Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/pc/text/spacedig/v11_5/v11_572.txt

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Date: Wed, 27 Jun 1990 01:52:39 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #572

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 11 : Issue 572

Today's Topics:
             ATTENTION URGENT MAYDAY!!!!
           Re: NSS protests Chinese launch pricing
              NASA technical memo 80339
        Re: More on NASA 91 Appropriation Vote
          Re: Prize for Rocket to the Moon.
           Shuttle Status for 06/25/90 (Forwarded)
                Sagan on Mars
      Re: Handicaped in Space (was: NASA Headline News)
               Rogers Commission Report
           Re: Anyone Know What MOL Is/Was?

Administrivia:

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

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

Date: 25 Jun 90 18:34:51 GMT
From: mcsun!ukc!icdoc!mvax.cc.ic.ac.uk!sund![e-mail]  (M.S.Bennett Supvs= Prof Pendry)
Subject: ATTENTION URGENT MAYDAY!!!!

ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

Would ANYONE at York University (Ontario,Canada) please forward this


TO:JULIA HUNTER (British Citizen)

    Who is currently attending the International Space University.

I Thank you,your country thanks you, etc., etc.

/------    -------    -----\       /------   |  ======================  |
|          |          |      \    |          |  M. Sean Bennett         |
\-----\    |----      |       |    \-----\   |  UKSEDS TECH.OFF.        |
       |   |          |      /            |  |  Janet:[e-mail]  |
------/    -------    -----/       ------/   |  Bitnet-                 |
                                             |  SEDS%CC.IC.AC.UK@ukacrl |
                                             |  ======================  |

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

Date: 26 Jun 90 05:58:43 GMT
From: munnari.oz.au!bull![e-mail]  (Peter Woon)
Subject: Re: NSS protests Chinese launch pricing


 (David Anderman) says:
 >
 >Hmmmm....NSS is protesting that the Chinese launch payloads too cheaply.
 >Since the key factor in space development is the (present) high cost of
 >getting into low Earth orbit, it isn't too surprising that NSS
 >headquarters is worried that the Chinese are charging too little to get
 >to LEO.

The whole issue of NSS complaining about chinese launch prices struck me
as somehow all too familier, but I couldn't think why.....until it
suddenly became clear.
            Wheat !
Australian Wheat, American Wheat and ECC Wheat bound for China & Russia....
some of them with artificially goverment subsidised prices...and some not.

The US simply has no RIGHT to complain, whether the Chinese rocket prices
bear any resemblance to reality or not.
The Chinese launch cheap oak like the US staunch wheat folk.



--
===============================================================================
|              P.E.T.E.R.  W.O.O.N.  H.A.S.  S.P.O.K.E.N.                     |
===============================================================================

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

Date: 26 Jun 90 21:17:57 GMT
From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!bionet!hayes.fai.alaska.edu!acad3.fai.alaska.edu![e-mail]  (THOMAS DAVID J)
Subject: NASA technical memo 80339




My previous posting (Message-ID: <[e-mail]>)
got screwed up somehow when it hit the system.  It was supposed to read:
I am trying to find NASA technical memo #80339.  It was published in 1979 and
concerns the observation of greenish patches on Martian rocks photographed by
one of the Viking landers.  Does anyone know where I can obtain a copy?

Dave Thomas

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

Date: 25 Jun 90 06:01:03 GMT
From: agate!agate![e-mail]  (William Baxter)
Subject: Re: More on NASA 91 Appropriation Vote


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Allen W. Sherzer) writes:

>I recently posted the results of the House Appropriation Subcommittee
>vote which zeroed out almost all the money for SEI.

>2. Why did it happen?
>In a nutshell, because Bob Traxler (D-MI) and Richard Malow (chief staffer
>on the appropriation subcommittee that funds NASA) didn't want it to happen.

>3. What can we do now?

We can all write to Bob Traxler and thank him for not allowing NASA to
begin another large, ill-defined project when current programs like
Space Station, ALS and NASP are already out of control.  He has taken an
important step toward reform of NASA.

The Honorable Bob Traxler
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

--
William Baxter

ARPA: web@{garnet,brahms,math}.Berkeley.EDU
UUCP: {sun,dual,decwrl,decvax,hplabs,...}!ucbvax!garnet!web

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

Date: 25 Jun 90 02:22:07 GMT
From: super![e-mail]  (Ronald G Minnich)
Subject: Re: Prize for Rocket to the Moon.

