Date: Sat, 25 Jul 92 11:43:01 From: Space Digest maintainer Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu Subject: Space Digest V15 #038 To: Space Digest Readers Precedence: bulk Space Digest Sat, 25 Jul 92 Volume 15 : Issue 038 Today's Topics: Antimatter (was propulsion questions) Antiproton-boosted fission Clinton Space Position NASA experiment could save lives, time and money [Release 92-115] (Forwarded) NASP, NLS, SSTO, etc. (2 msgs) Relativity in science fiction Two-Line Orbital Element Sets, Part 2 Visual acuity in microgravity Whales (SETI) What happens to unused RTG power on space probes? 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: 25 Jul 92 01:44:16 GMT From: Shari L Brooks Subject: Antimatter (was propulsion questions) Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1992Jul20.182848.28666@cs.ucf.edu> clarke@acme.ucf.edu (Thomas Clarke) writes, in a serious manner: >It should be possible to chemically >contain an antiproton in the form of an antiproton salt. [...description of how to do this, chemically, deleted...] >The obvious name for an antiproton salt it dilithium :-) ...which is why, of course, in ST it is always referred to as dilithium *crystals* :) -- 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: 25 Jul 92 14:43:46 GMT From: John Roberts Subject: Antiproton-boosted fission Newsgroups: sci.space -From: tjn32113@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Thomas J. Nugent) -Subject: Re: Antiproton-boosted fission -Date: 23 Jul 92 20:25:49 GMT -Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana -roberts@CMR.NCSL.NIST.GOV (John Roberts) writes: -[stuff about antiproton induced fission deleted] ->Great! Now we can build hand-held tactical nuclear machine guns. (One shot ->destroys a building several miles away.) :-( (Another E.E. Smith idea, ->this time from the Skylark series.) -Well, considering that the system to carry the antiprotons is arguably -the smallest system, and it would mass over a couple tons (with things like -the laser or electron inertial confinement guns massing hundreds of tons), -I don't think it quite qualifies as a hand-held machine gun. If it would take a lot of effort to make it into a practical weapon, that's fine with me. Maybe nobody will bother - there's something to be said for avoiding the development of weapons that are more useful to terrorists than to conventional armies. That's apparently also an advantage of muon-catalyzed fusion - in a lecture here on the subject several years ago, it was stated that the effect cuts off above a fairly low temperature, so it couldn't be used in an explosive weapon. (That probably also rules out using it in a thermal rocket engine, but you could use it in space to drive an ion engine.) John Roberts roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 92 14:40:20 GMT From: John Roberts Subject: Clinton Space Position Newsgroups: sci.space [Note: the following is not an endorsement of any party or candidate.] -From: rbunge@access.digex.com (Robert Bunge) -Subject: Clinton Space Position -Date: 22 Jul 92 21:05:17 GMT -Organization: Express Access Online Communications Service, Greenbelt, Maryland USA -The following was passed on to me. I'm told it came from the Clinton -Headquarters (I don't have any reason to doubt that): -Bill Clinton on America's Space Program ... I think Henry chose about the most negative possible interpretation. I've heard (unofficially and third hand) that the NASA folks aren't unduly concerned about the space platforms of either of the major candidates. Note that the platform isn't too different from the current trends in Administration and Congress - keep the manned program going, support aircraft research, make the unmanned program more