Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V15_0/V15NO030.TXT

Internet Message Format | 1993-07-13 | 39KB

Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 05:03:46
From: Space Digest maintainer <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Space Digest V15 #030
To: Space Digest Readers
Precedence: bulk


Space Digest                Fri, 24 Jul 92       Volume 15 : Issue 030

Today's Topics:
       Diffs to sci.space/sci.astro Frequently Asked Questions
                    Space FAQ 01/15 - Introduction
                 Space FAQ 02/15 - Network Resources

    Welcome to the Space Digest!!  Please send your messages to
    "[e-mail]", and (un)subscription requests of the form
    "Subscribe Space <your name>" to one of these addresses: listserv@uga
    (BITNET), rice::boyle (SPAN/NSInet), utadnx::utspan::rice::boyle
    (THENET), or [e-mail] (Internet).
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 24 Jul 92 04:32:39 GMT
From: Jon Leech <[e-mail]>
Subject: Diffs to sci.space/sci.astro Frequently Asked Questions
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,news.answers

Archive-name: space/diff

DIFFS SINCE LAST FAQ POSTING (IN POSTING ORDER)

(These are hand-edited context diffs; do not attempt to use them to patch

old copies of the FAQ).

===================================================================
diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.intro
*** /tmp/,RCSt1a01628    Fri Jul 24 00:28:48 1992
--- FAQ.intro    Fri Jul 24 00:27:09 1992
***************
*** 143,153 ****
          Camp / Space Commerce Corporation / Spacehab / SPOT Image
          Other commercial space businesses

!     9   Schedules for space missions, and how to see them
          Shuttle launchings and landings; schedules and how to see them
          How to receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT
          Dial-A-Shuttle and how to use it
          Amateur radio frequencies for shuttle missions

      10  Planetary probes - Historical Missions
          US planetary missions
--- 143,154 ----
          Camp / Space Commerce Corporation / Spacehab / SPOT Image
          Other commercial space businesses

!     9   Space shuttle answers, launch schedules, TV coverage
          Shuttle launchings and landings; schedules and how to see them
          How to receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT
          Dial-A-Shuttle and how to use it
          Amateur radio frequencies for shuttle missions
+          Solid Rocket Booster fuel composition

      10  Planetary probes - Historical Missions
          US planetary missions

===================================================================
diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.net
*** /tmp/,RCSt1a01633    Fri Jul 24 00:28:49 1992
--- FAQ.net    Fri Jul 24 00:27:16 1992
***************
*** 42,54 ****

  MAILING LISTS

!     SPACE Digest is the main Internet list. Email
!     [e-mail] to join.

!     SPACE Magazine is an Internet list containing a distillation of
!     interesting material from SPACE Digest which may be of interest to
!     readers tiring of the signal-to-noise level in the digest. Email
!     [e-mail] to join.

      Space-investors is a list for information relevant to investing in
      space-related companies. Email Vincent Cate ([e-mail]) to join.
--- 42,58 ----

  MAILING LISTS

!     SPACE Digest is the main Internet list, and is now being run by the
!     International Space University (in only its second change of management
!     in over a decade). Email [e-mail] (message body
!     should be in the format 'subscribe space John Public') to join. Note
!     that the moderated SPACE Magazine list is defunct at present for lack of
!     a moderator.

!     Elements is a moderated list for fast distribution of Space Shuttle
!     Keplerian Elements before and during Shuttle flights. NASA two line
!     elements are sent out on the list from Dr. Kelso, JSC, and other sources
!     as they are released. Email to [e-mail] to join.

      Space-investors is a list for information relevant to investing in
      space-related companies. Email Vincent Cate ([e-mail]) to join.

===================================================================
diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.data
*** /tmp/,RCSt1a01638    Fri Jul 24 00:28:51 1992
--- FAQ.data    Fri Jul 24 00:27:05 1992
***************
*** 306,313 ****
      stop bit, no parity.

      This information is also available via anonymous FTP from
!     nachos.ssesco.com (192.55.187.18) in directory sat_elements/nasa.
!     (address problems with the server to [e-mail]),

      Orbital elements for the Hubble Space Telescope are posted periodically
      to sci.astro by Mike Rose ([e-mail]), and a Macintosh program for
--- 306,315 ----
      stop bit, no parity.

      This information is also available via anonymous FTP from
!     nachos.ssesco.com (192.55.187.18) in directory sat_elements/nasa
!     (address problems with the server to [e-mail]), as well as
!     kilroy.jpl.nasa.gov (128.149.1.165) in pub/space/elements/nasa and
!     pub/space/elements/molczan (contact [e-mail]).

