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Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #254

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 10 : Issue 254

Today's Topics:
            space news from Sept 18 AW&ST
  SYNCOM-IV satellite showing to be held Nov. 20 at KSC (Forwarded)
       Re: Yet Another Crazy Idea For Spacetravel (ROCKETPROPS)
           Re: Population pressure to move to space
              Re: Hubble Space Telescope
             Re: Another spinoff?
            Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks
           Payload Status for 11/15/89 (Forwarded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 16 Nov 89 03:02:42 GMT
From: attcan!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: space news from Sept 18 AW&ST

Wonderworks Inc, a California special-effects company, is building a
full-scale shuttle orbiter mockup, and a separate cabin mockup with
computer-driven displays, for the exhibition/fair market.

Hughes and Martin Marietta agree to terminate a contract calling for
launch of two Hughes comsats on Commercial Titan;  Hughes wanted part
of the payload on each of two flights, and MM has decided it wants to
sell only full launches.

Spacehab is sorting out final development financing for its cabin-expansion
modules for the shuttle.  About 50% of the $130M is foreign.

NASA throws several hundred bureaucrats at Moon/Mars planning, mostly aimed
at the first-stage lunar outpost.

Truly will shortly receive a list of options for cutbacks in the space
station, much to the displeasure of the international partners, who have
not been consulted.  ESA has suggested that one way to cut costs would
be to delay the US laboratory module in favor of early launch of the
European or Japanese lab module.  (There is concern that NASA may consider
the resources needed to operate the foreign lab modules expendable when
the squeeze is on.)

NASA is investigating why Columbia's body flap deflected over 30cm just
after launch in August.  The mission was unaffected, but there is concern
over possible delays to the December LDEF retrieval mission if the flap
needs substantial work.  The flap's deflection was detected by new
high-resolution cameras installed after Challenger, operating in unusually
favorable conditions:  a high-inclination launch and very clear weather.

NASA HQ rejects proposal to swap November and December shuttle missions
to retrieve LDEF earlier.

Soviets reactivate Mir, after Viktorenko and Serebrov have to make a
manual docking due to a minor malfunction in their automatic docking
system.

The "Energia group" of Soviet aerospace companies is now offering
launch opportunities for Mir, Buran, Soyuz, and Progress payloads
directly, rather than through Glavcosmos as before.

Senate panel recommends zero FY1990 military funding for NASP, citing
limited military applications and high technological risk.  It urges
an international program involving US allies.

Last NASA-run expendable launch imminent (set for Sept 22):  an Atlas
Centaur carrying a Navy comsat.  This is the launch that was delayed
2+ years due to the pad accident that ruined the original Centaur stage.

Japanese H-1 launcher launches GMS-4 Clarke-orbit weather satellite
successfully Sept 6, after a last-minute pad abort Aug 8.

DARPA contracts with Space Data Corp, a division of Orbital Sciences,
for first launch of a new, small, fast-reaction space launcher:  Taurus.
Taurus is essentially an MX first stage plus a wingless variant of
Pegasus.  First launch in 1991 from Vandenberg.  The DARPA contract
includes options for five more.  The primary objective is to demonstrate
the ability to launch small military satellites quickly, to boost
capabilities in a crisis or replace destroyed satellites.  (There are
classified projects underway to develop small comsats and tactical
spysats for launch by boosters of this class.)  DoD will supply a bare
concrete slab at Vandenberg and Space Data will have five days for setup,
after which they must be ready to launch on three days' notice.  The
first payload is 1000lbs into a 400nmi polar orbit; several satellites
are being considered for the slot.  Space Data expects to be able to
eventually launch 3000lbs into low orbit, 830lbs into transfer orbit,
2300lbs into polar orbit, or perhaps 900lbs to escape (e.g. to the Moon).
The first launch is costing DARPA $11M, and Space Data will spend
$10M of its own money for development.  Taurus will be available
commercially at about $15.5M.  Various people are interested, including
the USAF Space Test Program ("a range of missions"), Lincoln Labs (an
experimental Clarke-orbit laser comsat), NASA (small reentry capsules
for, e.g., life sciences), Ball Aerospace (small comsats), and JPL
(small planetary missions).

Ball Aerospace to build the radio-astronomy payload for the Submillimeter
Wave Astronomy Satellite, for launch in 1993.  The bird itself will come
from Goddard.

Los Alamos and the USAF will buy a Pegasus launch in 1991 for ALEXIS,
the Array of Low-Energy X-Ray Imaging Sensors satellite, to do a sky
survey in the hard-UV/soft-X-ray boundary region.  There is believed
to be a diffuse background glow in that area of the spectrum, perhaps
from star-forming gas clouds, but the area has not been studied much.

NASA's B-52 flies first simulated Pegasus launch (no hardware on board)
Aug 22, finding "a few minor quirks" in procedures and communications.

