Space & Astronomy/Space and Astronomy (October 1993).iso/mac/TEXT/SPACEDIG/V16_9/V16NO917.TXT

Text File | 1993-08-03 | 11KB | 289 lines

Space Digest                Sun, 25 Jul 93       Volume 16 : Issue 917

Today's Topics:
                        cheap space computers
                                 DC-X
                DC-X Prophets and associated problems
               John Glen as the first American in space
                           Mars Direct Info
   Room in the VAB? (was Re: DC-X Prophets and associated problems)
                      Space Lottery! Any ideas?

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 93 21:55:27 BST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: cheap space computers

> >I think you're wrong. I think roughly NONE will. The space
environment,
> >especially ine LEO (where you clip the Van Allan belts
occasionally, let alone in
> >Jupiter orbit or Mercury orbit, is incredibly hostile to
electronics...
>

> It's not that bad, actually.  Note that quite a few off-the-shelf
> electronic systems, including commercial laptop computers, have
been
> used quite successfully inside the shuttle cabin.  The cabin has
some
> shielding, but it's not that much.
>


And I'll add to that Henry. The AMSAT people use off the shelf, not
mil parts and have had little problem with them, even in cases where
they have been exposed to the Van Allen belts.

On one satellite they discovered that the space rated battery was
available from hospital suppliers. I think it was used for one of
those "thumpers". The space rated version was something like $20K.
They bought a case of them for about $70 I think. And had no problems
whatever.

They also discovered that bridal veil had just the right thermal
characteristics to replace some rather more expensive insulation
materials.

The space environment is NOT that nasty to electronics. Lifetimes are
degraded and you have to be robust enough to handle SEU's now and
then. And I would not particularly recommend spending a lot of time
orbiting Jupiter, but other than that...

It once again comes down to the philosophy that you have one shot, so
you have to put everything on that shot, and it better not fail so
you have to used 0-defect procedures.


I think the russians have a far better idea. You send two cheaper and
less reliable craft and bet that at least one will work.

--
=======================================================================
Give generously to the           Dale M. Amon, Libertarian Anarchist
Betty Ford Home for                    [e-mail]
the Politically Correct     Greybook:  [e-mail]
=======================================================================

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

Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1993 18:23:43 GMT
From: Gary Coffman <ke4zv!gary>
Subject: DC-X
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Spencer) writes:
>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Gary Coffman) writes:
>>>1)Could DC-1 replace the space shuttle for all manned surface to orbit
>>>needs at a much lower cost,if so how much lower
>>
>>Maybe, if we restructured manned missions, had a station, and didn't
>>attempt on orbit repair missions.
>
>Why can't DC-1 do on-orbit repairs?  On the contrary, DC-1 may actually
>make on-orbit repair cost-effective.  It certainly isn't now, which is
>(partly) why designing satellites for it has gone out of fashion.

My understanding of the DC concept is that it doesn't have a large
enough bay to support a Canadarm or work cradles or tools and spare
parts or suiting rooms or airlocks or life support for more than a
few orbits. It doesn't, to my knowledge, have provision for extensive
orbital maneuvering and rendezvous with a balky satellite. I haven't
even heard of a search radar capability. As an SSTO, it probably
doesn't have the margin to carry all those things. Very simple
grab, plug, and scoot jobs by an astronaut who rides suited in
the bay may be possible, but that's quite a far cry from the kind
of orbital repair missions most people envision.

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: Sat, 24 Jul 93 22:11:54 BST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: DC-X Prophets and associated problems

> first big hurdle. (You show me an astronaut who is wiling to fly
inside
> a closed can with no control other than the ground, and I'll be
significantly
> amazed. The shuttle theoretically could be operated this wa from
launch to
> landing, but is NOT in deferece to those willing to risk flying
into space,
> AND to improve the "saftey margin" of the vehicle.
>


The answer to that is quite simple. If he don't like it, he ain't
gettin' hired on my spaceline. After cooling his heels on the ground
in the unemployment queue for awhile, I'm sure he'll see the light.

The DC/X is being "flown" by Pete Conrad. He clicks a mouse on a
Macitosh screen to change pre-programmed flight modes. One click
sends it into the abort sequence. He states that like it or not, THAT
is the way of the future. The stick and rudder has seen it's day. Sad
(I fly now and then myself, more then than now) but true.