      Orbital elements for the Hubble Space Telescope are posted periodically
      to sci.astro by Mike Rose ([e-mail]), and a Macintosh program for

===================================================================
diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.references
*** /tmp/,RCSt1a01648    Fri Jul 24 00:28:53 1992
--- FAQ.references    Fri Jul 24 00:27:23 1992
***************
*** 190,195 ****
--- 190,200 ----
          3303 NASA Road One
          Houston, TX 77058-4399
          If you want to order books, call [phone].
+
+      Thomas A. Mutch, "Geology of the Moon: A Stratigraphic View",
+      Princeton University Press, 1970. Information about the Lunar
+      Orbiter missions, including maps of the coverage of the lunar
+      nearside and farside by various Orbiters.

      SPACECRAFT MODELS


===================================================================
diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.constants
*** /tmp/,RCSt1a01653    Fri Jul 24 00:28:54 1992
--- FAQ.constants    Fri Jul 24 00:26:59 1992
***************
*** 114,121 ****
          w=fd    -- Work (energy) is force times distance

      Atmospheric density varies as exp(-mgz/kT) where z is altitude, m is
!      molecular weight in kg of air, g is acceleration of gravity, T is
!      temperature, k is Bolztmann's constant. Up to 100 km,

          d = d0*exp(-z*1.42e-4)

--- 114,121 ----
          w=fd    -- Work (energy) is force times distance

      Atmospheric density varies as exp(-mgz/kT) where z is altitude, m is
!      molecular weight in kg of air, g is local acceleration of gravity, T
!      is temperature, k is Bolztmann's constant. On Earth up to 100 km,

          d = d0*exp(-z*1.42e-4)


===================================================================
diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.schedule
*** /tmp/,RCSt1a01668    Fri Jul 24 00:28:57 1992
--- FAQ.schedule    Fri Jul 24 00:27:28 1992
***************
*** 1,7 ****
  Archive-name: space/schedule
! Last-modified: $Date: 92/06/25 14:17:57 $

! SCHEDULES FOR SPACE MISSIONS, AND HOW TO SEE THEM

      SHUTTLE LAUNCHINGS AND LANDINGS; SCHEDULES AND HOW TO SEE THEM

--- 1,7 ----
  Archive-name: space/schedule
! Last-modified: $Date: 92/07/24 00:27:24 $

! SPACE SHUTTLE ANSWERS, LAUNCH SCHEDULES, TV COVERAGE

      SHUTTLE LAUNCHINGS AND LANDINGS; SCHEDULES AND HOW TO SEE THEM

***************
*** 82,86 ****
--- 82,104 ----

      [This item was most recently updated courtesy of Gary Morris
      ([e-mail], KK6YB, N5QWC)]
+
+
+     SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER FUEL COMPOSITION
+
+     Reference: "Shuttle Flight Operations Manual" Volume 8B - Solid Rocket
+     Booster Systems, NASA Document JSC-12770
+
+     Propellant Composition (percent)
+
+     Ammonium perchlorate (oxidizer)              69.6
+     Aluminum                          16
+     Iron Oxide (burn rate catalyst)              0.4
+     Polybutadiene-acrilic acid-acrylonitrile (a rubber) 12.04
+     Epoxy curing agent                  1.96
+
+     End reference
+
+     Comment: The aluminum, rubber, and epoxy all burn with the oxidizer.

  NEXT: FAQ #10/15 - Historical planetary probes

===================================================================
diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.new_probes
*** /tmp/,RCSt1a01678    Fri Jul 24 00:28:59 1992
--- FAQ.new_probes    Fri Jul 24 00:27:18 1992
***************
*** 4,19 ****
  UPCOMING PLANETARY PROBES - MISSIONS AND SCHEDULES

      This covers only NASA and Japanese (ISAS, NASDA) missions. Hard data on
!     other nations' (ESA, CIS) plans and updates due to the usual delays and
!     budget cuts would be welcome. Source: NASA fact sheets, CRAF/Cassini
!     Mission Design team, ISAS/NASDA launch schedules.


!     GALILEO - Jupiter orbiter and atmosphere probe. Has returned the first
!     resolved images of an asteroid, Gaspra, while in transit to Jupiter.
!     Efforts to unfurl the stuck High-Gain Antenna (HGA) are continuing, and
!     prospects for success seem to be improving. If the HGA cannot be
!     unfurled, science return at Jupiter will be severly limited.

