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Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #270

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 13 : Issue 270

Today's Topics:
           NASA Headline News for 03/11/91
         [l/m 7/11] Frequently asked SPACE questions
     SOLAR TERRESTRIAL BULLETIN - SOLAR AND STORM WARNING UPDATES
            Re: Magellan Update - 03/11/91
         Re: New World Profits (was Re: Space Profits

Administrivia:

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

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

Date: 12 Mar 91 15:46:41 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: NASA Headline News for 03/11/91


[Note:  I'm filling in for Peter Yee in posting the NASA updates while he is
        on travel.       Ron Baalke]

             Headline News
Internal Communications Branch (P-2) NASA Headquarters

  Monday, March 11, 1991    Audio Service: 202 / 755-1788

This is NASA Headline News for Monday, March 11, 1991

Atlantis was rolled into the Vehicle Assembly Building on Friday and
now is mated to its external tank and solid rocket booster
stack.  Technicians are expecting to power up the vehicle by this
evening.  The shuttle interface test will begin later tonight, with the
orbiter frequency response test scheduled for tomorrow.  Rollout of
Atlantis to launch pad 39-B is expected to occur no earlier than
8:00 pm Thursday, March 14.  Atlantis' payload, the Gamma Ray
Observatory, goes into the payload canister today and should be
transported to the launch pad by Wednesday at noon.  GRO should
be installed into Atlantis' payload bay on Sunday, March 17.
The terminal countdown demonstration test for STS-37 is scheduled
for March 19 and 20.  The STS-37 flight readiness review is currently
set for March 26 and 27.

Also in the VAB, technicians have rescheduled the demating of
Discovery because of a portable purge unit which needs about a day's
repair activity.  Demating should begin by mid-week nonetheless.

                   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Magellan project scientists and the U.S. Geological Survey have
invited the public to propose names of notable women for the
many impact craters and large volcanic vents being discovered on
Venus by Magellan.  Project scientist Dr. Steve Saunders said "we
want everyone, especially students, to share in the adventure of
discovery."  Scientists at the USGS said they expect to need nearly
4,000 names in the coming decade.  All of Venus' features are
named for women except for Maxwell Montes, Alpha Regio and Beta
Regio.  The names submitted must meet certain stipulations: the
women must have been deceased for at least 3 years and must have
been in some way notable or worthy of the honor; names of military or
political figures of the 19th and 20th centuries are specifically
forbidden, as are the names of persons prominent in any of the six
main living religions, under rules of the International Astronomical
Union.  Nominations should be sent to Venus Names, Magellan Project
Office, Mail Stop 230-201, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove
Dr., Pasadena, Calif. 91109.

                   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On Friday, Administrator Richard Truly named Ray J. Arnold as
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Commercial Programs.  Mr.
Arnold had been Director of the Communications and Information
Systems Division in the Office of Space Science and Applications.

                   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Tomorrow, the House Subcommittee on Technology and
Competitiveness (Committee on Science, Space and Technology), and
the House Subcommittee on Research and Development (Committee on
Armed Services) will hold a joint hearing on NASA's FY 1992
budget request for the National Aero-Space Plane.  Participants
will include NASA deputy J.R. Thompson, and Dr. Allan Bromley,
White House Science Advisor.  The hearing is at 1:30 p.m. at the
Rayburn House Office Building.  The event will be videotaped for
replay on NASA Select TV.

Also tomorrow, the NASA honor award ceremony will take
place at 2:00 pm in the Health and Human Services auditorium at
4th and Independence Avenue.



Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select
TV.  All times are Eastern.  NASA Select TV is carried on GE Satcom
F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees W Long., Audio 6.8,
Frequency 3960 MHz.

Monday, 3/11/91
    1:00 pm    NASA Radio Program will be transmitted.

    3:00 pm    Total Quality Management Colloquium featuring
           David Kearns, president of Xerox Corp., live from NASA
          Headquarters auditorium.

    6:00 pm    Total Quality Management Colloquium will be replayed.

Tuesday, 3/12/91
    12:00 pm    Starfinder program "Fusion Energy."

    12:15 pm    Stennis Space Center 1991.

    12:30 pm    History of Space Travel "Astronauts: U.S.
          Project Mercury."

    1:00 pm    The Infinite Voyage series, "Miracles by Design."
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|      Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Jet Propulsion Lab |
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   M/S 301-355        | Change is constant.
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  Pasadena, CA 91109 |
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                      |

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

Date: 10 Mar 91 12:01:08 GMT
From: eagle!data.nas.nasa.gov!amelia![e-mail]  (Eugene N. Miya)
Subject: [l/m 7/11] Frequently asked SPACE questions

This list does change.  Slowly.  It only changes when the members
of s.s. have something to add, correct, etc.  I no longer have time to
read s.s., and the SNR is too low.  So if this
does not change it is more a reflection of the other people
you are reading, and not me.  Think about that for a moment.
You make the difference.
    "It's not a message.  I think it's a warning." -- Ripley

This is a list of frequently asked questions on SPACE (which goes back
before 1980).  It is developing.  Good summaries will be accepted
in place of the answers given here.  The point of this is to circulate
existing information, and avoid rehashing old answers.  Better to
build on top than start again.  Nothing more depressing than rehashing
old topics for the 100th time.  References are provided because they
give more complete information than any short generalization.

