Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 7997;andrew.cmu.edu;Ted Anderson Received: from hogtown.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 ; Mon, 28 Jan 91 01:43:21 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Mon, 28 Jan 91 01:43:18 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #083 SPACE Digest Volume 13 : Issue 83 Today's Topics: Underwater tests gather data to help spacesuit design (Forwarded) Re: THE BLUE PLANET Spaceflight: New Delta Launcher Re: HUBBLE REPORT Re: space news from Dec 17 AW&ST The Lotus Info CD, a.k.a. the ultimate junk mail address book .. Voyager Update - 01/23/91 Spacing Organizations Explanatory Supplement to the AA Galileo Update #3 - 01/24/91 Administrivia: Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to space+@andrew.cmu.edu. Other mail, esp. [un]subscription requests, should be sent to space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu, or, if urgent, to tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 24 Jan 91 18:58:57 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: Underwater tests gather data to help spacesuit design (Forwarded) Sarah Keegan Headquarters, Washington, D.C. January 24, 1991 (Phone: 202/453-2754) Jane Hutchison Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif. (Phone: 415/604-4968) RELEASE: 91-11 UNDERWATER TESTS GATHER DATA TO HELP SPACESUIT DESIGN Scuba divers exercising on a unique underwater treadmill at NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Calif., may help scientists design better spacesuits for future astronauts working on the Moon or Mars. "We hope to answer the basic questions of how human movement and energy consumption will differ in the reduced gravity on the Moon and Mars," said the study's Principal Investigator Dava J. Newman, a doctoral candidate in aeronautical and astronautical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Newman and Co-investigator Dr. Bruce Webbon of Ames's Advanced Life Support Division also hope to learn at what speed humans change from walking to running and how much the joints move during various gaits. Another objective is to determine what kind of gait is most effective in different gravity fields and what energy expenditures are associated with those gaits. Three men and three women, all certified scuba divers between 20 and 40 years old, are participating in the tests conducted on a treadmill designed by Newman for underwater use. Each experiment run consists of six 30-minute sessions. The first session is a control experiment conducted outside Ames's Neutral Buoyancy Test Facility (NBTF). The NBTF is a water- filled cylindrical tank 9 feet deep and 11 feet in diameter. Because water immersion is an effective technique to simulate reduced gravity, the remaining sessions take place inside the NBTF. Five different gravity conditions, or "g's", are simulated: zero g, one-sixth g, three-eighths g, two-thirds g and 1 g (normal Earth gravity). By varying the number and placement of ballast weights distributed in seven regions on the diver's body, Newman can change the diver's buoyancy and thus simulate various gravitational conditions. Each diver wears a commercial diving face mask. Air is provided through a supply hose from a surface tank. Heart rate data and measurements of carbon dioxide exhaled and oxygen consumed by the diver indicate how hard the person is working under a specific workload and gravity field. During each test session, Newman controls treadmill speed while the diver keeps pace with the treadmill belt. Each diver exercises at levels corresponding to 10 percent, 40 percent and 70 percent of the maximum work he or she is able to perform as measured by maximum oxygen consumption. The treadmill is equipped with a platform that measures the force of each step, from which vertical speed and duration of each step can be calculated. The degree and amount of leg, arm and torso movements are recorded on video. "Because humans have evolved under the influence of normal Earth gravity, their muscles and joints probably will respond differently under partial gravity," Newman said. She hopes her research will provide basic information about these differences. Newman believes such information may directly impact the design of advanced spacesuits and portable life support systems. For example, designers need to know how much mobility astronauts' spacesuits should have to let them work most efficiently under various gravity forces. The study, which is scheduled for completion this spring, may lead to improved spacesuit thermal control systems by providing a basic measure of energy expenditures under various gravitational forces. Newman's tests also may lead to development of a training program to help astronauts simulate specific tasks and experience partial gravity prior to space flight. - end - NOTE TO EDITORS: Still photographs and a video to accompany this release are available by calling 202/453-8375. Photos: B&W Color 91-H-48 91-HC-59 ------------------------------ Date: 