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, 2 Jan 1991 03:15:32 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <0bUNNku00VcJI2qk58@andrew.cmu.edu> Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Wed, 2 Jan 1991 03:14:42 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #715 SPACE Digest Volume 12 : Issue 715 Today's Topics: 1991 Princeton Space Forum - Moon, Mars, and Beyond Magellan Update - 12/18/90 NASA Headline News for 12/18/90 (Forwarded) Re: Why didn't I think of that!?@#$%! Venus article Administrivia: Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to space+@andrew.cmu.edu. Other mail, esp. [un]subscription notices, should be sent to space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu, or, if urgent, to tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 18 Dec 90 15:54:41 GMT From: phoenix!mcconley@princeton.edu (Marc Wayne Mcconley) Organization: Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey Subject: 1991 Princeton Space Forum - Moon, Mars, and Beyond Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu MOON, MARS, AND BEYOND Top Space Experts to Explore America's Future in Space at Public Forum Princeton, NJ - On February 11, 1991, seven of the nation's leading authorities on space will participate in an innovative public forum entitled "Moon, Mars, and Beyond" to discuss the policy options now being considered by the Bush administration for America's space program. The forum will foster interaction among these experts and the public and will provide a non-technical perspective on strategies for the exploration and settlement of the solar system. Participants include the current Deputy Administrator of NASA, the visionary creator of "Star Trek," and an entrepreneur whose private company launches commercial payloads into orbit. (A complete list of speakers appears below.) "Moon, Mars, and Beyond" begins at 7:30 pm on Monday, February 11, 1991, in Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall, Princeton University. Admission is $6 to individuals not affiliated with Princeton University. To order tickets send a check or money order, payable to Princeton Planetary Society, for $6 per ticket to: Princeton Planetary Society, 315 West College, Princeton University, Princeton NJ 08544. Ticket orders MUST BE RECEIVED BY JANUARY 31, 1991. For more information, contact Audrey Robinson at 609-258-7947. AFTER JANUARY 31, tickets may be purchased through the Richardson Auditorium Box Office by phone (609-258-5000) with VISA or MasterCard only. The Box Office adds a $1 service charge to the price of each ticket for phone orders. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Box Office with cash, check, or credit card. The Box Office is open from 4 to 6 pm, Monday through Friday, and beginning at 4 pm on the day of the forum. The forum is sponsored by the Princeton Planetary Society, a student-run chapter of the National Space Society. "Moon, Mars, and Beyond" is the Third Annual Princeton Space Forum. The first two forums each attracted 500 people and widespread media coverage. -- Marc W. McConley Vice President, Princeton Planetary Society Reply-To: mcconley@phoenix.Princeton.EDU || (609) 258-7674 ===================================================================== The following is a complete list of speakers: JOHN BAHCALL is Professor of Natural Science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and President of the American Astronomical Society. Bahcall works on galaxy models, dark matter, neutron stars, quasars, and solar neutrinos, and he published a book on "Solar Neutrinos" in 1989. JAMES C BENNETT is currently the Corporate Vice President of American Rocket Company, a private launch company, which developed the unique, non-explosive hybrid rocket engine. Bennett co-founded the company with the late George Koopman in 1985. He was also a co-founder of Space Enterprise Consultants, the first consulting firm devoted entirely to commercial space development, and of Arc Technologies, Inc., an early private space-launch venture. He is a member of the Legislative Committee of the National Space Society. GREGG EASTERBROOK is a Contributing Editor for "Newsweek." In an exclusive report in "Newsweek's" August 17, 1987, issue, Easterbrook explained how interagency rivalries, aerospace-industry lobbying, and domestic political considerations continue to plague America's space program. He had earlier predicted in a 1980 article that the space shuttle program was fraught with dangers. Easterbrook also seves as a Contributing Editor at both "The Atlantic" and "The Washington Monthly" magazines. STEPHANIE LEE-MILLER is the director of the Office of Commercial Space Transportation in the US Department of Transportation. In this capacity, she serves as the Secretary's Representative to the National Space Council and the chief federal regulatory official for the growing commercial space transportation industry. Lee-Miler is a member of Women in Aerospace, a professional organization created to honor outstanding women in the space field. ROBERT J MRAZEK has been a Democratic member of the US House of Representatives since 1983, representing the Third District of New York. Mrazek serves on the Appropriations Committee and is a Whip at Large. As a member of the Congressional Space Caucus, he has authored international satellite usage legislation and has been actively exploring ways in which space-based remote-sensing satellites can help promote information-based security strategies. GENE RODDENBERRY, a member of the National Space Society Board of Governors, has been a long-term supporter of the peaceful expansion of mankind into space. He is the creator