HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Yee)
Subject: STS-53 and STS-54 Space Shuttle mission briefings set [NTE 92-112] (Forwarded)
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Followup-To: sci.space
Originator: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov
Reply-To: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Yee)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 05:31:30 GMT

Ed Campion
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                           December 30, 1992
(Phone:  202/453-8536)

Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  713/483-5111)


NOTE TO EDITORS:  N92-112

STS-53 AND STS-54 SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION BRIEFINGS SET

     The STS-53 postflight crew briefing and STS-54 preflight briefings
will be held Jan. 6 and 7 at the Johnson Space Center, Houston,
building 2, room 135.  The TDRS briefing will originate from the
Kennedy Space Center and the IUS briefing will originate from the
Marshall Space Flight Center.  Reporters may cover the briefings at
NASA Headquarters or other NASA centers.

     A briefing agenda is attached.  All briefings will be carried on
NASA Select television with two-way audio for questions from
participating NASA locations.  NASA Select programming is carried on
SATCOM F2R, transponder 13, located at 72 degrees west longitude.

-end-



AGENDA
STS-54 PREFLIGHT BRIEFINGS
STS-53 POSTFLIGHT BRIEFING
January 6-7, 1993
ALL TIMES EST

Time               Briefing                                    Moderator

Wednesday, Jan. 6
 9:30 a.m.         Mission Overview                            James Hartsfield
		       Phil Engelauf, Lead Flight Director
10:30              Physics of Toys                             Barbara Schwartz
		       Greg Vogt, NASA Hqs.  Education Specialist

11:05              Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-F         George Diller
		       Charles Vanek, TDRS Program Manager
						               (Originating
							       from KSC)

11:50              Inertial Upper Stage                        Jerry Berg
		       Sid Soucier Manager, Space Systems Program Office
						               (Originating
							       from MSFC)

12:25              Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer                  James Hartsfield
		       Louis Kaluzienski, HQ, Program Scientist
		       Dr. Wilton T. Sanders, Principal Investigator
		       Steven C. "Chris" Dunker DXS Mission Manager University
		         of Wisconsin-Madison

 2:00 p.m.         Improved Waste Collection System            James Hartsfield
		       Daniel M. Germany Manager, Orbiter and GFE Projects
		         Office

 2:35               EVA Briefing                               James Hartsfield
		       Ron Farris, EVA Section Chief
		       Gerry Miller, EVA Flight Controller

4:00                STS-53 Postflight Crew Briefing            Barbara Schwartz

Thursday, Jan. 7
10:00 a.m.          STS-54 Crew Briefing                       Barbara Schwartz
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Galileo Update - 12/22/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Galileo, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 15:20:38 GMT

Forwarded from Bill O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager

                            GALILEO STATUS REPORT
                              December 22, 1992

     The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and
is transmitting coded telemetry at 1200 bps (bits/second).

     Yesterday, minimal spacecraft activity was scheduled.  Continuous
tracking was scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 DSS-61 and DSS-63.

     Today, December 22, 1992, the DDA-5 (Dual Drive Actuator) part A sequence
memory load is being uplinked.  This sequence covers HGA (High Gain Antenna)
warming turn and the motor actuation activities from December 28, 1992 through
January 4, 1993.  Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-12, DSS-43 and
DSS-61.

     Over the holiday period, minimal spacecraft activity is scheduled.
Tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43, DSS-61 and DSS-63.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Choose a job you love, and
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | you'll never have to work
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | a day in your life.
From: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Yee)
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
Subject: Shuttle Status for 12/22/92 (Forwarded)
Date: 23 Dec 92 05:46:59 GMT
Reply-To: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov (Peter Yee)
Followup-To: sci.space
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Apparently-To: sci-space-news@ames.arc.nasa.gov
Originator: yee@atlas.arc.nasa.gov


                             SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                             Kennedy Space Center, Florida

                             Tuesday, December 22, 1992


          George H. Diller
          407/867-2468

          Vehicle: OV-105/Endeavour   Mission Number: STS-54
          Location: Launch Pad 39-B
          Primary Payload: TDRS-F/IUS-13 + Diffuse X-ray Spectrometer (DXS)
          Launch Timeframe: NET January 13
          Mission Duration: 5 Days 23 Hours 33 Minutes
          Inclination: 28.45 degrees   Crew Size: 5
          Nominal Landing Site: KSC


          IN WORK TODAY:

          - Flight Readiness Review (FRR)
          - aft main engine compartment closeouts
          - close payload bay doors for the holidays at 2 p.m.
          - power off Space Shuttle vehicle for the holidays 4 p.m.
          - preparations for holiday work suspension/holiday outages


          WORK COMPLETED:

          - IUS ordnance installation
          - IUS flight battery installation
          - Space Shuttle vehicle ordnance installation
          - aft main engine compartment confidence test
          - IUS Flight Readiness Checks


          WORK SCHEDULED:

          - continue aft main engine compartment closeouts
          - Pad B securing and walkdown for the holidays
Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Galileo Update - 12/30/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Keywords:  Galileo, JPL
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 22:34:00 GMT

Forwarded from:
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109.  TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011

                     GALILEO MISSION STATUS
                        December 30, 1992

     The Galileo spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-
spin mode and is transmitting coded telemetry at 1200 bits per
second.  It is about 16.5 million kilometers (10.25 million
miles) from Earth, and about 152 million kilometers (94 million
miles) from the Sun.

