Date: Fri, 2 Apr 93 05:32:24 From: Space Digest maintainer Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu Subject: Space Digest V16 #405 To: Space Digest Readers Precedence: bulk Space Digest Fri, 2 Apr 93 Volume 16 : Issue 405 Today's Topics: Commercial point of view Guns for Space lie low netters! UFO's want you! (2 msgs) Mexican Space Program? (2 msgs) NORAD nuclear waste Quaint US Archaisms (3 msgs) Space FAQ 14/15 - How to Become an Astronaut the call to space (was Re: Clueless Szaboisms ) Venus Craters Database 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: 1 Apr 93 21:30:33 GMT From: Gary Coffman Subject: Commercial point of view Newsgroups: sci.space In article strider@clotho.acm.rpi.edu (Greg Moore) writes: >In article szabo@techbook.com (Nick Szabo) writes: >>for comsat monopoly). These were long-term >>investments; Comsat did not show a major return for >>nearly 20 years and is only now becoming a hot stock >>(paradoxically, now that its monopoly has been curtailed). >> > Could this though be partly due to the fact that >its monopoly was broken. Competition can force a company >to become leaner and meaner, and hence a better company. >Is this true at all with Comsat? Ironically, Comsat has been vigorously repositioning itself *out* of the space business. Their earth station field service staff now spends less than 5% of their effort on earth station service, the bulk of their time is spent installing video on demand systems in hotels. This purely terrestrial system is based on banks of VCRs. They are rumored, from a very high source in the company, to be vigorously pursuing purchase of fiber optic terminal equipment suppliers. As told to me by this source, they see the comsat marketplace as saturated, and are vigorously diversifying out of the space based segment. They intend to be a general communications service provider with space assets only a minor part of the operation. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1993 15:02:49 GMT From: "Brian A.Laxson" Subject: Guns for Space Newsgroups: sci.space I think we should find something a littttllllleeeee bit friendlier to play with. * the man with no .sig ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 21:16:00 GMT From: wingo%cspara.decnet@fedex.msfc.NASA.GOV Subject: lie low netters! UFO's want you! Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro In article <1pfee9INN8gm@hp-col.col.hp.com>, dag@col.hp.com (David Geiser) writes... > >At last, a true reason for allowing anonymous postings! I wonder if Szabo and Sherzier are part of this conspiracy. Remember that Nick especialy dropped out for a while. Could be a plot by the Shalnuskis (See Pournelles' Jannisary series) could be fighting our advance into space. It would explain a lot of things on here. Maybe pat is an agent? :-) :-) :-) :-) Smilies for the possibly humor imparied. Now Henry is a definite candidate. Dennis, University of Alabama in Huntsville ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 11:37:57 GMT From: tffreeba@indyvax.iupui.edu Subject: lie low netters! UFO's want you! Newsgroups: sci.space Maybe they will come down and fix some of the flame retards in this newsgroup. An egoectomy perhaps? Tom Freebairn | To all Men in Black who take | exception to this post: | Please go to John_-_Winston's house. | He's expecting you. ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 21:01:15 GMT From: Gary Coffman Subject: Mexican Space Program? Newsgroups: sci.space In article szabo@techbook.com (Nick Szabo) writes: >henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: > >>Canada's space budget is tiny >>compared to the US's, and Mexico's has got to be smaller yet. > >Good grief, this is hardly the whole story. Mexico has a huge, >young, mechanically skilled and literate workforce that, >like Russians and unlike American government contractors, don't >demand huge sums to do straightforward but tedious industrial >jobs. U.S. and Japanese electronics firms already poor $billions >per year into Latin America. Freed from defense & NASA >protectionist contracting rules (hah! that'll be the day!) the >U.S. aerospace industry would likely do the same. Nick's right about this, perhaps in ways he doesn't realize. The US government's job is to protect the interests of US nationals, as well as the US national interest. Thus US government purchases are preferentially made from US companies operating in the US using US labor. The US government is not in the business of exporting US jobs with taxpayer funds, nor is it in the business of exporting the technological industrial base on which it's security depends. All the cries to "Buy Russian", or "Move Boeing to Tijuana" neglect these issues. