Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V10_0/V10_096.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #96

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 10 : Issue 96

Today's Topics:
          Re: Lost Papers of Edward Ruppelt
           Re: Space goals, cheap launchers
         Galileo probe media briefing set (Forwarded)
NASA opens its data bases to stimulate student science/engineering (Fowarded)
           Goals, Objectives, Plans, Steps
              Images available?
           Pro-Expendable Amendment to NASA Budget
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 25 Sep 89 04:32:38 GMT
From: uhccux!munnari.oz.au!murtoa.cs.mu.oz.au!ditmela!yarra!melba!baby![e-mail]  (Gregory N. Bond)
Subject: Re: Lost Papers of Edward Ruppelt

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Michael Corbin) writes:


   More details later on ParaNet re the upcoming sale of this remarkable,
   previously unavailable UFO find.
   ========================================================================

   ParaNet has been retained as the exclusive marketing agent for this
   incredible cache of treasures.  Direct all inquiries to ParaNet by
   phoning our offices ...

I wonder.  Is it written on official "Dukes of Hazzard" stationary?
--
Gregory Bond, Burdett Buckeridge & Young Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
Internet: [e-mail]    non-MX: [e-mail]
Uucp: {uunet,pyramid,ubc-cs,ukc,mcvax,prlb2,nttlab...}!munnari!melba.bby.oz!gnb

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

Date: 26 Sep 89 03:52:47 GMT
From: jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Space goals, cheap launchers

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John Roberts) writes:
>>... companies like AMROC, SSI, and
>>OSC/Hercules seem to be on the right track towards providing low-cost
>>access to orbit.
>Remember that what these companies offer (at least in the near term) is
>low cost *per launch*, not *per pound*. Cost per pound is even higher than
>the shuttle...

This is true of small launchers in general, not just the new ones.
(Although... there is much to be said for getting a dedicated launch on
a launcher whose proprietors don't insist on mil-spec payloads.  For a
gross case of this, almost any GetAway Special payload would be *lots*
easier to build, not to mention lighter and more reliable, if it could
be built for a dedicated flight rather than as a hitchhiker on a shared
vehicle with very restrictive rules.)  Most of the new launch companies
are very interested in offering big launches as well as small ones.  They
just want to see some positive cash flow first.

>Can any of these small launchers be equipped with a secondary booster, and get
>a payload of usable size into lunar or interplanetary trajectories?

Depends on what you mean by "useful".  The answer is definitely yes if you
are willing to settle for small payloads.  Ball Aerospace has signed a deal
with OSC/Hercules to launch small Clarke-orbit comsats on Pegasus, and a
system which can get a payload into Clarke orbit can get roughly the same
payload into lunar orbit.
--
"Where is D.D. Harriman now,   |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
when we really *need* him?"    | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 25 Sep 89 16:19:10 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Galileo probe media briefing set (Forwarded)

Paula Cleggett-Haleim
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                 September 25, 1989

Peter W. Waller
Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif.


N89-67:  GALILEO PROBE MEDIA BRIEFING SET


     The role of the Galileo spacecraft's probe, during the
planet Jupiter exploration mission, will be detailed at a media
briefing to be held at NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain
View, Calif., at 1 p.m. EDT, Thurs., Sept. 28.

     The Galileo spacecraft, with the probe, will be launched
from the Space Shuttle Atlantis no earlier than Oct. 12.
Approaching Jupiter, the probe will be released to penetrate down
400 miles into Jupiter's atmosphere to make the first direct
atmosphere measurements, seeking lightning, dense water clouds
and clues to Jupiter's hurricane winds.  Data gathered could
disclose much more about the outer giant-gas planets and the
origin of the solar system and the universe.

     Reporters planning to attend the briefing should come to the
Ames Pass and ID Office.  Print and still photo material and two
TV clips, with new mission animation, will be available.  News
organizations can downlink the briefing from NASA Select
television, Satcom F2R, transponder 13, 72 degrees West
longitude.  Two-way question and answer capability will be
available from NASA Headquarters, Wash., D.C., and most NASA
field centers.

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

Date: 25 Sep 89 20:05:29 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA opens its data bases to stimulate student science/engineering (Fowarded)

Terri Sindelar
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

John M. Dumoulin
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.


RELEASE:  89-148

NASA OPENS ITS DATA BASES TO STIMULATE STUDENT SCIENCE/ENGINEERING


     NASA has opened its computerized science data bases to the
nation's universities to stimulate "cottage industry" space
research by professors and entice more students to specialize in
science and engineering studies.

     Through the new Joint Venture (JOVE) Program, currently in
the pilot phase at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC),
Huntsville, Ala., NASA makes available scientific and engineering
data generated from space missions in exchange for analysis and
interpretation by faculty members and students.  In 1989, NASA is
expected to generate several trillion bits of raw science and
engineering data -- roughly equal to the amount of information
stored in the Library of Congress.  Analyzing and translating the
data into useful knowledge presents NASA with a big challenge and
offers an unprecendented opportunity.

