Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/pc/text/spacedig/v11_0/v11_026.txt

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Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #26

SPACE Digest                                      Volume 11 : Issue 26

Today's Topics:
           Units in science (was: Magellan updates)
             Recreation in Space
               Re: Space Station Costs
         Re: Furlongs per fortnight in space
             Re: SR-71 BLACKBIRD
        Re: More Info On SSX (What Is HR2674?)
           Payload Status for 02/09/90 (Forwarded)
              The metric system
          Re: Galileo Update - 02/06/90 (Forwarded)
         Re: furlongs per fortnight in space
             Re: More Info On SSX
               Re: SPACE Digest V11 #18
             Re: More Info On SSX
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 8 Feb 90 19:37:13 GMT
From: psivax![e-mail]  (Torkil Hammer)
Subject: Units in science (was: Magellan updates)

The main problem of using English/American units in science is that they
are ambiguous.  Conversion factors are not the issue.

A 'mile' can be US statute, international, or nautical.
The statute and international mile differ by 2 ppm, and the nautical is 15%
larger.  Either way, there is potential for megabuck screwups when you send
a space probe out.

The 'ounce' can be US fluid, British fluid, US avoirdupois, or Troy.
Not a unit you want to use for serious work, but great for dispensing
booze (one shot +/- 10% is close enough).

In addition, the definitions of these units remain fuzzy, while the
metric definitions are updated as measuring methods improve.

Torkil Hammer

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

Date: 8 Feb 90 21:56:58 GMT
From: maytag!watserv1![e-mail]  (WATMOST Groups 9)
Subject: Recreation in Space

Greetings sci.space Readers!

I am working on an undergraduate research project studying the need for
recreational activities during prolonged periods in space (e.g. on a space
station or Mars mission).  I am in need of a few pieces of information.

First, what are current NASA policies regarding recreation for astronauts?
How many hours per day are allocated?  On a 2-3 year voyage, is the crew
expected to be working 12 hours a day?  Are there any planned schedules for
the Space Station crews, and do they included time for relaxation? How long
a period of time is available (i.e. continuous minutes)?

Second, do astronauts work in shifts on the shuttle, and will they do so
on the Space Station?  What fraction of the crew would be available to take
part in a group activity?

Finally, do what would YOU like to do if you were a crewman on the Space
Station?  Could zero gravity itself be entertaining enough, or would you
desire some form of activity?  Can you suggest an object, such as a
gyroscope, that would be interesting to use in zero-g, and should be provided?

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Jeff Robertson
2A Systems Design Engineering
University of Waterloo, Canada

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 21:33:39 GMT
From: thorin!pooh![e-mail]  (Jonathan Leech)
Subject: Re: Space Station Costs

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
>before using existing technology.  The bulk of the money is simply
>being wasted on things that are utterly irrelevant to putting a space
>station into orbit.  As witness Lawrence Livermore's belief that they
>could do a space station *and* a lunar base *and* a Mars base for the
>same amount of money, basically by using existing technology and putting
>the effort into getting the job done.

    They may be right, but I don't believe that just because somebody
at LLNL says it, it's true.  What's their background that their
estimates are more believable than NASA's? Simply saying "because
they're not NASA" doesn't cut it :-) Especially since some of the LLNL
proponents have a serious credibility gap from their SDI involvement.

    NASA claimed the shuttle was going to be cheap, too.
--
    Jon Leech ([e-mail])    __@/
UNDERWHELMING OFFER OF THE MONTH:
    "Please feel free to skip the payment on this month's statement.
     Normal finance charges will apply." - NCNB VISA

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 07:00:03 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!murtoa.cs.mu.oz.au!ditmela!yarra![e-mail]  (John Webb)
Subject: Re: Furlongs per fortnight in space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Shay Walters) writes:
>
> It's tragigally humorous to see "net wt. approx 10 oz. (283 grams)" or
> "Useable 0 - 400 F   (-17.77 - 204 C)".  It illustrates that even the
> people responsible for indicating these measures don't understand what
> they're doing.
>
>     (Sorry for getting off-topic).
>
Yes .. In Australia during metric conversion time people in Western
Australia were sent registration labels for their cars and advised
to stick them "approximately 153 mm from the bottom of the windscreen".

(Hope you like this one)     (Sorry for getting off-topic).

John

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

Date: 7 Feb 90 09:04:03 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!usc!samsung!munnari.oz.au!uniwa!vax6![e-mail]
Subject: Re: SR-71 BLACKBIRD


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (David Smith) writes:
> In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (George William Herbert) writes:
>>Rumor went around a while ago that after we dissasembled one Viktor Belenko's
>>Foxbat, and took things like exact parts specifications down [the origional had
>>to be returned] the USAF had a couple built.  and was not impressed...
>
> Hmmm, maybe we should hire the USAF to build copies of the F-1.
> --
>
>             David R. Smith, HP Labs
>             [e-mail]
>             [phone]

Pardon my ignorance, but what's an F1 ?????