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1993 15:09:19 GMT From: "Brian A.Laxson" Subject: Mexican Space Program? Newsgroups: sci.space Henry Spencer writes >putting up most of the money, they're going to want control... and Canada >and Mexico are not going to be interested in putting up money for >projects they have no say in. Gee, you mean like SSFred? The states has a long history of intentionally misinforming it's allies, Canada being prime on the list. This occurs not only in space programs but in military conflicts, like the Gulf War (hi guys, did I forget to mention that we are at war now.) Brian ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 15:40:21 GMT From: ARLIN B COLLINS Subject: NORAD Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space In article <1993Apr1.030230.1@vax1.tcd.ie> apryan@vax1.tcd.ie writes: >Does anyone have a telephone no. for NORAD? (Is it called Space >Command now?). I need to urgently check if there have been any >re-entries in last 2 days! Any e-mail addresses would also be >of use! Just fly toward the US and don't respond to any radio calls to you, THEY will contact you!!! It doesn't strike me that contacting NORAD is the thing to do, just post what you saw/heard/imagined/found when/where/etc and let the 'net' speculate/calculate as to whether or not you have a treasure. -- Arlin B Collins Thu 01 Apr Sun Civil Naut Astro bcollins@utdallas.edu rise: 06:16 05:51 05:22 04:52 lat N32.9 long W096.9 set: 18:48 19:12 19:42 20:11 ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 21:32:54 GMT From: Gary Coffman Subject: nuclear waste Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1pe8i8INNfoq@gap.caltech.edu> kwp@wag.caltech.edu (Kevin W. Plaxco) writes: >And, I suppose, one could call the red-brown goo that covers comets, >Pluto, and, no doubt, the surface of Titan "oil", but I wouldn't. If it's a long chain hydrocarbon that can be refined into useful products, "a rose by any other name" still stinks like crude. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 11:36:22 GMT From: tffreeba@indyvax.iupui.edu Subject: Quaint US Archaisms Newsgroups: sci.space When I first entered this thread I did so with tongue planted firmly in cheek as, I think, have most of the others, but... It does speak to some serious concerns. First concern: In my first posting I said that metric alone should be used in press releases. This came from a conversation I had many years ago with a friend who was a teacher at the time. He refused to teach his grade schoolers conversions between metric and English measurements. He would hold up a meter stick and say - "This is a meter. A thousand of these make a kilometer. 1/100 of this is a centimeter. These have nothing to do with yards, miles or inches. Get over your bad selves." I always thought this made wonderful sense. Don't get me wrong, coming from the land without daylight savings time, I understand the need to hold on to what always was even if it does not make much sense. The Indiana Senate recently defeated yet another attempt to drag us into 20 century time, to the collective sigh of Hoosiers everywhere. If we are to be stereotyped as rubes we want it to at least be eccentric rubes. Second concern: As a journalism type I am ashamed to say that I would never have questioned the conversions given in the original posting. Hell it came from JPL, right? This is sloppy thinking and I am indebted to the person that first pointed the errors out. It is a lesson wise to learn. Tom Freebairn | What do the Frogs say on the planet Szabo? | (all together now!) | Luddite. Luddite. ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 21:39:34 GMT From: Gary Coffman Subject: Quaint US Archaisms Newsgroups: sci.space In article <78647@cup.portal.com> mmm@cup.portal.com (Mark Robert Thorson) writes: >May I humbly point out that the English system has standard sizes in >an exponential distribution (1/2", 1/4", 1/8", etc.) while metric >sizes tend to be anything. An old American car can be serviced with >about 5 wrenches. A proper metric wrench set has lots of sizes, >typically 3 to 25 millimeters in increments of 1 mm. Not to be seen as defending a decicentric measuring system, but in countries where SI units abound, strength of materials still requires fasteners in an exponential series. Only a few sizes of metric fasteners are in common use, and oddly enough they are the ones closest to Imperial measures. Pass the 1/2 inch, I mean 13mm, wrench please. Gary -- Gary Coffman KE4ZV | You make it, | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary Destructive Testing Systems | we break it. | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary 534 Shannon Way | Guaranteed! | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary Lawrenceville, GA 30244 | | ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 18:17:06 GMT From: INNES MATTHEW Subject: Quaint US Archaisms Newsgroups: sci.space In article <78647@cup.portal.com> mmm@cup.portal.com (Mark Robert Thorson) writes: >May I humbly point out that the English system has standard sizes in >an exponential distribution (1/2", 1/4", 1/8", etc.) while metric >sizes tend to be anything. An old American car can be serviced with >about 5 wrenches. A proper metric wrench set has lots of sizes, >typically 3 to 25 millimeters in increments of 1 mm. Well, for that matter, a proper imperial wrench set has lots of sizes, typically in increments of 1/16 or 1/32. And while an old American car can be serviced with about five wrenches, that's certainly not true of a modern American car. Each system has its advantages and disadvantages, and while which one is actually superior (if such a thing is possible) can be debated endlessly, the SI system will most likely end up replacing the imperial system, even in the USA. The simple fact of the almost exclusive use of SI in the world at large will, no doubt, force its adoption in the US eventually. Or maybe not. The weight