24 Jan 91 06:45:14 GMT From: hpda!hpcupt1!hpindwa!bobj@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Bob Joslin) Subject: Re: THE BLUE PLANET I've been eagerly waiting many months for The Blue Planet to come out! But, I live in the SF Bay Area. The only IMAX theater I know about is at Great America. That's closed now, and they rarely show any good IMAX films anyway. There must be another IMAX theater around here somewhere! Can someone help me out? Bob Joslin ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jan 91 20:57:35 GMT From: van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a752@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Bruce Dunn) Subject: Spaceflight: New Delta Launcher From "Spaceflight", January 1991 New Delta II Launched 5 paragraph article. On November 26, a Navstar satellite was launched on a new Delta II variant termed the "7925 configuration". Relative to previous Deltas, the vehicle uses larger solid boosters (Hercules "Graphite Epoxy Motors", 6 feet longer than previous motors and providing 12,000 lbs more thrust). At the same time the nozzle of the first stage Rocketdyne RS-27A engine (burning RP-1, a kerosene like fuel, with liquid oxygen) has been modified to increase its expansion ratio from 8:1 to 12:1. Technical comment by poster: The main engine modification will increase exhaust velocity in the upper atmosphere and space, possibly losing some performance at the beginning of the launch due to exhaust overexpansion (assuming that the chamber pressure was not increased at the same time - the article does not mention chamber pressure). Overall the approach to improving the performance of this venerable launcher appears to be to gain more of the initial lift-off thrust from the strap-on solid boosters, and optimize the core liquid fuel engine for performance later in the flight. The monthly magazine "Spaceflight" may be received worldwide by mail through membership in the British Interplanetary Society. Details may be obtained from: British Interplanetary Society 27/29 South Lambeth Road London SW8 1SZ England -- Bruce Dunn Vancouver, Canada a752@mindlink.UUCP ------------------------------ Date: 21 Jan 91 15:36:22 GMT From: mcsun!unido!mpirbn!p515dfi@uunet.uu.net (Daniel Fischer) Subject: Re: HUBBLE REPORT In article <91014.195626EEET176@LIVERPOOL.AC.UK> EEET176@LIVERPOOL.AC.UK (Andrew Hartridge) writes: > If not can someone tell me the Report Ref. Number so I can get >it on paper from the US Government Printing office (I presume it is >they who publish it?) Just make a phone call to NASA HQ and ask for "The H.S.T. Optical Systems Failure Report". Don't expect anything like the Rogers Report: it's rather thin and the printing quality is poor. Moreover, though it gives lots of details on *what* errors were made, it doesn't answer the question of *why* in any detail. Does someone know whether - like with the Rogers panel - transcipts of the hearings will be made available or more documentation than provided in the report? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jan 91 15:44:44 -0500 From: "Allen W. Sherzer" Subject: Re: space news from Dec 17 AW&ST Newsgroups: sci.space Cc: In article : |||The U. S. manned space program almost ceased to exist in 1986 due to 1 ||| failure in 25 flights. ||Had NASA been up front with the risks and run a better operation the ||Chalanger disaster PR fallout wouldn't have been that bad. |Yes, NASA had great claims of the reliability, maintainability, and just plain |ability of the space shuttle. But NASA didn't get to build the Space Shuttle |they wanted. What difference does that make? The point is that *WHILE THE SHUTTLE WAS OPERATIONAL* NASA made in word and deed wildly inaccurate statements about the safety of the Shuttle. It doesn't matter what past history was. When it became clear that the Shuttle in fact wasn't nearly that safe people concluded that NASA either lied or didn't understand the situation. Either conclusion would cause a rational person to wonder about the space program. The public will accept risk if given an accurate assessment of the risks. Allen -- +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Allen W. Sherzer | America does best when it accepts a challenging mission. | | aws@iti.org | We invent well under pressure. Conversely, we stagnate | | | when caution prevails. -- Buzz Aldrin | ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jan 91 18:25:46 GMT From: att!news.cs.indiana.edu!ariel.unm.edu!nmsu!charon!bwebber@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Bill Webber) Subject: The Lotus Info CD, a.k.a. the ultimate junk mail address book .. I called that 800 number to get a removal packet, there was a taped message saying that Lotus cancelled the project after 'reviewing' the effect on public opinion, and that there now was no need to have a removal packet sent to erase your names. I still think that certain organizations will get a complimentary copy on the sly, tho. Scary. k_macarthur (not bwebber, work for