     Yesterday, December 29, after approximately 20 hours of
warming in sunlight, the antenna-deploy motors were turned on to
"wind up" the system and then pulsed to "hammer" it in an effort
to free the stuck ribs of Galileo's high-gain antenna.  The
procedures began at 6:55 a.m. PST and continued until 2:48 a.m.
PST this morning, December 30.  A total of 2160 pulses were
executed by the motors during this period.  The stuck ribs were
apparently not freed.  This morning the spacecraft was returned
from the warming attitude to the normal cruise mode.

     No spacecraft activities are scheduled during the holiday
weekend.  Activities will resume next week.

                              #####
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Choose a job you love, and
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | you'll never have to work
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | a day in your life.
From: prb@access.digex.com (Pat)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: fast-track failures
Date: 30 Dec 1992 16:58:03 GMT
Organization: UDSI
NNTP-Posting-Host: access.digex.com

In article <ewright.725665391@convex.convex.com> ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright) writes:
>In <1992Dec27.160134.20228@ke4zv.uucp> gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) writes:
>
>>$100,000 a year is on the low side. Most companies figure it's 
>>closer to $250,000. 
>
>The ones that are no longer in business.

Um, gee here's a good one for me.  STicking up for gary.  Actually both of
gary's numbers are quite reasonable.  sad but true.  what he isn't
pointing out, is that these numbers are more for large organizations  and
especially defense related business.

now the accounting rule of thumb for commercial business, is that each of your
people better generate 2.5-3 times their salary in revenue, or you aren't
making money.  in defense industries,  it is not unusual for
overhead to exceed salary in an order of magnitude of 7.  example.
i have seen projects where two engineers worked, on a prototype,
they were each paid about 40k/annually,   but the project bills
would run about 15k/week.  amazing what the overhead can run.

Now what gary is missing is that thin slim organizations can run for
significantly less.  Apple, started this way.  cisco did too.
Lockheed skunk works still tries to.  but this is for small operations
only.   My dad used to run a 20 man shop on 2,000 month overhead plus
salaries.  

>
>If we spent that much on each employee, personnel costs would exceed 
>gross revenues.  And that allows *nothing* for manfacturing, materials,
>etc. 
>
>But then, I'm not working for Gary Coffman, Inc.
>

Um,  you wonder why the B-2 costs 1 billion per?

>
>But you just said you weren't going to provide any of those things,
>Gary.  The engineers were going to live at Motel 6 and work at home.
>And it was still going to cost you over $100,000.
>
>Weasel, weasel.


 No need to call him a weasel,  just accuse him of screaming :-)
the motel 6 school of prject developement should keep costs to about
100% of salary.  the theory is rent a warehouse next to a motel.  
use the warehouse and motel interchangebly.  but you do need
motivated staff to do this kind of work.

pat
From: BrianT@cup.portal.com (Brian Stuart Thorn)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Terminal Velocity of DCX? (was Re: Shuttle ...)
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 92 18:47:05 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
  <BzDKw5.3no@news.cso.uiuc.edu> <ewright.724698268@convex.convex.com>
  <2ls29_p@rpi.edu>

>In article <ewright.724698268@convex.convex.com> ewright@convex.com (Edward V.
>Wright) writes:
>>
>>>The average total cost of a shuttle mission is a little over $500 million
>>>not a billion+.
>>
>>Only if you learned math from the "Hitchhiker's Guide."
>>
>        Do you think it is possible for you to reply to a person's posting
>without being insulting or condescending?
>
>>Divide the amount of money NASA spends on the Space Shuttle program
>>every year by six flights per year.
>>
>        Right, except last year they fley 8 times.  This year they
>have 7 planned.
>
         Eight.
         STS-54 (TDRS-F, Jan), STS-55 (Spacelab D2, Feb),
         STS-56 (ATLAS-2, Mar), STS-57 (EURECA, Apr)
         STS-51 (ACTS, Jul), STS-58 (SLS-2, Aug)
         STS-60 (WSF, Nov), STS-61 (HST REPAIR, Dec)
         
         -Brian         

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian S. Thorn                                    "If ignorance is bliss,
BrianT@cup.portal.com                               this must be heaven."
                                                -Diane Chambers, "Cheers"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright)
Subject: Re: Stupid Shut Cost arguements (was Re: Terminal Velocity of DCX?
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1992 22:56:59 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In <1992Dec29.200444.11917@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> hack@arabia.uucp (Edmund Hack) writes:

>How do they have to pay except for copying costs?  Certain parts of the
>shuttle design may be either classified (i.e. the comm crypto gear) or
>proprietary (some of the COTS equipment), but the bulk is available for
>copying costs.  If I want a copy of the schematics, I find a copying
>cost charge reasonable.

