Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/pc/text/spacedig/v13_2/v13_282.txt

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Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #282

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 13 : Issue 282

Today's Topics:
               Re: He3 on Moon?
                KH-12 Breakup
          STS-40 Payload Showing (Forwarded)
            Re: O-Ring and Feynman
      MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - STORM WARNING UPDATES - 16 MARCH
                 He3 on Moon?
          NASA Headline News - 03/13/91 (Forwarded)

Administrivia:

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

Date: 14 Mar 91 03:38:37 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!romeo.caltech.edu![e-mail]  (Horowitz, Irwin Kenneth)
Subject: Re: He3 on Moon?

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Joe Cain) writes...
>Does anyone know the origin of the weird sounding article that just
>appeared in the March 15 "Washington Spectator?"
>*******************************************************************
>..A new "gold rush" is expected on the moon, where large amounts of a
>powerful fuel, a hundred times more precious than gold, have been
>discovered. "Lunar soil is rich in Helium-3 (He-3) which costs $1,000
>a gram," reports <The Machinist>. "Some 100 million tons of He-3 lie
>on the lunar surface. A mere 55,000 pounds of He-3 in a fusion reactor
>(which scientists expect to build within 15 years) would electrify the
>entire U.S. for a year. Nuclear fusion which powers the sun releases
>energy by joining atoms together with almost no radioactive waste.
>********************************************************************
>
>    The last time I dropped a note to this otherwise political
>newspaper about some outlandish scientific sounding article, the
>defense was that it was published in some other journal!
>
>I have read that Mercury has a wisp of atmosphere with some He, Na and
>O from the solar wind and/or some vaporization of impacting bodies
>(maybe a little K), but 3He??? The only gases I have read about in the
>lunar regolith involve a little H and He from the solar wind.
>
>Maybe the little green men did it?
>
>
>Joseph Cain        [e-mail]
>[e-mail]        scri::cain
Indeed, Joe, you pointed out the answer in your last line...it is from the
solar wind that the Moon has accumulated all that He3 (4.5 Gyr worth!).
It is left as an exercise for the reader to estimate the total mass of He3
that would be on the lunar surface...:-).

I have been aware of this potential resource for a few years now (ever since
my friend, Jonathon Post, gave me a report from the In Situ Resource
Utilization workshop that detailed the possible usage of He3 for fusion
reactions here on Earth.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Irwin Horowitz                        |"Suppose they went nowhere?"-McCoy
Astronomy Department                  |"Then this will be your big chance
California Institute of Technology    | to get away from it all!"-Kirk
[e-mail]               |       from STII:TWOK
[e-mail]                 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Date: 14 Mar 91 04:34:04 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!cs.umn.edu!kksys!wd0gol!newave![e-mail]  (John A. Weeks III)
Subject: KH-12 Breakup

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
> [A sidelight on this is that the KH-12 that reportedly broke up after
> shuttle launch last March appears to be operational; apparently the
> "breakup" was jettisoning of covers and shields before maneuvering,
> not an accident.]

Sounds like a reasonable story.  And now for the unreasonable: does anyone
think that the pentagon might have intentionally included jettisonable parts
on the KH-12, parts that served no usefull purpose other than to fool observers
into thinking that the spacecraft broke up and was no longer functional?
Afterall, the Soviets reported the breakup with glee, only to now appear
to have egg on their face.  Maybe this was a pentagon scheme to test the
Soviet space tracking systems.

-john-

--
===============================================================================
John A. Weeks III               [phone]               [e-mail]
NeWave Communications                 ...uunet!rosevax!tcnet!wd0gol!newave!john
===============================================================================

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

Date: 15 Mar 91 03:20:15 GMT
From: elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: STS-40 Payload Showing (Forwarded)


          Mitch Varnes                                       March 14, 1991
          407/867-2468

          KSC Release No. 33-91

          Note to Editors/News Directors

          STS-40 PAYLOAD SHOWING TO BE HELD MARCH 19 AT KSC

          KENNEDY SPACE CENTER,  FLA.  -- The Space Life Sciences-1 (SLS-1)
          Spacelab  module,  which  is  scheduled to be launched aboard the
          Shuttle Columbia in May, will be the subject of a press photo op-
          portunity on Tuesday, March 19.  The showing will be held at 1:00
          p.m.  inside the high bay of the Operations & Checkout  Building,
          where the payload is being readied for flight.   This will be the
          final opportunity for news media to view SLS-1  before  its  mis-
          sion.

