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Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #342

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 10 : Issue 342

Today's Topics:
    Soyuz TM-8 moved to front of USSR's Mir space station
              Non-autonomous Mars Rover
            Re: Pilgrimage to KSC
              Re: signature fun
       Re: Scientific value of Apollo (was Re: Motives)
             Re: Satellites in E-W orbits
             Re: Satellites in E-W orbits
         Re: Payload Summary for 12/12/89 (Forwarded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 13 Dec 89 14:01:14 EST
From: Glenn Chapman <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail]
Subject: Soyuz TM-8 moved to front of USSR's Mir space station

    The final maneuver in the addition of the Kvant 2 module to the USSR's
Mir space station occurred Dec. 12th. At 11:33 am Moscow time (3:33 am
EST) Cosmonauts Alexander Viktorenko and Alexander Serebrov
undocked the Soyuz TM-8 craft from the Kvant 1 module
(the back end of Mir) and flew around the station for 20 minutes,
docking to the axial port of the front or ball end of Mir.  During their
flight they carefully observed the Kvant 2 module, which is now docked
to the side port (see below) and sent TV pictures down to mission control.
This move now frees the rear port to receive the Progress M-2 supply
capsule which is now scheduled for a Dec. 20th launch. Progress M-1's
detachment date was not stated but it decayed on Dec. 2.
The cosmonauts have now been up there for 98 days now, long exceeding the
84 day mission of Skylab 4 in Nov. 1973 (the longest US flight).
     More details have been released about the troubled flight of Kvant 2.
As noted in previous postings (by myself and Jim Apsey) shortly after takeoff
on Nov. 26th the Kvant 2 (or D module) ran into trouble when its right solar
array failed to open properly.  Each array consists of 4 panels, folded on
takeoff, and held in place by a toothed lock.  On the deployment the outer
3 sections of the right array extended and locked into place but the
inner one caught on the lock.  Worse this resulted in the extended section
rotating about the joints of the trapped portion, making Kvant 2 very
difficult to maneuver.  They needed to get the panel fixed in some position
before it could be docked to Mir, and I suspect that was accomplished on
Nov. 29th or 30th.  At that point they stated on short wave that Kvant 2
had been set in a mode with allowed the panels to shield the rockets, to
prevent overheating, and this was followed by the first major orbit change.
Ground control then, after hectic days of analysis (and trials?), came up
with a releasing maneuver.  The solar panels can be pivoted about their
axis to track the Sun.  By rolling Kvant 2, while at the same time activating
the solar axial motors, they release the lock, extended the panel, and locked
it in place.  Then came the docking attempt on Dec. 2.  When Kvant 2 was
19 Km (12 mi) from Mir they had a failure of both the Kvant docking control
system and that of the Mir station itself.  On Dec. 3 at 12:38 Moscow Time
(2:38 EST) mission control maneuvered for it next attempt. At
3:21 pm Moscow time (7:21 am EST) on Dec. 6th and successfully docked
to the ball axis of Mir.  They say that when it occurred the docking was
one of their most precise.  (AW&ST Dec. 11 & TASS reports on the noted days)
    While there was no announcement the Kvant 2 has been shifted from its
initial axial docking to a side port on the ball end.  Moscow television
showed the tapes of the Soyuz flight which gave an excellent view of Kvant 2.
The module is attached to the top side port, so that its body is in line with
the third solar array that the cosmonauts attached about 2 years ago after
Kvant 1 docked.  This 19.5 Tonnes addition has solar panels which extend
about 2/3 of Mir's itself, and are aligned at about the same angle as
Mir's.  Like Mir, the end solar panel is larger than the rest of the array.
There was only a partial view of the docking end of Kvant 2, and the
arm was not visible. (Moscow TV news, Dec. 12, TASS press releases,
and Radio Moscow)
     I would like to express my thanks to Jim Apsey for posting the Kvant
updates during my trip to Vancouver.

