Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V16_4/V16NO490.TXT

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Date: Mon, 26 Apr 93 05:49:56
From: Space Digest maintainer <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: Space Digest V16 #490
To: Space Digest Readers
Precedence: bulk


Space Digest                Mon, 26 Apr 93       Volume 16 : Issue 490

Today's Topics:
            $1bil space race ideas/moon base on the cheap.
                                30826
                            computer cult
                Gamma Ray Bursters.  WHere  are they.
             Jemison on Star Trek (Better Ideas) (2 msgs)
            NASA Special Publications for Voyager Mission?
            Order MOORE's book to restore Great Telescope
                    Potential World-Bearing Stars?
                      Space Advertising (1 of 2)
                      Space Advertising (2 of 2)
               Space Station Redesign (30826) Option C
                        Sunrise/ sunset times
                     TRUE "GLOBE", Who makes it?
                         Vandalizing the sky.

    Welcome to the Space Digest!!  Please send your messages to
    "[e-mail]", and (un)subscription requests of the form
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 25 Apr 93 23:04:37 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: $1bil space race ideas/moon base on the cheap.
Newsgroups: sci.space

That is an idea.. The most efficient moon habitat..

also the idea of how to get the people off the moon once the prize was won..

Also the idea of how to rescue someone who is "dying" on the moon.

Maybe have a area where they can all "see" each other, and can help each other
if something happens..

I liek the idea of one prize for the first moon landing and return, by a
non-governmental body..

Also the idea of then having a moon habitat race..

I know we need to do somthing to get people involved..

Eccentric millionaire/billionaire would be nice.. We see how old Ross feels
about it.. After all it would be a great promotional thing and a way to show he
does care about commericalization and the people.. Will try to broach the
subject to him..

Moonbase on the cheap is a good idea.. NASA and friends seem to take to much
time and give us to expensive stuff that of late does not work (hubble and
such). Basically what is the difference between a $1mil peice of junk and a
multi $1mil piece of junk.. I know junk..

==
Michael Adams, [e-mail] -- I'm not high, just jacked

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

Date: 25 Apr 93 23:11:08 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: 30826
Newsgroups: sci.space

I like option C of the new space station design..
It needs some work, but it is simple and elegant..

Its about time someone got into simple construction versus overly complex...

Basically just strap some rockets and a nose cone on the habitat and go for
it..

Might be an idea for a Moon/Mars base to..

Where is Captain Eugenia(sp) when you need it (reference to russian heavy
lifter, I think).
==
Michael Adams, [e-mail] -- I'm not high, just jacked

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

Date: 24 Apr 93 09:26 PDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: computer cult
Newsgroups: sci.space

From: <tom>
Subject: computer cult

From scott Fri Apr 23 16:31:21 1993
Received: by igc.apc.org (4.1/Revision: 1.77 )
    id AA16121; Fri, 23 Apr 93 16:31:09 PDT
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 93 16:31:09 PDT
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
From: Scott Weikart <scott>
Sender: scott
To: cdplist
Subject: Next stand-off?
Status: R

Redwood City, CA (API) -- A tense stand-off entered its third week
today as authorities reported no progress in negotiations with
charismatic cult leader Steve Jobs.

Negotiators are uncertain of the situation inside the compound, but
some reports suggest that half of the hundreds of followers inside
have been terminated.  Others claim to be staying of their own free
will, but Jobs' persuasive manner makes this hard to confirm.

In conversations with authorities, Jobs has given conflicting
information on how heavily prepared the group is for war with the
industry.  At times, he has claimed to "have hardware which will blow
anything else away", while more recently he claims they have stopped
manufacturing their own.

Agents from the ATF (Apple-Taligent Forces) believe that the group is
equipped with serious hardware, including 486-caliber pieces and
possibly Canon equipment.

The siege has attracted a variety of spectators, from the curious to
other cultists.  Some have offered to intercede in negotiations,
including a young man who will identify himself only as "Bill" and
claims to be the "MS-iah".

Former members of the cult, some only recently deprogrammed, speak
hesitantly of their former lives, including being forced to work
20-hour days, and subsisting on Jolt and Twinkies.  There were
frequent lectures in which they were indoctrinated into a theory of
"interpersonal computing" which rejects traditional roles.

