Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/pc/text/spacedig/v09_4/v9_448.txt

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Date: Sat, 20 May 89 05:17:29 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: SPACE Digest V9 #448

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 9 : Issue 448

Today's Topics:
             Re: heavy launchers
             Need help obtaining document
              Star Dying out...
           Re: citizens in space -- risk silliness
            Re: Phobos replacement
        Re: Kelso's NASA prediction Bulletins
         Re: Sun's invisible partner NEMESIS
                  Re: Giotto
                RE: T.S. Kelso
            ultimate ASAT weapon??
              private spaceplane
           Magellan Status for 05/18/89 (Forwarded)
               PHONE TREE ALERT
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 17 May 89 17:21:14 GMT
From: mailrus!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: heavy launchers

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John McKernan) writes:
>2. While congress refused to fund a true Saturn production line, it was
>   certainly possible for congress to restart Saturn production when post
>   Apollo launchers were being considered.

In theory.  In practice, the costs of the restart rise steadily with the
length of the shutdown... especially when the shutdown decision was not
"stop production for now" but "there will be no further production".
--
Subversion, n:  a superset     |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
of a subset.    --J.J. Horning | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 18 May 89 00:07:47 GMT
From: agate!shelby!Portia!jessica.stanford.edu![e-mail]  (Paul Flaherty)
Subject: Need help obtaining document

Help!  I'm trying to find information on the following reference:

"Contract End Item, Detailed Specifications (Prime Equipment), Part I,
Performance and Design Requirements for CEI 091T0914 Launch Processing
System Checkout, Control, and Monitor Subsystem Common Data Buffer
Assembly, Specification Number CP091T0914, NASA, John F. Kennedy Space
Center, 7-14-75"

This little beast was (is?) used as part of the Launch Processing System.
The contracter was Martin - Marietta.

If you have any information about this item, please send me mail; I need it
for my dissertation!


-=Paul Flaherty, N9FZX      | "UNIX could use a more user - friendly front
->[e-mail] | end.  Anyone still have a card reader?"

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

Date: 17 May 89 22:39:27 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Paul R Grepps)
Subject: Star Dying out...

My girlfriend and I were driving home one night and we were looking at this
star that looked really bright.  It was around the middle of winter this year.
It was low in the sky, but I really don't remember what time it was or what
direction it was in.  So I quess that really doesn't identify the star.  There
were definitely no clouds in the sky.  It had been clear all day and was even
clear skies the next day.  So I'm sure that this did not have an effect on it
looking like it BURNT OUT.  We were just saying how nice the star looks every
night and just as we said that it got really bright and then IT WAS NO MORE.
Does anybody know anything about this?  Or was it maybe just something else?
I don't know what really happened and it freaked me out!  I used to watch that
star every night on the way to swim practice because the first time I saw
I always used to watch it to see if it moved because I thought it was a UFO.
I know it sounds crazy but, I really would like to know what I might have seen.

Thanks,
Paul

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

Date: 18 May 89 04:44:42 GMT
From: jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: citizens in space -- risk silliness

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Bob Myers) writes:
>... If the costs were trivial,
>United Airlines would be offering LEO as a tourist attraction, and you'd just
>be faced with a stack of liability waivers to sign before you got aboard.

It's not that simple any more, in the US in particular.  Getting sworn
statements from your passengers that they understand the risks and are
taking them voluntarily will *not* protect you from the lawyers if
something -- anything -- goes wrong.  It may provide useful ammunition
for the enormously-expensive court battle, but it won't avert it.
--
Subversion, n:  a superset     |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
of a subset.    --J.J. Horning | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 18 May 89 04:42:15 GMT
From: jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Phobos replacement

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John Roberts) writes:
>claiming that a Soviet spokesman had stated that the USSR has given up on
>Phobos for the forseeable future and its next attempt in that part of the
>system is to be a Mars probe in the early 1990's. (The US is planning one
>around then too - will they use the same launch window?) ...

Launch windows for Mars occur about every two years, and are the same for
the US and the USSR :-).  Last I heard, Mars Observer was slated for 1992.
The Soviets could put Phobos 3 into the 1990 window if they tried hard,
but the AW&ST report suggested that if they try, they'll try in 1992 to
give them time to think and revise equipment.  The Soviets have some more
ambitious plans for either 1994 or 1996, I forget which.
--
Subversion, n:  a superset     |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
of a subset.    --J.J. Horning | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry [e-mail]

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

Date: 16 May 89 13:52:03 GMT
From: jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!attcan!ncrcan!brambo![e-mail]  (Warren W. Gay)
Subject: Re: Kelso's NASA prediction Bulletins

In article <4YOMW=[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ted Anderson) writes:
>I've gotten a couple of complaints about the long postings containing
>satellite orbital elements.  While I understand that these are very
>useful for folks that observe satellites I wonder how many people really
>use this information....
>    Ted Anderson

I for one want to put in my vote of *appreciation* for Kelso's NASA prediction
bulletins.  I don't see the once a week posting as a problem for those who
don't care either.  For those of us who enjoy satellite communications or just
tracking them, it sure is nice to have the up to date orbital elements!

