Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V10_2/V10_258.TXT

Internet Message Format | 1991-07-08 | 14KB

Return-path: <[e-mail]>
X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson
Received: from beak.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/[e-mail] (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests)
          ID </afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr1/ota/Mailbox/IZMuUXC00VcJ0lmE4e>;
          Fri, 17 Nov 89 01:41:42 -0500 (EST)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 89 01:41:17 -0500 (EST)
Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #258

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 10 : Issue 258

Today's Topics:
              Re: Space Elevator
            Air launches from LTA vehicles
             Astronaut Questions
               Re: HST Resolving power
           Re: Looking for US launcher family tree
            Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks
           Payload Status for 11/16/89 (Forwarded)
           Planetary Society - net address
              Re: Advice?? (asking for)
            Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 16 Nov 89 21:49:17 GMT
From: rochester![e-mail]  (Paul Dietz)
Subject: Re: Space Elevator

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John Hogg) writes:

>``Pinwheel'' or rotating tether proposals generally require that
>payload up ~= payload down, so that a minimal amount of propellant
>is used to keep the tether CG in the desired orbit.  They are
>therefore best for situations in which traffic goes both ways.
>In other words, they don't help powersat construction a lot,

They might benefit powersat construction.  One could exchange
unprocessed ET material for powersat components built on earth.
You save the cost of building smelters and factories in space;
you just put together prefab pieces.

    Paul F. Dietz
    [e-mail]

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 18:44:27 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Patrick Foster)
Subject: Air launches from LTA vehicles


With all the talk about the launch of Pegasus, and the attendant
discussion of the advantages/disadvantages of air launches, a question
occurs to me.   I seem to vaguely remember a passing reference to
the Navy performing some experiments launching sounding rockets from
one of their lighter-than-air vehicles (I cannot remember whether it
was a blimp or a dirigible, or something else).  My questions are:

Did these experiments actually take place?  If so, when, where, and
to what effect?

Is there any study being done on using some type of lighter than air
vehicle for a launch platform at the present time?  Once again, when,
where, with what results, and additionally, who?

This is a first posting for me, so please forgive any stylistic
crudities.  I hope that someone on the net can at least point
me in the right direction on this.  I thank you all in advance
for your attention and time.

Patrick W. Foster
Georgia Insitute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
Internet:  [e-mail]
uucp: ...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!eephdpf
ARPA: [e-mail]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes,
is the sluggard to those who use him
as a messenger (Proverbs 10:26 KJV).  As true in the digital
world as the analog, don't you think?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fun facts to relish, remember, and repeat, appearing alongside juicy tidbits
of gossip.  All from the desk of the magpie, whose sole responsiblity they
are, none else.

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

Sender: "Jack_Bacon.WBST897ai"@Xerox.COM
Date: 15 Nov 89 06:32:00 PST (Wednesday)
Subject: Astronaut Questions
From: "Jack_Bacon.WBST897ai"@Xerox.COM
Cc: "Jack_Bacon.WBST897ai"@Xerox.COM

Astronaut Questions:

a) Does anyone know how many new astronaut candidates they're selecting in
the January round?
b) What proportion are to be Mission Specialists vs. Pilots?
c) Are payload specialists chosen at the same time?
d) Have the crews for STS missions # 39 and 41-50 been named yet?
e) When will the next Canadian astronaut fly?
f) Are the French spacionauts scheduled to fly on any more missions with
either the US or the Soviets before they go on HERMES?
g) What are the vitae of the 4 British JUNO finalists?
h) What are the record minimum and maximum ages of all those who have ever
been launched? (any nationality)

Thanks in advance.
-Jack

"Jack Bacon:WBST897AI:XEROX"[e-mail]
I'm dieting.  My goal is to get down to 0 lbs in 8.5 minutes.