                                                   Glenn Chapman
                                                   MIT Lincoln Lab

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

Date: 12 Dec 89 20:24:36 GMT
From: aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu![e-mail]  (Steve Masticola)
Subject: Non-autonomous Mars Rover


Can a fine-grain ranging system (optical or sonic) be used to get a
reasonably good 3D image of the Rover's immediate environment? If so,
why not use that data to set up a delayed-real-time telepresence
environment for an operator on Earth? If it works, the Rover could
move at a good clip for short distances without the need for local
autonomy.

The Rover would be controlled in a "look-move-look-move" sequence.
With Rover stopped, an operator plots and "test-drives" a course
through a simulated environment resembling the area around the Rover.
When he's satisfied that the course is acceptable, the instructions
are transmitted to take the Rover through the remotely-plotted course.
The Rover then stops and looks around some more, and possibly does
some experiments in the place where it stopped.

There is no reliance on autonomy in this scheme, and the Rover could
move short distances at an acceptable rate. Data reduction would be
done on Earth, allowing arbitrary amounts of hardware to be used to
construct a 3-D image of the Rover's local environment. Further, if
ranging continued during the move, the additional data could be used
to refine existing images and eliminate unknown areas.

It would even be fairly cheap to run an experiment to study
feasability. Anyone interested?

- Steve.

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

Date: Tue, 12 Dec 89 12:10:19 PST
From: mordor!lll-tis!ames!scubed!pnet01.cts.com![e-mail] (Jim Bowery)
To: crash![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Pilgrimage to KSC

Peter Armenia writes:

>Well the time has come for me to make my pilgrimage to KSC to see a shuttle
>launch. I am sure that this question has come up before, and I know that
>many of you have posted about your own experience of seeing a launch.

I haven't spoken of my pilgrimage, but your sincerity compells me to
reveal to you that which was revealed to me on a clear morning 'midst
that marriage of nature's beauty and the pinnacle of mankind's creation:
The Kennedy Space Center.

Nearing my destiny, I saw an apparition.  A silhouette against
the rising sun's light streaming through subtropical pillars of cloud.
Although I drew nearer, it appeared to recede ever further from me, as
though it, too, were on a pilgrimage to the east.  Then I realized its
solar pilgrimage was an illusion wrought of immensity.  Above it, I saw a
multitude of eagles soaring -- sentries of the sky.  As though a wisdom
beyond our comprehension had intended it as a sign to pilgrims that their
fulfillment was at hand, there stood the Vehicle Assembly Building --
Goddess from whose womb Apollo issued.

I knew, then, I had not far to travel.

Obscuring hills and dunes, brush and pines, rose up around me.  I
was blind and feared myself lost.  But I knew this was the way and
only faith would carry me beyond this test of my perserverance.
There came a point where the road ended, and only the sandy foot-
prints of pilgrims who had gone before, remained.  Walking, as they,
up the steep slope, scratched by branches all too rarely disturbed
on this straight and narrow path, I heard voices.  Emerging from the
brush I saw a man, a woman and a girl-child laughing in the sun --
fellow pilgrims come to share delight and awe.

Beyond, in the distance, was the object of our pilgrimage -- Shuttle:

A dragon seething steam in preparation for its firey ascent to heaven,
cathedral spires pointing the way.

Transfixed for a moment, I was unable to return the greetings from my
fellow pilgrims.  When I was able to greet them in return, we spoke
little, for words were neither necessary nor adequate to express our
anticipation.

The girl's golden-blond hair and shining blue eyes blended with the sand
and sky in which she played.

Then, without warning, a thunderous cloud billowed from where Shuttle
had been.  Fearful that the dragon had destroyed itself in its unbridled
fury of desire to reach heaven, we stood for moments that seemed
to stretch the fabric of time.  Then, above the clouds, atop a white-hot
pillar of fire, ascended Shuttle.  As it arose, the thunder became a
physical throbbing -- as though Shuttle could not be satisfied with the
capture of our eyes and ears alone, but demanded that even our bodies be
moved by its grandure.  We could not resist.

