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 ; Fri, 17 Nov 89 01:26:48 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Fri, 17 Nov 89 01:26:18 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V10 #254 SPACE Digest Volume 10 : Issue 254 Today's Topics: space news from Sept 18 AW&ST SYNCOM-IV satellite showing to be held Nov. 20 at KSC (Forwarded) Re: Yet Another Crazy Idea For Spacetravel (ROCKETPROPS) Re: Population pressure to move to space Re: Hubble Space Telescope Re: Another spinoff? Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks Payload Status for 11/15/89 (Forwarded) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 16 Nov 89 03:02:42 GMT From: attcan!utgpu!utzoo!henry@uunet.uu.net (Henry Spencer) Subject: space news from Sept 18 AW&ST Wonderworks Inc, a California special-effects company, is building a full-scale shuttle orbiter mockup, and a separate cabin mockup with computer-driven displays, for the exhibition/fair market. Hughes and Martin Marietta agree to terminate a contract calling for launch of two Hughes comsats on Commercial Titan; Hughes wanted part of the payload on each of two flights, and MM has decided it wants to sell only full launches. Spacehab is sorting out final development financing for its cabin-expansion modules for the shuttle. About 50% of the $130M is foreign. NASA throws several hundred bureaucrats at Moon/Mars planning, mostly aimed at the first-stage lunar outpost. Truly will shortly receive a list of options for cutbacks in the space station, much to the displeasure of the international partners, who have not been consulted. ESA has suggested that one way to cut costs would be to delay the US laboratory module in favor of early launch of the European or Japanese lab module. (There is concern that NASA may consider the resources needed to operate the foreign lab modules expendable when the squeeze is on.) NASA is investigating why Columbia's body flap deflected over 30cm just after launch in August. The mission was unaffected, but there is concern over possible delays to the December LDEF retrieval mission if the flap needs substantial work. The flap's deflection was detected by new high-resolution cameras installed after Challenger, operating in unusually favorable conditions: a high-inclination launch and very clear weather. NASA HQ rejects proposal to swap November and December shuttle missions to retrieve LDEF earlier. Soviets reactivate Mir, after Viktorenko and Serebrov have to make a manual docking due to a minor malfunction in their automatic docking system. The "Energia group" of Soviet aerospace companies is now offering launch opportunities for Mir, Buran, Soyuz, and Progress payloads directly, rather than through Glavcosmos as before. Senate panel recommends zero FY1990 military funding for NASP, citing limited military applications and high technological risk. It urges an international program involving US allies. Last NASA-run expendable launch imminent (set for Sept 22): an Atlas Centaur carrying a Navy comsat. This is the launch that was delayed 2+ years due to the pad accident that ruined the original Centaur stage. Japanese H-1 launcher launches GMS-4 Clarke-orbit weather satellite successfully Sept 6, after a last-minute pad abort Aug 8. DARPA contracts with Space Data Corp, a division of Orbital Sciences, for first launch of a new, small, fast-reaction space launcher: Taurus. Taurus is essentially an MX first stage plus a wingless variant of Pegasus. First launch in 1991 from Vandenberg. The DARPA contract includes options for five more. The primary objective is to demonstrate the ability to launch small military satellites quickly, to boost capabilities in a crisis or replace destroyed satellites. (There are classified projects underway to develop small comsats and tactical spysats for launch by boosters of this class.) DoD will supply a bare concrete slab at Vandenberg and Space Data will have five days for setup, after which they must be ready to launch on three days' notice. The first payload is 1000lbs into a 400nmi polar orbit; several satellites are being considered for the slot. Space Data expects to be able to eventually launch 3000lbs into low orbit, 830lbs into transfer orbit, 2300lbs into polar orbit, or perhaps 900lbs to escape (e.g. to the Moon). The first launch is costing DARPA $11M, and Space Data will spend $10M of its own money for development. Taurus will be available commercially at about $15.5M. Various people are interested, including the USAF Space Test Program ("a range of missions"), Lincoln Labs (an experimental Clarke-orbit laser comsat), NASA (small reentry capsules for, e.g., life sciences), Ball Aerospace (small comsats), and JPL (small planetary missions). Ball Aerospace to build the radio-astronomy payload for the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite, for launch in 1993. The bird itself will come from Goddard. Los Alamos and the USAF will buy a Pegasus launch in 1991 for ALEXIS, the Array of Low-Energy X-Ray Imaging Sensors satellite, to do a sky survey in the hard-UV/soft-X-ray boundary region. There is believed to be a diffuse background glow in that area of the spectrum, perhaps from star-forming gas clouds, but the area has not been studied much. NASA's B-52 flies first simulated Pegasus launch (no hardware on board) Aug 22, finding "a few minor quirks" in procedures and communications. German-built 1:5.24 scale model of the NASA shuttle orbiter will be dropped from a high-altitude balloon and recovered by parachute after flying at speeds up to Mach 1.7. Results will be compared with the NASA shuttle-flight database to validate the testing technique. Three flights are planned. If the technique pans out well, OHB System (the company involved) proposes a 1:2.5 scale