Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V12_6/V12_626.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V12 #626

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 12 : Issue 626

Today's Topics:
              Re: Another Russian first
             Re: The Space Plane
      Astro-1 Status for 12/05/90 [1034 CST] (Forwarded)
         NASA Headline News for 12/03/90 (Forwarded)
        Re: Translunar/interplanetary shuttle?
              Re: Another Russian first

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: 5 Dec 90 03:19:44 GMT
From: timbuk!cs.umn.edu!kksys!wd0gol!newave![e-mail]  (John A. Weeks III)
Subject: Re: Another Russian first

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Frank G. Dahncke) writes:
> Are there any other spaceflight "firsts" that the USA has achived exept
> for the first man on the moon ?

For the most part, everything that is done in space can be listed as a first
or biggest or other type of record.  Usually, these are taken to the extreme
by the media.  The current shuttle mission has the oldest astronaut (53), the
first space-to-space ham contact (if it actually happens), the largest crew
since flight resumed, and the most people in space at once when combined with
Mir (12--7 USA, 4 USSR, and 1 Japan).

Besides the moon landing, one of the most significant USA space firsts was the
first country to blow up a shuttle in flight and the largest astronaut death
toll in a spacecraft flight accident.  Also, the first space station with an
umbrella and the first manned use of soda pop in space (Coke and Pepsi).  Just
picking a few pages at random from the Encyclopedia Of US Spacecraft nets a
few interesting firsts:

Discoverer 14 (launch 10 Aug 1960), first successful recovery of a film
return capsule.

HEAO-B (launch 13 Nov 1978), largest X-ray telescope ever flown (23 inches).

Lunar Roving Vehicle (31 July 1971), first land vehicle to carry people on
the surface of a body other than the Earth.

Mariner 2 (27 Aug 1962), first successful interplanetary probe.

Mercury 3 (5 May 1962), first manned spacecraft to land in water.

With enough time and reference material, one could develop a larger list.

-john-

--
===============================================================================
John A. Weeks III               [phone]               [e-mail]
NeWave Communications                 ...uunet!rosevax!tcnet!wd0gol!newave!john
===============================================================================

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

Date: 3 Dec 90 15:26:16 GMT
From: csus.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!cs.utexas.edu!evax!utacfd!merch!cpe!hal6000!trsvax![e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Space Plane


The NASP has been designated the X-30 not just in honor of the X-vehicles,
but because it is the latest experimental research aircraft.
The idea is that the X-30 will acheive and cruise at hypersonic speeds
through the use of air-breathing scramjet engines, and with the assist
of a small (50,000 - 70,000 lbs thrust) internal rocket will enter LEO.
It is intended to be capable of horizontal take-off and landing from
conventional runways with powered descent and go-around capability.
The X-30 will have no payload requirements (short of a 2 man crew and
instruments) and no operational mission.  The current purpose of the
NASP program is to develop and demonstrate the technologies necessary
to pursue future NASP-derived vehicles.

An operational version of the X-30 could get anywhere on the globe within
3 hours, or if used as a space launch vehicle, deliver payloads to LEO
for very "low" cost ($100's of dollars per pound) with airplane-like
operability.  The X-30 will be a fully reusable (not just refurbishable
like the shuttle) craft with intended turn-around times of 1-2 days or
less, depending on how fast refueling and check-outs go.

Right now, the schedule has slipped 2 1/2 years to put the first test
flight in 1997 or later.  A single design configuration has been chosen
by the contractor organization developing the craft, and a decision on
the go-ahead to start building 3 X-30's for flight testing will be made
in 1993.  As for funding, Defense Secretary Cheney requested zero funding
for the X-30 from the DOD.  Aparently it is still getting enough to
keep goign strong.  The DOD spends about 70% of the government money
spent on the NASP, and NASA spends the rest.  The contractor industries
(3 airframers and 2 propulsion) have contributed about 70% of what the
government has spent so far.  It all add up to (very) roughly 1 billion
spent so far.  The Space Council supports it, the two House committees
involved with it support it, and the Administration supports it.
Does the DOD?  Well, Cheney sure isn't wanting to, but they're spending
the money.  NASA supposedly supports it as well (though it may compete
for limited funds that are wanted for shuttle/Freedom, etc...).
The contractors support it--they're investing an awful lot with no
promises of procurement.

Those are some basics about the space plane.  Sounds a lot like a
scrap from a bad research paper, doesn't it?  Well, it is.
And it's due on Tuesday, so I better start writing..