of tradition will certainly carry the old system for many years. Canada has been officially metric for almost twenty years now, but even government job specifications come in both SI and imperial measurement. Old habits die hard. -- Matt Innes ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 10:02:07 GMT From: Jon Leech Subject: Space FAQ 14/15 - How to Become an Astronaut Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.answers,news.answers Archive-name: space/astronaut Last-modified: $Date: 93/04/01 14:39:02 $ HOW TO BECOME AN ASTRONAUT First the short form, authored by Henry Spencer, then an official NASA announcement. Q. How do I become an astronaut? A. We will assume you mean a NASA astronaut, since it's probably impossible for a non-Russian to get into the cosmonaut corps (paying passengers are not professional cosmonauts), and the other nations have so few astronauts (and fly even fewer) that you're better off hoping to win a lottery. Becoming a shuttle pilot requires lots of fast-jet experience, which means a military flying career; forget that unless you want to do it anyway. So you want to become a shuttle "mission specialist". If you aren't a US citizen, become one; that is a must. After that, the crucial thing to remember is that the demand for such jobs vastly exceeds the supply. NASA's problem is not finding qualified people, but thinning the lineup down to manageable length. It is not enough to be qualified; you must avoid being *dis*qualified for any reason, many of them in principle quite irrelevant to the job. Get a Ph.D. Specialize in something that involves getting your hands dirty with equipment, not just paper and pencil. Forget computer programming entirely; it will be done from the ground for the fore- seeable future. Degree(s) in one field plus work experience in another seems to be a frequent winner. Be in good physical condition, with good eyesight. (DO NOT get a radial keratomy or similar hack to improve your vision; nobody knows what sudden pressure changes would do to RKed eyes, and long-term effects are poorly understood. For that matter, avoid any other significant medical unknowns.) If you can pass a jet-pilot physical, you should be okay; if you can't, your chances are poor. Practise public speaking, and be conservative and conformist in appearance and actions; you've got a tough selling job ahead, trying to convince a cautious, conservative selection committee that you are better than hundreds of other applicants. (And, also, that you will be a credit to NASA after you are hired: public relations is a significant part of the job, and NASA's image is very prim and proper.) The image you want is squeaky-clean workaholic yuppie. Remember also that you will need a security clearance at some point, and Security considers everybody guilty until proven innocent. Keep your nose clean. Get a pilot's license and make flying your number one hobby; experienced pilots are known to be favored even for non-pilot jobs. Work for NASA; of 45 astronauts selected between 1984 and 1988, 43 were military or NASA employees, and the remaining two were a NASA consultant and Mae Jemison (the first black female astronaut). If you apply from outside NASA and miss, but they offer you a job at NASA, ***TAKE IT***; sometimes in the past this has meant "you do look interesting but we want to know you a bit better first". Think space: they want highly motivated people, so lose no chance to demonstrate motivation. Keep trying. Many astronauts didn't make it the first time. NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, Texas Announcement for Mission Specialist and Pilot Astronaut Candidates ================================================================== Astronaut Candidate Program --------------------------- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a need for Pilot Astronaut Candidates and Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidates to support the Space Shuttle Program. NASA is now accepting on a continuous basis and plans to select astronaut candidates as needed. Persons from both the civilian sector and the military services will be considered. All positions are located at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and will involved a 1-year training and evaluation program. Space Shuttle Program Description --------------------------------- The numerous successful flights of the Space Shuttle have demonstrated that operation and experimental investigations in space are becoming routine. The Space Shuttle Orbiter is launched into, and maneuvers in the Earth orbit performing missions lastling up to 30 days. It then returns to earth and is ready for another flight with payloads and flight crew. The Orbiter performs a variety of orbital missions including deployment and retrieval of satellites, service of existing satellites, operation of specialized laboratories (astronomy, earth sciences, materials processing, manufacturing), and other operations. These missions will eventually include the development and servicing of a permanent space station. The Orbiter also provides a staging capability for using higher orbits than can be achieved by the Orbiter itself. Users of the Space Shuttle's capabilities are both domestic and foreign and include government agencies and private industries. The crew normally consists