         Galileo Schedule
         ----------------
--- 4,22 ----
  UPCOMING PLANETARY PROBES - MISSIONS AND SCHEDULES

      This covers only NASA and Japanese (ISAS, NASDA) missions. Hard data on
!     other nations' (ESA, CIS) plans, and updates due to the usual delays and
!     budget cuts would be welcome. Source: NASA fact sheets, Cassini Mission
!     Design team, ISAS/NASDA launch schedules.


!     GALILEO - Jupiter orbiter and atmosphere probe, in transit. Has returned
!     the first resolved images of an asteroid, Gaspra, while in transit to
!     Jupiter. Efforts to unfurl the stuck High-Gain Antenna (HGA) are
!     continuing, though eventual success appears less likely. If the HGA
!     cannot be unfurled, JPL has developed a backup plan using data
!     compression (JPEG-like for images, lossless compression for data from
!     the other instruments) which should allow the mission to achieve
!     approximately 70% of its objectives.

         Galileo Schedule
         ----------------
***************
*** 51,96 ****
      start 11/93 for one martian year (687 days).


!     CRAF (Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby) will meet with the Comet Kopff
!     near the orbit of Jupiter and travel along side it for at least three
!     years. Typical Kopff studies will include mass harmonics determination
!     orbits, a long period of close (79 km) observation orbits and tail
!     excursions at perihelion. Budgetary constraints resulted in the
!     elimination of the planned penetrator probe, and a 6 year delay in
!     arrival at Kopff. These dates are valid as of 12/17/91. As of 2/11/92,
!     CRAF is not funded in the Bush administration's proposed NASA budget,
!     though this may change.

-       Key Scheduled Dates for the CRAF Mission
-       --------------------------------------------
-         04/09/97 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch
-         07/04/98 - Mars Flyby (alt. 1805km, v=8.25 km/s)
-         07/18/00 - Earth Flyby 1 (alt. 4208km, v=9.11 km/s)
-         06/07/01 - Thisbe Flyby (alt. 8480km, v=5.2 km/s, 80 radii)
-         10/25/02 - Fortuna Flyby (alt. 8000km, v=12.57 km/s, 80 radii)
-         07/18/03 - Earth Flyby 2 (alt. 1176km, v=9.27 km/s)
-         01/26/06 - Rendezvous Kopff
-         05/25/09 - Perihelion
-         09/30/09 - Nominal End of Mission


!     CASSINI - Saturn orbiter and Titan atmosphere probe.

!       Key Scheduled Dates for the Cassini Mission (EJGA Trajectory)
       -------------------------------------------------------------
!         08/22/96 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch
!         03/29/97 - 66 Maja Asteroid Flyby
!         06/08/98 - Earth Gravity Assist
!         02/06/00 - Jupiter Gravity Assist
!         12/06/02 - Saturn Arrival
!         03/27/03 - Titan Probe Release
!         03/29/03 - Orbiter Deflection Maneuver
!         04/18/03 - Titan Probe Entry
!         06/30/03 - Iapetus Flyby
!         05/20/04 - Dione Flyby
!         09/12/04 - Enceladus Flyby
!         08/14/05 - Iapetus Flyby
!         12/31/06 - End of Primary Mission


      OTHER SPACE SCIENCE MISSIONS (note: this is based on a posting by Ron
--- 54,111 ----
      start 11/93 for one martian year (687 days).


!     The proposed CRAF (Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby) mission has been
!     killed. [And if the FAQ editor may be permitted a moment of intemperate
!     flamage, I hope those responsible for this travesty rot in Hell.]


+     CASSINI - Saturn orbiter and Titan atmosphere probe. Cassini is a joint
+     NASA/ESA project designed to accomplish an exploration of the Saturnian
+     system with its Cassini Saturn Orbiter and Huygens Titan Probe. Cassini
+     is scheduled for launch aboard a Titan IV/Centair in October of 1997.
+     After gravity assists of Venus, Earth and Jupiter in a VVEJGA
+     trajectory, the spacecraft will arrive at Saturn in June of 2004. Upon
+     arrival, the Cassini spacecraft performs several maneuvers to achieve an
+     orbit around Saturn. Near the end of this initial orbit, the Huygens
+     Probe separates from the Orbiter and descends through the atmosphere of
+     Titan. The Orbiter relays the Probe data to Earth for about 3 hours
+     while the Probe enters and traverses the cloudy atmosphere to the
+     surface. After the completion of the Probe mission, the Orbiter
+     continues touring the Saturnian system for three and a half years. Titan
+     synchronous orbit trajectories will allow about 35 flybys of Titan and
+     targeted flybys of Iapetus, Dione and Enceladus. The objectives of the
+     mission are threefold: conduct detailed studies of Saturn's atmosphere,
+     rings and magnetosphere; conduct close-up studies of Saturn's
+     satellites, and characterize Titan's atmosphere and surface.

