HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: STS-53 Launch Date Set for Dec. 2
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 06:12:42 GMT

Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                               November 19, 1992
(Phone:  202/453-8536)

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone:  407/867-2468)


EDITORS NOTE:  N92-99

DATE SET FOR LAUNCH OF DoD PAYLOAD ABOARD DISCOVERY

	Managers today officially targeted Dec. 2 for launch of the Space
Shuttle Discovery on its 15th mission.  The decision was made at the
conclusion of today's STS-53 Flight Readiness Review at NASA's Kennedy
Space Center, Fla.  The launch window opens at 6:59 a.m. EST.

	The primary payload for this ninth dedicated Department of Defense
(DoD) mission is designated DoD-1 and is classified.  Although there will be
no public discussion of the identity or purpose of DoD-1 operations before,
during or after the mission, a number of secondary experiments in the
cargo bay and in Discovery's cabin will be conducted openly throughout the
planned 7-day, 5-hour flight.

	Commanding this 53rd Space Shuttle mission aboard the newly-
refurbished Discovery will be 48-year-old Navy Captain David Walker,
making his third Shuttle flight.  Sitting in the right seat will be Pilot Robert
Cabana, 43, a Marine Colonel making his second flight.

	Three mission specialists will round out the five-man STS-53 crew:
Air Force Colonel Guion Bluford, 50, making his fourth flight; and two Army
Lt. Colonels -- James Voss, 43, making his second flight, and Michael
Richard Clifford, 40, flying into space for the first time.

- end -
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update - 11/17/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 04:04:51 GMT

Forwarded from the Mars Observer Project

                       MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                          November 17, 1992
                            11:00 AM PST
                          Launch +53 Days

Flight sequence C4 execution began at 8:00 AM today.  C4 is 28 days in
duration and continues the MOC (Mars Observer Camera) bakeout, performs
Radio Science Ultra Stable Oscillator tests, Modulation Index Test, Radio
Frequency Subsystem Automatic Gain Control and Command Data Unit Signal
to Noise Ratio tests, and a Static Phase Error test.  C4 also performs a
brief Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (TES) checkout.

The software for Payload Data System operation from random access
memory (RAM) is being uploaded this morning.  PDS RAM operation will be
commanded after verification of successful upload.  The PDS had operated
from programmable read-only memory (PROM) for late C3 Gamma Ray
Spectrometer and Magnetometer calibration activities.  However, the TES
test in C4 requires that the PDS operates from RAM to afford maximum
protection to the TES instrument.

The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue
to perform well.

Today the spacecraft is 15,389,285 KM (9,562,458 miles) from earth,
traveling at a velocity of 3.8857 kilometers per second (8,692 miles per
hour).  One way light time is approximately 51 seconds.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update #2 - 11/20/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 07:32:06 GMT

Forwarded from the Mars Observer Project

                       MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                           November 20, 1992
                             11:00 AM PST
                           Launch +56 Days

Flight sequence C4 is active through December 14.  While the MOC
(Mars Observer Camera) "bakeout" is continuing through December 28,
the remainder of the C4 sequence is primarily dedicated to radio
science activities.  As reported earlier this week, Thermal Emissions
Spectrometer and Mars Observer Laser Altimeter checkouts performed in
early C4 execution were successful.

The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue
to perform well.

Today the spacecraft is 16,374,527 km (10,174,659 miles) from Earth,
traveling at a velocity of 4.1220 kilometers per second (9,220 miles per
hour) with respect to Earth.  One way light time is approximately 55
seconds.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update - 11/20/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 07:28:57 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

                  MARS OBSERVER MISSION STATUS
                        November 20, 1992

     All spacecraft subsystems are performing well.

     A new flight sequence, primarily dedicated to radio science
activities, began on Nov. 17 and will continue through Dec. 14.
Checkout of the Thermal Emission Spectrometer and completion of
the Laser Altimeter checkout were performed last week.  The Mars
Observer Camera "bakeout" to prepare the instrument for operation
continues through Dec. 28.

     The second trajectory correction maneuver (TCM-2) has been
rescheduled for Feb. 8, 1993, to allow engineers time to upgrade
on-board flight software.  TCM-3 has also been rescheduled for
March 8, 1993.

