Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT_ZIP/spacedig/V13_2/V13_245.ZIP/V13_245

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Date: Sat,  9 Mar 91 01:51:27 -0500 (EST)
Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #245

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 13 : Issue 245

Today's Topics:
Re: German conference highlights doubts about ESA's manned space plans
              Re: Floppy Almanac
                Re: Outgassing
             Pioneer 8 Update - 03/01/91
 Arnold named Deputy for NASA Commercial Programs Office (Forwarded)
              Galileo Update - 03/08/91
            Halley's Comet article
      Seeking Earth Imagery from USSR Orbiting Platforms
              Re: New Shuttle computers
          MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - 07 MARCH

Administrivia:

    Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to
  [e-mail].  Other mail, esp. [un]subscription requests,
  should be sent to [e-mail], or, if urgent, to
             [e-mail]

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

Date: 7 Mar 91 19:04:31 GMT
From: zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!crg5![e-mail]  (Nick Szabo)
Subject: Re: German conference highlights doubts about ESA's manned space plans

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Daniel Fischer) writes:
>
>  [ What follows are translated extracts from an article I wrote on a confe=
>    rence that took place in Bonn on 5 March 1991.

An excellent article.  Thanks you very much for this informative view
of the ESA project decision process and scientist's opinions.  I urge
those intimidated by the length to read this article anyway, every word
is worth it.  Kudos!



--
Nick Szabo            [e-mail]
"What are the _facts_, and to how many decimal places?"  -- RAH

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

Date: 7 Mar 91 13:19:56 GMT
From: fibercom![e-mail]  (Eric Rubin)
Subject: Re: Floppy Almanac

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Carmine Nicoletta) writes:
>Does anyone know the phone to the US Naval Observatory?  The one I had
>1 202 653 1079, does not seem to work.  I'm trying to get information on
>1991 floppy almanac.  Does anyone have a copy the can email?

653-1079 is the number for the USNO Bulletin Board (modem)
653-1507 is the general USNO number
653-1545 is the number for the Nautical Almanac Office.  I think they
put out the Floppy Almanac.  You might also want to look into their
Interactive Computer Ephemeris.


--
Eric Rubin                      INTERNET: [e-mail]
FiberCom, Inc.                      UUCP: ...!uunet!fibercom!err
P.O. Box 11966                     PHONE: [phone] x348
Roanoke, VA 24022-1966               FAX: [phone]

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

Date: 8 Mar 91 15:20:55 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!cunews!bnrgate!bwdls58!bwdlh490![e-mail]  (Henry Troup)
Subject: Re: Outgassing

Any preliminary information from the LDEF out yet?

Henry Troup - [e-mail] (Canada) - BNR owns but does not share my opinions
"If you have taken a vow of perpetual poverty, you must take your deduction
 on line 256" - 1990 Canadian Tax Guide

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

Date: 8 Mar 91 21:04:01 GMT
From: rex!wuarchive!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Pioneer 8 Update - 03/01/91


                       PIONEER 8 STATUS REPORT
                          March 1, 1991

     The telemetry received from the Pioneer 8 spacecraft on February 17 has
been reviewed, and the spacecraft status gives no indication of a problem
which could account for the failure to acquire the spacecraft receiver.  The
next uplink opportunity will be made at a power level above
18 kW.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|      Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Jet Propulsion Lab | Is it mind over matter,
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   M/S 301-355        | or matter over mind?
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  Pasadena, CA 91109 | Never mind.
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                      | It doesn't matter.

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

Date: 8 Mar 91 21:07:50 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Arnold named Deputy for NASA Commercial Programs Office (Forwarded)

Barbara Selby
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                              March 8, 1991
(Phone:  [phone])


RELEASE:  91-39

ARNOLD NAMED DEPUTY FOR NASA COMMERCIAL PROGRAMS OFFICE


    NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly today announced the
selection of Ray J.  Arnold as Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Commercial Programs, effective immediately.  He replaces Lawrence F.
Herbolsheimer, who will assume the post of Deputy Assistant
Administrator for Policy and Interagency Coordination.

    Prior to this assignment, Arnold was Director of Communications
and Information Systems in the Office of Space Science and Applications
(OSSA) since 1987, where he managed the continued development of the
Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, on-going research in
commercial communications satellite systems and OSSA's centralized
information systems programs.

