Archive-name: space/intro
Last-modified: $Date: 94/07/05 17:51:24 $

    Compilation copyright (c) 1994 by Jonathan P. Leech. This document may
    be redistributed in its complete and unmodified form. Other use requires
    written permission of the author.

    FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON SCI.SPACE.*/SCI.ASTRO

    INTRODUCTION

    This is the long FAQ for the sci.space hierarchy. It will soon be split
across the newly created sci.space.{tech,science,policy} groups, but for
now, it's being posted to all of them. The sci.space.tech moderator posts a
more frequent short FAQ with concise answers; this is the place to go for
more detail and references.

    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 current version of the FAQ is FTPable at

 ftp://explorer.arc.nasa.gov/pub/SPACE/FAQ/

    along with more information expanding on topics in the FAQ. The
hypertext version of the FAQ is at

 http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/space/top.html


    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
 (See "space/intro")
     Suggestions for better netiquette
     Index to linked postings
     Notes on addresses, phone numbers, etc.
     Contributors

    2* Network resources
 (See "space/net")
     Overview
     Mailing lists
     Periodically updated information
     Warning about non-public networks

    3* Online (and some offline) sources of images, data, etc.
 (See "space/data")
     Introduction
     Viewing Images
     Online Archives
  Center for Advanced Space Studies
  Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)
  Infrared Processing & Analysis Center
  NASA Ames
  NASA Astrophysics Data System
  NASA Directory of WAIS Servers
  NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (Mission Information and Images)
  NASA Johnson Space Center (Manned Space Images)
  NASA Langley (Technical Reports)
  NASA Spacelink
  National Space Science Data Center
  Space Telescope Science Institute Electronic Info. Service
  Starcat
  Astronomical Databases
  Astronomy Programs
  Orbital Element Sets
  SPACE Digest Archives
  World-Wide-Web (WWW)
     GeoSphere Project (full Earth image)
     Landsat & NASA Photos
     Planetary Maps
     Cometary Orbits

    4* Performing calculations and interpreting data formats
 (See "space/math")
     Constants and equations for calculations
     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)
     Nearby star/galaxy coordinates

    5* References on specific areas
 (See "space/references")
     Publishers of space/astronomy material
     Careers in the space industry
     Comet/Jupiter Impact
     DC-X single-stage to orbit (SSTO) program
     How to name a star after a person
     LLNL "great exploration"
     Lunar Prospector
     Lunar science and activities
     Mars Direct / Lunar Direct
     Orbiting Earth satellite histories
     Spacecraft models
     Rocket propulsion
     Spacecraft design
     Esoteric propulsion schemes (solar sails, lasers, fusion...)
     Spy satellites
     Space capsule locations
     Space shuttle computer systems
     SETI computation (signal processing)
     Amateur satellies & weather satellites
     Tides
     Astronomical Mnemonics

    6 Contacting NASA, ESA, and other space agencies/companies
 (See "space/addresses")
     NASA Centers / Arianespace / CSA / CNES / DARA / ESA / NASDA /
  NPO Energia / RSA / Soyuzkarta / Space Camp / Space Commerce
  Corporation / Spacehab / SPOT Image
     Other commercial space businesses

    7 Space shuttle answers, launch schedules, TV coverage
 (See "space/schedule")
     Shuttle launchings and landings; schedules and how to see them
     Why does the shuttle roll just after liftoff?
     How to receive the NASA TV channel, NASA SELECT
     Amateur radio frequencies for shuttle missions
     Solid Rocket Booster fuel composition

    8 Planetary probes - Historical Missions
 (See "space/probe")
     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
     European planetary missions
     Japanese planetary missions
     Planetary mission references

    9 Upcoming planetary probes - missions and schedules
 (See "space/new_probes")
     ASCA
     Cassini
     Clementine
     Galileo
     Hiten
     Magellan
     Mars Observer
     TOPEX/Poseidon
     Ulysses
     Other space science missions
     Proposed missions

    10 Controversial questions
 (See "space/controversy")
     Space shuttle mission costs
     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
     How the Challenger astronauts died
     Using the shuttle beyond Low Earth Orbit
     The "Face on Mars"

    11 Space activist/interest/research groups and space publications
 (See "space/groups")
     Network Groups and Resources
     Groups
     Publications
     Undocumented Groups

    12 How to become an astronaut
 (See "space/astronaut")

    13 Orbital and Planetary Launch Services
 (See "space/launchers")


    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 (then under the authority of the Computer Systems Division,
    NASA Ames Research Center) 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. Major contributors I've managed to
    keep track of are:

    ad038@yfn.ysu.edu (Steven Fisk)  - publication refs.
    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
    bruce_dunn@mindlink.bc.ca (Bruce Dunn) - propulsion refs.
    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@nas.nasa.gov (Eugene N. Miya) - introduction,
 NASA contact info, started FAQ postings
    frank.reddy@genie.geis.com (Francis Reddy) - map projections
    french@isu.isunet.edu (Patrick M. French) - space group contact info
    g@telesoft.com (Gary Morris)  - amateur radio info
    gaetz@cfa.harvard.edu (Terry Gaetz)  - N-body calculations,
 orbital dynamics
    glandis@lerc.nasa.gov (Geoffrey A. Landis) - survival in vacuum
    gmcquary@Ingres.COM (George F. McQuary) - nearby star refs
    grandi@noao.edu (Steve Grandi)  - planetary positions
    greer%utd201.dnet%utadnx@utspan.span.nasa.gov (Dale M. Greer)   - constants
    gregb@gemini.den.mmc.com (Greg Bollendonk) - space model catalog
    henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) - survival in vacuum,
 astronaut how-to, Challenger disaster, publication refs, DC-X
    higgins@fnal.bitnet (William Higgins) - RTGs, publishers, shuttle
 landings, spysats, propulsion, "Face on Mars", and general
 assistance with FAQ upkeep.
    hmueller@cssun.tamu.edu (Hal Mueller) - map projections,
 orbital dynamics
    jbh55289@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Josh Hopkins) - launch services
    jim@pnet01.cts.com (Jim Bowery)  - propulsion, launch services
    jnhead@pirl.lpl.arizona.edu (James N. Head) - atmospheric scale heights
    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
    kjenks@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Ken Jenks) - shuttle roll manuever
    klaes@verga.enet.dec.com (Larry Klaes) - planetary probe history
    leech@cs.unc.edu (Jon Leech)  - crater diameters
    lfa@ssi.com (Lou Adornato)   - orbital dynamics
    maury.markowitz@egsgate.fidonet.org (Maury Markowitz)   - propulsion
    max@west.darkside.com (Erik Max Francis) - equations
    mazz@ipac.caltech.edu (Joe Mazzarella) - IPAC
    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
    ohainaut@eso.org (Olivier R. Hainaut) - publishers, STARCAT
    oneil@aio.jsc.nasa.gov (Graham O'Neil) - Lunar Prospector
    panama@cup.portal.com (Kenneth W Durham) - cometary orbits, IAU
    paul.blase@nss.fidonet.org (Paul Blase) - propulsion
    pete@denali.gsfc.nasa.gov (Pete Banholzer) - Clementine
    pjs@plato.jpl.nasa.gov (Peter Scott) - RTGs
    pschleck@unomaha.edu (Paul W. Schleck) - AMSAT, ARRL contact info
    pwt@minnie.bell.inmet.com (Paul Tarr) - Shuttle computer refs
    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
    rosborne@uk.ac.ucl.ps (Richard Osborne) - UK-SEDS
    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
    Wales.Larrison@ofa123.fidonet.org (Wales Larrison) - groups & publications
    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 #2/13 - Network Resources
