Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V11_4/V11_442.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #442

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 11 : Issue 442

Today's Topics:
           Payload Status for 05/22/90 (Forwarded)
                 wooden ships
         NASA Headline News for 05/21/90 (Forwarded)
   re: Space List - a few more things space enthusiasts might like
             Re: Manned Mission To Venus
              EXPLORATORY CREWS
             Vatican vs. Science
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 22 May 90 23:41:22 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Payload Status for 05/22/90 (Forwarded)


    Daily Status/KSC Payload Management and Operations 05-22-90.


    - STS-31R HST (at VPF) -

    Post launch GSE removal continues.


    - STS-35 ASTRO-1/BBXRT (at Pad A) -

    No payload activities are scheduled for today.


    - STS-40 SLS-1 (at 0&C) -

    CITE MUE and S/W verifications are to performed today to
    support CITE testing.  Power up IPR troubleshooting will
    continue today.


    - STS-41 Ulysses (at ESA 60) -

    PAM-S spin balance operations will continue today at ESA 60.


    - STS-42 IML-1 (at O&C) -

    Module pyrell foam replacement, floor staging, and rack
    staging continues.


    - STS-45 (Atlas-1) (at O&C) -

    VAS and coldplate installations will continue today.


    - STS-46 TSS-1 (at O&C) -

    No activities are scheduled for today.


    - STS-47 Spacelab-J (at O&C)

    No work is scheduled for today.


    - STS-55 SL-D2 (at O&C) -

    Rack 12 staging will continue today.


    - STS-LON-3 HST M&R (at O&C) -

    ORUC interface testing is scheduled for today.

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

Date: 22 May 90 04:15:49 GMT
From: attcan!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: wooden ships

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Patrick B. Haggood) writes:
>Besides, Magellan didn;t have to throw his boat away after the trip (yeah,
>I know he died, I'm trying to make a point!) :-)

It wasn't uncommon for wooden ships to last only one major voyage, or for
that matter for an expedition to come back with fewer ships than it started
with, because of things like shipworm.
--
Life is too short to spend    |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
debugging Intel parts. -Van J.| uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 22 May 90 23:29:13 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA Headline News for 05/21/90 (Forwarded)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, May 21, 1990                 Audio Service:  202/755-1788
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This is NASA Headline News for Monday, May 21........

The Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field/Planetary Camera shutter
opened at 11:12 A.M. EDT, Sunday, to take the first test
pictures.  Operators were anticipating the quality of the
pictures to equal those taken from a ground-based telescope.
Compared to pictures of the star field taken by a ground-based
telescope, it looks like the Hubble is working at least two times
better than expected at this time.

A media briefing on Sunday at Goddard Space Flight Center
provided real-time information on how the images were obtained
and captured on the ground.  The first images showed a double
star.  Pictures of the same image taken by the ground-based
telescope appeared as a single elongated dot.  The telescope's
wide-field camera team leader Dr. James Westphal said, "we've
already learned something we didn't know and that's fun!"

                            ********

Aviation Week reports the White House and OMB are holding firm on
NASA's $15.1-billion budget request for FY '91.  In talks with
congressional leaders, OMB Director Richard G. Darman is trying
to place NASA's 24% budget increase for next year "off limits"
from the Gramm-Rudman deficit cuts under negotiation, according
to the magazine.  The article says the White House and OMB
believe cuts in aerospace technology spending should come from
the Defense Department, not NASA.

                            ********

Administrator Richard Truly will participate in a Department of
Energy press briefing tomorrow, May 22.  An action plan to
revitalize math and science education will be announced.  The
cooperative NASA and Department of Energy enterprise will target
opportunities to improve literacy in the general public, bring
greater numbers of women and minorities into science and
technology.
                            ********

Pictures brought back from the Soviet Soyuz manned transport
docked to the Mir space station show insulation damage, according
to Aviation Week.  An editor reports seeing tears in the
insulation blankets that may have happened during launch last
February.  The vehicle's metallic skin has been exposed to the
space vacuum, seriously effecting the spacecraft's temperature
control.  Soviet managers are deciding whether to move the Soyuz
for an external repair.
                            ********








----------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA
Select TV.  All times are Eastern.

Monday, May 21...............

              12:00 Noon          Hubble Space Telescope
                                  News Briefing. Replay of
                                  first pictures received
                                  Sunday, May 20.

Tuesday, May 22..............

              12:00-2:00 P.M.     NASA PRODUCTIONS
                                  Hubble Space Telescope
                                  Earth Fest '90
                                  C.A.S.I.S. Workshop
                                  (Center of Atmospheric
                                  and Space Information Sciences)

Thursday, May 24.............

