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 ; Sat, 5 May 90 01:32:06 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Sat, 5 May 90 01:31:33 -0400 (EDT) Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #357 SPACE Digest Volume 11 : Issue 357 Today's Topics: Re: Re: Fermi paradox Re: Galileo entry probe Payload Status for 05/04/90 (Forwarded) NASA commercial use of space meeting (Forwarded) Re: Phhotos from Space (was: Hubble Telescope) Re: Hubble Telescope Soviet VENERA Landers on the Surface of Venus. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 4 May 90 15:18:27 EDT From: John Roberts Disclaimer: Opinions expressed are those of the sender and do not reflect NIST policy or agreement. Subject: Re: Re: Fermi paradox >From: bfmny0!tneff@uunet.uu.net (Tom Neff) >Subject: Re: Re: Fermi paradox >In article <9005020016.AA18563@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov> roberts@CMR.NCSL.NIST.GOV (John Roberts) writes: >>My opinion is that given our current level of knowledge, calculating the >>probability of life elsewhere may provide useful insights, but that's about >>all. >Yes, but that's plenty. Saying "we don't know enough" is ostrich talk. >Research into life processes continues apace. The knowledge curve trends >in one direction only. Hubble and Martian sample return will expand our >wisdom about precise conditions elsewhere, now and in the past. I think that "we don't know enough" is an important and useful statement. As I should have pointed out in the earlier posting, there is no such thing in nature as probability. Probability is an *estimate* of the likelihood of a specific event, based on intelligent manipulation of current knowledge. The primary result of a probability calculation is the estimated chance of the event taking place, which represents a "best guess". A secondary result of the calculation should be the level of confidence in the accuracy of the probability calculation. With our current knowledge we can calculate the probability of life in other star systems, but the degree of confidence is so low as to make the calculated probabilities essentially useless. Nevertheless, the effort of making the calculations shows us the areas in which more knowledge is needed to improve the quality of the calculations. John Roberts roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov ------------------------------ Date: 3 May 90 19:33:04 GMT From: skipper!bowers@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Al Bowers) Subject: Re: Galileo entry probe In article <641591003.0.GLASS@PLUTO.ARC.NASA.GOV> GLASS@PLUTO.ARC.NASA.GOV (Jay Glass) writes: >Incidentally, I couldn't find Mary Shafer *anywhere* Sunday morning...when >asked where the Usenet RDV was, her boss looked blank... Mary is out for a few days. Travel or something and she won't have net access until she gets back. Just thought I'd let you know... -- Albion H. Bowers bowers@elxsi.dfrf.nasa.gov ames!elxsi.dfrf.nasa.gov!bowers `In the changing of the times, they were like autumn lightning, a thing out of season, an empty promise of rain that would fall unheeded on fields already bare.' attributed to Abe Shosaburo by Dave Lowery ------------------------------ Date: 4 May 90 14:10:45 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: Payload Status for 05/04/90 (Forwarded) Daily Status/KSC Payload Management and Operations 05-04-90. - STS-31R HST (at VPF) - Post launch GSE removal continues. - STS-35 ASTRO-1/BBXRT (at Pad-A) - No payload activities are scheduled for today. - STS-40 SLS-1 (at O&C) - Experiment train interface testing and ECS systems checks are continuing along with MVAK training. - STS-42 IML-1 (at O&C) - Module pyrell foam replacement, floor staging, and rack staging continue today. - STS-45 Atlas-1 (at O&C) - Bracket and coldplate installations continue today. - STS-46 TSS-1 (at O&C) - No work is scheduled for today. - STS-47 Spacelab-J (at O&C) - No work is scheduled for today. - STS-55 SL-D2 (at O&C) - No work is scheduled for today. - HST M&R (at O&C) - ORUC interface testing continues today. ------------------------------ Date: 4 May 90 14:13:05 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: NASA commercial use of space meeting (Forwarded) Barbara Selby Headquarters, Washington, D.C. (Phone: 202/453-2927) May 4, 1990 N90-32 NOTE TO EDITORS: NASA COMMERCIAL USE OF SPACE MEETING NASA's Office of Commercial Programs will conduct a 1-day program awareness meeting on the commercial use of space on Tuesday, May 8, at the Rosslyn Westpark Hotel, 1900 North Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, Va. The objective of the meeting is to provide a better understanding of the Commercial Use of Space Program; discuss concepts that can strengthen it and address issues that potentially impede its future success. Directors of NASA's Centers for the Commercial Development of Space and industry representatives will discuss their programs and describe the benefits and overall impact to their respective universities and companies. An afternoon panel session will address issues facing the government in developing the commercial use of space. Participants will include James T. Rose, NASA; Courtney Stadd, National Space Council; Richard Dalbello, U.S. Department of Commerce; Stephanie Lee-Miller, U.S. Department of Transportation; Janice Bellucci, Counsel for House Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications; and Noreen Noonan, Office of Management and Budget. News media planning to attend the meeting may register at the door from 7:30 to 8 a.m. A program agenda is available by calling the NASA Newsroom on 202/453-8400. -end- NASA COMMERCIAL USE OF SPACE MEETING Tuesday, May 8, 1990 Rosslyn Westpark Hotel, Arlington, Virginia Room: Rosslyn A 7:30 - 8:00 Registration 8:00 - 9:00 Introduction and Overview of Commercial Use