Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V15_2/V15NO208.TXT

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Date: Thu, 17 Sep 92 05:00:40
From: Space Digest maintainer <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Space Digest V15 #208
To: Space Digest Readers
Precedence: bulk


Space Digest                Thu, 17 Sep 92       Volume 15 : Issue 208

Today's Topics:
                      Alien substance from space
                      Clinton and Space Funding
                       Hitting Phobos with TOS
                          plantary formation
               Pluto Direct Propulsion Options (4 msgs)
                  Probes - self portraits? (2 msgs)
 PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH (5 msgs)
                   QUERY Re: Pluto Direct/ options
                     Re- Terra-forming, The E-ca
                            Solar Ram Jet
            The real issue: massive misallocation of funds
        Two-Line Orbital Element Set:  Space Shuttle (2 msgs)

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

Date: 15 Sep 92 16:59:34 EST
From: Stupendous Man <[e-mail]>
Subject: Alien substance from space
Newsgroups: sci.space,misc.headlines

    Anyone have any ideas as to what the substance found on NASA's long
term exposure unit is?

    Apparently it's something never before seen on Earth.

    The substance is a few microns of crystal-like material found on a
piece of teflon from the structure.

Brett
_______________________________________________________________________________
Proconsul Computer Consulting                                        CHA-CHING!
Better, Cheaper, Faster                           (Pick any two :)
Disclaimer:                                   NOT!

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

Date: 16 Sep 92 01:54:00 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Clinton and Space Funding
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Mark Goodman) writes...
>
>Reply-To: [e-mail]
>
>Gerard Vignes writes:
>
>>        We all know those are empty campaign promises,
>>        but we also know that Clinton and Gore are
>>        hostile to technology and research spending
>>        and especially to projects involving
>>        space exploration and astronomy.
>
>You may presume this to be true, but you certainly do not _know_
>it.  Judging by their statements, precisely the opposite is true.
>You would be hard pressed to find a stronger or more knowledgable
>supporter in Congress of research and technology development than
>Al Gore.
>
>Henry Spencer writes:
>
>>Of particular note is that John Pike reportedly has major input to their
>>space positions and is likely to be head of the Space Council staff if
>>C/G are elected.  He basically opposes manned spaceflight and does not
>>believe that cheaper launch vehicles (e.g. SSTO) are possible.  Or so I
>>am told; those who get to vote in this election might wish to investigate
>>further if you care about the future of spaceflight.
>
>John Pike has been a big opponent of military space boondoggles
>(SDI), but a big supporter of human space exploration.  His skepticism
>about cheaper launchers is based not on hostility to the idea but on
>history, as one vehicle after another failed to live up to predictions.
>
>The key to the future of NASA lies with its new Administrator, not
>with the next administration.  To vote for President in this
>election on the basis of space policy issues is silly, since the
>candidates hardly differ.  To urge people to vote on that basis is
>irresponsible and dishonest.
>
>Mark W. Goodman

Too bad that one of the first people to be replaced will by Administrator
Goldin.  That is what we heard at the WSC.  Seems he pushes the exploration
and development of space agenda of Bush too much.  Sorry there Mark.

I will get permission from the Huntsville Times to reprint here an article
in Sunday before last paper where they interviewed Gore.  He called
planetary exploration and specifically Lunar/Mars missions "rah rah" things
that could be done later after the problems down here are solved. Does that
sound familiar?

Dennis, University of Alabama in Huntsville.

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

Date: 15 Sep 1992 21:47:20 GMT
From: Jeff Bytof <[e-mail]>
Subject: Hitting Phobos with TOS
Newsgroups: sci.space

>Along these lines, perhaps we can steer upper stages headed for
>deep space into intercept trajectories, and get some observing
>time on a big telescope like Keck or Hubble to see what happens.
>For example, could Mars Observer's TOS be steered into Phobos,
>or would we have had to tinker with TOS's navigation box beforehand?
>Do we know Phobos' orbit well enough to steer blind?

I suspect we have to more than "tinker" with the TOS "navigation box"
to hit Phobos.  First, planetary quarentine dictates that
TOS has a less than 10^-5 probability of impact with Mars.  There will
be no Mars avoidance manuever of the TOS after separation.  Given
the expected dispersion of the injection manuever, the aimpoint of
injection is also biased well away from Phobos and Diemos.  Steering into
Phobos or Diemos would require beefed up telecommunications capability
on TOS and probably imaging to do optical navigation on the inbound
asymptote.  Steering blind will get you nowhere in particular,
ESPECIALLY at Mars.