     In addition to direct analysis of space science data,
participating JOVE universities assume the role of space program
emissaries, using the excitement of space to enhance educational
programs in their areas of influence.

     Currently in the first year, plans are to add seven more
colleges and universities to the pilot phase in 1990.  It is
anticipated that in 1992 the JOVE program will enter an
operational stage, subject to available funding and will allow
broad college/university participation.

     The JOVE program just completed the first summer of the pilot
phase and the university response has been tremendous.  The seven
participating universities are so enthusiastic about the program
that in some cases they are providing $3 to every $1 NASA has
offered.

     "Where NASA offered to pay the equivalent of one professor's
salary this summer to do research, our university paid for three
additional professors' salaries," said Dr. Gary White, JOVE
faculty research associate from Northwestern State University,
Natchitoches, La.  "I've proposed to change the title of our
physics curriculum to Space Physics.  Because of JOVE, our program
will have the substance to offer new courses with space science
emphasis and offer the kinds of scholastic incentives to attract
new students."  White spent this past summer on a JOVE research
project in solar science.

     "Space provides the hook," said Dr. Rick Chappell, Associate
Director for Science at MSFC and initiator of the JOVE idea.
"Youngsters are interested in space.  Space Science is a natural
extension of that interest and can draw students from all
backgrounds into the technical fields."

     "JOVE is already helping train undergraduates in space
astronomy at the University of Georgia," said Dr. J. Scott Shaw,
Associate Professor of Astronomy.  "The university has funded two
undergraduate stipends this year for astronomy research as a
direct result of JOVE, and we hope to sponsor four physics majors
from other, smaller Georgia universities in 10 weeks of research
next summer.  Eventually the University of Georgia hopes to expand
the program to 8 yearly, co-sponsored undergraduate stipends.

     "For the first time," said Shaw, "we'll be able to regularly
expose our students to the thrill of original space research."
This research will include data from the International Ultraviolet
Explorer and Einstein orbiting observatories.  Universities also
will assist NASA in the studies of the Earth's environment,
planetary science and microgravity research, eventually including
the orbiting sensors on satellites in NASA's Mission to Planet
Earth program and on Space Station Freedom, according to Chappell.

     This summer, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., and
Northwestern State sent professors to MSFC to participate in
materials processing research.  West Virginia University,
Morgantown, and Northwestern State each sent professors to perform
research in atmospheric science.

     "This summer," said Chappell, "every research team discovered
that the visiting professor brought a refreshing perspective to
the research.  They were a valuable resource and the program has
been very successful for both research and educational outreach."

     Texas Southern College, Houston, sent one of its faculty to
work on a solar wind study at Rice University, Houston.  Rice
participates in JOVE as a research-sponsoring institution, having
extensive experience in space science research.

     "Educational outreach is one of the most exciting parts of
JOVE," said Dr. Joe Perez, Department of Physics Chairman, Auburn
University, Ala., who with three other Auburn physics professors
spent part of the summer analyzing space physics data at MSFC.
"We've received a good response across the state from elementary
schools through 4-year colleges who want to participate.  We hope
to provide written and video materials to them, using space
examples to teach basic physics principles.  We've also sent a
proposal to the National Science Foundation for a high school
program for Alabama juniors and seniors to spend 2 weeks of space
science research with one of our four JOVE professors."

     "We plan to offer to high schools in Louisiana a space
science course using a two-way satellite television system," said
Dr. Bobby Alost, president of Northwestern State University, "and
we've already received a grant from the Department of Education to
set it up.  We're also planning to initiate a pre-college 'Space
Camp' in collaboration with Space Camp in Huntsville."

     Texas Southern University expects to use the JOVE program to
add a space component to an existing outreach program in
predominantly Hispanic schools and to establish a space science
lecture series at Houston-area high schools.

     "The research side of the JOVE program -- the direct analysis
of space science data -- is important, but in the long run it may
be the contributions of the outreach portion, which involves
generating science interests in pre-college students, that will
bring the most far-reaching benefits," according to Chappell.
"JOVE is showing that an involvement in the space program by
universities is very positive for promoting careers in science.

     "The future of the United States, particularly our economy,
depends on our technology," said Chappell.  "It's the kids who are
now making career choices about science and engineering who are
going to generate the new technology for the nation's future.
They'll be our new explorers in science and technology.

     "There are 250 U.S. universities now participating in some
area of the space program," Chappell said.  "By making NASA's
world-class data available to institutions of higher education,
JOVE could conceivably double that number in 5 to 10 years.  Add
to that the educational outreach programs, and you begin to
understand the incredible impact of the JOVE program.  Everybody
wins -- scientists, educators, students and the nation!"