Thank you T Kelso, keep up the good work.

73s de +             LSI represents Large Scale Investment,
VE3WWG |     transistors are "discrete", but tubes are just plain fun.
+------+    Bramalea Software Systems Inc...!utgpu!telly \ !brambo!wwg
               !{uunet!mnetor, watmath!utai}!lsuc!ncrcan /
                   telly!brambo![e-mail] : Internet

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

Date: 18 May 89 14:51:14 GMT
From: bsu-cs![e-mail]  (David Speakman)
Subject: Re: Sun's invisible partner NEMESIS



I recall hearing that some circumstantial proof (sic) was that there is some
 unexplained disturbances in the orbits of the outer planets.  This was
it was thought that this could indicate a tenth planet or Nemisis or
something totally different.

Davodd

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

Date: 17 May 89 12:24:46 GMT
From: mcvax!ukc!etive![e-mail]  (Bob Gray)
Subject: Re: Giotto

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John H. Kim) writes:
>I heard some (*gag*) press reports that they were going to recover
>Giotto and check out some neat Halley's Comet samples that it got
>sandblasted with.  Is this true (eventually?)

No.

ESA currently doesn't have any way of retreiving a satellite.

Giotto isn't carrying enough fuel to slow down as it passes the Earth
(You can't just put on the brakes you know :->).

Giotto relied on the comet dust being ionised by the impact with the
first layer of the shield so that the expanding cloud of gas gets
stopped by the second layer.

And even if samples did survive the impact, there isn' any way for them
to be kept cold to preserve the more volatile (and interesting)
material.


The news yesterday was that Giotto is thought to be about sixty percent
operational, and that it still has sufficient fuel reserves to carry out
the mission to Grigg-Skellerup.

It is not expected to survive this encounter.
    Bob.

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

Date: 18 May 89 17:00:21 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx![e-mail]  (Frank Abernathy)
Subject: RE: T.S. Kelso


In article <4YOMW=[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ted Anderson) writes:
>I've gotten a couple of complaints about the long postings containing
>satellite orbital elements.  While I understand that these are very
>useful for folks that observe satellites I wonder how many people really
>use this information....
>    Ted Anderson

>>I for one want to put in my vote of *appreciation* for Kelso's NASA prediction
>>bulletins.  I don't see the once a week posting as a problem for those who
>>don't care either.  For those of us who enjoy satellite communications or just
>>tracking them, it sure is nice to have the up to date orbital elements!
>>
>>Thank you T Kelso, keep up the good work.

>>73s de + VE3WWG (rest of Warren Gay's signature, brambo!wwg, deleted.)

I ALSO WISH TO THANK MR. T.S. KELSO FOR HIS PREDICTION BULLETINS!!!!!

They are very useful to the members of this group that use them, and this
is an effective way to get current info to a large group of people.

For the folks on these newsgroups that don't wish to read them, use 'l' first
to see if there is anything you want to see, and use 'K' if not.  Individual
postings can be 'not read' by using 'n'.

Thank you for your patience in allowing those that do USE THE INFO provided
by Mr. Kelso to continue receiving it through this media.

Frank Abernathy
P.O. Box 4394
Austin, Texas 78765-4394

(512)-244-0625

By the way Warren, I can't seem to get E-mail to you anymore*, give me your
home address and I'll send you what I have if you still need it.

*it is My fault, not the networks.  :^)

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

Date: Thu, 18 May 89 18:57:11 CDT
From: [e-mail] (Who remembers 8USER.PAR?)
Subject: ultimate ASAT weapon??

While going through old papers, etc, I found a rather faded newspaper clipping
which I thought this group would "enjoy".  I don't have a date on it, but
assume that it is 1979-1981, as I was working on some "related" stuff and
would have clipped it.

The proposal involved some un-named (at least here) bad guys sending a lunar
probe to collect samples.  At some future date, it could return home and
enter a counter-orbit.  From somewhere above Clarke orbit, it would start
dumping it's payload of gravel and sand, and rapidly descend, scattering
some (in this article) 2 tons of goodies for everything in orbit to hit.
At high delta v!

