Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from beak.andrew.cmu.edu via trymail for +dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl@andrew.cmu.edu (->+dist+/afs/andrew.cmu.edu/usr11/tm2b/space/space.dl) (->ota+space.digests) ID ; Tue, 5 Dec 89 01:36:44 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Tue, 5 Dec 89 01:36:12 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #309 SPACE Digest Volume 10 : Issue 309 Today's Topics: Space Acronym summary Re: Manned vs Unmanned Mission to Mars ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 4 Dec 89 18:58:12 GMT From: tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu (Todd L. Masco) Subject: Space Acronym summary I was asked to post this by raskin@scatter.USask: It's a list that he has compiled of various "space/NASA/payload acronyms" he has been compiling. AAFE Aero-Assist Flight Experiment AAP Apollo Applications Program ACCESS Assembly Concept for Construction of Erectable Space Structures ACES Acoustic Containerless Experiment System ACRV Advanced Crew Recovery Vehicle ACTS Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (payload) ADSF Automatic Directional Solidification Furnace AFE American Flight Echocardiograph AFITV Air Force Instrumented Test Vehicle ALS Advanced Launch System AMLS Advanced Manned Launch System AMOS Air Force Maui Optical Station AMPTE Active Magnetosphere Particle Tracer Experiment ANS Astronomical Netherlands Satellite AOA Abort-Once-Around (shuttle abort option) AOTV Aeroassisted Orbital Transfer Vehicle APE Aurora Photography Experiment or Active Plasma Experiment ARC Ames Research Center ASE Airborne Support Equipment (IUS) ASLV Augmented Space Launch Vehicle ASP Attitude Sensor Package ASTP Apollo-Soyuz Test Project ATLAS Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (payload) ATO Abort-To-Orbit (shuttle abort option) ATS Applications Technology Satellite AXAF Advanced X-Ray Astronomy Facility (payload) BBXRT Broad-Band X-Ray Telescope CAPL Capillary Pump Loop Experiment CBDE Carbonated Beverage Dispenser Evaluation (Pepsico) (really!) CDSF Commercially Developed Space Facility CDT Countdown Demonstration Test (see TCDT) CFES Continuous Flow Electrophoresis System CHAMP Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program CIRRIS Cryogenic Infrared Radiance Instrument for Shuttle CITE Cargo Integration and Test Equipment CNES Centre National D'Etudes Spatiales COBE Cosmic Background Explorer COLD-SAT Cyrogenic On Orbit Liquid Depot - Storage and Transfer CRAF Comet Rendezvous and Asteroid Flyby (payload) CRISTA Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometer Telescope Atmosphere CRRES Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite CSI Controls Structure Interaction CSW Commercial Sidewall Carrier CTM Collapsible Tube Mast CYA Cover Your Ass DAD Dual Air Density DARPA Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DEE Dexterous End Effector DFI Development Flight Instrumentation DMOS Diffusive Mixing of Organic Solutions (3M) DOD Department of Defense DSCS Defense Satellite Communications System DSN Deep Space Network EASE Experimental Assembly of Structures in EVA ECS European Communications Satellite ECU Electronic Controller Unit (in SRB) EDO Extended Duration Orbiter EEVT Electrophoresis Equipment Verification Test EGP Experimental Geodetic Payload ELRAD Earth-Limb Radiance Equipment ELV Expendable Launch Vehicle EOIM Evaluation of Oxygen Interaction with Materials EOS Earth Observing System (payload) EPSP ERBS Earth Radiation Budget Satellite ERS European Remote Sensing Satellite ESA European Space Agency (was ESRO) ESMC Eastern Space and Missile Center (Patrick AFB, Florida) ESRO European Space Research Organization (see ESA) ET External Tank (shuttle) EVA Extra-Vehicular Activity EUVE Extreme Ultra-Violet Explorer (payload) FDE Fluid Dynamics Experiment FEA Fluids Experiment Apparatus FEE French Echocardiograph Equipment FPE French Postural Experiment FRR Flight Readiness Review FSC Fleet Satellite Communications (same as FLTSATCOM) FSS Flight Support System FTS-DTF Flight Telerobotic Servicer - Demonstration Test Flight GAS Get Away Special (payload) GEOS Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite GLOMR Global Low Orbit Message Relay GMS Geostationary Meteorological Satellite GOES Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite GP Gravity Probe GPS Global Positioning System (DOD payload) GRO Gamma Ray Observatory (payload) GSE GSFC Goddard Space Flight Center GSO Geosynchronous Orbit GTO Geostationary Transfer Orbit HCMM Heat Capacity Mapping Mission HDRR HEAO High Energy Astronomical Observatory HIC Heavy Ion Counter (Galileo) HME Handheld Microgravity Experiment HMF Hypergolic Maintenance Facility HPCG Handheld Protein Crystal Growth Middeck Experiment HPE Heat Pipe Experiment HPTE High Precision Tracking Experiment HPU Hydraulics Power Unit (SRBs) HST Hubble Space Telescope (payload) IBSE Initial Blood Storage Equipment