model of Hermes to verify Hermes's reentry aerodynamics. -- A bit of tolerance is worth a | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology megabyte of flaming. | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu ------------------------------ Date: 15 Nov 89 21:21:24 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: SYNCOM-IV satellite showing to be held Nov. 20 at KSC (Forwarded) Patricia Phillips Nov. 15, l989 KSC Release No. 115-89 Note to Editors and News Directors: SYNCOM-IV SATELLITE SHOWING TO BE HELD NOV. 20 AT KSC The SYNCOM-IV satellite, which will be deployed from the Space Shuttle Columbia during the STS-32 mission in December, will be the topic of a photo opportunity and informal press briefing Monday, Nov. 20. The showing will be held at 11 a.m. at the Vertical Processing Facility (VPF), where SYNCOM-IV is cur- rently undergoing the final stages of pre-flight processing. Members of the payloads processing team will be on hand at the VPF to answer questions during the showing. The satellite, manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company, arrived at Kennedy Space Center Monday, Nov. 13. After inspections and a launch readiness test, the satellite's next scheduled milestone is an interface verification test (IVT). This test, using special equipment that simulates the orbiter, verifies that all interfaces will function properly during on-orbit operations and deployment. Following the IVT this week and final closeout work, the payload will go to the pad early next week. The SYNCOM satellite is one of a series of satellites developed to serve as a successor to the U.S. Navy FLTSATCOM sys- tem of communications satellites. After its deployment from the Columbia, a Minuteman III third stage solid rocket motor will be used to achieve synchronous transfer orbit. Once on station, the satellite will be known as LEASAT 5. It is owned and operated by Hughes Communications Inc. The STS-32 mission will be a unique mission involving the "up processing" and deployment of the SYNCOM satellite, followed by the retrieval, return, and "down processing" of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). Payload processing teams at KSC are working the challenge of supporting operations both before and after launch. "The teams are doing a good job with planning and hands-on work for one of the more unique payloads missions," said Ralph Shuiling, NASA payloads manager for the STS-32 mission. "We're looking forward to the successful deployment of the SYNCOM, fol- lowed by the return of LDEF." During Monday's showing, the satellite will be seen in the VPF airlock. The spacecraft will be installed in the canister in preparation for transportation to the pad. The canister doors will be open to allow photographic coverage of the flight-ready satellite. Time reserved for press activities at the VPF will be about 45 minutes. Clean room attire, which is required, will be provided. Other cleanroom rules include the following: --all photographic equipment must be self-contained with in- ternal power, as no external power hookups are available; --electronic flash will be permitted;, however, no flash bulbs may be used; --no flame-producing devices of any sort can be carried into any part of the VPF; --due to anti-contamination regulations, no hair spray or cosmetics can be worn in the clean-room environment; --and, safety regulations require low-heeled, close-toed shoes. Media representatives requiring accreditation should contact the NASA-KSC News Center at XXX/YYY-ZZZZ by Nov. 17 to arrange for badging. Transportation from the NASA News Center will be provided. Departure time is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Because Wednesday, Nov. 22, is the target launch day for STS-33, and because access to SYNCOM-IV is on a non-interference basis with processing operations, reporters and photographers are advised to keep in touch with the News Center to be sure there is no change in day or time of event. ------------------------------ Date: 16 Nov 89 00:12:31 GMT From: mailrus!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo!henry@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Henry Spencer) Subject: Re: Yet Another Crazy Idea For Spacetravel (ROCKETPROPS) In article <24064@cup.portal.com> mmm@cup.portal.com (Mark Robert Thorson) writes: >Basically, the idea is this: have a single piece, which would be a large >fan on the outside and a small fan on the inside. The inner fan would >actually be inside the rocket's exhaust. This would drive the outer fan, >which would be used to move a large volume of air. > >The advantage would be greater efficiency while the proprocket is in the air, >just as bypass engines provided a great increase in jet engine efficiency >back in the 1960's and UDF engines hold the promise of a similar increase >in the 1990's. The problem with this is the fine print: greater efficiency while you are in the air AT SUBSONIC SPEED. Propellers are a disaster at supersonic speeds; you don't see fighters being designed with UDF engines, and although they do use turbofans, the bypass ratios are *very* low by transport standards. Rockets spend very little time subsonic. It's not worth it. -- A bit of tolerance is worth a | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology megabyte of flaming. | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu ------------------------------ Date: 16 Nov 89 21:16:27 GMT From: gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!jarthur!dwilliam@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (David L. Williamson) Subject: Re: Population pressure to move to space In article <2502@umbc3.UMBC.EDU> cs225202@umbc5.umbc.edu.UUCP (Sang J. Moon) writes: >It occurs to me that if the threat of major war is