German-built 1:5.24 scale model of the NASA shuttle orbiter will be
dropped from a high-altitude balloon and recovered by parachute after
flying at speeds up to Mach 1.7.  Results will be compared with the
NASA shuttle-flight database to validate the testing technique.  Three
flights are planned.  If the technique pans out well, OHB System (the
company involved) proposes a 1:2.5 scale model of Hermes to verify
Hermes's reentry aerodynamics.
--
A bit of tolerance is worth a  |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
megabyte of flaming.           | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 21:21:24 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: SYNCOM-IV satellite showing to be held Nov. 20 at KSC (Forwarded)


  Patricia Phillips                              Nov. 15, l989

  KSC Release No. 115-89

  Note to Editors and News Directors:

  SYNCOM-IV SATELLITE SHOWING TO BE HELD NOV. 20 AT KSC

       The SYNCOM-IV satellite,  which will be  deployed  from  the
  Space  Shuttle  Columbia  during  the STS-32 mission in December,
  will be the topic of  a  photo  opportunity  and  informal  press
  briefing Monday,  Nov. 20. The showing will be held at 11 a.m. at
  the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF),  where SYNCOM-IV is  cur-
  rently undergoing the final stages of pre-flight processing.

       Members  of  the payloads processing team will be on hand at
  the VPF to answer questions during the  showing.  The  satellite,
  manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company, arrived at Kennedy Space
  Center Monday,  Nov. 13. After inspections and a launch readiness
  test,  the satellite's next scheduled milestone is  an  interface
  verification test (IVT).  This test, using special equipment that
  simulates the orbiter, verifies that all interfaces will function
  properly during on-orbit operations and deployment. Following the
  IVT this week and final closeout work, the payload will go to the
  pad early next week.

       The SYNCOM satellite  is  one  of  a  series  of  satellites
  developed to serve as a successor to the U.S. Navy FLTSATCOM sys-
  tem  of communications satellites.  After its deployment from the
  Columbia,  a Minuteman III third stage solid rocket motor will be
  used to achieve synchronous transfer orbit.  Once on station, the
  satellite will be known as LEASAT 5.  It is owned and operated by
  Hughes Communications Inc.

       The  STS-32  mission  will be a unique mission involving the
  "up processing" and deployment of the SYNCOM satellite,  followed
  by  the  retrieval,  return,  and  "down processing"  of the Long
  Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF).  Payload processing  teams  at
  KSC  are  working  the  challenge  of  supporting operations both
  before and after launch.

       "The teams are  doing a good job with planning and  hands-on
  work  for  one  of the more unique payloads missions," said Ralph
  Shuiling,  NASA payloads manager for the STS-32  mission.  "We're
  looking forward to the successful deployment of the SYNCOM,  fol-
  lowed by the return of LDEF."

       During Monday's showing,  the satellite will be seen in  the
  VPF airlock.  The spacecraft will be installed in the canister in
  preparation for transportation to the  pad.  The  canister  doors
  will  be  open to allow photographic coverage of the flight-ready
  satellite.  Time reserved for press activities at the VPF will be
  about 45 minutes.

  Clean  room attire,  which is required,  will be provided.  Other
  cleanroom rules include the following:

       --all photographic equipment must be self-contained with in-
  ternal power, as no external power hookups are available;

       --electronic flash will be  permitted;,  however,  no  flash
  bulbs may be used;

       --no flame-producing devices of any sort can be carried into
  any part of the VPF;

       --due  to  anti-contamination regulations,  no hair spray or
  cosmetics can be worn in the clean-room environment;

       --and,  safety regulations  require  low-heeled,  close-toed
  shoes.

       Media representatives requiring accreditation should contact
  the  NASA-KSC  News Center at XXX/YYY-ZZZZ by Nov.  17 to arrange
  for badging.

       Transportation from the NASA News Center will  be  provided.
  Departure time is scheduled for  10:30 a.m.

       Because  Wednesday,  Nov.  22,  is the target launch day for
  STS-33,  and because access to SYNCOM-IV is on a non-interference
  basis with processing operations, reporters and photographers are
  advised to keep in touch with the News Center to be sure there is
  no change in day or time of event.

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

Date: 16 Nov 89 00:12:31 GMT
From: mailrus!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Yet Another Crazy Idea For Spacetravel (ROCKETPROPS)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mark Robert Thorson) writes:
>Basically, the idea is this:  have a single piece, which would be a large
>fan on the outside and a small fan on the inside.  The inner fan would
>actually be inside the rocket's exhaust.  This would drive the outer fan,
>which would be used to move a large volume of air.
>
>The advantage would be greater efficiency while the proprocket is in the air,
>just as bypass engines provided a great increase in jet engine efficiency
>back in the 1960's and UDF engines hold the promise of a similar increase
>in the 1990's.

