Date: Fri, 30 Apr 93 05:06:12 From: Space Digest maintainer Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu Subject: Space Digest V16 #500 To: Space Digest Readers Precedence: bulk Space Digest Fri, 30 Apr 93 Volume 16 : Issue 500 Today's Topics: Gamma Ray Bursters. Where are they? (3 msgs) HST Servicing Mission HST Servicing Mission Scheduled for 11 Days (3 msgs) Mars Exploration Lecture Political banner in space Space Station Redesign, JSC Alternative #4 space surveillance temperature of the dark sky (3 msgs) test (please ignore) The Dream Machines: book on vaporware spacecraft Vandalizing the sky. (2 msgs) Welcome to the Space Digest!! Please send your messages to "space@isu.isunet.edu", and (un)subscription requests of the form "Subscribe Space " to one of these addresses: listserv@uga (BITNET), rice::boyle (SPAN/NSInet), utadnx::utspan::rice::boyle (THENET), or space-REQUEST@isu.isunet.edu (Internet). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 28 Apr 1993 18:07:10 GMT From: "Kevin W. Plaxco" Subject: Gamma Ray Bursters. Where are they? Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro In article <27APR199320210230@stdvax.gsfc.nasa.gov> abdkw@stdvax.gsfc.nasa.gov (David Ward) writes: >Given that fact, and the spacecraft attitude knowledge >of approx. 2 arcmin, we might be able to figure out how well BATSE can >determine the location (rotational) of a Gamma Ray burster from knowledge >of the all-sky map's accuracy. PR material for the other three instruments >give accuracies on the order of "fractions of a degree", if that's >any help. But I believe that there is a fundamental difference here. The other x three instruments are focusing instruments, that, more or less, form an image, so positional errors are limited by craft attitude and the resolving power of the optics. BATSE is an altogether different beast, effectively just 8 coincidence counters, one on each corner of the craft. Positional information is triangulated from the differential signal arrival times at each of the detectors. Positional error would be predominantly determined by timing errors and errors in craft attitude. Since none of the 8 BASTE detectors have any independant angular resolution whatsoever, they can not be used to determine parallax. Indeed, parallax would just add a very small component to the positional error. Demonstrating that these puppies are beyond the oort cloud would require resolution on the order of arcseconds, since the oort cloud is postulated to extend to about 0.5 parsec (all together now: "Parallax ARc SECond", a parsec is the distance of an object that demonstrates one arc second of parallax with a 2 AU base line). If the 3 degree accuracy reported above is true, we're going to have to add a BASTE to the pluto fast flyby to get enough baseline. The beauty of BASTE is that it both gives positional information and watches the entire sky simultaneously, a realy handy combination when you have no idea where the next burst is coming from. -Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 19:20:46 GMT From: Paul Dietz Subject: Gamma Ray Bursters. Where are they? Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro In article <1rmh4eINN95h@gap.caltech.edu> kwp@wag.caltech.edu (Kevin W. Plaxco) writes: > resolving power of the optics. BATSE is an altogether different > beast, effectively just 8 coincidence counters, one on each corner of > the craft. Positional information is triangulated from the > differential signal arrival times at each of the detectors. Obviously not. Count rates are too low and signal rise times too long for this to be possible. The CGRO, is, what, 10 meters long? You'd need to time to an accuracy of nanoseconds to do this. What BATSE actually does is measure the relative strength in each of the detectors (also as a function of photon energy). Each of the detectors does not have isotropic response. To do this right one must model the scattering of photons in the material around each detector, and even scattering of photons off the Earth's atmosphere back onto the spacecraft. I believe they have now reduced the error to about 2 degrees. Paul F. Dietz dietz@cs.rochester.edu ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 19:48:31 GMT From: "George F. Krumins" Subject: Gamma Ray Bursters. Where are they? Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro kwp@wag.caltech.edu (Kevin W. Plaxco) writes: >In article <27APR199320210230@stdvax.gsfc.nasa.gov> abdkw@stdvax.gsfc.nasa.gov (David Ward) writes: >Demonstrating that these puppies are beyond the oort cloud would >require resolution on the order of arcseconds, since the oort >cloud is postulated to extend to about 0.5 parsec (all together >now: "Parallax ARc SECond", a parsec is the distance of an object >that demonstrates one arc second of parallax with a 2 AU base line). According to my *Glossary of Astronomy and Astrophysics*: "parsec (abbreviation for parallax second) The distance at which one astronomical unit subtends an angle of 1 second of arc. 1 pc = 206,265 AU = 3.086 X 10^13 km = 3.26 lt-yr." George -- | George Krumins /^\ The Serpent and the Rainbow | | gfk39017@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu <^^. .