Space Digest Sat, 7 Aug 93 Volume 16 : Issue 996 Today's Topics: 11 planets (2 msgs) Astronaut Biographies engine failures and safety Exploding Heads (3 msgs) Galileo Update - 08/06/93 Info on the upcomming Perseid shower anyone? Looking for Info on the RH32 Processor (found!) Magellan Aerobraking Press Briefing Set for August 10 Mars Observer's First Photo (3 msgs) Mars Observer GIF Image (2 msgs) Planned BMDO test in Utah/New Mexico? (2 msgs) Support the Shuttle TITAN II First Stage - HYPERGOLIC!!? WFPC-2 Installation into HST Why I hate the space shuttle 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: Fri, 6 Aug 93 16:39:09 CDT From: R. H. Sparr Subject: 11 planets In article <1993Aug05.151626.20677@microsoft.com> t-alanj@microsoft.com (Alan Jenn) writes: >Has anyone considered the notion that perhaps >the asteroid belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter >might actually be the remains of the so called eleventh >planet [referred to in scriptures]. . . . And you thought Sodom and Gommorah got into hot water. . . . :) ****************************************************************************** sparr@cthp1.jsc.nasa.gov I do not speak on behalf of LESC, R. H. Sparr NASA, or the U. S. Government. Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 20:34:08 GMT From: Dillon Pyron Subject: 11 planets Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1993Aug05.151626.20677@microsoft.com>, t-alanj@microsoft.com (Alan Jenn) writes: >Has anyone considered the notion that perhaps >the asteroid belt that lies between Mars and Jupiter >might actually be the remains of the so called eleventh >planet of which "holy" scriptures refer? No, although I have heard it refered to as the never formed tenth planet. -- Dillon Pyron | The opinions expressed are those of the TI/DSEG Lewisville VAX Support | sender unless otherwise stated. (214)462-3556 (when I'm here) | (214)492-4656 (when I'm home) |Please send mail to pyron@dseg.ti.com pyron@dseg.ti.com |since skndiv is going away. Thanks PADI AI-54909 | ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 15:11:56 -0500 From: signer@sleepy.cc.utexas.edu Subject: Astronaut Biographies Newsgroups: sci.space I am looking for detailed biographical information for all NASA astronauts in all programs. Anyone know how I can get this information? Thanks! -Scott ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 14:55:02 -0400 From: Pat Subject: engine failures and safety Newsgroups: sci.space A total loss of power event is far less problematic then a loss of control event. Even if you are 1,000 miles off shore, you can arrange a decent ditch into the water and radio for Emergency assistance on the way down. I don't think i'd want to float for 12 hours waiting for pick up but it will happen sometime. to someone else i hope. Loss of control events are usually so sudden, that little can be done to mitigate the situation, like the two DC-10's that lost their tail section hydraulics to a cargo hatch failure, or the 747 that lost it's left side controls to a lightning strike. (it was an Iran Air jet in the 70's). pat PS a rocket losing power on descent phase, may still be able to arrange some sort of reasonable water ditch. -- I don't care if it's true. If it sounds good, I will publish it. Frank Bates Publisher Frank Magazine. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 19:10:44 +0100 From: Mike C Holderness Subject: Exploding Heads Newsgroups: sci.space In of , nicewarn@moon.ral.rpi.edu (Keith Nicewarner) wrote: > A person's head will *not* explode in the vacuum of space, nor will > the rest of his/her body, nor will the eyes pop out of their sockets. > There is simply not enough pressure behind the eye sockets to push > ... I haven't the faintest idea. But think about boiling before you say any more... do not, though, try this immediately before eating. Mike -- Anyone wants me to have an opinion on their behalf, they pay by the word. mch@doc.ic.ac.uk - ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 19:19:36 GMT From: fisher@skylab.enet.dec.com Subject: Exploding Heads Newsgroups: sci.space In article <23u6r4$elp@swan.doc.ic.ac.uk>, mch@doc.ic.ac.uk (Mike C Holderness) writes: |>In of , nicewarn@moon.ral.rpi.edu (Keith Nicewarner) wrote: |> |>> A person's head will *not* explode in the vacuum of space, nor will |>> the rest of his/her body, nor will the eyes pop out of their sockets. |>> There is simply not enough pressure behind the eye sockets to push |>> ... |> |>I haven't the faintest idea. |> |>But think about boiling before you say any more... do not, though, |>try this immediately before