Date: Thu, 1 Oct 92 05:27:33 From: Space Digest maintainer Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu Subject: Space Digest V15 #270 To: Space Digest Readers Precedence: bulk Space Digest Thu, 1 Oct 92 Volume 15 : Issue 270 Today's Topics: Diffs to sci.space/sci.astro Frequently Asked Questions Mariner Mark II vs smaller missions Space FAQ 01/15 - Introduction Space FAQ 06/15 - Constants and Equations Space FAQ 07/15 - Astronomical Mnemonics Space FAQ 08/15 - Addresses Space FAQ 15/15 - Orbital and Planetary Launch Services 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: 30 Sep 92 23:04:09 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 -r1.12 FAQ.constants *** /tmp/,RCSt1a23513 Wed Sep 30 19:02:51 1992 --- FAQ.constants Wed Sep 30 18:59:04 1992 *************** *** 48,94 **** a = 4 pi**2 r / t^2 ! For circular Keplerian orbits, where u is gravitational constant, a is ! semimajor axis of orbit, P is period. ! v^2 = u/a ! P = 2pi/(Sqrt(u/a^3)) ! u = G * M (can be measured much more accurately than G or M) ! ! Vc = sqrt(M * G / r) ! Vesc = sqrt(2 * M * G / r) = sqrt(2) * Vc ! The period of an eccentric orbit is the same as the period of a ! circular orbit with the same semi-major axis ! 1/2 V**2 - G * M / r = K (conservation of energy) ! where ! Vc = velocity of a circular orbit (you have something like this) Vesc = escape velocity K = -G * M / 2 / a ! M = Mass of orbited object ! G = Gravitational constant r = radius of orbit (measured from center of mass of system) V = orbital velocity Change in velocity required for a plane change of angle phi in a circular orbit: delta V = 2 sqrt(GM/r) sin (phi/2) ! Energy to put mass m into a circular orbit (ignoring rotational ! velocity of the Earth, which reduces the energy a bit). GMm (1/Re - 1/2Rcirc) Re = radius of the earth Rcirc = radius of the circular orbit. ! Classical rocket equation (dv = change in velocity, ve = exhaust ! velocity, x = reaction mass, m1 = rocket mass excluding reaction ! mass): ! ! dv = Ve * ln((m1 + x) / m1) ! = Ve * ln((final mass) / (initial mass)) ! Ve = Isp * g = exhaust velocity, m / s Isp = specific impulse of engine ! g = 9.80665 m / s^2 Relativistic rocket equation (constant acceleration) --- 48,97 ---- a = 4 pi**2 r / t^2 ! For circular Keplerian orbits where: ! Vc = velocity of a circular orbit Vesc = escape velocity K = -G * M / 2 / a ! M = Total mass of orbiting and orbited bodies ! G = Gravitational constant (defined below) ! u = G * M (can be measured much more accurately than G or M) r = radius of orbit (measured from center of mass of system) V = orbital velocity + P = orbital period + a = semimajor axis of orbit + Vc = sqrt(M * G / r) + Vesc = sqrt(2 * M * G / r) = sqrt(2) * Vc + V^2 = u/a + P = 2 pi/(Sqrt(u/a^3)) + K = 1/2 V**2 - G * M / r (conservation of energy) + + The period of an eccentric orbit is the same as the period + of a circular orbit with the same semi-major axis. + Change in velocity required for a plane change of angle phi in a circular orbit: delta V = 2 sqrt(GM/r) sin (phi/2) ! Energy to put mass m into a circular orbit (ignores rotational ! velocity, which reduces the energy a bit). GMm (1/Re - 1/2Rcirc) Re = radius of the earth Rcirc = radius of the circular orbit. ! Classical rocket equation, where ! dv = change in velocity Isp = specific impulse of engine ! Ve = exhaust velocity ! x = reaction mass ! m1 = rocket mass excluding reaction mass ! g = 9.80665 m / s^2 ! ! Ve = Isp * g ! dv = Ve * ln((m1 + x) / m1) ! = Ve * ln((final mass) / (initial mass)) Relativistic rocket equation (constant acceleration) ------------------------------ Date: 30 Sep 92 23:56:50 GMT From: Anita Cochran Subject: Mariner Mark II vs smaller missions Newsgroups: sci.space In article , mikew@kpc.com (Mike Wexler) writes: > anita@astro.as.utexas.edu (Anita Cochran) writes: > > It goes with out saying that A single-purpose craft won't be able to > study the systematics as well as a more expensive multipurpose craft. > I think the more important question is whether several simple, quick & > dirty craft are more cost effective than a single expensive craft. > > >Well, if we agree that we want to study the system as a whole, this > >puts certain requirements on the instrument complement. It suggests > >one needs an imaging instrument, IR and UV spectrometers, and > >fields and particle experiments. A probe for Titan's atmosphere > >is a nice thing to have too, once you have a spacecraft going that > >way. So, add these together and what do you have? You have > >a Mariner Mark II class mission. And once the spacecraft is going, > >you might as well send a full spacecraft. > > Imagine instead of a Mariner Mark II class mission you have a series of > missions starting with a relay satellite and following up with separate > craft with imagine, IR, UV and fields and particle instruments. And with > the quick turn around you can send updated instruments based on knowledge > gained by early instruments. You can afford to try more risky techniques > like ion propulsion and aerobraking. > This still does not allow for the systematic studies. Systematic studies require that you study the various components at the same time. We know that Saturn is temporally variable -- look at the Saturnian storms this last year. And it is not sufficient to study part of the problem without the other problems. If you put the fields and particles experiments in orbit, you really should have the UV spectrometer since much of the fields phenomena like aurorae and sub-storms have a UV signature. And you really would like an image to put the conditions in the atmosphere in context. So now you are talking UVS, imaging and fields and particles. That is NOT a small mission any more. Now, you say we will study the surfaces so we would like to do some spectral work so we send VIMS (visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer) and maybe cover the thermal IR. But we would like to have things in context and want to study the geomorphology so you have to send a camera. This is also NOT a small mission. Now you want to study the atmosphere. Well, you need the UV spectrometer and probably CIRS (Cassini IR spectrometer) and, guess what, you need imaging to put things in context and to study the dynamics. None of these are small missions. And by the time you have now sent 3 moderate missions and they should all go at the same time (see the temporal issue above) you are back to a big mission so let's fly Cassini. Now, if you don't want systematics, the smaller missions are fine but if you concede that you want to study the systematics, you have to have a big mission. And new technology does not only mean ion drives and solar sails. The CIRS is THE MOST SOPHISTICATED IR spectrometer we have yet built for space. Its PI expressed the opinion last week at a Goddard meeting that it probably is the most sophisticated which will ever fly since you cannot do it smaller (this has nothing to do with detectors or electronics but the need for big optics). And the Ion Mass Spectrometers are getting more and more sophisticated. And the CCDs which were developed for CRAF and Cassini opened up a whole new world in CCDs and resulted in the new WF/PC II cameras on HST. So you see, these missions are cutting edge in their own way. Yes, they are expensive. And there is where you must make the decision of what are your priorities and what kinds of questions you want to answer. There is no absolute path but Cassini is NOT old-fashioned technology. -- Anita Cochran uucp: !utastro!anita arpa: anita@astro.as.utexas.edu snail: Astronomy Dept., The Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712 