Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V16_4/V16NO438.TXT

Internet Message Format | 1993-07-13 | 32KB

Date: Fri,  9 Apr 93 05:00:17
From: Space Digest maintainer <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Space Digest V16 #438
To: Space Digest Readers
Precedence: bulk


Space Digest                Fri,  9 Apr 93       Volume 16 : Issue 438

Today's Topics:
                     'Space Toys' and Education?
                       Abyss--breathing fluids
                             Biosphere II
              Blow up space station, easy way to do it.
          How big is a Planet? or generation of solar system
                     How do they ignite the SSME?
                   looking for IGN ftp site(france)
                         Michael Adam's posts
                                 MIR
                             NASA "Wraps"
                            nuclear waste
                             Sky Surfing
               Small Astronaut (was: Budget Astronaut)
                          space food sticks
                      SSF Redesign as of 3/31/93
                            The Area Rule
                            Venus project
Voyager record, Pioneer plaque (was Re: Need info on a Voyager probe)

    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: Thu, 08 Apr 1993  09:26 edt
From: Roger Wilfong <[e-mail]>
Subject: 'Space Toys' and Education?
Newsgroups: sci.space

Does any one know of a NASA 'Games in Space' or 'Toys in Space' education
program?  And if so, who I should contact?

The principal at my daughter's elementry school is interested in including
it as part of a science program (if it exists) but doesn't know who to
contact.  I remember that there was an experiment on one of the shuttle
flights involving common 'scientific' toys (a Slinkey, magnetic marbles,
etc.) - I suspect that footage from this flight is probably involved in the
program.

Please e'mail me.

Thanks.

- Roger

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

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 14:06:02 GMT
From: Doug Loss <[e-mail]>
Subject: Abyss--breathing fluids
Newsgroups: sci.space

Besides the mechanical problems of moving so dense a medium in oan out
of the lungs (diaphragm fatigue, etc.), is there likely to be a problem
with the mixture?  I mean, since the lungs never expel all the air in
them, the inhaled air has to mix pretty quickly with the residual air in
the lungs to provide a useful partial pressure of oxygen, right?  Would
this mixing be substantially faster/slower at the pressures we're
talking about?

I'd guess that fish don't have this problem because gills are a
once-through system, always in contact with fresh fluid.

Doug

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

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 93 12:37:23 BST
From: Greg Stewart-Nicholls <[e-mail]>
Subject: Biosphere II
Newsgroups: sci.space

In <1q09ud$[e-mail]> Pat writes:
>Why is everyone being so critical of B2?
 Because it's bogus science, promoted as 'real' science.
>It's ed Basses money,  why should we care.
>If he spent it on Cocaine and hookers, no-one would care.
 If he'd said he was building B2 as a theme park, no-one would care.
>besides it's  holistic science,  they are attempting to establish
>an inbalance eco-sphere.  they don't need to know neccesarily
>each interaction,  they need to know wether or not it will
>self sustain.  to date,  it seems they are having O2 balance
>problems.  It's like a farm.  if the crops grow it's a success.
  Hardly. I'd imagine that a farmer would really like to know how
to repeat his success. The problem with B2, is that whether it
succeeds or not, they won't really be able to explain it. To that
extent, it's not very good science.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------
 .sig files are like strings ... every yo-yo's got one.

Greg Nicholls ... [e-mail] (business) or
                  [e-mail] (private)

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

Date: 8 Apr 93 13:59:53 GMT
From: Andrew Bissell <[e-mail]>
Subject: Blow up space station, easy way to do it.
Newsgroups: sci.space

> In article <[e-mail]>
> [e-mail] writes:

> < Inflatable space station ideas deleted >

> >Why musta  space station be so difficult?? why must we have girders? why be
> >confined to earth based ideas, lets think new ideas, after all space is not
> >earth, why be limited by earth based ideas??

> In article <[e-mail]>
> Gary Coffman replies:

> Your proposal is somewhat similar to the LLNL balloon station concept.
> It is a cheap way to get large pressurized volumes. But most uses of
> a space station require more than just a large pressurized volume.
> Generally there will be requirements to host experimental equipment
> and supply power for that equipment. You need structure for equipment
> mountings, and structure for power systems. You need wiring channels.
> You need storage lockers, etc. Also you need structure to allow reboost
> burns against orbital decay. With a large pressurized volume comes a
> large drag area that requires frequent reboosts. Without structures
> to hold massive equipment and supplies in place, reboost becomes
> difficult and dangerous. An open truss design gives lots of mounting
> points without large drag generating surfaces. Most of the things a
> space station is good for don't require large pressurized volumes.
> Most space experiments want exposure to space conditions.