efficient, and for proposed big programs, concentrate on finding ways to make them more affordable, without major changes in funding. From NASA's viewpoint, it's probably highly desirable that the two platforms be similar. To maintain integrity, it's in a candidate's interest to try to stay fairly close to the campaign platform once elected, and both parties have generally expressed support for the space program, so it would be difficult for either of them to turn around and attempt large budget cuts. (In this context, it's perhaps encouraging that neither has promised to triple the space budget, since that's impractical in the current political and economic climate - a realistic platform at least has a chance of being honored.) There are several indications in the proposal that some of the military space funding would be shifted to the civilian space program, which ought to be beneficial to the civilian program. Please direct followups through Peter Jennings, the Official Canadian to Tell Americans How to Vote. :-) :-) :-) John Roberts roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 92 02:01:24 GMT From: Shari L Brooks Subject: NASA experiment could save lives, time and money [Release 92-115] (Forwarded) Newsgroups: sci.space In article <7862@sirius.ucs.adelaide.edu.au> francis@cs.adelaide.edu.au writes: >In article <1992Jul20.174736.11820@news.arc.nasa.gov>, >yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: >|> The satellite system, an international program known as COSPAS- >|> SARSAT, has been responsible for saving more than 2,300 lives since it was >|> started in 1982. Principal partners in this program are Canada, France, >|> Russia and the United States. >|> When an aircraft or ship is in distress, an emergency signal normally >|> will be transmitted. The signal will be "heard" by one of the satellites, >|> which relays the information to ground stations around the world. Alert >|> information, including identification and location, is forwarded by the >|> ground stations to search and rescue forces, and rescue efforts are begun. [...further description deleted...] >Something that has been bothering me for a while. Why not add a >GPS receiver to the beacon? The beacon should then squark not only that >it exists, but provide a pretty accurate position fix. It also has the >advantage that if the beacon fails (or sinks if the ship goes down) there >is a very good, last heard from position to start looking form. I am not sure of the current status of this proposal, but I was at a meeting discussing a related topic about six months ago. Apparently, there is about 50lb of unused capacity on GPS (to rephrase, the satellite can afford to be 50lb heavier, and there is space for 50 extra lb of payload). In future designs perhaps a S&R package could be put on the satellite. The people proposing this sounded very serious. I personally would think that this would add much more than 50 lbs of weight, in communications capacity alone. I wish I still had the reference materials. Has anyone else heard of this idea getting seriously entertained? -- 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: 24 Jul 92 00:13:23 GMT From: kays@mailhub.scf.lmsc.lockheed.com Subject: NASP, NLS, SSTO, etc. Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.aeronautics I heard a rumor the congress is considering canceling NASP, SSTO and a few other launch systems and dumping most of the money into NLS. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this rumor? I also heard the NLS is spinning its wheels and wasting time and money. Laters, NO Randy SIG Laters, Randy ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 14:40:11 GMT From: "Allen W. Sherzer" Subject: NASP, NLS, SSTO, etc. Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.aeronautics In article kays@mailhub.scf.lmsc.lockheed.com writes: >I heard a rumor the congress is considering canceling NASP, SSTO and a few >other launch systems and dumping most of the money into NLS. Does anyone >know if there is any truth to this rumor? NASP isn't going to survive as a flying program although it may continue as a materials research program. Single Stage Rocket Technology (SSRT) is doing OK for this year but is in serious danger next year. There does seem to be more interest in NLS in the appropriations committee although this may reflect a desire to kill SSRT and NASP more than any desire for NLS. >I also heard the NLS is spinning its wheels and wasting time and money. Suprise suprise. There are a number of alternatives which could be had for far less time and money. Allen -- +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Allen W. Sherzer | "If they can put a man on the Moon, why can't they | | aws@iti.org | put a man on the Moon?" | +----------------------272 DAYS TO FIRST FLIGHT OF DCX----------------------+ ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 92 04:44:05 GMT From: John Roberts Subject: Relativity in science fiction Newsgroups: sci.space -From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) -Subject: Re: Antiproton-boosted fission -Date: 24 Jul 92 16:20:22 GMT -Most of the Skylark and Lensman books do indeed date to the 30s. However, -Smith wasn't ignoring relativity, just asserting -- for fictional purposes -- -that it was wrong. (Remember that it was somewhat less solidly established -at the time.) Although it may have been the result of later revision, in -at least one of the books, the characters comment on this. "We're [a long -way] from home." "Didn't Einstein say we couldn't exceed the speed of -light?" "That was theory; this distance is experimental fact." "With the neutralization of inertia it was discovered that there is no limit whatever to the velocity of inertialess matter. A free ship takes on instantaneously the velocity at which the force of her drive is exactly equalled by the friction of the medium. E.E.S." That's from Galactic Patrol, which was copyrighted in 1937 and 1950 (this comment may have been added at the later date). (I believe this was the first book written, though it's the third of the series.) I've wondered about the chronology of the "negaspheres" (first appearing in the series in 1951, and apparently equivalent to antimatter black holes) and the development of theories on black holes. When did serious theorization on black holes come along? John Roberts | "I do not like thought-screens. I prefer that my roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov | mind be left free to roam." - K. Kinnison ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 02:27:15 GMT From: TS Kelso Subject: Two-Line Orbital Element Sets, Part 2 Newsgroups: sci.space The most current orbital elements from the NORAD two-line element sets are carried on the Celestial BBS, (513) 427-0674, and are updated daily (when possible). Documentation and tracking software are also available on this system. The Celestial BBS may be accessed 24 hours/day at 300, 1200, 2400, 4800, or 9600 bps using 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. Element sets (also updated daily) and some documentation and software are available via anonymous ftp from archive.afit.af.mil (129.92.1.66) in the directory pub/space. As a service to the satellite user community, the most current of these elements are uploaded weekly to sci.space.news and rec.radio.amateur.misc. This week's elements are provided below. - Current Two-Line Element Sets #028b - GMS 4 1 20217U 89 70 A 92203.77754368 -.00000255 