Date: Thu, 16 Jul 92 05:05:01 From: Space Digest maintainer Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu Subject: Space Digest V15 #005 To: Space Digest Readers Precedence: bulk Space Digest Thu, 16 Jul 92 Volume 15 : Issue 005 Today's Topics: Chemical unit operations in space Energy from Dirt! (was Re: Space Power) FTL drives FUTURES with Jaime Escalante Mars Direct: Any Independent Evaluation? Need Testers for MS Windows Astronomy Program No markets in space? (was Re: Chemical unit operations in space) RFD: sci.math.research.fields-institute moderated Space Transportation Infrastructure Costs (Was Re: Interstates) (2 msgs) Zubrin, teleoperation, and Spaceweek in Chicago Welcome to the Space Digest!! Please send your messages to "space@isu.isunet.edu" (on Internet). If you are on Bitnet, you must use a gateway (e.g., "space%isu.isunet.edu@CUNYVM"). Please do **NOT** send (un)subscription requests to that address! Instead, send the message "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: 15 Jul 92 23:17:13 GMT From: Mark A Biggar Subject: Chemical unit operations in space Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.science,sci.space The following operations work just as well in micro-grav or better: Electro-phoresis through gels capillary action in thin tubs wicks osmosis (both gas and liquid) through membranes crystal growth in solution or reverse sublimination electroplating Somethings work only in micro-grav homogeous mixtures of immiscible liquids (includeing metals) perfectly even distributed coloidal suspensions elimination of tidal forces for real micro-grav consitions if you place 6 dense spherical weights in a regular hexigon, with the hexigon placed so that a normal to the plane of the hexigon points at the center of earth, then there is a flat cylindrical region (shaped like a movie film can) where there tidal forces are vertualy eliminated. -- mark Biggar mab@wdl1.wdl.loral.com ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 92 10:30:54 GMT From: Nick Szabo Subject: Energy from Dirt! (was Re: Space Power) Newsgroups: sci.space >higgins@fnala.fnal.gov (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey) writes: > > Another: Lunar dirt. The Moon sits high in the Earth's gravity well. > Measured in terms of gravitational potential energy, "a pound of lunar > soil contains more energy than a pound of gasoline." A pound of asteroid dirt directed towards Earth would contain several times this amount, and there are several known (and probably thousands undiscovered) asteroids with intercept delta-v's near zero (much less than lunar escape velocity). The source is admittedly irregular, and like the lunar regolith the mass must be shipped in safely sized packages. How could we convert such energy to useful work? One possibility is momentum transfer to launch payloads with spinning tethers. Another is sending armature-contained regolith into mouths of reverse mass drivers. I have previously described "reciprocating mass drivers", which send and receive payloads across the solar system at very high velocities with theoretical zero energy expenditure. Such a system could actually generate net electricity by extracting the energy from intercepted lunar or asteroid regolith. -- szabo@techbook.COM Public Access User --- Not affiliated with TECHbooks Public Access UNIX and Internet at (503) 644-8135 (1200/2400, N81) ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 92 16:57:08 GMT From: Shari L Brooks Subject: FTL drives Newsgroups: sci.space In article <13JUL199212295133@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov> afwendy@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (WENDY WARTNICK) writes: >In article , derek.wee@f820.n680.z3.fido.zeta.org.au (Derek Wee) writes... >> >> Just out of interest, I'm compiling a list of the FTL drives used in >>science fiction stories and computer games. I have already got: > >What was the method they used in "Dune"? It was not one of the mentioned, >but I cannot remember it offhand. The means of propulsion is not mentioned, at least not in the first three books of the series. The original book makes several references to the "secretive" nature of the "Spacing Guild" which I interpret as Frank Herbert not wanting to detract from the main points of his book by overconcern with pseudoscientific detail on FTL drives. Navigation, of course, is mentioned ... by means of some kind of prescience imbued upon the "Guild Navigators" by ingesting melange spice... I seem to recall that the movie had something in it, but the movie took vast artistic liberties with the storyline, too. -- Shari L Brooks | slb%suned1.nswses.navy.mil@nosc.mil NAVSOC code NSOC323D | shari@caspar.nosc.mil NAWS Pt Mugu, CA 93042-5013 | --> All statements/opinions above are mine and mine only, not the US Navy's. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 92 15:34:11 GMT From: tflavell@pbs.org Subject: FUTURES with Jaime Escalante Newsgroups: sci.space The following instructional television series will be broadcast on many PBS stations during the 1992-'93 school year. Please contact the Education Services Director at your local PBS station to find out exact broadcast times. Also, attached is an Interest Form which may be used to obtain more information about this series or our other offerings: FUTURES with Jaime Escalante Math, Science, Careers Grades 7-12 SERIES DESCRIPTION 1. TITLE FUTURES WITH JAIME ESCALANTE 2. NUMBER/LENGTH 12/15-Minute 3. SUBJECT/GRADE LEVEL Math, Science, Careers/Grades 7-12 4. PRODUCER Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education 5. PRODUCTION DATE 1990 6. DESCRIPTION CLOSED CAPTIONED FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED The award-winning FUTURES, hosted by famed-teacher Jaime Escalante and his actual students, captures his innovative teaching style (profiled in "STAND AND DELIVER"). Escalante's tremendous success is based on the fact that students are usually better motivated when they can connect what they are studying now to what they will be doing in the future. FUTURES is about how math relates to the working world -- to careers and jobs. It is designed to motivate students to study math by showing them the many ways math is used, and the opportunities and life-styles available to those who have good math skills. 7. PROGRAM TITLES 101: AGRICULTURE -- The world is faced with growing populations and decreasing land availability. But research and technology may pave the way to meeting the increasing food needs of the earth's population, using ecologically sound methods. Students will see innovations in agricultural- engineering, aqua-culture, hydroponics and farming in space, as introduced by specialists--all of whom use mathematics to "feed the future." Learning Objectives: * To introduce students to trends and people in modern agriculture. * To demonstrate practical applications of math in agriculture. 102: AIRCRAFT DESIGN -- One of mankind's greatest fascinations is with flying: from mythological Icarus making wings of wax to the human powered Gossamer Albatross flying over the English Channel, to the Voyager plane circumnavigating the earth, non-stop, on one tankful of fuel. Students will see that only through an understanding of math could engineers design crafts that would stay in the air. Former Blue Angel, Navy Lieutenant Commander Donnie Cochran joins Escalante and his class and talks about the preparation needed for a career in jet aviation. Students will see how some of the world's most unique aircraft are designed. Learning Objectives: * To familiarize students with many areas of aircraft design. * To give students some practical math applications in the area of flight, e.g. ratios. 103: ARCHITECTURE AND STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING -- The great skylines of American cities are monuments to mathematics. Structures, from skyscrapers to rollercoasters, are only feasible because of mathematics in practice. Pritzker Prize award-winning architect Frank Gehry joins Escalante in this program. Viewers will go for a wild ride on Viper, Magic MountainUs newest, most daring rollercoaster, and meet ViperUs designers, then go to New York City and meet Ysrael Seinuk, one of AmericaUs preeminent structural engineers, and Cooper Union's student engineers. Learning Objectives: * To familiarize students with architectural and structural engineering, past, present and future. * To show students basic math applications in the work place of architects and structural engineers, e.g. geometric shapes. 104: AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN -- The automobile is part of most students' fantasy life and remains America's largest single industry. Indy 500 champion Danny Sullivan joins Escalante and demonstrates the math concept of velocity, leading to an exploration of the world of auto design and engineering at General Motors Advanced Concept Center and Art Center College of Design. World famous race car designer Nigel Bennett, encourages students to "get all the math and physics you can" if you want to become involved in automotive design. Learning Objectives: * To introduce students to the automotive design industry. * To show students practical examples of mathematics in designing and racing cars, e.g. velocity, distance/time. 105: CARTOGRAPHY -- Mapping is no longer limited to making a record of the terrain of a region. The rapidly growing population of the earth has made necessary detailed studies of the physical and social environment, ranging from pollution and food production to energy resources. Cartographers are also engaged in mapping the moon and other planets. The major math applications cartographers use are scale,ratios, points, and coordinates. The most important tool used in cartography is the computer. Actor Edward James Olmos joins Escalante and Carlos Hagen-Lautrup, head of UCLAUs Bruman (map) Library as this segment explores state- of-the-art mapping processes. Learning Objectives: * To familiarize students with the field of cartography. * To show students math applications in many varied cartographical areas of math, e.g. coordinates. 