Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT_ZIP/spacedig/v08/V8_272.ZIP/V8_272

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Date: Thu, 14 Jul 88 01:07:04 PDT
From: Ted Anderson <[e-mail]>
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Subject: SPACE Digest V8 #272

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 8 : Issue 272

Today's Topics:
   Re: Lithium Batteries (was Re: comments/reply for SPACE_DIGEST)
         Significant accomplishments in space
       Re: Hawaiian spaceport? (Was: Re: SPACE Digest V8 #221)
             Christine McAuliffe
               Re: Christine McAuliffe
               Re: Christine McAuliffe
                 Mir elements
         Re: comments/reply for SPACE_DIGEST
               Space Shuttle Black Box
Addendum to "Significant Accomplishments in Space Sciences" survey ...
             Mir passes for San Francisco
               Re: Cometesimals
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 11 Jun 88 06:12:59 GMT
From: silver![e-mail]  (Lucius Chiaraviglio)
Subject: Re: Lithium Batteries (was Re: comments/reply for SPACE_DIGEST)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Lucius Chiaraviglio) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Phil R.
>Karn) writes:
[About the tendency of lithium batteries to explode]
>>The reason NASA bans them from the shuttle is because they have been
>>known to explode when shorted.  [. . .]
>
>    Wouldn't it make more sense for NASA to just require that the lithium
>batteries be kept inside a housing that will contain explosion fragments, and
>that they not be kept in areas in which a breathable atmosphere must be
>maintained?  [. . .]

    Somebody mailed me a message indicating that the weight of the extra
housing would make it not worth it to send lithium batteries up.  I did not
intend to indicate putting an extra housing on, although now I see that my
message actually reads this way.  What I should have said was that any housing
that is already there should be made so as to contain explosion fragments, and
the lithium battery placed between other parts of the package so that they
absorb the greater part of the energy of any explosion so that the housing
does not have to be made unduly heavier.  Also, the batteries should be
designed with fracture points and/or safety gaskets so that they would burst
earlier and with less vigor upon overheating.

    -- Lucius Chiaraviglio
       [e-mail]
       [e-mail]    (in case the first one doesn't work)
    "Gunpowder hasn't been invented yet."
    "It hasn't?!?!?"
        . . .
    ********!!!!!!!!!!BBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!********
    "Well, I could be wrong, you know. . . ."

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

Date:     Mon, 13 Jun 88 17:08 EST
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Significant accomplishments in space


     For reasons which are too detailed to go into here, I would like to
conduct a survey on the net regarding what each of you feels are/will be
the most significant achievements relating to mankind's efforts to
explore and develop space. I am interested not only in those
accomplishments directly related to space, but any development in any
discipline which has contibuted to these efforts. Responses should
however, be restricted to a time period beginning around 1900 A.D. and
extending as far into the future as you like. Projections for the future
should be based on some logical extrapolation of current technology or
theory (no science fiction please) and if highly speculative, the
development path from current science should be described. Last of all,
(naturally) responses should be E-mailed to me personally rather than
put on the net. After I have received and analyzed the responses, it is
my intent to put the results of the survey (i.e. the accomplishments
that are generally felt by the majority to be the most significant) on
the net. Maybe we'll even get one of two good topics of serious concern
to space out of it, rather than some of the political and linguistic
drivel (Flame expected) like "manned vs.  femmed" or what "CBS should be
doing" that seems to have permeated the net in the last couple of
months. Your responses will be greatly appreciated.