          SLS-1 is the first Spacelab mission to be flown since the Shuttle
          returned  to flight in September 1988 and is the first of several
          Shuttle missions dedicated to examine how space affects the human
          body.   The main objective of the SLS-1 mission is to  study  the
          various  dynamics  of  certain  physiological  changes that occur
          during space flight and to investigate the  consequences  of  the
          body's adaption to microgravity.

          During  Tuesday's  showing,  SLS-1 will be in a test stand inside
          the high bay of the Operations & Checkout Building.   Members  of
          the  STS-40  payload  processing  team  will be on hand to answer
          questions concerning the processing of SLS-1.   About 30  minutes
          has beeen allotted for the press opportunity.

          Electronic  flash  is  permitted.    However,  all  lighting  and
          photographic  equipment  must  be  self-contained   and   battery
          powered.  No external power sources are available inside the high
          bay.   Safety regulations prohibit flame-producing devices of any
          sort,  and all attendees must wear slacks  and  flat,  closed-toe
          shoes.   Dresses,  shorts, sandals or high-heel shoes are not al-
          lowed.

          Transportation from the KSC News Center will be provided.   Those
          members  of  the  news media wishing to attend the STS-40 payload
          showing should be at the News Center by  12:15  p.m.    Departure
          time is set for 12:30 p.m.,  sharp.   Media needing accreditation
          should contact the news center at  407/867-2468  to  arrange  for
          badging.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|      Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Jet Propulsion Lab |
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   M/S 301-355        | Change is constant.
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  Pasadena, CA 91109 |
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                      |

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

Date: 11 Mar 91 23:50:22 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Matthew R Feulner)
Subject: Re: O-Ring and Feynman

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Greg Roberts) writes:
>I have the most absoluterespect for Feynman. He took at the technical mumbo
>jumbo from the MT engineering staff, and made it crystal clear so that anyone,
>including Neil Armstrong, could understand it. Temperature. O-Ring. Failure.
>
>Greg
>Department of Mechanical Engineering, TUNS

I hardly think Neil Armstrong should be singled out since he has either
a bachelors or masters degree in aerospace engineering from Purdue.  Do
you think he's an idiot?  How demeaning.

Matthew Feulner

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

Date:    Sat, 16 Mar 91 00:05:46 MST
From: [e-mail] (CARY OLER)
Subject: MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT - STORM WARNING UPDATES - 16 MARCH
X-St-Vmsmail-To: st%"[e-mail]"

                        --  MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT  --

                                MARCH 16, 1991

                              Flare Event Summary
                          Potential Impact Assessment
                      Storm Warning Informational Update


                                    --------



MAJOR ENERGETIC EVENT SUMMARY

     Another major X-class flare exploded from Region 6545 early this UT
day.  The event was rated as a major class X1.8/2B Tenflare.  The
event began at 00:44 UT on 16 March, peaked at 00:52 UT and ended at 01:02
UT on 16 March.  This event, like all of the other major events originating
from this region, was of short duration.  However, it was rich in radio
emissions, with significant Type II AND IV bursts.  The estimated shock
velocity of the Type II is near 1000 km/s.  The flare was associated with a
910 s.f.u. Tenflare and an 18,000 s.f.u. burst at 245 MHz.  The flare was
located at S10E08, easily within range of producing significant terrestrial
impacts (however, see the impact assessment below).


POTENTIAL TERRESTRIAL IMPACT FORECAST

     There is some uncertainty at the present time with regards to the
potential impact this latest flare might have on the earth.  The strong
Type II and IV sweeps indicate some expulsion of mass was likely.  At the
present time, we think there is a fairly good chance that an interplanetary
shock may be associated with this event.  If so, magnetic storming is not
out of the question.  Any impacts from this flare are likely to be observed
late on the 17th or on 18 March.  The extent of the potential activity (if
it occurs) is still to be determined.  An additional update will be posted
later on 16 March (with the warning update near 18:00 UT on 16 March).