Apollo's chariot of fire.  Christ's ascention to the Father.
Arthur, the Lion.  Belin, God of Light.  Horus, child of Isis.
The Lords of Death and Resurrection -- Fire and Light.  These myths
in that moment, were incarnate.

The child, with her innocent wisdom of youth, waved and said quietly
"Bye Christa!  I love you!"

Hallelujia!

========================================================================

Dear Friends,

The Challenger Seven died for your sins.  But their deaths will have
been in vain if you don't accept their sacrifice.  For us to continue
to carry this Space Program, NASA needs your support.  Call or write
your congressman today, tomorrow and every waking hour beyond.  Let
him know that you worship Shuttle and want 10% of the gross national
product to be tithed so that NASA can continue carrying the Good News
of this Program to the world.  How terrible it would be if, due to
our craving for pizza and cosmetics, we failed NASA in its time of
need, losing foever our Divine Shuttle.

As has been promised, the faithful will, one day, ascend with Shuttle
to Freedom and ultimately, to that Heavenly City prophesied by O'Neill
and Saint John the Divine, wherein there are many mansions, the streets
are of glass and the light of the Lord shines from his throne in the
firmament forever.  Those who have been unfaithful will be left to
perish on earth, the dominion of Satan, in the cleansing fire of
nuclear holocaust.  The Faithful will inheret the cleansed earth for
a thousand years, enjoying bodies glorified by DNA repair -- free from
disease, aging and death.  After that, Satan will be loosed on the
world for a little while, just for the hell of it.

NASA, the One True Church, is your only Hope.

You know in your hearts what I say is true.


Your Pastor,



Jimmy Bowery

========================================================================
---
Typical RESEARCH grant:
$
Typical DEVELOPMENT contract:
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

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

Date: 14 Dec 89 05:19:01 GMT
From: stan!katmandu![e-mail]  (Stephen Matson)
Subject: Re: signature fun

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
>>Gee, I know those Russkies are a bit strange, but to learn they aren't
>>even human...!
>
>They're human all right, but they aren't doing much exploring of late.
>Paddling around in the shallows, in low Earth orbit, stopped being
>exploration over 20 years ago.
>--
>1755 EST, Dec 14, 1972:  human |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
>exploration of space terminates| uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

 Aw, C'mon. You can't tell me your not at least a little envious of
 them. I mean at least they seem to have made the commitment to
 establish a permanment presence in space, even if it is "low Earth
 orbit". I have no doubt that if they had our technology that man would
 already have a permanment base on the moon, and might already have been
 to mars by now.


--
 E-mail == [e-mail]
  "FRODO LIVES"                                "COLORADO!!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Support the formation of a World Space Agency.

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

Date: 12 Dec 89 19:36:33 GMT
From: attcan!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Scientific value of Apollo (was Re: Motives)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Nichael Cramer) writes:
>Look, nobody denies that Apollo accomplished a lot.  Nor that it was neat
>to have men on the Moon.  The point is that it all could have been done a
>lot more cheaply.  Or, to put it another way, a lot more science could have
>been accomplished for the same dollar amount.

The point is, people keep saying that without proving it.  Apollo
accomplished much more than some of its detractors admit, and it would
have taken a very large and costly unmanned program to get similar
results.  It *may* be true that it would have been cheaper to do things
that way, but it is *not* a self-evident fact.  Claims to that effect
would be much more credible if they included numbers, e.g. volume of
samples, number of missions involved, estimated cost based on existing
missions, etc.

