Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V13_7/V13_755.TXT

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Subject: SPACE Digest V13 #755

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 13 : Issue 755

Today's Topics:
           Re: Go-ahead for Giotto Extended Mission
       Status of Chinese polar orbiting satellite FY-1B
  Re: Platinum-group metal concentrations in earth-crossing objects
             Toward 2001 - 17 Jun
              Re: Fred's Operatic Death
  Re: Platinum-group metal concentrations in earth-crossing objects
  Re: Platinum-group metal concentrations in earth-crossing objects
             CNN Report On Paris Airshow

Administrivia:

    Submissions to the SPACE Digest/sci.space should be mailed to
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 17 Jun 91 01:50:33 GMT
From: cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!emory!ogicse!sequent!muncher.sequent.com![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Go-ahead for Giotto Extended Mission

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Bev Freed) writes:

>GO-AHEAD FOR GIOTTO EXTENDED MISSION
>...encounter Comet Grigg Skejellerup on 10 July 1992 around 3 p.m. GMT...
>With a few planned maneouvres, Giotto will come to within about
>1,000 km of Grigg Skejellerup.

Good news!  Grigg Skejellerup has a period of 5.2 years, and will
be near perihilion in July 1992.  It is the parent body of the April
Pi-Puppid meteor shower (which should also give a good show in 1992).
Does anybody know if there exist plans to observe the meteor shower
stream nearby the comet, as well as the comet itself?

Keep up the great work across the Atlantic!


--
Nick Szabo            [e-mail]
Embrace Change...  Keep the Values...  Hold Dear the Laughter...
These views are my own, and do not represent any organization.

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

Date: 17 Jun 91 01:42:12 GMT
From: att!cbfsb!cbnewsb.cb.att.com![e-mail]  (robert.f.casey)
Subject: Status of Chinese polar orbiting satellite FY-1B


The following was copied from amateur radio packet network:
 Msg# TSF  Size #Rd  Date  Time From   MsgID        To
57980 BF   1967   1 08-Jun 0010 ZL4HG  KGJB47627573 WESAT@AMSAT ()
 Sb: FY-1B STATUS 4-Jun-1991

>From the NOAA Electronic Bulletin Board...

Posted: Tue, Jun  4, 1991   9:54 AM EST              Msg: KGJB-4762-7573
From:   C.STATON
To:     sub.noaa.sat.1
CC:     r.bernstein, b.howard
Subj:   OS: FY-1B STATUS - 6/4/91

STATUS OF CHINA'S POLAR ORBITING SATELLITE - FY-1B (JUNE 4 1991)

The Satellite Meteorological Center (SMC) of China's State
Meteorological Administration (SMA) reported an updated status of
FY-1B as of June 4, 1991.  In early May 1991, the attitude of
FY-1B was re-established but was shortly lost again.  Utilizing
the magnetometer controls, and testing throughout May, SMC has
been able to gain attitude control but finds intermittent
computer problems result in loss of control.  This problem is
minimized by cutting of the automated magnetic control system
beyond China's monitoring region.  Therefore, on orbits covering
China attitude control is maintained, while "blind" orbits may
result in accumulated attitude errors. SMC feels that for most orbits
over the U.S., that the attitude of FY-1B should be "OK".

As of this writing, the HRPT is turned on and is broadcasting on
1704.5 MHZ.  The APT is NOT on at this time. This configuration
"may last for some time".  It was not indicated by SMC if or when
they will resume APT transmissions.

Congratulations to SMC and lets hope FY-1B can resume some sort
of "routine" observations.

Carl Staton
NOAA/NESDIS

EOF
Note: I have no additional info on the above.  WA2ISE

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

Date: 16 Jun 91 09:28:16 GMT
From: agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!ptimtc!nntp-server.caltech.edu!sol1.gps.caltech.edu![e-mail]  (Carl J Lydick)
Subject: Re: Platinum-group metal concentrations in earth-crossing objects

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Robert D Webber) writes:
>Back in semiconductor fabrication class they always told us the biggest
>contamination problem came from the container, and that the high vapour
>pressure of arsenic led to a need for either As pressurization or some
>kind of complete encapsulation for the melt.  In the absence of a
>container the composition of the GaAs crystal comes out wrong, so I
>don't see how the "very high vacuum" will help fabrication operations
>for the materials used to make devices.

You're assuming that the semiconductors will be doped via a diffusion process,
in which case you're right.  However, if you want to use ion implantation, high
vacuum is useful.