Jeff Bytof
[e-mail]


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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 23:13:44 GMT
From: Joe Cain <[e-mail]>
Subject: plantary formation
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,sci.geo.geology

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Marc Allan Rouleau) writes:
>
>    I am working on a project here at WPI to examine theories on the
>origin of the solar system.  Can anyone suggest some good books, articles,
>etc.

Wow, there is a LOT of reading you might do. I would start with some
good texts and send a portion of the primary reading list for my
introductory class in planetary geology:

Abell, G. O., D. Morrison, and S. C. Wolff, Exploration of the
      Universe, Saunders College Publ., 1991.
Beatty, J. K. and A. Chaikin, The New Solar System, Sky & Cambridge
      Publ., QB501 .N47 1990.
Carr, M. H., R. S. Saunders, R. G. Strom, and D. E. Wilhelms, The
      geology of the Terrestrial Planets, NASA SP-469, QB 601 .T47
      1984.
Hamblin, W. K., and E. H. Christiansen, Exploring the Planets,
      Macmillan, 1990.
Hartmann, W. K., Moons and Planets, 3rd edition, Wadsworth, 1993.


Joseph Cain        [e-mail]
[e-mail]        scri::cain

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

Date: 16 Sep 92 06:50:16 GMT
From: Ron Baalke <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pluto Direct Propulsion Options
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Josh 'K' Hopkins) writes...
>[e-mail] (Frank Crary) writes:
>[on the subject of Pluto's atmosphere]
>
>>Yes: There was a stellar occultation in 1990 (? might have been 1989).
>>The gradual drop in the observed light not only demonstrated the
>>existance of an atmosphere, but also suggested some kind of structure
>>(odd density-temperature profile or a haze layer...)
>

Also, Tobias Owen from the University of Hawaii detected nitrogen in
Pluto's atmosphere earlier this year.

>Do we need to worry about pulling another Titan?  It would be kind of
>embarrassing to dedicate a half billion, two probes and ten years of ops, only
>to find out that Pluto's atmosphere is opaque :)

The two known bodies in the solar system with opaque atmospheres are Venus
and Titan, and both of them have atmospheres that are denser than Earth's.
Pluto's atmosphere is not very dense and will eventually freeze out as
it moves farther from the Sun.

Also, the surface brightness of Pluto has been mapped (though at a very
low resolution) by using the data gathered from the Pluto-Charon occultations
from 1985 to 1990.  The south pole was shown to be relatively bright,
probably due an ice cap made up of methane.  Dave Tholen was involved
with this, and can probably give more details.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Quiet people aren't the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | only ones who don't say
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | much.

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 20:03:32 GMT
From: Josh 'K' Hopkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pluto Direct Propulsion Options
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro

[e-mail] (Frank Crary) writes:
[on the subject of Pluto's atmosphere]

>Yes: There was a stellar occultation in 1990 (? might have been 1989).
>The gradual drop in the observed light not only demonstrated the
>existance of an atmosphere, but also suggested some kind of structure
>(odd density-temperature profile or a haze layer...)


Do we need to worry about pulling another Titan?  It would be kind of
embarrassing to dedicate a half billion, two probes and ten years of ops, only
to find out that Pluto's atmosphere is opaque :)


--
Josh Hopkins              "I believe that there are moments in history when
                           challenges occur of such a compelling nature that to
                           miss them is to miss the whole meaning of an epoch.
[e-mail]  Space is such a challenge"       - James A. Michener

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

Date: 15 Sep 92 23:27:42 GMT
From: "John P. Mechalas" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pluto Direct Propulsion Options
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>Also, Tobias Owen from the University of Hawaii detected nitrogen in
>Pluto's atmosphere earlier this year.
>
>The two known bodies in the solar system with opaque atmospheres are Venus
>and Titan, and both of them have atmospheres that are denser than Earth's.
>Pluto's atmosphere is not very dense and will eventually freeze out as
>it moves farther from the Sun.

As I understand it, Pluto's atmosphere freezes when it's farthest from the
sun and then falls to the surface.  As it approaches the sun, the atmosphere
then thaws out and "reforms".  I think it would be well worth the effort to
send a probe to study this, since it's a phenomenon that doesn't occur
anywhere nearby.

--
John Mechalas                                          "I'm not an actor, but
[e-mail]                                 I play one on TV."
Aero Engineering, Purdue University                     #include disclaimer.h

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

Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 02:10:48 GMT
From: "robert.f.casey" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pluto Direct Propulsion Options
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John P. Mechalas) writes:
>As I understand it, Pluto's atmosphere freezes when it's farthest from the
>sun and then falls to the surface.  As it approaches the sun, the atmosphere
>then thaws out and "reforms".  I think it would be well worth the effort to
>send a probe to study this, since it's a phenomenon that doesn't occur
>anywhere nearby.