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 18:07:57 GMT
From: idacrd![e-mail]  (Robert McGwier)
Subject: Re: HST Resolving power

From article <[e-mail]>, by [e-mail] (daniel mocsny):
> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Allan M. Bjorklund) writes:
>>
>> I redid the calculations, and came up with the HST being able
>> to resolve a 3000 mile wide object at 39 AU which is about 5.3 light
>> hours, which is the distance to Pluto. But unfortunately, Pluto is only
>> about half that in diameter.
>
> Gee, does that mean we can't discover Pluto until HST Release 2.0 orbits?
>
> Dan Mocsny
>



Of course not you dunderhead, it simply means we can't RESOLVE it into a
disk with features visible on its surface, etc.

The signal to noise ratio on this group is appalling with fingers going into
gear well before the neurons are even started.

Bob

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 10:06:26 GMT
From: mcsun!ukc!icdoc!syma![e-mail]  (Nick Watkins)
Subject: Re: Looking for US launcher family tree

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Schneider) writes:

>That's a good intro for my question.
>I've been meaning to ask if anyone can point me at a convenient
>family tree of US launchers, primarily the liquid-fueled variety.
Best off the cuff references are

The Rocket by David Baker (Crown US, 1979 (?))

and

Missiles and Rockets by Kenneth Gatland (Blandford Press UK, 1976 (?)).

The appendices in the former may be all you need.

Also see Andrew Wilson's historical articles in old issues of
"Spaceflight"; and old editions  of Jane's All The World's Aircraft (which
used to cover space).

>I can still say "Redstone" and "Atlas", and I know some second stages
>were originally first stages, but I can't make a coherent picture
>of it.

It isn't very coherent. Basically you have 7 families:

Redstone (Juno 1, Mercury Redstone, WRESAT)

Jupiter (Juno 2)

Scout (various models)

Thor (Delta, Thor Agena, Thor Burner 2, Thor LV 2F and various other
little used variants, new commercial Delta 2.)

Atlas (Atlas Centaur, Atlas Agena, Atlas Able, Atlas Burner 2, Mercury
Atlas D, reconditioned Atlas E and F ICBMs with or without upper
stages, also new commercial Atlas 1 and 2, an Atlas Centaur derivative.)

Titan (Gemini Titan II, Titan  3A, 3B Agena D, 3C, 3D, 3E Centaur, 34B,
34D, Titan II SLV, Titan IV, and new commercial Titan III, a 34D derivative.)

Saturn (I, IB, V)

These cover most variants but I'm bound to have missed some (I'm leaving
out very new developments e.g. Pegasus).


Nick


--
Nick Watkins, Space & Plasma Physics Group, School of Mathematical
& Physical Sciences, Univ. of Sussex, Brighton, E.Sussex, BN1 9QH, ENGLAND
JANET: [e-mail]   BITNET: [e-mail]

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

Date: 16 Nov 89 20:34:13 GMT
From: agate!sandstorm.Berkeley.EDU![e-mail]  (George William Herbert)
Subject: Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Tom Neff) writes:
>Olympic athletes, like Henry's odd claustrophiles, prove that some
>people choose extreme lifestyles and prosper.  But what about the
>kids, is the question!  If you tried to force your toddler to
>be a shot put maniac they'd nail you for child abuse; same thing
>if you never let him leave the basement.  You cannot expect children
>to share their parents' maladjustments.

The simple way to solve all these problems is to let people wander around
outside every (n) days with a suit on and go for walks, picnics, etc.
That way those who are claustrophobes can experience the outside again,
and do neat stuff like look up at stars etc...

Childern have proven extremely adaptable.  Those unfortunate few whom
are/were forced to live in bubbles were able to deal with it.  Just
because you can't concieve of it being 'normal' to grow up liek that doesn't
mean someone who did wouldn't.