^^> | | Pufferfish Observatory <_ (o) _> | | \_/ | ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 18:22:51 GMT From: zellner@stsci.edu Subject: HST Servicing Mission Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle,sci.astro In article <1993Apr28.141606.17449@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov>, bday@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov (Brian Day) writes: > rdouglas@stsci.edu (Rob Douglas) writes: > >>[...] But try to land a shuttle with that big huge telescope in the >>back and you could have problems. The shuttle just isn't designed to land >>with that much weight in the payload. > > Is HST really _that_ much heavier than a Spacelab ??? > I hate to belabor the obvious once again, but if there had been an Orbiter emergency in the early stages of the original HST deployment mission, they would have HAD to land with HST in the bay. Indeed they were worried about that. One concern was the possibility that they would lose a motor or something on the way up, and make orbit but one that was too low to give HST a useful lifetime against atmospheric drag. I believe the decision was to deploy HST even if the projected lifetime was as short as six months. In fact we got an excellent orbit, on the upper envelope of what the Shuttle can do. I have never heard of any serious consideration that HST might be brought down for refurbishment. You would have the horrendous cost of transporting, cleaning, re-testing, and re-certifying all the hardware on the ground, in addition to the lost observing time and the cost of a second deployment mission with the risks that we might not get such a good orbit the second time. And, you would probably STILL need a (third) servicing mission in a few years as gyros and other components wear out. Better to have two servicing missions in space (which could well happen) than to bring HST down and take it up again. Ben ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 17:19:15 GMT From: fred j mccall 575-3539 Subject: HST Servicing Mission Scheduled for 11 Days Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle,sci.astro In <1993Apr28.141606.17449@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov> bday@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov (Brian Day) writes: >rdouglas@stsci.edu (Rob Douglas) writes: >>[...] But try to land a shuttle with that big huge telescope in the >>back and you could have problems. The shuttle just isn't designed to land >>with that much weight in the payload. >Is HST really _that_ much heavier than a Spacelab ??? I can't speak to sheer mass, but part of the problem is that HST wasn't built to ever be brought back down. It's not built for those kinds of 'jolt' forces and there is no support cradle for it (which is additional weight that would be required. -- "Insisting on perfect safety is for people who don't have the balls to live in the real world." -- Mary Shafer, NASA Ames Dryden ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fred.McCall@dseg.ti.com - I don't speak for others and they don't speak for me. ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 93 12:49:46 CDT From: Greg Titus Subject: HST Servicing Mission Scheduled for 11 Days Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,sci.space.shuttle In article <1993Apr27.094238.7682@samba.oit.unc.edu> Bruce.Scott@launchpad.unc.edu (Bruce Scott) writes: >If re-boosting the HST by carrying it with a shuttle would not damage it, >then why couldn't HST be brought back to earth and the repair job done >here? I'm not sure if this is a big issue, but it seems to me like it might be -- up till now, all >1g forces applied to the mirror and its mounting (and nearly all =1g forces) have been applied along the telescope's optical axis, and against the mirror's base. Reentry would apply forces along roughly the same axis, but tending to pull the mirror away from the mount, and the landing would apply on-edge forces to both the mirror and mount. It could be that one or both of these would not survive. greg -- -------------------------------------------------------------- Greg Titus (gbt@zia.cray.com) Compiler Group Cray Research, Inc. Santa Fe, NM Opinions expressed herein (such as they are) are purely my own. