Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 05:03:46 From: Space Digest maintainer Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu Subject: Space Digest V15 #030 To: Space Digest Readers Precedence: bulk Space Digest Fri, 24 Jul 92 Volume 15 : Issue 030 Today's Topics: Diffs to sci.space/sci.astro Frequently Asked Questions Space FAQ 01/15 - Introduction Space FAQ 02/15 - Network Resources 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: 24 Jul 92 04:32:39 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Diffs to sci.space/sci.astro Frequently Asked Questions Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,news.answers Archive-name: space/diff DIFFS SINCE LAST FAQ POSTING (IN POSTING ORDER) (These are hand-edited context diffs; do not attempt to use them to patch old copies of the FAQ). =================================================================== diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.intro *** /tmp/,RCSt1a01628 Fri Jul 24 00:28:48 1992 --- FAQ.intro Fri Jul 24 00:27:09 1992 *************** *** 143,153 **** Camp / Space Commerce Corporation / Spacehab / SPOT Image Other commercial space businesses ! 9 Schedules for space missions, and how to see them Shuttle launchings and landings; schedules and how to see them How to receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT Dial-A-Shuttle and how to use it Amateur radio frequencies for shuttle missions 10 Planetary probes - Historical Missions US planetary missions --- 143,154 ---- Camp / Space Commerce Corporation / Spacehab / SPOT Image Other commercial space businesses ! 9 Space shuttle answers, launch schedules, TV coverage Shuttle launchings and landings; schedules and how to see them How to receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT Dial-A-Shuttle and how to use it Amateur radio frequencies for shuttle missions + Solid Rocket Booster fuel composition 10 Planetary probes - Historical Missions US planetary missions =================================================================== diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.net *** /tmp/,RCSt1a01633 Fri Jul 24 00:28:49 1992 --- FAQ.net Fri Jul 24 00:27:16 1992 *************** *** 42,54 **** MAILING LISTS ! SPACE Digest is the main Internet list. Email ! space-request+@andrew.cmu.edu to join. ! SPACE Magazine is an Internet list containing a distillation of ! interesting material from SPACE Digest which may be of interest to ! readers tiring of the signal-to-noise level in the digest. Email ! space-mag-request+@andrew.cmu.edu to join. Space-investors is a list for information relevant to investing in space-related companies. Email Vincent Cate (vac@cs.cmu.edu) to join. --- 42,58 ---- MAILING LISTS ! SPACE Digest is the main Internet list, and is now being run by the ! International Space University (in only its second change of management ! in over a decade). Email space-request@isu.isunet.edu (message body ! should be in the format 'subscribe space John Public') to join. Note ! that the moderated SPACE Magazine list is defunct at present for lack of ! a moderator. ! Elements is a moderated list for fast distribution of Space Shuttle ! Keplerian Elements before and during Shuttle flights. NASA two line ! elements are sent out on the list from Dr. Kelso, JSC, and other sources ! as they are released. Email to elements-request@telesoft.com to join. Space-investors is a list for information relevant to investing in space-related companies. Email Vincent Cate (vac@cs.cmu.edu) to join. =================================================================== diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.data *** /tmp/,RCSt1a01638 Fri Jul 24 00:28:51 1992 --- FAQ.data Fri Jul 24 00:27:05 1992 *************** *** 306,313 **** stop bit, no parity. This information is also available via anonymous FTP from ! nachos.ssesco.com (192.55.187.18) in directory sat_elements/nasa. ! (address problems with the server to elmquist@ssesco.com), Orbital elements for the Hubble Space Telescope are posted periodically to sci.astro by Mike Rose (mrose@stsci.edu), and a Macintosh program for --- 306,315 ---- stop bit, no parity. This information is also available via anonymous FTP from ! nachos.ssesco.com (192.55.187.18) in directory sat_elements/nasa ! (address problems with the server to elmquist@ssesco.com), as well as ! kilroy.jpl.nasa.gov (128.149.1.165) in pub/space/elements/nasa and ! pub/space/elements/molczan (contact cyamamot@kilroy.jpl.nasa.gov). Orbital elements for the Hubble Space Telescope are posted