removed from earth via >peace between USA and USSR, the population explosion resulting from lack of >massive death will necessitate developing ways to put the surplus population >into space or else we will have to have another war. >----------------------------------------------------------------------- > "I have faith in God, but I do not have faith in the Church." This seems to me to be downright silly. At the *current* rate of increase, the country of Nigeria will have a larger population than the US by 2060 or so. Of course, the rate of increase is decreasing, so this is unlikely to happen. Total population may eventually reach ten billion, but with the unknown of AIDS and how to feed all these people, this won't even likely occur. Most population growth in the world is happening in Africa (growth rates of 7% annual!!!), but AIDS is predicted to kill as much as 1/2 of that continent's population. (If we could just give TVs to all of the underprivileged people on the planet, they'd have something to do in the evening's besides making babies :-) Overpopulation not a real problem, and not about to cause global thermonuclear war. sorry. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- David L. Williamson "How far can you see with the naked eye?" dwilliamson@hmcvax.bitnet dwilliam@jarthur.UUCP "About 2.2 million light-years, except in Platt Campus Center LA. I hate smog." Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA 91711 Pseudo-disclaimer: I know nothing. almost. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: 16 Nov 89 01:30:33 GMT From: psuvm!mrw104@psuvax1.cs.psu.edu Subject: Re: Hubble Space Telescope As far as long base-line interferometry is concerned, I did some calculations, and, going back to the continent-on-a-planet-orbiting-A.-Centuri problem, two HST's in 3000km high orbit 180 degrees apart would resolve North America at 4.3 light years. Going to a higher orbit would increase the resolving power, but you have to have some pretty impressive computer facilities to use visual LBI. *************************************************************************** Mike Williams mrw104@psuvm.bitnet ------------------------------ Date: 16 Nov 89 03:26:09 GMT From: attcan!utgpu!utzoo!henry@uunet.uu.net (Henry Spencer) Subject: Re: Another spinoff? In article wmartin@STL-06SIMA.ARMY.MIL (Will Martin) writes: >>*... Lunar Orbiters ... > >Hmmm... This means they had to have self-contained film processing >development machines inside them. Are the "one-hour photo labs" that use >an automated film processing unit and which are now all over the country >spinoffs from this particular space program? Uh, no, they aren't. All the details of the Lunar Orbiter film-processing system were classified and still are. Why? Because the technology was borrowed directly from the USAF's first-generation spy satellites, on condition that the innards remain secret. -- A bit of tolerance is worth a | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology megabyte of flaming. | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu ------------------------------ Date: 15 Nov 89 18:28:41 GMT From: bfmny0!tneff@uunet.uu.net (Tom Neff) Subject: Re: Moon Colonies / Ant Tanks Everyone seems to assume that in a Moon or Mars colony, things will be bearable because you can go outside whenever you want. What a strange and wishful notion! Suited EVA is a phenomenally expensive and risky operation, restricted to the select few who absolutely need it. Whatever clever notions exist for squeaking planetary colonies into the realm of economic feasibility, all assume that little or nothing is wasted. EVA is an ultra-wasteful luxury to which we have become accustomed as an ornament to our extravaganza-obsessed infant space program. In a working colony that has to pay its way without lavish subsidies, you will damn well stay indoors unless there is something outside that the telerobotics can't do! That's why it matters so much what it's like indoors. And if indoors means perpetual basement dwelling, forget it! Antarctica is the model. There is nothing planned or proposed for a Moon colony that we could not do cheaper down there, except play with hard vac or big solar arrays (but AA has coal and oil). So where are the families? By the way, if you want to know exactly when and where the US space program died, I can tell you. Repeat these words: CONSHELF II -- "UNIX should be used :: Tom Neff or as an adjective." -- AT&T :: ...uunet!bfmny0!tneff (UUCP only) ------------------------------ Date: 15 Nov 89 21:37:51 GMT From: trident.arc.nasa.gov!yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) Subject: Payload Status for 11/15/89 (Forwarded) - STS-31R HST (at VPF) - Following completion of SYNCOM hazardous operations at 1600 hours last night, HST powered up and proceeded into their functional test. Personnel are supporting the continuous VPF environmental and ECS unit monitoring. - STS-32R SYNCOM (at VPF) - Yesterday the SYNCOM spacecraft was installed in the VPHD J-hooks, lifting slings, cover, and transporter moved out of the VPF, and platforms were configured. The debris shield was installed and electrical GSE was positioned and connections were completed. The power on portion of the SYNCOM launch readiness test was completed, and final spacecraft connections are scheduled for this morning in preparation for the interface verification test at noon. - STS-35 ASTRO-1/BBXRT (at O&C) - IPR troubleshooting the problems taken during IPS power on retest continues. The one IPS broken ground wire has been repaired. - STS-40 SLS-1 (at O&C) - Rack 4 structural mod activities continue. Rack 6 panel installation and rack 5 back panel removal was completed. ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V10 #254 *******************