     Until now, the spacecraft's solar panels have been oriented
at a 60-degree sun incidence angle to prevent excess power caused
by the solar array's direct exposure to the sun.  A star-
ephemiris table was uploaded on Nov. 17, decreasing the sun
incidence angle by 5 degrees.  These periodic changes will occur
about once a week through Jan. 2, 1993, and will cause the
spacecraft's high-gain antenna to point directly at Earth.

     Today the spacecraft is about 16 million kilometers (10
million miles) from Earth, traveling at a speed of about 14,500
kilometers per hour (9,000 miles per hour) relative to Earth.
The spacecraft is traveling at a heliocentric velocity of about
111,500 kilometers per hour (70,000 miles per hour).

                              #####
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Shuttle Status for 11/17/92 (Forwarded)
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 06:05:58 GMT

                              SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                              Tuesday, November 17, 1992
          George H. Diller
          Kennedy Space Center
          407/867-2468

          Vehicle: OV-103/Space Shuttle Discovery
          Current Location: Launch Pad 39-A
          Mission: STS-53/DoD   Inclination: 57 degrees
          Launch timeframe: December, wk 1    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
          Mission duration: 7 days 5 hours 54 minutes    Crew Size: 5

          IN WORK TODAY:

          - connection of orbiter mid-body umbilical (OMBU)

          - liquid oxygen pump leak checks

          - aft main engine compartment and crew compartment cleaning


          WORK SCHEDULED:

          - vehicle power-up on Wednesday

          - OMBU leak checks on Wednesday

          - begin SRB closeouts and orbiter aft closeouts on Wednesday

          - begin installation of contingency EVA space suits on Wednesday

          - install primary payload on Thursday

          - orbiter/payload Interface Verification Test (IVT) on Friday

          - final ordnance work next Sunday


          WORK COMPLETED:

          - auxiliary power unit 1/2/3 hot fire

          - primary payload delivery to Pad A


          ISSUES AND CONCERNS:  #1 APU Hot Fire test results
               Post test analysis of APU Hot Fire data shows that the #1
          fuel pump inlet pressure transducer had a higher than acceptable
          reading.  This device furnishes APU fuel pressure information.
          Whether the unit will require a change out is under discussion.
          If this work is done, about a day of two of the remaining days of
          contingency time will be necessary to complete the activity.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Mars Observer Update - 11/18/92
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Keywords:  Mars Observer, JPL
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 06:00:28 GMT

Forwarded from the Mars Observer Project

                       MARS OBSERVER STATUS REPORT
                           November 18, 1992
                             11:00 AM PST
                           Launch +54 Days

Flight sequence C4 is active.  The sequence performed Modulation Index
testing this morning at the 2000 bps engineering data rate. On completion,
the data rate was switched to 4000 bps in preparation for Thermal Emission
Spectrometer checkout and calibration activities which followed.  The TES
checkout had been moved to C4 from C3 and was relatively brief - 80
seconds- in duration. A non-stored command was sent to power off the
TES after the test at the request of the TES instrument team.  This was
done to insure that the instrument was powered off as soon as possible
after testing.

At 3:00 A.M. PST this morning a star/ephemiris upload took place.  The
current ephemeris results in a planned 5 degree decrease in sun incidence
angle, from 55 degrees to 50 degrees.  These periodic reductions will be
performed until such time as the HGA (High Gain Antenna) is pointed directly
at Earth (January 1993).

At Noon PST today, telemetry transmission was commanded back to the 2000 bps
rate.  The Payload Data System was powered off shortly thereafter.

The NASA Quarterly Review was conducted yesterday and today by video
conference between JPL and NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Spacecraft Team reports that all Mars Observer subsystems continue
to perform well.