00000-0 99999-4 0 4345 2 20217 0.3130 323.1660 0001545 172.3380 224.5036 1.00270478 11161 GPS BII-04 1 20302U 89 85 A 92204.41875324 -.00000015 00000-0 99999-4 0 3910 2 20302 54.0549 285.6138 0016275 329.6604 30.3087 2.00566084 20239 Meteor 3-3 1 20305U 89 86 A 92203.62474218 .00000043 00000-0 99999-4 0 5926 2 20305 82.5541 38.0819 0015406 218.9084 141.0930 13.16002578131628 COBE 1 20322U 89 89 A 92204.50969658 .00000059 00000-0 49274-4 0 5448 2 20322 99.0058 217.6134 0009783 46.6606 313.5372 14.03351163136956 Kvant-2 1 20335U 89 93 A 92204.94060984 .00007287 00000-0 12214-3 0 1493 2 20335 51.6250 67.9439 0002897 324.3265 35.7754 15.52965376367841 GPS BII-05 1 20361U 89 97 A 92203.93300238 .00000008 00000-0 99999-4 0 3451 2 20361 55.1524 109.9585 0065380 81.3923 279.3816 2.00563090 9708 SPOT 2 1 20436U 90 5 A 92205.70827404 .00000099 00000-0 55282-4 0 9016 2 20436 98.7405 279.5509 0001548 65.4055 294.7281 14.20021844129674 UO-14 1 20437U 90 5 B 92205.21990496 .00000148 00000-0 65939-4 0 6028 2 20437 98.6384 286.7518 0011979 67.7412 292.5038 14.29658058130424 UO-15 1 20438U 90 5 C 92204.77520842 .00000078 00000-0 38419-4 0 4835 2 20438 98.6408 285.9387 0010981 70.6748 289.5620 14.29054295130329 PACSAT 1 20439U 90 5 D 92199.77545685 .00000106 00000-0 49294-4 0 4847 2 20439 98.6439 281.9676 0012553 84.2541 276.0072 14.29720770129654 DO-17 1 20440U 90 5 E 92197.06646905 .00000108 00000-0 49563-4 0 4847 2 20440 98.6438 279.4014 0012764 90.6896 269.5750 14.29846360129273 WO-18 1 20441U 90 5 F 92196.75265515 .00000098 00000-0 46153-4 0 4847 2 20441 98.6439 279.1348 0013216 91.3505 268.9191 14.29837764129236 LO-19 1 20442U 90 5 G 92201.11335470 .00000120 00000-0 54654-4 0 4844 2 20442 98.6438 283.5803 0013641 79.7528 280.5195 14.29922976129861 GPS BII-06 1 20452U 90 8 A 92204.33763433 .00000009 00000-0 99999-4 0 3935 2 20452 54.2039 224.7978 0045946 61.7784 298.7362 2.00560776 18210 MOS-1B 1 20478U 90 13 A 92205.69264184 .00000159 00000-0 14354-3 0 9290 2 20478 99.1141 279.2263 0000898 94.3270 265.7985 13.94878654 45960 DEBUT 1 20479U 90 13 B 92204.20423781 .00000030 00000-0 96067-4 0 4304 2 20479 99.0728 116.2637 0541252 113.6376 252.2492 12.83282457114993 FO-20 1 20480U 90 13 C 92195.24899550 -.00000003 00000-0 22873-4 0 3786 2 20480 99.0750 108.9495 0541281 133.9087 230.8038 12.83211725113847 MOS-1B R/B 1 20491U 90 13 D 92201.38593095 -.00000406 00000-0 -73810-3 0 5524 2 20491 99.0643 138.4024 0470875 42.3623 321.2666 13.02931278115786 LACE 1 20496U 90 15 A 92204.91595594 .00003555 00000-0 14048-3 0 9752 2 20496 43.1036 20.5670 0018032 210.4386 149.5452 15.27058139135143 Nadezhda 2 1 20508U 90 17 A 92203.01156948 .00000055 00000-0 52238-4 0 5442 2 20508 82.9500 215.8889 0045444 20.0399 340.2524 13.73423193119980 OKEAN 2 1 20510U 90 18 A 92199.22968718 .00000956 00000-0 13058-3 0 9012 2 20510 82.5256 114.5594 0019290 324.2117 35.7802 14.77480998128270 INTELSAT-6 1 20523U 90 21 A 92201.26734478 -.00000210 00000-0 99999-4 0 9453 2 20523 0.4845 263.9502 0002998 217.9334 238.1325 1.00269881 1649 GPS BII-07 1 20533U 90 25 A 92202.74766770 -.00000033 00000-0 99999-4 0 3921 2 20533 55.1741 345.0587 0038380 90.3242 270.1243 2.00563330 16954 PegSat 1 20546U 90 28 A 92205.20500514 .00009174 00000-0 31025-3 0 728 2 20546 94.1361 270.5917 0100962 44.0939 316.8296 15.25810752125965 HST 1 20580U 90 37 B 92205.88177328 .00001396 00000-0 12089-3 0 8100 2 20580 28.4719 18.3127 0004873 203.7803 156.2572 14.91641459122439 MACSAT 2 1 20608U 90 43 B 92200.94175167 .00000790 00000-0 13558-3 0 5936 2 20608 89.9115 186.0832 0109130 12.1112 348.2690 14.64088493117098 Glonass 44 1 20619U 90 45 A 92204.93556231 -.00000021 00000-0 00000+0 0 1992 2 20619 65.2630 12.6438 0023282 210.1397 149.7655 2.13103425 16966 Glonass 