Space & Astronomy

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Space & Astronomy / Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso / mac / TEXT_ZIP / spacedig / V12_1 / V12_131.ZIP / V12_131

Wrap

Internet Message Format | 1991-07-08 | 19KB

Return-path: <ota+space.mail-errors@andrew.cmu.edu> X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from beak.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl@andrew.cmu.edu (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests) ID </afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr1/ota/Mailbox/oafd2TS00VcJE1X05:>; Thu, 26 Jul 1990 02:41:36 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <Qafd20200VcJ41VE51@andrew.cmu.edu> Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Thu, 26 Jul 1990 02:41:05 -0400 (EDT) Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #131 SPACE Digest Volume 12 : Issue 131 Today's Topics: Re: <None> Re: Saturn's new moon Voyager Update - 07/25/90 NASA Headline News for 07/25/90 [Updated] (Forwarded) Hubble Space Telescope Update - 07/23/90 Administrivia: Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to space+@andrew.cmu.edu. Other mail, esp. [un]subscription notices, should be sent to space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu, or, if urgent, to tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 25 Jul 90 20:31:02 GMT From: ntvax!leff@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Dr. Laurence L. Leff) Subject: Re: <None> In article <1990Jul20.185533.28175@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov> lvron@earth.lerc.nasa.gov (Ronald E. Graham) writes regarding a engineering education group. I would like to propose, in response, an engineering group. There are no engineering groups to deal with general engineering. Once that is done, we can have subgroups to cover engineering education, engineering ethics, computers in engineering as well as the various branches of engineering. These could be formed as part of the engineering hierarchy with some, such as the proposed engineering education group, starting now. If the USENET community would like this moderated, I would be interested in moderating same, probably in Sepetember. The engineering group would cover general engineering discussions. There would be some discussion of societal and ethical issues in engineering as well as engineering communication. These must be specific to engineering, if the posting woudl apply just as easily to scientists or other professionals, then it should go some place else. That is why I am suggesting moderation. As many in the profession have pointed out, engineering is different from science. As such, it deserves its own entry in the hierarchy at the same level with "sci" But perhaps to avoid controversy, we can settle for a "sci.eng." ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 90 23:20:04 GMT From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!pequod.cso.uiuc.edu!ahiggins@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Andrew Higgins) Subject: Re: Saturn's new moon In article <10554.9207.forumexp@mts.rpi.edu> Greg_d._Moore@mts.rpi.edu (Commander Krugannal) writes: > > No, really, this got me wondering. Actually I've wondered > this before, but now I will ask, COULD the earth have MORE > than the one moon we know about? Before this sounds strange, > consider that if it had a low enough albedo and was small enough > (12 miles is pretty small) it could go undetected. Not as strange as you might think. Consider the following excerpt from an OMNI magazine interview with Bradford Smith, a professor of planetary science: "During the Fifties the arms race escalated, and so did the Army's need for people with astronomy backgrounds. So Smith, with no professional training, went off to White Sands, New Mexico, to assist Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto. Smith helped Tombaugh calculate distances between points on the earth's surface using lunar occultation. (Bright and distant stars reflect light off the moon's surface. As the moon passes between the earth and a particular star, it throws a unique shadow over the earth's surface. The process of lunar occultation uses this shadow to pin-point the moon's position at any time.) This informatation in turn enables the Army to target intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with incredible precision over distances of many thousands of miles. "Tombaugh was also searching for small natural satellites. A satellite closer than the moon to the earth would yield a greater parallax (changing position of an object when viewed from two positions), so measurements of distances would be more accurate. Though he and Tombaugh found no small natural satellites, Smith became fascinated with the planets...." -"Bradford Smith," _Omni_, Febuary 1987, Vol. 9, No. 5, p. 68. > > Oh, and I have not been able to get the title or other > information on Myrabo's book yet. So those who asked, please > be patient. Are you refering to _The_Future_of_Flight_? If so, here is the relevant information: _The_Future_of_Flight_ by Dr. Leik N. Myrabo and Dr. Dean Ing [yech!] 1985 Baen Enterprises 8-10 W. 36th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 ISBN: 0-671-55941-9 -- Andrew J. Higgins | Illini Space Development Society prometheus@uiuc.edu | a chapter of the National Space Society phone: (217) 359-0056/244-0321 | at the University of Illinois P.O. Box 2255 - Station A, Champaign, IL 61825 "The ability of man to walk and actually live on other worlds has virtually assured mankind immortality." - Wernher von Braun ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 90 23:16:04 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Subject: Voyager Update - 07/25/90 Voyager Mission Status Report July 25, 1990 Voyager 1 The Voyager 1 spacecraft continues its routine collection of cruise science data. One frame of high-rate Plasma Wave (PWS) data was recorded on July 