George Tahu            "Duct tape is like the Force.  It has a dark side,
Tandy Electronics       a light side, and it holds the universe together."
letni!trsvax![e-mail]
Graduate student in Political Economy at University of Texas at Dallas

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

Date: 5 Dec 90 22:52:50 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Astro-1 Status for 12/05/90 [1034 CST] (Forwarded)


      Astro 1 Mission Report #20
      10:34 a.m. CST, December 5, 1990
      3/09:44 MET
      Spacelab Mission Operations Control
      Marshall Space Flight Center

      Astronomers aboard the STS-35 Astro mission are becoming
      increasingly successful in their observations, Alternate Payload
      Specialist John-David Bartoe informed them from Huntsville's
      Spacelab Mission Operations Control as he prepared to end his shift
      this morning.

      "The folks down here want to let you know we're really proud of the
      job you've been doing," Bartoe told the Astro crew.  "The blue shift
      [working during the day yesterday] got 17% of the planned
      observations.  Before that, it was 0%.  The red shift [just ending]
      got 35%.  We're hoping to see that number double again in the next
      shift."

      One of the celestial objects studied by the Astro observatory this
      morning was radio galaxy M87.  Payload Specialist Ron Parise
      observed after he locked the galaxy within the telescopes' fields of
      view,  "I had to get this one.  The UIT PI would have fired me if I
      didn't!" referring to the principal investigator for the Ultraviolet
      Imaging Telescope, prime instrument in the study of M87.

      "UIT says you're right about that," affirmed Bartoe.

      M87 is a giant elliptical galaxy in the heart of the Virgo cluster
      of galaxies some 41 million light years from Earth.  It is thought
      that M87 may contain a giant black hole at its center.  Radio
      galaxies emit radio radiation a million times stronger than galaxies
      like our Milky Way and are some of the most enormous objects in the
      universe.  The pictures taken by the imaging telescope will be the
      first ultraviolet photographs ever made of the galaxy.

      Parise also reported during the set up that the time allotted for
      the observation matched the time until the orbiter entered the South
      Atlantic Anomaly, an area of higher-than-usual radiation which
      interferes with the operation of sensitive instruments.  "Maybe our
      SAA patch is working," said Parise, referring to the automatic
      program which puts the instruments into a safe mode during the
      period when the orbiter flies through the anomaly.  "Hey, that's
      good news," responded Bartoe.  "You're telling me," Parise agreed.
      Up until this point, the instruments had been safed manually.

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

Date: 3 Dec 90 22:38:07 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: NASA Headline News for 12/03/90 (Forwarded)


             Headline News
Internal Communications Branch (P-2) NASA
Headquarters

  Monday, December 3, 1990    Audio Service: 202 / 755-1788

This is NASA Headline News for Monday, December 3, 1990

Columbia lifted off at 1:49 am EST Sunday to begin its 9-day
Astro-1 mission.  Liftoff and ascent to orbit went flawlessly as the
seven person crew went into their 188 by 190 nautical mile orbit.
Columbia's orbit period is 91 minutes.  Three hours into the STS-
35/Astro-1 mission, Mission Scientist Gene Urban said "We have
an excellent orbit.  We have planned for changes in the science
observations that have put us right on the timeline...so, we are
really ready to go here."

The orbiter is performing perfectly.  Payload operations flight
controllers at Marshall Space Flight Center are working on one
major Astro-1 problem concerning the Instrument Point System.

The IPS problem is believed to be related to software, and
several patches have already been uplinked.  The pointing system
uses star trackers to align itself, but so far will not recognize nor
lock on to dim stars.  A new software patch is being worked today
and should be ready for uplinking by this evening.  Similar
problems accompanied the first use of the IPS on the Spacelab 2 in
1985.  On that mission, it took several days to work out all the
software peculiarities.

Following activation and initial check out, all four telescopes
appear to be fully operational and ready to begin observing.
The two Axis Pointing System, which points the BBXRT, is
functioning well.  Both Marshall Mission Manager Jack Jones and
Goddard Mission Scientist Ted Gull said at this morning's payload
briefing, that they expect to have the Astro-1 payload capable of
science operations by the end of the day.