So saith Pete.--
=======================================================================
Give generously to the           Dale M. Amon, Libertarian Anarchist
Betty Ford Home for                    [e-mail]
the Politically Correct     Greybook:  [e-mail]
=======================================================================

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

Date: 24 Jul 1993 17:10:24 GMT
From: Claudio Egalon <[e-mail]>
Subject: John Glen as the first American in space
Newsgroups: sci.space

Why is that many Americans think that John Glenn was
indeed the first American to fly in space?? That is a
myth that still remain among many Americans. I have
been giving some thought about that and, up to now, I
have came in with three  possible explanations;

1) Glenn was the most charismatic among the Mercury
astronauts;

2) Apparently, he had a good relationship with John
Kennedy who, as far as I understand, was and still

IS a very popular president so it looks like there
was some kind of sinergy between the two men and

3) It might be because John Glenn's flight was an
orbital one whereas Shepard and Grissom's flight
were a suborbital one that lasted only 15 minutes.

I am inclined to believe that the  explanation
number 1 is the most important. Does anybody
have any comments?

BTW, oddly enough, the poster "Space Explorers"
published by the Air and Space magazine, do not
mention the suborbital flights of Sheppard and
Grissom below their headshots.

Claudio Oliveira Egalon
[e-mail]

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

Date: 22 Jul 93 19:26:52 GMT
From: Ralph Buttigieg <[e-mail]>
Subject: Mars Direct Info
Newsgroups: sci.space

Original to: [e-mail]
20 Jul 01 00:54, [e-mail] wrote to All:

 gbe> [e-mail] (George William Herbert), via Kralizec 3:713/602

 gbe> That having been said, there are at least two of us here on sci.space
 gbe> (myself and Frank Crary) who've been following Mars Direct pretty
 gbe> closely for several years and who have seen the papers on it.
 gbe> It was (suprise) again a featured item at Case for Mars V earlier this
 gbe> year, and hasn't changed much except that Bob's talking more certainly
 gbe> about using artificial-G on the way out by tethering to the expended
 gbe> upper stage, or at least that's the impression I got.

 gbe> If you'd like to ask us questions about it, or have one of us do a
 gbe> summary article or something on the concept (and one should be posted
 gbe> here sometime, also one on the Stanford/Energia** proposal) we can
work
 gbe> on that.

 gbe> -george william herbert

G'day george,

I would certainly appreciate a summary article on Mars Direct and/or
Stanford proposal. And if there any graphics on a site I should be able to
get someone to grap them too. I think many reader would look forward to such
stuff.

 ta

Ralph

--- GoldED 2.41+
 * Origin: VULCAN'S WORLD: Astro/Space BBS [phone]  3:713/635
(3:713/635)

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

Date: 24 Jul 1993 15:11 CDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Room in the VAB? (was Re: DC-X Prophets and associated problems)
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey) writes...
>In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:
>> There is still plenty of
>> room in the VAB for making a new stacker for the Shuttle and other
>> improvements that would support an increased flight rate.
>
>Yes, but then they'd have to move the piles of Mars mission studies
>out of there, and where would NASA put *them*?
>
>Bill Higgins, Beam Jockey

Bill next time you come to Huntspatch we will have to give you the stealth
tour of a certain nearby facility and show you just how much room there is
to do fun things up here.

Dennis, University of Alabama in Huntsville

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

Date: 24 Jul 1993 17:53:51 GMT
From: Greg Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: Space Lottery! Any ideas?
Newsgroups: sci.space

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Charles Radley) writes:
>
>
> A couple of years ago a group in Texas tried to run a lottery
> where the winner would fly to Mir.
>
> Unfortunately the Texas state attorney declared the operation
> illegal, and immoral.   It violated Texas state lottery laws.
> The operation was closed down in a blaze of publicity and
> money received was refunded.
>
        Actually, as I recall, it was declared illegal.  This
gave it a LOT of bad publicity.  However, it was later determined
that the Assistant State Attorney had erred, and there was in
fact no illegal activities going on.  By then though they had
lost enough money to not make it worthwhile.

        I believe there was some question about the finances of
the group and their ability to pay a substitution price.
However, it did appear that they had a contract with either
Glavkosmos or Energia (the company).


>... Internet address:- [e-mail]  Ad Astra per Guile !
>--- Blue Wave/QWK v2.10

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End of Space Digest Volume 16 : Issue 917
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