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Date: Wed, 23 Sep 92 05:02:23
From: Space Digest maintainer <digests@isu.isunet.edu>
Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu
Subject: Space Digest V15 #236
To: Space Digest Readers
Precedence: bulk
Space Digest Wed, 23 Sep 92 Volume 15 : Issue 236
Today's Topics:
Ethics
Hubble is looking at pluto again followup
Ion drive pollution
LARSONIAN Astronomy and Physics
PLANETLIKE OBJECT SPOTTED BEYOND PLUTO (2 msgs)
PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH
Sayonara, Mariner Mark II
what use is Freedom?
what use is Freedom? (Free flyer comment)
Welcome to the Space Digest!! Please send your messages to
"space@isu.isunet.edu", and (un)subscription requests of the form
"Subscribe Space <your name>" to one of these addresses: listserv@uga
(BITNET), rice::boyle (SPAN/NSInet), utadnx::utspan::rice::boyle
(THENET), or space-REQUEST@isu.isunet.edu (Internet).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1992 17:37:13 GMT
From: Nick Haines <nickh@CS.CMU.EDU>
Subject: Ethics
Newsgroups: sci.space
In article <Buyr4I.7oD.1@cs.cmu.edu> 18084TM@msu.edu (Tom) writes some
stuff about terraforming Mars.
So to get this straight, you believe that every valid ethical system
includes the following two values:
- Human life is more valuable than anything else; any single human
life is worth more than that of any other species, ecosystem, or
inanimate object or set of objects (assuming for the sake of argument
that that other system will not contribute to human life).
- The more humans exist, the better.
Do you believe this? Can you give me a short answer?
[because your argument seems to rest on these two propositions, and I
do not agree with them, nor do I think my ethical system is invalid
because of my disagreement. Hence your argument cannot possibly
convince me unless you can first convince me of these (and vice
versa I cannot convince you), and sci.space is _certainly_ not the
place to discuss this kind of proposition]
Nick Haines nickh@cmu.edu
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 14:48:35 -0500
From: pgf@srl01.cacs.usl.edu (Phil G. Fraering)
Subject: Hubble is looking at pluto again followup
\The Hubble Space Telesope took some more images of Pluto and Charon
/yesterday using its Wide Field/Planetary Camera. The pair is about 25
\arseconds from a nearby star. The images were received and are
/currently being analyzed.
Well? What did they see?
--
Phil Fraering pgf@srl0x.cacs.usl.edu where the x is a number from 1-5.
Phone: 318/365-5418 SnailMail: 2408 Blue Haven Dr., New Iberia, La. 70560
"NOAH!"
"Yes Lord?" - Bill Cosby
"HOW LONG CAN YOU TREAD WATER?"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 11:43:16 -0500
From: pgf@srl03.cacs.usl.edu (Phil G. Fraering)
Subject: Ion drive pollution
\Is there a chance that the ion drive might pollute the environment that some
/scientific instrument on the probe is trying to measure? Like an instrument
\measuring concentrations of natural ions in the area around some planet's
/magnetic field? Sure, turn it off before you measure, but how long does it
\take for the pollution to clear?
Good question. Of course, you could use an uncommon sort of material
for your reaction mass, which would let you screen out a lot of
interference.
I think the ion contamination (they tend to become neutral fairly
quickly, and in fact the exhaust needs to be neutralized quickly
or the ion drive stops working) is secondary to how having
the electric and magnetic fields around the spacecraft disturbed
is going to affect fields-and-particles experiments..
--
Phil Fraering pgf@srl0x.cacs.usl.edu where the x is a number from 1-5.
Phone: 318/365-5418 SnailMail: 2408 Blue Haven Dr., New Iberia, La. 70560
"NOAH!"
"Yes Lord?" - Bill Cosby
"HOW LONG CAN YOU TREAD WATER?"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1992 15:44 CST
From: NAME "Robert E. McElwaine" <MCELWRE@cnsvax.uwec.edu>
Subject: LARSONIAN Astronomy and Physics
LARSONIAN "Reciprocal System"
Orthodox physicists, astronomers, and astrophysicists
CLAIM to be looking for a "Unified Field Theory" in which all
of the forces of the universe can be explained with a single
set of laws or equations. But they have been systematically
IGNORING or SUPPRESSING an excellent one for 30 years!
