Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V12_6/V12_634.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #634

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 12 : Issue 634

Today's Topics:
     NASA releases December 1990 Mixed Fleet Manifest (Forwarded)
       BBXRT Status for 12/03/90 [1330 CST] (Forwarded)
              Re: Another Russian first
               Re: MIR broken?
           Re: Sending Sen. Garn into space
        UIT Status for 12/05/90 [1500 CST] (Forwarded)
          Re: HST images via anonFTP and SPAN/HEPnet
      Soyuz TM-11 to dock with Soviet Mir station early Dec. 4th
              Re: Another Russian first
           Re: space news from Oct 6 AW&ST

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 Dec 90 22:54:51 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA releases December 1990 Mixed Fleet Manifest (Forwarded)

[I don't have the manifest yet.  I will post when I get it. -PEY]

Mark Hess                                  December 5, 1990
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
(Phone:  [phone])


RELEASE:  90-158

NASA RELEASES DECEMBER 1990 MIXED FLEET MANIFEST

     NASA today issued a December 1990 Mixed Fleet Manifest for
both the Space Shuttle and expendable launch vehicles (ELV).  Of
the 27 Space Shuttle flights planned over the next 3 years, 19
missions will be for NASA payloads or joint NASA/international
payloads with the Shuttle focusing on the performance of a
variety of space science activities supporting life sciences,
materials science and astrophysics investigations.

      The remainder of the flights during that time frame will
support 2 international Spacelab missions, 2 flights of the
commercially-provided Spacehab module and the retrieval and
reboost of a stranded commercial communications satellite.  On a
calendar year basis, there are 7 Space Shuttle launches planned
in 1991, 8 in 1992 and 12 in 1993.

     The Mixed Fleet Manifest shows 13 launches of expendable
vehicles over the next 3 years; 3 launches in the small vehicle
class, 7 in the medium category and 3 in the intermediate
class.  Among the NASA payloads planned for launch on ELVs are
the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer and Geotail on Delta II vehicles
in August 1991 and July 1992, respectively, and the Mars Observer
on a Titan III in September 1992.

     NASA plans 7 Space Shuttle launches in 1991, the first being
STS-39 which is an unclassified, dedicated Defense Department
mission carrying payloads belonging to the Air Force and the
Stategic Defense Initiative Organization.  NASA's Gamma Ray
Observatory is planned for launch in April and the first Spacelab
Life Sciences mission is planned in May.  Following that flight,
Columbia will be returned to the Rockwell International facility
in Palmdale, Calif., for an extensive inspection and modification
period during which changes will be made to accommodate the
extended duration orbiter pallet.

     The final 4 flights for 1991 are to carry the following
primary payloads, respectively:  the fifth Tracking and Data
Relay Satellite (July); a DOD Defense Support Program (DSP)
satellite (August); NASA's Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite
(November) and the first International Microgravity Laboratory
Spacelab mission (December).

     Space Shuttle highlights in 1992 will include the first
flight of a new space-age tool, called the Tethered Satellite
System (TSS)-1, a joint U.S./Italian project.  The European Space
Agency's European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) also will be
deployed.  An Italian Payload Specialist and Mission Specialist
Claude Nicollier of Switzerland will both fly for the first time
on this mission.  The first Japanese Payload Specialist to fly
with NASA, Dr. Mamoru Mohri, will be on the Spacelab-J mission in
September.

     Also making its debut in 1992 will be the orbiter
Endeavour.  On its maiden flight, STS-49, astronauts will attach
a new perigee kick motor to a stranded INTELSAT communications
satellite which failed to reach its proper orbit after launch on
a Titan rocket earlier this year.  Columbia will return to flight
status in mid 1992 carrying the first U.S. Microgravity
Laboratory.

     A major milestone in the 1993 launch year is the first
revisit to the Hubble Space Telescope, planned for STS-60 during
the summer.

     Throughout this 3-year period a variety of activities in
support of Space Station Freedom development will be performed.
These include a demonstration test flight for the Flight
Telerobotic Servicer, two flights with planned space walks to
test planned Space Station equipment and techniques, two zero-
gravity thermal system tests and two tests of environmental
control system concepts.

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

Date: 5 Dec 90 00:04:14 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: BBXRT Status for 12/03/90 [1330 CST] (Forwarded)


         BBXRT Status Report #02
         1:30 p.m. CST Dec. 3, 1990
         Spacelab Mission Operations Control
         Marshall Space Flight Center,
         Huntsville, AL


         A discrepancy was discovered this morning between where the BBXRT is
         pointing and the Two-Axis Pointing System (TAPS), resulting in an
         inability to view x-rays through the telescopeK
         BBXRT team members have requested two to five hours to do diagnostic
         tests to discover the nature of the discrepancy and to find a
         solution.

         The team is rescheduling observations and is optimistic that through
         troubleshooting the problem will be resolved.