of five people - the commander, the pilot, and three mission specialists. On occasion additional crew members are assigned. The commander, pilot, and mission specialists are NASA astronauts. Pilot Astronaut Pilot astronauts server as both Space Shuttle commanders and pilots. During flight the commander has onboard responsibility for the vehicle, crew, mission success and safety in flight. The pilot assists the commander in controlling and operating the vehicle. In addition, the pilot may assist in the deployment and retrieval of satellites utilizing the remote manipulator system, in extra-vehicular activities, and other payload operations. Mission Specialist Astronaut Mission specialist astronauts, working with the commander and pilot, have overall responsibility for the coordination of Shuttle operations in the areas of crew activity planning, consumables usage, and experiment and payload operations. Mission specialists are required to have a detailed knowledge of Shuttle systems, as well as detailed knowledge of the operational characteristics, mission requirements and objectives, and supporting systems and equipment for each of the experiments to be conducted on their assigned missions. Mission specialists will perform extra-vehicular activities, payload handling using the remote manipulator system, and perform or assist in specific experimental operations. Astronaut Candidate Program =========================== Basic Qualification Requirements -------------------------------- Applicants MUST meet the following minimum requirements prior to submitting an application. Mission Specialist Astronaut Candidate: 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Degree must be followed by at least three years of related progressively responsible, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable and may be substituted for part or all of the experience requirement (master's degree = 1 year, doctoral degree = 3 years). Quality of academic preparation is important. 2. Ability to pass a NASA class II space physical, which is similar to a civilian or military class II flight physical and includes the following specific standards: Distant visual acuity: 20/150 or better uncorrected, correctable to 20/20, each eye. Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in sitting position. 3. Height between 58.5 and 76 inches. Pilot Astronaut Candidate: 1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics. Degree must be followed by at least three years of related progressively responsible, professional experience. An advanced degree is desirable. Quality of academic preparation is important. 2. At least 1000 hours pilot-in-command time in jet aircraft. Flight test experience highly desirable. 3. Ability to pass a NASA Class I space physical which is similar to a military or civilian Class I flight physical and includes the following specific standards: Distant visual acuity: 20/50 or better uncorrected correctable to 20/20, each eye. Blood pressure: 140/90 measured in sitting position. 4. Height between 64 and 76 inches. Citizenship Requirements Applications for the Astronaut Candidate Program must be citizens of the United States. Note on Academic Requirements Applicants for the Astronaut Candidate Program must meet the basic education requirements for NASA engineering and scientific positions -- specifically: successful completion of standard professional curriculum in an accredited college or university leading to at least a bachelor's degree with major study in an appropriate field of engineering, biological science, physical science, or mathematics. The following degree fields, while related to engineering and the sciences, are not considered qualifying: - Degrees in technology (Engineering Technology, Aviation Technology, Medical Technology, etc.) - Degrees in Psychology (except for Clinical Psychology, Physiological Psychology, or Experimental Psychology which are qualifying). - Degrees in Nursing. - Degrees in social sciences (Geography, Anthropology, Archaeology, etc.) - Degrees in Aviation, Aviation Management or similar fields. Application Procedures ---------------------- Civilian The application package may be obtained by writing to: NASA Johnson Space Center Astronaut Selection Office ATTN: AHX Houston, TX 77058 Civilian applications will be accepted on a continuous basis. When NASA decides to select additional astronaut candidates, consideration will be given only to those applications on hand on the date of decision is made. Applications received after that date will be retained and considered for the next selection. Applicants will be notified annually of the opportunity to update their applications and to indicate continued interest in being considered for the program. Those applicants who do not update their applications annually will be dropped from consideration, and their applications will not be retained. After the preliminary screening of applications, additional information may be requested for some applicants, and person listed on the application as supervisors and references may be contacted. Active Duty Military Active duty military personnel must submit applications to their respective military service and not directly to NASA. Application procedures will be disseminated by each service. Selection --------- Personal interviews