IBSS Infrared Background Signature Survey ICBC IMAX Cargo Bay Camera ICE International Cometary Explorer IEA Integrated Electronics Assembly (SRBs) IECM Induced Environment Contamination Monitor IEF Isoelectric Focussing Experiment IEH International Extreme-UV/Far-UV Hitchhiker IFCE In-Flight Contamination Experiment IGM Iterative Guidance Mode (Saturn V) ILM IML International Microgravity Lab (payload) IMU Inertial Measurement Unit IPR IPS Instrument Pointing System IRAS Infra-red Astronomical Satellite IRCFE Infra-red Communications Flight Experiment IR-IE Infra-red Imaging Equipment IRIS Italian Research Interim Stage IRT Integrated Rendezvous Radar Target ISEE International Sun-Earth Explorer ISF Industrial Space Facility ISO Infra-red Space Observatory ISPN International Solar Polar Mission (is now Ulysses spacecraft) ITV Instrumented Test Vehicle (Asat target) IUE International Ultraviolet Explorer IUS Inertial Upper Stage IVT Interface Verification Test JPL Jet Propulsion Laboratory JSC Johnson Space Center KSC Kennedy Space Center LCC Launch Control Center LDEF Long Duration Exposure Facility (payload) LDSFD Laser Docking Sensor Flight Demonstration LEM Lunar Excursion Module (should be LM) LEO Low Earth Orbit LFC Large Format Camera LGA Low Gain Antenna LIDAR Laser Detection and Ranging LITE Lidar In-Space Technology Experiment LM Long Module (Spacelab crew module) LM Lunar Module (see LEM) LMSC LO Lunar Orbiter LRC Langley Research Center LRR Launch Readiness Review MADS Modular Auxiliary Data Systems MDD Mate-Demate Device ME Main Engine (shuttle) MECO Main Engine Cutoff MILA Merritt Island Launch Area MLE Mesoscale Lightning Experiment MLI MLR Monodisperse Latex Reactor MLP Mobile Launch Platform MMT Mission Management Team MMU Manned Maneuvering Unit MO Mars Observer MOL Manned Orbital Laboratory MPESS Mission Peculiar Equipment Support Structure (experiment carrier) MPSE Mexican Payload Specialist Experiment MRSR Mars Rover Sample Return (payload) MS Mission Specialist MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center MSL Materials Science Laboratory MUE NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASP National Aero-Space Plane NOSL Night/Day Optical Survey of Lightning O&C Operations and Checkout OAO Orbiting Astronomical Observatory OAST Office of Aeronautics and Space Technology OCB Orbital Cargo Bay OCP Office of Commercial Programs OEX Orbiter Experiments OGO Orbiting Geophysical Observatory OMS Orbital Maneuvering System (shuttle) OMV Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle OPF Orbiter Processing Facility ORFEUS Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer ORS Orbiter Refueling System OSL Orbiting Solar Laboratory OSS Office of Space Science OSTA Office of Space and Terrestial Applications OTA Office Of Technology Assessment (Congress) OV Orbiter Vehicle (shuttle) PAM Payload Assist Module (shuttle and Delta) PCG Protein Crystal Growth PCR Payload Changeout Room PDRS Payload Deployment and Retrieval System PFTA Payload Flight Test Article PGHM PGSA PGSM PM Polymer Microstructure PMG Plasma Motor Generator PO Planetary Observer POP Polar Orbiting Platform PPE Phase Partitioning Experiment PRSD Power Reactant Storage and Distribution PS Payload Specialist PUR Payload Under Review PVTOS Physical Vapor Transport of Organic Solids RAE Radio Astronomy Explorer RAU RME Radiation Monitoring Equipment RMS Remote Manipulator System RPSF Rotation Processing and Surge Facility RSS Range Safety System (shuttle) or Rotating Service Structure RTG Radio-isotope Thermo-electric Generator RTLS Return-To-Launch-Site (shuttle abort option) RTQ SAEF Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility SAGE Strategic Aerosol and Gas Experiment SALT Special (Purpose Inexpensive Satellite) Altimeter (DOD payload) SAPIE Solar Array Plasma Interaction Experiment SAREX Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment SAS Space Adaptation Syndrome SAS Small Astronomy Satellite SBS Satellite Business Systems SCA Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (747) SDI Strategic Defense Initiative (see SFI) SDS Solar Disk Sextant SEDS Small Expendable Deployment System SEDS Students for the Exploration and Development of Space SFH Super Fluid Helium On Orbit Transfer Demonstration SFI Strategic Funding Initiative (see SDI) SFP Space Flight Participant SFU-RET Space Flyer Unit - Retrieval SHARE Space Station Heatpipe Advanced Radiator Element SHEAL Shuttle High Energy Astrophysics Laboratory SIRTF Space Infra-red Telescope Facility SIT Shuttle Interface Test SKIRT Spacecraft Kinetic Infra-red Test SLS Space Life Sciences Laboratory SMR San Marco Range SOHO Solar Heliospheric Observatory SOOS Stacked OSCAR on Scout SPARTAN Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Austronomy SPAS Shuttle Pallet Satellite (payload carrier) SRAD Shuttle Radiator Assembly Demonstration SRB Solid Rocket Booster (shuttle) SRL Space Radar Laboratory SRM Solid Rocket