at&t: (512) 471-1471 ------------------------------ Date: 30 Sep 92 23:05:42 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 01/15 - Introduction Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,news.answers Archive-name: space/intro Last-modified: $Date: 92/09/30 18:59:11 $ 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 veikko.makela@helsinki.fi (Veikko Makela) - orbital element sets 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: 30 Sep 92 23:07:01 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 06/15 - Constants and Equations Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,news.answers Archive-name: space/constants Last-modified: $Date: 92/09/30 18:59:02 $ CONSTANTS AND EQUATIONS FOR CALCULATIONS This list was originally compiled by Dale Greer. Additions would be appreciated. Numbers in parentheses are approximations that will serve for most blue-skying purposes. Unix systems provide the 'units' program, useful in converting between different systems (metric/English, etc.) NUMBERS 7726 m/s (8000) -- Earth orbital velocity at 300 km altitude 3075 m/s (3000) -- Earth orbital velocity at 35786 km (geosync) 6378 km (6400) -- Mean radius of Earth 1738 km (1700) -- Mean radius of Moon 5.974e24 kg (6e24) -- Mass of Earth 7.348e22 kg (7e22) -- Mass of Moon 1.989e30 kg (2e30) -- Mass of Sun 3.986e14 m^3/s^2 (4e14) -- Gravitational constant times mass of Earth 4.903e12 m^3/s^2 (5e12) -- Gravitational constant times mass of Moon 1.327e20 m^3/s^2 (13e19) -- Gravitational constant times mass of Sun 384401 km ( 4e5) -- Mean Earth-Moon distance 1.496e11 m (15e10) -- Mean Earth-Sun distance (Astronomical Unit) 1 megaton (MT) TNT = about 4.2e15 J or the energy equivalent of about .05 kg (50 gm) of matter. Ref: J.R Williams, "The Energy Level of Things", Air Force Special Weapons Center (ARDC), Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, 1963. Also see "The Effects of Nuclear Weapons", compiled by S. Glasstone and P.J. Dolan, published by the US Department of Defense (obtain from the GPO). EQUATIONS Where d is distance, v is velocity, a is acceleration, t is time. For constant acceleration d = d0 + vt + .5at^2 v = v0 + at v^2 = 2ad Acceleration on a cylinder (space colony, etc.) of radius r and rotation period t: a = 4 pi**2 r / t^2 For circular Keplerian orbits where: Vc = velocity of a circular orbit Vesc = escape velocity K = -G * M / 2 / a M = Total mass of orbiting and orbited bodies G = Gravitational constant (defined below) u = G * M (can be measured much more accurately than G or M) r = radius of orbit (measured from center of mass of system) V = orbital velocity P = orbital period a = semimajor axis of orbit Vc = sqrt(M * G / r) Vesc = sqrt(2 * M * G / r) = sqrt(2) * Vc V^2 = u/a P = 2 pi/(Sqrt(u/a^3)) K = 1/2 V**2 - G * M / r (conservation of energy) The period of an eccentric orbit is the same as the period of a circular orbit with the same semi-major axis. Change in velocity required for a plane change of angle phi in a circular orbit: delta V = 2 sqrt(GM/r) sin (phi/2) Energy to put mass m into a circular orbit (ignores rotational velocity, which reduces the energy a bit). GMm (1/Re - 1/2Rcirc) Re = radius of the earth Rcirc = radius of the circular orbit. Classical rocket equation, where dv = change in velocity Isp = specific impulse of engine Ve = exhaust velocity x = reaction mass m1 = rocket mass excluding reaction mass g = 9.80665 m / s^2 Ve = Isp * g dv = Ve * ln((m1 + x) / m1) = Ve * ln((final mass) / (initial mass)) Relativistic rocket equation (constant acceleration) t (unaccelerated) = c/a * sinh(a*t/c) d = c**2/a * (cosh(a*t/c) - 1) v = c * tanh(a*t/c) Relativistic rocket with exhaust velocity Ve and mass ratio MR: at/c = Ve/c * ln(MR), or t (unaccelerated) = c/a * sinh(Ve/c * ln(MR)) d = c**2/a * (cosh(Ve/C * ln(MR)) - 1) v = c * tanh(Ve/C * ln(MR)) Converting from parallax to distance: d (in parsecs) = 1 / p (in arc seconds) d (in astronomical units) = 206265 / p Miscellaneous f=ma -- Force is mass times acceleration 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) where d is density, d0 is density at 0km, is approximately true, so d@12km (40000 ft) = d0*.18 d@9 km (30000 ft) = d0*.27 d@6 km (20000 ft) = d0*.43 d@3 km (10000 ft) = d0*.65 Titius-Bode Law for approximating planetary distances: R(n) = 0.4 + 0.3 * 2^N Astronomical Units (N = -infinity for Mercury, 0 for Venus, 1 for Earth, etc.) This fits fairly well except for Neptune. CONSTANTS 6.62618e-34 J-s (7e-34) -- Planck's Constant "h" 1.054589e-34 J-s (1e-34) -- Planck's Constant / (2 * PI), "h bar" 1.3807e-23 J/K (1.4e-23) - Boltzmann's Constant "k" 5.6697e-8 W/m^2/K (6e-8) -- Stephan-Boltzmann Constant "sigma" 6.673e-11 N m^2/kg^2 (7e-11) -- Newton's Gravitational Constant "G" 0.0029 m K (3e-3) -- Wien's Constant "sigma(W)" 3.827e26 W (4e26) -- Luminosity of Sun 1370 W / m^2 (1400) -- Solar Constant (intensity at 1 AU) 6.96e8 m (7e8) -- radius of Sun 1738 km (2e3) -- radius of Moon 299792458 m/s (3e8) -- speed of light in vacuum "c" 9.46053e15 m (1e16) -- light year 206264.806 AU (2e5) -- \ 3.2616 light years (3) -- --> parsec 3.0856e16 m (3e16) -- / Black Hole radius (also called Schwarzschild Radius): 2GM/c^2, where G is Newton's Grav Constant, M is mass of BH, c is speed of light Things to add (somebody look them up!) Basic rocketry numbers & equations Aerodynamical stuff Energy to put a pound into orbit or accelerate to interstellar velocities. Non-circular cases? Atmosphere scale height for various planets. NEXT: FAQ #7/15 - Astronomical Mnemonics ------------------------------ Date: 30 Sep 92 23:07:06 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 07/15 - Astronomical Mnemonics Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space,news.answers Archive-name: space/mnemonics Last-modified: $Date: 92/09/30 18:59:18 $ ASTRONOMICAL MNEMONICS (This is the last FAQ section posted to sci.astro) Gathered from various flurries of mnemonic postings on sci.astro. Spectral classification sequence: O B A F G K M R N S Oh Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me Right Now, Sweetheart. (a classic) O'Dell's Big Astronomical Fiasco Gonna Kill Me Right Now Surely Obese Balding Astronomy Found Guilty; Killed Many Reluctant Nonscience Students. Octopus Brains, A Favorite Gastronomical Kitchen Menu, Requires No Sauce Odd Ball Astronomers Find Generally Kooky Mnemonics Really Nifty Stuff Oh Big And Ferocious Gorilla, Kill My Roomate Next Saturday Oh Boy, A Flash! Godzilla Kills Mothra! Really Not Surprising! Oh Boy, An F Grade Kills Me On Bad Afternoons Fermented Grapes Keep Mrs. Richard Nixon Smiling On, Backward Astronomer, Forget Geocentricity; Kepler's Motions Reveal Nature's Simplicity Our Bad Astronomy Faculty Gets Killed Monday Oven Baked Ants, Fried Gently, Kept Moist, Retain Natural Succulence Overseas Broadcast: A Flash! Godzilla kills Mothra! (Rodan Named Successor) Overweight Boys and Fat Girls Keep Munching Only Bored Astronomers Find Gratification Knowing Mnemonics Oh Bloody Astronomy! F Grades Kill Me Order of the planets: Sun Mercury Venus Earth (Terra) Mars (Asteroids) Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Pluto My Very Earnest Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas Mother Very Thoughtfully Made A Jelly Sandwich Under No Protest My Very Erotic Mate Joyfully Satisfies Unusual Needs Passionately Men Very Easily Make Jugs Serve Useful Nocturnal Purposes Man Very Early Made A Jug Serve Useful Noble Purposes My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets My Very Eager Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets My Very Exhausted Mother hAs Just Swept Up a