The above points suggest to me the idea of placing the trus *inside*
an inflatable structure, resulting in rigidity and anchoring points
for equipment together with plenty of cheap volume around the truss for
workspace and living accomodation.  We can also integrate the station
in a pressurised, controlled environment (it should be much easier to
integrate truss sections when *not* having to wear a pressure suit).

Perhaps this gets us the advantages of both approaches?

Andrew Bissell.

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

Date: 8 Apr 93 10:13:30
From: "Jonathan P. Gibbons" <[e-mail]>
Subject: How big is a Planet? or generation of solar system
Newsgroups: sci.space

I am trying to work out simple rules for solar system generation.  I feel I
can ignore many star solar systems.  I've managed to get some basic ideas
together which could result in our solar system with masses for the planets
being at about the right distance.  However, it is not based on much physics
or knowledge.

The factors I know of for my noddy solution are:

1: Temperature in solar nebula effects type of material going into the planet.
2: The point at which water can form ice within the forming system is
important - ie differentiates terrestrail planets from gass giants.  Also
means that the asteroid belt couldn't form into a planet (what with jupiter
being big as well).
3: I know of titus bode's sequence for planetary distance but I don't know
if its just coincidence.  Does anyone know?

The solution I want is not in depth physics but rule of thumb stuff which could
result in a close approximation to our system.

Jonathan

PS its for a computer game idea where realistic solar systems would be nice.
   The idea may or may not be actually coded.
--
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  With fearsome eyes and fiery breath the dragon burnt the girl to death
                    -- from "Too Late Saint George"

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

Date: Thu, 08 Apr 1993  09:06 edt
From: Roger Wilfong <[e-mail]>
Subject: How do they ignite the SSME?
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,sci.space

In Article <[e-mail]> "[e-mail] (Paul Dietz)" says:
> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Clemens Emmanuel Tillier) writes:
>
> >Roger Wilfong writes: (about SSME ignition method)
>
> >> They use a pyrotechnic ignitor mounted on the pad that produces a lot of
> >> sparks for about 10 seconds.  This type of ignitor is basically the same
> >> type of pyrotechnic sparklers that were developed for the A4/V2.
>
> > I've heard the sparkers were intended to ignite *stray* hydrogen before it
> > builds up and explodes. What's the call here... Do they actually ignite the
> > SSME's or are they merely a safety device? Can someone at NASA shed some
> > light on this?

Sorry for the misinformation.  My sources were several books and a bad
assumption on my part.  The books (detailing the early German developments)
mentioned the development of a pyrotechnic sparkler like ignitor that burned
for several seconds.  After years of watching footage of Saturn and Shuttle
ignition sequences and seeing the pad mounted sparklers, I assumed that
these were the ignitors.

Now that I think about it, (and as many other have pointed out) having the
ignitor outside of the combustion chamber doesn't make much sense - kind of
like mounting the spark plugs in the exhaust manifold of your car.

Sorry for the confusion I created.

- Roger

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

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 09:38:59 GMT
From: Patrick Cerisier <[e-mail]>
Subject: looking for IGN ftp site(france)
Newsgroups: sci.space

I'm looking for the IGN ftp site (Institut geographique national [FRANCE])
so that i can get some spot images back.

thanx in advance!

Pat

email:
[e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 14:09:57 GMT
From: Doug Loss <[e-mail]>
Subject: Michael Adam's posts
Newsgroups: sci.space

Michael Adams asked if anyone objected to his many posts.  Personally, I
enjoy a lot of them.  I find the constant flame wars a lot more
objectionable, but I would never suggest that people don't have a right
to whine in public.  Keep up the posts, Michael; you never get answers
if you don't ask questions!