106: FASHION -- Most students relate to fashion and style, but how many realize the importance of math in the creation, manufacturing and marketing of clothing? According to numerous fashion industry professionals, "all too few!" This segment will follow fashion, from designer's drafting tables, to manufacturing, buying and merchandising--demonstrating "the mathematics of fashion." Actor Kadeem Hardison and top model Cindy Crawford join Escalante and the students in discovering the realities behind designing and marketing "math" team jackets. Learning Objectives: * To introduce a behind-the-scenes look at a career in fashion. * To show through real interviews with specialists that math is not only important it is essential to success. Math applications include costing. 107: WATER-ENGINEERING -- It could be argued that water is the most important element in our lives, but one which we only stop to consider when there is too much (storms, flooding) or when there is not enough (drought). From coast to coast, mathematics is vital to the management of water. Film director James Cameron (The Abyss) joins Escalante to explore the water supply from New York to California where literally billions of gallons of water are needed daily. Learning Objectives: * To introduce students to the world of water control, conservation and use. * To show students practical math applications in the field of hydro-engineering, e.g. volume and rates of flow. 108: OPTICS -- Optics is the study of light and vision. In the future lasers and fiber optics will revolutionize medicine, media and communications. Students will see inside AT&T Bell Laboratories, Lasermedia, and the University of Arizona, Tucson, Optical Sciences Center where students meet world famous astronomer Roger Angel. They'll see PacTelUs futuristic video telephone Video Window. They will also meet world renowned photojournalist Mary Ellen Mark and photographer J.P. Morgan. Learning Objectives: * To introduce students to the world of optics. * To show students numerous math applications in the optics field, e.g. fractions. 109: PUTTING MAN IN SPACE -- From that day in 1969 when man first walked on the moon, the world has marveled at AmericaUs dominance in space exploration. We are now committed to manning the first space station -- a remarkable accomplishment of engineering and imagination. Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar joins Escalante to take students to Johnson Space Center in Houston to demonstrate how math is fundamental to the engineering that shapes our ability to operate in outer space. Students will get an inside look at NASAUs Mission Control, Weightless Environment Training Facility, Flight Simulation and Robotics Laboratory. Learning Objectives: * To take students behind the scene of our nation's space program in Houston. * To introduce students to the various applications of math and computers in the space program, e.g. balance and equilibrium. 110: SOUND ENGINEERING -- Students love music, but itUs a long way from a songwriterUs idea to listening to a hit tune at home on your CD. The world of modern sound technology is designed and built using the language of mathematics. Students will travel behind the scenes to a rock concert, recording studio, the world famous Hollywood Bowl, and the film industry. Students will meet Dr. Elizabeth Cohen, sound acoustician for the Hollywood Bowl; Tom Holman, creator of THX theater alignment; Dr. Amar Bose, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at MIT, and president and founder of the Bose Corporation. Learning Objectives: * To introduce students to many areas of sound and the diverse jobs available. * To show students the need for "numeracy" in the field of sound, e.g. sound waves, digital sound. 111: STATISTICS -- Everybody wants predictions about the future. Statistics is the only way we know to confidently project what could happen based on past results. The increasing role of statistics in the census, in the music industry, in marketing, politics, and sports will be highlighted. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chairman of President BushUs Council on Physical Fitness visits the classroom to discuss the role of statistics in determining the physical fitness of our nationUs youth. Learning Objectives: * To show students that statistics (and statisticians) are everywhere, affecting our lives. * To introduce students to various math concepts, e.g. sampling and projections. 112: SPORTS PERFORMANCE -- From the crack of the bat and the curve of the ball, to sprinters, skateboarders and skiers, athletic performance is being shaped by technological innovation. Students will see mathematics being used at Santa Cruz Skateboards, Nike, Dodger Stadium, Specialized Bicycles and other venues. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jackie Joyner- Kersee join Escalante to explore the impact mathematics is having on world class athletics. Learning Objectives: * To introduce students to the people and designers behind sports. * To show math applications in designing equipment for athletics, e.g., parabola. 8. RIGHTS INFORMATION Broadcast Rights -- ITV broadcast requires an ITV Broadcast License. License fees vary and are based on the total K-12 enrollment of the schools in the area served. ITV Licenses grant unlimited school broadcast use for one year, including ITFS, educational cable, and other closed circuit means. Call PBS E/SS at (703) 739-5402 or FAX questions to (703) 739-8495. School Off-Air Record and Use Rights -- Series licensees may allow schools to record programs off-the-air and retain them for use during the term of the license. Call E/SS at (703) 739-5402 if you have questions or FAX to (703) 739-8495. Videotape Duplication and Distribution Rights -- Duplication rights will be available for an additional fee ($5 per minute) from PBS Video, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, (800) 344-3337. Audio-Visual/Non-Broadcast Rights -- A-V and non-broadcast videocassette rights for informational and educational purposes are held by PBS Video, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, (800) 344-3337. Two individual episodes on one tape are available for $60 in VHS and $100 in 3/4 inch format. The entire series of 12 episodes can be purchased for $300 on VHS and $540 on 3/4 inch. Foreign Rights -- The foreign rights are held by FASE, 4801 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 215, Los Angeles, California 90010, (213) 937-9911. 9. PRINT MATERIALS An extensive 42-page Teacher's Guide (with an accompanying colorful poster) is available for $3.00 each (plus 20% shipping and handling). A minimum order of 10 guides is required. Reprint rights are available to stations for $150. State-wide rights are subject to negotiation. The Teacher's Guide contains individual program synopses, vocabulary review, career resources, and three levels of suggested activities for each program. To order guides, contact the PBS Elementary/Secondary Service, 1320 Braddock Place, Alexandria, VA. 22314, (703) 739-5038. 10. FUNDING Made possible with funding by ARCO, The Carnegie Corporation of New York, IBM, and The Department of Energy. Ronald McDonald's Children's Charities underwrote the Teacher's Guide and accompanying poster. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The PBS Elementary/Secondary Service is the school television arm of PBS dedicated to serving the instructional needs of students and teachers through and on behalf of public television stations and other education agencies nationwide. E/SS acquires and distributes educational programming and related curricular support materials for K-12 grade classroom use; promotes the use of PBS's primetime programming as a curricular resource; provides professional development for educators; serves as an outreach liason to the education community; supports research and development and serves as a national advocate for the use of video and related technologies for learning. Please contact the Learning Services Director at your local PBS station(s) for information on LOCAL programming and resources. More than 80% of all PBS stations currently provide K-12 instructional programming for school use. In addition, they also provide professional development videoconferences, community outreach resources, and much more! If you would like to receive more information on PBS E/SS, please E-mail this completed form or print-out and mail or fax back. A response will be sent to you via U.S. mail within a week or two: ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PBS Elementary/Secondary Service Interest Form -----YES! I would like to receive more information on the following PBS E/SS programs or publications. This information will be sent at no cost to you and with no obligation: Programming _____3-2-1 CLASSROOM CONTACT (Science, Grades 4-6) _____AMIGOS (Spanish, Grades K-2) _____CASTLE AND CATHEDRAL (History, Grades 5-10) _____THE CHALLENGE OF THE UNKNOWN (Math, Grades 4-12) _____EAT WELL, BE WELL (Health, Grades 1-4) _____EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW (History, Grades 10-12) _____FRANCE-TV MAGAZINE (French, Grades 8-12) _____FUTURES with Jaime Escalante (Math & Science, Grades 7-12) _____FUTURES2 with Jaime Escalante (Math & Science, Grades 7-12) _____GROWING UP, GROWING OLDER (Relationships, Grades 5-6) _____ICEWALK (Environmental Science, Grades 7-12) _____NSBA VIDEOCONFERENCE EVENT 10/22/92 (Professional Development) _____RACE TO SAVE THE PLANET: Instructional Modules (Science, 7-12) _____SPACE AGE TELECONFERENCES 10/1/92 and 10/15/92 (Teaching Tool, 9-12) _____SPACESHIP EARTH (Geography, Environmental Science, Grades 9-12) _____TELESTAR 401: THE EDUCATION SATELLITE _____VOYAGE OF THE MIMI & SECOND VOM (Science, Grades 4-8) _____WORLD'S LARGEST CONCERT (Music, Grades K-12) Print