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>Any potential helpers on this?  Send me mail.
well, some thoughts:
1) Do you have to be incorporated for this?
2) Would NSS be interested in helping with organization and publicity
   or is that too involved?
3) Could you build a system like the TOW missile i.e. control at the
   launch site but use radio control instead of wires?
   Or does the decision making need to be in the rocket? "I are a ee"
   so know zip about rockets except models i build.
4) the ballon launch sounds good. what about other ways of getting a
   boost from fuel you are not carrying i.e. some type of catapault?
   A good steam or air catapault might be worth that N engine?
5) Can anybody drop a complete list of vendors and clubs and magazines
   in the G and up rocket field on this list? Sounds like there are
   people out there flying some nice big rockets, and I have never
   gone beyond D!
6) is the satellite positioning system any potential help for
   guidance or is the equipment you need too much mass?

This is the kind of crazy-ass sort of thing that americans used to
do before they discovered TV. It is why life in the US used
to be more interesting. Count me in on the pledges and help in the fall.
Also I am willing to try to go for the prize. I am thinking it would
be a good thing to get local kids interested in.
ron
--
1987: We set standards, not Them. Your standard windowing system is NeUWS.
1989: We set standards, not Them. You can have X, but the UI is OpenLock.
1990: Why are you buying all those workstations from Them running Motif?

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

Date: 25 Jun 90 17:22:06 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Shuttle Status for 06/25/90 (Forwarded)


                KSC SHUTTLE STATUS - MONDAY JUNE 25, 1990  11:30 a.m.


                    STS-38 - ATLANTIS (OV 104) - LAUNCH PAD 39-A

               Saturday,  workers successfully conducted a helium signature
          leak  test  of the main propulsion system and three main engines.
          The test did not identify any leaks in the system.

               Hypergolic operations were held up about one shift yesterday
          because a transformer shorted out which brought down  the  system
          that supplies cooled air to the Launch Control Center. The cooled
          air  keeps  the  computers  at  the proper temperature for normal
          operations.  Atlantis was powered down while  technicians  recon-
          figured the system supplying cooled air to the LCC.

               Nitrogen  tetroxide  is  being loaded into the orbiter's on-
          board storage tanks  today.  Loading  of  monomethylhydrazine  is
          scheduled to start tomorrow morning. This operation also includes
          loading hydrazine into the orbiter's auxiliary power units and in
          the boosters' hydraulic power units.

               The  special  tanking  test  remains  scheduled for Thursday
          morning.  The Rotating Service Structure will be moved away  from
          the vehicle at midnight Wednesday. Liquid hydrogen will be loaded
          into  the external tank while engineers monitor sensors to deter-
          mine if there are any leaks.

               The official launch date for STS-38 will be set at the  con-
          clusion of the Flight Readiness Review on Friday.


                       STS-35 - COLUMBIA (OV 102) - OPF BAY 2

               Servicing  of the Broad Band X-Ray Telescope with liquid ar-
          gon was completed yesterday. The servicing was planned for today,
          however, pressure readings taken yesterday indicated lower levels
          than expected.   Argon provides up to 16 days of cooling for  the
          instrument. While in the OPF, some of Columbia's systems will re-
          quire  routine servicing.  A functional test of the reaction con-
          trol system regulators is planned this week.

               Over the weekend,  technicians at the Rockwell  facility  in
          California  performed  tests on Columbia's external tank side 17-
          inch disconnect.  Both the 17-inch  and  4-inch  liquid  hydrogen
          lines were tested.  No leak resembling the type seen during tank-
          ing operations on Pad A was detected.

               Space Shuttle Director Robert Crippen has given approval for
          the removal and replacement of the orbiter side  17-inch  discon-
          nect on Columbia.  The orbiter side disconnect currently on Space
          Shuttle Endeavour will be removed and the part along with  equip-
          ment  needed  when working on the disconnect area will be shipped
          to KSC.  The 17-inch disconnect on Columbia will then be  removed
          and shipped to Rockwell for testing.

               The  impact  of  this  replacement  operation  on Columbia's
          launch processing is still being assessed.  The target  date  for
          Columbia's  next flight with the Astro-1 payload remains assessed
          for  mid-August.

               A new 17-inch valve was installed  on  the  STS-35  external
          tank last week.


