Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V11_1/V11_189.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #189

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 11 : Issue 189

Today's Topics:
      Re: What does it cost to push a pound into orbit?
               * SpaceNews 26-Mar-90 *
        Re: For All Mankind - Great Movie!!!!!
           If Freedom is unbuildable, *then* what?
           Mars Rover Update (Forwarded) - 03/26/90
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 26 Mar 90 20:14:56 GMT
From: eagle![e-mail]  (Dave McKissock)
Subject: Re: What does it cost to push a pound into orbit?

In article <[e-mail]>, Allen W. Sherzer writes:

>Well, I found the following information in recent issues of Avation Week.
>These numbers refelect recent launches and are not 'list price'. I took
>the cost of launch and divided by max payload to leo and got:

>Vehicle   Cost of launch     Payload (lbs)     Cost/Payload       Notes

>Shuttle     $300 mil          50,000 (LEO)        $6,000          [1]

Here at NASA Lewis Research Center, when we perform Life Cycle Cost
calculations for Space Station we use $3000 / lb for Shuttle
launch costs.
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave McKissock              [e-mail]

Note: If you wish to respond to me directly, DON'T SEND THE MSG TO
the REPLY TO address, as it won't work. Instead use the above address.

**********************************************************************
Opinions expressed herein probably bear absolutely no resemblance to
the official NASA position

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

Date: 25 Mar 90 02:14:51 GMT
From: att!tsdiag!ka2qhd![e-mail]  (John Magliacane)
Subject: * SpaceNews 26-Mar-90 *


Bulletin ID: SPC0326

                              =========
                              SpaceNews
                              =========

                         MONDAY MARCH 26, 1990

SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, NJ, and is distributed weekly
around the world on USENET and Amateur Packet Radio. It is available for
UNLIMITED worldwide distribution.


* MUSES-A NEWS *
================
Hiten (MUSES-A) made the first lunar swingby at 05h04m09s JST (UT+9h) on 19th
at the distance 14,073km, 27 minutes earlier Hiten separated a lunar orbiter
and its rocket put it in lunar orbit.  The orbiter was named HAGOROMO, which
means "angel's robe" in Japanese.

[Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 19 evening edition]


* DOVE NEWS *
=============
N4HY reports that the crash of the DOVE computer which had caused the key-down
condition has been brought under control.  The DOVE transmitter was blocking
the uplink command channel and the software crash was inhibiting the on/off
cycling of the transmitter.

The solid key-down condition caused DOVE's batteries to discharge far enough
that Dave, W5UN was able to send a special "hard reboot" reset command using
his moonbounce (EME) antenna array in Texas.

Congratulations and thanks to W5UN and N4HY for their heroic rescue efforts.

[From: Tom, W3IWI via Amateur Packet Radio]


* AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY FROM MIR *
===================================
Soviet cosmonauts Anatoly Soloviev (U6MIR) and Alexander Balandin (U7MIR)
began Amateur Radio operations from the MIR space station on March 9th,
according to Leo, RA3AT.

Most activity is expected to occur on or near 145.500 MHz FM, with operations
occuring after 18:00 UTC on weekdays and anytime on weekends.

QSL cards for this operation are available via UW3AX at P.O. Box 679, Moscow
107207, USSR (S.A.S.E. please).


* SHUTTLE NEWS *
================
KSC SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT - THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1990 - 11:30 a.m.

STS-31 - DISCOVERY (OV-103) - LAUNCH PAD 39-B

This morning, workers successfully completed loading hypergolic propellants
into Discovery's onboard storage tanks and the pad has been opened for normal
work.  Monomethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants were loaded into
the orbital maneuvering system and reaction control system storage tanks.
Hydrazine was loaded into the orbiter's auxiliary power unit storage tanks and
the boosters' hydraulic power unit storage tanks.