45 1 20620U 90 45 B 92205.05364217 -.00000021 00000-0 00000+0 0 2439 2 20620 65.2465 12.6589 0008023 46.8676 313.2446 2.13103599 16970 Glonass 46 1 20621U 90 45 C 92204.17590515 -.00000021 00000-0 00000+0 0 1242 2 20621 65.2659 12.6922 0013486 197.5129 162.4649 2.13101637 16951 Kristall 1 20635U 90 48 A 92204.94061140 .00008451 00000-0 14045-3 0 9499 2 20635 51.6250 67.9443 0002881 323.7353 36.3766 15.52966666367846 ROSAT 1 20638U 90 49 A 92205.55467630 .00007638 00000-0 55000-3 0 6584 2 20638 52.9832 227.1443 0014087 123.8836 236.3469 15.05030990117558 Meteor 2-19 1 20670U 90 57 A 92203.54963662 .00000071 00000-0 58044-4 0 4384 2 20670 82.5453 40.9922 0015649 305.0294 54.9397 13.84132254104384 CRRES 1 20712U 90 65 A 92205.85424575 .00001976 00000-0 23383-2 0 9501 2 20712 17.7503 108.2629 7196362 31.8521 356.1130 2.34134939 9601 GPS BII-08 1 20724U 90 68 A 92203.06422893 .00000016 00000-0 99999-4 0 2953 2 20724 54.6797 165.7943 0099327 140.9973 219.7036 2.00564511 14381 Feng Yun1-2 1 20788U 90 81 A 92202.45361254 .00000119 00000-0 90168-4 0 4004 2 20788 98.8940 231.7904 0016375 142.8864 217.3444 14.01249817 96126 Meteor 2-20 1 20826U 90 86 A 92203.89381803 .00000044 00000-0 34496-4 0 4406 2 20826 82.5245 339.1483 0012205 193.2266 166.8576 13.83504062 91614 GPS BII-09 1 20830U 90 88 A 92204.61187217 .00000007 00000-0 99999-4 0 3426 2 20830 55.1092 108.0429 0071202 108.7596 252.0090 2.00562110 13491 GPS BII-10 1 20959U 90103 A 92205.01208196 .00000016 00000-0 99999-4 0 2475 2 20959 54.8972 167.4479 0062022 218.3420 140.7229 2.00566091 12098 DMSP B5D2-5 1 20978U 90105 A 92204.88776548 .00000222 00000-0 88021-4 0 7279 2 20978 98.7842 252.6091 0080564 44.4455 316.3136 14.31979100 85720 Glonass 47 1 21006U 90110 A 92204.68130727 .00000018 00000-0 00000+0 0 8448 2 21006 64.8552 132.6856 0061250 187.5722 172.3452 2.13103137 12646 Glonass 48 1 21007U 90110 B 92204.39275962 .00000018 00000-0 00000+0 0 8886 2 21007 64.8757 132.7331 0037868 181.1537 178.8493 2.13101013 12631 Glonass 49 1 21008U 90110 C 92204.74567247 .00000018 00000-0 00000+0 0 8437 2 21008 64.8477 132.6980 0010232 290.7007 69.1994 2.13100780 12644 INFORMTR-1 1 21087U 91 6 A 92205.81805100 .00000078 00000-0 76069-4 0 4649 2 21087 82.9469 295.8182 0034461 214.9889 144.9004 13.74489828 74335 Cosmos 2123 1 21089U 91 7 A 92203.87923551 .00000032 00000-0 27890-4 0 2902 2 21089 82.9235 167.0386 0027535 244.8826 114.9476 13.73996683 73162 MOP-2 1 21140U 91 15 B 92199.00000000 -.00000005 00000-0 00000+0 0 2396 2 21140 0.3171 269.9393 0002584 205.3478 176.0653 1.00284391 4517 Nadezhda 3 1 21152U 91 19 A 92203.22123941 .00000035 00000-0 31021-4 0 3444 2 21152 82.9268 122.6708 0042518 353.5715 6.4889 13.73450540 68149 Almaz-1 1 21213U 91 24 A 92205.81423398 .00037595 00000-0 21844-3 0 847 2 21213 72.6519 332.9225 0004984 99.6915 260.5037 15.78302177 76277 Glonass 50 1 21216U 91 25 A 92204.70009276 -.00000021 00000-0 00000+0 0 7965 2 21216 65.0019 12.6437 0007965 211.5705 148.4034 2.13103755 10143 Glonass 51 1 21217U 91 25 B 92204.76052201 -.00000021 00000-0 00000+0 0 7902 2 21217 64.9940 12.6563 0009834 231.9045 128.0301 2.13102311 10143 Glonass 52 1 21218U 91 25 C 92204.40824846 -.00000021 00000-0 00000+0 0 7850 2 21218 64.9920 12.6537 0007583 305.9110 54.0425 2.13102879 10130 GRO 1 21225U 91 27 B 92205.19483668 .00013027 00000-0 15727-3 0 6472 2 21225 28.4723 149.7749 0006150 289.4843 70.5130 15.58933622 73618 Meteor 3-4 1 21232U 91 30 A 92203.75596539 .00000043 00000-0 99999-4 0 2380 2 21232 82.5420 301.3799 0018500 132.6734 227.5951 13.16809716 59833 NOAA 12 1 21263U 91 32 A 92204.48578749 .00000295 00000-0 15064-3 0 3379 2 21263 98.6934 233.8887 0014185 88.9752 271.3076 14.22076975 61783 OKEAN 3 1 21397U 91 39 A 92203.02578383 .00000447 