Late-night vigils on Chesapeake Drive are taking their toll on
federal marshals.  Loud rock and roll, mostly Talking Heads, blares
throughout the night.  Some fear that Jobs will fulfill his own
apocalyptic prophecies, a worry reinforced when the loudspeakers
carry Jobs' own speeches -- typically beginning with a chilling "I
want to welcome you to the 'Next World' ".

- - --
Roland J. Schemers III              |            Networking Systems
Systems Programmer                  |            G16 Redwood Hall [phone]
Distributed Computing Group         |            Stanford, CA 94305-4122
Stanford University                 |            [e-mail]

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

Date: 25 Apr 93 18:01:18
From: Steinn Sigurdsson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Gamma Ray Bursters.  WHere  are they.
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro

In article <1radsr$[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Pat) writes:

     What  evidence  indicates that Gamma Ray bursters are very far away?

Their distribution is very isotropic and the intensity distribution,
crudely speaking, indicates we're seeing an edge to the distribution.

   Given the enormous  power,  i was just wondering,  what if they are
   quantum  black holes or something  like that  fairly close by?

   Why would they have to be at  galactic ranges?

Now, in the good old days before GRO data, it was thought the
gamma bursters were neutron stars in the galaxy, it was expected that
GRO would confirm this by either showing they were a local population
(within a few hundred light years) or that they were in the galactic
halo. (Mechanism was not known but several plausible ones existed)
(also to be fair it was noted that the _brightest_ burster was
probably in the LMC, suggesting theorists might be wrong back then...)
    As the Sun is not at the center of the galaxy a halo
population should show anisotropy (a local disk population is
ruled out completely at this stage) - to avoid the anisotropy you
have to push the halo out, the energy then gets large, the mechanism
of getting NS out that far becomes questionable, and we should start
to see for example the Andromeda's bursters.
    The data is consistent with either a Oort cloud distribution
(but only just) - but no one can think of a plausible source with
the right spectrum. Or, it can be a cosmological distances (hence
isotropy) and the edge is "the edge of the Universe" ;-)
If at cosmological distances you need very high energy (to detect)
and a very compact source (for spectrum), ergo a neutron star
colliding with another neutron star or black hole. Even then getting
the spectrum is very hard, but conceivable.

    If we know anything about physics at that level,
the bursters are not due to quantum black holes or cosmic
strings, wrong spectrum for one thing.

The situation is further complicated by recent claims that
there are two classes of sources ;-)  [in the colliding NS
they'd actually probably fit relatively easily into the
NS-NS and NS-BH collision scenarios respectively]

   my own pet theory is that it's  Flying saucers  entering
   hyperspace :-)

   but the reason i am asking is that most everyone assumes  that they
   are  colliding nuetron stars  or  spinning black holes,  i just wondered
   if any mechanism could exist  and place them  closer in.

If you can think of one, remember to invite me to Stockholm...

*  Steinn Sigurdsson               Lick Observatory          *
*  [e-mail]        "standard disclaimer"      *
*  The laws of gravity are very,very strict            *
*  And you're just bending them for your own benefit - B.B. 1988*

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

Date: 25 Apr 93 23:44:49 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Jemison on Star Trek (Better Ideas)
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <1rbp6q$[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Pat) writes:
> In article <[e-mail]> phoenix.Princeton.EDU!carlosn (Carlos G. Niederstrasser) writes:
>>A transporter operator!?!?  That better be one important transport.  Usually
>>it is a nameless ensign who does the job.  For such a guest appearance I would
>>have expected a more visible/meaningful role.
>
>
> Christian  Slater, only gota  cameo on ST6,
>
> and besides.
>
> Maybe she can't act:-)
>
> pat
>

Better idea for use of NASA Shuttle Astronauts and Crew is have them be found
lost in space after a accident with a worm hole or other space/time glitch..

Maybe age Jemison a few years (makeup and such) and have her as the only
survivour of a failed shuttle mission that got lost..

Heh of late, they way they have been having shuttle problems in the media,
anything can happen..

Imagine a Astronaut/Crew member to find themselves in the 24th Century as the
object of interest of an alien civilization, maybe rescued or helped by the ST
Enterprise...  I know Vegr and such was okay, but this could be better..