Motor (shuttle) SRS Strategic Reconnaissance Satellite (payload) SSBUV Shuttle Solar Backscatter Ultra-Violet Instrument SSIP Shuttle Student Involvement Projects SSS Satellite Servicer System STDN Space Tracking Data Network STS Space Transportation System (shuttle) STTP Life Sciences Space Technology Training Program SURFER Stanford University Radio Frequency Emissions Receiver TAL Trans-Atlantic Abort Landing (shuttle abort option) TAPS Two-Axis Pointing System TCDT Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (see CDT) TCM Trajectory Correction Maneuver TDRS Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (payload) TDRSS Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System TEMP Two Phase Mounting Plate Experiment TFS Thermal and Fluid Systems TIS Teacher in Space TLA Three Letter Acronym TLD Thermoluminescent Dosimeter TOS Transfer Orbit Stage TPITS Two Phase Integrated Thermal System TPSF Thermal Protection System Facility (shuttle tiles) TSS Tethered Satellite System (payload) UARS Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (payload) UFO Ultra High Frequency Follow-On (satellite) USAF United States Air Force USML United States Microgravity Laboratory USMP United States Microgravity Payload UVLIM Ultraviolet Limb Imaging Experiment VAB Vehicle (not Vertical!) Assembly Building VEEGA Venus-Earth-Earth Gravity Assist (post-Challenger Galileo trajectory) VPF Vertical Processing Facility VPHD WAMDII Wide Angle Michelson Doppler Imaging Interferometer WFF Wallops Flight Facility WISP Waves In Space Plasmas WSMC Western Space and Missile Center XTE X-Ray Timing Explorer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Todd L. Masco | Quantum Mechanics: The dreams stuff is made of. tm2b@andrew.cmu.edu | [SPACE Digest: space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu] ------------------------------ Date: 4 Dec 89 17:56:03 GMT From: cs.utexas.edu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo!henry@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Henry Spencer) Subject: Re: Manned vs Unmanned Mission to Mars In article <49087@bbn.COM> ncramer@labs-n.bbn.com (Nichael Cramer) writes: >In point of fact, if the environment in near orbit around Saturn is >anything like it is around Jupiter (e.g. radiation), than we had *better* >do this with unmanned probes. Saturn's Van Allen belts are much less of a problem, perhaps because the ring particles tend to absorb trapped particles. >[flippant] Answer #1: >Would you care to explain to the people who worked on the Voyager team why >one can't improvise or recover from error or malfunction at long >distances? ;) > >[serious] Answer #2: >Yes people can improvise. But maintaining them on a long mission is a >highly expensive, bulky, dangerous proposition. Voyager suffered several >major system malfunctions and is *still* working... The Voyagers were extremely lucky. Remember that one of Voyager 2's command receivers died shortly after launch, and the other one got sick and stayed sick (fortunately, not quite sick enough to disable it). Voyager 2 came within a hairsbreadth of going the same way Seasat and Phobos 1/2 went. There have been several nail-biting problems, fortunately all fixable. >Anything comparable on a >manned trip to Mars and the mission would have ended in tragedy. Would you care to explain to the Skylab astronauts why one can't fix major system malfunctions in orbit? (Or, for that matter, to the recent shuttle crew that replaced one of the shuttle's computers in orbit.) >It's not at all clear that the *net* robustness of the system is improved >by having humans on board. How would you feel about flying on the first remotely-piloted airliner? How about the first airliner whose engines were maintained by robots? > 4] To give a base for discussion, can someone name me *anything* > that Apollo accomplished that could not have been done by remote > probes? Was it worth the enourmous extra cost? Apollo probably did not do anything that could not have been done by remote probes, assuming we are speaking strictly of science returns. (As noted elsewhere, space is more than just science.) However, the pricetag would probably have been similar, if not worse. The Soviet sample-return missions probably cost an order of magnitude less than Apollo, but they accomplished two or three orders of magnitude less. We are talking about quantitative results here: a few grams of soil are not the same as hundreds of kilograms of samples selectively collected over substantial areas. An Apollo mission was a lot more expensive than one Luna sample-return mission, but it accomplished much more as well. As has been mentioned before, nobody uses robots to explore Antarctica, even though supporting humans there is decidedly expensive. -- Mars can wait: we've barely | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology started exploring the Moon. | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V10 #309 *******************