Today, engine technicians will inspect a teflon coated seal at the joint
between the engine 2 low pressure fuel turbo pump and the orbiter main
propulsion system.  A leak was detected at this joint during the helium
signature test.  This is a 12-inch diameter line at the engine to orbiter
interface.

STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV-102) - OPF BAY 1

Electrical connections between Astro and the orbiter are continuing and
testing will follow.  Connections of the Broad Band X-ray Telescope are
underway today.  An engine flight readiness test was conducted yesterday.
During this routine test, engine start is simulated, valves are cycled and
sensors and transducers are calibrated.

This week, checks of the water spray boilers, Ku-band antenna testing and
leak checks of the elevon cove seal area are underway.  Thermal protection
system operations are continuing around the S-band antenna and landing gear
doors.

[From: Peter E. Yee @ NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA]


* HAM RADIO INFO *
==================
Interested in learning more about the Amateur Radio Service?  For information
on licensing requirements and operating privileges, write:

The American Radio Relay League
225 Main Street
Newington, Connecticut 06111
U.S.A.


* FEEDBACK WELCOMED *
=====================
Feedback regarding SpaceNews can be directed to the editor (John) via any
of the following paths:

UUCP   : ucbvax!rutgers!petsd!tsdiag!ka2qhd!kd2bd
PACKET : KD2BD @ NN2Z.NJ.USA.NA

MAIL   : John A. Magliacane
         Department of Electronics Technology
         Brookdale Community College
         Newman Springs Road
         Lincroft, New Jersey 07738
         U.S.A.


<eof>

--
AMPR : KD2BD @ NN2Z (Neptune, NJ)
UUCP : ucbvax!rutgers!petsd!tsdiag!ka2qhd!kd2bd
       "For every problem, there is one solution which is simple,
       neat and wrong." -- H.L. Mencken

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

Date: 26 Mar 90 16:11:21 GMT
From: usc!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!dali!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!nic.MR.NET!timbuk![e-mail]  (Lou Adornato)
Subject: Re: For All Mankind - Great Movie!!!!!

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Doug Josephson) writes:
>
>    [good review of an Apollo documentary deleted]
> Filmed on location with a budget of $42 billion and a cast and crew of 24.  Now
> if they could just make an IMAX film out of it!

AAAAAAAaaaaarghhhhhh!  A cast of thousands! - about 330,000, in fact.  What, did
you think that the money was just boosted into orbit and left there?

>PS.  This is my first posting ever, so hopefully it won't be fouled up.  I am
>     also pretty dumb when it comes to using mail so I hope that the address
>     thingamajigger means something to somebody!

Then this must be your first flame.  Actually, it's more of a mild breeze of hot
air.  You've managed to trigger one of my major pet peeves.  Speaking as someone
who would love to play some part in the ongoing drama, keep this in mind:

    "They also serve who stand and file wiring change request forms"

Lou Adornato    |  Statements herein do not represent the opinions or
Cray Research   |  attitudes of Cray Research, Inc. or its subsidiaries.
[e-mail]    |       (...yet)

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

Date: 24 Mar 90 03:49:46 GMT
From: mailrus!b-tech!kitenet![e-mail]  (Russ Cage)
Subject: If Freedom is unbuildable, *then* what?

Suppose for a moment that the critics of NASA are correct,
that Freedom cannot be built and operated as designed.
Is there any information about what NASA did that made it
so failure-prone compared to current orbital hardware?

On a more interesting note, has anyone compared details
of the LLNL inflatable concept to see if it has similar
weaknesses?  Could "cheap 'n quick" possibly get a boost
from this revelation?  Or is something else indicated?
--
  I am paid to write all of RSI's opinions.  Want me to write some for you?
[phone]        Forewarned is half an octopus.
Russ Cage, Robust Software Inc.            [e-mail]

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

Date: 27 Mar 90 05:36:35 GMT
From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Rover Update (Forwarded) - 03/26/90


Aviation Week & Space Technology, March 26, 1990

"NASA Begins Operating Testbed to Access Semi-Autonomous Navigation
Techniques"        by Michael Dornheim

     The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory has started operating a six-wheeled
vehicle here to test semi-autonomous navigation techniques applicable to
a Mars rover or situations where real-time human control is not pratical.