                                                        Rick R. Johnson
                                                        RJOHNSON@CEBAF1

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

Date: 13 Jun 88 04:01:46 GMT
From: phri!dasys1![e-mail]  (Tom Betz)
Subject: Re: Hawaiian spaceport? (Was: Re: SPACE Digest V8 #221)


I agree it would be unwise to build a launch base on Hawaii proper.  But
the general area is conducive to launch sites, so other alternatives should
be investigated.  Has anyone looked into the feasability of artificially-
constructed "islands", perhaps just over the horizon to the south of the
Hawaiian Islands?  There must be suitable volcanic reefs there that are
normally submerged... it would be a nontrivial task to install the necessary
facilities, but it would be the least intrusive approach when it comes to
affecting the tourist trade, and much of the facility (that which does not
require absolute stability) could be constructed to float on the sea, much
as oil drilling platforms do.  The energy contributed to the launch process
would be considerable... would it be enough to justify the expense?  It seems
that it might... and what are the relative pros and cons of sea ditching versus
land ditching as regards safety to crew and others?  Strikes me that Hawaii as
a launch location would provide the Shuttle ample opportunity for both.




--
Tom Betz                        {allegra,philabs,cmcl2}!phri\
ZCNY                               {bellcore,cmcl2}!cucard!dasys1!tbetz
Yonkers, NY, USA 10701-2509                    {sun}!hoptoad/
"Opinions? What opinions? These are >facts<!!"

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

Date: 12 Jun 88 17:09:36 GMT
From: paul.rutgers.edu!styx.rutgers.edu![e-mail]  (Steve Masticola)
Subject: Christine McAuliffe


Does anyone know of a good biography of Christine McAuliffe? I also
remember seeing a video biography of her shortly after the Challenger
explosion; I could use this too if it's available.

Thanks for your help!
- Steve Masticola ([e-mail])

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

Date: 13 Jun 88 16:04:38 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Mike Smithwick)
Subject: Re: Christine McAuliffe

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steve Masticola) writes:
>
>Does anyone know of a good biography of Christine McAuliffe? I also
>remember seeing a video biography of her shortly after the Challenger
>explosion; I could use this too if it's available.
>
>Thanks for your help!
>- Steve Masticola ([e-mail])

I would recommend "I Touch the Future" (I think that's the title, since I
don't have the book with me). It's a good, direct writeup by a reporter
from Christa's home town. He had the closest contact of anyone during the
selection process and her training.



mike

--
               *** mike (starship janitor) smithwick ***
"Being a dwarf does have it's shortcomings"
[disclaimer : nope, I don't work for NASA, I take full blame for my ideas]

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

Date: 13 Jun 88 00:04:46 GMT
From: m2c!jjmhome![e-mail]  (Laurie Mann)
Subject: Re: Christine McAuliffe

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Steve Masticola) writes:
>
> Does anyone know of a good biography of Christine McAuliffe?

Her full name was:  Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe.

At least one has been written in the last two years.  Read any news/personality
magazine from mid-1985 through early 1986 and you're bound to find quite
a bit about her.

\* This is the way the future is...
Hacking net address: {harvard,ulowell}!m2c!jjmhome!lmann ** [e-mail]
Working net address: harvard!anvil!es!Laurie_Mann        (Stratus Computer)
uS(n)ail: Laurie Mann, Stratus, M22PUB, 55 Fairbanks Blvd, Marlboro, MA  01752

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

Date: 12 Jun 88 05:16:00 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Mir elements


    The elements I posted for Mir (they were labeled, `Progress
36') a couple of days ago are still usable for visual observation.  I
observed Mir overfly Champaign, IL at 22:34 CDT (03:34 UTC) tonight.
It was not more than about ten seconds away from predicted time; I
would say that it was more likely a few seconds early than late.

    I noticed that it was about half a magnitude brighter than
usual (perhaps not as bright as Arcturus, but comparable to Vega).
The additional reflecting surfaces provided by the solar panels of the
second Soyuz are, apparently, quite noticeable.

    Clear skies for the rest of the overflights this week!