and thorough medical evaluations will be required for both civilian and military applicants under final consideration. Once final selections have been made, all applicants who were considered will be notified of the outcome of the process. Selection rosters established through this process may be used for the selection of additional candidates during a one year period following their establishment. General Program Requirements Selected applicants will be designated Astronaut Candidates and will be assigned to the Astronaut Office at the Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. The astronaut candidates will undergo a 1 year training and evaluation period during which time they will be assigned technical or scientific responsibilities allowing them to contribute substantially to ongoing programs. They will also participate in the basic astronaut training program which is designed to develop the knowledge and skills required for formal mission training upon selection for a flight. Pilot astronaut candidates will maintain proficiency in NASA aircraft during their candidate period. Applicants should be aware that selection as an astronaut candidate does not insure selection as an astronaut. Final selection as an astronaut will depend on satisfactory completion of the 1 year training and evaluation period. Civilian candidates who successfully complete the training and evaluation and are selected as astronauts will become permanent Federal employees and will be expected to remain with NASA for a period of at least five years. Civilian candidates who are not selected as astronauts may be placed in other positions within NASA depending upon Agency requirements and manpower constraints at that time. Successful military candidates will be detailed to NASA for a specified tour of duty. NASA has an affirmative action program goal of having qualified minorities and women among those qualified as astronaut candidates. Therefore, qualified minorities and women are encouraged to apply. Pay and Benefits ---------------- Civilians Salaries for civilian astronaut candidates are based on the Federal Governments General Schedule pay scales for grades GS-11 through GS-14, and are set in accordance with each individuals academic achievements and experience. Other benefits include vacation and sick leave, a retirement plan, and participation in group health and life insurance plans. Military Selected military personnel will be detailed to the Johnson Space Center but will remain in an active duty status for pay, benefits, leave, and other similar military matters. NEXT: FAQ #15/15 - Orbital and Planetary Launch Services ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 10:28:04 GMT From: Pat Subject: the call to space (was Re: Clueless Szaboisms ) Newsgroups: sci.space In article <1993Mar31.161814.11683@mksol.dseg.ti.com> mccall@mksol.dseg.ti.com (fred j mccall 575-3539) writes: >It isn't feasible for Japan to try to stockpile the amount of oil they >would need to run their industries if they did no use nuclear power. Of course, Given they export 50 % of the GNP, What do they do. Anything serious enough to disrupt the sea lanes for oil will also hose their export routes. I imagine they only need to stockpile about 6 months oil while they plan around things, or the crisis is resolved. Given they import everything, oil is just one more critical commodity. Granted they have to get it from a relatively small number of supplier nations, but still with the world changing the way it is, i think they could get a pipeline from siberia in a few more years. If they would stop behaving like S****s over the kuriles. pat ------------------------------ Date: 1 Apr 93 17:59:01 GMT From: Ron Baalke Subject: Venus Craters Database Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary,sci.geo.geology ========================== VENUS CRATERS DATABASE April 1, 1993 ========================== The latest database of impact craters on Venus is now available at the Ames Space Archives. The database catalogs all impact craters on the 99 percent of Venus imaged by the Magellan spacecraft. Included are the latitude, longitude, and diameter of the crater, as well as a classification. The names given are either formal IAU names or in the process of submission through the U.S. Geological Survey. This database was assembled by Dr. Gerald Schaber at the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona. The database is available in two formats. The craters.txt is an ASCII file with the data in columns separated by spaces. The craters.asc has the data in comma-delimited format and should permit it to easily be loaded into any database program. The files are available using anonymous ftp at: ftp: ames.arc.nasa.gov (128.102.18.3) user: anonymous cd: pub/SPACE/MAGELLAN files: craters.txt (ASCII version) craters.asc (Generic database version) ___ _____ ___ /_ /| /____/ \ /_ /| Ron Baalke | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov | | | | __ \ /| | | | Jet Propulsion Lab | ___| | | | |__) |/ | | |__ M/S 525-3684 Telos | Don't ever take a fence /___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | down until you know the |_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ | reason it was put up. ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 405 ------------------------------