Wonder if there would be "snow" storms when Pluto's atmosphere freezes out,
or would just form frozen "dew" on the surface.  Maybe both, as the gas
with the higher freezing point "snows" out before the gases with lower
freezing points condense out.  (Do I remember correctly that there are
more than one gas in Pluto's atmosphere?)

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

Date: 16 Sep 92 04:55:44 GMT
From: Ron Baalke <[e-mail]>
Subject: Probes - self portraits?
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Joshua Bell) writes...
>I've often wondered, especially in the wake of Gallileo's stuck
>HGA, but also after Voyager 2 headed off into never-never land
>past Neptune, why the cameras on these craft are unable to be
>located so that they can take images of the craft itself, for
>self-diagnosis, and also for PR - I would have LOVED a rather
>non-scientific shot of Voyager 2 looking back over its own
>shoulder towards Neptune, or during the fly-by, so we can see the
>various parts of the craft.

Both Voyager and Galileo carried cameras with 200mm and 1500mm lenses
that were designed to take images of objects thousands to millions of
miles away.  They don't work too good for close distances, particulary
as close as a few yards to do a self-portrait.

However, Galileo did take a self-portrait using its NIMS instrument.  The
image was a thermal image and was used to verify that the High Gain
antenna was partially deployed.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Quiet people aren't the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | only ones who don't say
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | much.

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

Date: 15 Sep 1992 21:42:31 GMT
From: Jeff Bytof <[e-mail]>
Subject: Probes - self portraits?
Newsgroups: sci.space

Ron Baalke writes:

>Both Voyager and Galileo carried cameras with 200mm and 1500mm lenses
>that were designed to take images of objects thousands to millions of
>miles away.  They don't work too good for close distances, particulary
>as close as a few yards to do a self-portrait.

The Voyager spacecraft both had an optical calibration target which
doubled as a power supply shunt and load radiator in full view of
the scan platform.

I believe the Galileo spacecraft only uses a 1500mm lens in its CCD
camera system.

Jeff Bytof
[e-mail]

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

Date: 15 Sep 92 22:47:51 GMT
From: Jeff Bytof <[e-mail]>
Subject: PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH
Newsgroups: sci.space

Dr. Alexander Abian proposes:

>     As mentioned above, a practical way for creating a life-sustaining ecology
>say, on Venus, is to put Venus in an orbit similar to the Earth's orbit, to
>begin with.  This is the way, the only way.

Dear Dr. Abian, Sir:

   There are two approaches to this problem:

   (1) use your mathematical abilities to model the effect of transfering
       Venus to Earth orbit, quantifying the possibly deleterious
       effects on the Earth's orbit and indigenous lifeforms.

   -or-

   (2) study Kabala, and become an AstroZionist, like me.

---------
Jeff Bytof
[e-mail]

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 22:22:51 GMT
From: Alexander Abian <[e-mail]>
Subject: PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH
Newsgroups: sci.space

 In our Solar System, the planet VENUS is the only planet which sizewise,
masswise and substancewise closely resembles our planet Earth.
     The main difference between Venus and Earth lies in their orbits around
the Sun.  For one thing, Venus stays around 67 million miles away from the
Sun, whereas Earth stays around 93 million miles away from the Sun.  As a
consequence of the corresponding greenhouse effects, Venus' average surface
temperature is around 900 degrees F, whereas Earth's is around 60 degrees F.
Venus, being an extraordinarily hot planet is unsuitable for sustaining life
(as we know it).
     However, if we alter Venus' orbit and make it similar to the Earth's
orbit, then the gradual process of generating life sustaining ecology on
Venus will evolve automatically.  As a result, a second Earth-like planet
will be created which, in due course, will be readily and easily populated
by the human species.
     The present-day tendencies of Space Scientists and Space Technology
consist in keeping Venus or Mars in their existing orbits and trying to install
on them machinery which will produce life-sustaining conditions.  This approach
most likely will not yield the desired results.  Indeed, creating life-
sustaining ecology on the planets (like Venus or Mars) whose present cosmic
parameters, to begin with do not allow the existence of life on them, seems
improbable and impractical.
     As mentioned above, a practical way for creating a life-sustaining ecology
say, on Venus, is to put Venus in an orbit similar to the Earth's orbit, to
begin with.  This is the way, the only way.