17. High-rate Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) observations of HR 1350 were conducted on July 16, 17, 18 and 19. Spacecraft and Deep Space Network (DSN) performance was nominal for the activity. On July 13 a spacecraft roll maneuver (MAGROL) sequence was executed by the spacecraft. The MAGROL consisted of ten 360 degree rolls performed by the spacecraft. The Magnetometer instrument was calibrated while the Voyager 1 performed the MAGROL. A playback of the MAGROL on July 20 will allow comparison to the near real-time data. The Attitude and Articulation Subsystem (AACS) gyro drift rates prior to the maneuver were pitch = 0.046 degrees/hour, yaw = 0.079 degrees/hour, and roll = 0.010 degrees/hour. The downlink SNR during the roll turns varied from 0 db to 1.5 db over the 70 meter and 34 meter antenna array in Spain. Following the maneuver the AACS A and B gyros were turned off. Three science channels had indications of "no data' during the GS03 data mode period. Real-time command traffic was limited to a dummy CC on July 19. Due to a CPA configuration error, the command was transmitted with an incorrect carrier suppression setting (3 dB instead of 0.54 dB). Nevertheless, the command was accepted by the spacecraft. Voyager 2 The Voyager 2 spacecraft also continues its routine collection of cruise science data. UVS high-rate data were taken on HD27778 through part of July 18 in the UV-5A data mode. From that point through the middle of July 19, high-rate data were taken on HD23180 and HD19832. The numerous glimpses into the data during the week indicated that everything seems to be going well, however, data hits are showing up with regularity in the UV-5A data mode. Playback of the mini Cruise Maneuver (mini-CRSMVR) was performed on July 17. This data had been previously played back, but some of it was lost due to lack of DSN coverage. One frame of high-rate PWS data was also recorded on July 17. A memory compare of the Flight Data Subsystem (FDS) memory readout played back in the PB15 data mode on July 12 has been completed and confirms the memory contents as well as the data mode verification. The AACS compare, of data also played back in PB 15, has been completed and is currently being analyzed; the Computer Command Subsystem (CCS) compare process appears to be experiencing problems and has yet to produce any usable output. CONSUMABLE STATUS AS OF 7/25/90 P R O P E L L A N T S T A T U S P O W E R Consumption One Week Propellant Remaining Output Margin Spacecraft (Gm) (Kg) Watts Watts Voyager 1 46 36.4 + 2.0 370 57 Voyager 2 11 39.5 + 2.0 373 66 ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| | | | | __ \ /| | | | Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |___ Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| M/S 301-355 | |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ Pasadena, CA 91109 | ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 90 19:59:29 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: NASA Headline News for 07/25/90 [Updated] (Forwarded) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Wednesday, July 25, 1990 Audio Service: 202/755-1788 ----------------------------------------------------------------- This is NASA Headline News for Wednesday, July 25........ Kennedy Space Center Engineers have completed the third in a series of hydrogen leak tests on the retightened fuel line on the Space Shuttle Atlantis. This morning's tanking test revealed that liquid hydrogen may be leaking from the 17-inch flange joint area on the outside of the external disconnect. NASA managers are currently analyzing the data to determine the effect on the overall launch schedule. Associate Administrator for Space Flight William Lenoir will provide an update at 4:15 P.M. today on NASA Select TV. ******** Upon the recommendation of NASA Administrator Richard Truly, Vice President Quayle has announced Mr. Norman R. Augustine as the new Chairman of the Advisory Commission on the Future of the U.S. Space Program. Mr. Augustine is the CEO of Martin Marietta Corp., Bethesda, Md. This Advisory Committee will provide advise on overall approaches to implement the U.S. Space Program for the coming decades. The first report will be provided to the Administrator in four months. ******** An Exobiology symposium is scheduled to be held today at NASA's Ames Research Center. Topics up for discussion include the existence of animal or vegetable life on Mars. The briefing will be replayed on NASA Select TV on Friday, July 27 at 1:00 P.M. EDT. ******** Scientists from NASA and U.S. universities have joined Canadian researchers in an expedition to study pollution at high northern latitudes and emissions of methane, an important greenhouse gas, from tundra, forests and marshes. The cooperative study called the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Experiment will examine Arctic air mass changes in chemical composition when mixed with continental air masses. ******** In other news, after a five-month delay, Arianespace reports the Ariane 4 rocket carrying 2 European satellites successfully launched at 6:30 P.M. EDT yesterday from Kourou, French Guiana. ******** Space Fax Daily reports a Chinese newspaper called The Legal Daily said thieves had stolen a section of copper cable linking the Xichang launch pad with a command center in Beijing, according to a Reuters Wire Report. It appears the theft disrupted China's first commercial satellite launch last April. --------------------------------------------------------------- Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select TV. All times are Eastern Daylight. Wednesday, July 25.... 2:00 P.M. Launch coverage of the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite aboard the Atlas Rocket. 4:15 P.M. Space Shuttle Status Media Media Briefing with Associate Administrator for Space Flight Dr. William Lenoir. Thursday, July 26..... 11:00 A.M. U.S. and Soviet crew members of the Apollo-Soyuz Space Mission-- 15-year reunion news briefing at the Kennedy Space Center. 