The late Physicist Dewey B. Larson's comprehensive
GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the physical universe, which he
calls the "Reciprocal System", is built on two fundamental
postulates about the physical and mathematical natures of
space and time:
(1) "The physical universe is composed ENTIRELY of ONE
component, MOTION, existing in THREE dimensions, in DISCRETE
UNITS, and in two RECIPROCAL forms, SPACE and TIME."
(2) "The physical universe conforms to the relations of
ORDINARY COMMUTATIVE mathematics, its magnitudes are
ABSOLUTE, and its geometry is EUCLIDEAN."
From these two postulates, Larson developed a COMPLETE
Theoretical Universe, using various combinations of
translational, vibrational, rotational, and vibrational-
rotational MOTIONS, the concepts of IN-ward and OUT-ward
SCALAR MOTIONS, and speeds in relation to the Speed of Light
(which Larson called "UNIT VELOCITY" and "THE NATURAL
DATUM").
At each step in the development, Larson was able to
MATCH objects in his Theoretical Universe with objects in the
REAL physical universe, (photons, sub-atomic particles
[INCOMPLETE ATOMS], charges, atoms, molecules, globular star
clusters, galaxies, binary star systems, solar systems, white
dwarf stars, pulsars, quasars, ETC.), even objects NOT YET
DISCOVERED THEN (such as EXPLODING GALAXIES, and GAMMA-RAY
BURSTS).
And applying his Theory to his NEW model of the atom,
Larson was able to precisely and accurately CALCULATE inter-
atomic distances in crystals and molecules.
All of this is described in good detail, with-OUT fancy
complex mathematics, in his books.
BOOKS of Dewey B. Larson
The following is a complete list of the late Physicist
Dewey B. Larson's books about his comprehensive GENERAL
UNIFIED Theory of the physical universe. Some of the early
books are out of print now, but still available through
inter-library loan.
"The Structure of the Physical Universe" (1959)
"The Case AGAINST the Nuclear Atom" (1963)
"Beyond Newton" (1964)
"New Light on Space and Time" (1965)
"Quasars and Pulsars" (1971)
"NOTHING BUT MOTION" (1979)
[A $9.50 SUBSTITUTE for the $8.3 BILLION "Super
Collider".]
"The Neglected Facts of Science" (1982)
"THE UNIVERSE OF MOTION" (1984)
[FINAL SOLUTIONS to most ALL astrophysical
mysteries.]
"BASIC PROPERTIES OF MATTER" (1988)
[Available from:
The International Society of Unified Science
(ISUS)
1680 E. Atkin Ave.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 ]
Physicist Dewey B. Larson's Background
Physicist Dewey B. Larson was a retired Engineer
(Chemical or Electrical). He was about 91 years old when he
died a couple of years ago. He had a Bachelor of Science
Degree in Engineering Science from Oregon State University.
He developed his comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the
physical universe while trying to develop a way to COMPUTE
chemical properties based only on the elements used.
Larson's lack of a fancy "PH.D." degree might be one
reason that orthodox physicists are ignoring him, but it is
NOT A VALID REASON. Sometimes it takes a relative outsider
to CLEARLY SEE THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES. At the same
time, it is clear from his books that he also knew ORTHODOX
physics and astronomy as well as ANY physicist or astronomer,
well enough to point out all their CONTRADICTIONS, AD HOC
ASSUMPTIONS, PRINCIPLES OF IMPOTENCE, IN-CONSISTENCIES, ETC..
Larson did NOT have the funds, etc. to experimentally
test his Theory. And it was NOT necessary for him to do so.
He simply compared the various parts of his Theory with OTHER
researchers' experimental and observational data. And in
many cases, HIS explanation FIT BETTER.