!     One of the most intriguing aspects of Titan is the possibility that its
!     surface may be covered in part with lakes of liquid hydrocarbons that
!     result from photochemical processes in its upper atmosphere. These
!     hydrocarbons condense to form a global smog layer and eventually rain
!     down onto the surface. The Cassini orbiter will use onboard radar to
!     peer through Titan's clouds and determine if there is liquid on the
!     surface. Experiments aboard both the orbiter and the entry probe will
!     investigate the chemical processes that produce this unique atmosphere.

!     The Cassini mission is named for Jean Dominique Cassini (1625-1712), the
!     first director of the Paris Observatory, who discovered several of
!     Saturn's satellites and the major division in its rings. The Titan
!     atmospheric entry probe is named for the Dutch physicist Christiaan
!     Huygens (1629-1695), who discovered Titan and first described the true
!     nature of Saturn's rings.
!
!       Key Scheduled Dates for the Cassini Mission (VVEJGA Trajectory)
       -------------------------------------------------------------
!         10/06/97 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch
!         04/21/98 - Venus 1 Gravity Assist
!         06/20/99 - Venus 2 Gravity Assist
!         08/16/99 - Earth Gravity Assist
!         12/30/00 - Jupiter Gravity Assist
!         06/25/04 - Saturn Arrival
!         01/09/05 - Titan Probe Release
!         01/30/05 - Titan Probe Entry
!         06/25/08 - End of Primary Mission
!          (Schedule last updated 7/22/92)


      OTHER SPACE SCIENCE MISSIONS (note: this is based on a posting by Ron
***************
*** 151,158 ****
      o SFU (Space Flyer Unit) [ISAS]
          Conducting space experiments and observations and this can be
          recovered after it conducts the various scientific and
!          engineering experiments. SFU is to be launched/retrieved by the
!          U.S. Space Shuttle.

      1994
      o Polar Auroral Plasma Physics [May, Delta II rocket]
--- 166,173 ----
      o SFU (Space Flyer Unit) [ISAS]
          Conducting space experiments and observations and this can be
          recovered after it conducts the various scientific and
!          engineering experiments. SFU is to be launched by ISAS and
!          retrieved by the U.S. Space Shuttle on STS-68 in 1994.

      1994
      o Polar Auroral Plasma Physics [May, Delta II rocket]

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

Date: 24 Jul 92 04:35:11 GMT
From: Jon Leech <[e-mail]>
Subject: Space FAQ 01/15 - Introduction
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,news.answers

Archive-name: space/intro
Last-modified: $Date: 92/07/24 00:27:08 $

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON SCI.SPACE/SCI.ASTRO

    INTRODUCTION

    This series of linked messages is periodically posted to the Usenet
groups sci.space and sci.astro in an attempt to provide good answers to
frequently asked questions and other reference material which is worth
preserving. If you have corrections or answers to other frequently asked
questions that you would like included in this posting, send email to
[e-mail] (Jon Leech).

    If you don't want to see the FAQ, add 'Frequently Asked Questions' to
your KILL file for this group (if you're not reading this with a newsreader
that can kill articles by subject, you're out of luck).

    The FAQ volume is excessive right now and will hopefully be trimmed down
by rewriting and condensing over time. The FAQ postings are available in
the Ames SPACE archive in FAQ/faq<#>.

    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 your local public library first. The net is not a good place to ask
    for general information. Ask INDIVIDUALS (by email) 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.

    These are addressed on a case-by-case basis in the following series of
    FAQ postings.


    SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTER NETIQUETTE

    Read news.announce.newusers if you're on Usenet.
    Minimize cross references, [Do you REALLY NEED to?]
    Edit "Subject:" lines, especially if you're taking a tangent.
    Send mail instead, avoid posting follow ups. (1 mail message worth
    100 posts).
    Internet mail readers: send requests to add/drop to SPACE-REQUEST
    not SPACE.
    Read all available articles before posting a follow-up. (Check all
    references.)
    Cut down attributed articles (leave only the points you're
    responding to; remove signatures and headers). Summarize!
    Put a return address in the body (signature) of your message (mail
    or article), state your institution, etc. Don't assume the
    'reply' function of mailers will work.
    Use absolute dates. Post in a timely way. Don't post what everyone
    will get on TV anyway.
    Some editors and window systems do character count line wrapping:
    keep lines under 80 characters for those using ASCII terminals
    (use carriage returns).


