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Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #104

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 12 : Issue 104

Today's Topics:
Crres launch to be carried live on NASA Select TV, transponder 5 [Corrected] (Forwarded)
              Twinkies in Space!
              Galileo Update - 07/20/90
         NASA Headline News for 07/20/90 (Forwarded)
            Re: World Space Agency
             Re: Heavy Lift Titan
        Re: Is an asteroid capture possible/feasible?
             Re: Weather Control

Administrivia:

    Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to
  [e-mail].  Other mail, esp. [un]subscription notices,
  should be sent to [e-mail], or, if urgent, to
             [e-mail]

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 20 Jul 90 18:15:45 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Crres launch to be carried live on NASA Select TV, transponder 5 [Corrected] (Forwarded)

Edward Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                      July 19, 1990
(Phone:  [phone])


EDITORS NOTE:  N90-55

CRRES LAUNCH TO BE CARRIED LIVE ON NASA SELECT TV, TRANSPONDER 5


     The launch of the Combined Release And Radiation Effects
Satellite (CRRES), scheduled for 3:33 p.m. EDT, Friday, July 20,
will be carried live on NASA Satcom F-2R, Transponder 5, C-band,
at orbital position 72 degrees West Longitude, frequency 3800.0
MHz, vertical polarization, audio monaural 6.8 MHz.

     Upon completion of the Space Station Freedom EVA Maintenance
Study Results media briefing, scheduled for 3-5 p.m. EDT, Friday,
July 20, a tape of the CRRES launch and the B-52 Space Shuttle
Drag Chute Test, also scheduled for July 20, at Ames-Dryden
Flight Research Facility, Edwards, Calif., will be played on NASA
Select TV, Transponder 13.

------------------------------

Subject: Twinkies in Space!
Date: Fri, 20 Jul 90 12:53:22 MESZ
From: Joseph C Pistritto <[e-mail]>
Mailer: Elm [revision: 64.9]

>         In article <[e-mail]>, Bill Higgins (HIGGINS
> [e-mail]) writes:
>
> >                                                                 A typical
> >Twinkie was selected, placed into a plastic bag, and attached to a 2-meter
> >rope.  Our centrifuge operator first practiced by whipping an inert object (a
> >roll of masking tape) around his head on a rope. Once he could sustain constant
> >angular acceleration of the desired magnitude, we began the Twinkie run.
>
>         In which direction was the long axis of the Twinkie pointing, radial or
> angular?  This seems a rather important point, since it is likely that a
> Twinkie is less resistant to acceleration effects along this axis than it's
> short axis.
>         Or did you publish the results of incomplete research?  Shades of Cold
> Fusion!!!
>
While this might be an interesting point, it is not fundamental to the conclusions
of the research, in particular, that it appears Twinkies (probably TM) can survive
accelerations similar to those of launch.  It was necessary only to prove that
the Twinkie could survive in ANY configuration.  Only in the event of a failure
would subsequent testing be required for various configurations.  What we have
here is 'proof of concept', which is a less rigorous study than required for
an actual design of a Onboard Twinkie Storage Unit (OTSU).

This sounds like an excellent subject for follow-on (Phase B) research, to
study the various axial configurations to determine the impact on important variables
such as appearance, freshness, and storage life.  In fact, perhaps we need a
'National Center for Convenience Food Research' to study the issue.  I hear
Utah is a good place for getting these things funded...
                                                -jcp-

--
Joseph C. Pistritto ([e-mail], [e-mail])
 Ciba Geigy AG, R1241.1.01, Postfach CH4002, Basel, Switzerland
 Tel: [phone] (work) [phone] (home)   GMT+2hrs!

------------------------------

Date: 20 Jul 90 16:28:57 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Galileo Update - 07/20/90


                              GALILEO
                       MISSION STATUS REPORT
                           July 20, 1990

     As of noon (PDT) Thursday, July 19, 1990, the Galileo spacecraft is
84,584,600 miles from the Earth and traveling at a heliocentric velocity of
51,270 miles per hour.  The spacecraft's spin rate is at 3.15 rpm is in
dual spin configuration.  Round trip light time is 15 minutes, 12 seconds.

     A NO-OP command was sent on July 16 to reset the Command Loss Timer to
264 hours, the planned value for this mission phase.

     The Energetic Particles Detector (EPD) instrument was turned on and the
motor successfully stepped on July 16 from Sector 4 to Sector O in
preparation for the Trajectory Course Manuever-5 (TCM-5) on July 17.
Contamination analysis has predicted that Sector O is the minimum contamination
position for the EPD.  Subsequent to the TCM-5 maneuver on July 17, the motor
was stepped back to Sector 4.  As part of both EPD stepping activities, EPD
Memory Read Outs (MROs) were performed.  After the MROs, the EPD was turned
off.