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 19:53:40 GMT From: Rob Douglas Subject: HST Servicing Mission Scheduled for 11 Days Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle,sci.astro In article <1993Apr28.171915.5013@mksol.dseg.ti.com>, mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.com (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes: |> In <1993Apr28.141606.17449@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov> bday@lambda.msfc.nasa.gov (Brian Day) writes: |> |> >rdouglas@stsci.edu (Rob Douglas) writes: |> |> >>[...] But try to land a shuttle with that big huge telescope in the |> >>back and you could have problems. The shuttle just isn't designed to land |> >>with that much weight in the payload. |> |> >Is HST really _that_ much heavier than a Spacelab ??? |> |> I can't speak to sheer mass, but part of the problem is that HST |> wasn't built to ever be brought back down. It's not built for those |> kinds of 'jolt' forces and there is no support cradle for it (which is |> additional weight that would be required. Just to throw it out there: The mass of the telescope is 11,600 kg (25,500 lb). I do not know what Space lab weighs, but I believe it is less. Can anyone verify?? Also, remember that weight was not the only concern, as many others have noted, just one possible concern. I was responding to a statement that if you can boost it, why can't you land it. Those are too different problems. ROB -- =========================================================================== | Rob Douglas | SPACE | 3700 San Martin Drive | | AI Software Engineer | TELESCOPE | Baltimore, MD 21218, USA | | Advance Planning Systems Branch | SCIENCE | Phone: (410) 338-4497 | | Internet: rdouglas@stsci.edu | INSTITUTE | Fax: (410) 338-1592 | =========================================================================== Disclaimer-type-thingie>>>>> These opinions are mine! Unless of course they fall under the standard intellectual property guidelines. But with my intellect, I doubt it. Besides, if it was useful intellectual property, do you think I would type it in here? -- =========================================================================== | Rob Douglas | SPACE | 3700 San Martin Drive | | AI Software Engineer | TELESCOPE | Baltimore, MD 21218, USA | | Advance Planning Systems Branch | SCIENCE | Phone: (410) 338-4497 | ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 1993 20:20 UT From: Ron Baalke Subject: Mars Exploration Lecture Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary The AIAA San Gabriel Valley Section is sponsoring the following lecture on Mars exploration at the Jet Propulsion Lab. Admission is free and open to the public. The Next Frontier: The Challenge of Mars Exploration DATE: May 6, 1993 TIME: 6:00PM - 8:30 PM LOCATION: Von Karman Auditorium Jet Propulsion Lab 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, California The following five speakers will be featured: A Science Fiction Perspective Tom McDonaugh Science Fiction Writer Mars Observer Dr. Arden Albee Project Scientist, Mars Observer - JPL Mars '94 Dr. Arthur L. Lane Instrument Manager, Mars '94 - JPL Mars Environmental Survey (MESUR) Richard Cook Mission Designer - JPL Manned Mission to Mars Dr. Robert Zubrin Senior Engineer, Martin Marietta Astronautics For more information, contact AIAA at 800-683-2422 or Mark Leon at 310-332-1098. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | The aweto from New Zealand /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | is part caterpillar and |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | part vegetable. ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 1993 17:45:27 GMT From: "David M. Palmer" Subject: Political banner in space Newsgroups: sci.space u1452@penelope.sdsc.edu (Jeff Bytof - SIO) writes: >I propose that PepsiCo, Mcdonalds and other companies could put >into orbit banners that have timely political messages, such as, > "Stop the slaughter in Bosnia!" Or how about: "End light pollution now!!" Your banner would have no effect on its subject, but my banner would. -- David M. Palmer palmer@alumni.caltech.edu palmer@tgrs.gsfc.nasa.gov ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 14:39:16 GMT From: kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov Subject: Space Station Redesign, JSC Alternative #4 Newsgroups: sci.space First, kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Hey, that's me!) wrote: : : I have 19 (2 MB worth!) uuencode'd GIF images contain charts outlining : : one of the many alternative Space Station designs being considered in : : Crystal City. [...] Second, kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (me again) wrote: : I just posted the GIF files out for anonymous FTP on server ics.uci.edu. : You can retrieve them from: : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode01.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode02.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode03.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode04.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode05.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode06.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode07.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode08.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode09.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode10.