  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This Wednesday, NASA employees are reminded of a special
screening of the multimedia presentation which highlighted the
75th anniversary celebration of NACA/NASA last week at the
National Air and Space Museum.  The presentation is 13 minutes
long and consists of slides and video tape which traces the history of
the committee.  The show concludes with IMAX photography.
Employees may attend one of three showings for 8:30, 9:00 and
9:30 am in the NASM Langley IMAX theater. (Please enter through
the Independence Ave. side and show your NASA badge.)

Center Point

FOCUS ON: Marshall Space Flight Center

The Alabama Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp is hosting a special
session for 20 students from the West Virginia School for the Deaf and
Blind through Friday.  The Marshall Space Flight Center will provide a
special tour of the center for the group.  Marshall has also arranged
for a visually impared speaker from the center to meet with the student
group sometime this week.




Here's the broadcast schedule for Public Affairs events on NASA
Select TV.  All times are Eastern.  **indicates a live program.

Monday, 12/3/90        Mission coverage of the STS-35 / Astro-1
flight
        will continue live throughout the week ...
    1:34 pm    Flight deck activities from Columbia.
    2:09 pm    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.
    3:30 pm    Today-in-Space with Dr. Frank Six from MSFC.
    5:00 pm    Change-of-shift Flight Director briefing from JSC.
    6:00 pm    Change-of-shift Mission Manager briefing from MSFC
    10:19 pm    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.
    10:56 pm    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.

Tuesday, 12/4/90
    12:53 am    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.
    1:00 am    Change-of-shift Flight Director briefing from JSC.
    1:30 am    Replay of flight deck activities from 1:34 pm Monday.
    2:42 am    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.
    3:52 am    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.
    9:00 am    Change-of-shift Flight Director briefing from JSC.
    10:18 am    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.
    10:30 am    Mission Science briefing from MSFC.
    11:43 am    Science TV from Astro-1 payload.
    2:00 pm    Flight deck activities from Columbia.
    3:30 pm    Today-in-Space with Dr. Frank Six from MSFC.
    4:51 pm    Science TV from Astro-1 Payload.
    5:00 pm    Change-of-shift Flight Director briefing from JSC.
    6:00 pm    Change-of-shfit Mission Manager briefing from MSFC.



All events and times may change without notice.  This report is
filed daily, Monday through Friday, at 12:00 pm, EST.  It is a
service of Internal Communications Branch at NASA
Headquarters.  Contact:  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.

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

Date: 4 Dec 90 18:23:55 GMT
From: sdd.hp.com!samsung!cs.utexas.edu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!utgpu!utzoo![e-mail]  (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Translunar/interplanetary shuttle?

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:
>    I'd say there would be ways around this pooling, as the J-2 in the
>Saturn V was electrically started twice (BUT TWICE ONLY) and the OMS system
>somehow gets around it.

The OMS system uses an approach that is not viable for really large tanks:
an elastic membrane separates pressurizing gas and fuel in the tanks, so
there is no possibility of getting gas down the fuel lines.  This is the
usual method for things like attitude-control systems.

The J-2 restart in the third stage of the Saturn V was done by using the
stage's small attitude-control engines -- run off tanks with membranes --
to accelerate the stage for a moment to settle propellants in the big
tanks.  This is the standard approach for restarting large engine systems.
(It is just possible that I've misremembered the shuttle plumbing, and
they use the small RCS engines to settle propellants for the OMS.)
--
"The average pointer, statistically,    |Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
points somewhere in X." -Hugh Redelmeier| [e-mail]   utzoo!henry

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

Date: 4 Dec 90 05:49:10 GMT
From: swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi![e-mail]  (Michael V. Kent)
Subject: Re: Another Russian first

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Frank G. Dahncke) writes:
>Now the USSR even has had the first paying passenger in a spacecraft.
>Actually, I would have expected this feat to be performed by the US.

Maybe it was.  Charlie Walker participated in (I think) three Shuttle missions
as a Payload Specialist for McDonnell Douglas.  I leave it up to those more
knowledgeable than I to decide if this counts.

>Are there any other spaceflight "firsts" that the USA has achived exept
>for the first man on the moon ?

In recent memory:
   - first reusable manned spacecraft
   - first tetherless EVA
   - first probe to the outer planets
   - first manmade object to leave the solar system (depending on you definition       of solar system)

Probably first in the near future:
   - first to orbit an outer planet
   - first to leave the ecliptic(?) plane (joint Euro/American mission)

For those of you still involved in the space race, the Soviets still win in
LEO hands down, but the rest of the solar system belongs to the USA. :)

Michael Kent
[e-mail]

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

End of SPACE Digest V12 #626
*******************