You can get a copy of a government patent for copying charges,
yes.  You can get a copy of *anybody's* patent for copying charges.
But if you use it without paying royalties, you're in big trouble.

Do you find legal costs reasonable also? ;-)

If you don't believe this, look at a publication called NASA
Tech Briefs.  It contains brief descriptions of NASA patents
that are available *for licensing*, along with instructions
on who to contact if you want to license them.

Software developed by NASA is available from the COSMIC information
service.  I am told the cost for these programs typically runs several
thousands per tape.  Do you believe that this is a copying charge?


>Please cite the _exact_ basis for this statement, i.e. the part of the
>U.S. Code or the appropriations laws that make it illegal to fabricate
>things.  Either that or be more careful in your flaming.  Accusing NASA
>of illegal acts without basis is impolite at the minimum.

The applicable law is the NASA Act.  It charters the agency to conduct
research and development.  Period.  Not to build and operate a national
transportation system.  It is illegal for government agencies to conduct
unauthorized activities.  


>Also, this thread has gone about as far as it can go.  Please save
>bandwidth and disk wear and tear and _drop it_.  Please.

Your concern for wear and tear is touching.  Almost as much as
your desire to get in the last the last word. ;-)
From: lord@tradent.wimsey.bc.ca (Jason Cooper)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: ** BUSSARD RAMSCOOP **
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 92 09:18:53 PST
Organization: TradeNET International Trade Corp.

Was told to put this message in this area to get more replies, so here 
it is.  I'm doing a science fair project on the Bussard Ramscoop, and am 
looking for ANY help I can get on the scientific end of it.  I'm looking 
for help specifically on the general theory end of it (things like what 
polarity the field must be, how best to ionize the hydrogen, how best to 
FUSE the hydrogen, etc, all already worked out, but in need of checking 
by somebody who KNOWS what they're doing).  

                                                        Jason Cooper
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: sbooth@lonestar.utsa.edu (Simon E. Booth)
Subject: DC spacecraft capabilities.
Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 02:36:52 GMT


I know I've posted this before, but like I said that part of the thread
dissapeared from my site.

Here it is again, in case it actually did get out:

First, what is the cockpit/crew compartment configuration of the DC-series?
(for launch and landing, would the crew be seated vertically or horizontally?)

Would a DC spacecraft (properly provisioned of course) be capable of lunar
flight?  I know the landing gear would have to be strong enough for landing
on rough surfaces, but would the spacecraft have the range for such a flight?
For lunar landings, the craft would also have to be equiped with an airlock
and hatch at the base.

I get the impression that even if a DC isn't capable of a direct ascent flight
to the moon, extra fuel could be loaded in earth orbit.  Or perhaps a variant
designed especially for use in space only could be derived from the DC design.

What type of ground facilities would be needed?  I think it was mentioned here
a while back that the payload would be loaded inside a VAB, so would the large
shuttle type gantry structures be required, except perhaps for fueling?

Simon

Newsgroups: sci.space
From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Lunar ice
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 05:44:18 GMT
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology

In article <Bzqq90.JLs.1@cs.cmu.edu> rcs@cs.arizona.edu (Richard Schroeppel) writes:
>I notice the proposed LEI probe doesn't include imaging.
>(1) How do they know where the probe is looking when it's taking data?

The instruments are not particularly directional, as I understand it.
The mapping from data to lunar surface is established mostly by the
location of the probe at the time.  Once the thing's primary mission
is complete, one strong possibility for an extended mission is to take
it to very low altitudes over particularly interesting areas, to improve
mapping resolution there.

Imaging is nice, but it takes a lot of downlink bandwidth and it's
awkward to do from a spin-stabilized probe (which is simpler and lighter
than a three-axis-stabilized one).  There's also not a lot of point to
it unless you can do it well, given that we already have so-so images
of most of the Moon.  Better imaging, especially multispectral imaging,
would certainly be useful, but it's a different mission.

>(2) Since "permanent solar shadow" != "permanent Earth shadow",
>    how about looking for ice glints by Earthlight?

The poles don't get much Earthlight either (possibly none at all in a
nice shadowy polar crater, although I'm not sure of the numbers).  There
is also some reason to suspect that persistent polar ice might well be
buried slightly.