same) ------------------------------ Date: 23 Jan 91 21:23:40 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Subject: Voyager Update - 01/23/91 VOYAGER STATUS REPORT January 23, 1991 Voyager 1 The Voyager 1 spacecraft collected routine UVS (Ultraviolet Spectromter) data on sources HR 1350, HD 52089 and HD 58978. On January 15, a frame of PWS (Plasma Wave) data was recorded on the DTR (Digital Tape Recorder) for future playback. Round trip light time is 12 hours, 15 minutes. On January 15, shortly after a slew, the IRIS (Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer and Radiometer) Primary Heater went into alarm due to heater output dropping below the limits. It is currently suspected that heater output dropped due to solar heating caused by the pointing after the slew to HD 52089. A second slew on January 17 did not move the scan platform a large amount but the heater output did change a little. The alarm limit for this heater was lowered temporarily and will probably be restored if data after the next slew to the South Galactic Pole on January 24 warrants it. Voyager 2 The Voyager 2 spacecraft collected routine UVS data on sources 53 PER and AKN 120. On January 15, one frame of high-rate PWS data was recorded. Round trip light time is 9 hours, 37 minutes. Also on January 15, science calibrations for PLS/MAG/LECP (Plasma/Magnetometer/Low Energy Charged Particles) instruments were completed. On January 16, another PLS/MAG/LECP science calibration was completed. Both sets of calibrations were as per predicts. On January 17, the AACS (Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem) A & B gyroscopes were turned off thereby completing the GYRO Conditioning. A mini-sequence to investigate cause of the unexpected gyro swap on January 10 is planned to be transmitted to the spacecraft on January 28. CONSUMABLE STATUS AS OF 01/23/91 P R O P E L L A N T S T A T U S P O W E R Consumption One Week Propellant Remaining Output Margin Spacecraft (Gm) (Kg) Watts Watts Voyager 1 6 36.2 + 2.0 366 55 Voyager 2 5 39.2 + 2.0 370 61 ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| | | | | __ \ /| | | | Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |___ Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| M/S 301-355 | |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ Pasadena, CA 91109 | ------------------------------ Date: 22 Jan 91 20:17:29 GMT From: amara!mcdaniel@uunet.uu.net (Tim McDaniel) Subject: Spacing Organizations (1) What nations or organizations have launched objects into orbit? Obvious: USSR, European Space Agency, US, China, Japan. PLEASE RESPOND BY E-MAIL -- I'LL SUMMARIZE. (If you can't e-mail, please don't bother replying to the net.) (2) Near the end of last year, I saw a report that Iraq had launched something into orbit. I saw no followup, confirming or denying. Can anyone say yea or nay? -- Tim McDaniel Applied Dynamics Int'l.; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Work phone: +1 313 973 1300 Home phone: +1 313 677 4386 Internet: mcdaniel@adi.com UUCP: {uunet,sharkey}!amara!mcdaniel ------------------------------ Date: 24 Jan 91 07:22:19 GMT From: amethyst!organpipe!hindmost!rclark@noao.edu (Richard Clark x4971) Subject: Explanatory Supplement to the AA Where is the new edition of the Explanatory Supplement? Is it available yet? I haven't been able to find it in either the library or Books in Print although I have seen people mention it as if it was near at hand. Perhapse they have a draft version? ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 91 00:49:31 GMT From: swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Subject: Galileo Update #3 - 01/24/91 GALILEO STATUS REPORT January 24, 1991 The Galileo spacecraft is about 22.7 million miles from Earth, and its speed in solar orbit is 82,880 mph. It has flown nearly 736 million miles since launch in October 1989, and has 1.6 billion miles to go before reaching Jupiter in December 1995. Round-trip communication time is just over 4 minutes. Spacecraft health and mission performance continue to be excellent. Galileo is now in the all-spin mode as it was in its first two weeks of flight, rotating at about 2.9 rpm and routinely turning to re-point the spin axis at the Sun about every other day. It is also routinely collecting data on interplanetary dust and magnetic fields. On Thursday, January 31, the spacecraft will switch Earth communications from its second Low Gain Antenna, mounted on the shady side of the spacecraft, to the primary Low Gain Antenna mounted at the peak of the sunny side. This is because Galileo will cross Earth's orbit in three weeks, and the spacecraft-Earth geometry is changing and moving Earth into that antenna's pattern. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |___ M/S 301-355 | It's 10PM, do you know /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | where your spacecraft is? |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | We do! ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V13 #083 *******************