    INDEX TO LINKED POSTINGS

    I've attempted to break the postings up into related areas. There isn't
    a keyword index yet; the following lists the major subject areas in each
    posting. Only those containing astronomy-related material are posted to
    sci.astro (indicated by '*' following the posting number).

    #    Contents

    1*    Introduction
        Suggestions for better netiquette
        Index to linked postings
        Notes on addresses, phone numbers, etc.
        Contributors

    2*    Network resources
        Overview
        Mailing lists
        Periodically updated information
        Warning about non-public networks

    3*    Online (and some offline) sources of images, data, etc.
        Introduction
        Viewing Images
        Online Archives
        NASA Ames
        NASA Spacelink
        National Space Science Data Center
        Space And Planetary Image Facility
        Space Telescope Science Institute Electronic Info. Service
        Astronomical Databases
        Astronomy Programs
        Orbital Element Sets
        SPACE Digest
        Landsat & NASA Photos
        Planetary Maps
        Cometary Orbits

    4*    Performing calculations and interpreting data formats
        Computing spacecraft orbits and trajectories
        Computing planetary positions
        Computing crater diameters from Earth-impacting asteroids
        Map projections and spherical trignometry
        Performing N-body simulations efficiently
        Interpreting the FITS image format
        Sky (Unix ephemeris program)
        Three-dimensional star/galaxy coordinates

    5*    References on specific areas
        Publishers of space/astronomy material
        Careers in the space industry
        DC-X single-stage to orbit (SSTO) program
        LLNL "great exploration"
        Lunar science and activities
        Spacecraft models
        Rocket propulsion
        Spacecraft design
        Esoteric propulsion schemes (solar sails, lasers, fusion...)
        Spy satellites
        Space shuttle computer systems
        SETI computation (signal processing)
        Amateur satellies & weather satellites
        Tides

    6*    Constants and equations for calculations

    7*    Astronomical Mnemonics

    8    Contacting NASA, ESA, and other space agencies/companies
        NASA Centers / Arianespace / ESA / NASDA / Soyuzkarta / Space
        Camp / Space Commerce Corporation / Spacehab / SPOT Image
        Other commercial space businesses

    9    Space shuttle answers, launch schedules, TV coverage
        Shuttle launchings and landings; schedules and how to see them
        How to receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT
        Dial-A-Shuttle and how to use it
        Amateur radio frequencies for shuttle missions
        Solid Rocket Booster fuel composition

    10    Planetary probes - Historical Missions
        US planetary missions
        Mariner (Venus, Mars, & Mercury flybys and orbiters)
        Pioneer (Moon, Sun, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn flybys and orbiters)
        Ranger (Lunar lander and impact missions)
        Lunar Orbiter (Lunar surface photography)
        Surveyor (Lunar soft landers)
        Viking (Mars orbiters and landers)
        Voyager (Outer planet flybys)
        Soviet planetary missions
        Soviet Lunar probes
        Soviet Venus probes
        Soviet Mars probes
        Japanese planetary missions
        Planetary mission references

    11    Upcoming planetary probes - missions and schedules
        Galileo
        Mars Observer
        CRAF
        Cassini
        Other space science missions

    12    Controversial questions
        What happened to the Saturn V plans
        Why data from space missions isn't immediately available
        Risks of nuclear (RTG) power sources for space probes
        Impact of the space shuttle on the ozone layer
        How long can a human live unprotected in space
        Using the shuttle beyond Low Earth Orbit
        The "Face on Mars"

    13    Space activist/interest/research groups and space publications
        Groups
        Publications
        Undocumented Groups

    14    How to become an astronaut

    15    Orbital and Planetary Launch Services


    NOTES ON ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, ETC.

    Unless otherwise specified, telephone numbers, addresses, and so on are
    for the United States of America. Non-US readers should remember to add
    the country code for telephone calls, etc.


    CREDITS

    Eugene Miya started a series of linked FAQ postings some years ago which
    inspired (and was largely absorbed into) this set.

    Peter Yee and Ron Baalke have and continue to spend a lot of their own
    time setting up the SPACE archives at NASA Ames and forwarding official
    NASA announcements.