         BBXRT and TAPS were developed and are controlled remotely from
         Gpoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD.  Dr. Peter Serlemitsos of
         GSFC is principal investigator.  Frank Volpe, GSFC is BBXRT mission
         manager.

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

Date: 4 Dec 90 18:28:52 GMT
From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!ubc-cs!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!cunews!mitel!testeng1![e-mail]  (Chris Stanfield)
Subject: Re: Another Russian first

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steve "il-Manhous" Norton) writes:
>How about :
> First billion dollars wasted on broken telescopes -- Hubble
I know it has problems, but I think to say $1B was wasted is a slight
overstatement.

> First spacecraft explosion to kill all on board due
>   to ground problems (faulty management) -- Challenger
I believe there is plenty of evidence that Russian cosmonauts were
killed more than once, prior to Challenger, but the details have not
all been made public. Bearing in mind the weight of the massive Soviet
bureaucracy, it seems possible that it may be implicated, and this is
certainly a ground problem.

> First spacecraft launch delayed more than six months -- Columbia
>
What do you know about Soviet problems with launches? They don't tell
people all about their problems!

>Any more?

In short, check your facts, and refer to the various postings,
including my earlier one, about American firsts. A pretty significant
list, even if the current NASA is unlikely to reach such heights again,
at least not without major changes.


Chris Stanfield, Mitel Corporation: E-mail to:- uunet!mitel!testeng1!stanfiel
[phone] Ext.4960
We do not inherit the world from our parents - we borrow it from our children.

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

Date: 2 Dec 90 18:22:58 GMT
From: mtndew![e-mail]  (Stephen J. Friedl)
Subject: Re: MIR broken?

Richard Schroeppel writes:
> Are they really taking up a Japanese journalist without having a verified
>                             ^^^^^^^^
> fix for this problem?  Could be mighty cramped.


Don't worry, they're small.

     Steve :-)

--
Stephen J. Friedl, KA8CMY  /  3B2-kind-of-guy  /  Tustin, CA / 3B2-kind-of-guy
[phone]  / [e-mail]  / {uunet,attmail}!mtndew!friedl

"If it doesn't core dump, ship it" - Gary W. Keefe, on product development

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

Date: 5 Dec 90 02:43:28 GMT
From: world!ksr![e-mail]  (Chris Jones)
Subject: Re: Sending Sen. Garn into space

In article <[e-mail]>, gabriele@riverdale (Mark Gabriele ) writes:
>
>I believe that there was also a member of the US House of
>Representatives who went up, but his name escapes me at present.
>
Bill Nelson, Democrat from Florida (for balance, of course, a Republican
Senator had to be offset by a Democrat Representative.)
--
Chris Jones    [e-mail]    {world,uunet,harvard}!ksr!clj

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

Date: 6 Dec 90 03:44:47 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: UIT Status for 12/05/90 [1500 CST] (Forwarded)


         UIT Status Report #03
         3 p.m. CST Dec. 5, 1990
         Spacelab Mission Operations Control
         Marshall Space Flight Center,
         Huntsville, AL


         UIT successfully photographed nine targets last night.
         Perhaps the most interesting target was a pair of galaxies
         called NGC 2992 and NGC 2993, located more than 90 million
         light years from Earth in the southern constellation Hydra,
         the Water Snake.

         This morning, at 10 a.m. CST, UIT obtained images of M79, a
         bright globular star cluster from which scientists hope to
         learn about stellar evolution.

         At 11:30 a.m. CST, UIT also observed the light echo of
         Supernova 1987A.  UIT will map and measure the ultraviolet
         echo to find out how hot and bright the supernova was in its
         first hours, before it was spotted from Earth.

         Scheduled this afternoon is an observation of NGC 1399, a
         pair of elliptical  galaxies in a nearby cluster of galaxies.

         Upon landing of Space Shuttle Columbia, the film from these
         and other images taken throughout the mission will be
         processed at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.
         Each frame of the film will then be digitized.

         The UIT was developed and built at GSFC by a team led by
         Principal Investigator Theodore Stecher.

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

Date: 3 Dec 90 10:25:34 GMT
From: eru!hagbard!sunic!news.funet.fi!tukki.jyu.fi!jyu.fi![e-mail]  (Otto J. Makela)
Subject: Re: HST images via anonFTP and SPAN/HEPnet

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Don Wells) writes:
   There is a significant fact that Jay omitted to say: an interesting
   set of HST test images *have* been made publicly available, via
   anonFTP, and they are still available (I verified this just a moment
   ago).  [where, how etc.]
   The files are in FITS format, with full, informative headers. The HST
   image files which I discussed in my recent posting about image
   compression and coding were taken from this set of 27 HST data files.