There are some large holes in the article (written for mass consumption),
but the premise seems sound and sounds scary.  Of course, we know who the
un-named baddies were supposed to be, but what other holes are there in
this.  Some assumptions I have made:
    polar orbits will "get it" sooner or later, but should have a longer
    life span
    whomever does this has decided to live without satellites

Dillon Pyron                         | The opinions are mine, the facts
TI/DSEG Lewisville Computer Services | probably belong to the company.
[e-mail]              |
[phone]                        | We try, we learn, sometimes we die.
                                     | We sit on our butts, learn nothing,
                                     | and we still die.

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

Date: 18 May 89 16:57:08 GMT
From: asuvax!enuxha![e-mail]  (Norman C. Kluksdahl)
Subject: private spaceplane

First, I will make the necessary apologies for cluttering this group with
what others may consider to be irrelevant junk.

That done, I'll get right to the heart of the matter.  Several months ago,
a flurry of postings circulated about a private spaceplane effort.  I undertook
the task of organizing a mailing list, and am trying to provide at least
some direction to an effort to see if a private spaceplane is viable.
First, the group will design a small-scale (i.e. homebuilt, garage scale)
       spaceplane.
Second, (and potentially more fun) the group will work on financing and
       building this spaceplane.  (This is far in the future!)

One consequence is that we will become educated on the design tradeoffs,
etc. as we try our collective hand at spacecraft design.  Perhaps actual
construction is beyond the group--at this stage, none of us knows.  Even
so, the educational experience should be interesting.

If you are interested in joining the effort, or merely in following the
progress, all you need do is reply, and your name will be added to the
list.  Please indicate with a brief letter what your background is, and
how you would like to participate.


**********************************************************************
Norman Kluksdahl              Arizona State University
            ..ncar!noao!asuvax!enuxha!kluksdah
             [e-mail]

alternate:   [e-mail]

standard disclaimer implied

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

Date: 18 May 89 20:47:42 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Magellan Status for 05/18/89 (Forwarded)


                       MAGELLAN STATUS
                        May 18, 1989


     Twice daily momentum wheel desaturations were performed
as expected Wednesday at 00:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. PDT. The
daily star calibration was at 1 p.m. PDT and was performed
without difficulty. Both stars were detected and a full
attitude update was obtained. The problem experienced Tuesday
did not recur, but investigation continues into why the
spacecraft lost the star.

     Analysis of stored Launch Phase telemetry played back
last Friday and Saturday indicates the spacecraft's solar
panels were latched after the start of the first IUS burn. It
would appear that the burn acceleration did contribute to the
final latch of the panels, the project said today.

     The Cruise-2 computer command sequence which contains
Sunday's Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM-1) is being
tested at the System Verifications Lab (SVL). But the command
data system breadboard was giving some difficulty which could
delay completion of the test prior to the Cruise-2 upload
Saturday. Project said the problem is receiving a lot of
attention.




     SPACECRAFT
     Distance  From Earth (mi)              2,082,381.58

     Velocity  Geocentric                   5,936.59 mph
               Heliocentric                 59,952.74 mph

     Round Trip Light Time                  11.1 sec

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

Date: 17 May 89 20:51:00 GMT
From: arisia!cdp![e-mail]
Subject: PHONE TREE ALERT






Phone Tree Alert

Date:          5/15/89

Subject:       Support for full funding for the Space Station.

Target:        Rep. Jamie L. Whitten, Chairman
               House Committee on Approrpriations

Address:       Hon. Jamie L. Whitten
               U.S. House of Representitives
               Washington, DC 20515-2401
               202-225-4306

Message:       Call or write Chairman Whitten expressing your
               support for full funding for the international
               space station project.

               The Senate goes out on Memeorial Day recess on 19
               May and the Hous goes out on 25 May.  Therefore,
               activists have until the 25th to target the
               chairman of this important committee.

               Activists should also try to make appointmnets
               with their congressional representatives durring
               this recess.  The next several weeks will be
               crucial to showing the political leadership that
               Americans want a space program which they can be
               proud of!

Add'l Brief:   In your letter or call, try to relate the space
               station to your representative's agenda.  Link
               station to jobs, international cooperation and
               economic competitiveness, the environment,
               education and anything else which may be important
               to the elected official.

               For tips on how to be especially effective, the
               Space Activists Handbook, available from SPACEPAC
               has some helpful hints.  Write or call David
               Brandt at NSS HQ.  Or inquire on this net to
               Jordan katz.

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

End of SPACE Digest V9 #448
*******************