>>Back to platinum: we have a total of 55 ppm platinum group, about 5
>>times better than the best Earth ore.  This still wouldn't be that
>>good, given the high costs of launching mining equipment, except
>>that there exists a process which, taking advantage of the large
>>amounts of solar-thermal power available in space, could make
>>extracting the platinum economical.
>>
>>First, we should find grains with the above concentrations or better
>>in a high-metal regolith (a task for space exploration).  We
>>extract the metal grains with a magnetic rake.  Next, we process
>>the metal regolith with the gaseous carbonyl process, as follows:
>
>You will need to break the hunk of rock down in size quite a bit, first.
>On the ground this is generally accomplished by crushing in rather large,
>heavy machines, then grinding in a mill where balls or rods are raised
>from and dropped back onto the material to be ground.  Obviously the
>term "dropped" implies the machine's presence in a gravity field.  I suppose
>that some other accelerating field could be substituted.  Anyway, the
>grinding medium in a conventional process needs to be dense so that the
>individual grinding elements have a lot of kinetic energy for a small
>surface area: this allows a lot of K.E. to be transformed into the energy
>of new surfaces during the grinding process in a short period of time.
>What are you proposing as an alternative to this very much earthbound,
>heavyweight technology?  You definitely need something to get the mineral
>particles down to liberation size in the process you describe.

He said they'd be using the regolith.  This means it's already quite friable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: [e-mail] | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

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

Date: 16 Jun 91 05:43:47 GMT
From: news.arc.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!pitt!nss![e-mail]  (Bev Freed)
Subject: Toward 2001 - 17 Jun


                            ***********
                            TOWARD 2001
                            ***********
                        Week of 17 June 1991
                 A Weekly Feature of SPACE CALENDAR
                   + = Domestic (USA) Earth event
                   * = Domestic (USA) space event
                   o = International Earth event
                   # = International space event
--------------------------------------------------------------------
                        REPRINT INFORMATION
This information is reproduced by permission of the Space Age
Publishing Company.  All rights reserved.  Copyright June 17,
1991.  Reproduction in any form without written permission violates
federal statute with penalty of up to $50,000.  SPACE CALENDAR is
edited and published on the Big `Space' Island of Hawaii.
====================================================================
                           * * * * * * *
+ STS 43 Atlantis
NASA Kennedy Space Center FL

Ground crew and 5 astronauts are preparing for a July launch to
deploy the TDRS-E satellite and its Inertial Upper Stage. For the
first time, abort software will be loaded and ready to run during
launch on Atlantis' new general purpose computers.
                           * * * * * * *
# Soviet Spacewalks Planned
Low Earth Orbit

Cosmonauts Anatoly Artsebarsky and Sergei Krikalyev will make up to
8 EVA trips to shift solar panels in preparation for a Buran mission
to Mir 1 in late 1991 or early 1992. They will also deploy two small
satellites for upper atmosphere and crystal growth experiments.
                           * * * * * * *
o Arianespace V 44 / ERS-1
Kourou, French Guiana

The European consortium plans an early July launch. Based on
previous flight observations and testing, officials decided to add a
pressure relief system to the third stage engine hydrogen feed line.
                           * * * * * * *
+ Columbia Communications Corp
Honolulu HI

Is investigating potential satellite links with the Soviet Union.
President Clifford Laughton said the company recently completed a
series of coordination meetings with Soviet officials and is
continuing its consultations with Intelsat required under Article
14(c) of the Intelsat treaty.
                           * * * * * * *
o India PSLV Testing
Mahendragiri

Engineers are examining data from a successful test firing of the
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle second stage on 3 June. The engine,
which uses hydrazine and nitrogen tetraoxide developes 60 tons of
thrust at sea level with a specific impulse of 293 seconds.
                           * * * * * * *
o Japan Satellite Message Planning
Tokyo

The new joint venture intends to use a Japan Communications
satellite to provide mobile message and positioning services.
Partners are C Itoh and Co (54 percent), Nippon Steel (41 percent),
and Qualcomm Inc, San Diego CA, (5 percent). Initial funding is 100
million yen (US$662,000).
                           * * * * * * *
+ Texas Roundtables Unite
Houston TX

The Houston Space Business Roundtable is working with similar
organizations in Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio to form, jointly,
the Texas Space Business Roundtable. The new group intends to work
with the Texas Space Commission to enhance the state's space
constituency.
                           * * * * * * *
o Aussat Contenders
Canberra, Australia

America's Bell South and Cable & Wireless PLC Ltd are bidding
against a second consortium of Bell Atlantic, Ameritech, and
Hutchison Whampoa to purchase the Australian telecommunications
firm. Tenders are expected to be called in July.
                           * * * * * * *
+ New Solar System Theory
Boulder CO

Astrophysicist Alan Stern of the University of Colorado believes
Pluto and other outer solar system objects could be "relics" from a
time when 1,000 or more Pluto-sized planets existed. Astronomers say
the theory is worth considering.
                           * * * * * * *
+ Lunar Footnote (Statistic)

6,759 days since Moon last visited by humans.
                           * * * * * * *
o International Space Year 1992 (Quotation)