Planetary Nebula Most Voters Earn Money Just Showing Up Near Polls My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza-pies Many Viscious Elephants Made John, Suzy and Uncle Need Protection Solar Mass Very Easily Makes All Jupiter's Satellites Undergo Numerous Perturbations. Mein Vater erklaert mir jeden Sonntag unseren niedlichen Planeten Colors of the spectrum: Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet ROY G. BIV (pronounce as a man's name) Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain Read Out Your Good Book In Verse Galilean Satellite of Jupiter: Io Europa Ganymede Callisto I Expect God Cries I Eat Green Cheese Ich Erschrecke alle Guten Christen Saturnian Satellites MET DR THIP Miriam's Enchiladas Taste Divine Recently. Tell Her I'm Proud. (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Iapetus, Phoebe) Uranian Satellites: MAUTO Mispronunciations Afflict Uranus Too Often My Angel Uriel Takes Opium (Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon) NOTE: the remaining FAQ sections do not appear in sci.astro, as they cover material of relevance only to sci.space. NEXT: FAQ #8/15 - Contacting NASA, ESA, and other space agencies/companies ------------------------------ Date: 30 Sep 92 23:07:10 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 08/15 - Addresses Newsgroups: sci.space,news.answers Archive-name: space/addresses Last-modified: $Date: 92/09/30 18:58:49 $ CONTACTING NASA, ESA, AND OTHER SPACE AGENCIES/COMPANIES Many space activities center around large Government or International Bureaucracies. In the US that means NASA. If you have basic information requests: (e.g., general PR info, research grants, data, limited tours, and ESPECIALLY SUMMER EMPLOYMENT (typically resumes should be ready by Jan. 1), etc.), consider contacting the nearest NASA Center to answer your questions. EMail typically will not get you any where, computers are used by investigators, not PR people. The typical volume of mail per Center is a multiple of 10,000 letters a day. Seek the Public Information Office at one of the below, this is their job: NASA (The National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is the civilian space agency of of the United States Federal Government. It reports directly to the White House and is not a Cabinet post such as the military Department of Defense. Its 20K+ employees are civil servants and hence US citizens. Another 100K+ contractors also work for NASA. NASA CENTERS NASA Headquarters (NASA HQ) Washington DC 20546 Ask them questions about policy, money, and things of political nature. Direct specific questions to the appropriate center. NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) Moffett Field, CA 94035 Some aeronautical research, atmosphere reentry, Mars and Venus planetary atmospheres. "Lead center" for Helicopter research, V/STOL, etc. Runs Pioneer series of space probes. NASA Ames Research Center Dryden Flight Research Facility [DFRF] P. O. Box 273 Edwards, CA 93523 Aircraft, mostly. Tested the shuttle orbiter landing characteristics. Developed X-1, D-558, X-3, X-4, X-5, XB-70, and of course, the X-15. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Greenbelt, MD 20771 [Outside of Washington DC] Earth orbiting unmanned satellites and sounding rockets. Developed LANDSAT. NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) 21000 Brookpark Rd. Cleveland, OH 44135 Aircraft/Rocket propulsion. Space power generation. Materials research. NASA Johnson Manned Space Center (JSC) Houston, TX 77058 JSC manages Space Shuttle, ground control of manned missions. Astronaut training. Manned mission simulators. NASA Kennedy Space Flight Center (KSC) Titusville, FL 32899 Space launch center. You know this one. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Huntsville, AL 35812 Development, production, delivery of Solid Rocket Boosters, External Tank, Orbiter main engines. Propulsion and launchers. NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Hampton, VA 23665 [Near Newport News, VA] Original NASA site. Specializes in theoretical and experimental flight dynamics. Viking. Long Duration Exposure Facility. Wallops Flight Center Wallops Island, Virginia 23337 Aeronautical research, sounding rockets, Scout launcher. Jet Propulsion Laboratory [JPL/CIT] California Institute of Technology 4800 Oak Grove Dr. Pasadena, CA 91109 The "heavies" in planetary research probes and other unmanned projects (they also had a lot to do with IRAS). They run Voyager, Magellan, Galileo, and will run Cassini, CRAF, etc. etc.. For images, probe navigation, and other info about unmanned exploration, this is the place to go. JPL is run under contract for NASA by the nearby California Institute of Technology, unlike the NASA centers above. This distinction is subtle but critical. JPL has different requirements for unsolicited research proposals and summer hires. For instance in the latter, an SF 171 is useless. Employees are Caltech employees, contractors, and for the most part have similar responsibilities. They offer an alternative to funding after other NASA Centers. Manager, Technology Utilization Office NASA Scientific and Technical Information Facility Post Office Box 8757 Baltimore, Maryland 21240 Specific requests for software must go thru COSMIC at the Univ. of Georgia, NASA's contracted software redistribution service. You can reach them at cosmic@uga.bitnet. NOTE: Foreign nationals requesting information must go through their Embassies in Washington DC. These are facilities of the US Government and are regarded with some degree of economic sensitivity. Centers cannot directly return information without high Center approval. Allow at least 1 month for clearance. This includes COSMIC. The US Air Force Space Command can be contacted thru the Pentagon along with other Department of Defense offices. They have unacknowledged offices in Los Angeles, Sunnyvale, Colorado Springs, and other locations. They have a budget which rivals NASA in size. ARIANESPACE HEADQUARTERS Boulevard de l'Europe B.P. 177 91006 Evry Cedex France ARIANESPACE, INC. 1747 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 875 Washington, DC 20006 (202)-728-9075 EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY 955 L'Enfant Plaza S.W. Washington, D.C. 20024 (202)-488-4158 NATIONAL SPACE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NASDA) 4-1 Hamamatsu-Cho, 2 Chome Minato-Ku, Tokyo 105, JAPAN SOYUZKARTA 45 Vologradsij Pr. Moscow 109125 USSR SPACE CAMP Alabama Space and Rocket Center U.S. SPACE CAMP 1 Tranquility Base 6225 Vectorspace Blvd Huntsville, AL 35805 Titusville FL 32780 (205)-837-3400 (407)267-3184 Registration and mailing list are handled through Huntsville -- both camps are described in the same brochure. Programs offered at Space Camp are: Space Camp - one week, youngsters completing grades 4-6 Space Academy I - one week, grades 7-9 Aviation Challenge - one week high school program, grades 9-11 Space Academy II - 8 days, college accredited, grades 10-12 Adult Program - 3 days (editorial comment: it's great!) Teachers Program - 5 days SPACE COMMERCE CORPORATION (U.S. agent for Soviet launch services) 504 Pluto Drive 69th flr, Texas Commerce Tower Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Houston, TX 77002 (719)-578-5490 (713)-227-9000 SPACEHAB 600 Maryland Avenue, SW Suite 201 West Washington, DC 20004 (202)-488-3483 SPOT IMAGE CORPORATION 1857 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 22091 (FAX) (703)-648-1813 (703)-620-2200 OTHER COMMERCIAL SPACE BUSINESSES Vincent Cate maintains a list with addresses and some info for a variety of companies in space-related