==
Michael Adams, [e-mail] -- I'm not high, just jacked

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

Date: 25 Apr 1993 20:41:19 -0400
From: Pat <[e-mail]>
Subject: Jemison on Star Trek (Better Ideas)
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
|
|Better idea for use of NASA Shuttle Astronauts and Crew is have them be found
|lost in space after a accident with a worm hole or other space/time glitch..
|
|Maybe age Jemison a few years (makeup and such) and have her as the only
>survivour of a failed shuttle mission that got lost..


Of course that asumes the mission was able to launch :-)

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

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1993 19:51:05 GMT
From: Gene Wright <[e-mail]>
Subject: NASA Special Publications for Voyager Mission?
Newsgroups: sci.space

I have two books, both NASA Special Publications, on the Voyager
Missions. One is titled "Voyages to Jupiter" the other "Voyage to Saturn"
These were excellent books put together after the encounters with each
planet.

The question is: Did NASA ever put together a similar book for either the
Uranus encounter or Neptune? If so, what SP number is it and where can it
be obtained? If not, why didn't they?

--
  [e-mail] (Gene Wright)
theporch.raider.net  615/297-7951 The MacInteresteds of Nashville

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

Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 02:37:17 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Order MOORE's book to restore Great Telescope
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro

Several people have enquired about the availability of the book about the
Great 72" reflector built at Birr Castle, Ireland in 1845 which remained the
largest in the world until the the start of the 20th century.

"The Astronomy of Birr Castle" was written by Patrick Moore who now sits on
the committee which is going to restore the telescope. (The remains are on
public display all year round - the massive support walls, the 60 foot long
tube, and other bits and pieces). This book is the definitivie history of
how one man, the Third Earl of Rosse, pulled off the most impressive
technical achievement, perhaps ever, in the history of the telescope, and
the discoveries made with the instrument.

Patrick Moore is donating all proceeds from the book's sale to help restore
the telescope. Astronomy Ireland is making the book available world wide by
mail order. It's a fascinating read and by ordering a copy you bring the day
when we can all look through it once again that little bit nearer.

=====ORDERING INFORMATION=====
"The Astronomy of Birr Castle" Dr. Patrick Moore, xii, 90pp, 208mm x 145mm.
Price:
U.S.: US$4.95 + US$2.95 post & packing (add $3.50 airmail)
U.K. (pounds sterling): 3.50 + 1.50 post & packing
EUROPE (pounds sterling): 3.50 + 2.00 post and packing
REST OF WORLD: as per U.S. but funds payable in US$ only.

PAYMENT:
Make all payments to "Astronomy Ireland".
CREDIT CARD: MASTERCARD/VISA/EUROCARD/ACCESS accepted by email or snail
mail: give card number, name & address, expiration date, and total amount.
Payments otherwise must be by money order or bank draft.
Send to our permanent address: P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 1, Ireland.

You can also subscribe to "Astronomy & Space" at the same time. See below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tony Ryan, "Astronomy & Space", new International magazine, available from:
              Astronomy Ireland, P.O.Box 2888, Dublin 1, Ireland.
6 issues (one year sub.): UK 10.00 pounds, US$20 surface (add US$8 airmail).
ACCESS/VISA/MASTERCARD accepted (give number, expiration date, name&address).

  (WORLD'S LARGEST ASTRO. SOC. per capita - unless you know better? 0.033%)
Tel: [phone] (UK/N.Ireland) 1550-111-442 (Eire). Cost up to 48p per min

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

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1993 20:47:06 GMT
From: Rui Sousa <[e-mail]>
Subject: Potential World-Bearing Stars?
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Daniel Appelquist) writes:


   I'm on a fact-finding mission, trying to find out if there exists a list of
   potentially world-bearing stars within 100 light years of the Sun...
   Is anyone currently working on this sort of thing?  Thanks...

   Dan
   --

In principle, any star resembling the Sun (mass, luminosity) might have planets
located in a suitable orbit. There several within 100 ly of the sun. They are
single stars, for double or multiple systems might be troublesome. There's a
list located at ames.arc.nasa.gov somewhere in pub/SPACE. I think it is called
stars.dat. By the way, what kind of project, if I may know?