              11:30 A.M.          NASA UPDATE will be transmitted


All events and times are subject to change without notice.  These
reports are filed daily, Monday through Friday, at 12:00 Noon,
EDT.  This is a service of the Internal Communications Branch,
NASA HQ.  Contact: JSTANHOPE on NASAMAIL or at 202/453-8425.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Select TV:  Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, C-Band 72 Degrees
West Longitude, Audio 6.8, Frequency 3960 MHz.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 22 May 90 02:05:59 GMT
From: att!cbnewsd![e-mail]  (david.c.newkirk)
Subject: re: Space List - a few more things space enthusiasts might like

A few more numbers and equations relevant to space exploration...

Numbers:
 3.08 e13 km    parsec
 9.46 e12 km    light year
 0.46 km/s    Speed of Earth's rotation at equator
 3.0  e8 m/s    Speed of light in a vacuum

Equations:
  Escape velocity is the critical speed you need to achieve orbit:
    sqrt(g R) or sqrt(2 G M / R)

  Eccentricity is a measure of how circular an orbit is:
    e = (apogee - perigee) / 2 r, where r is the average orbital radius.

  The famous delta-v equation for how much velocity you get for burning a
  portion of fuel is:
    Dv = Ve LOGe(Mi / Mf), where Ve is the exhaust velocity,
                     Mi is the initial mass,
                     Mf is the final mass

  This can also be expressed by replacing Ve by g * Isp, where Isp is the
  specific impulse of the fuel.

  Here is a different form of the delta-v equation:
    Dv = Ve LOG(t0 / (t0 - t)), where t0 is the time when all the fuel
                    will be exhausted, and t is the start time.

  This give the displacement of a constantly accelerating rocket:
    d = c^2 / a COSH(at/c - 1), where a is acceleration,
                      t is the subjective time,
                      c is speed of light

  With long time spans and/or high accelerations, this demonstrates special
  relativity in action.  [ Note that COSH(x) = (e^x + e^-x)/2 ]

  The thrust of a rocket engine can be approximated by:
    2 A (p - p0), where A is the minimum nozzle area,
                p is the chamber pressure,
                p0 is the pressure outside the engine

  Or by:
    Ve * F, where F is the rate of fuel use
--
                Dave Newkirk, att!ihlpm!dcn

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

Date: 22 May 90 15:34:01 GMT
From: usc!samsung!rex!rouge![e-mail]  (Fraering Philip)
Subject: Re: Manned Mission To Venus

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

  [stuff about privacy on sailing ships and naval vessels deleted]

Actually, the case closest to the spaceship is the nuclear submarine.
It is not only more crowded than a frigate, but you can't step out on
deck for a short walk or even have 'liberty at sea' and go swimming...


However, I have never heard of nuclear submariners having to be carried
off of the submarine in stretchers due to decalcification and atrophied
muscles. The Soviet cosmonauts who set the current records of around 9
months to a year have.

I suggest that we use a _very_ fast trajectory spacecraft in conjunction with
unmanned fuel depots supplied by either solar sails or electric rockets
on slow trajectories, or even by indigenous materials.

The idea has been suggested before, but I don't know where.

Philip Fraering
[e-mail]

"Surely the gate to Eden must be nearby." Columbus, exploring the mouth of
the Orinoco River.

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

Date: 22 May 90 16:56:15 GMT
From: m2c!wpi![e-mail]  (Matthew J Rosenwasser)
Subject: EXPLORATORY CREWS

Does the quote "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" stand in
exploratory missions to the outer planets of the solar system?  I mean,
should there be people on board who can be ordered to sacrifice their life
in ordered to ensure the lives of the others on board?

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

Date: 22 May 90 00:24:47 GMT
From: snorkelwacker!usc!srhqla!quad1!ttidca![e-mail]  (Erik Sorgatz - Avatar)
Subject: Vatican vs. Science


 First an apology: To everyone for having wasted the bandwidth of this group
to settle an issue such as this. Any firther discussion about this matter is
directed to email.

 Second, it seems that there are a number of you out-there that support the
use of Occam's Razor in dealing with such nonsense; my thanks for your nice
responses about this issue.