eating. |> |>Mike |>-- Not exactly a refereed source, but when the movie "2001: A Space Odyessy" came out in 1968, there was a handout given to each theatre-goer explaining that the scene in which the commander goes from the pod into "Discovery" without a helmet has not Hollywood trash and had, in fact, been researched rather carefully. They said that a human could, in fact, live in a vacuum for several minutes, although with rapidly declining health. The skin would hold the body under sufficient pressure to keep them from boiling. There would, however, be many blood vessels burst. I don't know if any real scientific research has been done on the subject, but given the contingencies planned on shuttle missions, I would not doubt it. Burns ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 18:38:13 GMT From: Henry Spencer Subject: Exploding Heads Newsgroups: sci.space In article <23u41r$pp3@usenet.rpi.edu> nicewarn@moon.ral.rpi.edu (Keith Nicewarner) writes: >OK, could someone please back me up on this: >A person's head will *not* explode in the vacuum of space, nor will >the rest of his/her body, nor will the eyes pop out of their sockets... See the sci.space Frequently Asked Questions list, where the matter is discussed in some detail, with references. -- Altruism is a fine motive, but if you | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology want results, greed works much better. | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 20:52 UT From: Ron Baalke Subject: Galileo Update - 08/06/93 Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary Forwarded from Neal Ausman, Galileo Mission Director GALILEO MISSION DIRECTOR STATUS REPORT POST-LAUNCH July 30 - August 5, 1993 SPACECRAFT 1. On August 2, delta Differenced One-Way Range (DOR) passes were scheduled over DSS-14/63 (Goldstone/Madrid 70 meter antenna) and DSS-14/43 (Goldstone/ Canberra 70 meter antennas). The delta DOR activity was not performed due to loss of DSN (Deep Space Network) station coverage which was reassigned to the Mars Observer Project in support of a spacecraft safing anomaly. 2. On August 2 and 5, Memory Readouts were performed for the Solid State Imaging (SSI) camera. The MRO on August 2 was not received due to loss of DSN station coverage which was reassigned to the Mars Observer Project as discussed above. The MRO on August 5 indicated the camera was operating normally. 3. On August 2, cruise science Memory Readouts (MROs) were performed for the Dust Detector (DDS), Magnetometer (MAG), and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EUV) instruments. The data was not received on the ground due to loss of DSN station coverage which was reassigned to the Mars Observer Project as discussed above. 4. On August 3, a NO-OP command was sent to reset the command loss timer to 264 hours, its planned value for this mission phase. This command was originally scheduled on August 2 and was changed when DSN station coverage was reassigned to the Mars Observer Project as discussed above. 5. On August 3, an Ultra-Stable Oscillator (USO) test was performed to verify the health status of the USO and to collect gravitational red shift experiment data; long term trend analysis is continuing. 6. On August 4, a 40 bps telemetry performance test was conducted. The ground station transmitters were stepped through a range of power outputs to determine the effects on the received downlink telemetry signal. Analysis of the data is in progress. 7. On August 5, Delayed Action Commands (DACs) were sent to transition to cruise mode after optical navigation No. 3 on August 11, turn the gyros off and transition to the all-spin mode. The commands were received without incident. 8. On August 5, the spacecraft transitioned to dual-spin mode, gyros were turned on and the wobble identification activity is in progress at the writing of this report. The spacecraft is expected to be in the dual-spin mode for approximately 3 hours 30 minutes to perform the wobble identification activities. 