A SELF-CONSISTENT Theory is MUCH MORE than the ORTHODOX
physicists and astronomers have! They CLAIM to be looking
for a "unified field theory" that works, but have been
IGNORING one for over 30 years now!
"Modern physics" does NOT explain the physical universe
so well. Some parts of some of Larson's books are FULL of
quotations of leading orthodox physicists and astronomers who
agree. And remember that "epicycles", "crystal spheres",
"geocentricity", "flat earth theory", etc., ALSO once SEEMED
to explain it well, but were later proved CONCEPTUALLY WRONG.
Prof. Frank H. Meyer, Professor Emeritus of UW-Superior,
was/is a STRONG PROPONENT of Larson's Theory, and was (or
still is) President of Larson's organization, "THE
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF UNIFIED SCIENCE", and Editor of
their quarterly Journal "RECIPROCITY". He moved to
Minneapolis after retiring.
"Super Collider" BOONDOGGLE!
I am AGAINST contruction of the "Superconducting Super
Collider", in Texas or anywhere else. It would be a GROSS
WASTE of money, and contribute almost NOTHING of "scientific"
value.
Most physicists don't realize it, but, according to the
comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the late Physicist
Dewey B. Larson, as described in his books, the strange GOOFY
particles ("mesons", "hyperons", ALLEGED "quarks", etc.)
which they are finding in EXISTING colliders (Fermi Lab,
Cern, etc.) are really just ATOMS of ANTI-MATTER, which are
CREATED by the high-energy colliding beams, and which quickly
disintegrate like cosmic rays because they are incompatible
with their environment.
A larger and more expensive collider will ONLY create a
few more elements of anti-matter that the physicists have not
seen there before, and the physicists will be EVEN MORE
CONFUSED THAN THEY ARE NOW!
Are a few more types of anti-matter atoms worth the $8.3
BILLION cost?!! Don't we have much more important uses for
this WASTED money?!
Another thing to consider is that the primary proposed
location in Texas has a serious and growing problem with some
kind of "fire ants" eating the insulation off underground
cables. How much POISONING of the ground and ground water
with insecticides will be required to keep the ants out of
the "Supercollider"?!
Naming the "Super Collider" after Ronald Reagon, as
proposed, is TOTALLY ABSURD! If it is built, it should be
named after a leading particle PHYSICIST.
LARSONIAN Anti-Matter
In Larson's comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the
physical universe, anti-matter is NOT a simple case of
opposite charges of the same types of particles. It has more
to do with the rates of vibrations and rotations of the
photons of which they are made, in relation to the
vibrational and rotational equivalents of the speed of light,
which Larson calls "Unit Velocity" and the "Natural Datum".
In Larson's Theory, a positron is actually a particle of
MATTER, NOT anti-matter. When a positron and electron meet,
the rotational vibrations (charges) and rotations of their
respective photons (of which they are made) neutralize each
other.
In Larson's Theory, the ANTI-MATTER half of the physical
universe has THREE dimensions of TIME, and ONLY ONE dimension
of space, and exists in a RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP to our
MATERIAL half.
LARSONIAN Relativity
The perihelion point in the orbit of the planet Mercury
has been observed and precisely measured to ADVANCE at the
rate of 574 seconds of arc per century. 531 seconds of this
advance are attributed via calculations to gravitational
perturbations from the other planets (Venus, Earth, Jupiter,
etc.). The remaining 43 seconds of arc are being used to
help "prove" Einstein's "General Theory of Relativity".
But the late Physicist Dewey B. Larson achieved results
CLOSER to the 43 seconds than "General Relativity" can, by
INSTEAD using "SPECIAL Relativity". In one or more of his
books, he applied the LORENTZ TRANSFORMATION on the HIGH
ORBITAL SPEED of Mercury.
Larson TOTALLY REJECTED "General Relativity" as another
MATHEMATICAL FANTASY. He also REJECTED most of "Special
Relativity", including the parts about "mass increases" near
the speed of light, and the use of the Lorentz Transform on
doppler shifts, (Those quasars with red-shifts greater than
1.000 REALLY ARE MOVING FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF LIGHT,
although most of that motion is away from us IN TIME.).