Doug

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

Date: Thu, 08 Apr 93 13:59:43 GMT
From: George Hastings <[e-mail]>
Subject: MIR
Newsgroups: sci.space

 ([e-mail]) writes:
> Does anybody have information about MIR? What kind of modules does it have?
> How does it compare to the current (?) version of SSF? What are the kosmonauts
> doing up there?
> Thanks:
> Geza
>
> Geza Meszena
> Deparment of Atomic Physics
> Eotvos University, Budapest
> [e-mail]

     I had a chance to practice aboard the full-size MIR
training simulator last summer in Zhvedzhdny Gorodok, and it's
pretty impressive!
     The Main Core Module of Mir was launched on February 20,
1986 on a Proton rocket from Baikonur, Kazakstan. It is 12.6m
long, and 4.35m in diamter. It has a mass of 20 tons. It
incorporates the five-point multiple docking adapter, a very
small RMS remote manipulator system arm a little over a meter
in length,used for transferring modules from one docking port
to another, solar panels, gyrocompass, the central control
post, a "veloergometer" (treadmill build into the floor
section), instrument and equipment servicing systems, a
multipurpose ward-room table, with all sorts of neat modules
that fold out of it, individual sleeping compartments about as
big as a phone booth, each with their own porthole, an airlock,
and the "hygiene section" (toilet, covered wash-basin, and
shower facility)
     The KVANT (quantum) Module was launched on March 30, 1987
and docked with the back end of the Main Module on April 12th.
It has a mass of 11 tons. It is 5.3m long and 4.35m in
diameter. It incorporates an active docking unit, approach
equipment ILGA, a passive docking unit at the other end, an
optical unit, a scientific instrumentation unit, the Approach
Equipment KURS (which NASA is considering using on SSF), an
electron beam magnetometer, an ultra-violet telescope GLAZAR, a
gas spectrometer SIREN, a transmitter unit PULSAR, a control
post.
     KVANT 2 Module was launched on November 26, 1989, and
docked at the multiple-docking port on December 6, 1989. It has
a mass of 19.5 tons, is 12.2m long, and 4.35m in diameter. It
has about 55sq.meters of solar panels. There are three airtight
compartments: instrument/cargo, science instrument, and
airlock. It has life support systems, provides drinking water
tankage, oxygen renegeration equipment, shower and washing
facilities, and an airlock and storage for the ORLAND EVA space
suit and IKARUS MMU. It also  includes:
    Incubator 2 biotechnology equipment to study
embryology, MKF-6i multispectral camera for Earth surface and
atmospheric photography in six different spectral bands, the
Epsilon calorimeter to monitor the characteristics of
heat-control coatings of space vehicles, the Volna-2 experiment
to develop fuel supply devices using capillary action in
weightlessness, distance-controlled videospectral instruments
for experiments that require search, guidance,and tracking of
objects on Earth and in space, Komplast and ERE equipment to
study the effects of space exposure on screen-vacuum thermal
insulation samples, construction materials (mainly
carbon-filled and glass fiber plastics and composite materials)
and electronic components (sort of like NASA's LDEF)
     KRISTALL was launched on May 31, 1990, and docked with the
orbital complex on June 10, 1990. It has a mass of 19.5 tons,
is 11.9m long and 4.35m in diameter. It has 70 sq.meters of
solar panels. It has two airtight compartments:
instrument/cargo and instrument/docking. It is designed for two
tasks, the first of which is to develop materials production
technologies for use in weightlessness. Materials being
investigated include those for construction, high quality
mono-crystal semi-conductors, and biological preparations
utilizing electro-phoretic separation techniques. Secondly,
KRISTALL has a docking port which could have been used for
docking with the Russian space shuttle Buran. It is unlikely
that Buran will ever fly again, according to the officials I
spoke to at Star City. However, the Energia Corporation has
signed a contract to modify the Buran docking adaptor for use
by American Space Shuttles, and NASA has a signed memorandum
that commits to docking an American space shuttle with MIR,
probably in 1995.
   The instrumentation on KRISTALL includes KRATER V, Optizon
Zona 2 and 3 for developing production technologies for
high-quality semi-conductors used in microelectronics, atomic
equipment, and optics. Kristallizator group for developing
directionally grown semi-conductors, eutectic alloys,glasses,
and composites. Ainur multi-purpose automatic electrophoresis
equipment for effective separation of protein preparations such
as synthetic human interferons, antigens, surface proteins, and
various viruses for vaccine and serum preparation. GLAZAR 2 for
ultra-violet stellar photography. Maria 2 spectrometer for
researching antiprotons and high energy electron/positron
components of charged particle fluxes. BUKET
telescope/spectrometer for high resolution study of soft gamma
rays. GRANAT spectrometer to measure and determine the
compostion of gamma ray fluxes and fast and slow neutrons in
near-Earth space. SVET greenhouse for plant growth and
development of space cultivation technology. Priroda 5, wich
does Earth resources photography. YKTF-2 integrated training
facility for medical experiments and crew physical training.
   Completed and ready for launch, but not scheduled yet due to
severe financial restrictions are two other modules:
    SPEKTR, a 20 ton module 9.1m long, 4.35m diameter,
designed to monitor the Earth. Study processes related to the
changes of teh Sun's activity, recording of ionizing cosmic
radiation, measurement of terrestrial radioation sources -
oilwell gas torches, active volcaos, forest fires; measurment
of the Earth radiation background; research into the
transparency of the atmosphere through orbital solar
occultation observations, and study fo environmental pollution.
    PRIRODA module, 20 tons, 9.7m x 4.35m, is designed for
the purpose of refining spectro-radiometric methods for remote
sensing of the Earth. Module equipment is designed to do
reserach on the condition and interaction of the ocean and
atmosphere, study hydrologic processes in the oceanand on the
land for the study of oceanography. It will examine
atmosphereic physics, acquire hydro-meteorological data,
construct maps of the Earth's surface for the study of geology,
hydrology, and economics. It will continue astrophysical,
biotechnological and technical experiments started on other Mir
modules.
    And that about exhausts my notes!  8-)
 ____________________________________________________________
| George Hastings        [e-mail] |
| Space Science Teacher        [e-mail]      |  If it's not
| Mathematics & Science Center     STAREACH BBS: 804-343-6533   |   FUN, it's
| 2304 Hartman Street        OFFICE:       804-343-6525   |  probably not
| Richmond, VA 23223        FAX:          [phone]   |    SCIENCE!
 ------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 13:56:32 GMT
From: "Allen W. Sherzer" <[e-mail]>
Subject: NASA "Wraps"
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <1pv3gp$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Dave McKissock) writes:

