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Date: Fri,  5 Jan 90 01:59:24 -0500 (EST)
Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #376

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 10 : Issue 376

Today's Topics:
               Re: You don't get to go.
           Payload Status for 12/21/89 (Forwarded)
            Re: New years eve 1999
               add to subscription list
              Re: Techno-welfare
         Re: The time thread that won't die.
Cray Research Inc. awarded contract for two advanced supercomputers (Forwarded)
                 antigravity
      Information sources for frequent space questions (1 of n)
              Re: Is this true?
            Re: Big Bang - no more
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 19 Dec 89 09:12:03 GMT
From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!nisc.nyser.net!rodan![e-mail]  (retants)
Subject: Re: You don't get to go.

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jim Bowery) writes:
>Those of you who don't know who I'm referring to are the reason
>none of us will ever go to space.  Yammering at each other
>on the net without knowing the players or the rules of the game
>is kind of like playing blindfold chess after consuming large
>quantities of Jack Daniels.  It may be a lot of fun but, surprise,
>surprise, you lose.
>

Well, congradulations, you've succesfully offended those of us who are still
trying to LEARN all this stuff and don't KNOW the players yet.

So, will someone with a few more manners perhaps write up a
play list of who's doing what to whom?  just the facts...I prefer
to draw my own opinions......

>I'm mad because you can't just sit here and die by yourself.
>You cravenly join other Believers in fighting those, like me, who
>are trying to make real things happen in space because JSC Propoganda
>informs you that we aren't in line with the Big Lie.  Decades pass.
>We all grow old and gray.  Nothing real happens in space.

well, have you got that off your chest?  next time, if you want to sway peoples
opinions, try not to insult them in the same breath.

-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-
-=*=- Becki Tants    [e-mail] [e-mail]   -=*=-
-=*=- Disclaimer:     Improbability Factor 1 to 1.    We have Normalcy. -=*=-
-=*=-      Anything you still can't cope with is your own problem.      -=*=-
-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-=*=-

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

Date: 21 Dec 89 22:32:42 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Payload Status for 12/21/89 (Forwarded)

Daily Status/KSC Payload Management and Operations 12-21-89


- STS-31R HST (at VPF) -

Wide Field Planetary Camera (WF/PC) installation was completed.
The every four hour wasp inspection of the VPF highbay is
continuing.  Facility HVAC monitoring continues.

- STS-32R SYNCOM (at Pad A) -

Battery conditioning will continue through 23 December and will
pick back up again on 29 December.

- STS-35 ASTRO-1/BBXRT (at O&C) -

AST vacuum system was hoisted to cite rails and the hoist of the
HUT pump platform 2 side rails were completed.  BBXRT MLI
installation continues.  Access platforms continue to be installed
as well as the cabling and configuring of ASTRO-1 for cite
testing which will begin on the first week in January.

- STS-40 SLS-1 (at O&C) -

Rack 7 upper mods continues.  Rack 3 installation of cable tie
struts and fire suppression system hardware is complete.
Installation of rack 4 intercom remote station worked yesterday.
Module pyrell foam replacement continues.

- STS-42 IML (at O&C) -

Rack 9 cable tie struts worked yesterday.

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

Date: 22 Dec 89 07:52:26 GMT
From: ogicse!blake![e-mail]  (William Lewis)
Subject: Re: New years eve 1999

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David Kinny) writes:
>Again the same stupid claims are being advanced that the end of the
>century/millenium is at the end of the year 2000.  This is ludicrous !
   [...]
>that differ only in the last 1/2/3 digits.  I know when I'll be
>celebrating the New Year's Eve party of the millenium.  Hands up all
>those clods who are going to be a year late.

   Well, there is an obvious solution to this. I'm going to be celebrating
on the boundary between this millennium and the next... to avoid confusion,
I will get the best of both worlds, and simply celebrate all year long
in the year 2000.
   A little impractical, perhaps, but... hmmm...

    --- phelliax the celebrant


--
[e-mail]        [phone]      Seattle, Washington

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

Date: 21 Dec 89 02:34:34 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Shermane Austin)
Subject: add to subscription list

Please add the following to the subscription list for the space digest:

   [e-mail]

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

Date: 29 Dec 89 02:20:37 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!ists!yunexus!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Techno-welfare

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jonathan Leech) writes:
>    How do you explain the Japanese dominance in 4MB DRAMs with this
>theory?  MITI and JASDF aren't subsidizing the >$1G investment Toshiba
>and other companies are making in this area.