In Larson's comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the
physical universe, there are THREE dimensions of time instead
of only one. But two of those dimensions can NOT be measured
from our material half of the physical universe. The one
dimension that we CAN measure is the CLOCK time. At low
relative speeds, the values of the othe two dimensions are
NEGLIGIBLE; but at high speeds, they become significant, and
the Lorentz Transformation must be used as a FUDGE FACTOR.
[Larson often used the term "COORDINATE TIME" when writing
about this.]
In regard to "mass increases", it has been PROVEN in
atomic accelerators that acceleration drops toward zero near
the speed of light. But the formula for acceleration is
ACCELERATION = FORCE / MASS, (a = F/m). Orthodox physicists
are IGNORING the THIRD FACTOR: FORCE. In Larson's Theory,
mass STAYS CONSTANT and FORCE drops toward zero. FORCE is
actually a MOTION, or COMBINATIONS of MOTIONS, or RELATIONS
BETWEEN MOTIONS, including INward and OUTward SCALAR MOTIONS.
The expansion of the universe, for example, is an OUTward
SCALAR motion inherent in the universe and NOT a result of
the so-called "Big Bang" (which is yet another MATHEMATICAL
FANTASY).
THE UNIVERSE OF MOTION
I wish to recommend to EVERYONE the book "THE UNIVERSE
OF MOTION", by Dewey B. Larson, 1984, North Pacific
Publishers, (P.O. Box 13255, Portland, Oregon 97213), 456
pages, indexed, hardcover.
It contains the Astrophysical portions of a GENERAL
UNIFIED Theory of the physical universe developed by that
author, an UNrecognized GENIUS, more than thirty years ago.
It contains FINAL SOLUTIONS to most all Astrophysical
mysteries, including the FORMATION of galaxies, binary and
multiple star systems, and solar systems, the TRUE ORIGIN of
the "3-degree" background radiation, cosmic rays, and gamma-
ray bursts, and the TRUE NATURE of quasars, pulsars, white
dwarfs, exploding galaxies, etc..
It contains what astronomers and astrophysicists are ALL
looking for, if they are ready to seriously consider it with
OPEN MINDS!
The following is an example of his Theory's success:
In his first book in 1959, "THE STRUCTURE OF THE PHYSICAL
UNIVERSE", Larson predicted the existence of EXPLODING
GALAXIES, several years BEFORE astronomers started finding
them. They are a NECESSARY CONSEQUENCE of Larson's
comprehensive Theory. And when QUASARS were discovered, he
had an immediate related explanation for them also.
GAMMA-RAY BURSTS
Astro-physicists and astronomers are still scratching
their heads about the mysterious GAMMA-RAY BURSTS. They were
originally thought to originate from "neutron stars" in the
disc of our galaxy. But the new Gamma Ray Telescope now in
Earth orbit has been detecting them in all directions
uniformly, and their source locations in space do NOT
correspond to any known objects, (except for a few cases of
directional coincidence).
Gamma-ray bursts are a NECESSARY CONSEQUENCE of the
GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the physical universe developed by
the late Physicist Dewey B. Larson. According to page 386 of
his book "THE UNIVERSE OF MOTION", published in 1984, the
gamma-ray bursts are coming from SUPERNOVA EXPLOSIONS in the
ANTI-MATTER HALF of the physical universe, which Larson calls
the "Cosmic Sector". Because of the relationship between the
anti-matter and material halves of the physical universe, and
the way they are connected together, the gamma-ray bursts can
pop into our material half anywhere in space, seemingly at
random. (This is WHY the source locations of the bursts do
not correspond with known objects, and come from all
directions uniformly.)
I wonder how close to us in space a source location
would have to be for a gamma-ray burst to kill all or most
life on Earth! There would be NO WAY to predict one, NOR to
stop it!
Perhaps some of the MASS EXTINCTIONS of the past, which
are now being blamed on impacts of comets and asteroids, were
actually caused by nearby GAMMA-RAY BURSTS!
