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Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #493

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 11 : Issue 493

Today's Topics:
             space news from May 7 AW&ST
          Re: Saturn V:  Center S-I Engine shutdown?
               Lichens on Mars?
    Launch sites vs. local ecology (was: Re: HAWAII AND STAR WARS)
       NASA Lunar/Mars program funding to be terminated
          Re: DSN Reliability and Resources Question
          Re: DSN Reliability and Resources Question
             Glaser on powersats
  Re: US/Soviet Planetary Activity (was Re: Manned mission to Venus)
          Re: DSN Reliability and Resources Question

Administrivia:

    Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to
  [e-mail].  Other mail, esp. [un]subscription notices,
  should be sent to [e-mail], or, if urgent, to
             [e-mail]

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 04:11:31 GMT
From: mnetor!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: space news from May 7 AW&ST

[This will be a real quickie, as I'm preparing to be away for two weeks
and time is short.]

Mamoru Mohri is Japan's first government astronaut, selected as payload
specialist for the Japanese Spacelab mission next year.  [AW&ST had it
as "Japan's first astronaut", apparently forgetting the two journalists
in training for the commercial Mir flight late this year.]

NASA's aging spare TDRS, TDRS-1, is being moved west to supplement TDRS-3,
which is operating at reduced capacity due to a partial antenna failure.
TDRS-5, set for launch next year, will probably replace one of those two.
[TDRS-2 was aboard Challenger; TDRS-4 is in the eastern position.]

Hughes reports that poor facilities were a serious problem when preparing
Asiasat 1 for launch at Xichang.  For example, Hughes ended up putting in
a satellite link to California to bypass China's hopeless international
phone system.

Sen. Al Gore, who supports the Moon/Mars initiative but wants to see more
international participation and more concrete funding plans, says that at
$500G, "Before a mission on Mars, I think the Administration needs a
mission to reality.".

Bush meets with Congressional leaders to try to rally support for expanded
spaceflight activities, notably in the financial area.  Various novel ideas
for financing were broached, as was the notion of revising appropriations-
committee structures so NASA would not constantly be competing head-on with
the Veterans and Housing&Urban Development at appropriations time.  No big
results to report, but such meetings haven't been common in the past.

Administration proposes 23% boost in NASA's budget next fiscal year,
and is resisting any cuts at all.

Major article with pictures of HST deployment and a detailed account of
the various post-deployment headaches.  [Sorry, I just don't have time
to summarize two pages of dense information.]

HST deployment mission set some other new records due to its record high
altitude:  most intensive OMS use, longest retrofire, hottest reentry,
and (incidentally) first use of the new carbon brakes.

Another long article talking about Sandia's ideas for using coilguns
to launch small payloads into orbit.  [Again, apologies for lack of time.]
Technical problems remain, but the basic notion looks viable, partly
because of recent improvements in high-power capacitor technology.
A full-scale launcher, firing 61kg to low orbit per shot, would cost
circa $1G but launch costs thereafter would be quite low.  [It has the
standard problem, of course:  apart from the politically-handicapped
SDIO, there are no firm customers.]
--
As a user I'll take speed over|     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
features any day. -A.Tanenbaum| uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 16:04:42 GMT
From: hplabsb![e-mail]  (David Smith)
Subject: Re: Saturn V:  Center S-I Engine shutdown?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Dave Dodson) writes:
>The real reason the center engine in the Saturn V was shut down early was
>the "pogo effect."  During the first (unmanned) launch it was discovered
>that a longitudinal vibration of the structure occurred near the end of
>the first stage burn.  The remedy, to keep the vibration safely within
>human endurance, was to shut the center engine down early.

The remedy was to inject helium into the F-1 LOX line to dampen
oscillations, accompanied by the replacement of a metal line by a bellows
line.  J-2 fuel lines for the upper stages were strengthened to better
withstand pogo.  This is the first time I have seen the claim that early
engine shutdown was a response to pogo, and I am inclined to disbelieve
it.
--
    David R. Smith, HP Labs
    [e-mail]
    [phone]

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 15:09:50 GMT
From: rochester![e-mail]  (Paul Dietz)
Subject: Lichens on Mars?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mark SOKOLOWSKI) writes:

>Of course! Mars is far easier to terraform because some lichens can
>live under simulated martian conditions here on Earth, which means we
>can send this stuff over there and watch the show.