>>>My dear friends, your mixing fact and fiction here.

>>Not according to the sources we spoke with at the Reston Program Office.

>I have read the Space News editorial. I don't believe that simply
>reorganizing the management structure so the project managers
>at the centers report to the Reston program manager and
>eliminating a layer or two of the requirements documents will
>somehow magically save hundreds of millions of dollars.

Not magic, simply common sense. Everybody working on station serves
two masters: Freedom and their center manager. When they come into
conflict (as they often do), Freedom looses. That's why two thirds
of the JSC people who should be working Freedom aren't.

If you do the math, as the Reston people have done, you see that it
could be built for less than $2B a year and operated for $1B per year
*IF* all the money is spent on Freedom. The reston managers, who are
in the best place to know, say that a third of the money allocated to
Freedom ISN'T BEING SPENT ON FREEDOM.

>the changes would tighten up the management chain, and
>eliminating documentation would save $, but not anywhere near
>the scale that is needed to fit within the 5/7/9 $Billion
>options recently dictated.

Now that's not what they said. They are claiming about $15 billion
compared to the $20+ billion if done the way it is today.

>As I understand it, there is a specific line item in the NASA
>budget to pay the salaries for all NASA civil servants. So, when
>people quote a figure like $8 B, or $30 B for SSF, I do not
>believe those numbers include civil servant salaries.

According to Goldin's request for next year this item will be
$1.5 billion. Freedom's share of that is only enough to pay for
a very few people. It just isn't enough money.

>I wasn't aware that the Engineering Directorate at JSC has only
>one project they are chartered to work on.

Well now you know better. Their charter is to work on new systems,
not sustaining engineering.

>Let's peek into their
>organization, by looking at their organization published in
>the JSC phone book. The Engineering Directorate has 8 divisions:
>Crew and Thermal Systems, Tracking and Communications,
>Navigation Control & Aeronautics, Flight Data Systems, Propulsion
>and Power, Automation and Robotics, Structures and Mechanics, and
>Systems Engineering.

All things needed for Freedom.

>Wouldn't you figure that folks in many
>of these divisions heavily support the Space Shuttle

They aren't supposed to. That's the job of another division.

>maybe the folks in "Tracking & Communications" work alot on TDRSS?

TDRSS is run out of Goddard.

But maybe they are working TDRSS. A third of them ARE working Shuttle.
The point is that they aren't supposed to be doing that and it seems to
be (but I may actually be) that the space station program is paying for
it all.

How would you feel if you hired some people to build you a house and you
drove by the site and found 2/3 of the people you are paying are working
on somebody else's house?

>I guess you didn't get my point.

Oh, I got your point. I simply didn't find it more convincing that
the stuff my sources show me.