Resources _____COPYRIGHT: STAYING WITHIN THE LAW Order Form _____ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE COMPENDIUM Order Form _____LEARNING FILE, VOL. 3: FOR THOSE WHO UTILIZE ITV Order Form _____1992 INTERNATIONAL SPACE YEAR COMPENDIUM Order Form Organization: Name: Title: Address: City: State: Zip+4: Phone: FAX: Please fax this form to the E/SS FAX number, (703)739-8495, or mail to Tom Flavell; PBS E/SS; 1320 Braddock Place; Alexandria, VA 22314- 1698. ______ I want to know the name and phone number of my local PBS station Education Services contact. My local PBS station call letters are:____________ The nearest major city is:_______________________________________ END ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 92 10:34:30 GMT From: Nick Szabo Subject: Mars Direct: Any Independent Evaluation? Newsgroups: sci.space >szabo@techbook.com (Nick Szabo) writes: > >> Plus >$60 billion for developing and launching artificial-gravity habitat, >> plus $5 billion a year for maintaining the Shuttle infrastructure, plus >> an unknown amount for Mars shuttle, habs, rovers, etc. In article mwallis@clubzen.fidonet.org (Michael Wallis) writes: >Nick ... read the paper ... Mars Direct does NOT need or use an >artificial-gravity habitiat as you're suggesting. It does NOT use the >shuttle fleet. The Mars shuttle, habs, etc are what the $5 billion a year >for 10 years buys you. _I_ need to read the paper? Wow. When _you_ read the paper, you will find that Ares indeed depends on the Shuttle infrastructure, and they do indeed propose an artificial-gravity habitat (without provding a design). -- szabo@techbook.COM Public Access User --- Not affiliated with TECHbooks Public Access UNIX and Internet at (503) 644-8135 (1200/2400, N81) ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jul 92 01:11:00 GMT From: Eric Bergman-Terrell Subject: Need Testers for MS Windows Astronomy Program Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms,comp.windows.ms.programmer,sci.astro,sci.space,sci.edu,comp.ibm.pc.misc *** Beta Testers Needed for Windows 3.X Astronomy Program *** I need people to text version 1.09 of Astronomy Lab for MS Windows 3.X. If you are interested, please send me an e-mail message containing the following information: Name: US Mail Address: E-Mail Address: Version of MS-Windows: Version of MS-DOS: CPU: Math Coprocessor (not required): Memory: Graphics Card: Printer: Beta testers must agree to not distribute the test version of the software. Beta testers will be sent the final version of the software when testing is complete. Astronomy Lab is shareware. Beta software will be sent via e-mail as uuencoded .zip files. You will need to uudecode the files, and then unzip them on your PC. UNIX users: do a "man uudecode" for further information. Testers will send feedback via e-mail to ebergman@nyx.cs.du.edu. Eric Bergman-Terrell ebergman@nyx.cs.du.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Astronomy Lab is one of the most versatile and comprehensive astronomy programs available for Microsoft Windows 3.X. Astronomy Lab produces 7 movies that simulate a host of astronomical phenomena, 15 graphs that illustrate many fundamental concepts of astronomy, and 14 printed reports that predict the most important astronomical events. All movies, graphs, and reports are customized for the user's time zone and location. Astronomy Lab requires Microsoft Windows 3.X or later running in standard or enhanced mode, 1 megabyte of available memory, and a mouse. Reports, graphs, and movie frames can be printed on any Windows compatible printer. Astronomy Lab will use an 8X87 compatible math coprocessor if one is installed. ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 92 23:58:30 GMT From: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey Subject: No markets in space? (was Re: Chemical unit operations in space) Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1992Jul15.200253.24338@bas-a.bcc.ac.uk>, SA121@phx.cam.ac.uk (Arrowsmith) writes: > In article <1992Jul15.065617.27597@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz> > ecmtwhk@ccu1.aukuni.ac.nz (Thomas Koenig) writes: >>>I've been wondering a bit about how a chemical plant would look >>>like in space. >>> > I'm wondering what *use* this sort of chemical plant would have. You're > going to have to ship the raw materials up to orbit, and return the > products (there's not likely to be much of a market elsewhere!) -- so > why move anything other than stuff either side of the micro-g phase > of the process? I infer that you are not a frequent reader of sci.space, or of the space development literature. The solar system contains, I would guess without looking it up, over 500 times the mass of the Earth, exclusive of the Sun itself. It makes sense to use as much as possible of the stuff that's already *in* space to support exploration and industrial activities in space. So excavation and processing material in various ways (I'll spare you the list of sources and