Today the spacecraft is 15,711,663 km (9,762,775 miles) from earth,
traveling at a velocity of 3.9608 kilometers per second (8,860 miles per
hour).  One way light time is approximately 52 seconds.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Shuttle Status for 11/18/92 (Forwarded)
Followup-To: sci.space
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   
Reply-To: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 06:08:51 GMT

                                  SPACE SHUTTLE STATUS REPORT
                                  Wednesday, November 18, 1992
          George H. Diller
          Kennedy Space Center
          407/867-2468

          Vehicle: OV-103/Space Shuttle Discovery
          Current Location: Launch Pad 39-A
          Mission: STS-53/DoD   Inclination: 57 degrees
          Launch timeframe: December, wk 1    Nominal Landing Site: KSC
          Mission duration: 7 days 5 hours 54 minutes    Crew Size: 5

          IN WORK TODAY:

          - close rotating service structure

          - power-up of the Space Shuttle vehicle

          - leak checks of the orbiter mid-body umbilical (OMBU)

          - begin solid rocket booster closeouts

          - begin avionics bay closeouts

          - begin orbiter aft main engine compartment closeouts

          - continue aft main engine compartment/crew compartment cleaning

          - troubleshooting APU #1 fuel pump inlet pressure transducer

          WORK SCHEDULED:

          - installation of contingency EVA space suits on Thursday

          - install primary payload on Thursday

          - Flight Readiness Review on Thursday

          - orbiter/payload Interface Verification Test (IVT) on Friday

          - final ordnance work on Sunday

          WORK COMPLETED:

          - mating of orbiter mid-body umbilical


          ISSUES AND CONCERNS: The decision on whether to change out the
          #1 fuel pump inlet pressure transducer will be made at the Flight
          Readiness Review.  A fly-as-is option is under assessment.  If
          the changeout is made, contingency time on Saturday could be used
          for the activity.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
Subject: Galileo Update - 11/16/92
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: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 05:09:55 GMT

Forwarded from Bill O'Neil, Galileo Project Manager

                            GALILEO STATUS REPORT
                              November 16, 1992

     The Galileo Spacecraft is operating normally in the dual-spin mode and
is transmitting coded telemetry at 7.68 Kbps (7680 bits/second).

Over the weekend, three delta DOR passes were scheduled over DSS-14/DSS-43
(Goldstone/Canberra), DSS-14/DSS-63 (Goldstone/Madrid), and DSS-14/DSS-43
again.  Continuous tracking was performed over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.

     Today, November 16, 1992, a routine RPM (Retro-Propulsion Module)
10-Newton thruster flushing maintainence activity, SITURN, and Earth vector
star update are scheduled, along with real-time telemetry mode change commands.
Continuous tracking is scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.

     Tomorrow, no spacecraft activity is scheduled.  Continuous tracking is
scheduled over DSS-14, DSS-43 and DSS-63.
     ___    _____     ___
    /_ /|  /____/ \  /_ /|     Ron Baalke         | baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov
    | | | |  __ \ /| | | |     Jet Propulsion Lab |
 ___| | | | |__) |/  | | |__   M/S 525-3684 Telos | Learn to recognize the
/___| | | |  ___/    | |/__ /| Pasadena, CA 91109 | inconsequential, then 
|_____|/  |_|/       |_____|/                     | ignore it.

Newsgroups: sci.space.news
From: fcrary@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Frank Crary)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Solar Sailing
Date: 21 Nov 92 19:14:20 GMT
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder

In article <20NOV199212594736@csa3.lbl.gov> sichase@csa3.lbl.gov (SCOTT I CHASE) writes:
>There is more to Solar sailing, however, than just the radiation pressure.
>The Solar wind contains massive particles which will also hit your
>sail.  I don't have data handy for what the flux is, but you would
>need to look it up and make some kind of correction for it.  It might
>even dominate!

Solar wind pressures are about three orders of magnitude less than 
light pressures. For any conventional sail design, they can pretty
much be ignored.

                                                     Frank Crary
                                                     CU Boulder
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: pgf@srl06.cacs.usl.edu ("Phil G. Fraering")
Subject: Re: SSTO viability, Al Gore, Canadian Geese
X-Added: Forwarded by Space Digest
Organization: [via International Space University]
Original-Sender: isu@VACATION.VENARI.CS.CMU.EDU
Distribution: sci
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 16:57:28 GMT

>I have read statements to this effect, written by persons whose eyes
>presumably glow red in the dark (such is their political fervor), but
>most people who make an effort to be objective about the matter and
>who have actually studied his record would find it hard to ignore 
>Senator Gore's involvement in non-environmental (especially technical) 
>issues.