LARSONIAN Binary Star Formation
About half of all the stars in the galaxy in the
vicinity of the sun are binary or double. But orthodox
astronomers and astrophysicists still have no satisfactory
theory about how they form or why there are so many of them.
But binary star systems are actually a LIKELY
CONSEQUENCE of the comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of
the physical universe developed by the late Physicist Dewey
B. Larson.
I will try to summarize Larsons explanation, which is
detailed in Chapter 7 of his book "THE UNIVERSE OF MOTION"
and in some of his other books.
First of all, according to Larson, stars do NOT generate
energy by "fusion". A small fraction comes from slow
gravitational collapse. The rest results from the COMPLETE
ANNIHILATION of HEAVY elements (heavier than IRON). Each
element has a DESTRUCTIVE TEMPERATURE LIMIT. The heavier the
element is, the lower is this limit. A star's internal
temperature increases as it grows in mass via accretion and
absorption of the decay products of cosmic rays, gradually
reaching the destructive temperature limit of lighter and
lighter elements.
When the internal temperature of the star reaches the
destructive temperature limit of IRON, there is a Type I
SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION! This is because there is SO MUCH iron
present; and that is related to the structure of iron atoms
and the atom building process, which Larson explains in some
of his books [better than I can].
When the star explodes, the lighter material on the
outer portion of the star is blown outward in space at less
than the speed of light. The heavier material in the center
portion of the star was already bouncing around at close to
the speed of light, because of the high temperature. The
explosion pushes that material OVER the speed of light, and
it expands OUTWARD IN TIME, which is equivalent to INWARD IN
SPACE, and it often actually DISAPPEARS for a while.
Over long periods of time, both masses start to fall
back gravitationally. The material that had been blown
outward in space now starts to form a RED GIANT star. The
material that had been blown OUTWARD IN TIME starts to form a
WHITE DWARF star. BOTH stars then start moving back toward
the "MAIN SEQUENCE" from opposite directions on the H-R
Diagram.
The chances of the two masses falling back into the
exact same location in space, making a single lone star
again, are near zero. They will instead form a BINARY system,
orbiting each other.
According to Larson, a white dwarf star has an INVERSE
DENSITY GRADIENT (is densest at its SURFACE), because the
material at its center is most widely dispersed (blown
outward) in time. This ELIMINATES the need to resort to
MATHEMATICAL FANTASIES about "degenerate matter", "neutron
stars", "black holes", etc..
LARSONIAN Solar System Formation
If the mass of the heavy material at the center of the
exploding star is relatively SMALL, then, instead of a single
white dwarf star, there will be SEVERAL "mini" white dwarf
stars (revolving around the red giant star, but probably
still too far away in three-dimensional TIME to be affected
by its heat, etc.). These will become PLANETS!
In Chapter 7 of THE UNIVERSE OF MOTION, Larson used all
this information, and other principles of his comprehensive
GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the physical universe, to derive
his own version of Bode's Law.
"Black Hole" FANTASY!
I heard that physicist Stephen W. Hawking recently
completed a theoretical mathematical analysis of TWO "black
holes" merging together into a SINGLE "black hole", and
concluded that the new "black hole" would have MORE MASS than
the sum of the two original "black holes".
Such a result should be recognized by EVERYone as a RED
FLAG, causing widespread DOUBT about the whole IDEA of "black
holes", etc.!
After reading Physicist Dewey B. Larson's books about
his comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the physical
universe, especially his book "THE UNIVERSE OF MOTION", it is
clear to me that "black holes" are NOTHING more than
MATHEMATICAL FANTASIES! The strange object at Cygnus X-1 is
just an unusually massive WHITE DWARF STAR, NOT the "black
hole" that orthodox astronomers and physicists so badly want
to "prove" their theory.
By the way, I do NOT understand why so much publicity is
being given to physicist Stephen Hawking. The physicists and
astronomers seem to be acting as if Hawking's severe physical
problem somehow makes him "wiser". It does NOT!