The only way to settle the issue once and for all -- short of surface
exploration, that is -- would be radar imaging, I would think.  Alas,
that means a big spacecraft, for large antennas and plenty of power.
-- 
"God willing... we shall return."       | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
       -Gene Cernan, the Moon, Dec 1972 |  henry@zoo.toronto.edu  utzoo!henry
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: wallacen@ColoState.EDU (nathan wallace)
Subject: Re: *** BUSSARD RAMSCOOP ***
Summary: Book on Bussard RJ and other real interstellar flight systems
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 19:34:20 GMT
Reply-To: wallacen@ColoState.EDU
Organization: Colorado State University -=- Computer Science Dept.

There is an excellent book on this subject and several similar designs
called "Starflight Pioneers". It is a hardback, and came out about
two years ago. I got my copy at a college bookstore, and i'm sure others
could obtain a copy also. It has a lot of information on the bussard
ramjet system, and gives complete technical references.

I am a computer science graduate student but have long been interested
in real space and interstellar flight and ways that technology may
evolve. I found this book very accurate and informative.

I will try to dig out my copy (my den is the current resting place of
primordial chaos) and post the exact ISBN number to make it easier for
people to order it.

+----------------------------------------------+------------------------+
|                                              |              __        |
|                                              |             / /\       |
|  Nathan F. Wallace                           |      ______/ /_/___    |
|  email: wallacen@beethoven.cs.colostate.edu  |     / ____  ______ \   |
+----------------------------------------------+    / /\__/ /\____|\/|  |
|                                              |   | |\/ / / /     \|/  |
|  Disclaimer: My opinions are my own, and are |   | || / /_/_____      |
|              not those of any other person,  |   | ||/_______  /\     |
|              organization, or supreme being. |   | ||\______/ / /     |
|                                              |   | ||      / / /      |
+----------------------------------------------+    \ \_____/ /_/__/\   |
|  "War is the art of deception."              |     \_____  _______/|  |
|                                 Sun Tzu      |      \___/ /\______|/  |
|                                              |          \_\/          |
|                                              |                        |
+----------------------------------------------+------------------------+



Newsgroups: sci.space
From: ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright)
Subject: Re: numerous/ 1:ASAT 2:Water 3:misquotes
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 1992 20:17:52 GMT
Distribution: sci
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In <Bzpyuw.MIG.1@cs.cmu.edu> 0001964967@mcimail.com (Daniel Burstein) writes:

>  While very few nations have the capability to destroy orbiting 
>satellites, countries have another option.  It is relatively
>trivial  to "blind" or otherwise disable
>an overhead platform.  In simplified terms, just take a few
>megawatts of power, hook it up to a radar unit, slide through
>a few frequencies, and there go the satellite systems.

This is another "idiot" argument.  You assume that people who
spend their lives designing and building satellites for the
Defense Department aren't as smart enough to realize that
satellites are vulnerable to electronic interference and take
steps to harden them against it.  I can assure you, they are.
No, don't bother asking for details.  I don't know and couldn't
tell you if I did.
From: ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Overly "success" oriented program causes failure
Date: 29 Dec 92 20:01:10 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

In <1992Dec28.163339.25647@ke4zv.uucp> gary@ke4zv.uucp (Gary Coffman) writes:

Well, thank you, Gary.

I asked you to name one example of a program run under your failure-
oriented management system ("Gosh, we know this isn't going to work, 
but if we keep the program running long enough, we've got lifetime job 
security, so don't try too hard, boys") that was a success.

Instead, you gave one example of a success-oriented program that
failed.

I guess by evading my question, you answered it. ;-)
From: tffreeba@ivax
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: numerous/ 1:ASAT 2:Water 3:misquotes
Date: 24 Dec 92 00:17:33 -0500
Distribution: sci

In article <Bzpyuw.MIG.1@cs.cmu.edu>, 0001964967@mcimail.com (Daniel Burstein) writes:
> A few points related to recent discussions:
> 

        [Some interesting stuff deleted]
 
> 3) Mis-quotes:
> 
> a) Just being a stickler for accuracy here, but if any group should
> get this one right, it would be a science-oriented discussion
> like this one.  Numerous people have made reference to the
> program that developed the first nuclear weapons by the 
> United States during World War two.
> 
>    Contrary to popular belief, the actual name for this
> was the "Manhattan District." (I won't print the wrong one)
>                    ^^^^^^^^

I am looking at my nuke 'em 'til they glow hat, and attached to it is a pin
given to the scientists involved with the Manhattan whaterver after the war.
It says "Manhattan Project."  It would seem that this newsgroup is not the
only place people got confused. Could you expand on this?   T. Freebairn
 
> Yours in Fussbudgetness...
> Danny Burstein
> 
> <dburstein@mcimail.com>
Newsgroups: sci.space