   Allen

--
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Lady Astor:   "Sir, if you where my husband I would poision your coffee!" |
| W. Churchill: "Madam, if you where my wife, I would drink it."            |
+----------------------69 DAYS TO FIRST FLIGHT OF DCX-----------------------+

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

Date: 8 Apr 93 08:18:35 GMT
From: William Reiken <[e-mail]>
Subject: nuclear waste
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Gary Coffman) writes:
>
> Such bacteria exist, after a fashion, it's just that it's much more
> efficient to do the synthesis in a chemical plant
>
    Can you provide some references to this?  Companys involved in making
this type of bacteria and/or published references.

                            Will...

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

Date: Thu, 8 Apr 1993 14:15:58 GMT
From: Doug Loss <[e-mail]>
Subject: Sky Surfing
Newsgroups: sci.space

Does anyone remember the MOOSE (Man Out Of Space Easiest) concept from
ca. 20 years ago?  As I recall, the user was supposed to don a parachute
over his spacesuit, crawl into a giant baggie, foam a heat shield around
his back, and hold a small rocket against his chest to give him a
deorbit burn.  Am I close?  Whatever became of the concept?

Doug

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

Date: Thu, 08 Apr 93 12:30:24 GMT
From: George Hastings <[e-mail]>
Subject: Small Astronaut (was: Budget Astronaut)
Newsgroups: sci.space

Josh Hopkins ([e-mail] ) writes:
>
>   This isn't entirely irrelevant to the
> present, however.  I've been told that one of the concerns about using Soyuz
> as the return vehicle for Freedom is that it's just a tad small.  There are a
> couple of taller astronauts who are quite concerned about whether they would
> be eligible for station duty, and a number of women who are quite happy about
> the whole thing.

    The Soyuz-TM is indeed very tiny, but height is not
that much of a problem. I'm just over 6'2", and sitting in the
Soyuz-TM last summer in Zhvedzhdny Gorodok during a week of
cosmonaut training, I fit comfortably enough that while I was
waiting in the flight engineer's seat on the left, waiting my
turn to fly a rendezvous/docking SIM with the Mir, I almost
fell asleep!
    No leg-room, however: your feet rest on a small
platform that is separate from the form-fitting bucket that
cradles you head to buttocks, your knees are shoved almost to
your chest, and there is a device that looks sort of like an
over-sized bra that fits over your knees and is cinched tight
on the sides to keep your knees from falling sideways and
unzipping your body from the crotch upward during liftoff! 8-)

 ____________________________________________________________
| George Hastings        [e-mail] |
| Space Science Teacher        [e-mail]      |  If it's not
| Mathematics & Science Center     STAREACH BBS: 804-343-6533   |   FUN, it's
| 2304 Hartman Street        OFFICE:       804-343-6525   |  probably not
| Richmond, VA 23223        FAX:          [phone]   |    SCIENCE!
 ------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 8 Apr 1993 09:10 EST
From: RODGER CLIFF <[e-mail]>
Subject: space food sticks
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John Elson) writes...
>Has anyone ever heard of a food product called "Space Food Sticks?" This

I remember these; tacky packaging; tasted worst.

>was apparently created/marketed around the time of the lunar expeditions, along
>with "Tang" and other dehydrated foods. I have spoken with several people
>who have eaten these before, and they described them as a dehydrated candy.
                                                                      ^^^^^
Only if you like vegamite.

>Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Thanks.
>John

I don't know if these wre actual NASA type food or just some manufacturer
cashing in on the space fads of the time.  (My impression was the latter).
I remember peanut butter and chocolate flavors in a rubbery stick, each
individually packaged.  My mom bought one box of each flavor ( and never
bought any more.)  Probably one of those things (like disco, bell-bottoms,
leisure suits, etc.) that should not be resurrected.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rodger Cliff                         |
Analex Corp. at                      |   All standard disclaimers
NASA Lewis Research Center           |
                                     |         apply here
[phone]                       |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 8 Apr 1993 12:08:23 GMT
From: Dave McKissock <[e-mail]>
Subject: SSF Redesign as of 3/31/93
Newsgroups: sci.space

In a previous article, [e-mail] (Andy Cohen) says:

>In article <1phv59$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Pat) wrote:
>>
>>
>> Where are the meetings?
>>
>> pat
>
>Goldin said during the press briefing that they would be in Crystal City by
>the beltway in DC
>
You sure about that Andy. I think Pat was asking where the meeting
of the blue ribbon advisory panel was going to meet on April 22. This
meeting is supposed to be open, although by "open" NASA may just mean
that folks in the press are invited. I'm not actually sure whether
tourists or folks off the street can walk in & join the meeting.