                         Pete "Mr ignorant" Batt

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

Date: 8 Feb 90 05:27:59 GMT
From: cs.umn.edu!nis!wd0gol!newave![e-mail]  (John A. Weeks III)
Subject: Re: More Info On SSX (What Is HR2674?)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Allen W. Sherzer) writes:
>
>Not if HR2674 passes.
>

I have seen HR2674 mentioned, but I don't know what it is.  Could
someone please give me a 1 or 2 sentence summary?  Thanks.

-john-

--
===============================================================================
John A. Weeks III   [phone]   ...uunet!rosevax!bungia!wd0gol!newave!john
===============================================================================
<***  ***  Disclaimer: Its my machine, so I can say whatever I want.  ***  ***>

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 21:29:55 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Payload Status for 02/09/90 (Forwarded)

Daily Status/KSC Payload Management and Operations 02-09-90



- STS-36 (at SPIF) -

Mmse operations continue.


- STS-31R HST (at VPF) -

At the VPF, HST confidence test continues today.  End-to-end
6 will be performed second shift today.


- STS-32R SYNCOM/LDEF (at SAEF-2)

LDEF deintegration continues.


- STS-35 ASTRO-1/BBXRT (at O&C) -

Paper closure continues today.


- STS-40 SLS-1 (at O&C) -

Panel L14 was installed and rack 9 mated to the floor yesterday.
Rack 3 will be mated and rack 5 demated from the floor today.
ECS operations and rack shim thickness troubleshooting were
worked yesterday and will continue today.


- STS-42 IML (at O&C) -

Racks 5 and 8 structural mods will continue today.


- STS-45 Atlas-1 (at o&C) -

No activity.

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

Date:     Thu, 8 Feb 90 11:08:18 MST
From: [e-mail]
Subject:  The metric system

John Roberts:
   If metric was truly wanted by the American people, the government would
probably have no problems implementing it.  They could, of course, do as
our Canadian government do to us - make it illegal to use anything other
than metric.  This resulted in massive public discontent (especially
considering that we didn't get to vote on it), but did work.  There are a
few 'old-timers' who are much too reluctant to change their ways, but metric
is now gaining popular acceptance (finally...)
   Of course, we are still somewhere between systems.  For mass, the kilogram
seems to be gaining more and more acceptance, as is the meter for length.
It seems as if there are two notable exceptions to this..  Most of us know
our weight and height in pounds and feet rather than their metric equivalents
- perhaps this is simply because we were brought up watching our progress on
he older system..  Young children don't seem to have the same problems
though.  Another exception is that although urban communities seem to accept
the kilometer as a unit of distance for driving, rural communities still stick
with the mile.  This is because (in Western Canada - Prairie Provinces) the
rural roads have been laid out 2 miles apart north-south, and 1 mile apart
east-west.  It is very easy to determine distances in miles simply by
counting crossroads.
  We do use Celcius almost exclusively for temperature.  Most people have no
feel for Fahreinheit whatsoever (other than those few older 'die-hards').
Additionally, the litre is quite accepted for units of volume (perhaps because
milk is sold in those quantities...)
  It seems as if people will accept a system provided they are given everyday
examples on what the units actually represent.  Admittedly we are still in a
state of flux between systems, and I doubt that it will end before the
current generation has passed on.  However, children growing up nowadays are
confronted with metric right from the beginning, and really seem to have no
problems adapting to it - Within 20 or 30 years, I anticipate an almost
total changeover.  It does take awhile to implement, but it will eventually
work.
    Please note that these are just my personal observations on the issue.
Definitely, other Canadians will have very opposing views - particularly
those in Eastern Canada.  You just asked for the opinion of a Canadian...
              Dan

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 17:13:41 GMT
From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Re: Galileo Update - 02/06/90 (Forwarded)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
>In article <764@crabcake> [e-mail] (Kenneth Arromdee) writes:
>>Out of curiosity (and which I asked before): Is Galileo, when it reaches Earth,
>>going to take any pictures?  (Maybe they can discover life :-))
>
>Plans are not yet fixed but yes, they are going to be using Galileo's
>instruments during Earth encounter, especially (I think) the second
>Earth encounter.
>--
One of the things Galileo will do is it will take several pictures of the
Earth and moon, and these will then be put together to form a movie of
moon orbiting around the Earth.
 Ron Baalke                       |    [e-mail]
 Jet Propulsion Lab  M/S 301-355  |    [e-mail]
 4800 Oak Grove Dr.               |
 Pasadena, CA 91109               |