00000-0 63790-4 0 5761 2 21397 82.5225 20.7377 0023822 11.5636 348.6111 14.75493437 60820 GPS BII-11 1 21552U 91 47 A 92204.78514321 .00000006 00000-0 99999-4 0 2015 2 21552 55.3922 105.4074 0042374 224.6415 135.0562 2.00574854 7686 ERS-1 1 21574U 91 50 A 92205.44224338 .00000294 00000-0 12371-3 0 4494 2 21574 98.5517 278.9533 0001668 99.2746 260.8663 14.32239096 53357 UO-22 1 21575U 91 50 B 92205.74678297 .00000176 00000-0 66687-4 0 1851 2 21575 98.5074 280.5621 0007092 194.5769 165.5213 14.36678584 53506 ORBCOMM-X 1 21576U 91 50 C 92200.22495844 .00000217 00000-0 81799-4 0 2415 2 21576 98.5080 274.6788 0003116 220.3834 139.7121 14.36014683 52689 TUBSAT 1 21577U 91 50 D 92199.70850641 .00000112 00000-0 45348-4 0 1824 2 21577 98.5078 274.4011 0005813 214.2948 145.7865 14.36261762 52626 SARA 1 21578U 91 50 E 92200.69844657 .00000712 00000-0 24983-3 0 3050 2 21578 98.5096 275.8796 0004375 213.9374 146.1537 14.37834738 52792 TDRS 4 1 21639U 91 54 B 92204.64885872 .00000112 00000-0 99999-4 0 1989 2 21639 0.0495 254.5511 0003947 234.7529 230.7532 1.00277960 1699 Meteor 3-5 1 21655U 91 56 A 92203.91093044 .00000043 00000-0 99999-4 0 3053 2 21655 82.5547 247.7564 0014781 132.1465 228.0915 13.16807659 44955 UARS 1 21701U 91 63 B 92197.81998156 .00000506 00000-0 54976-4 0 1779 2 21701 56.9833 89.5207 0005228 98.8409 261.3446 14.96243512 45948 DMSP B5D2-6 1 21798U 91 82 A 92205.04678332 .00000481 00000-0 27533-3 0 1996 2 21798 98.9367 199.0486 0012021 307.0628 52.9491 14.13485926 33548 Glonass 53 1 21853U 92 5 A 92205.09179725 .00000018 00000-0 99999-4 0 2220 2 21853 64.7965 132.4315 0006637 202.1860 157.7951 2.13102631 3757 Glonass 54 1 21854U 92 5 B 92204.91585312 .00000018 00000-0 99999-4 0 2167 2 21854 64.7911 132.4252 0016422 9.5895 350.4500 2.13102408 3742 Glonass 55 1 21855U 92 5 C 92204.50536679 .00000018 00000-0 99999-4 0 2222 2 21855 64.7985 132.4336 0007081 213.3686 146.5957 2.13102303 3723 JERS-1 1 21867U 92 7 A 92205.83668595 .00004060 00000-0 34257-3 0 3022 2 21867 97.7070 280.6564 0002717 99.4431 260.7401 14.98692930 24539 GPS BII-12 1 21890U 92 9 A 92201.75291973 -.00000014 00000-0 99999-4 0 982 2 21890 54.6142 285.3793 0058640 143.3691 217.0798 2.00570499 2991 Soyuz TM-14 1 21908U 92 14 A 92204.94060920 .00013011 00000-0 21204-3 0 1645 2 21908 51.6244 67.9443 0003043 327.1813 32.9215 15.52972377367840 GPS BII-13 1 21930U 92 19 A 92201.46634612 -.00000019 00000-0 99999-4 0 993 2 21930 55.1941 45.8457 0075579 157.6919 202.7044 2.00567842 1910 EUVE 1 21987U 92 31 A 92193.73692899 .00002128 00000-0 10072-3 0 53 2 21987 28.4329 97.0694 0010081 203.2055 156.8176 15.14979376 5167 ProgressM13 1 22004U 92 35 A 92204.94060797 .00011010 00000-0 18062-3 0 327 2 22004 51.6249 67.9442 0002882 324.8821 35.2134 15.52970026367840 Cosmos 2195 1 22006U 92 36 A 92203.56221390 .00000014 00000-0 84040-5 0 193 2 22006 82.9337 237.6798 0035770 235.2432 124.5354 13.74223267 2710 1992 036B 1 22007U 92 36 B 92205.49209774 .00000654 00000-0 65561-3 0 173 2 22007 82.9298 236.1793 0031456 211.2120 148.7214 13.76463821 2976 SAMPEX 1 22012U 92 38 A 92204.93348541 .00002732 00000-0 25093-3 0 136 2 22012 81.6734 182.3193 0126744 142.1628 218.8583 14.88480972 2887 1992 038B 1 22013U 92 38 B 92204.45770573 -.00000230 00000-0 -22436-4 0 95 2 22013 81.6723 182.8050 0124360 144.0042 216.9632 14.88834823 2811 GPS BII-14 1 22014U 92 39 A 92203.99448888 .00000009 00000-0 99999-4 0 120 2 22014 55.0514 225.4511 0083701 274.1119 84.9843 2.00570519 291 1992 039B 1 22015U 92 39 B 92205.13022201 .00001666 00000-0 16736-3 0 77 2 22015 20.7218 112.9034 0116734 7.8746 352.3432 14.74715747 30075 1992 039C 1 22016U 92 39 C 92205.30446935 .00084658 10730-5 15253-2 0 329 2 22016 34.7408 208.4136 6052246 209.0880 96.3188 4.05417792 605 