    Arnold began his NASA career in 1965 at Kennedy Space Center,
Fla., as a cryogenic systems engineer for the Saturn V ground systems
design team.  In 1975 he came to NASA Headquarters in the Office of
Applications.  He continued his career in the field of Earth Science
remote sensing systems, including management of Space Shuttle
instruments during the orbital flight tests, TIROS, GOES, Nimbus, Upper
Atmosphere Research Satellite and early Earth Observation Systems
definition.  In 1981 he was named Deputy Director of OSSA's Earth
Science and Applications Division.

    Arnold graduated from Auburn University in 1965, earned an
MBA from Florida State University in 1972 and completed a year of
graduate study at the University of Georgia in 1973.

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

Date: 9 Mar 91 01:03:07 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Galileo Update - 03/08/91


                              GALILEO STATUS REPORT
                                 March 8, 1991

     The status of the Galileo spacecraft as of end of day March 7 was as
follows:

        o System Power Margin - 64 watts
        o Spin Configuration - Dual-Spin - cruise mode
        o Spin Rate/Sensor - 3.15 rpm/star scanner
        o Spacecraft Attitude Sun Point Angle - approximately
          0.3 degrees (leading) plus or minus 0.3 degree
        o Downlink telemetry rate/antenna - 40 bits/second
          (uncoded)/LGA-1 (Low Gain Antenna-1)
        o General Thermal Control - all temperatures within
          acceptable range
        o RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range
        o Probe - powered off, temperatures nominal
        o Command Loss Timer Setting - 240 hours
          Time To Initiation - 144 hours

     A total of 3240 real-time commands have been transmitted to Galileo.  Of
these, 1804 have been pre-planned in the sequence design and 1436 were not.
In the past week, only one real time command was sent and it was pre-planned.

     Today's spacecraft activities will consist of performing a periodic
RPM (Retro Propulsion Module) thruster maintenance and performing a MAG
(Magnetometer) instrument science memory readout.  No spacecraft activities
are planned for Saturday or Sunday.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|      Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Jet Propulsion Lab | Is it mind over matter,
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   M/S 301-355        | or matter over mind?
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  Pasadena, CA 91109 | Never mind.
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                      | It doesn't matter.

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

Date: 9 Mar 91 00:59:57 GMT
From: pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!mahendo!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Halley's Comet article

New York Times -- 3/7/91
"Dust Cloud Erupts on Halley's Comet"

"Five years after a much-heralded pass near Earth, an
immense dust cloud has erupted from Halley's comet, making
it hundreds of times brighter."

The Times reports that the potato-shaped, ice-ball core of
Halley's comet had been very faint up until last month when a
University of Hawaii astronomer, Dr. Karen Meech, sighted
the new apparition.

According to the Times, Meech noticed that the comet had
sprouted a cloud extending up to 180,000 miles from the
icy core of the comet and more than 1,000 times brighter
than should be the case for an object so far from the sun.
The Times quotes Meech as saying "to have something turn off
and suddenly brighten up at this distance is unheard of."

The story further quotes Smithsonian planetary expert Dr.
Brian Marsden as saying "this is much farther than anything
we've observed before."  The article says Marsden and fellow
colleagues at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics noted this will be very hard to explain given the
distance from the sun of the comet.

The story concludes by citing comments made by astronomer
Meech that other comets have produced extended clouds like
this but that the other occurrences have been of a continuous
cloud, not the sudden appearance of one as happened with
Halley's comet.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|      Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Jet Propulsion Lab | Is it mind over matter,
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   M/S 301-355        | or matter over mind?
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  Pasadena, CA 91109 | Never mind.
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                      | It doesn't matter.

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

Date: 5 Mar 91 16:24:10 GMT
From: mjbtn!knuth![e-mail]  (John N. Schmidt)
Subject: Seeking Earth Imagery from USSR Orbiting Platforms

I am seeking the address and/or phone number of the Soviet agency which
is selling Earth imagery in the United States.  Note that I am _not_
looking for imagery from SPOT or LANDSAT, but commercially available
imagery of the US and the world from a Soviet-launched platform.

I have heard that the agency is possibly named 'SOYUZKARTA' and sells
photographic products (as opposed to digital tape products) in a similar
fashion to SPOT Image Corp. or EOSAT; it was also said that their office
was in Dallas, TX.  Since then I have heard _nothing_ and would like to
inquire as to (a) their address/phone in the USA (or if not the case,
then the USSR), (b) the coverage and resolution of the data sets for
sale, and (c) anyone who might already have seen or used the data who
could comment on its quality, costs, etc.

