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 ; Sun, 16 Jun 91 02:01:45 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: Precedence: junk Reply-To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU From: space-request+@Andrew.CMU.EDU To: space+@Andrew.CMU.EDU Date: Sun, 16 Jun 91 02:01:38 -0400 (EDT) Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #656 SPACE Digest Volume 13 : Issue 656 Today's Topics: Phil has too much to drink, flames me for uncomfortable facts, no huhu Changes to Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) Update Program (UP) (CTU) 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: 1 Jun 91 20:52:26 GMT From: ogicse!sequent!muncher.sequent.com!szabo@ucsd.edu Subject: Phil has too much to drink, flames me for uncomfortable facts, no huhu In article <32113@rouge.usl.edu> dlbres10@pc.usl.edu (Phil Fraering) writes: >Nick, a two man station will cost less than Skylab, which >cost a lot less than 120 Billion. And our technology has >*improved* since then. Funny, NASA hasn't seemed to be able to get ahold of it. BTW, Skylab had neither: * Satellite refueling equipment * OMV * A lifetime of 30 years All of which are required to create a refueling infrastructure in the bizarre manner suggested. _Furthermore_, I didn't include the cost of redesigning the satellites for refueling, which itself would probably cost more than $30 million per pop for the actual market of one per year. In any case, whether refueling from Earth is only a factor of 100 or 300 away from economic reality is hardly an important issue. The real issue here seems to be the economic illiteracy of a significant portion of space fandom, of which I am dismayed to see an example of from you, Phil. -- Nick Szabo szabo@sequent.com "If you understand something the first time you see it, you probably knew it already. The more bewildered you are, the more successful the mission was." -- Ed Stone, Voyager space explorer ------------------------------ Date: 1 Jun 91 17:27:57 GMT From: cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!paperboy!hsdndev!dartvax!mars!nic!kira!news@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Garrett A. Wollman) Subject: Changes to Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) Update Program (UP) (CTU) *** /tmp/,RCSt1a03431 Sat Jun 1 13:19:11 1991 --- acronyms Sat Jun 1 13:19:11 1991 *************** *** 3,18 **** Subject: Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) Update Program (UP) ! Organization: none that I can make out ! X-RCS: $Revision: 1.2 $ - ****** - This edition's special message... - - I would like to hear from people who know about the Japanese, - European, and Soviet programs about more acronyms unique to those - organizations... Also, do you think I should post to - sci.space.shuttle in addition to sci.space? - - ****** - - This message is periodically posted to the newsgroup sci.space in an --- 3,8 ---- Subject: Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) Update Program (UP) ! Organization: University of Vermont - Division of Engineering, ! Mathematics, and Business Administration - Computer Facility ! X-RCS: $Revision: 1.10 $ This message is periodically posted to the newsgroup sci.space in an *************** *** 38,45 **** - Don't forget that there are 17,576 TLAs possible; get yours in soon! - Thanks to the following other individuals who made a contribution to ! this posting: Jonathan McDowell, Ron Graham, and Mary Shafer. A Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) is defined as follows (from The Jargon --- 28,39 ---- Thanks to the following other individuals who made a contribution to ! this posting: Ron Graham, Rob Seaman, Mary Shafer, and Richard Wolff. ! Special thanks to Jonathan McDowell for his continuting help and the ! great cache of Soviet acronyms, and to Peter Yee for placing this ! document in the SPACE archives at NASA Ames ! (ames.arc.nasa.gov:~ftp/pub/SPACE). + Don't forget that there are 17,576 TLAs possible; get yours in soon! + A Three-Letter Acronym (TLA) is defined as follows (from The Jargon *************** *** 83,84 **** --- 77,81 ---- + APM: Columbus Attached Pressurized Module. The ESA contribution to + Fred. + APU: Auxiliary Power Unit.