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 ; Thu, 3 Jan 1991 19:20:59 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Thu, 3 Jan 1991 19:20:18 -0500 (EST) Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #721 SPACE Digest Volume 12 : Issue 721 Today's Topics: Re: MIR lottery (erh sweepstakes) Galileo Update - 12/19/90 spaceport in oz ? Pioneer Venus Update - 12/18/90 Re: I-CON X Convention Re: WIN A SPACEFLIGHT TO MIR!!!!!!!!!!!! Re: Planetary Society Re: Interstellar travel Re: I-CON X Convention Information on highest skydive needed 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: 19 Dec 90 03:58:32 GMT From: zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!crg5!szabo@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Nick Szabo) Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc Subject: Re: MIR lottery (erh sweepstakes) References: <9012181903.AA00726@tilde> Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu In article <9012181903.AA00726@tilde> pyron@skvax1.csc.ti.com (Does 9track + 8mm = 9mm + 8track?) writes: >Just heard on NPR this morning that Space Sciences is having a lott- erh >sweepstakes. The prize is a trip on MIR. Costs $3 to call their 900 number. >They expect to get 20-25000 calls. My wife's comment was "Not a bad profit!" > >Oh yeah, if you can't qualify, the alternate is $1.5 M. Even better profit! > This doesn't sound like profit. They expect $75,000 revenues to pay for one of (a) a Mir visit or (b) $1.5 million cash. Expected revenues are a factor of 20 lower than the cash payoout. For comparison to the Mir seat, a seat on the Shuttle is estimated to cost from $10 - $50 million. This is an order of magnitude higher than the cash payoff. To break even, I figure they need ($10 million/$3) = 3.3 million callers to pay for a $10 million seat. This does not count costs for insurance, paying for the calls, administration, and legal fees. BTW, has a binding contract actually been signed with the Sovs for this seat? The original posting implied that it was but did not explicitly say so. -- Nick Szabo szabo@sequent.com "For historical reasons, this feature is unintelligible" The above opinions are my own and not related to those of any organization I may be affiliated with. ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 19 Dec 90 18:58:44 GMT From: swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Subject: Galileo Update - 12/19/90 Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu GALILEO STATUS REPORT December 19, 1990 Yesterday, the CDS (Command Data Subsystem) critical controller 2A POR (Power-On Reset) Telemetry indication was successfully reset on the Galileo spacecraft. Later that day, the TCM-9A (Trajectory Correction Maneuver) memory load was successfully transmitted and received by the spacecraft. Today, the TCM-9A will be executed; the first thruster burn pulse will occur around 9 a.m. (PST). The maneuver is designed to impart a delta velocity of about 5.3m/sec. Early tomorrow, a SITURN, to lead the sun, will be performed. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| | | | | __ \ /| | | | 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: 19 Dec 90 19:46:08 GMT From: att!cbnewsj!cbnewsi!ktm250@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (dennis.l.black) Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Subject: spaceport in oz ? Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu Greetings; Forgive me if this subject has been beaten to death. I'm not a steady sci.space reader. While on a trip out to California a few weeks ago I heard a few stories about a new space port to be built in northern Queensland, Australia. Can anybody tell me the current status of this project?. Who is funding it?? What are the emploment possibilities????. Please send email. I'll summarize if there is enough interest. Have a Merry Christmas, Dennis Black -- THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MINE, NOT AT&T. Dennis Lee Black AT&T Bell Labs M/S 2c002, 480 Redhill Road UUCP: att!mink!dlb ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 18 Dec 90 16:16:33 GMT From: sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke@ucsd.edu (Ron Baalke) Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Subject: Pioneer Venus Update - 12/18/90 Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu PIONEER VENUS STATUS REPORT December 18, 1990 The last periapsis occultation occurred on December 9. The first of a series of Pioneer Venus/Magellan dual down-link tracks began on December 9 from the 70 meter tracking station in Australia. The bit rate was increased to 1024 bits/second during the track. The precession maneuver on December 10 was unsuccessful. An incorrect time delay, compounded by CPA (Command Processor Assembly) problems at the 34 meter antenna in Spain, resulted in only one pulse instead of the planned 25 pulses. The maneuver was repeated successfully on December 12. The next maneuver will be performed on December 28. ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| | | | | __ \ /| | | | 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: 19 Dec 90 06:47:25 GMT From: sam.cs.olemiss.edu!tacky.cs.olemiss.edu!tony@cs.duke.edu (Tony Reynolds) Organization: University of Mississippi, Dept. of Computer Science Subject: Re: I-CON X Convention References: <1990Dec18.212656.14718@cbnewsi.att.com> Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu In article <1990Dec18.212656.14718@cbnewsi.att.com> bicker@cbnewsi.att.com (The Resource, Poet-Magician of Quality) writes: > I - C O N X > > The East Coast's Largest Convention of > Science Fact, > Fiction, > and Fantasy > > > Special Guest: Jonathon Frakes > Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation Ya know, I saw Mr. Frakes on Arsenio Hall a couple of weeks ago, and he almost came out and said he hated Star Trek. He called it "a job," and goes to cons just because he gets paid. Now, I'm not a quote-master, and if anyone taped the show and can reply to this with his exact words, it would be a great favor to the ST community. Then I'd be sure that y'all would agree that a little attitude adjustment is in order for the man. I feel you have to have some love for ST to be in it. Plenty of Trekkie/Trekkers would DIE to be in Frakes' position. Do I have "a life" because I watch other TV besides ST, or do something besides reading USENET? I'm truly concerned. Tony =-=-=-=-=-=-=-+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= _ _ _ |This space for rent.No opinions| Anthony P. Reynolds / | | \ | \ +-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+ BITNet:CHTONY \_| |_/ | | @UMSVM | Ole Miss Rebels: 9-2 | Inet: tony@tacky.cs. ' Look for us at the Gator Bowl! | olemiss.edu We're ready to lose! | USSnail: Box 1356, | Oxford, MS 38655 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 19 Dec 90 18:33:00 GMT From: usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jpl-devvax!lwall@ucsd.edu (Larry Wall) Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA Subject: Re: WIN A SPACEFLIGHT TO MIR!!!!!!!!!!!! References: <8015.276cd711@jetson.uh.edu> Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu In article <8015.276cd711@jetson.uh.edu> Arora@uh.edu writes: : The selection will be made next December, when an independent judging : organization selects one person at random from among the registrants. That : person will have the option of taking a million-dollar cash prize or, : sometime in late 1992 or early 1993, riding a Russian rocket to the space : station, Mir. He or she will spend about a week in orbit and then return... : a permanent part of space history. Does this mean that if I win and decide to take the trip, I get to pay taxes on a megabuck (or more)? I wonder if they're betting they won't have to shell out the 12 megabucks or so for a ticket, because almost nobody can afford to incur an instant tax debt of several hundred kilobucks. Hmm. On the other hand, maybe I could sell ad space on my sweatshirt and come out ahead... Larry Wall lwall@jpl-devvax.jpl.nasa.gov ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 21 Dec 90 11:29:31 -0500 From: "Allen W. Sherzer" Subject: Re: Planetary Society Newsgroups: sci.space Cc: In article <20784@crg5.UUCP> Nick writes: >>It [Skylab] had several serious design problems,... >The biggest "design problem" is that it has no paying customers. >Nobody wants to use it (unless they are subsidized nearly 100%). Later on, he informs us of how much better the unmanned probes are. This raises an interesting question: The good unmanned probes suffer from the exact same 'design problem' as the bad Skylab program. Voyager had no paying customers. Nobody wanted to use it (unless they are subsidized 100%). >All I can suggest, is get to know some planetary scientists and what >motivates them. Oh, I know what motivates them. The question is do we want to use our tax money to subsidize them? >Learn the economics of deep space exploration What economics? JPL goes to the government with their hand out (just like Skylab) and they get some money. Here we are talking politics, not economics. >Which returned more science (of value to a planetary scientist)? If your interest is the moon, Apollo. Otherwise, the unmanned probes returned more science. Of