Ah, no.  Lichens might grow under the conditions that astronomers used
to (wishfully) think existed on Mars, but that was back before various
space probes showed how hostile the planet actually is.  For one
thing, the partial pressure of water vapor in the martian atmosphere
is some 10,000 times less than in the terrestrial atmosphere at sea
level.  This means that liquid water -- an essential part of all
terrestrial life -- cannot exist at the martian surface.

    Paul F. Dietz
    [e-mail]

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 19:03:55 GMT
From: skipper![e-mail]  (Al Bowers)
Subject: Launch sites vs. local ecology (was: Re: HAWAII AND STAR WARS)

One interesting anecdote that I got to witness at Tonopah Test Range
once.  There are _many_ (to the point of being a nusiance) mustangs
(that's wild horses, not the North American Aviation variety) on the
range.  It is a requirement to chase them off of the range area in use
prior to a test.  So out go the SP's in jeeps to chase off the herds
of wild ponies.  It was amusing to see, and there is an environmental
observer (don't know if this person is a guest or a DoD employee) to
confirm that the range is clear (of both SP's and mustangs).

--
Albion H. Bowers  [e-mail]  ames!elxsi.dfrf.nasa.gov!bowers

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 20:26:50 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!math.lsa.umich.edu!rphroy!cfctech!ttardis![e-mail]  (Ron Wilson)
Subject: NASA Lunar/Mars program funding to be terminated

The following is from a letter from Charlie Walker, former shuttle astronaut,
and President of the National Space Society:

Congress is ready to terminate the Lunar/Mars (aka Space Exploration)
initiative.

*** ZERO FUNDING ***  [emphasis added by poster]

The decision to cut this program has already been made behind the scenes.
Congress is only waiting to return from the Mermorial Day recess to vote
this important program out of existence.

Termination would be catastrophic.  No program is of more importance to
[the US (both government AND comercial) space program].

Without this program there will be ... *NO* manned activity in space beyond
low earth orbit for the foreseeable future.

This is what YOU need to do, if the Lunar/Mars [aka: Space Exploration]
initiative is to survive.

Telephone or write (preferably telephone):

Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)   and   Congressman Bob Traxler (D-MI)
320 Hart Senate Office Building         2364 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20510                    Washington, DC 20515
[phone]                          [phone]

Your call or letter MUST arrive during the week of June 4 to be fully
effective.  The earlier, the better.  Updated information reguarding
timing can be obtained by call the Space Hotline [phone].

[An important side effect of this issue is presidential embarrassment].
If President Bush fails in this effort - an effort he began - an effort
for which he has expressed strong personal support, then other space
initiatives will [fail to get] the attention that they [need].  In fact,
it is unlikely that there will be any new space initiatives [by Bush or
any other presidents] for a long time.

The space program is in jeopardy.

Let your opinion count in this vital vote on America's future.  Call or
write.  America's space program needs your support today!

Thanks you,

Charlie Walker, former shuttle astronaut and pres. NSS

PS:  Your support makes a difference!
According to former NASA administrator, James Fletcher, "Without your letters
and phone calls, there is a [very high probablity] that the space station
program would have been canceled last year."

======

Also, the following senators and congresspersons should be contacted:

Senators:
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Robert Kerrey (D-MA)
J Bennett Johnson (D-LA)
Wyche Fowler (D-GA)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Don Nickels (R-OK)
Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Phill Gramm (R-TX)

Congresspersons:
Louis Stokes (D-OH)
Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Jim Chapman (D-TX)
Chester Atkins (D-MA)
Lawrence  Coughlin (R-PA)
Bill Green (R-NY)
Jerry Lewis (R-CA)

All members of Congress ca be contacted by calling 202-224-3121 and
asking for the member in question

Mail to:
Senator (name)               Congressperson (name)
Washington, DC 20510         Washington, DC 20515

Get those calls going in.  Thanks from Space Cause.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We were wondering when somebody would discover that one."
    - The response of a customer support rep to a customer's phoned in
      bug report (name of company with held to protect the guilty).

rlw@ttardis    rel.mi.org!ttardis!rlw      iwblsys!ttardis!rlw

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 21:38:55 GMT
From: usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Re: DSN Reliability and Resources Question

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Doug Mohney) writes:
>
>Speaking of reliablility, what would happen if something Bad happened
>to Goddard Space Flight Center? (Fire, chemical spill, plane crash, other
>act of god). Hubble is controlled from there, and probably other gizmos as
>well. Does NASA keep "hot sites" available at JPL? Or just pray a lot?
>

JPL Deep Space Network's 26 meter antennas are used as backup tracking
stations for the Space Shuttle and the Hubble Space Telescope.