      Philosophically:

     THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF NATURAL SELECTION, OR THE PRESERVATION
OF FAVOURED RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
                                               C. DARWIN (1859)

     THE FUTURE OF SPECIES BY MEANS OF RATIONAL ALTERATION OF COSMOS, OR
THE PRESERVATION OF INTELLIGENT RACES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

                                               A. ABIAN (1992)

Dr. Alexander Abian
Professor of Mathematics
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa  50011
USA

phone: [phone]
<[e-mail]>

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

Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 01:05:46 GMT
From: "Greg Fruth (JIAFS" <[e-mail]>
Subject: PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Alexander Abian) writes:
> In our Solar System, the planet VENUS is the only planet which sizewise,
>masswise and substancewise closely resembles our planet Earth.
[et cetera]
>     As mentioned above, a practical way for creating a life-sustaining ecology
>say, on Venus, is to put Venus in an orbit similar to the Earth's orbit, to
>begin with.  This is the way, the only way.
>
>Dr. Alexander Abian
>Professor of Mathematics
>Iowa State University

And while you're at it, please speed its rotation up so that its day is
shorter than its year.  Currently, the Venusian day is 243 Earth days
while the Venusian year is 225 Earth days.  I went there for spring break
and the bars don't open until 6 PM local time, which was ten months away!
Plus, my digital sundial wristwatch didn't seem to work.  I think it
had something to do with the fact that Venus's rotation is retrograde.
I wanted to see the famous spectacular sunset over the pink-green sea
but it was lunch time instead of dusk.  What a terrible vacation.

--
Greg Fruth                                      [e-mail]
 ___            ___  ____               __      ____        ___  __
/   \|   |  /\  |  \ |        /\  |\  | | \     |    |\  |   |  /  \ \   /
\___ |___| /__\ |__/ |__     /__\ | \ | |  \    |__  | \ |   |  |  |  \_/

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

Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 01:05:14 GMT
From: "Richard A. Schumacher" <[e-mail]>
Subject: PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH
Newsgroups: sci.space

This is the same guy who wanted to blow up the Moon to improve
Earth's climate, right?

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

Date: 16 Sep 92 01:51:27 GMT
From: Douglas R Fils <[e-mail]>
Subject: PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Richard A. Schumacher) writes:
>This is the same guy who wanted to blow up the Moon to improve
>Earth's climate, right?
>
Yup, that's him......

Continue the proud Iowa State tradition...I would if this on will make it in
to the Journal of Science we all love..the Weekly World News



--

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

Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 06:28:56 GMT
From: Ron Baalke <[e-mail]>
Subject: QUERY Re: Pluto Direct/ options
Newsgroups: sci.space

Mark Brader writes:

> Several slingshot trajectories have been proposed as alternatives to the
> direct Pluto flight, but not the one that I would have thought obvious:
> a simple Jupiter slingshot.  Jupiter should be in the right position
> for a period of, I would guess, some weeks or months, at intervals of
> about 12 years.

The Pluto proposal using the Mark Mariner II spacecraft would of used
a Jupiter gravity assist.  I managed to dig out an old post from last
December, and it includes tibits on the Neptune orbiter mission.

* Both probes would be Mariner Mark II spacecraft.
* Both launched by Titan/Centaur.
* Launch for Pluto in 2001, with gravity assists from Earth and Jupiter.
* Launch for Neptune 8 months later, in 2002, with gravity assists from
  Venus (twice), Earth and Jupiter.
* Observation of Pluto one year before and after closest approach.
* 100 days before closest approach to Pluto, a daughter spacecraft with
  imaging instruments only will be released to arrive at Pluto 3.2 days
  (half a Pluto revolution) after the main craft, so that both hemispheres
  of Pluto and Charon can be imaged.
* Pluto probe will continue out at a speed of about 3 AU per year, and should
  reach 75 to 110 AU before its useful life ends.
* Neptune spacecraft will release a probe 6 to 8 days before closest
  approach. This will enter the atmosphere of Neptune.
* Neptune orbitor's mission to last 4 years, with 25 to 45 gravity assists
  from Triton.

One benefit of using the 2001 to 2003 launch window instead of the next
Jupiter-assist launch window (2011) is that it would be more feasible to use
the Mariner Mark II, since after CRAF/Cassini it would be difficult to
replicate as parts became unavilable.

Science return from Cassini is likely to end about 2008 - 2010. There would
therefore only be a `short' gap before data starts coming from the
Pluto-bound craft (2014 - 2016, ie a year before and after closest
approach), followed by data from the Neptune craft from 2021 - 2025.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Quiet people aren't the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | only ones who don't say
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | much.