* *************** *** 88,89 **** --- 85,95 ---- + ARTEMIS: Advanced Relay Technology Mission. An ESA experimental + comsat, to be launched late in the 1990s. + + ASTRO: Space astrophysics laboratory. ASTRO-1 was flown aboard the + Shuttle in December of 1990; ASTRO-2 has been announced. The + instruments in the ASTRO-2 package will be HUT, UIT, and WUPPE. + + ASI: [Italian] Agenzia Spaziale Italiano. The Italian space agency. + ATDRS: Advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. See TDRS. *************** *** 96,102 **** the large university consortia which vie for government contracts to ! do space and astronomy research. AURA operates STScI. ! AW&ST: Aviation Week and Space Technology.* [Times? That's what I ! thought it was.] Also known as Aviation Leak or Av Leak. AXAF: Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility.* One of NASA's "Great --- 102,116 ---- the large university consortia which vie for government contracts to ! do space and astronomy research. AURA operates STScI and NOAO, with ! funding from the NSF (primarily) and the AF. There are twenty-one ! members: U. Arizona, U. California, U. Colorado, U. Hawaii, Indiana ! U., UMD, U. Michigan, PSU, SUNY Stony Brook, UTexas Austin, U. ! Washington, CIT, U. Chicago, Harvard, U. Illinois, JHU, MIT, OSU, ! Princeton, U. Wisconsin, and Yale. ! AVHRR: Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. One of the five ! instruments aboard late-model TIROS-N class weather satellites. + AW&ST: Aviation Week and Space Technology.* Also known as Aviation + Leak or Av Leak. + AXAF: Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility.* One of NASA's "Great *************** *** 109,112 **** BBXRT: Broad Band X-Ray Telescope. One of the instruments flown on ! the ASTRO-I mission (STS-35). ===================== --- 123,130 ---- BBXRT: Broad Band X-Ray Telescope. One of the instruments flown on ! the ASTRO-I mission (STS-35). BBXRT will *not* be part of ASTRO-II ! (or at least, the announcement of ASTRO-I didn't mention it, and they ! were considered separate packages). + BECO: Booster Engine Cutoff. Part of the Atlas-E launch sequence. + ===================== *************** *** 121,122 **** --- 139,142 ---- + CDA: Command and Data Acquisition. + CIT: California Institute of Technology (CalTech) *************** *** 134,136 **** ! CNES: Centre National d'Etude Spatiales. The French space agency. --- 154,157 ---- ! CNES: [French] Centre National d'Etude Spatiales. The French space ! agency. *************** *** 146,147 **** --- 167,171 ---- + CTIO: Cerro Tololo Inter-Ameriocan Observatory. The + southern-hemisphere operation of NOAO. + ===================== *************** *** 150,151 **** --- 174,177 ---- + DACS: Data Acquisition and Control Subsystem. + DESAT: Desaturation. Some probes, such as Magellan, use reaction *************** *** 170,171 **** --- 196,199 ---- + DPSS: Data Processing Services Subsystem. + DSN: The Deep Space Network. A network of ground stations used by *************** *** 191,192 **** --- 219,227 ---- + ERS: Earth Resources Satellite. An ESA remote sensing satellite to be + launched in 1991. Also, a NASDA remote sensing satellite to be + launched in 1992. + + ERS: Environmental Research Satellite. An light satellite launched in + the 1960s by USAF. + ESA: European Space Agency.* *************** *** 193,194 **** --- 228,235 ---- + ESOC: European Space Operations Centre. Located in Darmstadt, + Germany; mission control for some ESA satellites. + + ESTEC: European Science Technology and Engineering Centre. [S, T, and + E are guesses.] Located in the Netherlands. + ET: (Shuttle) External Tank.* *************** *** 195,196 **** --- 236,239 ---- + ETE: End-to-End (Test). + ETR: Eastern Test Range. The Atlantic Ocean, although sometimes *************** *** 198,199 **** --- 241,247 ---- + EUTELSAT: European Telecommunications Satellite Organization. + + EUVE: Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer. A NASA astronomy satellite + scheduled for launch in 1991. + EVA: Extra-Vehicular Activity. That is, space-walk. *************** *** 223,224 **** --- 271,277 ---- + GEM: Giotto Extended Mission. + + GEM: Graphite Epoxy Motor. Strap-on solids used on the Delta 79** + rocket. + GHRS: Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph.* One of five scientific *************** *** 238,243 **** ! GOES: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite.* One of a series of ! Clarke-orbit weather satellites operated by NOAA to keep track of ! severe weather (hurricanes and the like) in the tropics. GPS: Global Positioning System. The (US) DoD's network of satellites --- 291,299 ---- ! GOES: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite.* One of a ! series of Clarke-orbit weather satellites operated by NOAA to keep ! track of severe weather (hurricanes and the like) in the tropics. + GGM: [Russian] Goskogidromet/Gidromettsentr. Soviet state meteorological + agency. + GPS: Global Positioning System. The (US) DoD's network of satellites *************** *** 249,250 **** --- 305,309 ---- + GRU: [Russian] Glavnoye Razvedivatel'noye Upravileniye. Soviet + Military Intelligence. + GSC: HST Guide Star Catalog. The list of the stars which can be used *************** *** 252,256 **** ! GSFC: NASA Godddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.. Where much of the ! operational control for many NASA-operated satellites is vested. ===================== --- 311,319 ---- ! GSFC: NASA Godddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.. Where much ! of the operational control for many NASA-operated satellites is ! vested. + GUGK: [Russian] Glavnoye Upravileniye Geodesii i Kartografii. Soviet + Geodesic and Cartographic satellite agency. + ===================== *************** *** 266,267 **** --- 329,333 ---- + HIRS: High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder. One of five + instruments aboard late-model TIROS-N class weather satellites. + HST: Hubble Space Telescope.* *************** *** 281,282 **** --- 347,351 ---- + IKI: [Russian] Institut Kosmischeskikh Issledovaniya. Space Research + Institute, the Soviet equivalent of JPL. + IMAX: Not really an acronym. IMAX Systems Corp. provides NASA with *************** *** 298,299 **** --- 367,371 ---- + ISO: Infrared Space Observatory. An ESA astronomy satellite to be + launched in 1994. + ISPM: International Solar Polar Mission. Former name for Ulysses. *************** *** 300,301 **** --- 372,376 ---- + ISZ: [Russian] Iskusstvenniy Sputnik Zemli. Artificial Earth + Satellite. + IUE: International Ultraviolet Explorer.* Launched in 1978, and still *************** *** 306,307 **** --- 381,384 ---- + IVT: Interface Verification Test. + ===================== *************** *** 326,327 **** --- 403,411 ---- + KB: [Russian]. Construction Bureau. A Soviet design bureau which + makes experimental spacecraft. Sometimes seen as OKB (for + Experimental). For example, KB Korolev designed the Sputnik, and has + since evolved into NPO Energiya. + + KPNO: Kitt Peak National Observatory. Part of NOAO. + KSC: Kennedy Space Center.* Located on beautiful Merritt Island in Florida. *************** *** 358,359 **** --- 442,445 ---- + MDSSC: McDonnell Douglas Space Systems Corp. + MFPE: Misson From Planet Earth. One of the Augustine Commission's *************** *** 368,369 **** --- 454,458 ---- + MSU: Microwave Sounding Unit. One of the five instruments aboard + late-model TIROS-N class weather satellites. + MTC: Man-tended Capability. One of the conceived modes of operation *************** *** 371,372 **** --- 460,466 ---- + MTFF: Columbus Man-Tended Free-Flyer. A version of the APM which does + not depend on Fred, intended as a hedge for ESA against the + possibility of Fred cancellation. It would be serviced by the Hermes + spaceplane. + MTPE: Mission To Planet Earth. One of the Augustine Commission's *************** *** 382,383 **** --- 476,481 ---- + NAS: Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation. The US national supercomputing + center for aeronautics. Home of Eugene "Push for moderated + newsgroups" Miya. + NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.* *************** *** 390,392 **** --- 488,493 ---- + NESDIS: National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. + NIST: National Institute for Standards and Technology (was NBS).