*****************************************************************************
George William Herbert   UCB Naval Architecture [On schedule, at UCB? !]
[e-mail] [e-mail]... [e-mail]...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"And what if i Don't?"
"Then, You will die, the Girl dies, everybody dies..."
                    -Heavy Metal
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

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

Date: 16 Nov 89 22:16:43 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Payload Status for 11/16/89 (Forwarded)

Daily Status/KSC Payload Management and Operations 11-16-89


- STS-31R HST (at VPF) -

HST powered down, ECS support was terminated, and HST batteries
were disconnected for solar array panel continuity checks.
Batteries were then reconnected, and ECS is being activated for
continuation of the functional test this morning.  Personnel are
supporting the continuous VPF environmental and ECS unit
monitoring.

- STS-32R SYNCOM (at VPF) -

The SYNCOM sharp edge inspection and pre-power walkdown were
completed yesterday in preparation for the cite interface
verification test.  Call to station for the IVT occurred at 1315
hours, and the test was completed last night second shift.  The
launch power rack was moved from room 104 to the 15-foot level.
Electrical connections are scheduled for this morning.

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

Shorting plug P14 was repaired and reinstalled yesterday.  Pins
were discovered to be reversed in another shorting plug P13, and
that repair is in work.  Igloo MLI blanket repair and left star
tracker installation/torquing was completed.  Preps for cruciform
installation have been placed on hold pending repair of screws
and inserts.

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

Water servicing GSE preps and validation continue.  Rack 7 side
structural mod work and preps for eddy current inspection is in
work.

- STS-42 IML (at O&C) -

Bio rack structural mod work is in progress.

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

Date: 16 Nov 89 23:43:13 GMT
From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!bruce!goanna!minyos!saturn![e-mail]  (Andrew Kemp)
Subject: Planetary Society - net address

Can someone out there in netland please help me.

I am a member of the Planetary Society, and have been for about 4 years.
It is a very good society for space related issues, so I would recommend
people join. Anyway, enough of the sales pitch and onto the reason for
this news article :-)

I am having a LOT of trouble with trying to renew my membership to the
Planetary Society. They have sent me 3 reminders (and a letter informing
me that my membership has expired) and I have replied to every one.

Now, I live in Australia and it appears that mail between Australia and
the US is not getting through (snail mail). Could some kind sole out there
in netland please inform me of the e-mail address of the Planetary Society
if there is one, as I desparately wish to remain a member.

Once I know the address, then hopefully I can inform them of my plight and
keep my membership open.

Thanks in advance for your help in this matter. Please reply to me by
e-mail.

Regards,

Andrew Kemp
([e-mail]   -   ACSnet)

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

Date: 17 Nov 89 01:15:54 GMT
From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!hacgate![e-mail]  (Lori Barfield)
Subject: Re: Advice?? (asking for)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Eugene Miya) writes:
>                                                          (he worked there
>for Huge Aircrash)

Hey!  Better here than Turkeys Running Wild!


...lori

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

Date: 15 Nov 89 21:03:37 GMT
From: dino!sharkey!itivax!vax3![e-mail]  (Allen W. Sherzer)
Subject: Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Tom Neff) writes:
>Suited EVA is a phenomenally expensive and risky operation,

The expense is the time of the person doing the EVA. A shuttle
crewmember is only up there for a short while so they can work
extra long hours and need to because time is limited. However,
a lunar colonist there for years will have free time. The only
expense is the suit itself. Currently suits are expensive because
we have little experience building them and don't view them as
comodity items. That does not mean they will remain custom made
items forever. One can expect as more are build and as the learning
curve is traversed they will become much cheaper.

>Whatever clever notions exist for squeaking planetary colonies into the
>realm of economic feasibility, all assume that little or nothing is
>wasted.

So what is wasted? Oxygen? There is plenty of that on the moon.

> EVA is an ultra-wasteful luxury to which we have become
>accustomed as an ornament to our extravaganza-obsessed infant space
>program.

At first, sure I'll go along with that. But after a few years when
some infastructure is built up? You're grasping at straws.

   Allen

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Allen W. Sherzer                    |  Is the local cluster the result   |
|  [e-mail]                        |  of gerrymandering?                |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

End of SPACE Digest V10 #258
*******************