periodically to sci.astro by Mike Rose (mrose@stsci.edu), and a Macintosh program for =================================================================== diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.references *** /tmp/,RCSt1a01648 Fri Jul 24 00:28:53 1992 --- FAQ.references Fri Jul 24 00:27:23 1992 *************** *** 190,195 **** --- 190,200 ---- 3303 NASA Road One Houston, TX 77058-4399 If you want to order books, call (713)486-2172. + + Thomas A. Mutch, "Geology of the Moon: A Stratigraphic View", + Princeton University Press, 1970. Information about the Lunar + Orbiter missions, including maps of the coverage of the lunar + nearside and farside by various Orbiters. SPACECRAFT MODELS =================================================================== diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.constants *** /tmp/,RCSt1a01653 Fri Jul 24 00:28:54 1992 --- FAQ.constants Fri Jul 24 00:26:59 1992 *************** *** 114,121 **** w=fd -- Work (energy) is force times distance Atmospheric density varies as exp(-mgz/kT) where z is altitude, m is ! molecular weight in kg of air, g is acceleration of gravity, T is ! temperature, k is Bolztmann's constant. Up to 100 km, d = d0*exp(-z*1.42e-4) --- 114,121 ---- w=fd -- Work (energy) is force times distance Atmospheric density varies as exp(-mgz/kT) where z is altitude, m is ! molecular weight in kg of air, g is local acceleration of gravity, T ! is temperature, k is Bolztmann's constant. On Earth up to 100 km, d = d0*exp(-z*1.42e-4) =================================================================== diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.schedule *** /tmp/,RCSt1a01668 Fri Jul 24 00:28:57 1992 --- FAQ.schedule Fri Jul 24 00:27:28 1992 *************** *** 1,7 **** Archive-name: space/schedule ! Last-modified: $Date: 92/06/25 14:17:57 $ ! SCHEDULES FOR SPACE MISSIONS, AND HOW TO SEE THEM SHUTTLE LAUNCHINGS AND LANDINGS; SCHEDULES AND HOW TO SEE THEM --- 1,7 ---- Archive-name: space/schedule ! Last-modified: $Date: 92/07/24 00:27:24 $ ! SPACE SHUTTLE ANSWERS, LAUNCH SCHEDULES, TV COVERAGE SHUTTLE LAUNCHINGS AND LANDINGS; SCHEDULES AND HOW TO SEE THEM *************** *** 82,86 **** --- 82,104 ---- [This item was most recently updated courtesy of Gary Morris (g@telesoft.com, KK6YB, N5QWC)] + + + SOLID ROCKET BOOSTER FUEL COMPOSITION + + Reference: "Shuttle Flight Operations Manual" Volume 8B - Solid Rocket + Booster Systems, NASA Document JSC-12770 + + Propellant Composition (percent) + + Ammonium perchlorate (oxidizer) 69.6 + Aluminum 16 + Iron Oxide (burn rate catalyst) 0.4 + Polybutadiene-acrilic acid-acrylonitrile (a rubber) 12.04 + Epoxy curing agent 1.96 + + End reference + + Comment: The aluminum, rubber, and epoxy all burn with the oxidizer. NEXT: FAQ #10/15 - Historical planetary probes =================================================================== diff -t -c -r1.10 FAQ.new_probes *** /tmp/,RCSt1a01678 Fri Jul 24 00:28:59 1992 --- FAQ.new_probes Fri Jul 24 00:27:18 1992 *************** *** 4,19 **** UPCOMING PLANETARY PROBES - MISSIONS AND SCHEDULES This covers only NASA and Japanese (ISAS, NASDA) missions. Hard data on ! other nations' (ESA, CIS) plans and updates due to the usual delays and ! budget cuts would be welcome. Source: NASA fact sheets, CRAF/Cassini ! Mission Design team, ISAS/NASDA launch schedules. ! GALILEO - Jupiter orbiter and atmosphere probe. Has returned the first ! resolved images of an asteroid, Gaspra, while in transit to Jupiter. ! Efforts to unfurl the stuck High-Gain Antenna (HGA) are continuing, and ! prospects for success seem to be improving. If the HGA cannot be ! unfurled, science return at Jupiter will be severly limited. Galileo Schedule ---------------- --- 4,22 ---- UPCOMING PLANETARY PROBES - MISSIONS AND SCHEDULES This covers only NASA and Japanese (ISAS, NASDA) missions. Hard data on ! other nations' (ESA, CIS) plans, and updates due to the usual delays and ! budget cuts would be welcome. Source: NASA fact sheets, Cassini Mission ! Design team, ISAS/NASDA launch schedules. ! GALILEO - Jupiter orbiter and atmosphere probe, in transit. Has returned ! the first resolved images of an asteroid, Gaspra, while in transit to ! Jupiter. Efforts to unfurl the stuck High-Gain Antenna (HGA) are ! continuing, though eventual success appears less likely. If the HGA ! cannot be unfurled, JPL has developed a backup plan using data ! compression (JPEG-like for images, lossless compression for data from ! the other instruments) which should allow the mission to achieve ! approximately 70% of its objectives. Galileo Schedule ---------------- *************** *** 51,96 **** start 11/93 for one martian year (687 days). ! CRAF (Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby) will meet with the Comet Kopff ! near the orbit of Jupiter and travel along side it for at least three ! years. Typical Kopff studies will include mass harmonics determination ! orbits, a long period of close (79 km) observation orbits and tail ! excursions at perihelion. Budgetary constraints resulted in the ! elimination of the planned penetrator probe, and a 6 year delay in ! arrival at Kopff. These dates are valid as of 12/17/91. As of 2/11/92, ! CRAF is not funded in the Bush administration's proposed NASA budget, ! though this may change. - Key Scheduled Dates for the CRAF Mission - -------------------------------------------- - 04/09/97 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch - 07/04/98 - Mars Flyby (alt. 1805km, v=8.25 km/s) - 07/18/00 - Earth Flyby 1 (alt. 4208km, v=9.11 km/s) - 06/07/01 - Thisbe Flyby (alt. 8480km, v=5.2 km/s, 80 radii) - 10/25/02 - Fortuna Flyby (alt. 8000km, v=12.57 km/s, 80 radii) - 07/18/03 - Earth Flyby 2 (alt. 1176km, v=9.27 km/s) - 01/26/06 - Rendezvous Kopff - 05/25/09 - Perihelion - 09/30/09 - Nominal End of Mission ! CASSINI - Saturn orbiter and Titan atmosphere probe. ! Key Scheduled Dates for the Cassini Mission (EJGA Trajectory) ------------------------------------------------------------- ! 08/22/96 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch ! 03/29/97 - 66 Maja Asteroid Flyby ! 06/08/98 - Earth Gravity Assist ! 02/06/00 - Jupiter Gravity Assist ! 12/06/02 - Saturn Arrival ! 03/27/03 - Titan Probe Release ! 03/29/03 - Orbiter Deflection Maneuver ! 04/18/03 - Titan Probe Entry ! 06/30/03 - Iapetus Flyby ! 05/20/04 - Dione Flyby ! 09/12/04 - Enceladus Flyby ! 08/14/05 - Iapetus Flyby ! 12/31/06 - End of Primary Mission OTHER SPACE SCIENCE MISSIONS (note: this is based on a posting by Ron --- 54,111 ---- start 11/93 for one martian year (687 days). ! The proposed CRAF (Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby) mission has been ! killed. [And if the FAQ editor may be permitted a moment of intemperate ! flamage, I hope those responsible for this travesty rot in Hell.] + CASSINI - Saturn orbiter and Titan atmosphere probe. Cassini is a joint + NASA/ESA project designed to accomplish an exploration of the Saturnian + system with its Cassini Saturn Orbiter and Huygens Titan Probe. Cassini + is scheduled for launch aboard a Titan IV/Centair in October of 1997. + After gravity assists of Venus, Earth and Jupiter in a VVEJGA + trajectory, the spacecraft will arrive at Saturn in June of 2004. Upon + arrival, the Cassini spacecraft performs several maneuvers to achieve an + orbit around Saturn. Near the end of this initial orbit, the Huygens + Probe separates from the Orbiter and descends through the atmosphere of + Titan. The Orbiter relays the Probe data to Earth for about 3 hours + while the Probe enters and traverses the cloudy atmosphere to the + surface. After the completion of the Probe mission, the Orbiter + continues touring the Saturnian system for three and a half years. Titan + synchronous orbit trajectories will allow about 35 flybys of Titan and + targeted flybys of Iapetus, Dione and Enceladus. The objectives of the + mission are threefold: conduct detailed studies of Saturn's atmosphere, + rings and magnetosphere; conduct close-up studies of Saturn's + satellites, and characterize Titan's atmosphere and surface. ! One of the most intriguing aspects of Titan is the possibility that its ! surface may be covered in part with lakes of liquid hydrocarbons that ! result from photochemical processes in its upper atmosphere. These ! hydrocarbons condense to form a global smog layer and eventually rain ! down onto the surface. The Cassini orbiter will use onboard radar to ! peer through Titan's clouds and determine if there is liquid on the ! surface. Experiments aboard both the orbiter and the entry probe will ! investigate the chemical processes that produce this unique atmosphere. ! The Cassini mission is named for Jean Dominique Cassini (1625-1712), the ! first director of the Paris Observatory, who discovered several of ! Saturn's satellites and the major division in its rings. The Titan ! atmospheric entry probe is named for the Dutch physicist Christiaan ! Huygens (1629-1695), who discovered Titan and first described the true ! nature of Saturn's rings. ! ! Key Scheduled Dates for the Cassini Mission (VVEJGA Trajectory) ------------------------------------------------------------- ! 