STORM WARNING INFORMATIONAL UPDATE

     A POTENTIAL GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR 16 MARCH
and may be extended to 17 March if an interplanetary shock arrives within
the next 12 to 18 hours.  A shock has not yet been observed.  It is late
now by almost 12 hours.  It is possible this shock could still arrive and
produce some respectable storm conditions.  However, as time passes by, the
potential magnitude of any activity is diminishing.  Major geomagnetic
storming is still possible.  The Pioneer Venus data indicated that some
significant activity was out there near the Venusian environment.  However,
this satellite is a fair distance east of the earth-sun line and would have
been more prone to flare-induced activity.  There is a possibility the
ejected mass will not impinge on the earth.  But we believe there is still
a fairly high possibility for a shock impact with the earth within the next
12 to 24 hours.  Hence, the Potential Major Geomagnetic Storm Warning will
be continued for the next 12-24 hours.  If nothing materializes by then, it
may be cancelled (or updated depending on further analysis of the recent major
flare).  These shocks have been known to be rather tardy.

     Please note that if storming does materialize, auroral activity will
not likely become visible until the evening of 16 March (local time) for
observers in North America.

     Geomagnetic activity has diminished substantially over the past 6 to 9
hours.  Very quiet geomagnetic activity has been observed at almost all
middle latitude stations as of 06:30 UT on 16 March.  This could change
abruptly, however, if a shock arrives as expected.

     ALL PREVIOUS ALERTS ARE STILL IN EFFECT FOR 16 MARCH.  An update will
be posted near 18:00 UT on 16 March.  Warning cancellations or extensions
will be issued then.

     Satellite level protons are still very near event thresholds.  They
are hovering between the 5 and 9 p.f.u. level (10 is the event threshold).
If an interplanetary shock arrives, protons could easily surpass the event
threshold briefly.  A polar cap disturbance is currently in progress.  The
cause is the elevated proton fluence levels in progress.

     If a shock arrives, a bulletin will be posted immediately (provided
the shock arrives during manned hours).  If the shock arrives during
unmanned hours, a bulletin will be posted immediately thereafter.


**  End of Alert  **

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

Date: 14 Mar 91 10:43:00 GMT
From: agate!linus!philabs!ttidca!quad1!bohica!mcws!p0.f851.n102.z1.fidonet.org![e-mail]  (Joe Cain)
Subject: He3 on Moon?

From: [e-mail] (Joe Cain)
Path: wciu!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!rex!uflorida!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!geomag!cain
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: He3 on Moon?
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 14 Mar 91 02:43:57 GMT
Does anyone know the origin of the weird sounding article that just
appeared in the March 15 "Washington Spectator?"
*******************************************************************
.A new "gold rush" is expected on the moon, where large amounts of a
powerful fuel, a hundred times more precious than gold, have been
discovered. "Lunar soil is rich in Helium-3 (He-3) which costs $1,000
a gram," reports <The Machinist>. "Some 100 million tons of He-3 lie
on the lunar surface. A mere 55,000 pounds of He-3 in a fusion reactor
(which scientists expect to build within 15 years) would electrify the
entire U.S. for a year. Nuclear fusion which powers the sun releases
energy by joining atoms together with almost no radioactive waste.
********************************************************************

    The last time I dropped a note to this otherwise political
newspaper about some outlandish scientific sounding article, the
defense was that it was published in some other journal!

I have read that Mercury has a wisp of atmosphere with some He, Na and
O from the solar wind and/or some vaporization of impacting bodies
(maybe a little K), but 3He??? The only gases I have read about in the
lunar regolith involve a little H and He from the solar wind.

Maybe the little green men did it?


Joseph Cain        [e-mail]
[e-mail]        scri::cain


--
: Joe Cain - via FidoNet node 1:102/851 [phone]
: ARPA/INTERNET: [e-mail]
: UUCP: ...!{elroy!bohica,elroy!wciu,cit-vax!wciu}!mcws!851.0!Joe.Cain
: Compu$erve: >internet:[e-mail]

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

Date: 14 Mar 91 02:37:00 GMT
From: agate!linus!philabs!ttidca!quad1!bohica!mcws!p0.f851.n102.z1.fidonet.org![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: NASA Headline News - 03/13/91 (Forwarded)

From: [e-mail] (Ron Baalke)
Path: wciu!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: NASA Headline News - 03/13/91 (Forwarded)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 91 18:37:36 GMT