Questions fall into three basic types:
1) Where do I find some information about space?
Try you local public library first.  You do know how to use a library, don't
you?  Can't tell these days.  The net is not a good place to ask for
general information.  Ask INDIVIDUALS if you must.  There are other sources,
use them, too.  The net is a place for open ended discussion.

2) I have an idea which would improve space flight?
Hope you aren't surprised but 9,999 out of 10,000 have usually been
thought of before.  Again, contact a direct individual source for
evaluation.  NASA fields thousands of these each day.

3) Miscellanous queries.  Sorry, have to take them case by case.

Initially, this message will be automatically posted once per month
and hopefully, we can cut it back to quarterly.  In time questions and
good answers will be added (and maybe removed, nah).

1) What happen to Saturn V plans? What about reviving the Saturn V
as a heavy-lift launcher?

Possible but very expensive -- tools, subcontractors, plans, facilities
are gone or converted for the shuttle, and would need rebuilding,
re-testing, or even total redesign.

2) Where can I learn about space computers: shuttle, programming,
core memories?

%J Communications of the ACM
%V 27
%N 9
%D September 1984
%K Special issue on space [shuttle] computers

%A Myron Kayton
%T Avionics for Manned Spacecraft
%J IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems
%V 25
%N 6
%D November 1989
%P 786-827

Other various AIAA and IEEE publications.

Computers in Spaceflight: The NASA Experience
James E.  Tomayko
1988?

3) SETI computation articles?

%A D. K. Cullers
%A Ivan R. Linscott
%A Bernard M. Oliver
%T Signal Processing in SETI
%J Communications of the ACM
%V 28
%N 11
%D November 1984
%P 1151-1163
%K CR Categories and Subject Descriptors: D.4.1 [Operating Systems]:
Process Management - concurrency; I.5.4 [Pattern Recognition]:
Applications - signal processing; J.2 [Phsyical Sciences and Engineering]:
astronomy
General Terms: Design
Additional Key Words and Phrases: digital Fourier transforms,
finite impulse-response filters, interstellar communications,
Search for Extra-terrestrial Intelligence, signal detection,
spectrum analysis

You can make it change.  Just discuss the changes on the net, then mail the
resolution to me.

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

Date:    Thu, 14 Mar 91 01:33:52 MST
From: [e-mail] (CARY OLER)
Subject: SOLAR TERRESTRIAL BULLETIN - SOLAR AND STORM WARNING UPDATES
X-St-Vmsmail-To: st%"[e-mail]"

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

                        SOLAR TERRESTRIAL BULLETIN

                              14 March, 1991

                  Solar Information and Warning Updates

                /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\


UPDATED WARNING INFORMATION

     A MAJOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT for 15 March, 16
March and 17 March.  A MAJOR geomagnetic storm is likely to occur beginning
on 15 March over the high latitudes, spreading southward to encompass the
middle and low latitudes by 16 March.  Middle and low latitudes could reach
minor storm levels on 15 March, increasing to major storm levels on 16 March.

     A possibility exists for some isolated periods of severe magnetic
storming, particularly over the high latitude regions.  K-indices should be
sustained near 6 and 7 over high latitudes.  Middle latitude magnetic K
values could peak at 7, but will likely remain confined to values of 5 and 6.
Magnetic A-indices over middle latitudes are expected to reach (or possibly
exceed) 50 on 16 March.  Values near 30 are possible late on 15 March.
High latitudes could see A-indices between 60 and 100 on 15 and 16 March.

     Storming should be most intense on 15 and 16 March (particularly 16
March for the middle latitudes).  A substantial southward migration of the
auroral zone is possible during this period.

     A LOW LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT for 16 March.
Significant auroral storming is expected late on 15 March and/or on 16 March.
Activity may be viewable from the lower latitudes.

     A POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR GEOMAGNETICALLY INDUCED CURRENTS on 16 March.
Organizations which might be affected are warned to be on the alert for
possible magnetic storm induction effects.  No significant induction is
currently anticipated, but conditions could materialize sufficiently to
produce magnetic induction.

     POTENTIAL SATELLITE PROTON WARNINGS AND POTENTIAL PCA ACTIVITY WARNINGS
are being issued.  A satellite proton event could materialize when the
interplanetary shock arrives.  A proton enhancement is already in progress.
Density enhancements trailing the shockwave could easily push proton levels
above event thresholds.  Also, additional major solar flaring could spawn
PCA (Polar Cap Absorption) activity over polar regions.  A condition YELLOW
alert status for potential PCA activity has been issued by the Space
Environment Services Center.