Cosmos 2196 1 22017U 92 40 A 92204.88261842 -.00001202 00000-0 00000+0 0 168 2 22017 63.0496 22.4059 7373170 318.4912 4.4697 2.00497412 302 1992 040B 1 22018U 92 40 B 92205.83178945 .00765148 11497-4 11104-2 0 347 2 22018 62.7738 327.1469 0194558 121.8792 240.1282 15.78162436 2411 1992 040C 1 22019U 92 40 C 92205.83404199 .03793578 40475-4 83771-3 0 407 2 22019 62.8171 325.9883 0113916 123.9311 237.3376 16.14741394 2441 INSAT-2A 1 22027U 92 41 A 92196.42318692 .00000109 00000-0 00000+0 0 47 2 22027 0.1063 238.4227 0038009 13.9401 190.3841 1.00799688 218 EUTELSAT2F4 1 22028U 92 41 B 92199.16979015 .00000133 00000-0 99999-4 0 63 2 22028 0.0649 224.9389 0039131 28.2565 106.4744 1.00822233 37 Cosmos 2197 1 22034U 92 42 A 92201.26293853 .00000023 00000-0 99999-4 0 63 2 22034 82.5912 220.6633 0012094 13.5267 346.6147 12.63897088 702 Cosmos 2198 1 22035U 92 42 B 92203.48872695 .00000022 00000-0 99999-4 0 88 2 22035 82.5953 219.2574 0004108 347.4600 12.7378 12.62375932 988 Cosmos 2199 1 22036U 92 42 C 92199.61013668 .00000022 00000-0 99999-4 0 41 2 22036 82.5961 221.7375 0007804 254.3297 105.6932 12.60738688 492 Cosmos 2200 1 22037U 92 42 D 92197.70213076 .00000022 00000-0 99999-4 0 34 2 22037 82.5851 222.9362 0007104 15.1867 344.9561 12.62988852 251 Cosmos 2201 1 22038U 92 42 E 92204.52526981 .00000022 00000-0 99999-4 0 36 2 22038 82.5874 218.5996 0004999 270.5169 89.5349 12.61470044 1112 Cosmos 2202 1 22039U 92 42 F 92203.48875284 .00000022 00000-0 99999-4 0 113 2 22039 82.5925 219.2590 0005531 323.7770 36.2822 12.62364233 982 1992 043A 1 22041U 92 43 A 92205.91673655 -.00000106 00000-0 99999-4 0 131 2 22041 1.4261 272.5576 0061289 88.6217 274.7044 0.98161896 92 -- Dr TS Kelso Assistant Professor of Space Operations tkelso@afit.af.mil Air Force Institute of Technology ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 92 05:05:56 GMT From: John Roberts Subject: Visual acuity in microgravity Newsgroups: sci.space -From: gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) -Subject: Re: Visual acuity in microgravity -Date: 24 Jul 92 02:27:00 GMT -Organization: Gannett Technologies Group -In article <9207221207.AA29101@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov> roberts@CMR.NCSL.NIST.GOV (John Roberts) writes: ->Many of the astronauts wear glasses while in orbit. There are ongoing tests ->of changes in visual acuity in microgravity, but I don't know whether anything ->definitive has been found yet. I think the current theory is that fluid ->shift may have some influence on the shape of the eyeball, rather than direct ->gravitational distortion. -What I'd like to know is how they figure out the prescription. If their -vision is perfect on Earth, how do they predict how much, and in what -direction, their vision will change in orbit? Or is there a branch of -Opti-World on MIR with one hour service? It ought to be fairly consistent from astronaut to astronaut, at least in the general direction. If the eye gets longer or the lens gets thicker, the astronauts will get more near-sighted. It the eye gets shorter or the lens gets thinner, they'll be more far-sighted. With a good *range* of focus, you ought to get by correcting to 20-20, or perhaps the lens diopters should be made a little more negative, since it's harder for the eyes to adjust to near-sightedness. I don't know what role astigmatism might play. This is an ongoing field of study, with experiments on the recent Columbia mission. John Roberts roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 92 14:35:19 GMT From: John Roberts Subject: Whales (SETI) Newsgroups: sci.space -From: rwallace@unix1.tcd.ie (russell wallace) -Subject: Re: Whales (SETI) -Date: 23 Jul 92 21:10:39 GMT -Organization: Trinity College, Dublin -Whales