     The sequence memory load for the TCM-5 maneuver was successfully
transmitted and received by the Spacecraft on July 16.  Successful execution
of the TCM-5 maneuver occurred on July 17.  Total spacecraft performance
throughout the maneuver was near predicted levels.  All Retropropulsion Module
(RPM) pressures and temperatures were near expected levels;  the Z thruster
temperature profiles were similar to those of previous Z thruster burns. The
L2B thruster temperature was inferred from the cluster temperature sensor
readings.  No unexpected cluster temperatures were observed. After the axial
burn segment, a sequence planned pointing error correction was performed to
reduce the error from about 4 mrad to near one-half mrad.  No pointing error
correction was needed after the lateral burn segment. Spin rate corrections
were not needed following either the axial or the lateral burn segments.  As
previously reported the P1A temperature transducer appeared to be near failure.
During the pointing correction following the axial segment of TCM-5 on July 17,
the P1A temperature transducer immediately indicated full saturation (255 DN)
after the very first pulse; it is still indicating 255 DN.

     Preliminary navigation data indicates a small overburn (about 2%) for
the axial segment and an even smaller underburn (about 0.2%) for the lateral
segment.  Orbit determination data collection is in process.

     Cruise Science Memory Readouts (MROs) were successfully performed for
the Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV), Magnetometer (MAG) and Dust Detector (DDS)
instruments on July 16 and 19.

     The  fifteenth RPM "flushing" activity was successfully performed on
July 19.  All 12 RPM thrusters were flushed during this activity.  Detailed
thruster temperature profiles are not available due to operation at 40 bps.
Successful flushing was inferred from other spacecraft telemetry
measurement/events including Attitude and Articulation Control Subsystem
(AACS) performance and thruster counts.

     Commands were sent July 18 to perform a MAG instrument special MRO and a
main power off/on cycle.  These actions were taken to collect data to help
understand the cause of recent MRO data anomalies first reported to project
on July 13.  Careful review of earlier MAG MRO data revealed some evidence of
anomalous data visible in the June 8 MRO.  Preliminary analysis of the
special MRO revealed several memory miscompares in the executive portion of
the MAG memory.  Due to the memory miscompares the power off/on cycle was
inconclusive in totally verifying the proper operation of the processor and
logic circuitry.  Further troubleshooting actions are being considered
including a complete MAG memory reload.  The cause of the memory miscompares
is under investigation but may be related to a solar flare event on June 7.
To date no other subsystem has reported any anomalous memory-related behavior.
Interaction with the principal investigator has confirmed that the instrument
is not at risk if the miscompares are due to transient events.

     The AC/DC bus imbalance measurements remained relatively stable with
only slight variations observed during the TCM-5 maneuver.  All other
power-related and subsystem telemetry measurements were as expected.
      ___    _____     ___
     /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|
     | | | |  __ \ /| | | |      Ron Baalke         | [e-mail]
  ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |___   Jet Propulsion Lab | [e-mail]
 /___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /|  M/S 301-355        |
 |_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/   Pasadena, CA 91109 |

------------------------------

Date: 21 Jul 90 01:30:37 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA Headline News for 07/20/90 (Forwarded)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, July 20, 1990              Audio Service:  202/755-1788
-----------------------------------------------------------------

This is NASA Headline News for Friday, July 20........

Kennedy Space Center technicians found two possible leak paths
around a flange in the hydrogen fuel umbilical on the Space
Shuttle Atlantis.  The dye injected into the insulating foam
around the flange revealed the leak source could be located in
the flange area.

A dye test will be performed today on the welds around the flange
to see if there are any imperfections in them that might account
for the leaks.  No leaks were found when the Space Shuttle's
external tank was pressurized yesterday.  Engineers are gearing
up for next Wednesday's supercold tanking test on the orbiter.

                            ********

It takes just 15 minutes and 10 seconds to communicate with the
Galileo spacecraft although it is now 84.6 million miles from
Earth.  Since the spacecraft departed from Venus last February, a
series of maneuvers have slightly changed the velocity. It is now
traveling more than 51,000 mph on its way toward Earth.  The
Earth flyby is scheduled for December 8, more than 500 miles
above the western Atlantic.
                            ********

A media briefing this afternoon will discuss the results of a 6-
month study concerning external maintenance requirements for
Space Station Freedom.  The briefing will be held at NASA
Headquarters and will be carried live on NASA Select TV at 3:00
P.M., EDT.  Participating in the briefing will be Richard Kohrs,
Director, Space Station Freedom, as well as Charles Price and
William Fisher, M.D., Co-chairmen of the External Maintenance
Task Team.
                            ********

In other news, China's Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and
Trade yesterday approved the establishment of a branch of the
China Aviation and Space Products Export Agency, according to
Space Fax Daily via a Xinhua wire service.  The story says the
new branch will export more than 400 kinds of products including
space technology.
                            ********

Today is remembered as the anniversary of the first steps by a
man on the moon.  Astronaut Neil Armstrong walked on the moon on
this day in 1969 as the whole world watched in amazement.