     A magnetic SSC is expected on 15 March, marking the arrival of the
interplanetary shock.  Coincident with the arrival of the shock, radio
conditions on HF bands will become abruptly disturbed with increased fading
and noise, increased flutter and LUF's and decreased MUF's.  With the
arrival of the main phase of the geomagnetic storm, significant distortion,
absorption and noise can be expected on 16 March.  Periods of signal
blackouts on the HF bands will be possible.  Some improvement can be
expected on 17 March, with significant improvements occurring on 18 March
(barring any further major flaring - which seems likely at the moment).

     VHF propagation conditions are expected to become abnormally ENHANCED
with the arrival of the interplanetary shock.  A period of potentially good
DX could exist for a brief period following the impact of the
interplanetary shock.  Thereafter, degradation is expected in the quality
of DX signals on VHF frequencies.  Decreased MUF's will likely prevent 6
meter contacts when the main storm phase hits.

     However, a significant opportunity exists for VHF bistatic auroral
backscatter communications on frequencies between 50 MHz and above 144 MHz.
All middle latitude stations could experience unusually good DX using
auroral backscatter communications.  For best results, directional antennas
should be aimed to the low northern or northeastern horizon (or southern
horizon for the southern hemisphere).  Communications will improve with
INCREASING magnetic activity.  Look for high K-indices between 5 and 7 for
the best auroral backscatter possibilities.  Best times will be in the late
afternoon and near midnight local time.  Operators using CW on VHF will
likely have the best chances for making potentially long-distance
multiple-scatter contacts.  VHF signals propagating via auroral
backscattering will exhibit significant auroral-induced flutter and
possible signal "motoring".  Contacts could be brief and unstable.

     PLEASE SEND ANY REPORTS OF AURORAL ACTIVITY, HF OR VHF DX CONTACTS,
AND/OR DESCRIPTIONS OF DEGRADED RADIO CONDITIONS TO: "[e-mail]".
PLEASE INCLUDE THE DATE, UT TIME, LOCAL TIME, LOCATION, AND A BRIEF
DESCRIPTION OF THE OBSERVED PHENOMENA OR RADIO CONDITIONS.


SOLAR ACTIVITY INFORMATION UPDATE

     Region 6545 has not produced any further major events since the last
major flare of 15:48 UT on 13 March.  However, it remains magnetically
complex with high magnetic field strengths and high gradients.  Further
X-class flaring is expected over the next 24 to 72 hours.  Proton flaring
is possible.  This region could produce further moderate to high
terrestrial impacts if major flaring continues.  This region is now located
at S08E38 (at 00:00 UT on 14 March).  This region is maintaining a strong
Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic configuration.

     Region 6538 (S23W18) continues to be a threat.  It still exhibits a
magnetic Beta-Gamma-Delta configuration, but is beginning to show signs of
decay as of 13 March.  This region has declined in spot count and area over
the past 24 hours, but is still capable of producing a major flare.

     Further major flare alerts are likely to be posted.  Also, a
Geomagnetic Storm Alert is likely to be posted sometime on 15 or 16 March,
depending on when the interplanetary shock hits.  Activity updates will be
posted thereafter.


**  End of Bulletin  **

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

Date: 12 Mar 91 18:21:15 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!think.com!paperboy!osf.org![e-mail]  (David Brooks)
Subject: Re: Magellan Update - 03/11/91

In many articles, [e-mail] (Ron Baalke) writes:
|>      The Magellan spacecraft is performing nominally...

|>      The Galileo spacecraft health continues to be excellent....

Is nominal != excellent, or are we simply seeing the different
approaches to PR by different writers?  (not a flame; just curious).
--
David Brooks                [e-mail]
Systems Engineering, OSF        uunet!osf.org!dbrooks
"It's not easy, but it is simple."

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

Date: 13 Mar 91 01:10:21 GMT
From: zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!crg5![e-mail]  (Nick Szabo)
Subject: Re: New World Profits (was Re: Space Profits

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jack Dietz) writes:

>This implies that Columbus was exploring what he thought was unprofitable
>land.  In other words, he was using the money of the Spanish crown in
>order to satisfy his desire to explore, not in the interests of the
>royal pair.
>
>Interesting.  If only our explorers could pull something like that
>off, leading Congress on while they encourage exploitation...

It seems NASA already did pull something like this off, with their
1970's promises of Shuttle launch cost reduction.  Did space exploration
profit from the experience?   Many space explorers would strongly
disagreee...


>Could be the start of something useful.

In the short term, to one narrow project.  In the long term, for
space exploration and settlement in general, it could be very harmful.


--
Nick Szabo            [e-mail]
"If you want oil, drill lots of wells" -- J. Paul Getty
The above opinions are my own and not related to those of any
organization I may be affiliated with.

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

End of SPACE Digest V13 #270
*******************