                       STS-41 - DISCOVERY (OV 103) - OPF BAY 1

               Orbiter  structural  inspections  and routine testing of all
          the orbiter's systems are continuing this week.  Thermal  protec-
          tion  system operations are underway on all areas of the vehicle.
          The nose landing gear tire and wheel assemblies are scheduled  to
          be  installed this week.  Tests are continuing on the two orbital
          maneuvering system pods at the Hypergolic  Maintenance  Facility.
          Discovery  is  being  prepared  for  the  STS-41/Ulysses  flight,
          scheduled for launch in October.


                         STS-41 SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS - VAB

               Stacking operations resumed today with the right aft  center
          segment.    The  right  forward center segment is scheduled to be
          transferred to the VAB in the next few days.

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

Date: 25 Jun 90 22:18:11 GMT
From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!bionet!hayes.fai.alaska.edu!acad3.fai.alaska.edu![e-mail]  (THOMAS DAVID J)
Subject: Sagan on Mars


 To anyone who may know:
I am trying to find a reference in which Carl Sagan described a hypothetical
Martian model in which he stated that Mars may go through long ice ages due to
precession.  During those ice ages, the Martian environment becomes more
favorable for life.  I believe the original article was published ca 1971.  I
found an indirect reference to it in Patrick Moore's GUIDE TO MARS (1977).
However, Moore did not give a direct reference to a publication.  Any info
would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave Thomas

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

Date: 26 Jun 90 01:04:56 GMT
From: news-server.csri.toronto.edu!qucdn![e-mail]  (Arnold G. Gill)
Subject: Re: Handicaped in Space (was: NASA Headline News)

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steve Robiner) writes:
>Has NASA or anyone else ever thought of using amputees or other
>naturally handicaped persons with no legs as astronauts for extended
>stays in space.
>
>It seems to me they'd be the ideal choice for the job.  While other
>astronauts are handicaped in space *with* legs,
     NASA could never do that!  It would never get through Congress, having
American heroes being obviously physically handicapped!  half a :-)
-------
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
|  Arnold Gill                        |                                     |
|  Queen's University at Kingston     |     If I hadn't wanted it heard,    |
|  BITNET   : gilla@qucdn             |       I wouldn't have said it.      |
|  X-400    : [e-mail]  |                                     |
|  INTERNET : [e-mail]  |                                     |
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

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

Date: Mon, 25 Jun 90 20:50 CST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Rogers Commission Report
X-Envelope-To: [e-mail]

I'd like to know if the Rogers Commision report of the Challenger accident
is available through bitnet or via ftp.

Thanks in advance.

Robert Brown
[e-mail]

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

Date: 26 Jun 90 17:40:27 GMT
From: mephisto!prism!prism.gatech.EDU![e-mail]  (Daniel McGurl)
Subject: Re: Anyone Know What MOL Is/Was?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Matthew DeLuca) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John A. Weeks III) writes:
>>Can anyone tell me more about MOL, or at least point
>>me to some references?  Specifically, I am curious as to
>>what the mission was, what if any hardware was built,
>>and why it was cancelled.
>As to the mission, a hint can be gotten from the fact that the 'missing'
>KH-10 designation in the series of U.S. recon platforms was taken by the
>MOL.  William Burrow's book _Deep Black_ mentions the MOL a little, but
>does not go into great detail.  I highly recommend the book, though, if you
>are interested in U.S. aerial and space reconaissance...it's the best
>book on the topic I've seen.

Well, that's not quite correct.  First of all, the KH-10 project was scrapped
mainly because it became obsolete before actually getting of the drawing
board.  The KH-10 had been given the designation but no hardware was ever
built for it (Well, that we know about anyway :-)...

Actually, I seem to recall that the plans for the MOL have been changed to
become an unmanned recon platform.  I think in the long run that there was
no real benedit from having people on board.  True, they could fix point
failures, but if the platforms work well, then a service mission every once
in a while would fix it.  I beleive there were also some concerns that people
in a recon platform might be considered spies in times of conflict.

Anyone out there know the current status of the unmanned version of the
platform?  Deep Black on refrences from 1986...  I remember some speculation
from the book that KH-13 or KH-14 might be the unmanned space station/recon
platform.

>Matthew DeLuca
>Georgia Institute of Technology      Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards,
>Office of Computing Services         for they are subtle, and quick to anger.
>ARPA: [e-mail]

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

End of SPACE Digest V11 #572
*******************