Rui
--
*** Infinity is at hand!                               Rui Sousa
*** If yours is big enough, grab it!                   [e-mail]

                All opinions expressed here are strictly my own

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

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Space Advertising (1 of 2)
Newsgroups: sci.space

X-Sender: newtout 0.08 Feb 23 1993
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
Date: 23 Apr 93  21:16:38
Lines: 81
Sender: [e-mail]
Source-Info:  Sender is really [e-mail]

Brian Yamauchi asks: [Regarding orbital billboards...]
>And does anyone have any more details other than what was in the WN
>news blip?  How serious is this project?  Is this just in the "wild
>idea" stage or does it have real funding?

    Well, I had been collecting data for next edition of the
Commercial Space News/Space Technology Investor... To summarize:

SPACE ADVERTISING
    First, advertising on space vehicles is not new -- it is very
common practice to put the cooperating organization's logos on the
space launch vehicle.  For example, the latest GPS launcher had the
(very prominent) logos on its side of
   - McDonnell Douglas (the Delta launcher)
   - Rockwell International (who built the GPS satellite)
   - USAF (who paid for the satellite and launch), and
   - the GPS/Navstar program office
   This has not been considered "paid advertising" but rather
"public relations", since the restrictions have been such that only
organizations involved in the launch could put their logos on the
side, and there was no money exchanged for this.  [However, putting
a 10' high logo on the side of the launch vehicle facing the cameras
is "advertising" as much as it is "public relations", in my
opinion.]  [And by the way, I note that the DC-X test vehicle has
rather prominent McDonnell-Douglas and SDIO logos on the side...]
   There have been several studies looking at the revenue potentials
for use of space vehicles for advertising, or placing large
advertising signs in orbit.  On the shuttle, for example, I know of
several serious studies in the early and mid 1980's which looked at
putting logos on the external tank, or on the sides of the payload
bay.  These ventures would be different than "public relations", in
that the logos or displays would not be restricted to the firms
participating on that flight, and would involve payment of sums for
the right to fly the logos in a prominent organization.  (For
example, painting the ET to look like a Pepsi can, or putting a
Disneyworld logo on the inside of the payload bay where the cameras
would scan past it.)

ADVERTS ON LAUNCH VEHICLES
   The first paid advertising was done on a Soviet launcher in about
1990, when several non-involved foreign organizations were allowed
to pay to put their logos on a Proton launch.  (An Italian shoe
company was one of the first advertisers, I remember.)  Similarly,
Soviet cosmonauts on Mir made a paid advertisement for the last
Olympic games, and have gleefully shown banners and other items from
participating firms and organizations.  Mars candy bars, for
example, got a plug from orbit as a sponsor of the launch of the
British visiting cosmonaut to Mir.
   Now US firms are starting to put paid advertisements on launch
vehicles.  The upcoming Conestoga launch (in June) putting the COMET
recoverable payload capsule into orbit will have paid advertisements
on the side, for Arnold Schwarzenegger's upcoming movie "The Last
Action Hero".  Besides the usual logos of the participating
organizations, Columbia pictures has paid $500,000 to put ads on the
main fuselage of the mission's Conestoga rocket, its booster
rockets, and on the COMET payload, which will orbit the Earth for
one month.  A concept for this advertising display was published in
Space News magazine a couple of months ago.
   (As a side note: Robert Lorsch, an advertising executive, is
talking about suing NASA.  He charges NASA with appropriating an idea he
created with the space agency in 1981 to form corporate advertising
sponsorships on NASA spacecraft as a way to get funding for the
space program.  Lorsch contends that in selling advertising space on
the upcoming COMET, NASA violated an agreement that it "would not use
his idea without him being the exclusive representative for NASA and
receiving compensation."   This is being disputed, since the launch
is a "commercial launch" and NASA is receiving none of the
advertising revenues, but the funding for the COMET program is
coming from NASA.)

