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 ; Wed, 11 Apr 90 01:39:17 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Wed, 11 Apr 90 01:38:38 -0400 (EDT) Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #246 SPACE Digest Volume 11 : Issue 246 Today's Topics: Re: Minuteman ( was: Quick launches ) Galileo Update - 04/10/90 Re: Interview with head of Glavkosmos (long: 226 lines) Magellan Update - 04/10/90 Re: National Space Society Re: HST Images (long) Is the moon upsidedown to NASA? Re: National Space Society GIF Files ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 9 Apr 90 23:24:17 GMT From: zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!mntgfx!kauel@uunet.uu.net (Kendall Auel) Subject: Re: Minuteman ( was: Quick launches ) In article <45600007@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> sfn20715@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu writes: > >/* Written 8:00 am Apr 5, 1990 by jdnicoll@watyew.waterloo.edu in uxa.cso.uiuc.edu:sci.space */ > > I don't know if MX missiles suffer from this, but isn't there a >problem with launching minutemen from silos? I recall there was >a series of launches in the seventies in which the only Minuteman >that actually left its silo malfunctioned in the first kilometer >of the boost phase. I have no idea what the problem was or if it >got fixed [If you don't plan to actually use it, who cares if it >works, right?, but if the problem was with the missile rather than > ^^^^^^^^ >This is silly. Our strategic deterrence relies on the ability to use >our Minutemen and the desire to do so. I assure you that military planners >did not build the MM for the purpose of not using it. > vvvvvvvv I once knew a guy that had worked as a technician in the minuteman silos. He said that it was common practice to hard-wire the diagnostic circuits instead of going in and fixing problems. The red tape involved in actually taking apart the missile and fixing it was a major pain in the butt, and it was always assumed that the things would never be used. Also, its pretty hard to get motivated to fix a nuke so that it can go wipe out a city. -- Kendall Auel | Mentor Graphics Corporation | Ich bin ein Berliner kauel@mentor.com | Silicon Design Division | "I am a pastry" ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 90 16:45:45 GMT From: usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@apple.com (Ron Baalke) Subject: Galileo Update - 04/10/90 GALILEO MISSION STATUS April 10, 1990 The Galileo spacecraft is performing a trajectory correction maneuver this week, to place it on the desired path for its first Earth gravity-assist flyby early in December 1990. The maneuver, which will slow the spacecraft by 24.8 meters per second or about 55 mph, will be carried out in four daily portions, each lasting more than 6 1/2 hours. The spinning spacecraft will deliver tiny pulses from its lateral thrusters each time one of them is pointed in the right direction. In the four days, this comes to almost 6400 pulses. Yesterday, the flight team monitored the first portion of the maneuver, and sent up the sequence for the second portion. During this period, Galileo is performing a sun-pointing turn before each day's maneuver portion. This is the first and largest of several maneuvers gradually shaping Galileo's flight path for the Earth gravity assist. The general spacecraft health continues to be excellent. As of today, Galileo is 83.4 million miles from Earth (round-trip light time almost 15 minutes). It is traveling at more than 78,000 mph around the Sun; this week's maneuver will change Galileo's speed by only about 1/15 of 1 percent. The spacecraft is now about 310 million miles along the trajectory from launch, with about 2,044 million miles left to go till arrival at Jupiter. Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov Jet Propulsion Lab M/S 301-355 | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov 4800 Oak Grove Dr. | Pasadena, CA 91109 | ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 90 20:07:09 GMT From: concertina!fiddler@sun.com (Steve Hix) Subject: Re: Interview with head of Glavkosmos (long: 226 lines) In article <1990Apr9.203305.10907@Neon.Stanford.EDU>, jchapin@Neon.Stanford.EDU (John M. Chapin) writes: > Dunayev's comments about ozone depletion really surprised me. > If this hasn't been thrashed out in this newsgroup recently, > would someone please comment on: > > 1) Is he correct in estimating that 300 shuttle launches could > significantly affect the ozone layer? Perhaps 300 simultaneous launches, evenly distributed over the earth? No idea of how long the hole in the ozone layer persists after the launch. ------------ "Up the airey mountain, down the rushy glen, we daren't go a-hunting for fear of little men..." ('cause Fish and Game has taken to hiring axe-carrying dwarves) ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 90 19:55:45 GMT From: usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@apple.com (Ron Baalke) Subject: Magellan Update - 04/10/90 MAGELLAN Mission Status Report April 10, 1990 The Magellan spacecraft is now 104,489,855 miles from Earth, 35,624,482 miles from Venus, and traveling at a heliocentric speed of 62,938 miles/hour. One way light time is 9 minutes 22 seconds. The spacecraft continues in normal, quiet cruise mode, having completed 70% of the cruise phase of the mission. Cruise load 21 was uploaded on March 30. The Star Tracker Unit background filter, unloaded last week to the Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem (AACS-A) and this week to AACS-B, has performed well. The average attitude update this week has been 0.03 degree. The X-band command mod index test on March 25 experienced some problems. Both the 34 meter antenna in Australia and 34 meter antenna in Goldstone failed to acquire X-band telemetry lock. The problem is being investigated. Another attempt at the test on March 29 also failed due to an inability to transmit commands. On March 28, telemetry indicated 22 CDS lock status changes detected by the Command and Data Subsystem (CDS). An investigation determined that the Deep Space Network (DSN) was troubleshooting their command processor "on-line" during this time. Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov Jet Propulsion Lab M/S 301-355 | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov 4800 Oak Grove Dr. | Pasadena, CA 91109 | ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 90 22:09:41 GMT From: network.ucsd.edu!celit!dave@ucsd.edu (Dave Smith) Subject: Re: National Space Society In article <12811@venera.isi.edu> cew@venera.isi.edu (Craig E. Ward) writes: >I haven't seen the survey that Dave Smith alludes to; however, from his >description, I know the type of questionnaire he is talking about. [text deleted] >Unfortunately, getting them from so many >different kinds of groups leads me to believe that this is the style that the >conventional-wisdom-of-mass-mailings says will work. In this case, the >National Space Society is trying to promote itself using tested and reliable >tactics. Yes, agreed. The survey, however, is designed to produce specific responses from the respondent. The way I have interpreted the responses it "wants" you to give is 110% in favor of NASA/Aerospace/Big Government sponsored and backed space exploration. No mention is made in the survey form of commercial development in space. No questions which allow for criticism of the way that space exploration is currently being performed are asked. I'll include the survey at the end and you can draw your own conclusions. >The NSS should be given some good marks for at >least trying to broaden its support with proven methods. Agreed. As someone pointed out in e-mail to me, every organization needs sheep. This is fine. However, I don't like their agenda as shown to me from that survey > >I'm getting tired of the "NSS as NASA cheerleader" chorus. If the shoe fits. I don't know what other surveys the NSS uses to show support, but this one has nothing to do with non-government space exploration. Maybe commercial involvement is deemed to be too complicated for Joe Six-pack to understand. However, I saw no mention of financial benefits to be made from space. Just stuff about exploration and science (both good things, but people understand $ better). >Many of the people who cry "cheerleader" or "deaf ear" are really just >admitting that their ideas are not standing up to criticism when presented to >NSS leaders. The "cheerleader defense" might make good net flame material, >but it doesn't make for good argument. Sorry, I had no contact with the NSS previous to this survey. What I wrote was based largely on what I read from the survey. I have heard the cheerleader accusation before and what I read in the survey and accompanying documents supported it. >The National Space Society is a pluralistic organization that has to balance a >wide variety of views and interests. I believe it is fast becoming the >paramount space activist group in the world. It can be an important tool for >"creating a spacefaring civilization that will establish communities beyond >the Earth." I'd like to believe so. They've gotten off on the wrong foot with me, however, and maybe with a lot of other people too. Here's the survey I got in the mail: National Survey No. 2370938476 T/F 1. Given the undisputed fact that space program innovations have provided a variety of benefits for life here on Eath - from weather forecasting, to scratch-resistant glass, to laser heart surgery - how would you rank the importance of the space program to our nation. Would you say it is: Very important Important Not important 2. How important is the continued exploration of space - the search for new planets, new stars, new life - to you personally? Is it: Very important Important Not important 3. Scientists have long debated the question: Are we alone? In your opinion, what is the likelihood that there are other forms