    Many other people have contributed material to this list in the form of
    old postings to sci.space and sci.astro which I've edited. Please let me
    know if corrections need to be made. Contributors I've managed to keep
    track of are:

    [e-mail] (Francis Reddy)    - map projections
    [e-mail] (Richard Akerman)   - crater diameters
    [e-mail] (Lisa Weigel)    - SEDS info
    [e-mail] (Srinivas Bettadpur) - tides
    [e-mail] (Alan Wm Paeth) - map projections
    [e-mail] (Allen W. Sherzer)        - Great Exploration
    [e-mail] (Ron Baalke)    - planetary probe schedules
    [e-mail] (Timothy Banks)    - map projections,
    variable star analysis archive
    [e-mail] (Bernie Rosen)    - Space Camp
    [e-mail] (Barry Schlesinger)   - FITS format
    [e-mail] (Craig E. Ward)        - space group contact info
    [e-mail] (Tom Chapin)        - planetary positions
    [e-mail] (D. Alan Cunningham)    - NASA Spacelink
    [e-mail] (Cliff Yamamoto) - orbital elements
    [e-mail] (Anthony Datri)        - PDS/VICAR viewing software
    [e-mail] (Dave Rickel)        - orbit formulae
    [e-mail] (Phil Fraering)        - propulsion
    [e-mail] (Dani Eder)        - Saturn V plans, SRBs
    [e-mail] (Eugene N. Miya)    - introduction,
    NASA contact info, started FAQ postings
    [e-mail] (Gary Morris)        - amateur radio info
    [e-mail] (Terry Gaetz)        - N-body calculations,
    orbital dynamics
    [e-mail] (Steve Grandi)        - planetary positions
    [e-mail] (Dale M. Greer)   - constants
    [e-mail] (Henry Spencer)    - survival in vacuum,
    astronaut how-to, publication refs, DC-X
    [e-mail] (William Higgins)    - RTGs, publishers,
    shuttle landings, spysats, propulsion, "Face on Mars"
    [e-mail] (Hal Mueller)    - map projections,
    orbital dynamics
    [e-mail] (Jim Bowery)        - propulsion, launch services
    [e-mail] (Jim Scotti)    - planetary positions
    [e-mail] (Kieran A. Carroll)- refs for spacecraft design
    [e-mail] (Kenneth Ng)        - RTGs
    [e-mail] (Larry Klaes)    - planetary probe history
    [e-mail] (Jon Leech)        - crater diameters
    [e-mail] (Lou Adornato)        - orbital dynamics
    [e-mail] (Maury Markowitz)   - propulsion
    [e-mail]        - N-body calculations
    [e-mail] (Marc Wayne Mcconley)    - space careers
    [e-mail] (Mark Brader)            - Mariner 1 info.
    [e-mail] (Mark Maimone)            - SPACE Digest
    [e-mail] (Dr. Nick Watkins)    - models, spysats
    [e-mail] (Colby Kraybill)    - SPIF data archive
    [e-mail] (Kenneth W Durham)    - cometary orbits, IAU
    [e-mail] (Paul Blase)    - propulsion
    [e-mail] (Peter Scott)    - RTGs
    [e-mail] (Paul W. Schleck)    - AMSAT, ARRL contact info
    [e-mail] (Rodney Brown)        - propulsion refs
    [e-mail] (Ran Atkinson)    - FTPable astro. programs
    [e-mail] (R. Michael Jungclas)- models
    [e-mail] (David Seal)    - Cassini mission schedule
    [e-mail] (Mary Shafer)    - photos, shuttle landings
    [e-mail] (Willie Smith)    - photos
    [e-mail] (Stephen Dixon)    - shuttle audio frequencies
    [e-mail] (Ray Sterner)    - planetary positions
    [e-mail] (Phil Stooke)    - planetary maps
    [e-mail] (Ted Anderson)    - propulsion
    [e-mail] (Terry Hancock)    - NASA center info
    [e-mail] (Bill Thorson) - FITS info
    [e-mail] (Todd L. Masco)    - SPACE Digest
    [e-mail] (Tom Horsley)    - refs for algorithms
    [e-mail] (Wayne Hayes)    - constants
    [e-mail] (Matthew P Wiener) - Voyager history
    [e-mail] (Yoshiro Yamada)    - ISAS/NASDA missions
    [e-mail] (Peter Yee)        - AMES archive server,
    propulsion

    In Net memoriam:
    Ted Flinn

NEXT: FAQ #2/15 - Network Resources

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

Date: 24 Jul 92 04:35:39 GMT
From: Jon Leech <[e-mail]>
Subject: Space FAQ 02/15 - Network Resources
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,news.answers

Archive-name: space/net
Last-modified: $Date: 92/07/24 00:27:15 $

NETWORK RESOURCES

OVERVIEW

    You may be reading this document on any one of an amazing variety of
    computers, so much of the material below may not apply to you. In
    general, however, systems connected to 'the net' fall in one of three
    categories: Internet, Usenet, or BITNET. Electronic mail may be sent
    between these networks, and other resources available on one of these
    networks are sometimes accessible from other networks by email sent to
    special 'servers'.