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 13:06:50 GMT
From: mcsun!ukc!edcastle![e-mail]  (Ian Turton)
Subject: Re: furlongs per fortnight in space

In article <08.Feb.90.14:05:[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
#
#
#> figures were taken down instead. In that climate of public opinion, do
#> any of you Europeans/Canadians/etc. have any ideas on how to get the
#> American public to switch over? (I don't think summary executions would
#> be acceptable. :-)
#
#In the UK things are, as described before, still mixed.  However if
#you go into a primary school (ie for those < 11 years old) everything
  Infact anyone who went to school after 1971 will have learnt SI.
#is in SI; with the addition of litres etc.
#
#As the old generation dies off, the children will become more
#influential and more general use of SI will occur.  You will never
  I doubt this as I learnt SI at school, But I now only use these units for
  real science (tm). If I go down to the shops to buy some cheese then if I
  ask for half a kilo the girl (or guy :-) will look at me blankly and go off
  to serve some one else. So I'm forced to think in imperial units most of the
  time.
#complete the change - there are parts of France that still use measures
#very close to the pound and foot despite the Revolution.
  If you ever visit a french bar you will want to order a demi of beer, when
  I questioned my friends on a half what? they had to admit that this was really
  a half pint, (about 25cl)
#
#Until quite recently certain food stuffs and liquids could legally only
#be sold in Imperial measures (Sugar in lbs, milk in pints etc) but this
#has now changed.
   But there is nothing to prevent them selling 450mL of liquid in the old pint
   bottles.
--
Ian Turton                                Dept of Geophysics and geology
I Turton @uk.ac.edinburgh                      JCMB, Kings Buildings
[e-mail]                   Mayfield Rd, Edinburgh
     ***If you don't like my views sue my boss, he'll love it.***

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 01:12:25 GMT
From: sundc!newstop!jethro!norge.Sun.COM![e-mail]  (John McKernan)
Subject: Re: More Info On SSX

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Larry Smith) writes:
>The first SSX will probably use RL-10 rocket engines, which
>have been around a long time and are very reliable (they are
>used on the Centaur upper stage).

I remember the previous posting on the SSX said that it was to use an
"aerospike" design for its rocket motor. I believe the Centaur engine
does not use such a design. Does that mean that the "aerospike" design
has been abandoned for the first version of the SSX, or that the
Centaur is going to be modified to use the "aerospike" nozzel design?

John L. McKernan.                                                  [e-mail]
Disclaimer: These are my opinions but, shockingly enough, not necessarily Sun's
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"There is no such thing as Cyberpunk, but there are a lot of imitations."
               - William Gibson

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 17:32:39 GMT
From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Re: SPACE Digest V11 #18

>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>
>   No, this can't be done. There is no trajectory for a point mass which
>approaches another point mass from infinity and becomes a closed orbit. The
>mechanics become much more complicated with the sun and Jupiter's
>satellites in the picture, but my understanding of classical gravitation
>suggests that Galileo will have to slow down off a moon of Jupiter, thereby
>putting it into orbit around Jupiter. If Jupiter had no satellites, I don't
>believe an orbital insertion would be possible without expenditure of
>thrust (braking rockets, not maneovering rockets).
>

As Galileo approaches Jupiter, it will pass within 1000 km of Io. This was
designed to provide a gravity assist (or rather gravity de-assist) such
that Galileo's energy is reduced relative to Jupiter, thus lowering orbit
insertion propellant requirements. A Jupiter orbit insertion burn when
then occur, putting Galileo in an orbit about Jupiter with a period of
230 days.

 Ron Baalke                       |    [e-mail]
 Jet Propulsion Lab  M/S 301-355  |    [e-mail]
 4800 Oak Grove Dr.               |
 Pasadena, CA 91109               |

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

Date: 9 Feb 90 16:50:23 GMT
From: hplabsb![e-mail]  (David Smith)
Subject: Re: More Info On SSX

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paul Dietz) writes:
>Hydrogen would be more expensive, per pound.  However, Hunter's
>comment about hydrocarbons suggests to me that they might instead want
>to use liquified methane.  It is considerably more dense and less
>expensive than liquid hydrogen, yet should have better performance
>than RP-1.

May I presume you are taking tankage into account here as well?
After Hunter's comments, I was wondering about high density hydrocarbons,
as used on long range cruise missiles.  Do you have any comment on that?
--

            David R. Smith, HP Labs
            [e-mail]
            [phone]

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

End of SPACE Digest V11 #26
*******************