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

Date: 15 Sep 92 20:47:30 GMT
From: "Thomas H. Kunich" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re- Terra-forming, The E-ca
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steve Abrams) writes:
>
>However, if D-He3 fusion comes to pass, you go straight from nuclear energy to
>electricity.

I prefer real science over Ex Deus Machina. If and when fusion becomes a reality
we can discuss it's ramifications on society.

Besides, we don't have to guess about fission, solar power, wind energy,
thermal, wave energy and man alive -- we could even couple the creep of
the San Andreas Fault easier than we can discuss fusion.


So electric cars are a significant -- nothing. The various power
conversions end up being less efficient than the ICE and the
private auto decentralizes the pollution sources.

I do think that there is a future for electric cars. But I'm not wild
about the wildly optomistic reports that the electric car age has
arrived. I still think that there is a good possibility that
steam engines may make a revival. Not to mention all of the engines,
like the sterling cycle engines that can use lower temperature
differentials to operate on -- say a solar focusing lense?

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 19:35:58 GMT
From: Paul Raveling <[e-mail]>
Subject: Solar Ram Jet
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.aeronautics

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jim Bowery) writes:
>
> A related idea is a solar ram jet.  I haven't really given this much
> thought but it is probably good enough for science fiction:

    While not identical to the idea you propose, an interesting
    variant from sci fi is the one that Larry Niven used in a
    series of books.  (Was one of these titled "Rammer"?)  In his
    writings these these ram "jets" enabled interstellar travel
    for the first time; look for books published about 2 1/2 decades
    ago.

    Actually the thing I liked about Larry Niven's writings
    was that he'd suggest plausible new technologies, then
    propose how they shape important elements of future civilizations
    and cultures.  This exercise is sometimes fascinating, whether
    the topic is fictional or real technology.


------------------
Paul Raveling
[e-mail]

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

Date: 16 Sep 92 02:02:00 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: The real issue: massive misallocation of funds
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Nick Szabo) writes...
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Phew) writes:
>>
>>I fully agree that telepresence has validity in a large number of
>>applications. What I would object to is development of telepresence
>>as the *sole* means of presence in space.
>
>This isn't the important issue.  The issue is a NASA budget that puts nearly
>2/3 of its space funds towards astronaut projects, and less than 1%
>towards telepresence. Does that reflect the potential contributions
>of each?  I think not.
>
>
>
>--
>[e-mail]        Tuesday, November third  ##  Libertarian  $$  vote
>Tuesday  ^^ Libertarian  --  change  **  choice && November 3rd @@Libertarian

Hey I just figured it out! Nick IS a telepresence and AI experiment that went
awry. Where is the soft restart key?

Just kidding Nick. :-)

Dennis

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 21:58:06 GMT
From: TS Kelso <[e-mail]>
Subject: Two-Line Orbital Element Set:  Space Shuttle
Newsgroups: sci.space

The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are
carried on the Celestial BBS, [phone], and are updated daily (when
possible).  Documentation and tracking software are also available on this
system.  As a service to the satellite user community, the most current
elements for the current shuttle mission are provided below.  The Celestial
BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.

Element sets (also updated daily), shuttle elements, and some documentation
and software are also available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil
(129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space.

STS 47
1 22120U 92 61  A 92258.25000000  .00075928  00000-0  25599-3 0    72
2 22120  56.9999  99.9735 0008844 286.2039 176.6558 15.89394833   261
--
Dr TS Kelso                           Assistant Professor of Space Operations
[e-mail]                    Air Force Institute of Technology

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

Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 22:02:21 GMT
From: TS Kelso <[e-mail]>
Subject: Two-Line Orbital Element Set:  Space Shuttle
Newsgroups: sci.space

The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are
carried on the Celestial BBS, [phone], and are updated daily (when
possible).  Documentation and tracking software are also available on this
system.  As a service to the satellite user community, the most current
elements for the current shuttle mission are provided below.  The Celestial
BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity.

Element sets (also updated daily), shuttle elements, and some documentation
and software are also available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil
(129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space.

STS 47
1 22120U 92 61  A 92259.25000000  .00076222  00000-0  25599-3 0   105
2 22120  57.0001  95.3617 0008862 288.8795 137.8499 15.89469164   424
--
Dr TS Kelso                           Assistant Professor of Space Operations
[e-mail]                    Air Force Institute of Technology

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

End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 208
------------------------------