The problem with this is the fine print:  greater efficiency while you are
in the air AT SUBSONIC SPEED.  Propellers are a disaster at supersonic
speeds; you don't see fighters being designed with UDF engines, and although
they do use turbofans, the bypass ratios are *very* low by transport
standards.  Rockets spend very little time subsonic.  It's not worth it.
--
A bit of tolerance is worth a  |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
megabyte of flaming.           | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 16 Nov 89 21:16:27 GMT
From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!jarthur![e-mail]  (David L. Williamson)
Subject: Re: Population pressure to move to space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Sang J. Moon) writes:
>It occurs to me that if the threat of major war is removed from earth via
>peace between USA and USSR, the population explosion resulting from lack of
>massive death will necessitate developing ways to put the surplus population
>into space or else we will have to have another war.
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
>    "I have faith in God, but I do not have faith in the Church."

This seems to me to be downright silly.
At the *current* rate of increase, the country of Nigeria will have a larger
population than the US by 2060 or so.  Of course, the rate of increase is
decreasing, so this is unlikely to happen.  Total population may eventually
reach ten billion, but with the unknown of AIDS and how to feed all these
people, this won't even likely occur.  Most population growth in the world is
happening in Africa (growth rates of 7% annual!!!), but AIDS is predicted to
kill as much as 1/2 of that continent's population.  (If we could just give
TVs to all of the underprivileged people on the planet, they'd have something
to do in the evening's besides making babies :-)

Overpopulation not a real problem, and not about to cause global thermonuclear
war.  sorry.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
David L. Williamson              "How far can you see with the naked eye?"
[e-mail]
[e-mail]            "About 2.2 million light-years, except in
Platt Campus Center                        LA.  I hate smog."
Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, CA  91711             Pseudo-disclaimer:  I know nothing.  almost.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 16 Nov 89 01:30:33 GMT
From: psuvm![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Hubble Space Telescope

As far as long base-line interferometry is concerned, I did some calculations,
and, going back to the continent-on-a-planet-orbiting-A.-Centuri problem,
two HST's in 3000km high orbit 180 degrees apart would resolve North America at
4.3 light years. Going to a higher orbit would increase the resolving power,
but you have to have some pretty impressive computer facilities to use visual
LBI.
***************************************************************************
Mike Williams
[e-mail]

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

Date: 16 Nov 89 03:26:09 GMT
From: attcan!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Another spinoff?

In article <Added.QZMSgqi00Ui3A=[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Will Martin) writes:
>>*... Lunar Orbiters ...
>
>Hmmm... This means they had to have self-contained film processing
>development machines inside them.  Are the "one-hour photo labs" that use
>an automated film processing unit and which are now all over the country
>spinoffs from this particular space program?

Uh, no, they aren't.  All the details of the Lunar Orbiter film-processing
system were classified and still are.  Why?  Because the technology was
borrowed directly from the USAF's first-generation spy satellites, on
condition that the innards remain secret.
--
A bit of tolerance is worth a  |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
megabyte of flaming.           | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 18:28:41 GMT
From: bfmny0![e-mail]  (Tom Neff)
Subject: Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks

Everyone seems to assume that in a Moon or Mars colony, things will be
bearable because you can go outside whenever you want.  What a strange
and wishful notion!  Suited EVA is a phenomenally expensive and risky
operation, restricted to the select few who absolutely need it.
Whatever clever notions exist for squeaking planetary colonies into the
realm of economic feasibility, all assume that little or nothing is
wasted.  EVA is an ultra-wasteful luxury to which we have become
accustomed as an ornament to our extravaganza-obsessed infant space
program.  In a working colony that has to pay its way without lavish
subsidies, you will damn well stay indoors unless there is something
outside that the telerobotics can't do!  That's why it matters so much
what it's like indoors.  And if indoors means perpetual basement
dwelling, forget it!  Antarctica is the model.  There is nothing planned
or proposed for a Moon colony that we could not do cheaper down there,
except play with hard vac or big solar arrays (but AA has coal and oil).
So where are the families?

By the way, if you want to know exactly when and where the US space
program died, I can tell you.  Repeat these words:

    CONSHELF II

--
"UNIX should be used          ::   Tom Neff <[e-mail]> or
 as an adjective." -- AT&T   ::    ...uunet!bfmny0!tneff (UUCP only)

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 21:37:51 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Payload Status for 11/15/89 (Forwarded)

- STS-31R HST (at VPF) -

Following completion of SYNCOM hazardous operations at 1600 hours
last night, HST powered up and proceeded into their functional
test.  Personnel are supporting the continuous VPF environmental
and ECS unit monitoring.

- STS-32R SYNCOM (at VPF) -

Yesterday the SYNCOM spacecraft was installed in the VPHD
J-hooks, lifting slings, cover, and transporter moved out of the
VPF, and platforms were configured.  The debris shield was
installed and electrical GSE was positioned and connections were
completed.  The power on portion of the SYNCOM launch readiness
test was completed, and final spacecraft connections are
scheduled for this morning in preparation for the interface
verification test at noon.

- STS-35 ASTRO-1/BBXRT (at O&C) -

IPR troubleshooting the problems taken during IPS power on retest
continues.  The one IPS broken ground wire has been repaired.

- STS-40 SLS-1 (at O&C) -

Rack 4 structural mod activities continue.  Rack 6 panel
installation and rack 5 back panel removal was completed.

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

End of SPACE Digest V10 #254
*******************