10/06/97 - Titan IV/Centaur Launch ! 04/21/98 - Venus 1 Gravity Assist ! 06/20/99 - Venus 2 Gravity Assist ! 08/16/99 - Earth Gravity Assist ! 12/30/00 - Jupiter Gravity Assist ! 06/25/04 - Saturn Arrival ! 01/09/05 - Titan Probe Release ! 01/30/05 - Titan Probe Entry ! 06/25/08 - End of Primary Mission ! (Schedule last updated 7/22/92) OTHER SPACE SCIENCE MISSIONS (note: this is based on a posting by Ron *************** *** 151,158 **** o SFU (Space Flyer Unit) [ISAS] Conducting space experiments and observations and this can be recovered after it conducts the various scientific and ! engineering experiments. SFU is to be launched/retrieved by the ! U.S. Space Shuttle. 1994 o Polar Auroral Plasma Physics [May, Delta II rocket] --- 166,173 ---- o SFU (Space Flyer Unit) [ISAS] Conducting space experiments and observations and this can be recovered after it conducts the various scientific and ! engineering experiments. SFU is to be launched by ISAS and ! retrieved by the U.S. Space Shuttle on STS-68 in 1994. 1994 o Polar Auroral Plasma Physics [May, Delta II rocket] ------------------------------ Date: 24 Jul 92 04:35:11 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 01/15 - Introduction Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,news.answers Archive-name: space/intro Last-modified: $Date: 92/07/24 00:27:08 $ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON SCI.SPACE/SCI.ASTRO INTRODUCTION This series of linked messages is periodically posted to the Usenet groups sci.space and sci.astro in an attempt to provide good answers to frequently asked questions and other reference material which is worth preserving. If you have corrections or answers to other frequently asked questions that you would like included in this posting, send email to leech@cs.unc.edu (Jon Leech). If you don't want to see the FAQ, add 'Frequently Asked Questions' to your KILL file for this group (if you're not reading this with a newsreader that can kill articles by subject, you're out of luck). The FAQ volume is excessive right now and will hopefully be trimmed down by rewriting and condensing over time. The FAQ postings are available in the Ames SPACE archive in FAQ/faq<#>. Good summaries will be accepted in place of the answers given here. The point of this is to circulate existing information, and avoid rehashing old answers. Better to build on top than start again. Nothing more depressing than rehashing old topics for the 100th time. References are provided because they give more complete information than any short generalization. Questions fall into three basic types: 1) Where do I find some information about space? Try your local public library first. The net is not a good place to ask for general information. Ask INDIVIDUALS (by email) if you must. There are other sources, use them, too. The net is a place for open ended discussion. 2) I have an idea which would improve space flight? Hope you aren't surprised, but 9,999 out of 10,000 have usually been thought of before. Again, contact a direct individual source for evaluation. NASA fields thousands of these each day. 3) Miscellanous queries. These are addressed on a case-by-case basis in the following series of FAQ postings. SUGGESTIONS FOR BETTER NETIQUETTE Read news.announce.newusers if you're on Usenet. Minimize cross references, [Do you REALLY NEED to?] Edit "Subject:" lines, especially if you're taking a tangent. Send mail instead, avoid posting follow ups. (1 mail message worth 100 posts). Internet mail readers: send requests to add/drop to SPACE-REQUEST not SPACE. Read all available articles before posting a follow-up. (Check all references.) Cut down attributed articles (leave only the points you're responding to; remove signatures and headers). Summarize! Put a return address in the body (signature) of your message (mail or article), state your institution, etc. Don't assume the 'reply' function of mailers will work. Use absolute dates. Post in a timely way. Don't post what everyone will get on TV anyway. Some editors and window systems do character count line wrapping: keep lines under 80 characters for those using ASCII terminals (use carriage returns). INDEX TO LINKED POSTINGS I've attempted to break the postings up into related areas. There isn't a keyword index yet; the following lists the major subject areas in each posting. Only those containing astronomy-related material are posted to sci.astro (indicated by '*' following the posting number). # Contents 1* Introduction Suggestions for better netiquette Index to linked postings Notes on addresses, phone numbers, etc. Contributors 2* Network resources Overview Mailing lists Periodically updated information Warning about non-public networks 3* Online (and some offline) sources of images, data, etc. Introduction Viewing Images Online Archives NASA Ames NASA Spacelink National Space Science Data Center Space And Planetary Image Facility Space Telescope Science Institute Electronic Info. Service Astronomical Databases Astronomy Programs Orbital Element Sets SPACE Digest Landsat & NASA Photos Planetary Maps Cometary Orbits 4* Performing calculations and interpreting data formats Computing spacecraft orbits and trajectories Computing planetary positions Computing crater diameters from Earth-impacting asteroids Map projections and spherical trignometry Performing N-body simulations efficiently Interpreting the FITS image format Sky (Unix ephemeris program) Three-dimensional star/galaxy coordinates 5* References on specific areas Publishers of space/astronomy material Careers in the space industry DC-X single-stage to orbit (SSTO) program LLNL "great exploration" Lunar science and activities Spacecraft models Rocket propulsion Spacecraft design Esoteric propulsion schemes (solar sails, lasers, fusion...) Spy satellites Space shuttle computer systems SETI computation (signal processing) Amateur satellies & weather satellites Tides 6* Constants and equations for calculations 7* Astronomical Mnemonics 8 Contacting NASA, ESA, and other space agencies/companies NASA Centers / Arianespace / ESA / NASDA / Soyuzkarta / Space Camp / Space Commerce Corporation / Spacehab / SPOT Image Other commercial space businesses 9 Space shuttle answers, launch schedules, TV coverage Shuttle launchings and landings; schedules and how to see them How to receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT Dial-A-Shuttle and how to use it Amateur radio frequencies for shuttle missions Solid Rocket Booster fuel composition 10 Planetary probes - Historical Missions US planetary missions Mariner (Venus, Mars, & Mercury flybys and orbiters) Pioneer (Moon, Sun, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn flybys and orbiters) Ranger (Lunar lander and impact missions) Lunar Orbiter (Lunar surface photography) Surveyor (Lunar soft landers) Viking (Mars orbiters and landers) Voyager (Outer planet flybys) Soviet planetary missions Soviet Lunar probes Soviet Venus probes Soviet Mars probes Japanese planetary missions Planetary mission references 11 Upcoming planetary probes - missions and schedules Galileo Mars Observer CRAF Cassini Other space science missions 12 Controversial questions What happened to the Saturn V plans Why data from space missions isn't immediately available Risks of nuclear (RTG) power sources for space probes Impact of the space shuttle on the ozone layer How long can a human live unprotected in space Using the shuttle beyond Low Earth Orbit The "Face on Mars" 13 Space activist/interest/research groups and space publications Groups Publications Undocumented Groups 14 How to become an astronaut 15 Orbital and Planetary Launch Services NOTES ON ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, ETC. Unless otherwise specified, telephone numbers, addresses, and so on are for the United States of America. Non-US readers should remember to add the country code for telephone calls, etc. CREDITS Eugene Miya started a series of linked FAQ postings some years ago which inspired (and was largely absorbed into) this set. Peter Yee and Ron Baalke have and continue to spend a lot of their own time setting up the SPACE archives at NASA Ames and forwarding official NASA announcements. Many other people have contributed material to this list in the form of old postings to sci.space and sci.astro which I've edited. Please let me know if corrections need to be made. Contributors I've managed to keep track of are: 0004847546@mcimail.com (Francis Reddy) - map projections akerman@bill.phy.queensu.CA (Richard Akerman) - crater diameters alweigel@athena.mit.edu (Lisa Weigel) - SEDS info aoab314@emx.utexas.edu (Srinivas Bettadpur) - tides awpaeth@watcgl.waterloo.edu (Alan Wm Paeth) - map projections aws@iti.org (Allen W. Sherzer) - Great Exploration baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) - planetary probe schedules bankst@rata.vuw.ac.nz (Timothy Banks) - map projections, variable star analysis archive brosen@pioneer.arc.nasa.gov (Bernie Rosen) - Space Camp bschlesinger@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (Barry Schlesinger) - FITS format cew@venera.isi.edu (Craig E. Ward) - space group contact info chapin@cbnewsc.att.com (Tom Chapin) - planetary positions cunnida@tenet.edu (D. Alan Cunningham) - NASA Spacelink cyamamot@kilroy.Jpl.Nasa.Gov (Cliff Yamamoto) - orbital elements datri@convex.com (Anthony Datri) - PDS/VICAR viewing software daver@sjc.mentorg.com (Dave Rickel) - orbit formulae dlbres10@pc.usl.edu (Phil Fraering) - propulsion eder@hsvaic.boeing.com (Dani Eder) - Saturn V plans, SRBs eugene@eos.arc.