             Headline News
Internal Communications Branch (P-2) NASA Headquarters

  Wednesday, March 13, 1991        Audio Service: 202 / 755-1788

This is NASA Headline News for Wednesday, March 13, 1991

Preparations for the STS-37 Gamma Ray Observatory deploy
mission are progressing very smoothly at the Kennedy Space
Center.  Atlantis is mated to the solid rocket booster/external tank
stack assembly and is presently undergoing frequency response tests.
The Gamma Ray Observatory was delivered to launch pad 39-B
earlier this morning and is now in the payload changeout room.
Final vehicle assembly closeout activities on the STS-37 stack should
be finished tomorrow.  Atlantis is scheduled to begin the three-
mile trip out to pad B Friday morning, March 15.  The GRO
payload will be installed into Atlantis' payload bay on Sunday.  The
terminal countdown demonstration test is scheduled for next week,
March 19 and 20, with T-0 at noon on the 20th.  The STS-37 flight
readiness review will be held at KSC one week later, March 26 and 27.

Discovery is in the VAB and is presently being demated from its
external tank.  The orbiter should be in the horizontal position and in
the assembly building transfer aisle by this afternoon.  Discovery will
be towed the short distance to orbiter processing facility bay 2
tomorrow at 8:30 am.

Preparations for Columbia's STS-40 Spacelab Life Sciences mission
also continue to go well.  The Get-Away Special cannister bridge
arrived at the Operations and Checkout Building high bay area today.
It will be tested with the rest of the SLS-1 hardware.  Installation of
the payload experiments into the GAS cannisters is now set for March
20.  The GAS bridge and the SLS-1 habitable module are
scheduled to be moved to the OPF for installation into
Columbia on March 23.

                   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

KSC management will hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the
Space Station Processing Facility on Tuesday, March 26, at
10:00 am.  Center Director Forrest McCartney will preside.

                   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ames Research Center Director Dr. Dale L. Compton was elected
by the Silicon Valley Engineering Council to its Hall of Fame.  A
mechanical and aeronautical engineer, Dr. Compton was cited as a
pioneer in the fields of planetary atmospheric entry, hypersonic
aerodynamics, and the physics of high temperature gases.  Dr.
Compton, and deputy center director Steve Hawley, also participated
in Bay Area engineering week teaching assignments and gave local
grade school students lessons on physics.


Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select
TV.  All times are Eastern.  NASA Select TV is carried on GE Satcom
F2R, transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees W Long., Audio 6.8,
Frequency 3960 MHz.

Wednesday, 3/13/91

        1:15 pm        Magellan-at-Venus report live from Jet Propulsion
Laboratory.

        4:00 pm        Taped replay of House Subcommittee on Technology and
Competitiveness (Committee on Science, Space and Technology), and
the House Subcommittee on Research and Development (Committee on
Armed Services) joint hearing on National Aero-Space Plane.
(Recorded Tuesday.)

Thursday, 3/14/91

        12:00 pm        Taped replay of House Subcommittee on Space
Science and Applications (Committee on Science Space and
Technology) hearing on NASA's Aeronautics, Exploration, and
Technology FY 92 budget.  Arnold Aldrich was the NASA witness.
(Recorded Wednesday.)

        6:00 pm        Taped replay of House Subcommittee on Technology and
Competitiveness (Committee on Science, Space and Technology), and
the House Subcommittee on Research and Development (Committee on
Armed Services) joint hearing on National Aero-Space Plane.
(Recorded Tuesday.)

        followed by

                Taped replay of House Subcommittee on Space Science and
Applications (Committee on Science Space and Technology) hearing
on NASA's Aeronautics, Exploration, and Technology FY 92
budget.  Arnold Aldrich was the NASA witness.  (Recorded
Wednesday.)

Friday, 3/15/91

        12:00 pm        Taped replay of sessions from the American
Astronautical Society 29th Goddard Memorial Symposium being
held in Washington March 14 and 15.  (Sessions and times yet to be
determined.)

      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|      Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Jet Propulsion Lab |
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   M/S 301-355        | Change is constant.
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  Pasadena, CA 91109 |
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                      |



--
: Ron Baalke - via FidoNet node 1:102/851 [phone]
: ARPA/INTERNET: [e-mail]
: UUCP: ...!{elroy!bohica,elroy!wciu,cit-vax!wciu}!mcws!851.0!Ron.Baalke
: Compu$erve: >internet:[e-mail]

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

End of SPACE Digest V13 #282
*******************