---------------------------------------------------------------
Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA
Select TV.  All times are Eastern Daylight.


Friday, July 20.......

           2:30-3:00 P.M.  Launch of the Combined Release
                           and Radiation Effects Satellite
                           aboard the Atlas Rocket.
                           NOTE: Access Transponder 5,
                           frequency 3800 MHz for the
                           uninterrupted coverage.

             3-5:00 P.M.   News Briefing on Space Station
                           Freedom External Maintenance
                           requirements study results.

               4:00 P.M.   Immediately following the news
                           briefing, a taped replay of the CRRES
                           launch activity will be provided.
                           (Note: There may be a time delay.)

               5:00 P.M.   B-52 Space Shuttle Drag
                           Chute Test tape replay.
                           (Note: There may be a time delay.)

Tuesday, July 24......

            12-2:00 P.M.   NASA Video Productions.

             6-8:00 P.M.   NASA Video Productions replay.


Thursday, July 26.....

               11:30 A.M.  NASA Update will be transmitted.

                2:00 P.M.  Magellan Status Press Conference.
                           A summary on the Venus encounter
                           scheduled August 10.

--------------------------------------------------------------
All events and times may change without notice.  This report is
filed daily, Monday through Friday at 12:00 P.M., EDT.  This is
a service of the Internal Communications Branch, NASA HQ.
Contact:  JSTANHOPE or CREDMOND on NASAmail or at 202/453-8425.
--------------------------------------------------------------
NASA Select TV:  Satcom F2R, Transponder 13, C-Band, 72 Degrees
West Longitude, Audio 6.8, Frequency 3960 MHz.  JSNEWS7-20
---------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------

Date: 20 Jul 90 15:52:52 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (Daniel Alexander Davis)
Subject: Re: World Space Agency

Ideally, an organisation of this kind would be independant of UN.
It's funding wold have to be fixed for long periods of time, so it
could plan, and it would have to recieve funding from a number of
different governments... I think that about kills it.

I would be happier with a subsidies organization which takes money
from the government and gives it to groups with interesting ideas.
Sounds Japanese.

Dan Davis (is), the Repunzel of the Mathematics Department.
Carnegie Mellon student
Disclaimer - don't look at me, I'm also a music major,
I don't have to know what I'm doing.
[e-mail](arpanet).

------------------------------

Date: 20 Jul 90 14:18:58 GMT
From: [e-mail]  (SERRE GLENN)
Subject: Re: Heavy Lift Titan

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Allen W. Sherzer) writes:
>Heavy lift Titan or Delta. Can be available three years from word go.

I feel obliged to point out again that this is fantasy (at least in the
case of the Titan).  Martin Marietta has proven that it has a hard time
getting Titan projects turned out on time. Again, consider:  The Titan IV,
which required much less new engineering than a HLV would, was started in 1984.
At that time, the only configuration to be flown was Tita/Centaur.  It is now
1990 and the Titan/Centaur has yet to fly.  In fact, it will not fly this year.

3rd and 4th cents:
I do, however, think it would be a good idea to start building (or buying)
capsules again.

Does anyone know how much a Soyuz weighs?

Again, how much does it cost the Shuttle to put a pound into LEO? (e-mail this
one, please).

--Glenn Serre
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 20 Jul 90 15:47:31 GMT
From: news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Is an asteroid capture possible/feasible?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Nicholas J. Szabo) writes:
>An extensive suite of mining and processing equipment is needed
>to convert the asteroidal material into armatures that won't foul up
>the mass driver.  An imbalance at 10 km/s is not pretty.

As I discussed at greater length in the space-tech mailing list, a mass
driver -- as opposed to a railgun or various other electromagnetic-gun
schemes -- does not need "armatures", since its magnetic interactions
are with its recirculating payload-carrying "buckets".  It will run fine
on rock dust or liquid oxygen (not too hard to make from most rocks).
--
NFS:  all the nice semantics of MSDOS, | Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
and its performance and security too.  |  [e-mail]   utzoo!henry

------------------------------

Date: 20 Jul 90 18:57:05 GMT
From: groucho![e-mail]  (Steve Emmerson)
Subject: Re: Weather Control

In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Will Martin) writes:

>So, a possible discussion: think of it as terraforming practice -- given
>essentially unlimited resources (I can't see this being done "on the
>cheap" :-), what actual mechanisms would be used to control the weather
>from space? Something somewhat less drastic than asteroid bombardment to

The basic necessity is to be able to add and/or remove very large amounts
of heat from very large areas on weekly time scales.

The addition of heat might be met by multiple, very large, IR or maser
devices tuned to particular frequencies (e.g. the IR absorbtion frequency
of water vapor).

The removal of heat might be met by very large sunshades having variable
opacity.

Steve Emmerson        [e-mail]        ...!ncar!unidata!steve

------------------------------

End of SPACE Digest V12 #104
*******************