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya) - introduction, NASA contact info, started FAQ postings g@telesoft.com (Gary Morris) - amateur radio info gaetz@uwovax.uwo.ca (Terry Gaetz) - N-body calculations, orbital dynamics grandi@noao.edu (Steve Grandi) - planetary positions greer%utd201.dnet%utadnx@utspan.span.nasa.gov (Dale M. Greer) - constants henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) - survival in vacuum, astronaut how-to, publication refs, DC-X higgins@fnal.bitnet (William Higgins) - RTGs, publishers, shuttle landings, spysats, propulsion, "Face on Mars" hmueller@cssun.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller) - map projections, orbital dynamics jim@pnet01.cts.com (Jim Bowery) - propulsion, launch services jscotti@lpl.arizona.edu (Jim Scotti) - planetary positions kcarroll@zoo.toronto.edu (Kieran A. Carroll)- refs for spacecraft design ken@orion.bitnet (Kenneth Ng) - RTGs klaes@verga.enet.dec.com (Larry Klaes) - planetary probe history leech@cs.unc.edu (Jon Leech) - crater diameters lfa@vielle.cray.com (Lou Adornato) - orbital dynamics maury.markowitz@egsgate.fidonet.org (Maury Markowitz) - propulsion mbellon@mcdurb.Urbana.Gould.COM - N-body calculations mcconley@phoenix.Princeton.edu (Marc Wayne Mcconley) - space careers msb@sq.com (Mark Brader) - Mariner 1 info. mwm@cmu.edu (Mark Maimone) - SPACE Digest nickw@syma.sussex.ac.uk (Dr. Nick Watkins) - models, spysats opus@pioneer.unm.edu (Colby Kraybill) - SPIF data archive panama@cup.portal.com (Kenneth W Durham) - cometary orbits, IAU paul.blase@nss.fidonet.org (Paul Blase) - propulsion pjs@plato.jpl.nasa.gov (Peter Scott) - RTGs pschleck@unomaha.edu (Paul W. Schleck) - AMSAT, ARRL contact info rdb@mel.cocam.oz.au (Rodney Brown) - propulsion refs rja7m@phil.cs.virginia.edu (Ran Atkinson) - FTPable astro. programs rjungcla@ihlpb.att.com (R. Michael Jungclas)- models seal@leonardo.jpl.nasa.gov (David Seal) - Cassini mission schedule shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer) - photos, shuttle landings smith@sndpit.enet.dec.com (Willie Smith) - photos stephen@gpwd.gp.co.nz (Stephen Dixon) - shuttle audio frequencies sterner@warper.jhuapl.edu (Ray Sterner) - planetary positions stooke@vaxr.sscl.uwo.ca (Phil Stooke) - planetary maps ted_anderson@transarc.com (Ted Anderson) - propulsion terry@astro.as.utexas.edu (Terry Hancock) - NASA center info thorson@typhoon.atmos.coloState.edu (Bill Thorson) - FITS info tm2b+@andrew.cmu.edu (Todd L. Masco) - SPACE Digest tom@ssd.csd.harris.com (Tom Horsley) - refs for algorithms wayne@csri.utoronto.ca (Wayne Hayes) - constants weemba@libra.wistar.upenn.edu (Matthew P Wiener) - Voyager history yamada@yscvax.ysc.go.jp (Yoshiro Yamada) - ISAS/NASDA missions yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Yee) - AMES archive server, propulsion In Net memoriam: Ted Flinn NEXT: FAQ #2/15 - Network Resources ------------------------------ Date: 24 Jul 92 04:35:39 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 02/15 - Network Resources Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,news.answers Archive-name: space/net Last-modified: $Date: 92/07/24 00:27:15 $ NETWORK RESOURCES OVERVIEW You may be reading this document on any one of an amazing variety of computers, so much of the material below may not apply to you. In general, however, systems connected to 'the net' fall in one of three categories: Internet, Usenet, or BITNET. Electronic mail may be sent between these networks, and other resources available on one of these networks are sometimes accessible from other networks by email sent to special 'servers'. The space and astronomy discussion groups actually are composed of several mechanisms with (mostly) transparent connections between them. One mechanism is the mailing list, in which mail is sent to a central distribution point which relays it to all recipients of the list. In addition to the general lists for space (called SPACE