     The testbed vehicle, funded at about $1 million in Fiscal 1990, is part
of the Exploration Technology Initiative of NASA's Office of Aeronautics
and Exploration Technology.  The purpose of the initiative is to provide
information for future decisions on NASA programs.

     The vehicle takes navigation ideas developed in the laboratory and tests
them in a realistic environment.  The six-wheeled articulated chassis is a
leading contender for a Mars rover configuration, according to Brian H.
Wilcox, supervisor of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) robotic sensing
and percerption group.  The alternative configuration is a "walker" concept
that has about twice the relative mobility, but the six-wheeled configuration
should be adequate for all but high-risk terrain, and should be simpler and
more reliable, Wilcox said (AW&ST Oct 9, 1989, p. 85).

DIFFERTIAL WHEEL MOTION
     The testbed has a central chassis with two wheels, a forward axle that is
free to move in roll and yaw and an aft axle that is free to move in roll,
pitch and yaw.  Steering is by differential wheel motion on the fore and aft
axles.  A robotic arm is on the front axle, and a set of television cameras
is on a bar atop the central chassis.  Experimenters monitor the testbed with
an externally mounted computer - there is no radio link.  The six-wheel
configuration technology was developed by General Motors since the 1960s, and
the purpose of the testbed is to evaluate software, not the basic mobility
system.

     Three outings had been made as of late last week, and the rover has not
yet been operated autonomously.  A drive-train fault prevented this Aviation
Week & Space Technology editor from observing autonomous travel on the third
outing.  With current hardware, the testbed will be able to move autonomously
about 50 meters (164 feet) in an 8 hour day, Wilcox said.

     The algorithm works by first using stereo cameras to make a 3D map of the
terrain ahead, plotting a course through the terrain and then executing this
course without further visual reference.  This process is repeated in 5-8
meter (16-26 feet) segments with the current software and hardware.  Each
segment takes about 1 hour to execute and most of this time is spent deriving
the map and plotting the course.

     Expected inclination angles and other data are calculated during the
course plotting and compared with actual sensor data as the rover moves.  If
the sensors differ too much from the expected value, the rover stops for
safety.  Besides unseen rocks, one hazard postulated on the Mars surface
is "dusttraps" - pits that have been filled with fine dust so their danger is
not seen by the cameras.

     A local terrain map is built up from the vehicle's motion and is compared
with a stored global terrain map with 1-meter resolution, comparable to
what might be expected from a satellite map of Mars.

     As more powerful computers become available, the weighting of the various
algorithms may change.  For example, vision is not used during movement now
because the data takes too long to process.  But a new pipeline processor
should greatly spped up this task; then vision may be used as another input
during motion and paths may be replotted in shorter segments.

HIGH-SPEED MICROPROCESSORS
     The visual pipeline processor and other high-speed microprocessors are to
be installed within a year, and then the rover testbed should be able to
travel at its full average speed of 3 cm/sec (1 inch/sec), or about 1000 km
on an actual Mars mission, Wilcox said.  This would allow the rover to
adequately survey sites before sending samples back to Earth.  Good Earth
launch opportunities fo a Mars sample return mission are in 2000 and 2002.

     The testbed is now being operated in rocky dry riverbed next to JPL,
but will later be tested at a lava crater and in sand dunes.  Wilcox hopes
to put hundreds of test kilomters on the rover.

(Photo shows the Mars rover with a JPL person typing on a keyboard
 and monitor placed atop the rover).


 Ron Baalke                       |    [e-mail]
 Jet Propulsion Lab  M/S 301-355  |    [e-mail]
 4800 Oak Grove Dr.               |
 Pasadena, CA 91109               |

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

End of SPACE Digest V11 #189
*******************