    Ad astra,
        Kevin

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

Date: 11 Jun 88 16:45:16 GMT
From: aplcen!aplcomm!stdc.jhuapl.edu![e-mail]  (Jim Meritt)
Subject: Re: comments/reply for SPACE_DIGEST

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Phil R. Karn) writes:
}> >So, just what are Lithium batteries, and why would they be prohibited on
}> >a space flight, when I am allowed to take one in my watch and mingle
}> >around thousands of people in public places? Are they radioactive?  What
}> >about a leak?
}
}The reason NASA bans them from the shuttle is because they have been
}known to explode when shorted.  They can usually tolerate a short
}lasting a few seconds (typically 5), which is how they can be
}wave-soldered to PC boards.  No, they are not radioactive.


They don't like getting wet much, either.  Is this a consideration for
something launched over an ocean that spends most of its time
(when it is not in a warehouse)
above water?


Disclaimer: Individuals have opinions, organizations have policy.
            Therefore, these opinions are mine and not any organizations!
Q.E.D.
[e-mail] 128.244.65.5  (James W. Meritt)

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

Date: 13 Jun 88 19:44:40 GMT
From: ganelon.usc.edu![e-mail]  (Steve)
Subject: Space Shuttle Black Box

I posted this request a few months back, but alas, no responses.
Perhaps someone new is listening:

I heard that a court case last year ordered NASA to release the
cockpit black box tape from Challenger.  This was around June or
so of last year.  There was a reported 2-3 minutes of tape *AFTER*
the explosion.

Anyone know any details on this.  The case was brought to court by
the New York Times, but I haven't seen anything in there about it.

=Steve=

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

Date:     Tue, 14 Jun 88 12:28 EST
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject:  Addendum to "Significant Accomplishments in Space Sciences" survey ...

     I just realized after my first couple of responses to my "Significant
Achievements In Space" survey, that I was perhaps not absolutely clear in my
request for responses. What I am interested in in addition to the mention of
the accomplishments themselves, are the dates that you think they were/will
be completed. For those of you that have already responded, I would appreciate
a follow up on your responses containing this information. Also, although the
accomplishments in the future are of prime importance, please include info
on the past accomplishments, since part of my interest is to see how familiar
everyone is with these past accomplishments, and which ones you all feel have
been the most important. Sorry about the vagueness, and thanks once again.

                                                          Rick R. Johnson
                                                          RJOHNSON@6414

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

Date: 14 Jun 88 07:21:32 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Richard the Nerd)
Subject: Mir passes for San Francisco


Hi!

These are predictions for the passes of the Soviet space station Mir
over San Francisco.  Since the Soyuz TM-5 is now docked to Mir, the
complex is now about 0.5 magnitudes brighter than usual!  These passes
should indeed be spectacular.

According to Mr. K. Kenny who has been very helpful in keeping me up
to date (he gets all the good weather!), Mir is 7 seconds early
compared to the element set upon which this prediction was based.

If you would like to receive predictions like this, calculated for
your own location, send me email.  For smooth operation, it would help
if you could find your exact coordinates and time zone.

-Rich


   Prediction for:  San Francisco CA
   Lat:  37.800000  Lonw:  122.400000  Ht:    0.   Zone:   8.00000  DST:  1.0
   Satellite: Mir                     16609   Age:   10.3 days   Unc:    46 sec
   Local Date: 1988  6 14

     TIME      MAG  ILL   AZ  EL   R.A.   DEC   RANGE  VANG
   --------  -----  ---  ---  --  -----  -----  -----  ----
   21:46:30    3.0   18  344  29  06:21   74.4    669  0.48
   21:46:50    2.3   26  355  35  06:03   85.5    584  0.63
   21:47:00    2.0   31    2  37  19:28   87.7    550  0.70
   21:47:10    1.7   37   11  40  18:47   80.4    524  0.77
   21:47:20    1.4   44   22  42  18:42   72.4    507  0.82
   21:47:30    1.2   51   33  43  18:40   64.0    500  0.85
   21:47:40    1.1   58   45  42  18:40   55.5    504  0.84
   21:47:50    1.1   65   56  41  18:40   47.4    517  0.79
   21:48:00    1.0   71   65  39  18:41   39.7    539  0.73
   21:48:10    1.1   76   73  36  18:41   32.8    570  0.66
   21:48:20    1.2   80   80  33  18:42   26.6    608  0.58
   21:48:30    1.3   83   85  30  18:43   21.1    651  0.51
   21:48:40    1.4   86   90  27  18:44   16.4    700  0.45




