferred>  | Christopher K. Davis, BU SMG '90
 /    |/   | \ [e-mail] |      uses standardDisclaimer;
 \    |\   | /  <for stupid sendmails>     |       BITNET: smghy6c@buacca
  \/  | \  |/  @bucsb.UUCP <last resort>  or ...!bu-cs!bucsb!ckd if you gotta.
 --"Ignore the man behind the curtain and the address in the header." --ckd--

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

Date: 25 Jul 89 15:28:20 GMT
From: mcvax!ukc!etive![e-mail]  (Bob Gray)
Subject: Re: Questions about Apollo 11

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Leif S. Kirschenbaum) writes:
>Friday we saw a 30 minute new movie on Apollo 11,  some really good footage
>of Saturn V take off.

There was a film shown on the BBC here combining footage
from all the different missions. It contained one particular
sequence I don't remember seeing before.

The view was back along the body of the saturn V third stage
in Earth orbit. The Earth can be seen going past on the left
of the picture. The third stage is ignited, and the Earth
starts to pass by faster and faster.

My question. Was this speeded up motion.

I suspect so, I don't think that the change in velocity
would have been quite as obvious as all that.

The velocity change was from 28,100 Km/hr to 39,000 Km/hr,
how long was the TLI (Trans-Lunar Injection) burn for.
    Bob.

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

Date: 26 Jul 89 14:09:51 GMT
From: att!tsdiag!scr1![e-mail]  (David Tiller)
Subject: The now defunct Moon beacon



    Regarding the transmitter that was left on the moon and
    subsequently shut off due to budget constraints:

    1) Can the transmitter be re-activated?

    2) On what frequency was this beacon transmitting? At
       what power level/radiation pattern/polarization?

    3) Was it transmitting useful data? What format was its
       data in?

    4) Would the data be useful today? Could this signal have
       been received by perhaps an amateur radio operator "ham"
       or anyone with the proper equipment?

    If the frequency of the beacon is not in the middle of a
    currently used (important) band, and if the data would be
    useful today, and if the signal could be received by amateur
    radio or other interested parties, then I would like to see
    the beacon re-activated.  The data from it could be collected
    and perhaps analysed by a group of interested parties.  This
    beacon could serve several purposes to the amateur community,
    besides the value of the actual data such as:

    1) A very good yardstick of the condition of the ionosphere
       and magnetosphere.  Assumptions regarding HF and VHF
       propogation could be made from this information.

    2) A challenge to antenna designers/builders and theorists
       who "push the envelope" regarding new and radical designs,
       and those of us who attempt to "advance the art of radio"
       by learning more about the science of RF.

    3) A draw for interest in amateur radio for young people.
       Imagine showing a classroom of youngsters that a man-
       made signal is actually emanating from the moon. This
       would go hand-in-hand with the sattelite demonstrations
       and packet connections.  With the recent emphasis on
       computer education in schools, a bit of early digital
       communications history (the moon beacon) and an example
       how computers can talk over the airwaves via modern packet
       radio would help round out the big picture.  Amateur radio
       is considered a black art by most, much like computers were
       several years ago.  If youngsters could be shown that packet
       is a tool that can be used to provide greater (private, non-
       commercial) connectivity for their PC's, much greater interest
           would be generated in the hobby.

p.s. Important in regards to frequency bands means in such a place as
     not to cause harmful interference to existing radio communication
     systems.

Enough rambling from an amateur tech. in training...flames ignored,
intelligent discourse welcome.
--
David E. Tiller      Software Support Eng.    | Concurrent Computer Corp.
FAX:  [phone]   Ph: [phone]       | 2 Crescent Place, M/S 117
UUCP: ucbvax!rutgers!petsd!tsdiag!scr1!tiller | Oceanport NJ, 07757
ICBM: 40 16' 45" N   73 59' 00" W             | (Wish I were in Virginia...)

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

Date:         Wed, 26 Jul 89 09:35:26 EDT
From: [e-mail]

help

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

Date: 26 Jul 89 14:40:37 GMT
From: mfci![e-mail]  (Paul Rodman)
Subject: Re: SPACE Digest V9 #552

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Craig Cholar) writes:
>

>(either Armstrong or Aldrin, I'm not sure which) say "Contact Light";


Nope. They said "Contact!".

pkr

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

Date: 26 Jul 89 15:56:20 GMT
From: hplabsb![e-mail]  (David Smith)
Subject: Re: Ranger seismometers


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paul Rodman) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Smith) writes:
>Your description makes it sound fancier than I thought it was...I think it was just
>a fixed solid-fuel motor that blasted "up" just before impact of the ranger. No
>"separate" from the Ranger first. As a matter of fact, without any stabilization
>system, I'm sure you rather fire the retro kick while still attached to the
>properly facing Ranger(?).

Take a look at the contemporary National Geographic coverage, or a
space program history book, such as Appointment on the Moon (1969).