* + Home of John Roberts. *************** *** 395,396 **** --- 496,506 ---- + NOAO: National Optical Astronomical Observatories. A collection of + observatories operated by AURA (the same institution that operates + STScI) including KPNO, CTIO, and the NSO. + + NPO: [Russian]. Scientific Production Organization. A type of Soviet + organization which can be roughly translated as `Corp.' or `Ltd.' For + example, NPO Energiya, the Soviet agency in charge of piloted civil + space missions. + NRO: National Reconnaissance Organization. One of the USA's largest *************** *** 402,403 **** --- 512,516 ---- + NSO: National Solar Observatory. Part of NOAO, with facilities + located at Kitt Peak and Sacramento Peak. + NSSDC: National Space Science Data Center. NSSDCA.MSFC.NASA.GOV in *************** *** 439,440 **** --- 552,560 ---- + PPF: Columbus Polar Platform. An unpiloted component of the ESA space + station program, to monitor earth resources and the environment from a + polar orbit. + + PVO: [Russian] Protivo-Vosdushniya Oborona. Soviet Air Defense Force; + it runs the Soviet early-warning satellites. + ===================== *************** *** 457,458 **** --- 577,581 ---- + RVSN: [Russian] Raketniye Voiska Stratigcheskovo Naznacheniya, SSSR. + Strategic Rocket Forces. They carry out Soviet space launches. + ===================== *************** *** 461,462 **** --- 584,587 ---- + SAA: Single Access Antenna. (A TDRS term?) + SAR: Synthetic Aperture Radar.* *************** *** 472,473 **** --- 597,603 ---- + SEM: Space Environment Monitor. A charged-particle spectrometer + aboard late-model TIROS-N class weather satellites. + + SECO: Sustainer Engine Cutoff. Part of the Atlas-E launch sequence. + SETI: Search for extraterrestrial intelligence.* There is a venerable *************** *** 497,502 **** ! SPOT: Systeme Probatoire pour l'Observation de la Terre. The French ! commercial remote-sensing satellite. SPOT images are sold by SPOT ! Image Corp. in the US. SRB: Solid Rocket Booster.* --- 627,635 ---- ! SOCC: Satellite Operations Control Center. NOAA's is located in ! Suitland, Md. + SPOT: [French] Systeme Probatoire pour l'Observation de la Terre. The + French commercial remote-sensing satellite. SPOT images are sold by + SPOT Image Corp. in the US. + SRB: Solid Rocket Booster.* *************** *** 529,530 **** --- 662,674 ---- + TIROS-N: Television Infrared Observation Satellite. A class of + polar-orbit weather satellites including the NOAA series (q.v.). The + first weather satellite ever, which was oddly enough called just + "TIROS-N", was launched on 1 April 1960. TIROS is a cooperative + program involving Canada, the UK, and France, in addition to NOAA and + NASA in the US. + + TsPK: [Russian] Tsentr Podgotovka Kosmonavti. Cosmonaut Training + Center at Zvyozdniy Gorodok (Starry Town or "Star City"). The Soviet + equivalent of JSC, except that mission control is at TsUP, instead. + TSS: Tethered Satellite System.* *************** *** 531,532 **** --- 675,680 ---- + TsUP: [Russian] Tsentr Upravileniy7a Polyoti. Flight Control Center. + The Soviet equivalent of JSC, except that cosmonaut training is + located at TsPK, instead. + ===================== *************** *** 538,540 **** UIT: Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope. One of the instruments carried on ! the ASTRO-I (STS-35) shuttle mission. --- 686,689 ---- UIT: Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope. One of the instruments carried on ! the ASTRO-I (STS-35) shuttle mission, which will be returning for ! ASTRO-II. *************** *** 564,567 **** ! VOIR: Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar (superseded by VRM.*) VPF: Vertical Processing Facility. --- 713,721 ---- ! VECO: Vernier Engine Cutoff. Part of the Atlas-E launch sequence. + VMF: [Russian] Voenno-Morskoy Flot. The Soviet Navy; it runs Soviet + navsats. + + VOIR: Venus Orbiting Imaging Radar (superseded by VRM).* + VPF: Vertical Processing Facility. *************** *** 570,571 **** --- 724,728 ---- + VVS: [Russian] Voenno-Vosdushniye Sili. Soviet Air Force; it trains + military cosmonauts. + ===================== *************** *** 581,583 **** ! WTR: Western Test Range. Vandengerg AFB plus part of the Pacific Ocean. --- 738,740 ---- ! WTR: Western Test Range. Vandenberg AFB plus part of the Pacific Ocean. *************** *** 585,586 **** WUPPE: Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment. One of the ! instruments carried on the ASTRO-I mission, STS-35. --- 742,744 ---- WUPPE: Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment. One of the ! instruments carried on the ASTRO-I mission, STS-35, which will be ! making a return appearance on ASTRO-II. -- -- Garrett A. Wollman - wollman@griffin.uvm.edu Send contributions for Software Patents mailing list to softpats@uvmvm.uvm.edu ------------------------------ End of SPACE Digest V13 #656 *******************