The Japanese government is, however, providing more subtle support, by
maintaining a legal climate that encourages innovation and long-term
investment.  As opposed to the US climate that almost demands giving
priority to short-term profits.  (In some cases it *does* demand it:
pension funds and the like are a major source of investment, with truly
massive amounts of money involved, and their managers are *legally
required* to maximize short-term return on investment and ignore all
other considerations, on pain of criminal charges and jail.)
--
1972: Saturn V #15 flight-ready|     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
1989: birds nesting in engines | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 28 Dec 89 21:45:39 GMT
From: hp-ses!hpcuhb!hpcilzb![e-mail]  (John Fisher)
Subject: Re: The time thread that won't die.


>>There will be >>NO<< PARTY for software engineers on Jan 1 2000, because at
>>that point all of the old bad programmers will have to figure out how to fix
>>all the programs with 89 instead of 1989 as dates in data.  For them
>>at least the old milennia will end, and a new one ( a kinder gentler
>>more user-friendly one ) will begin.


**Slight drift on**
Correct me if I'm wrong (I'm not completely sure of this), but
doesn't the new millennium begin on January 1, 2001? Since there
was no year zero, the year 100 was the last year of the first
century. Therefore, January 1, 101 was the first day of the
second century. (Isn't this why the story was titled "2001"?)

john(da fish)fisher

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

Date: 29 Dec 89 20:33:23 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Cray Research Inc. awarded contract for two advanced supercomputers (Forwarded)

Mary Sandy
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                  December 29, 1989

Randee Exler
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.


RELEASE:  C89-p

CRAY RESEARCH INC. AWARDED CONTRACT FOR TWO ADVANCED SUPERCOMPUTERS


     NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., has
awarded Cray Research, Inc., Calverton, Md., a contract valued at
nearly $58 million to provide advanced supercomputing systems for
Goddard's Space and Earth Sciences Computing Center and Lewis
Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio.

     The supercomputers will support the scientific computing needs
of Goddard, Lewis, other NASA field centers and NASA-sponsored
university research programs.  These systems will initially provide
a significant increase in processing capabilities at both Lewis and
Goddard, and the contract contains options for future upgrades.

     The initial contract award is valued at $57,899,492.  Total
contract value including all options is estimated at
$170,000,000.  The award includes a basic year plus six 1-year
options.

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

Date: 29 Dec 89 15:42:15 GMT
From: hpfcso!hpcndaw![e-mail]  (Jon Rodin)
Subject: antigravity

I don't know if this appropriately goes in sci.space, but antigravity seems to
fit here as well as anywhere.

A recent article in my local paper (Denver Post - by lined the NY Times) is
headlined "Report defies laws of gravity".  According to the article:

    Japanese scientists have reported that small gyroscopes
    lose weight when spun under certain conditions, apparently
    in defiance of gravity.

The research was reported in the December 18 issue of _Physical Review Letters_.
Has anyone seen the original report?  Any comments?

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

Date: 1 Jan 90 12:01:47 GMT
From: amelia![e-mail]  (Eugene Miya)
Subject: Information sources for frequent space questions (1 of n)

Rec.travel: one of the best news groups, let's keep it that way.
Considerations to minimize needless repetitive postings:

If you want travel information, consider traditional sources such as
the auto club and travel agents, because they can give info the net
can't, like maps.  SEEK them BEFORE posting.  These sources are usually
free and quite detailed.  Try the Yellow Pages (finger walking).
Phone are much faster.

If you are uncertain about posting, ask someone on the net by mail
before posting, this will minimize flames and not burn out oldsters.
Many network mentors will gladly help by email.

Minimize cross-posting.  Also consider posting to more specialized
groups than travel.

By all means, if you have really bizzare kinds of questions,
like the time of the next solar eclipse at the South Pole, do post.
Everyone would enjoy it.  The net is best used for discussions,
but queries are best answered by mail.
Many space activies center around large Government or International
Bureaucracies.  In this country that means NASA.  If you have basic
information requests: (e.g., general PR info, research grants, data,
limited tours, and ESPECIALLY SUMMER EMPLOYMENT (typically resumes
should be ready by Jan. 1), etc.), consider contacting the nearest
NASA Center to answer your questions.