I wish the same attention had been given to Physicist
Dewey B. Larson while he was still alive. Widespread
publicity and attention should NOW be given to Larson's
Theory, books, and organization (The International Society of
Unified Science).
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PROPULSION
I heard of that concept many years ago, in connection
with UFO's and unorthodox inventors, but I never was able to
find out how or why they work, or how they are constructed.
I found a possible clue about why they might work on
pages 112-113 of the book "BASIC PROPERTIES OF MATTER", by
the late Physicist Dewey B. Larson, which describes part of
Larson's comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the physical
universe. I quote one paragraph:
"As indicated in the preceding chapter, the development
of the theory of the universe of motion arrives at a totally
different concept of the nature of electrical resistance.
The electrons, we find, are derived from the environment. It
was brought out in Volume I [Larson's book "NOTHING BUT
MOTION"] that there are physical processes in operation which
produce electrons in substantial quantities, and that,
although the motions that constitute these electrons are, in
many cases, absorbed by atomic structures, the opportunities
for utilizing this type of motion in such structures are
limited. It follows that there is always a large excess of
free electrons in the material sector [material half] of the
universe, most of which are uncharged. In this uncharged
state the electrons cannot move with respect to extension
space, because they are inherently rotating units of space,
and the relation of space to space is not motion. In open
space, therefore, each uncharged electron remains permanently
in the same location with respect to the natural reference
system, in the manner of a photon. In the context of the
stationary spatial reference system the uncharged electron,
like the photon, is carried outward at the speed of light by
the progression of the natural reference system. All
material aggregates are thus exposed to a flux of electrons
similar to the continual bombardment by photons of radiation.
Meanwhile there are other processes, to be discussed later,
whereby electrons are returned to the environment. The
electron population of a material aggregate such as the earth
therefore stabilizes at an equilibrium level."
Note that in Larson's Theory, UNcharged electrons are
also massLESS, and are basically photons of light of a
particular frequency (above the "unit" frequency) spinning
around one axis at a particular rate (below the "unit" rate).
("Unit velocity" is the speed of light, and there are
vibrational and rotational equivalents to the speed of light,
according to Larson's Theory.) [I might have the "above" and
"below" labels mixed up.]
Larson is saying that outer space is filled with mass-
LESS UN-charged electrons flying around at the speed of
light!
If this is true, then the ELECTRO-MAGNETIC PROPULSION
fields of spacecraft might be able to interact with these
electrons, or other particles in space, perhaps GIVING them a
charge (and mass) and shooting them toward the rear to
achieve propulsion. (In Larson's Theory, an electrical charge
is a rotational vibration of a particular frequency (above
the "unit" frequency) superimposed on the rotation of the
particle.)
The paragraph quoted above might also give a clue to
confused meteorologists about how lightning is generated in
clouds.
SUPPRESSION of LARSONIAN Physics
The comprehensive GENERAL UNIFIED Theory of the physical
universe developed by the late Physicist Dewey B. Larson has
been available for more than 30 YEARS, published in 1959 in
his first book "THE STRUCTURE OF THE PHYSICAL UNIVERSE".
It is TOTALLY UN-SCIENTIFIC for Hawking, Wheeler, Sagan,
and the other SACRED PRIESTS of the RELIGION they call
"science" (or "physics", or "astronomy", etc.), as well as
the "scientific" literature and the "education" systems, to
TOTALLY IGNORE Larson's Theory has they have.
Larson's Theory has excellent explanations for many
things now puzzling orthodox physicists and astronomers, such
as gamma-ray bursts and the nature of quasars.
Larson's Theory deserves to be HONESTLY and OPENLY
discussed in the physics, chemistry, and astronomy journals,
in the U.S. and elsewhere. And at least the basic principles
of Larson's Theory should be included in all related courses
at UW-EC, UW-Madison, Cambridge, Cornell University, and
elsewhere, so that students are not kept in the dark about a
worthy alternative to the DOGMA they are being fed.
UN-altered REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this
partial summary is ENCOURAGED.