9. The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements have not exhibited significant change (greater than 25 DN) throughout this period. The AC measurement reads 18 DN (4.1 volts). The DC measurement reads 156 DN (18.4 volts). These measurements are consistent with the model developed by the AC/DC special anomaly team. 10. The Spacecraft status as of August 5, 1993, is as follows: a) System Power Margin - 38 watts b) Spin Configuration - Dual-Spin c) Spin Rate/Sensor - 3.15rpm/Star Scanner d) Spacecraft Attitude is approximately 20 degrees off-sun (lagging) and 3 degrees off-earth (lagging) e) Downlink telemetry rate/antenna- 40bps(coded)/LGA-1 f) General Thermal Control - all temperatures within acceptable range g) RPM Tank Pressures - all within acceptable range h) Orbiter Science- Instruments powered on are the PWS, EUV, UVS, EPD, MAG, SSI, HIC, and DDS i) Probe/RRH - powered off, temperatures within acceptable range j) CMD Loss Timer Setting - 264 hours Time To Initiation - 260 hours UPLINK GENERATION/COMMAND REVIEW AND APPROVAL: 1. The EJ-3 (Earth-Jupiter #3) Final Sequence and Command Generation package was approved by the Project on August 5, 1993. This sequence covers spacecraft activities from August 27 to September 27, 1993 and includes the IDA closest approach on August 28 and the initial return of science data. GDS (Ground Data Systems): 1. The Galileo Readiness Review for MGDS Version 18.1 was conducted on August 5. The major Galileo support function provided by MGDS Version 18.1 is the uplink command capability replacing the current MCCC Command System. The Project concluded that MGDS Version 18.1 was ready to start parallel operations during which the AMMOS/MGDS Command System will be used for flight support as much as possible, but the MCCC Command Systems will still be available. At the end of parallel operations (planned for October 93), assuming no significant MGDS problems are discovered, the MCCC Command System support will be decommitted. TRAJECTORY As of noon Thursday, August 5, 1993, the Galileo Spacecraft trajectory status is as follows: Distance from Earth 476,406,000 km (3.19 AU) Distance from Sun 416,183,200 km (2.78 AU) Heliocentric Speed 67,800 km per hour Distance from Jupiter 412,282,300 km Round Trip Light Time 53 minutes, 4 seconds SPECIAL TOPIC 1. As of August 5, 1993, a total of 71950 real-time commands have been transmitted to Galileo since Launch. Of these, 65548 were initiated in the sequence design process and 6402 initiated in the real-time command process. In the past week, 5 real time commands were transmitted; one was initiated in the sequence design process and 4 initiated in the real-time command process. Major command activities included commands to reset the command loss timer, and transition to the all-spin mode. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | When given a choice between /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | two exciting things, choose |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | the one you haven't tried. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 01:38:52 GMT From: steve hix Subject: Info on the upcomming Perseid shower anyone? Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1993Aug5.091850.28745@dxcern.cern.ch> trones@dxcern.cern.ch (Jostein Lodve Trones) writes: > >The last info I have on this meteor shower is that it >will start around 0100 GMT on 12 August. It's been going on for a couple of days (at least) by now. It should peak +-3hrs on either side of 0100 UTC on 12 Aug. It will slowly tail off for a few days after that, but the night of 11/12 August should be the most interesting. -- "...Then anyone who leaves behind him a written manual, and likewise anyone who receives it, in the belief that such writing will be clear and certain, must be exceedingly simple-minded..." Plato, _Phaedrus_ ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 18:52:17 GMT From: Chia-Chi Chao Subject: Looking for Info on the RH32 Processor (found!) Newsgroups: comp.arch,sci.space A few days ago I asked for info on the RH32 processor. I couldn't cancel the original article, so I'm posting this follow-up. Since all 4 people who responded asked me why I was looking for info on that project, I'll clarify it here. It's for my personal research on fault-tolerant processors, and it has nothing to do with my job and employer SGI. Someone from TRW is sending me a brochure, so I think that's all I need. Thanks for the responses. Chia-Chi -- Chia-Chi Chao chao@mti.sgi.com Silicon Graphics Computer Systems ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 20:54 UT From: Ron Baalke Subject: Magellan Aerobraking Press Briefing Set for August 10 Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary Paula Cleggett-Haleim Headquarters, Washington, D.C. August 6, 1993 (Phone: 202/358-0883) Jim Doyle Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. (Phone: 818/354-5011) NOTE TO EDITORS: N93-45 MAGELLAN AEROBRAKING PRESS BRIEFING SET FOR AUGUST 10 From the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., Magellan program managers will brief the media on the spacecraft's "aerobraking" experiment at 1 pm EDT, Tuesday, August 10. The Magellan spacecraft's orbit