and executive producer of "Star Trek" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He also produced "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and served as executive consultant for several other "Star Trek" movies. Roddenberry will moderate the panel discussion during the forum. J R THOMPSON, JR became Deputy Administrator of NASA in 1989, following 33 months as head of the Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL. Druing that period, the Marshall Center oversaw the redesign and testing of the Space Shuttle's critical solid rocket boosters. Before becoming director at Marshall, Thompson served 3 years as deputy director for technical operations at Princeton's Plasma Physics Laboratory. In 1986 he served as the vice chairman of the NASA task force inquiring into the cause of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident. Previously, Thompson spent 20 years with NASA at Marshall in various positions, where he was responsible for the development and operation of the most advanced liquid propulsion rocket engine ever created. Thompson will deliver the keynote address at the forum. ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 18 Dec 90 18:47:17 GMT From: swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Subject: Magellan Update - 12/18/90 Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT December 18, 1990 The Magellan spacecraft continues to be in good health and is performing nominally. All STARCALS (star calibrations) and DESATS (desaturations) during the past 24 hours were successful. The Project is currently in the Occulted Mapping Phase of the mission. Each mapping pass is shortened by 6.5 to 9 minutes in order to accommodate Earth occultation during the playback. The period of earth occultation varies from 46 to 58.5 minutes. The area missed because of the shorter mapping pass is split between the north and south ends of the image swath. The radar sensor health continues to operate normally. Fifteen full resolution image swaths were processed by the SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) Data Processor since the morning of December 14, including 11 standard swaths, 3 special products and one temporary image from orbit #1032. Analysis of image swaths from orbit #1023 and after revealed some small gores (spaces between adjacent swaths) near the periapsis (lowest point in the orbit). It has been determined that this was a result of a slight error in the mapping quaterions, and will be corrected on an upcoming update of the mapping quaternion file. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| | | | | __ \ /| | | | Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |___ Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| M/S 301-355 | |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ Pasadena, CA 91109 | ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 18 Dec 90 20:36:22 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA Subject: NASA Headline News for 12/18/90 (Forwarded) Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu Headline News Internal Communications Branch (P-2) NASA Headquarters Tuesday, December 18, 1990 Audio Service: 202 / 755-1788 This is NASA Headline News for Tuesday, December 18, 1990 NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly has named Donald R. Puddy to head a small team to assist in determining the best methods for implementing the Augustine Committee recommendations which fall under NASA's purview. Puddy is JSC's director of flight crew operations. Truly noted that "Many of the report's recommendations are consistent with initiatives already underway at NASA. their very nature, will take longer. Many of the most important ... will depend on the strong support of not only NASA, but also the White House and Congress." The Administrators' holiday message to NASA employees today at noon Eastern time on NASA Select television includes a report on the weekend meeting of top NASA management and members of the Augustine group. * * * * * * * * * * * With "wheels up" at 10:03 am EST, the Space Shuttle Columbia, carried atop the 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, departed California today on its ferry flight to Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Yesterday's scheduled departure from NASA's Mojave Desert flight test facility was cancelled due to enroute weather considerations. Flight plans call for the Orbiter/747 combination to fly to Biggs Army Airfield, El Paso, Texas, and then on to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana or Kelly AFB, Texas following a weather check at El Paso. Barring weather problems, Columbia would return to KSC by noon tomorrow, after an overnight stay at Barksdale or Kelly, and with a possible refueling stop at Eglin AFB, Florida. * * * * * * * * * * * * In Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building, soft-mating of the STS-39 missions External Tank to the Solid Rocket Boosters is expected to be completed this afternoon. STS-39 is an unclassified Department of Defense shuttle mission targeted for launch in late February. Work continues on Discovery and Atlantis, in preparation for power down on Friday. * * * * * * * * * * * * * The "first-look" results from the Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft's December 8th flyby of Earth will be presented by scientists at JPL tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 Eastern time on NASA Select television. The Earth flyby was successfully undertaken to provide a gravitational assist to Galileo, increasing its flight velocity on its journey to Jupiter. Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA Select TV. All times are Eastern. **indicates a live program. Tuesday 12/18/90 12:00 noon **Holiday Message from NASA Administrator Richard H. Truly Wednesday 12/19/90 1:00 pm **Galileo Press Conference from JPL Thursday 12/20/90 2:00 pm **STS-35 Crew Post Flight Press Conference from JSC Friday 12/21/90 (no scheduled events) All events and times may change without notice. This report is filed daily, Monday through Friday, at 12:00 pm, EST. It is a service of Internal Communications Branch at NASA Headquarters. Contact: CREDMOND on NASAmail or at 202/453-8425. NASA Select TV: Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, C-Band, 72 degrees West Longitude, Audio 6.8, Frequency 3960 MHz. ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 18 Dec 90 22:04:32 GMT From: usc!samsung!noose.ecn.purdue.edu!mentor.cc.purdue.edu!mace.cc.purdue.edu!dil@ucsd.edu (Perry G Ramsey) Organization: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Subject: Re: Why didn't I think of that!?@#$%! References: <9012181559.AA09794@gemini.arc.nasa.gov> Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu In article <9012181559.AA09794@gemini.arc.nasa.gov>, greer%utdssa.dnet%utaivc@utspan.span.nasa.gov writes: > a sweepstakes to hitch a ride on the MIR at $2.99 a call. Does this look like a complete scam to anybody but me? How chummy are the operators with their Carribean real estate agent? Their Swiss banker? -- Perry G. Ramsey Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences perryr@vm.cc.purdue.edu Purdue University, W. Lafayette, IN USA dil@mace.cc.purdue.edu Why waste time learning when ignorance is instantaneous? -- Hobbes ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 19 Dec 90 04:10:01 GMT From: usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Subject: Venus article Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu Science News -- December 15, 1990 "Blob Tectonics on Venus" Planetary scientists have debated for more than a decade where some form of the plate tectonics that shaped Earth also molded the surface of Venus. Now two researchers suggest that some of the most dramatic features on Venus result not from plate tectonics, but from a process they call "blob tectonics". On Earth, the Hawaiin Islands and some other island chains represent one classic manifestation of plate tectonics. Such island chains apparently formed when a "hot spot" -- a plume of hot rock rising from the planet's interior -- broke through the crustal plate overhead. Over millions of years, towering volcanic peaks arose, which got carried away by the moving plate. As proposed by Robert R. Herrick and Roger J. Phillips of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, blob tectonics would involve gigantic, single "blobs" of hot materials rising like bubbles. These deformed and sometimes punched through a stationary Venusian surface, the Dallas scientists suggest. Four examples of such blobs may underlie Aphrodite Terra, a hilly region that stretches at least 10,000 kilometers along Venus' equator, Herrick and Phillips say. Beta Regio, one of the first features on the planet identified as volcanic in origin, may offer another candidate site for blob tectonics. "A basic tenet of this model is that tectonism and magmatism (the formation of molten material) at Beta Regio and western Aphrodite are dominated by the evolution of plume heads or blobs as they rise to the base of the lithosphere and spread laterally," the authors write in the November Geophysical Research Letters. The lithosphere contains the planet's crust and the uppermost mantle. One clue to the presence of four separate blobs at Aphrodite Terra comes from variations in the planet's gravity, which indicates regions of lower-density materials in the mantle at different depths. The density measurements -- made by tracking the rises and dips in altitude of the orbiting U.S. satellite Pioneer Venus (which reached Venus in 1978) and Magellen (which arrived last August) -- show one less-dense area about 15 km down in a circular area roughly 2,500 km across. A second area lies 70 km down in an elliptical shape some 3,500 km long; a third appears as a 2,500 km circle at a depth of 80 km, and a fourth lies about 100 km below the surface, forming a circular feature 3000 km across. If the theory is correct, Magellan's sharp radar images will reveal specific surface features resulting from rising, individual blobs, Phillips says. He and other Magellan scientists are looking for elevated regions cracked by faults in more than one direction and areas that lack meteorite impact craters, as if existing craters have been covered by massive volcanic flows. Phillips says processing of Magellan's radar images of western Aphrodite Terra should begin later this month at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Magellan will not image Beta Regio until next spring. [Magellan started imaging Aphrodite Terra around November 16, and as mentioned in the article, this region stretches 10,000 km, and Magellan will continue to image this region until March 1, 1991. When Magellan went into orbit around Venus last August 10, it was already over Beta Regio. Since radar mapping did not start until September 15, Magellan will have to wait until the next go around until it obtains images of Beta Regio, which will be on April 7, 1991. Ron Baalke ] ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| | | | | __ \ /| | | | Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |___ Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| M/S 301-355 | |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ Pasadena, CA 91109 | ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V12 #715 *******************