Anyhow, I haven't yet heard a specific place for the meeting. Yes,
the redesign activity is housed in Crystal City, but that doesn't
necessarily mean the 4/22 meeting will be there.

--
<< You shall know the truth, and it shall set you free >>
Quote engraved in the marble wall @ CIA Headquarters
[e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 08 Apr 93 12:55:34 GMT
From: George Hastings <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Area Rule
Newsgroups: sci.space

 ([e-mail]) writes:
>
> fluid becomes incompressible as you approch Mach Zero.
> as you approach Mach One shock waves start to form; transonic or critical
> yes, constant cross section (wings plus body) is optimal; so between wing
> leading and trailing edges the body cross section must decrease.
> the guy that discovered the area rule, i think was named witham.
> check book on compressible flow.
> it could have been r.t.jones.
> tom
>

   Pretty good summary of the concept, Tom. The idea is that
you figure the frontal cross-sectional area of the body. Figure
the frontal cross-sectional area of the wings. Then "scoop out"
from the body just enough cross sectional area to equal the
cross sectional area of the wings, right where the wings join
the body, maintaining an equal frontal cross sectional area for
the entire length of the aircraft.
   R.T.Jones and Richard Whitcomb both worked at the NASA
Langely Research Center when I was there, but Dick Whitcomb
invented the area-rule concept. He alsp invented the vertical
tip winglets that you now see on many aircraft. When I talked
to him about his two major innovations (he also had many other
contributions to aircraft design), he said that he worked long
and hard on the winglet concept which places a small vertical
airfoil, mounted at a slight angle to the longitudinal axis of
the body, at the tip of each wing to break up training vortices
and give some forward thrust like a sail on a boat tacking into
the wind. The area-rule idea came to him though in one of those
intuitive "AH-HAH!!!" flashes and he lay awake in bed one night!

 ____________________________________________________________
| George Hastings        [e-mail] |
| Space Science Teacher        [e-mail]      |  If it's not
| Mathematics & Science Center     STAREACH BBS: 804-343-6533   |   FUN, it's
| 2304 Hartman Street        OFFICE:       804-343-6525   |  probably not
| Richmond, VA 23223        FAX:          [phone]   |    SCIENCE!
 ------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: Wed, 7 Apr 1993 00:38:33 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Curt D. Afdahl)
Subject: Venus project

Hello to all,

I am a new subscriber to the space digest group and have some simple questions.
How long has the terraform project been under consideration?  I have only known
of it for a short time, but I assume that research has been going on for many
years.  I am involved in the field of mechanical engineering, and am fascinated
by anything that has to do with space exploration or other activities that have
to do with space.  Also, I am wondering about the effects on the planet Venus
that terraforming would bring about should something go wrong with procedures...
all too often nature is tampered with before all the moves are thought out in
a careful and calculated manner.  I am not really questioning the ability of
those people involved with this research, but am just curious.

Thank you very much,
Curt D. Afdahl

Mechanical Engineering
[e-mail]

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

Date: 8 Apr 93 09:20:38 -0600
From: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey <[e-mail]>
Subject: Voyager record, Pioneer plaque (was Re: Need info on a Voyager probe)
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Aali Masood) writes:
>
> I am writing a paper about a probe (I think it is a Voyager
> series) that was launched by NASA in the 70's into the
> orbit with a picture of a man and a woman along with some
> other Earth's information (maps, songs and greetings in
> many languages).

Is this becoming an FAQ?

You are confusing the Pioneer 10 and 11 probes (which had the plaque)
with the Voyager 1 and 2 probes (which had the record, along with a
plaque explaining how to play the record).

Details on both can be found in the excellent book *Murmurs of Earth*,
by Carl Sagan and his friends.  This book was published before the
Voyagers reached any planets, so to learn about their discoveries you
will have to look at other books.

The Voyager record is now available on CD from Warner New Media.  I
think it is also called *Murmurs of Earth*. It contains the music and
a "CD-ROM" track with encoded pictures.  Check a software store or
record store to obtain it.

Bumper sticker seen on a Voyager:
             i                                  Bill Higgins
Heliopause  >E(-       Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
    or       |              Bitnet:             HIGGINS@FNAL
   Bust!     !              Internet:  [e-mail]

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

End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 438
------------------------------