of Space Program James T. Rose Assistant Administrator for Commercial Programs, NASA Raymond Whitten Deputy Director, Commercial Development Division NASA Office of Commercial Programs 9:00 - 9:30 NASA Field Center Activity Kenneth Taylor Chief, Commercial Materials Processing in Space Group NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Boeing Commercial Space Development Co. Gil Reyes President 9:30 - 9:50 Center for Macromolecular Crystallography University of Alabama-Birmingham Dr. Charles E. Bugg Director 9:50 - 10:20 BioCryst, Inc. Dr. Tom Glenn President and Chief Operating Officer 10:20 - 10:35 Break 10:35 - 11:10 Center for Commercial Development of Space Power and Advanced Electronics, Auburn University Dr. Raymond Askew Director Maxwell Laboratories Dr. Andrew Wilson Vice President 11:10 - 11:30 Center for Mapping, Ohio State University Dr. John Bossler Director 11:30 - 12:00 Decision Images, Inc. Dr. Robert Mills Chief Executive Officer Noon - 1:10 Lunch 1:10 - 1:40 Space Remote Sensing Center, ITD Dr. George May Director International Paper, Inc. John Tonelli Senior Research Associate Jim Nicholson Manager, Strategic Planning 1:40 - 1:55 Center for Cell Research, Pennsylvania State University Dr. Wesley Hymer Director 1:55 - 2:00 Corabi International Telemetrics, Inc. Beth W. Newberger President 2:00 - 2:30 Genentech, Inc. Dr. Michael Cronin Senior Scientist 2:30 - 2:50 Advanced Materials Center, Battelle Frank Jelinek Director 2:50 - 3:20 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Dr. Albert Sacco Jr. Chairman, Chemical Engineering Department 3:20 - 3:35 Break 3:35 - 5:15 Panel Discussion James T. Rose Assistant Administrator for Commercial Programs, NASA Courtney Stadd Senior Director for Commercial Programs National Space Council Richard Dalbello Acting Director, Office of Commercial Space U.S. Department of Commerce Stephanie Lee-Miller Director, Office of Commercial Space Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Janice Bellucci Counsel House Subcommittee on Space Science and Applications Noreen Noonan Branch Chief, Science and Space Program Office of Management and Budget 5:15 - 5:45 Open Discussion 5:45 - 6:00 Closing Remarks - Space Council Perspective Courtney Stadd Senior Director for Commercial Programs National Space Council 6:00 - 8:00 Reception - Hosted by Maxwell Laboratories ------------------------------ Date: 4 May 90 17:39:42 GMT From: mcsun!ukc!newcastle.ac.uk!turing!q1kc4@uunet.uu.net (J.D. Taylor) Subject: Re: Phhotos from Space (was: Hubble Telescope) In article <3560@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov> baalke@mars.UUCP (Ron Baalke) writes: > >Voyager 1 has already taken the pictures and sent back the last batch >just two days ago. Any idea when these pictures are to be released to the general public??? John D. Taylor, Dept. of Electronic Eng.,| "Just break out the Rizlas and Newcastle University, England, UK. | roll up a place to unwind." JANET: J.D.Taylor@uk.ac.newcastle | INTERNET: J.D.Taylor@newcastle.ac.uk | - Roy Harper, "Jugula" ------------------------------ Date: 4 May 90 16:56:10 GMT From: mtxinu!sybase!alf!brook@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (brook mantia) Subject: Re: Hubble Telescope In article <299.263BF427@ofa123.FIDONET.ORG> Russ.Tillman@ofa123.FIDONET.ORG (Russ Tillman) writes: >Viewing the 1969-70's lunar sites with the Hubble would be a great PR tool to >display it capabilities to the common non-scientist person (aka taxpayer). >... A picture like that get's people thinking! You've certainly got a good point, Russ. But I think they have to be very careful not to point the Hubble at the Earth, the moon, or the sun because it's too sensitive and it would damage it. Anyone know any more about this? Brook Mantia ------------------------------ Date: 4 May 90 13:37:25 GMT From: shlump.nac.dec.com!renoir.dec.com!klaes@decuac.dec.com Subject: Soviet VENERA Landers on the Surface of Venus. Caer@iear.arts.rpi.edu (Charlie Figura) writes: >> The Russians have been sending their Venera landers >> there for years. The best they've been able to do >> is 46 hours with Venera 16 (Vega 2) in 1985. I think you have your Soviet Venus missions mixed up a bit. The longest any VENERA lander has yet been known to continue operating on the surface of Venus is VENERA 13. Launched on October 30, 1981, VENERA 13 deposited a lander on the planet's surface on March 1, 1982. The craft functioned for 127 minutes, one hour longer than any other Venus lander before or since. VENERA 13 returned the first color images of the hellish world's surface, revealing among other things that Venus has a bright orange sky. The lander also made the first direct soil analysis. VENERA 16 and VEGA 2 were two separate Soviet Venus missions. VENERA 16, launched on June 7, 1983, went into orbit around the planet with VENERA 15 in October of 1983 and began radar mapping regions of the surface with a clarity exceeding that of the United States' PIONEER Venus Orbiter (PVO), also known as PIONEER Venus 1 and PIONEER 12. Neither craft carried landers. VEGA 2, in tandem with VEGA 1, delivered the first balloon- borne payloads into the thick Venusian atmosphere in June of 1985. The probes also deposited two landers on the surface, and then flew on for the first spacecraft encounters with Comet Halley in March of 1986. VEGA is the combined names of VENERA and HALLEY (Halley in Russian is Gallei; there is no letter H in the Russian alphabet). Incidentally, the VEGA 2 lander survived on Venus' surface for only 57 minutes. Larry Klaes klaes@wrksys.enet.dec.com or - ...!decwrl!wrksys.enet.dec.com!klaes or - klaes%wrksys.dec@decwrl.enet.dec.com or - klaes%wrksys.enet.dec.com@uunet.uu.net "The Universe, or nothing!" - H. G. Wells ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V11 #357 *******************