   Prediction for:  San Francisco CA
   Lat:  37.800000  Lonw:  122.400000  Ht:    0.   Zone:   8.00000  DST:  1.0
   Satellite: Mir                     16609   Age:   11.3 days   Unc:    56 sec
   Local Date: 1988  6 15

     TIME      MAG  ILL   AZ  EL   R.A.   DEC   RANGE  VANG
   --------  -----  ---  ---  --  -----  -----  -----  ----
   22:12:20    3.1   21  280  25  09:42   23.4    743  0.40
   22:12:40    2.5   27  272  30  10:19   20.0    644  0.52
   22:12:50    2.2   32  266  33  10:40   17.6    602  0.60
   22:13:00    1.9   37  260  36  11:04   14.7    565  0.67
   22:13:10    1.6   43  251  39  11:29   11.3    536  0.75
   22:13:20    1.3   50  242  41  11:56    7.3    515  0.81
   22:13:30    1.1   57  231  42  12:24    2.9    504  0.84
   22:13:40    1.0   64  219  43  12:53   -1.8    503  0.84
   22:13:50    0.9   71  208  42  13:21   -6.3    512  0.82
   22:14:00    0.9   77  198  40  13:47  -10.6    531  0.76
   22:14:10    1.0   82  189  37  14:12  -14.5    559  0.69
   22:14:20    1.1   86  182  34  14:36  -17.9    594  0.61




   Prediction for:  San Francisco CA
   Lat:  37.800000  Lonw:  122.400000  Ht:    0.   Zone:   8.00000  DST:  1.0
   Satellite: Mir                     16609   Age:   13.3 days   Unc:    77 sec
   Local Date: 1988  6 17

     TIME      MAG  ILL   AZ  EL   R.A.   DEC   RANGE  VANG
   --------  -----  ---  ---  --  -----  -----  -----  ----
   21:29:20    3.1   18  271  26  09:30   16.8    723  0.46
   21:29:40    2.5   26  260  30  10:08   11.9    641  0.58
   21:29:50    2.2   31  254  33  10:29    8.7    609  0.64
   21:30:00    1.9   36  246  35  10:52    5.2    584  0.70
   21:30:10    1.7   42  237  36  11:17    1.3    567  0.74
   21:30:20    1.5   49  228  37  11:42   -2.9    559  0.76
   21:30:30    1.4   55  218  37  12:07   -7.1    560  0.76
   21:30:40    1.3   62  209  36  12:32  -11.2    571  0.73
   21:30:50    1.3   67  201  34  12:57  -15.1    590  0.69
   21:31:00    1.3   72  193  32  13:20  -18.6    617  0.63
   21:31:10    1.4   77  187  30  13:42  -21.6    651  0.57
   21:31:20    1.4   80  181  28  14:02  -24.2    690  0.51
   21:31:30    1.5   83  177  25  14:21  -26.5    735  0.45


Enjoy!

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

Date: 13 Jun 88 19:01:07 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Paul F. Dietz)
Subject: Re: Cometesimals

In article <[e-mail]> dietz@loki (Paul F. Dietz) writes:

> Frank et. al. estimate a density of about 3e-12 cometesimals per
> cubic kilometer.  Travelling at 20 km/sec, the flux of comets
> near the earth would be something like 6e-11 per square kilometer
> per second.  A ten square kilometer powersat would be hit once
> every fifty years, on average.

Correction:  3e-11 per km^3, and 10 km/sec, not 20.  So the powersat
is hit once every ten years, on average, if the cometesimals exist.

    Paul F. Dietz
    [e-mail]

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

End of SPACE Digest V8 #272
*******************