businesses. This is mailed out on the space-investors list he runs (see the "Network Resources" FAQ) and is also available by anonymous ftp from furmint.nectar.cs.cmu.edu (128.2.209.111) in /usr/vac/ftp/space-companies. NEXT: FAQ #9/15 - Schedules for space missions, and how to see them ------------------------------ Date: 30 Sep 92 23:07:48 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 15/15 - Orbital and Planetary Launch Services Newsgroups: sci.space,news.answers Archive-name: space/launchers Last-modified: $Date: 92/09/30 18:59:13 $ ORBITAL AND PLANETARY LAUNCH SERVICES If anyone has more accurate or more complete information, please post it and copy jim@pnet01.cts.com (Jim Bowery), who maintains the primary copy of this item. Don't forget to include the source of the information. PAYLOAD(LBS) DELIVERED TO COMPANY/VEHICLE $M LEO GTO GEO ESCAPE U.STAGE LAUNCHFAIL(1) MM/Titan4[H] 296 47000 .... 10300 .... Centaur .... .... MM/Titan4 277 49000 15000 5800 .... IUS .... .... MM/Titan3 160 32500 12474 4100 .... TOS .... .... AS/Arian44L[H] 110 21164 9259 5500 .... none .... .... GD/Atlas2 80 15700 6200 3000 .... Centaur .... .... MD/Delta2 52 11100 4010 2000 2816[S] PAMD[H] .... .... GW/LongMarch3 45 6614 2866 1433 .... none .... .... EPAC/EagleS2[E] 30 10000(2)5128 3374 ....(4) USTM(3) 0 0 OSC/Taurus[S] 17 2703 .... .... 374 .... 0 0 EPAC/EagleS1[E] 15 6000 .... .... ....(4) USTM 0 0 AMROC/Aquila[S] 10 2000 1467 .... .... none 0 0 SSI/Conestoga 10 1500(5) 900(6) 550(7) .... 0 0 OSC/Pegasus[H] 9.7 750 .... .... .... none 2 1 EPAC/Eagle[E] 6.7 3000 .... .... .... USTM 0 0 (1) For launches where reflight insurance is issued, the fraction of the launch cost indemnified is the failure level for that flight. For launches where reflight insurance is not issued, a rough estimate is made as to the fraction of the launch cost that would have been indemnified. (2) LEO given is 300nmi altitude [S]. (3) The bipropellant (Isp=323) USTM has a dry weight of approximately 1600LBS which must be subtracted from the total weight to determine weight available for electronics, power, communication and fuel. The USTM provides station-keeping and course correction in addition to transfer and apogee burns. (4) According to [S] escape requires 170kg MMH/NTO fuel with USTM. (5) 200nmi altitude 37.9d inclination [S]. (6) 400nmi altitude [S]. (7) Includes Conestoga apogee kick stage weight. REFLIGHT VEHICLE POLARLBS(9) INSURANCE(%) ACCURACY PAD WEIGHT MM/Titan4[H] .... .... .... 1910449 MM/Titan4 .... .... .... 1885525 MM/Titan3 .... .... .... 1492200 AS/Arian44L .... .... .... 1033000 GD/Atlas2 12400 .... .... 360600 MD/Delta2 8401 .... .... 450000 GW/LongMarch3 .... .... .... 444400 EPAC/EagleS2[E] .... 18 1.4km(9) 268145 OSC/Taurus[S] 2140 .... .... .... EPAC/EagleS1[E] .... 18 1.4km(9) .... AMROC/Aquila[S] 1467 .... .... .... SSI/Conestoga 900 .... 9.3km(10) .... OSC/Pegasus[S] 649 .... .... .... EPAC/Eagle .... 18 .... 99134 (9) For unknown data, conservative figures for polar orbit can be estimated by dividing LEO weight by 2. (10) Circular orbit and <0.02d inclination error to 3 sigma [S]. (11) Reduced payload for upper stage with thrust vector control. 1 sigma [S]. Figures given as "...." are to be included in a future release. Information sources are indicated by a source code within square brackets. For example [H] means the associated information and subsequent information comes from the 1989 Hughes Corp. Survey with dollars given in 1989 dollars. Source codes: H = 1989 Hughes Corp. Survey E = 9/1991 E'Prime Aerospace Corp. report S = "A Status Report on the Availability of Expendable Launch Vehicles for Small Solar System Exploration Payloads", Jim McAdams, Science Applications International Corp. 3/31/1991 ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 270 ------------------------------