Robert E. McElwaine
B.S., Physics and Astronomy, UW-EC
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 15:45:24 EST
From: PHARABOD@FRCPN11.IN2P3.FR
Subject: PLANETLIKE OBJECT SPOTTED BEYOND PLUTO
Yaron Sheffer writes (21 Sep 92 18:53:35 GMT):
>There's another one that was discovered earlier this year: 1992 AD,
>a minor planet (?) that travels between about 9 AU and 32 AU away
>from the Sun. It is just now passing through perihelion, and this surely
>was a helping factor in its discovery. So this object can be added
>before arriving to Pluto...
>
>Ronny
Two planetlike objects, 1992 AD and 1992 QB1, spotted this year between
9 AU and 59 AU... Had there been something like that before ? If not, was
it because:
1) 1992 is a lucky year (normal statistical fluctuation) ?
2) people did not really try (in particular, there was no systematical
search within the Kuiper belt) ?
3) technique was not good enough ?
4) there was no "well thought out and planned experiment" ?
5) these objects were given another name (comets) ?
J. Pharabod
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1992 09:53:00 GMT
From: Dave Tholen <tholen@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu>
Subject: PLANETLIKE OBJECT SPOTTED BEYOND PLUTO
Newsgroups: sci.space
John A. Weeks III writes:
> We need a new "Grand Tour" flight. The Pluto direct flights should be directed
> to fly past Chiron (I think thats the name of the thing discovered in the
> neighborhood or Saturn), then Pluto, then past this new planet. Perhaps a
> few new objects will be sighted beyond Pluto in the mean time that can be
> added to the mission.
>
> Since you cannot get much of a direction change when flying past small
> objects, would a flight like this be possible? Do these objects line
> up or are they even in the same plane? Could one get gravity assists
> from some of the larger planets in order to fly by these smaller objects?
Let's at least wait until we know the orbit of this object before planning
spacecraft missions to it! This much is for sure: it's on the opposite
side of the sky from Pluto, so they won't be lining up anytime soon.
Interesting aside: one of the Pluto mission trajectories did include a
rather distant Chiron flyby, and by distant, I mean really distant. It
would have taken a super high resolution imaging system to do anything with
it.
------------------------------
Date: 22 Sep 92 07:56:45 GMT
From: Tom Nugent <tjn32113@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu>
Subject: PUTTING VENUS IN AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THE ORBIT OF THE EARTH
Newsgroups: sci.space
abian@iastate.edu (Alexander Abian) writes:
> The main difference between Venus and Earth lies in their orbits around
>the Sun. For one thing, Venus stays around 67 million miles away from the
>Sun, whereas Earth stays around 93 million miles away from the Sun. As a
>consequence of the corresponding greenhouse effects, Venus' average surface
>temperature is around 900 degrees F, whereas Earth's is around 60 degrees F.
>Venus, being an extraordinarily hot planet is unsuitable for sustaining life
>(as we know it).
> However, if we alter Venus' orbit and make it similar to the Earth's
>orbit, then the gradual process of generating life sustaining ecology on
>Venus will evolve automatically. As a result, a second Earth-like planet
>will be created which, in due course, will be readily and easily populated
>by the human species.
Nope. Distance from the sun is not the only variable which determines surface
temp/livability. Venus' atmosphere is something like 90 times more dense than
that of Earth; this is what makes it so hot. Mars, on the other hand, has
a surface gravity which is too small to hang onto most gaseous chemicals, hence
its atmosphere is thin, and doesn't provide enough greenhouse effect.
Also, putting Venus into an orbit near Earth would do bad things, like destroy
the Earth. (Perturb its orbit very significantly at least, if not just smash)
into it.
> The present-day tendencies of Space Scientists and Space Technology
>consist in keeping Venus or Mars in their existing orbits and trying to install
>on them machinery which will produce life-sustaining conditions. This approach
>most likely will not yield the desired results. Indeed, creating life-
>sustaining ecology on the planets (like Venus or Mars) whose present cosmic
>parameters, to begin with do not allow the existence of life on them, seems
>improbable and impractical.