>If memory serves the seismometers were shock protected in fluid, which after
>impact was drained out buy "bullets" that fired out thru the case and the balsa
>shock absorber sphere.

This is correct.  I actually wrote that into my message, but deleted it to
save space.

>I also see to recall that at least one of these things didn't work. I don't
>remember any data collected from any of them.....???

They didn't get a chance to work, because of the failures I described.
My message was in response to a statement that only Surveyor was launched
to answer certain questions about the lunar surface, particularly, whether
a spacecraft would sink deep into surface dust.  Rangers were also
launched to gain preliminary answers to these questions.  They failed,
leaving it up to Surveyor (and Luna 9) to answer them.
--

            David R. Smith, HP Labs
            [e-mail]
            [phone]

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

Date: 26 Jul 89 19:39:12 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Dan Pezely)
Subject: Re: Space Quest


Fred Walter <[e-mail]> writes:
>I think I get your point now. More clearly stated :

>If the private launch companies banded together and combined their
>resources they could finance/develop/put into place their own launch>
>facilities/vehicles and space station.

>This makes sense, and could (if properly presented) help sway the current
>launch companies' financial backers.

>I think you'll have to work on presentation a lot. I wasn't the only person
>who couldn't figure out what your point was - this will be fatal when your
>group is trying to convince the people with millions on the line that your
>idea is worthwhile.
> ...
>I'd be interested in hearing more >about what your plans are and how many
>others are helping/willing to help.

>    fred

I realize that my proposal wasn't explained the best manor, but I
thought that I would just toss the idea around the net for a while.

We have some public relations people who will be helping us.  The only
problem is getting people who know LOTS more about space than I do so
that we can communicate on the same level with the contractors.


HELP:
We need technical people in the space industry to help us write our
proposal!


Space Quest should be getting a machine on the internet soon.  My
software company will be donating a 386 machine (unless, of course,
someone else would like to give us a Sun).  We hope to be online in
late September.

- Daniel

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

Date: 26 Jul 89 04:04:57 GMT
From: jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!attcan!ncrcan!ziebmef![e-mail]  (Matthew Francey)
Subject: Re: S-Band Beacon on Moon

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
> As far as I know, all the Apollo lunar-surface transmitters were shut
> down when the Apollo seismometer network was shut down (to save some
> trifling amount of money!!! :-[ ) some years ago.  I could be wrong.

  How did keeping transmitters on the Moon turned on cost people on
Earth any money?
--
Name: Matthew Francey             Address: N43o34'13.5" W79o34'33.3" 86m
[e-mail]          uunet!utgpu!{ontmoh!moore,ncrcan}!ziebmef!mdf

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

Date: 27 Jul 89 02:30:56 GMT
From: voder!pyramid!ncc!atha![e-mail]  (Lyndon Nerenberg)
Subject: Re: S-Band Beacon on Moon

> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
> [e-mail] (Lyndon Nerenberg) writes:
>>Eh? Was ConEd charging NASA for the power produced by the (moon-based)
>>nuclear reactors?
>
>No, but it was costing some small amount of money to receive, store, and
>analyze the data.

Actually, I've been informed it was shut down to eliminate some RF
pollution (makes sense).

I still like the idea of using it as a target for EME antenna aiming
and calibration.

Didn't someone purchase one of the lunar rovers for an incredibly cheap
price? Maybe I can buy this experiment for $10 and persuade NASA to turn
it back on for use as an amateur beacon.

The only thing I can't figure out is: what suffix do I sign after the
VE6BBM part of my call to indicate "lunar portable?" [ :-)  I think ... ]

--
Lyndon Nerenberg  VE6BBM / Computing Services / Athabasca University
    {alberta,decwrl,ncc}!atha!lyndon || [e-mail]

                 It's 2:00 A.M.; Nobody looks ugly.

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

Date: 25 Jul 89 14:22:00 GMT
From: sun-barr!texsun!texbell!merch!cpe!hal6000!trsvax![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Neil Armstrong


I talked to an F-16 test pilot for General Dynamics about Chuck Yeager's
book.  This pilot was a former Air Force test pilot and had been through
similar training as Chuck Yeager's.  It was interesting to get a point of view
from a test pilot.  He said that today's test pilots don't think a whole lot
of Chuck Yeager.  He is arrogant and doesn't get along with his peers.  He
went on to say that Chuck would never make it in todays high tech fighters,
his lack of formal education would make it difficult for him to get by
with his "seat of the pants" type flying.   Chuck never liked Neal Armstrong
and considered himself a much better pilot than Neal.  He was apparently
somewhat jealous of Neal.  And that is probably a big reason why Chuck wrote
about the muddy lakebed that Neal landed in.

Anyway, that is the gist of what this test pilot told me.  It does not
necessarily reflect my personal opinions.  I might note that this test pilot
himself was a bit on the arrogant side, it is a common and possibly necessary
attribute for test pilots to have.

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

End of SPACE Digest V9 #592
*******************