ORBITAL "BILLBOARDS"
   Orbital "billboards" have been the staple of science fiction for
some time.  Arthur C. Clarke wrote about one example, and Robert
Heinlein described another in "The Man Who Sold the Moon".  Several
different potential projects have been developed, although none have
been implemented, but the most real prior to 1993 being the "Eiffel
II" project, which would have placed a large inflatable sculpture in
orbit to celebrate the French Republic's Bi-centennial.
                                                (cont)

--- Maximus 2.01wb

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

Date: Mon, 26 Apr 1993 05:36:06 GMT
From: Josh Hopkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: Space Advertising (2 of 2)
Newsgroups: sci.space

[e-mail] writes:

>the "Environmental
>Billboard" is a large inflatable outer support structure of up to
>804x1609 meters.  Advertising is carried by a mylar reflective area,
>deployed by the inflatable 'frame'.
>   To help sell the concept, the spacecraft responsible for
>maintaining the billboard on orbit will carry "ozone reading
>sensors" to "continuously monitor the condition of the Earth's
>delicate protective ozone layer," according to Mike Lawson, head of
>SMI. Furthermore, the inflatable billboard has reached its minimum
>exposure of 30 days it will be released to re-enter the Earth's
>atmosphere. According to IMI, "as the biodegradable material burns,
>it will release ozone-building components that will literally
>replenish the ozone layer."
 ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^

 Can we assume that this guy studied advertising and not chemistry?  Granted
it probably a great advertising gimic, but it doesn't sound at all practical.

--
Josh Hopkins                                          [e-mail]
            "Find a way or make one."
                 -attributed to Hannibal

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

Date: 26 Apr 93 05:46:53 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Space Station Redesign (30826) Option C
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:
> I like option C of the new space station design..
> It needs some work, but it is simple and elegant..
>
> Its about time someone got into simple construction versus overly complex...
>
> Basically just strap some rockets and a nose cone on the habitat and go for
> it..
>
> Might be an idea for a Moon/Mars base to..
>
> Where is Captain Eugenia(sp) when you need it (reference to russian heavy
> lifter, I think).
> ==
> Michael Adams, [e-mail] -- I'm not high, just jacked
>
>
>
>


This is a report, I got the subject messed up..

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

Date: 21 Apr 93 18:51:21 GMT
From: Uwe Bonnes <[e-mail]>
Subject: Sunrise/ sunset times
Newsgroups: sci.misc,sci.math,sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Joseph Wetstein) asked:
|>
|> Hello. I am looking for a program (or algorithm) that can be used
|> to compute sunrise and sunset times.
|>
|> I would appreciate any advice.
|>
|> Joe Wetstein
|> [e-mail]

To compute this, and many other astronomical things, go and get (x)ephem written
by Elwood C. Downey. It is e.g. on export.lcs.mit.edu

Uwe Bonnes  [e-mail]

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

Date: Sun, 25 Apr 1993 21:20:46 GMT
From: Henry Spencer <[e-mail]>
Subject: TRUE "GLOBE", Who makes it?
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Bill Vance) writes:
>It has been known for quite a while that the earth is actually more pear
>shaped than globular/spherical.  Does anyone make a "globe" that is accurate
>as to actual shape, landmass configuration/Long/Lat lines etc.?

I don't think you're going to be able to see the differences from a sphere
unless they are greatly exaggerated.  Even the equatorial bulge is only
about 1 part in 300 -- you'd never notice a 1mm error in a 30cm globe --
and the other deviations from spherical shape are much smaller.
--
SVR4 resembles a high-speed collision   | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
between SVR3 and SunOS.    - Dick Dunn  |  [e-mail]  utzoo!henry

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

Date: 26 Apr 1993 01:20:33 -0400
From: Pat <[e-mail]>
Subject: Vandalizing the sky.
Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (George F. Krumins) writes:
>It is so typical that the rights of the minority are extinguished by the
>wants of the majority, no matter how ridiculous those wants might be.


George.

    It's called a democracy.  The majority rules.  sorry.
If ytou don't like it, I suggest you modify the constitution to include
a constitutional right to Dark Skies.   The theory of government
here is that the majority rules,  except in the nature of fundamental
civil rights.   If you really are annoyed,   get some legislation
to create a dark sky zone,  where in all light emissions are protected
in the zone.  Kind of like the national radio quiet zone.  Did you
know about that?  near teh Radio telescope  observatory in West virginia,
they have a 90?????? mile EMCON zone.  Theoretically they can prevent
you from running light AC motors, like air conditioners and Vacuums.
In practice, they use it mostly to  control  large radio users.

pat

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

End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 490
------------------------------