course, if we expand our question a bit to science in general, we find many many benifits of manned exploration (after all, why should we only concern ourselves with planetary scientists>). Just as we needed Van Allen to find out about conditions, we also need Skylab to see how humans react to other conditions. It can't all be predicted on the ground. >Hear what he and Bruce >Murray (head of JPL during Viking and Voyager) and others have >to say about the economics of space science. It's not what you read from >NASA on the net, I guarantee you. I'm sure Dr. Van Allen will tell us that the government doesn't spend enough on HIS research interests. Allen -- +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Allen W. Sherzer | If guns are outlawed, how will we shoot the liberals? | | aws@iti.org | | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 23 Dec 90 06:10:59 GMT From: mentor.cc.purdue.edu!f3w@purdue.edu (Mark Gellis) Organization: Purdue University Subject: Re: Interstellar travel References: <13.2770D2C9@egsgate.fidonet.org> Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu Regarding quick and efficient interplanetary drives... From my own light reading, it seems that a practical fusion drive would be one of our best bets. The Isp is something like 1,000,000 (that was what was listed for the Daedelus craft, I think), and the fuel, while not the most common substances in the universe, is a lot easier to make than anti-matter. If we ever learn how to master fusion power, and how to use it in a propulsion drive, and if we can get around the fact that Helium 3 is pretty rare (can we use another fusion reaction? can we make enough Helium 3 by fusing deuterium?) we have a drive that lets us cross the solar system in a matter of weeks. Oddly, I have seen very little discussion of fusion drives for spacecraft. It may be that the technology is simply too far in the future, but people seem to drool over matter-antimatter, or solar sails, but never talk about the possibilities of fusion for interplanetary travel. Any comments? ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 21 Dec 90 13:52:57 GMT From: zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!src.honeywell.com!msi.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!kksys!orbit!pnet51!hackman@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (-8 Otto "Hack-Man" Heuer 8-) Organization: People-Net [pnet51], Minneapolis, MN. Subject: Re: I-CON X Convention Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu tony@tacky.cs.olemiss.edu (Tony Reynolds) writes: >In article <1990Dec18.212656.14718@cbnewsi.att.com> bicker@cbnewsi.att.com (The Resource, Poet-Magician of Quality) writes: >Ya know, I saw Mr. Frakes on Arsenio Hall a couple of weeks ago, and >he almost came out and said he hated Star Trek. He called it "a job," >and goes to cons just because he gets paid. I was going to limit newsgroup circulation, but I felt it was pert. to all groups. J. Frakes *did* apologize for his remarks at the next convention he was at after he appeared on Arsenio Hall. --HACK-MAN "Transmit the following in all languages and on all frequencies: 'We surrender'." --Jean-Luc Picard/Encounter at Farpoint -- _____ _________ _ Ignor missng charctrs, as pnet's edtr tends to eat thm | ___|| _______|| | INET: hackman@pnet51.orb.mn.org" | |__ | |___ ___| | crash | __| |___ || _ | UUCP: >-------->!orbit!pnet51!hackman | | _______| || |_| | tcnet Otto E. Heuer, CEO |_||_________||_____| "The innovator for software solutions." FSD, Inc. It would have worked too, if it weren't for those meddling kids...and that dog ------------------------------ Return-path: X-Andrew-Authenticated-as: 0;andrew.cmu.edu;Network-Mail Date: 13 Dec 90 02:28:14 GMT From: venus!yalevm!maine!ia80024@CS.YALE.EDU (Nicholas C. Hester) Organization: University of Maine System Subject: Information on highest skydive needed Sender: space-request@andrew.cmu.edu To: space@andrew.cmu.edu I know that this was taled about before, but I was hoping that someone could E-mail me information about the AirForce officer that holds the recorde for the highest skydive. It occured as an experiment for the pressure suits, I believe, where he ballooned to the edge of the atmosphere and then jumped. I'm looking for: o Year this occured o Name of said individual o Height at which he jumped o Duration of fall o Velocity attained o Altitude where he popped the 'chute Thanx for any information that can be provided. Happy holidays everyone. Nicholas C. Hester ia80024@Maine.Bitnet ia80024@Maine.Maine.edu ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V12 #721 *******************