All right.  Now, does anyone have WORKING tools to convert FITS to pbm,
GIF or some other more common format for computer users ?
I understand there are some problems with FITS (poor documentation of
format extensions) ?
--
   /* * * Otto J. Makela <[e-mail]> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */
  /* Phone: [phone], BBS: [phone] (CCITT, Bell 24/12/300) */
 /* Mail: Kauppakatu 1 B 18, SF-40100 Jyvaskyla, Finland, EUROPE         */
/* * * Computers Rule 01001111 01001011 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * */

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

From: [e-mail]
Date:  3 Dec 90 16:16 -0800
To: [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail]
Subject: Soyuz TM-11 to dock with Soviet Mir station early Dec. 4th

     The Soyuz TM-11 will be docking to their Mir space station about 12:00
noon Moscow Time (1:00 am PST) according to Radio Moscow.  The after about
a week long stay the two Soviet cosmonauts on TM-11, Musa Manarov, Vikor
Afanasyev,  will replace the current Mir crew of Gennadi Manakov and
Gennadi Strekalov, whome have been in orbit for 123 days (since Aug 2).
They will remain for about a six month mission until May '91 when the
Soviet/British Juno mission is scheduled to arrive. Their visitor, Japanese
journalist Toyehiro Akiyama, will travel down with the current Mir crew in
their Soyuz TM-10 craft.  On board Mir he will be doing broadcasts for the
Japanese TBS TV station, and taking earth observation pictures according to
Radio Moscow.
     One point to note Vikor Afanasyev actually had trained for a flight in
Sept. 1989 together with Vitali Serastyanov and Rimintas Stankuavechus (a
Buran pilot trainee).  That mission was cancelled when it was decided to
keep Mir unmanned during the summer of 1989 due to some power problems and
failure of the experimental modules to be ready for launch (BIS
Spaceflight, Oct. '90).
     The Aug. 1992 French/Soviet Antares mission crew has been announced by
CNES (the French space agency) as Michel Tognini (backup for Jean-Loup
Chretien in the 1988 Soviet/French mission) and Jean-Pierre Haignere.
Besides an experimental suite one of the main goals of the mission is to
give extensive zero G experience to a crew member of the European Space
Agency's Hermes minishuttle.  The twelve day flight will cost the CNES
about $12 million, the same as the current Japanese mission costs. (BIS
Spaceflight, Oct. '90)
     For those that watch PBS stations or the CBC News cable channel note
that Japan Today (an English translation of the Japanese NHK news) may
carry part of this current mission.  However, it has not shown much to
date about the flight, perhaps because the journalist is from a rival
network.

                                        Glenn Chapman
                                        School of Engineering Science
                                        Simon Fraser Univ.
                                        Burnaby, B.C. Canada
                                        [e-mail]
                                        or [e-mail]

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

Date: 4 Dec 90 20:38:49 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!exodus!concertina.Eng.Sun.COM![e-mail]  (Steve Hix)
Subject: Re: Another Russian first

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Steve "il-Manhous" Norton) writes:
>
> How about :
>  First billion dollars wasted on broken telescopes -- Hubble

Note that the problem is fixable, and probably will be fixed
in 1993 or so.  It's not like the stupid thing is totally unusable...
it still returns results superior to almost anything possible from
the ground.

>  First spacecraft explosion to kill all on board due
>    to ground problems (faulty management) -- Challenger

How about the first pad failure to kill large numbers of ground
crew?  (G-1 failure around 1968 or so.)

--
------------
  The only drawback with morning is that it comes
    at such an inconvenient time of day.
------------

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

Date: 4 Dec 90 22:39:01 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!exodus!vygr.Eng.Sun.COM![e-mail]  (Mike Ekberg, Sun {DSGG.DGDO.Mid-Range Graphics.Egret(GS)} MS 8-04)
Subject: Re: space news from Oct 6 AW&ST

Note the two completely opposite development approaches of
the Soviet and NASA space programs.

(Here the Soviets are still re-using stuff >10 years(?) old)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
>Almaz is a heavily modified Salyut space-station
>core with long radar arrays along its sides.
>


and ...

(We are building yet another from scratch design)

>NASA orders hiring freeze at space-station contractors, probably in
>anticipation of Yet Another Redesign -- largely inevitable given the
>likely budget cuts.
>
>Planetary Soviety invitation-only meeting to "critique" the current space
>station concludes that the current design is not viable even if nothing
>goes wrong with the shuttle, citing persistent reliance on unrealistic
>shuttle launch rates, inflexibility due to trying to meet too many users'
>needs, and inadequate consideration of alternatives.  (On the other hand,
>some of the attendees commented that the deck was stacked:  the choice
>of participants seemed to be deliberately aimed at such a conclusion.)
>
>Marshall is looking at the possibility of dividing the two big US modules
>into four, making it possible to launch them fully equipped.
>


--
# mike (sun!mae), M/S 8-04
"The people are the water, the army are the fish" Mao Tse-tung

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

End of SPACE Digest V12 #634
*******************