       _   _____    _
      | | |  __ \  | |       Ron Baalke           |  [e-mail]
      | | | |__) | | |       Jet Propulsion Lab   |  [e-mail]
   ___| | |  ___/  | |___    M/S 301-355          |
  |_____/ |_|      |_____|   Pasadena, CA 91109   |

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 15:17:37 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Re: DSN Reliability and Resources Question

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (S. Khai Mong) writes:
>A bunch of simple questions:
>What are the resources of DSN in terms of dishes and sites?

There are three sites located in Goldstone, California, Canberra, Australia
and Madrid, Spain.  Each site has 4 large antennas: one 70 meter, two
34 meter and one 26 meter antenna.

>What is the expected reliability and redundancy during really critical
>periods?

We push for 100% reliability, but 98% is acceptable.

>Could radio astronomy telescopes be pressed into service?

Yes, for limited applications.  The radio telescope in Japan was linked
into the DSN network during Voyager 2's Neptune encounter to do radio science
measurements of Neptune's and Triton's atmosphere.

>Could the Soviet resources be used?

Not at the present time.

       _   _____    _
      | | |  __ \  | |       Ron Baalke           |  [e-mail]
      | | | |__) | | |       Jet Propulsion Lab   |  [e-mail]
   ___| | |  ___/  | |___    M/S 301-355          |
  |_____/ |_|      |_____|   Pasadena, CA 91109   |

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 17:31:39 GMT
From: thorin!homer.cs.unc.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Glaser on powersats


    Re the recent discussion on who originated the SPS concept: Peter
Glaser wrote the lead article in the June _Ad Astra_.  There doesn't
seem to be any clear point being made in the article, aside from the
assertion that SPS is 'the key to meeting these challenges' (of
overpopulation and pollution), and some commentary about developments
in SPS technologies over the last decade.
--
    Jon Leech ([e-mail])    __@/
    "The satellite was one of seven launched yesterday by the Soviets."
    - BBC News

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 18:51:29 GMT
From: sparkyfs!ads.com!IDA.ORG!pbs![e-mail]
Subject: Re: US/Soviet Planetary Activity (was Re: Manned mission to Venus)

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Mark SOKOLOWSKI) writes:
> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
>>Why don't *you* do something about it?  You're the one who's excited about
>>Venus.  I can think of plenty of things that should have higher priority,
>>like resuming the exploration of the Moon.
>
> Sorry, I find the Moon terribly boring and unexciting since men have been
> there.
>
> Mark S.
> -------
Boring or not, it is still important that we return to the moon to stay.
Otherwise all we will have is a succession of "glamorous and exciting
extravaganzas" separated by many years or decades of inactivity, as
unfortunately happened after Apollo.  A lot of scientific work IS boring to
those either not directly involved or wrapped up in other pet projects.  A
secure, self-sufficient base on the "boring" moon will ensure our next space
missions are not one shot affairs that fade into oblivion when the novelty
wears off.

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

Date: 5 Jun 90 16:30:10 GMT
From: mojo![e-mail]  (Doug Mohney)
Subject: Re: DSN Reliability and Resources Question

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Daniel Briggs) writes:
>
>one, but two new backup power generators.  Neither NASA's way of
>operating not ours is *wrong*, but both are quite *different* from
>each other.  The operating philosophies evolved under an entirely
>different set of constraints.  In our case, maximizing the science per
>buck meant more equipment, but less reliability.  NASA goes the other
>way.  Certainly by the time they had finished the upgrade, we felt a
>little Au plated.  (And even though I expect a few snide remarks about
>that last sentence, I found the encounter to be a quite educational
>experience.  Gold plated toilets are one thing, but reliable receivers
>are another.  Reliability is expensive, but there are very good reasons
>for making single point failure equipment as reliable as possible.  In
>short, I could see where NASA was coming from during all of this.)

Speaking of reliablility, what would happen if something Bad happened
to Goddard Space Flight Center? (Fire, chemical spill, plane crash, other
act of god). Hubble is controlled from there, and probably other gizmos as
well. Does NASA keep "hot sites" available at JPL? Or just pray a lot?

                Doug

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

End of SPACE Digest V11 #493
*******************