How exactly do you propose to move an ENTIRE GODDAMN PLANET????? The machinery
to terraform a planet is peanuts compared to what you would need to do to
move a planet. Machinery is also not the only way to go. Plant certain
bacteria, etc. which ingest CO2 and put out O2 will begin the process. Keep
it up with more advanced plants as the temperature falls. You would most likely
need machinery to help, but not to do the entire thing.
---
"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even
though checkered with failures, than to rank with those poor spirits who
neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that
knows not victory nor defeat."
- Theodore Roosevelt
--
Tom Nugent voice:(217)328-0994 e-mail:tjn32113@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
"To be average scares the hell out of me." -- Anonymous
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1992 10:04:13 GMT
From: Dave Tholen <tholen@galileo.ifa.hawaii.edu>
Subject: Sayonara, Mariner Mark II
Newsgroups: sci.space
Bill Higgins writes:
> "Small" only on the scale of planetary science, understand. If
> Fermilab had the 400-megabuck budget (I generously neglect launch
> costs, as NASA always does in quoting costs) of the Pluto probe, we
> could build our new Main Injector and still serve free champagne every
> day in the cafeteria. And we are "big science" by Earthly standards!
That was the old NASA. In Goldin's NASA, we fully expect the Pluto mission
cost to include launch, and the current budget ceiling we're looking at is
in the 400 million ballpark, including launch. The spacecraft design is
quite a challenge, but Rob Staehle and colleagues haven't shrunk from it.
Of course, the Pluto mission isn't funded yet, but we are still optimistic
about a 1995 new start.
Oh, and the reason why launch costs weren't included in the past is because
launch was handled by an entirely different branch of NASA. You don't
budget money for your branch if another branch is going to be doing the work.
------------------------------
Date: Fri, 18 Sep 1992 10:56 EDT
From: USRNAME <CANOUGH%BINGVAXA.bitnet@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
Subject: what use is Freedom?
Sept 18,1992
Space Station Freedom, What use is it?
According to a reliable source, at a space station
utilization meeting of 1500 people earlier in the year, only
15 of the people in attendance considered
themselves to be space station users, as opposed to
contractors, NASA engineers, etc. The question comes to mind
"What's wrong with this picture?" Who will use the space
station when it is ready? The types of science mostly talked
about are life science and microgravity. Microgravity is
somewhat incompatible with people being on board and
jostling the station. Are there plans now to have a module
floating free from the main station for that?
What I am curious to find out is, who wants to use the space
station Freedom and for what? There are probably scientists
who want to do basic research, but perhaps there are also
people in industry who have thought about using the ssF for
applied research.
If anyone on the net has thoughts, please post or send to
me. I'm putting together a short presentation for a
technical society meeting on this subject. I especially want
to talk to people in industry who have an interest in using
the space station Freedom for applied research.
Tally ho, Freedom Bound.
--- Gay
ps. I'd appreciate it if you would cross post this to other nets
if you are able to do so. Thanks.
e-mail(Internet): CANOUGH@BINGVAXA.CC.BINGHAMTON.EDU
(GEnie) : G.CANOUGH
phone/fax= 607 785 6499 voice mail = 800 673 8265
radio call sign: KB2OXA
'Snail Mail:
ETM, Inc.
PO Box 67
Endicott, NY 13761
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 22 Sep 92 14:46:44 -0500
From: pgf@srl01.cacs.usl.edu (Phil G. Fraering)
Subject: what use is Freedom? (Free flyer comment)
\about are life science and microgravity. Microgravity is
/somewhat incompatible with people being on board and
\jostling the station. Are there plans now to have a module
/floating free from the main station for that?
I've always liked the idea. What was the show-stopper?
Anyone here know?
BTW, sci.space seems to be the best place for this now.
And I can't cross post right now...
--
Phil Fraering pgf@srl0x.cacs.usl.edu where the x is a number from 1-5.
Phone: 318/365-5418 SnailMail: 2408 Blue Haven Dr., New Iberia, La. 70560
"NOAH!"
"Yes Lord?" - Bill Cosby
"HOW LONG CAN YOU TREAD WATER?"
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End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 236
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