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

Date: Mon, 25 Sep 89 09:51:24 PDT
From: mordor!lll-tis!oodis01!riacs!rutgers!pnet01.cts.com![e-mail] (Jim Bowery)
To: ucsd!nosc!crash![e-mail]
Subject: Goals, Objectives, Plans, Steps

Brian Yamauchi writes:
> OK, what >goals< do *you* think NASA (and/or the private space industry)
> should be pursuing?...
>                                           ...I have yet to see any
> >long-range plan< that provides a better alternative.
This demonstrates confusion between goals and plans.  A goal is
a desired state.  One might say the plan is the means and the
goal is the ends.

The way George Koopman described his approach to achieving goals was
to first, set the goal (which is not scheduled or very well
defined), and then decide on a wide range of "objectives" which will
bring one closer to that goal.  Objectives are states between where
you are now and where you want to be, that can be scheduled and objectively
defined so that one knows exactly when one has met the objective.
Having defined an objective, one THEN comes up with a "plan" which
is a sequence of "steps" to acheive the objective within the schedule.
A "step" is something that you have done before.  If it isn't something
you have done before, don't plan on it -- although you might make it,
itself, an objective and then having demonstrated the capability, plan
on it later.  Neither plans nor objectives are to be laid down in
concrete.  They should be under constant re-evaluation and revision.
One doesn't stick to one's objectives in the face of all adversity
since they are simply there to teach you and bring you closer to your goal.

The critical thing to note here is that one does not achieve "goals"
by "planning".  Rather one achieves "objectives" by "planning" and
all one can say after having achieved an "objective" is that one
is now closer to one's "goal".  This is George Koopman's semantics
and it seems to be a big step up from where we are presently in
our approach to space goals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Bowery    Phone: [phone]
PO Box 1981                  Join the Mark Hopkins Society!
La Jolla, CA 92038   (A member of the Mark Hopkins family of organizations.)

UUCP: {cbosgd, hplabs!hp-sdd, sdcsvax, nosc}!crash!pnet01!jim
ARPA: crash!pnet01![e-mail]
INET: [e-mail]

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

Date: 25 Sep 89 13:31:46 GMT
From: astroatc![e-mail]  (Lindsay Feuling)
Subject: Images available?


    I'm looking for any image data available from Voyager.  If anyone
knows where I could obtain this, please let me know.
                Thanks in advance,
                Lindsay Feuling

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

Date:     Mon, 25 Sep 89 13:51:19 CDT
From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Pro-Expendable Amendment to NASA Budget

The following article appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sept. 22:

BUECHNER AMENDMENT LIMITS UNMANNED SHUTTLE FLIGHTS

By Robert L. Koenig, P-D Washington Bureau.

[The headline is wrong -- the editor must have not read the piece; it
promotes expendable use as opposed to shuttle use, and doesn't have
anything to do with "unmanned shuttle flights", if those are even
possible (not Shuttle C, regular shuttle).]

A space bill that gained House approval Thursday included a provision
sponsored by US Rep. Jack Buechner to discourage the use of Space
Shuttle flights for missions that do not require astronauts.

Buechner, R-Kirkwood [a St. Louis suburb], said using the Shuttle for
routine missions is "like using a Cadillac to haul bricks." He said his
amendment would help ensure that the manned shuttle is "preserved and
available for those special missions for which it is best suited."

Buechner successfully added the amendment this summer in the House Space,
Science and Technology Committee to legislation continuing the operation
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Buechner spoke in
support of the measure Thursday in the full House, which approved the
NASA bill.

Suechner's provision would reduce the use of the manned Space Shuttle in
favor of unmanned rockets, knowns as "expendable launch vehicles." Some
of the rockets are made by St. Louis-based McDonnell Douglas Corp. [The
obvious real reason for all this... :-) WM]

The Shuttle would be reserved only for missions that either require an
astronaut or are designed specifically for the shuttle's capabilities.

Buechner said he decided to sponsor the amendment after a NASA official
told the House space panel that the probability of a catastrophic accident
similar to the Challenger explosion was one in 78 launches.

"This nation won't be able to maintain an active space exploration
program if we experience Challenger-type setbacks," Buechner said. "I'm
a strong advocate of manned space flight, and it only seems prudent to
reduce risk to human life at every opportunity."
***End of Article***

Side comment: I reproduced the above with the capitalization exactly as
shown in the original article. Notice that the term "shuttle" is
sometimes capitalized and sometimes not. Personally, I think it should
be in lower case, being a generic term. But I have no idea who or what
would be the over-riding authority or determining judge to decide this
burning issue. :-) Anybody have any ideas? Do we leave it up to NASA?
Maybe the Illuminati or the Trilateral Commission make these sort of
decisions... :-)

Regards, Will Martin

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

End of SPACE Digest V10 #96
*******************