of intelligent life in the universe? Very likely Likely Unlikely 4. President Reagan committed the U.S. to a permanently manned Space Station in much the same way that President Kennedy committed the nation to putting a man on the moon, How do you view the idea of a permanently manned Space Station? Do you regard it: Very favorably Favorably Unfavorably 5. Over the years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has been responsible for virtually every facet of America's space program, including such success stories as Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Space Shuttle. What is you assessment of the job NASA has done? Do you: Strongly approve Approve Disapprove 6. For years, America led the world into space. But [sic] now it is argued that other countries have equalled or even surpassed, America's space prowess. In your opinion, where does America's civilian space program stand in relation to those of other nations? Is it: Ahead of other countires Even with other countries Behind other countries 7. In your view, where should America's civilian space program be in relation to other nations? Should it be: Ahead of other countries Even with other countries Behind other countries 8. Maintaining U.S. leadership in space will require increasing NASA's budget to about 1% of the total federal budget - about $2 billion a year. Do you agree that this is a reasonable amount to pay for continued exploration of the universe and the advancements that would surely result from it? Agree Disagree No opinion 9. Would you be willing to spend just a few pennies a day in support of the National Space Society's efforts to ensure that America continues the greatest adventure humandkind may ever know - the exploration of space? YES (if yes, please see form below No Membership Acceptance Form YES! I firmly believe that the time has come to propel America's civilian space program forward into a new era of exploration and science. That's why I'll gladly support the historic efforts of the National Space Society. Please enroll me as a member immediately. I understand my membership benefits include Ad Astra magazine, membership in Society chapters, VIP invitations, special discounts and more. Enclosed is my check for: various dollar amounts and other unimportant info. -- David L. Smith FPS Computing, San Diego ucsd!celerity!dave or dave@fps.com "What does this Notme guy look like and why does he work at my company?" ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 90 21:34:47 GMT From: pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!uflorida!haven!aplcen!jhunix!gwollman@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Garrett A Wollman) Subject: Re: HST Images (long) In article <15346@bfmny0.UU.NET>, tneff@bfmny0.UU.NET (Tom Neff) writes: >I think it would be enough for someone at JPL or Goddard to declare >[...] Why not someone at STScI? -GAWollman -- "All societies are based on rules to protect pregnant women and children. . . . As racial survival is the only universal morality, no other bases is possible." - Lazarus Long [RAH, _TEFL_] ---------------Hopkins doesn't *want* my opinions------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 90 16:34:18 GMT From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!murdu!ucsvc!wehi!baxter_a@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu Subject: Is the moon upsidedown to NASA? Could someone please email me with the answer to ythe following question: In Australia, the full moon looks to have an image of a rabbit with big ears on the left, with some buckshot passing by its left (right to us) ear. In the northern hemisphere, is this upside down? Thanks, Alan ------------------------------ Date: 10 Apr 90 18:26:36 GMT From: portal!cup.portal.com!hkhenson@apple.com (H Keith Henson) Subject: Re: National Space Society I would like to add my two cents to Craig Ward's recent posting in this thread. First, any organization with a goal, but no agreed upon path to the goal, is going to have carping from the members. At present, the paths to a "spacefaring civilization" are too uncertain, and too long, for a consensus to develop. Those who bitch about NASA also have a point. If you want to lower cost, competing private companies are the way to go (at least by analogy to the history of aircraft). It may turn out (in the post analysis of this era) that the only useful thing for a pro space organization to do is to keep up awareness that the Earth *is not* the only piece of real estate in the universe. Keith Henson (a founder of L5) ------------------------------ Date: 11 Apr 90 01:54:04 GMT From: uhccux!bishop@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Richard Bishop) Subject: GIF Files Hi gang, Recently there was a reference to a place in Finland which has mucho GIF files. Could someone please send the internet address. Thank you, you guys are great!!!! -Richard ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V11 #246 *******************