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode11.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode12.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode13.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode14.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode15.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode16.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geode17.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geodeA.gif : ics.uci.edu:incoming/geodeB.gif : The last two are scanned color photos; the others are scanned briefing : charts. : These will be deleted by the ics.uci.edu system manager in a few days, : so now's the time to grab them if you're interested. Sorry it took : me so long to get these out, but I was trying for the Ames server, : but it's out of space. But now I need to clarify the situation. The "/incoming" directory on ics.uci.edu does NOT allow you to do an "ls" command. The files are there (I just checked on 04/28/93 at 9:35 CDT), and you can "get" them (don't forget the "binary" mode!), but you can't "ls" in the "/incoming" directory. A further update: Mark's design made the cover of Space News this week as one of the design alternatives which was rejected. But he's still in there plugging. I wish him luck -- using ET's as the basis of a Space Station has been a good idea for a long time. May the best design win. -- Ken Jenks, NASA/JSC/GM2, Space Shuttle Program Office kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (713) 483-4368 "Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous impatience." -- Admiral Hyman G. Rickover ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 17:02:47 GMT From: "John E. Curtis" Subject: space surveillance Newsgroups: sci.space One of the main reasons nations like the US and RUSSIA observe satellite that have been launched is FORBs system whick loft nuclear bombs into orbit which are planned to be detonated in LEO causing EMP pulses interfering with the target command and control system. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 16:12:49 GMT From: Henry Spencer Subject: temperature of the dark sky Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space In article <1993Apr28.002214.16544@Princeton.EDU> richmond@spiff.Princeton.EDU (Stupendous Man) writes: > Henry, if I read you correctly, you may be asking "If I put a blackbody >in interstellar space ('disregarding the Sun and nearby large warm objects'), >what termperature will it reach in thermal equilibrium with the ambient >radiation field?" Basically the right question, although I was interested in cases closer to home where the Sun is behind either a natural object or effective shielding. > If that's the case, let me point out that interstellar dust and >molecules provide many instances of things that are, well, not-too-far >from being blackbodies... > Inside the disk of the galaxy, the temperature varies quite a bit >from place to place... Good point (and thanks for the references). -- SVR4 resembles a high-speed collision | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology between SVR3 and SunOS. - Dick Dunn | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 16:08:44 GMT From: Henry Spencer Subject: temperature of the dark sky Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space In article metares@well.sf.ca.us (Tom Van Flandern) writes: >> ...the temperature of the (night) sky as seen from space? > You'll find that in Allen, C.W., "Astrophysical Quantities", Athlone >Press, Dover, NH, 3rd edition, pp. 268-269 (1973)... #@$#%$!! I *have* a copy of Allen, and it never occurred to me to look in there... I must be getting old... I'll look it up when I get home. Thanks. >... the temperature is 3 degrees K. I'd remembered a rather higher number, but that may have been for the lunar nearside, where the Earth is a significant heat source. -- SVR4 resembles a high-speed collision | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology between SVR3 and SunOS. - Dick Dunn | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 17:52:08 GMT From: zellner@stsci.edu Subject: temperature of the dark sky Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space In article <1993Apr28.002214.16544@Princeton.EDU>, richmond@spiff.Princeton.EDU (Stupendous Man) writes: > (Henry Spencer) writes: >> Does anyone have a reference (something I can look up, not just your own >> recollections -- I have a few of those myself) on the temperature of the >> (night) sky as seen from space? >> > > Henry, if I read you correctly, you may be asking "If I put a blackbody > in interstellar space ('disregarding the Sun and nearby large warm objects'), > what termperature will it reach in thermal equilibrium with the ambient > radiation field?" > > If that's the case, let me point out that interstellar dust and > molecules provide many instances of things that are, well, not-too-far > from being blackbodies. Many different observations, including IRAS > and COBE, have determined that interstellar dust grain temperatures > can range from 40K to 150K. Yes, but that's because interstellar grains are very poor radiators, not remotely black bodies. As a consequence they are a lot warmer than the "ambient". > Inside the disk of the galaxy, the temperature varies quite a bit > from place to place (how close are you to the nearest OB association, > I would guess). Outside the galaxy, of course, things aren't so > varied. > When I was in graduate school, a long time ago, we used 10,000 deg K with a DILUTION FACTOR of 10+4 for representative values of the radiant energy background in the galaxy due to starlight. Ben ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 1993 15:49:31 GMT From: binglis Subject: test (please ignore) Newsgroups: sci.space Source-Info: Sender is really isu@VACATION.VENARI.CS.CMU.EDU ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 93 10:56:59 -0600 From: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey Subject: The Dream Machines: book on vaporware spacecraft Newsgroups: sci.space,rec.arts.books,rec.arts.sf.written,rec.arts.sf.marketplace,rec.models.rockets,rec.aviation.misc Ron Miller is a space artist with a long and distinguished career. I've admired both his paintings (remember the USPS Solar System Exploration Stamps last year?) and his writings on the history of spaceflight. For several years he's been working on a *big* project which is almost ready to hit the streets. A brochure from his publisher has landed in my mailbox, and I thought it was cool enough to type in part of it (it's rather long). Especially given the Net's strong interest in vaporware spacecraft... ================================== The Dream Machines: An Illustrated History of the Spaceship in Art, Science, and Literature By Ron Miller with Foreword by Arthur C. Clarke Krieger Publishing Company Melbourne, Florida, USA Orig. Ed. 1993 Pre-publication $84.50 ISBN 0-89464-039-9 This text is a history of the spaceship as both a cultural and a technological phenomenon. The idea of a vehicle for traversing the space betwen worlds did not spring full-blown into existence in the tlatter half of theis century. The need preceded the ability ot make such a device by several hundred years. As soon as it was realized that there were other worlds than this one, human beings wanted to reach them. Tracing the history of the many imaginative, and often prescient, attempts to solve this problem also reflects the history of technology, science, astronomy, and engineering. Once space travel became feasible, there were many more spacecraft concepts developed than ever got off the drawing board-- or off the ground, for that matter. These also are described in theis book, for the same reason as the pre-space-age and pre-flight ideas are: they are all accurate reflections of their particular era's dreams, abilities, and knowledge. Virtually every spaceship concept invented since 1500, as well as selected events important in developing the idea of extraterrestrial travel, is listed chronologically. The chronological entries allow comparisons between actual astronautical events and speculative ventures. They also allow comparisons between simultaneous events taking place in different countries. They reveal connections, influences, and evolutions hitherto unsuspected. Every entry is accompanied by at least one illustration. Nearly every spacecraft concept is illustrated with a schematic drawing. This allows accurate comparisons to be made between designss, to visualize differences, similarities, and influences. This text will be of interest to students of astronautical history, and also to model builders who would be interested in the schematic diagrams. Science fiction fans as well as aviation history buffs and historians of science will also find this book to be fascinating. The unique collection of illustrations makes it a visually attractive and very interesting history of the spaceship. SPECIAL FEATURES Includes scale drawings of several hundred spacecraft, both real and fictional Contains scores of illustrations: artwork, drawings, and photos contemporary with the subject. This includes extremely rare illustrations from scarce books and novels, exclusive photos and drawings fromSoviet spacecraft; rare stills from both famous and obscure science fiction films, and unpublished photographs from NASA archives An index, bibliography, and appendices are included. CONTENTS Part I The Archaeology of the Spaceship (360 B.C. to 1783 A.D.) Part II The invention of the Spaceship (1784-1899) Part III The Experimenters (1900-1938) Part IV The World War (1939-1945) Part V The Golden Age of the Spaceship (1946-1960) Part VI The Dawn of the Space Age (1961 to the present) ABOUT RON MILLER [The brochure has a page of stuff here; I'll try to hit the high spots.] Former art director for Albert