It's interesting that some of the people who said that Apollo was a
ridiculously expensive way to get minimal results are now the ones who
are saying that Apollo completely explored the Moon, so we should forget
the Moon and press on to Mars.
--
1755 EST, Dec 14, 1972:  human |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
exploration of space terminates| uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 13 Dec 89 19:30:18 GMT
From: mailrus!wuarchive!cs.utexas.edu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Satellites in E-W orbits

In article <[e-mail]> Borje Josefsson <[e-mail]> writes:
>... It seems  that  they  are going  mainly  in two
>directions - either north-south  (or vice versa)  or east-west. I dont
>know very much  about orbits for  satellites but I  can understand the
>N-S orbits.  What I'm  wondering about  is  if it  is possible  for an
>object to have an E-W orbit lying 2/3 from the equator??
>
>One solution  I have  thought about  is that  what I'm  seeing is just
>satellites on the top of  their "sine"-shaped orbits (whatever they're
>called)...

You can't have an E-W orbit except at the equator; the plane of the orbit
has to pass through the center of the Earth.  However, satellites in
inclined orbits are moving roughly E-W at the northern and southern extremes
of their orbits.  (On a Mercator projection, the ground track does look
like a sine wave.)

In northern Sweden, you'll be seeing only satellites at fairly high
inclinations to start with; the low-inclination ones will never show above
your horizon.  Now, all orbits are not equal.  In general it's easiest to
launch into an orbit whose inclination (and maximum north/south latitude)
equals the latitude of the launch site.  Orbits at higher inclinations are
used only when there is a good reason.  There are good reasons to launch
some classes of satellites into polar orbits, with inclinations of roughly
90 degrees.  Those are your N-S satellites.

For you to see a satellite moving E-W, it will have to be in an orbit with
an inclination of about your latitude, 65 degrees.  Most space launch sites
are at lower latitudes, except the Soviet ones -- the Soviet Union is a high-
latitude country and they don't have a choice.  If I recall correctly,
Plesetsk, the busiest spaceport on Earth, is not too far from your latitude.
I'd guess that your E-W satellites are mostly from there, i.e. they are Soviet
military satellites (Plesetsk being primarily a military spaceport).

For you to see a satellite moving at a different angle, it would have to be
in an orbit between 65 and 90 degrees.  There just aren't very many in such
orbits.  Nobody has launch sites that far north, and there are few reasons
to deliberately launch into orbits with high-but-not-polar inclinations.
--
1755 EST, Dec 14, 1972:  human |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
exploration of space terminates| uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 14 Dec 89 05:45:34 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!walt.cc.utexas.edu![e-mail]  (Feulner ... Matthew Feulner)
Subject: Re: Satellites in E-W orbits

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
>in an orbit between 65 and 90 degrees.  There just aren't very many in such
>orbits.  Nobody has launch sites that far north, and there are few reasons
>to deliberately launch into orbits with high-but-not-polar inclinations.

They could be in the 65 to 115 degree orbits, with the 90-115 orbits
looking SE to NW (ascending) or NE to SW (descending).  Examples of
these are the 3 NOAA polar orbiters at an inclination (I believe) of
99 degrees.  Not much else, though.

Matthew Feulner

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

Date: 13 Dec 89 17:21:31 GMT
From: idacrd![e-mail]  (Robert McGwier)
Subject: Re: Payload Summary for 12/12/89 (Forwarded)

From article <[e-mail]>, by [e-mail] (Peter E. Yee):
>
>
>           STS-35 -- ASTRO-1, BBXRT
>
>                Members of the STS-35 crew  joined  KSC  payload  processing
>           team members in testing operations during the continuing prepara-
>           tion  of  the Astro payload scheduled for flight in April,  l990.
>           Commander Vance Brand,  Pilot Guy  Gardner,  Mission  Specialists
>           John "Mike" Lounge,  Jeff Hoffman,  and Bob Parker,  plus Payload
>           Specialist Sam Durrance participated in payload  simulations  and




Whaaaa?!  I thought Ron Parise (an amateur radio operator and AMSAT friend
was aboard ASTRO-1, what gives?)

Bob

--
____________________________________________________________________________
    My opinions are my own no matter    |    Robert W. McGwier, N4HY
    who I work for! ;-)            |    CCR, AMSAT, etc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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End of SPACE Digest V10 #342
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