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

>From: [e-mail] (Thomas Hoey)

>In reference to Erik K. Sorgatz recent attack on the Vatican I find it
>silly that he does not take his argument to another list, how about
>Fraud in science? His first postings on this issue bothered me but I
>did not find that they warranted a reply. Today however when I see that
>Mr.Sorgatz is connected with Citicorp TTI I am responding. As a stock
>holder and former Officer of Citicorp I do not understand what Mr.Sorgatz
>is trying to accomplish on this subject, and I intend to write to the
>board of directors on this matter. Since there is no disclaimer under
>his postings I am sure Citicorp public relations will not be ammused
>by his ramblings...


 Mr. Hoey:

 If you persist in your avowed course of action you will find that this has
already been tried, not once, but several times by the likes of persons such
as yourself.  My rights to commentary here on subjects such as this are all
covered by the United States Constitution and in particular by the Freedom
of Speech provisions under the Bill of Rights.

 Everything that is carried by Usenet is considered to be personal opinion,
unless an individual explicitly states otherwise. Hence, My opinions are in
no way connected with the Corp., it's policies, or it's official position.

 Your attempt to censor me in this manner is most childish, and my lawyer
tells me that that we could make a great deal out of this in a court of
law if you so desire...feel lucky?  There are already three people that
have had this done to them, would you like to make it four?!

 The fact that you, personally, are offended by my statements does not give
you the right to harass me (or anyone else) through the Public Relations
Office. It is in fact unlawful to do so! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

 If you would care to debate the actually issues, then you may
do so via email, since I refuse to continue this here in 'sci.space'.

>From: [e-mail]
+     In SPACE Digest V11 #422 Mr. Erik K. Sorgatz made various comments
+against the Catholic Church.  He said that the Church was completely
+opposed to space exploration, without citing any documents.

 Go read some major newspapers from the 1955-1979 timeframe. The Church
has been opposed to the exploration of space since the earliest times.

+     Granted the Church has had a terrible history - but does that mean it
+is impossible for the Church to do some good now or in the future?  As far

 Just like that? A hand-wave? No, I don't think you understand the basis
of the argument. Reread what I wrote. We're talking about money, power and
the ability to control society. You seem to want to ignore this, why?

+as suggesting that science has not tarnished itself with unethical acts we
+can take a look at a few historical examples of misdeeds in science.
+Most people know of the medical experiments conducted in the concentration
+camps of World War II.  Some people would say that some useful knowledge
++might have come from it, but few would say that the experiments were
+ethical.  Nuclear weapons did provide useful gains in physics, but this

 None of this is really science. You are referring to the torture of human
beings by human-monsters. This does not reflect well for any of those that
were involved, but I would not consider this a mark against anyone but the
Nazi's and those that allowed them to operate. Torture unto death is one
of the things that the Church used to do quite often, read some History..
..check out the Inquisition, really a saintly crew, eh?

+knowledge did not necessarily mandate that bombs bshould be used on cities.
+Obviously political conditions are a factor but in the end scientists must
+accept some responsibility for their work.  Scientists can be corrupt, just
++as anybody else can (including the Church).  The ends do not justify the
+means.
+

 Here we agree. Noone involved in the Manhatten Project wanted the bomb used
on human beings. They signed a petition to that effect. The War Dept. and
the Prez ignored it. Who's fault is this?

+     But if you don't want the Church to be involved in astronomy just
+write letters to Congress. Just be sure to send a check to an organization
+that builds telescopes so that we'll have the same number of telescopes,
+just in case.
+
 Personally, I couldn't care less if the Church were to decide to open a
a hot-dog stand on Venus, the point I'm making is that the past performance
and the current anti-birth control stances of the Vatican, along with the
amount of money the Pope controls, make it worth everyones while that we
do not forget the history of this organization and that we watch what they
do very carefully!

 The Church would like everyone to forget their torture & theft days, they
would like to pretend to have always been a humanitarian operation..this is
patently absurd. History is history. I'll be impressed with their having
turned over a new leaf when they stop bitching about the welfare of the
poor and actually do something about it; like sell off some of their lands
and provide for the unfortunates, instead of insisting that governments
should be doing this work INSTEAD of sponsoring space research.

+     As far as accusing me of being anti-scientific, well, I'm graduating
+in June with Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and geology - along
+with over 15 months of full-time co-op work as a chemist.  And BTW, just
++because I am a Catholic doesn't mean that I agree with everything the
+Church says.
+
+                                        David R. Brierley

 Very good Mr. Brierley, now comes the difficult part: Your mission is to
escape the social bounds of your native faith, and it's narrow view. As an
aside I'd recommend you read some of the commentary that targets the Vatican
and the nonsense that is it's dogma. Get out, get some air! BREATHE FREE!

 (and good luck on your career!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

End of SPACE Digest V11 #442
*******************