around Venus has been successfully changed from highly elliptical to nearly circular in the first-of-a-kind experiment called aerobraking. The operation involved dipping the spacecraft into the thin upper atmosphere of another planet, a risky maneuver frequently mentioned in theory, but never actually performed before. Aerobraking and its science benefits, including new knowledge of the Venusian atmosphere, will be explained by a Magellan panel with a question and answer period to follow. Presenters will include Project Managers Doug Griffith, Project Scientist Steve Saunders and Deputy Mission Director Ann Tavormina. Also joining the group will be Dr. Gerald Keating, a senior atmospheric research scientist from NASA's Langely Research Center, Hampton, Va. This event will be carried on NASA Select television (Satcom F-2R, Transponder 13, 72 degrees West longitude, frequency 3960.0 MHz, audio 6.8 MHz). Questions will be taken from reporters at Headquarters and at NASA centers. Magellan aerobraking artwork will be available to the media through the NASA Headquarters Audio/Visual Branch (202/358-1900) on Aug. 10. -end- ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | When given a choice between /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | two exciting things, choose |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | the one you haven't tried. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 17:57 UT From: Ron Baalke Subject: Mars Observer's First Photo Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary In article <1993Aug6.101452.1@ulkyvx.louisville.edu>, jsmill01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu writes... >> It won't be available for FTP until somebody gets a copy and scans it in. >> NASA's PR people are still in the dark ages when it comes to electronic >> availability of such things. >> -- >Not always true. As I recall, Ron Baalke has on occation provided >images for ftp shortly after an announcement. I assume that he scans >itimself, which, therefore depends on his free time. But I've >gotten a few images while waiting for the mail to arrive. > I can't speak for the other NASA centers, but the Public Information Office at JPL purchased a color scanner last year specifically to scan in the public released photos and convert them to GIF images. The Mars Observer image is now available at the JPL ftp site (see my previous post). I don't do the actual scanning, but I may prod the PIO people every once in a while. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | When given a choice between /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | two exciting things, choose |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | the one you haven't tried. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 20:06:16 GMT From: Eric H Seale Subject: Mars Observer's First Photo Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) writes: >The images from JPL images are generally stored in VICAR format, which is >the format developed by the Image Processing Lab at JPL. The images are not >compressed.... and later, >I can't speak for the other NASA centers, but the Public Information Office >at JPL purchased a color scanner last year specifically to scan in the >public released photos and convert them to GIF images.... Has any thought been given to doing a direct (digital) VICAR=>GIF conversion and skipping the Print-Scan process? Just a thought... Eric Seale seale@pogo.den.mmc.com ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 21:05 UT From: Ron Baalke Subject: Mars Observer's First Photo Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary In article <6AUG199317532429@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov>, baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) writes... >Also, note that the scientists have proprietary rights to >the science data for one year. They may release the images before that >at their own discretion. This grace period varies by mission but it is normally one year. I just found out for the Mars Observer mission the grace period is 6 months. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | When given a choice between /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | two exciting things, choose |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | the one you haven't tried. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 19:07:50 GMT From: nar20@cas.org Subject: Mars Observer GIF Image Newsgroups: sci.space Where (ftp site) can I get a GIF viewer for the GIF89a format? I only have xgif for the GIF87a format... Thanks, Neil Reams ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 21:02 UT From: Ron Baalke Subject: Mars Observer GIF Image Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1993Aug6.190750.9701@cas.org>, nar20@cas.org writes... >Where (ftp site) can I get a GIF viewer for the GIF89a format? > There are GIF viewers for various computer platforms available at jplinfo.jpl.nasa.gov (137.78.104.2). Look in the software directory. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | When given a choice between /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | two exciting things, choose |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | the one you haven't tried. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 93 17:46:53 GMT From: Jonathan Griffitts Subject: Planned BMDO test in Utah/New Mexico? Newsgroups: sci.space An unreliable source tells me the following: BMDO (formerly SDIO) is planning a test in which missles will be launched from the vicinity of Green River, Utah on a trajectory landing them in White Sands Missle Range, New Mexico. BMDO will attempt to intercept/destroy them before impact at White Sands. Spent boosters from the launch will be dropped into the Hatch Point, Utah area. FYI: Hatch Point is an area on the eastern rim of Canyonlands National Park, south of Moab, north of Monticello, and west of La Sal (and US highway 191). It is Bureau of Land Management territory and contains several campgrounds, open cattle range, some ranches, and a network of jeep roads. Seems like an unlikely drop area for spent rocket stages to me. Does anybody know anything reliable about this? I find the concept somewhat alarming but also implausible for several reasons. -- --JCG AnyWare Engineering, Boulder CO 303 442-0556 ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 15:10:52 -0400 From: Pat Subject: Planned BMDO test in Utah/New Mexico? Newsgroups: sci.space I doubt they would do this. too much risk. easier to use one of the marshall islands the navy owns for gunnery practice and launch over the water. pat -- I don't care if it's true. If it sounds good, I will publish it. Frank Bates Publisher Frank Magazine. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 15:08:35 -0400 From: Pat Subject: Support the Shuttle Newsgroups: sci.space It's the Ken program re-implemented with an even more aggressive tone. A few more facts, but i guess that's what our tax dollars pay for. -- I don't care if it's true. If it sounds good, I will publish it. Frank Bates Publisher Frank Magazine. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 18:39:54 GMT From: Henry Spencer Subject: TITAN II First Stage - HYPERGOLIC!!? Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1993Aug6.185719.821@scorch.apana.org.au> lukpla@scorch.apana.org.au (Luke Plaizier) writes: > Was the first stage, or any of the stages for that matter, of >the TITAN II launch vehicle (Gemini etc) Hypergolic? ... Yes. Both stages of Titan II (both the ICBM variant and the Gemini variant) used hypergolic fuels: nitrogen tetroxide and a hydrazine mixture. -- Altruism is a fine motive, but if you | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology want results, greed works much better. | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: 6 Aug 1993 21:10 UT From: Ron Baalke Subject: WFPC-2 Installation into HST Newsgroups: sci.space In article <53007@sdcc12.ucsd.edu>, sr600uab@sdcc16.ucsd.edu (S.H.) writes... > >What kind of mission are you doing ? > >From the "JPL Universe" > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > ??? > I don't understand the question. If you are inquiring what the "JPL Universe" is, it is a in-house JPL newspaper that comes out every two weeks. I post selected articles from the JPL Universe to this newsgroup. The entire newspaper is available at the JPL ftp site (137.78.104.2). If you are inquiring about what JPL has to do with the HST repair mission, WFPC-2 was built by JPL. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | When given a choice between /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | two exciting things, choose |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | the one you haven't tried. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 6 Aug 1993 17:16:27 GMT From: Gary Coffman Subject: Why I hate the space shuttle Newsgroups: sci.space In article henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: >There are airliners that don't have big wings. (Hint: Chinook.) I thought those big things on top that go round and round were called rotary wings. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 996 ------------------------------