12:00 P.M. NASA Update will be transmitted. 2:00 P.M. Magellan Status Press Conference. A summary on the Venus encounter scheduled August 10. 6:00 P.M. NASA Video Productions. Friday, July 27...... 1:00 P.M. Exobiology briefing at Ames Research Center tape replay from Wednesday, July 25. -------------------------------------------------------------- All events and times may change without notice. This report is filed daily, Monday through Friday at 12:00 P.M., EDT. This is a service of the Internal Communications Branch, NASA HQ. Contact: JSTANHOPE or CREDMOND on NASAmail or at 202/453-8425. -------------------------------------------------------------- NASA Select TV: Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, C-Band, 72 Degrees West Longitude, Audio 6.8, Frequency 3960 MHz. JSNEWS7-25 --------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 26 Jul 90 04:47:29 GMT From: usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Subject: Hubble Space Telescope Update - 07/23/90 Hubble Space Telescope Update July 23, 1990 This past weekend provided a rather uneventful finish to a week devoted to running Scientific Instrument (SI) proposals. The Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WFPC) ran their low temperature decontamination proposal, a small pointing problem was discovered during the test, but otherwise the test was successful. The Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS) continued mapping the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) using the Red side (the Blue side is still in safemode). The Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) ran their relative aperture location proposal. The Faint Object Camera (FOC) did a series of internal "best focus" proposals on the F/48 and F/96 using the bright Earth as a light source. Results from these tests were satisfactory as far as the instrument was concerned but the exposure intensities were found to be about 50 times greater than expected. At the moment the cause of this overexposure is unknown. The High Speed Photometer (HSP) sat quietly in safemode for the weekend with its recovery due on July 27. A retesting of the Pointing Control Subsystem (PCS) fix ran smoothly and as expected; Lockheed now expects an on-time delivery of the software. A 4 day Bootstrap Science Mission Specification (SMS) has begun. This SMS contains the usual focus activities plus a number of SI proposals. Good news on the PCS. New reports from Lockheed are that the source of the instability that occurred when they first tested the terminator disturbance fix software has been identified and corrected. Testing of the corrected software went smoothly and has produced the expected results. Delivery to the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) of the package is expected to be on or slightly ahead of schedule (i.e. within the next 10 days). The Fixed Head Star Tracker (FHST) performance has been exceptional -- in the past 6 days there have been no FHST update failures. Unfortunately, this is due to luck and not to any change in operating procedures since how the FHST's are operated has not changed in many weeks. In the spirit of the nature of the past weeks of HST events, it has been suggested that a special investigatory committee be formed to examine why things are working so well with the FHST's. The Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS's) also did not experience any failures over the weekend -- all observations were done on gyros, the FGS were not used. The sign error in the decenter and tilt software has not yet been found. The secondary mirror was decentered and tilted on the morning of July 23 with the expectation that within the image the coma will be completely removed and astigmatism reduced to a known level. First pictures at the new setting are planned for July 25. Wavefront Sensor measurements (WFS 1, 2, & 3) are planned for about 20 hours earlier. HST experienced it first solar eclipse on July 22. Given that this total eclipse was seen at very high latitudes on the Earth (mostly arctic regions) the effect on HST was anticipated to be small. A small drop (a few percent) in the power from the solar arrays was seen during the few minutes of penumbral passage. The first "big" eclipse for HST is the summer 1991 solar eclipse. FOC has obtained internal "best focus" data using the light from the bright Earth. All went well except that the count rate was significantly higher (around a factor of 50) then expected. The cause of the anomaly is under investigation. Next exposures are scheduled for July 25. FOS continued SAA noise measurements on the Red side (the Blue side is still in safemode). Peak counts were 1.2 counts/sec/diode -- well below any health and safety concerns for the instrument. The expectation is that the FOS will be able to have its High Voltage (HV) on during SAA passage. GHRS ran its relative aperture location proposal over the weekend, all went as expected. Next activity for July 24 is the detector stability proposal. HSP is still in safemode. Recovery is scheduled for the SMS beginning on July 27 with proposals appearing in the July 31 or Aug 4 SMS. WFPC successfully completed their Low Temperature Decontamination proposal. All went well except for the pointing. The desired star was centered on the first chip, the offset that was issued to position the star on the second chip placed it toward the edge of the chip, and the offsets to place the star in the center of chips 3 and 4 put the it somewhere other than on the two chips. Needless to say these anomalous pointings are being investigated. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| | | | | __ \ /| | | | Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |___ Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| M/S 301-355 | |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ Pasadena, CA 91109 | ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V12 #131 *******************