are _not_ intelligent in any significant sense of the word. If -they were, they could prove it in about 30 seconds, by any number of -means (e.g. whistle the prime numbers, *-* *-*-* *-*-*-*-* etc. - for -that matter just whistle the numbers from 1 to 10). In fact, if they -were intelligent, since they were physically quite a lot tougher than -the whaling ships of the 18th and 19th centuries, they could have -developed tactics to defeat them (e.g. several whales surround a whaling -ship and clobber it, rather than all the whales trying to dive, and the -ship gets one of them). Again, one shouldn't expect all whales to have the same level of intelligence. It has been reported that there was once a group of killer whales that cooperated with a family of Australian whalers over the course of several generations. They would help to round up the big whales to be killed, then eat the leftovers. Rival whalers encroaching in the territory were driven off by the killer whales. Whales clearly lack some of the intellectual capabilities of humans (for instance, humans don't appear to be prone to mass beachings). It would be interesting to find out what capabilities they do have, for instance in the area of abstract reasoning. Like chimpanzees and gorillas (which are fairly intelligent, but which lack the brain structures needed for complex verbal communications), whales may turn out to have little capability to learn languages other than their own. (Heinlein once wrote a novel (the Star Beast) in which a species had evolved to use a specific language. They could learn English, but always sounded very stupid when they used it.) John Roberts roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jul 92 04:22:32 GMT From: John Roberts Subject: What happens to unused RTG power on space probes? Newsgroups: sci.space -From: wa2ise@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (robert.f.casey) -Subject: What happens to unused RTG power on space probes? -Date: 24 Jul 92 22:21:43 GMT -Organization: AT&T -From time to time, I see reports on various space probes. One of the topics -reported is power generation (from RTG's) and power consumption by the -probe's equipment. As I (mis)understand it :-), an RTG generates an exact -amount of power (declines over the years though). If the RTG generates -700 watts, and the probe uses 600watts, what happens to the extra 100watts? -Does the RTG get hotter then if all 700 watts were used? An RTG is based -on the radioactive decay of plutonium, which decays at some fixed rate -and generates power at some fixed rate. So, what happens if I don't use -all the power? [This is only a partial answer. Somebody who knows more on the subject please correct/augment as needed.] The RTG has a constant *heat* output, which can be used in conjunction with a proper heat sink to produce electrical power, and at any given time there is a maximum rated *electrical power* output. Whether the full amount of power is used is a separate question. I seem to recall that some spacecraft have an external power resistor (with radiator fins), so that when not all the power is needed by the spacecraft, some of it is used to heat the resistor. I don't know whether these are used with RTG generators, solar cells, chemical batteries, or more than one of the above. I also don't know why it's considered necessary - maybe it has something to do with thermal management. Another mystery - the power margin of Galileo (RTG powered) goes up and down - it doesn't just steadily decrease. I would guess that this is because different instruments and other devices are in use at different times. Is this correct? John Roberts roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 038 ------------------------------