Einstein Planetarium at Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Member of International Association for Astronomical Arts, member of International Astronautical Association, Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, consulting editor for *Air & Space Smithsonian* magazine Author, co-author, editor, or sole illustrator on many books since 1979, including *Space Art*, *Cycles of Fire*, *The Grand Tour*, and many others, as well as many articles and papers Book jackets and interior art for over a dozen publishers Contributor to IBM traveling exhibition and book *Blueprint for Space* Production illustrator for movies *Dune* and *Total Recall* Designer of ten-stamp set of commemorative space postage stamps for U.S. Postal Service in 1991 (Solar System Exploration) ORDERING INFORMATION Pre-publication price $84.50 before 1 May 1993 Afterwards, price will be $112.50 Krieger Publishing Company PO Box 9542 Melbourne, FL 32902-9542 USA Direct order line (407)727-7270 Fax (407)951-3671 Add $5.00 for shipping by UPS within USA for first book, $1.50 for each additional book. For foreign orders, add $6.00 for first book, $2.00 for each additional. Additional charges for airmail shipments. O~~* /_) ' / / /_/ ' , , ' ,_ _ \|/ - ~ -~~~~~~~~~/_) / / / / / / (_) (_) / / / _\~~~~~~~~~~~zap! / \ (_) (_) / | \ | | Bill Higgins Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory \ / Bitnet: HIGGINS@FNAL.BITNET - - Internet: HIGGINS@FNAL.FNAL.GOV ~ SPAN/Hepnet/Physnet: 43011::HIGGINS ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1993 15:07:19 GMT From: Keith Mancus Subject: Vandalizing the sky. Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space sichase@csa2.lbl.gov (SCOTT I CHASE) writes: >pgf@srl02.cacs.usl.edu (Phil G. Fraering) writes... >>Jeff.Cook@FtCollinsCO.NCR.COM (Jeff Cook) writes: >>>people in primitive tribes out in the middle of nowhere as they look up >>>and see a can of Budweiser flying across the sky... :-D >>Seen that movie already. Or one just like it. >>Come to think of it, they might send someone on >>a quest to get rid of the dang thing... > In one of his lesser known books (I can't > remember which one right now), the protagonists are in a balloon gondola, > travelling over Africa on their way around the world in the balloon... That's _Five Weeks In A Balloon_. And if anyone can tell me where to get it, I sure would like a reply! I've been looking for that book for TEN YEAR+, and never found it. (Note that I am _not_ looking for a $200 collector's item; I'm hoping that *someone* has published it in modern times, either in paperback or hardcover. I'm willing to spend $50 or so to get a copy. -- Keith Mancus | N5WVR | "Black powder and alcohol, when your states and cities fall, | when your back's against the wall...." -Leslie Fish | ------------------------------ Date: 28 Apr 1993 10:44 PST From: SCOTT I CHASE Subject: Vandalizing the sky. Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space In article <1993Apr28.150719.10511@aio.jsc.nasa.gov>, mancus@sweetpea.jsc.nasa.gov (Keith Mancus) writes... > > That's _Five Weeks In A Balloon_. And if anyone can tell me where to >get it, I sure would like a reply! I've been looking for that book for >TEN YEAR+, and never found it. (Note that I am _not_ looking for a $200 >collector's item; I'm hoping that *someone* has published it in modern >times, either in paperback or hardcover. I'm willing to spend $50 or >so to get a copy. I too am a Jules Verne collector, and can tell you that though tough to find, it *is* out there. I keep my eyes open all the time for his books at various Bay Area used book stores, and every once in a while get *very* lucky. You just need diligence. I don't know if the book store situation near JSC is as good as the Bay Area, but good luck. I have also had excellent luck at the Antiquarian Book Fair which comes to SF every other year, though the prices are more in the $100-$200 range than the $50 you want to spend. My guess is that *if* you find it, you won't need to spend even that much, since most people don't care about it. I think I paid about $15 for my dust-jacket-less but otherwise good condition copy, which I found one day at a small bookshop that happened to have just bought a lot of random books at an estate sale. Of course, if you re willing to buy blind, you can put a $2 advertisement in the Antiquarian Bookseller's newsletter (the exact title of which escapes me at the moment.) _Five Weeks in a Balloon_ is not the rarest of Jules Verne books. Someone has it for sale somewhere, and the AB is the way to find it. In fact, I would be surprised if you didn't get multiple offers of sale. Of course, that takes the fun out of hunting for it yourself... Good luck. -Scott -------------------- New .sig under construction Scott I. Chase Please be patient SICHASE@CSA2.LBL.GOV Thank you ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 500 ------------------------------