Digest for Internet users, and SPACE-L on BITNET), there are a number of more specialized mailing lists described below. A second mechanism is Usenet 'netnews'. This is somewhat like a bulletin board operating on each system which is a part of the net. Netnews separates contributions into hundreds of different categories based on a 'group name'. The groups dealing most closely with space topics are called 'sci.space.news', 'sci.space', 'sci.space.shuttle', 'sci.astro', and 'talk.politics.space'. Contributors 'post' submissions (called 'articles' in netnews terminology) on their local machine, which sends it to other nearby machines. Similarly, articles sent from nearby machines are stored locally and may be forwarded to other systems, so that an article is posted locally and eventually reaches all the Usenet sites interested in receiving the news group to which the article was posted. Gateway machines serve to redirect Usenet netnews into Internet and BITNET mailing lists and vice versa. If you can receive netnews, its more flexible interface usually makes it the preferred option to getting on one of the main mailing lists. MAILING LISTS SPACE Digest is the main Internet list, and is now being run by the International Space University (in only its second change of management in over a decade). Email space-request@isu.isunet.edu (message body should be in the format 'subscribe space John Public') to join. Note that the moderated SPACE Magazine list is defunct at present for lack of a moderator. Elements is a moderated list for fast distribution of Space Shuttle Keplerian Elements before and during Shuttle flights. NASA two line elements are sent out on the list from Dr. Kelso, JSC, and other sources as they are released. Email to elements-request@telesoft.com to join. Space-investors is a list for information relevant to investing in space-related companies. Email Vincent Cate (vac@cs.cmu.edu) to join. Space-tech is a list for more technical discussion of space topics; discussion has included esoteric propulsion technologies, asteroid capture, starflight, orbital debris removal, etc. Email to space-tech-request@cs.cmu.edu to join. Archives of old digests and selected excerpts are available by anonymous FTP from daisy.learning.cs.cmu.edu (128.2.218.26) in /usr/anon/public/space-tech, or by email to space-tech-request if you don't have FTP access. SEDS-L is a BITNET list for members of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space and other interested parties. Email LISTSERV@TAMVM1.BITNET with a message saying "SUBSCRIBE SEDS-L your name". Email saying "INDEX SEDS-L" to list the archive contents. SEDSNEWS is a BITNET list for news items, press releases, shuttle status reports, and the like. This duplicates material which is also found in Space Digest, sci.space, sci.space.shuttle, and sci.astro. Email LISTSERV@TAMVM1.BITNET saying "SUBSCRIBE SEDSNEWS your name" to join. Email saying "INDEX SEDSNEWS" to list the archive contents. As a general note, please mail to the *request* address to get off a mailing list. SPACE Digest, for example, relays many inappropriate 'please remove me from this list' messages which are sent to the list address rather than the request address. PERIODICALLY UPDATED INFORMATION In addition to this FAQ list, a broad variety of topical information is posted to the net (unless otherwise noted, in the new group sci.space.news created for this purpose). Please remember that the individuals posting this information are performing a service for all net readers, and don't take up their time with frivolous requests. ACRONYMS Garrett Wollman (wollman@UVM.EDU) posts an acronym list around the first of each month. ASTRO-FTP LIST M{kel{ Veikko (pvtmakela@hylkn1.helsinki.fi) posts a monthly list of anonymous FTP servers containing astronomy and space related material to sci.space and sci.astro. AVIATION WEEK Henry Spencer (henry@zoo.toronto.edu) posts summaries of space-related stories in the weekly _Aviation Week and Space Technology_. BUYING TELESCOPES Ronnie Kon (ronnie@cisco.com) posts a guide to buying telescopes to sci.astro. ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF THE ASA Don Barry (don@chara.gsu.edu) posts the monthly Electronic Journal of the Astronomical Society of the Atlantic to sci.astro. ESA BULLETIN Harm Munk (munk@prl.philips.nl) posts summaries of articles in the quarterly _ESA Bulletin_ and the _ESA Journal_. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL Swaraj Jeyasingh (sjeyasin@axion.bt.co.uk) posts summaries of space-related news from _Flight International_. This focuses more on non-US space activities than Aviation Week. LARGE ASTRONOMICAL PROJECTS Robert Bunge (rbunge@access.digex.com) posts a list describing many "Large Telescope Projects Either Being Considered or in the Works" to sci.astro. NASA HEADLINE NEWS & SHUTTLE REPORTS Peter Yee (yee@ames.arc.nasa.gov) posts a variety of NASA material, including NASA Headline News (with the schedule for NASA SELECT), shuttle payload briefings and flight manifests, and KSC shuttle status reports. For Usenet users, much of this material appears in the group sci.space.shuttle. NASA UPDATES Ron Baalke (baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov) posts frequent updates from JPL, Ames, and other centers on the Ulysses, Gailileo, Pioneer, Magellan, Landsat, and other missions. The updates posted by Ron and Peter are also available on a mailing list. Contact either one to be added to this list. ORBITAL ELEMENT SETS TS Kelso (tkelso@blackbird.afit.af.mil) posts orbital elements from NASA Prediction Bulletins. Mike Rose (mrose@stsci.edu) posts orbital elements for the Hubble Space Telescope to sci.astro. Jost Jahn (j.jahn@abbs.hanse.de) posts ephemerides for asteroids, comets, conjunctions, and encounters to sci.astro. SATELLITE LAUNCHES Richard Langley (lang@unb.ca) posts SPACEWARN Bulletin, which describes recent launch/orbital decay information and satellites which are useful for scientific activities. Recent bulletins are available by anonymous FTP from nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov in ANON_DIR:[000000.ACTIVE.SPX]. SHUTTLE MANIFEST Ken Hollis (gandalf@pro-electric.cts.com) posts a compressed version of the Space Shuttle launch manifest to sci.space.shuttle. This includes dates, times, payloads, and information on how to see launches and landings. SOLAR ACTIVITY Cary Oler (oler@hg.uleth.ca) posts Solar Terrestrial reports (describing solar activity and its effect on the Earth) to sci.space. The report is issued in part from data released by the Space Enviroment Services Center, Boulder Colorado. The intro document needed to understand these reports is available by anonymous FTP from solar.stanford.edu (36.10.0.4) in pub/understanding_solar_terrestrial_reports. nic.funet.fi (128.214.6.100) also has this document in /pub/misc/rec.radio.shortwave/solarreports and is an archive site for the reports (please note this site is in Europe, and the connection to the US is only 56KB). A new primary archive site, xi.uleth.ca (142.66.3.29), has recently been established and will be actively supported. SOVIET SPACE ACTIVITIES Glenn Chapman (glennc@cs.sfu.ca) posts summaries of Soviet space activities. SPACE ACTIVIST NEWSLETTER Allen Sherzer (aws@iti.org) posts a newsletter, "One Small Step for a Space Activist," to talk.politics.space. It describes current legislative activity affecting NASA and commercial space activities. SPACE EVENTS CALENDAR Ron Baalke (baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov) posts a calendar including anniversaries, conferences, launch dates, meteor showers and eclipses, and other space-related events. SPACE NEWS John Magliacane (kd2bd@ka2qhd.UUCP) posts "SpaceNews" (covering AMSATs, NOAA and other weather satellites, and other ham information) to rec.radio.amateur.misc and sci.space. SPACE REPORT Jonathan McDowell (mcdowell@cfa.harvard.edu) posts "Jonathan's Space Report" covering launches, landings, reentries, status reports, satellite activities, etc. TOWARD 2001 Bev Freed (freed@nss.fidonet.org) posts "Toward 2001", a weekly global news summary reprinted from _Space Calendar_ magazine. WARNING ABOUT NON-PUBLIC NETWORKS (Included at the suggestion of Eugene Miya, who wrote the item) NASA has an internal system of unclassified electronic mail and bulletin boards. This system is not open for public use. Specifically, NASA personnel and procurement operations are regarded with some sensitivity. Contractors must renegotiate their contracts. The Fair and Open Procurement Act does not look kindly to those having inside information. Contractors and outsiders caught using this type of information can expect severe penalities. Unauthorized access attempts may subject you to a fine and/or imprisonment in accordance with Title 18, USC, Section 1030. If in fact you should should learn of unauthorized access, contact NASA personnel. NEXT: FAQ #3/15 - Online (and some offline) sources of images, data, etc. ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 030 ------------------------------