EMail typically will not get you any where, computers are used by
investigators, not PR people.  The typical volume of mail per Center is
a multiple of 10,000 letters a day.  Seek the Public Information Office
at one of the below, this is their job:

NASA Headquarters (NASA HQ)
Washington DC 20546

NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
Moffett Field, CA 94035
[Mountain View, CA, near San Francisco Bay, you know Silicon Valley 8-) ]

Ames Research Center
Dryden Flight Research Facility [DFRF]
P. O. Box 273
Edwards, CA  93523

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
Greenbelt, MD 20771
[Outside of Washington DC]

NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC)
21000 Brookpark Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44135

NASA Johnson Manned Space Center (JSC)
Houston, TX 77058

NASA Kennedy Space Flight Center (KSC)
Titusville, FL 32899

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSC)
Huntsville, AL35812

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC)
Hampton, VA 23665
[Near Newport News, VA]

Not a NASA Center, but close enough:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory [JPL/CIT]
California Institute of Technology
4800 Oak Grove Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91109

There are other small facilities, but the above major Centers are set up
to handle public information requests.  They can send you tons of information.

Specific requests for software must go thru COSMIC at the Univ. of Georgia,
NASA's contracted software redistribution service.  You can reach them
at [e-mail].  If this gives you problems, tell me.

NOTE:  Foreign nationals requesting information must go through their
Embassies in Washington DC.  These are facilities of the US Government
and are regarded with some degree of economic sensitivity.
Centers cannot directly return information without high Center approval.
Allow at least 1 month for clearance.  This includes COSMIC.

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY        (O) 202/488-4158
955 L'Enfant Plaza S.W., Washington, D.C.  20024

 Arianespace Headquarters
 Boulevard de l'Europe
 B.P. 177
 91006 Evry Cedex
 France

ARIANESPACE, INC. (O) 202/728-9075
1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 875, Washington, DC  20006

SPOT IMAGE CORPORATION           (FAX) 703/648-1813    (O) 703/620-2200
1857 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 22091

National Space Development Agency (NASDA), 4-1 Hamamatsu-Cho, 2 Chome
          Minato-Ku, Tokyo 105, Japan

SOYUZKARTA
45 Vologradsij Pr., Moscow 109125, USSR

SPACE COMMERCE CORPORATION (U.S. agent for Soviet launch services)
504 Pluto Drive, Colorado Springs, CO  80906   (O) 719/578-5490
69th flr, Texas Commerce Tower, Houston, TX 77002  (O) 713/227-9000

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

Date: 19 Dec 89 10:23:33 GMT
From: usc!orion.oac.uci.edu![e-mail]  (Doug Krause)
Subject: Re: Is this true?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Richard Pavelle) writes:
#" Mars is essentially in the same orbit. Mars is somewhat the same
#distance from the sun, which is very important. We have seen pictures
#where there are canals, we believe, and water. If there is water,
#there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means we can breathe". --

Let's send Dan to Mars.  He apparently needs all the oxygen he can get.

Douglas Krause                     One yuppie can ruin your whole day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
University of California, Irvine   Internet: [e-mail]
Welcome to Irvine, Yuppieland USA  BITNET: DJKrause@ucivmsa

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

Date: 19 Dec 89 15:51:56 GMT
From: mcsun!ukc!stc!praxis!hilbert![e-mail]  (Ian Macey)
Subject: Re: Big Bang - no more

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>           I really don't know how you could *disprove* the BB; it's
>been pretty well accepted since the '60s.  There's a lot of data that it
>explains real well that you'd have to come up with a better explanation
>for... 3 degree background, expansion, primordial nucleosynthesis, etc.
>The BB theory, combined with Guth's inflation, does a fine job at the
>moment... seems pretty unlikely to disprove it that abruptly.  Any more
>(concrete) info on this?

I think you'll find the Big Bang theory has been looking pretty shakey for a
number of years now. I for one would put it down as a nice little theory
which seemed to work with what we knew at the time, but which almost certainly
isn't the right answer.

One of the people who has done a lot towards coming up with an alternative
theory of the existence/creation of the universe is Stephen Hawking of Oxford
University. His work involves (if I remember correctly) superstring theory and
steady state universes. For more information try his book 'A Brief History Of
Time' which is a very good read and gives a state of the art explanation for
the universe's existence.


|\\\X\\|\  |           Ian Macey  Bath, England.  ([e-mail])
|\\X\\\|\\ |   ----------------------------------------------------------------
|\X\\\\|\\\|           " the solution to a problem changes the problem "

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

End of SPACE Digest V10 #376
*******************