      "The most important policy objective of the ISY . . . is  to
instill a new Space Age frame of reference in the thoughts and
actions of governments and individuals."
                 -- The late U S Senator Spark M Matsunaga, Hawaii
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--- Opus-CBCS 1.20.17
 * Origin: NSS BBS - Ad Astra! [phone] *HST* (1:129/104.0)
--
Bev Freed - via FidoNet node 1:129/104
UUCP: ...!pitt!nss!freed
INTERNET: [e-mail]

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

Date: 14 Jun 91 14:37:56 GMT
From: aio!vf.jsc.nasa.gov![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Fred's Operatic Death

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:
> Perhaps a couple years.  Sooner or later the astronaut groupies have
> to realize that pissing off scientists and calling their financiers
> "bean counters" and making a cult out of centrally planned, pork barrel
> space projects is not the best way to keep their beloved astronauts flying.


The kind of arrogant attitude you project with statements like "astronaut
groupies" and implying that pro-manned space people call finaciers "Bean
counters"  makes me discount your arguments.  I am neither a groupie or a name
caller.   Did you know name calling went out in elementry school.

Sooner or later we will need to move man into space.  I think it will take us a
long time to learn how to do that.  We need to continue learning, so that when
the affordable launchs systesm arrive, man knows his limitations in space.


--

Mike Kent -      Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company at NASA JSC
        2400 NASA Rd One, Houston, TX 77058 [phone]
        [e-mail]

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

Date: 17 Jun 91 02:19:43 GMT
From: cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!cs.uoregon.edu!ogicse!sequent!muncher.sequent.com![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Platinum-group metal concentrations in earth-crossing objects

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Raul Rockwell) writes:

>Why process in Earth orbit?  Seems to me that you could do quite a
>lot, in terms of smelting, or whatever, by processing during the
>transfer orbit.  Sure, it would take a few years, but so what?

Two problems: lifting the heavy processing equipment out to the
asteroid, and the round-trip light time for teleoperation.

On the other hand, capturing volatiles and raw regolith into Earth orbit
will take fairly little equipment and energy, if Earth gravity assist
and/or slow aerobraking are used.  See previous postings in sci.space for
the safety issues involved (a crude summary is that gravity assist and
slow aerobraking of small amounts of regolith and ice are fine; fast
aerobraking and large solid pieces can be dangerous).

Once we have the volatiles and asteroid materials in Earth orbit,
equipment can be built and launched from Earth to process the materials
into the final products (fuel, heat sinks, shielding, Pt-group metals,
new alloys, semiconductors, solar power satellites, etc.).


--
Nick Szabo            [e-mail]
Embrace Change...  Keep the Values...  Hold Dear the Laughter...
These views are my own, and do not represent any organization.

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

Date: 16 Jun 91 18:44:43 GMT
From: haven.umd.edu!socrates.umd.edu!socrates![e-mail]  (Raul Rockwell)
Subject: Re: Platinum-group metal concentrations in earth-crossing objects

Nick Szabo:
   ... rock and metal processing is quite non-trivial.  In comparison,
   however, ice mining requires little more than a mirror, bag, and
   simple distillery.  After the ice bootstrapping takes place, it
   will be much easier to lift heavy mining equipment out to the
   asteroids, or alternatively bring raw asteroid regolith to Earth
   orbit and process it there.

Why process in Earth orbit?  Seems to me that you could do quite a
lot, in terms of smelting, or whatever, by processing during the
transfer orbit.  Sure, it would take a few years, but so what?

--
Raul <[e-mail]>

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

Date: 15 Jun 91 01:52:02 GMT
From: agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!src.honeywell.com!msi.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!kksys!wd0gol!newave![e-mail]  (John A. Weeks III)
Subject: CNN Report On Paris Airshow

CNN Headline News had a blurb on the Paris Airshow tonight.
I thought I would pass on what I caught of the report.

US military aircraft are on display complete with US troops.
Planes shown on the video include the F-117A 'Stealth Bomber',
F-14 Tomcat, A-10 Warthog (complete with kill stats painted on
the nose), F-15 Eagle, and the AH-64 attack chopper.  (It seems
that every black plane is a 'stealth bomber' to the media these
days.)

The Soviets unvail the Mig-31.  The Mig is on static display
and will fly at some point during the show.  It looks like
an Eagle (twin tails) and is painted white with blue stripes.
What more can one say after having a 4 second glimpse?

Airbus has an extensive commercial jetliner display.

Hermes mock-up on display.  Mir mock-up.  CNN also filmed some
type of multi-nation (non-US) space hardware that I did not catch--it
looked like a space station and I think they called it the Columbus.
Anyone know what I might have seen?

An Ariane (sp?) rocket is on display.  It is set up in a vertical
position.  Looks real cool.

An unnamed new French delta-wing fighter was shown flying across
the show line upside-down.  It looked similar to a Mirage 2000 to me.

-john-

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

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

End of SPACE Digest V13 #755
*******************