    The space and astronomy discussion groups actually are composed of
    several mechanisms with (mostly) transparent connections between them.

    One mechanism is the mailing list, in which mail is sent to a central
    distribution point which relays it to all recipients of the list. In
    addition to the general lists for space (called SPACE Digest for
    Internet users, and SPACE-L on BITNET), there are a number of more
    specialized mailing lists described below.

    A second mechanism is Usenet 'netnews'. This is somewhat like a bulletin
    board operating on each system which is a part of the net. Netnews
    separates contributions into hundreds of different categories based on a
    'group name'. The groups dealing most closely with space topics are
    called 'sci.space.news', 'sci.space', 'sci.space.shuttle', 'sci.astro',
    and 'talk.politics.space'. Contributors 'post' submissions (called
    'articles' in netnews terminology) on their local machine, which sends
    it to other nearby machines. Similarly, articles sent from nearby
    machines are stored locally and may be forwarded to other systems, so
    that an article is posted locally and eventually reaches all the Usenet
    sites interested in receiving the news group to which the article was
    posted.

    Gateway machines serve to redirect Usenet netnews into Internet and
    BITNET mailing lists and vice versa. If you can receive netnews, its
    more flexible interface usually makes it the preferred option to getting
    on one of the main mailing lists.

MAILING LISTS

    SPACE Digest is the main Internet list, and is now being run by the
    International Space University (in only its second change of management
    in over a decade). Email [e-mail] (message body
    should be in the format 'subscribe space John Public') to join. Note
    that the moderated SPACE Magazine list is defunct at present for lack of
    a moderator.

    Elements is a moderated list for fast distribution of Space Shuttle
    Keplerian Elements before and during Shuttle flights. NASA two line
    elements are sent out on the list from Dr. Kelso, JSC, and other sources
    as they are released. Email to [e-mail] to join.

    Space-investors is a list for information relevant to investing in
    space-related companies. Email Vincent Cate ([e-mail]) to join.

    Space-tech is a list for more technical discussion of space topics;
    discussion has included esoteric propulsion technologies, asteroid
    capture, starflight, orbital debris removal, etc. Email to
    [e-mail] to join. Archives of old digests and
    selected excerpts are available by anonymous FTP from
    daisy.learning.cs.cmu.edu (128.2.218.26) in /usr/anon/public/space-tech,
    or by email to space-tech-request if you don't have FTP access.

    SEDS-L is a BITNET list for members of Students for the Exploration and
    Development of Space and other interested parties. Email
    [e-mail] with a message saying "SUBSCRIBE SEDS-L your
    name". Email saying "INDEX SEDS-L" to list the archive contents.

    SEDSNEWS is a BITNET list for news items, press releases, shuttle status
    reports, and the like. This duplicates material which is also found in
    Space Digest, sci.space, sci.space.shuttle, and sci.astro. Email
    [e-mail] saying "SUBSCRIBE SEDSNEWS your name" to join.
    Email saying "INDEX SEDSNEWS" to list the archive contents.

    As a general note, please mail to the *request* address to get off a
    mailing list. SPACE Digest, for example, relays many inappropriate
    'please remove me from this list' messages which are sent to the list
    address rather than the request address.

PERIODICALLY UPDATED INFORMATION

    In addition to this FAQ list, a broad variety of topical information is
    posted to the net (unless otherwise noted, in the new group
    sci.space.news created for this purpose). Please remember that the
    individuals posting this information are performing a service for all
    net readers, and don't take up their time with frivolous requests.

    ACRONYMS
    Garrett Wollman ([e-mail]) posts an acronym list around the
    first of each month.

    ASTRO-FTP LIST
    M{kel{ Veikko ([e-mail]) posts a monthly list of
    anonymous FTP servers containing astronomy and space related
    material to sci.space and sci.astro.

    AVIATION WEEK
    Henry Spencer ([e-mail]) posts summaries of
    space-related stories in the weekly _Aviation Week and Space
    Technology_.

    BUYING TELESCOPES
    Ronnie Kon ([e-mail]) posts a guide to buying telescopes to
    sci.astro.

    ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF THE ASA
    Don Barry ([e-mail]) posts the monthly Electronic Journal
    of the Astronomical Society of the Atlantic to sci.astro.

    ESA BULLETIN
    Harm Munk ([e-mail]) posts summaries of articles in the
    quarterly _ESA Bulletin_ and the _ESA Journal_.

    FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL
    Swaraj Jeyasingh ([e-mail]) posts summaries of
    space-related news from _Flight International_. This focuses more on
    non-US space activities than Aviation Week.