applications; ask if you want to know-- the readers of sci.space will be happy to explain) will be desirable in space. Some of these situations involve zero-g (all right, "microgravity," I'm a child of the Fifties), such as refining ore or extracting hydrogen and oxygen from an asteroid or comet. In short, there *will* be a market elsewhere. At least this is enough of a possiblity to be worth dicussing Mr. Koenig's question. It's also true that no large increase in astronautical activity will occur unless transportation from Earth decreases considerably. As this happens, the penalty for bringing equipment or raw materials from Earth will be lower. Also, the list of products worthwhile to import from space (material products anyway, as opposed to information like video, geosensing, science, and reconnaissance data) may get somewhat longer. It's unlikely to be a really long list for many decades. O~~* /_) ' / / /_/ ' , , ' ,_ _ \|/ - ~ -~~~~~~~~~~~/_) / / / / / / (_) (_) / / / _\~~~~~~~~~~~zap! / \ (_) (_) / | \ | | Bill Higgins Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory \ / Bitnet: HIGGINS@FNAL.BITNET - - Internet: HIGGINS@FNAL.FNAL.GOV ~ SPAN/Hepnet: 43011::HIGGINS ------------------------------ Date: 15 Jul 92 22:13:32 GMT From: "Sheri L. Albers" Subject: RFD: sci.math.research.fields-institute moderated Newsgroups: news.announce.newgroups,news.groups,sci.aeronautics,sci.chem,sci.electronics,sci.geo.fluids,sci.math,sci.physics,sci.research,sci.space To whom it may concern: The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences is interested in establishing a newsgroup in the sci.math pathway. A tentative name for this group would be sci.math.research.fields- institute. The newsgroup sci.math.research is inappropriate for our purposes because its focus is on actual research problems and results, not events. The proposed moderator is Liz Reidt, Executive Assistant at The Fields Institute, and the address for the moderator would be news@fields.uwaterloo.ca. Any questions or direct comments not posted to the discussion group should be addressed here. The moderation policy is still under revision. Basically, postings would be about Institute conference announcements and results, seminars, positions available, calls for papers, and other news that would be of interest to a worldwide readership of mathematicians. Also there would be a summary of events posted on a bi-weekly basis. Discussions resulting from conferences would be routed to sci.math.research. Here is some background information about The Fields Institute: On November 8, 1991 funding was announced for a major new research institute named in honour of the Canadian mathematician John Charles Fields (1863-1932) who conceived the award now known as the Fields Medal. The Fields Institute is a joint effort of McMaster University, the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo. Other universities across Canada have been invited to affiliate with it. The Institute is funded by new money from the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Committee for Collaborative Research Initiatives of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. It is designed to increase activity in leading edge mathematical sciences research in Canada, to provide additional opportunities for graduate training and to improve interaction with science and industry. There will be a discussion on the creation of this group in the group news.groups. This announcement is being posted to other groups as well as e-mailed to affected individuals. Once a general consensus is reached and there are no major objections, a follow- up message will be sent and posted regarding the details of the vote. We encourage all interested parties to tune into the discussion and, when asked to, vote. Sincerely, -- Sheri Albers, Scientific Support Staff The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences 185 Columbia St. W. PH: 519-725-0096 FX: 519-725-0704 Waterloo, Ontario, Canada e-mail: albers@fields.uwaterloo.ca N2L 5Z5 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1992 23:02:59 GMT From: Henry Spencer Subject: Space Transportation Infrastructure Costs (Was Re: Interstates) Newsgroups: sci.space In article <14JUL199218084223@judy.uh.edu> seds%cspar.dnet@Fedex.Msfc.Nasa.Gov writes: >I think a consensus is growing on this net group that cheap transportation is >the number 1 priority in all of our future wonderful plans for space. Maybe >instead of fighting about manned vs unmanned we could jointly promote the >development of a transportation infrastructure that will greatly lower >[the costs of both]... Actually, the big problem in doing something about the transport situation is lack of demand. Name one *approved* program that needs cheaper transport. There isn't any. Of course, a major reason for this is that such programs don't get approved -- or even seriously proposed -- because a major element of infrastructure for them is missing. (This phenomenon shows up elsewhere. Of *course* the current microgravity research programs don't need a space station -- they got proposed and funded by being viable with today's existing microgravity facilities!) There are *all kinds of ways* to reduce launch costs a lot. It's not a question of having to search frantically to find one. The problem is getting a few of them built and tested. I think the demand is going to have to come from the manned programs. Most of the unmanned people are very thoroughly locked into the mindset of never depending on new technology if they can avoid it. (As witness Cassini being shrunk to fit on a Titan IV without the new SRBs... which have now been successfully tested.) An unmanned program that seriously proposes things like the MarinerMk2 Neptune/Pluto concept is not going to bang fists on tables and demand better propulsion technology -- they've forgotten it's possible. -- There is nothing wrong with making | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology mistakes, but... make *new* ones. -D.Sim| henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1992 01:33:50 GMT From: Greg Hennessy Subject: Space Transportation Infrastructure Costs (Was Re: Interstates) Newsgroups: sci.space In article henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: #Name one *approved* program that needs cheaper transport. Of course the programs that need cheaper transport don't get approved. -- -Greg Hennessy, University of Virginia USPS Mail: Astronomy Department, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2475 USA Internet: gsh7w@virginia.edu UUCP: ...!uunet!virginia!gsh7w ------------------------------ Date: 16 Jul 92 01:40:48 GMT From: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey Subject: Zubrin, teleoperation, and Spaceweek in Chicago Newsgroups: sci.space Well, kids, Spaceweek, the annivesary of the Apollo 11 mission, 18-26 July, is here once again and we're doing an all-day event at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on Saturday the 18th. I've posted a detailed notice about it as a separate message, with distribution restricted (at least I attempted this) to Illinois so as not to bother those of you who won't be nearby. Copies available on request. But I'd like to mention a couple of features. First, we are due to be borrowing the Space Studies Institute's teleoperation toy again. It's a tank with a robot arm you can use to pick up and move small objects. The joystick signals are delayed by two seconds or so to simulate the experience of sitting on Earth and commanding equipment on the Moon, just like the drivers of the Lunokhods did. I had fun teaching the Bart Simpson generation how to do this last year, and hope to play with it again Saturday. Surprisingly, they catch on very fast to the "push-- release-- count-to-three-- watch it move" method, and get good enough to pick up an object, carry it to a designated spot, and drop it. I'd love to have a videotape of this. If you're coming to the Museum, and you bring a camcorder, please talk to me (most of the volunteers can point me out). Second, Dr. Robert Zubrin of Martin Marietta Astronautics is flying in from Denver, and he'll speak at 4 PM. Bob is one of the guys who cooked up the "Mars Direct" scheme and the "magsail," both ideas which have enjoyed considerable discussion here. If you're familiar with these ideas and you have questions about them, I'll attempt to pass them on when I see him Saturday. I can't promise perfect enlightenment, but I'll at least try to get answers. If you're not familiar with them, please do some homework before you ask a question: Mars Direct: Explained pretty well in the past few weeks on Usenet-- look at old articles, especially Brian Yamauchi's summary from 28 June, message ID of . The latest issue (June/July 1992?) of *Final Frontier* has a pop article on it. Sorry, don't have any more technical references handy. There was an *Aerospace America* article, maybe sometime in 1990 or early 1991. The Magnetic Sail: The May 1992 issue of *Analog* has a semitechnical article. "Magnetic Sails and Interplanetary Travel" AIAA-89-2441, *Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets*, March/April 1991 Andrews, D., and Zubrin, R., "Progress in Magnetic Sails", from the July 1990 AIAA/SAE/ASME/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference. There was very extensive technical discussion in the Space-Tech Digest, issues #117, 118, and 120. They may be obtained by FTP from DAISY.LEARNING.CS.CMU.EDU, in directory /usr/anon/public/space-tech, filenames std117, etc. Submarines, flying boats, robots, talking Bill Higgins pictures, radio, television, bouncing radar Fermilab vibrations off the moon, rocket ships, and HIGGINS@FNALB.BITNET atom-splitting-- all in our time. But nobody HIGGINS@FNAL.FNAL.GOV has yet been able to figure out a music SPAN: 43011::HIGGINS holder for a marching piccolo player. --Meredith Willson, 1948 ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 005 ------------------------------