We run a full-service Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
lab and have heard the Soviets had 5 meter resolution imagery for sale.
We are anxious to know more and need your input.  Our classroom
instruction and our contract work might be able to benefit, if it is up
to specs with LANDSAT and SPOT (ah, but I bet it isn't).   Thanks!

John N Schmidt  [e-mail]

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

Date: 7 Mar 91 16:33:50 GMT
From: agate!stanford.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!rex!rouge![e-mail]  (Fraering Philip)
Subject: Re: New Shuttle computers

How difficult would it be to build a test chamber that simulated the
radiation environment inside the shuttle cabin (or of any manned
spacecraft in leo) in order to see whether or not the electronics
could hold up?

Phil

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

Date:    Fri, 8 Mar 91 01:34:17 MST
From: [e-mail] (CARY OLER)
Subject: MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - 07 MARCH
X-St-Vmsmail-To: st%"[e-mail]"

                        --  MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT  --

                                MARCH 07, 1991

                              Flare Event Summary
                           Potential Impact Forecast


                                    --------


MAJOR ENERGETIC EVENT SUMMARY

     Three major solar flares exploded from Region 6538 today.  The first
event was a very powerful proton-type which began at 06:13 UT on 07 March.
X-rays peaked at a class X5.5 level at 07:55 UT.  The event ended at 08:04 UT.
This flare was exceptional in energy output.  It generated moderate to strong
intensity Type II and IV bursts and was associated with a 3,000 s.f.u. Tenflare
which lasted 26 minutes.  The flare attained a large class 3B optical rating
and was also associated with a 5,400 s.f.u. burst at 245 MHz.  This event
almost certainly produced a coronal mass ejection with proton activity to the
east of the region.  No protons were observed near earth.  The region is still
too far east.  This flare was located at S20E66.

     The second major flare began at 14:03 UT, peaked at 14:05 UT and ended at
14:26 UT.  The flare attained a class M5.0/SF rating, and originated from
Region 6438 at a location of S22E62.  This flare was not particularly powerful.

     The third major energetic flare began at 23:15 UT, peaked at 23:18 UT and
ended at 23:26 UT on 07 March.  This major flare was rated a class X2.5/2B
Tenflare with a very strong 35,000 s.f.u. burst at 245 MHz.  The event was also
associated with a 760 s.f.u. Tenflare which lasted 5 minutes.  Although
powerful, this flare was a short impulsive type which did not produce any sweep
frequency events and is not suspected of producing a coronal mass ejection.
However, it did produce a moderately intense Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance
(SID) and Short Wave Fade (SWF) which disrupted communications on HF
frequencies up to 25 MHz.  Strong phase shifts followed by strong signal
absorption were observed beginning at 23:17 UT over the sunlit sectors.  The
SWF ended at 23:34 UT on 07 March.


POTENTIAL TERRESTRIAL IMPACT FORECAST

     This latest flare will not likely produce any significant terrestrial
impacts.  There is a slight risk it could produce active conditions after 10
March, but magnetic or auroral storming is not likely.  The region was too
far east at the time of the major class X5.5 flare to produce terrestrial
impacts.

     Solar activity will remain high for the next several days at least.  Major
M-class flares and isolated X-class flares are possible throughout the next 72
hours at least.  Region 6538 is capable of producing some very energetic flare
activity which could produce intense moderate to long-duration SID's/SWF's over
the sunlit areas of the earth.  Within the next 24 to 48 hours, Region 6538
will begin to enter the terrestrial impact zone.  Major flares after 09 or 10
March could produce potentially moderate terrestrial impacts.  Major flares
after 11 March will have a high risk for producing high terrestrial impacts
which could include major auroral and geomagnetic storming along with
potentially strong degradation in radio signal propagation.  However, that is
still several days away and Region 6538 could conceivably calm down by then.
On the other hand, it could also become more energetic.  It currently possesses
a Beta-Gamma magnetic configuration with significant amounts of shear and high
magnetic gradients.

     The Calcium XV emission from Region 6538 increased to very bright levels
during the day today.  It appears as though Region 6538 will remain a
significant threat throughout the coming week.  The position of Region 6538,
corrected to 24:00 UT on 08 March is S25E48.  It will reside very near the
central meridian on 12 March and will cross into the western hemisphere on 13
March.

     As a side-note, geomagnetic activity will remain at unsettled to active
levels throughout most of the coming week.  Storm conditions could occur if
major flaring continues.

     Additional alerts and/or updates will continue to be posted daily for as
long as necessary.


**  End of Alert  **

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

End of SPACE Digest V13 #245
*******************