    LARGE ASTRONOMICAL PROJECTS
    Robert Bunge ([e-mail]) posts a list describing many
    "Large Telescope Projects Either Being Considered or in the Works"
    to sci.astro.

    NASA HEADLINE NEWS & SHUTTLE REPORTS
    Peter Yee ([e-mail]) posts a variety of NASA material,
    including NASA Headline News (with the schedule for NASA SELECT),
    shuttle payload briefings and flight manifests, and KSC shuttle
    status reports. For Usenet users, much of this material appears in
    the group sci.space.shuttle.

    NASA UPDATES
    Ron Baalke ([e-mail]) posts frequent updates from
    JPL, Ames, and other centers on the Ulysses, Gailileo, Pioneer,
    Magellan, Landsat, and other missions.

    The updates posted by Ron and Peter are also available on a mailing
    list. Contact either one to be added to this list.

    ORBITAL ELEMENT SETS
    TS Kelso ([e-mail]) posts orbital elements from
    NASA Prediction Bulletins.

    Mike Rose ([e-mail]) posts orbital elements for the Hubble
    Space Telescope to sci.astro.

    Jost Jahn ([e-mail]) posts ephemerides for asteroids,
    comets, conjunctions, and encounters to sci.astro.

    SATELLITE LAUNCHES
    Richard Langley ([e-mail]) posts SPACEWARN Bulletin, which
    describes recent launch/orbital decay information and satellites
    which are useful for scientific activities. Recent bulletins are
    available by anonymous FTP from nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov in
    ANON_DIR:[000000.ACTIVE.SPX].

    SHUTTLE MANIFEST
    Ken Hollis ([e-mail]) posts a compressed version
    of the Space Shuttle launch manifest to sci.space.shuttle. This
    includes dates, times, payloads, and information on how to see
    launches and landings.

    SOLAR ACTIVITY
    Cary Oler ([e-mail]) posts Solar Terrestrial reports
    (describing solar activity and its effect on the Earth) to
    sci.space. The report is issued in part from data released by the
    Space Enviroment Services Center, Boulder Colorado. The intro
    document needed to understand these reports is available by
    anonymous FTP from solar.stanford.edu (36.10.0.4) in
    pub/understanding_solar_terrestrial_reports. nic.funet.fi
    (128.214.6.100) also has this document in
    /pub/misc/rec.radio.shortwave/solarreports and is an archive site
    for the reports (please note this site is in Europe, and the
    connection to the US is only 56KB). A new primary archive site,
    xi.uleth.ca (142.66.3.29), has recently been established and will be
    actively supported.

    SOVIET SPACE ACTIVITIES
    Glenn Chapman ([e-mail]) posts summaries of Soviet space
    activities.

    SPACE ACTIVIST NEWSLETTER
    Allen Sherzer ([e-mail]) posts a newsletter, "One Small Step for
    a Space Activist," to talk.politics.space. It describes current
    legislative activity affecting NASA and commercial space activities.

    SPACE EVENTS CALENDAR
    Ron Baalke ([e-mail]) posts a calendar including
    anniversaries, conferences, launch dates, meteor showers and
    eclipses, and other space-related events.

    SPACE NEWS
    John Magliacane ([e-mail]) posts "SpaceNews" (covering
    AMSATs, NOAA and other weather satellites, and other ham
    information) to rec.radio.amateur.misc and sci.space.

    SPACE REPORT
    Jonathan McDowell ([e-mail]) posts "Jonathan's Space
    Report" covering launches, landings, reentries, status reports,
    satellite activities, etc.

    TOWARD 2001
    Bev Freed ([e-mail]) posts "Toward 2001", a weekly
    global news summary reprinted from _Space Calendar_ magazine.


WARNING ABOUT NON-PUBLIC NETWORKS

    (Included at the suggestion of Eugene Miya, who wrote the item)

    NASA has an internal system of unclassified electronic mail and bulletin
    boards. This system is not open for public use. Specifically, NASA
    personnel and procurement operations are regarded with some sensitivity.
    Contractors must renegotiate their contracts. The Fair and Open
    Procurement Act does not look kindly to those having inside information.
    Contractors and outsiders caught using this type of information can
    expect severe penalities. Unauthorized access attempts may subject you
    to a fine and/or imprisonment in accordance with Title 18, USC, Section
    1030. If in fact you should should learn of unauthorized access, contact
    NASA personnel.


NEXT: FAQ #3/15 - Online (and some offline) sources of images, data, etc.

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

End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 030
------------------------------