Yah, but the nature of the involvement is disturbing. National networks
and all that are fine, but who's going to be doing space exploration
if NASA ends up building NREN (as I've heard in unsubstantiated rumors
left in my e-mailbox from people using STMP protocols to send them)?

\What *I'd* like to know is why geese feel it necessary to honk frequently
/as they fly along, and what perhaps 50% of them know about Canada, that
\they refuse to go there even in the summer! :-)

They're afraid of the customs officers apparently.


-- 
Phil Fraering
In the country of the blind....
60 minutes doesn't run stories about people trying to ban hearing
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: hathaway@stsci.edu
Subject: Re: Clinton's address (was Re: Feynmann's legacy) 
Organization: Space Telescope Science Institute
Distribution: sci,na
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 18:35:16 GMT

In article <1992Nov17.222910.21219@aio.jsc.nasa.gov>, hack@arabia.uucp (Edmund Hack) writes:
> In article <1992Nov17.133235.1@stsci.edu> hathaway@stsci.edu writes:
>>For such a together dude, why doesn't Clinton (and Gore) have an e-mail 
>>address and access to the NET???  They'll Never know what's going on 
>>unless they be on-line.  They should at least be FAQed in. 
>>
> Until recently, there was a set of email bridges between all 4 of the
> major campaigns and a set of alt.politics.canditate groups.  The Clinton
> group is in transition :-) to a more permanent setup.  It is my
> understanding that the Clinton an Bush campaigns answered 1500+
> questions each.  In addition, all 3 of biggest candidates had some kind
> of presence on Prodigy, with 250k+ messages generated.
> 
> Maybe someday there will be an bill@saxiphone.whitehouse.executive.gov
> mail address.......
> 
> -- 
> Edmund Hack - Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co. - Houston, TX
> hack@aio.jsc.nasa.gov - I speak only for myself, unless blah, blah..


Thank you - we don't get much in the way of alt. groups here - nor Prodigy.  
BTW, what was the 4th 'major campaign'?   I heard of a bunch of others that 
b&m'ed that they weren't being taking seriously, but I didn't take 
them seriously... <-). 

WHH 
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: rkolker@nuchat.sccsi.com (Rich Kolker)
Subject: Re: Saturn V for Freedom deployment
Organization: South Coast Computing Services, Inc.
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 00:50:14 GMT

Chris,

There are lots of good references on the Saturn Launch Vehicles.

I'd start with "Stages to Saturn", published by NASA in 1980.

It's reference number is NASA SP-4206.  Try a college library, interlibrary
loan or the Government Printing Office.

++richys
-------------------------------------------------------------------
   rich kolker       rkolker@nuchat.sccsi.com
                          It's been a long, long time
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: Bruce_Dunn@mindlink.bc.ca (Bruce Dunn)
Subject: Re: Mars Simulation in Antarctica
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 22:41:21 GMT

        At one point I believe that the US was operating a small nuclear
reactor as a source of power and heat in one of their Antarctic bases.  Does
anyone know the details - this would be highly relevant to moon and or mars
bases (which of course would have to however have alternate methods of
rejecting heat).

--
Bruce Dunn    Vancouver, Canada   Bruce_Dunn@mindlink.bc.ca
From: jafoust@cco.caltech.edu (Jeffrey Alan Foust)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Re: Clinton's address (was Re: Feynmann's legacy)
Date: 18 Nov 1992 20:10:56 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
NNTP-Posting-Host: punisher.caltech.edu

In article <1992Nov17.133235.1@stsci.edu> hathaway@stsci.edu writes:
>
>For such a together dude, why doesn't Clinton (and Gore) have an e-mail 
>address and access to the NET???  They'll Never know what's going on 
>unless they be on-line.  They should at least be FAQed in. 
>
The Clinton/Gore campaign did have an account on CompuServe (I don't remember
the account number).  I had heard some talk after the election that they
would keep the account, but I haven't heard a final decision yet.

-- 
Jeff Foust                        Senior, Geophysics/Planetary Science, Caltech
jafoust@cco.caltech.edu   			   	 jeff@scn1.jpl.nasa.gov
		Tom Seaver: "Hey, Yogi, what time is it?"
		Yogi Berra: "You mean now?"
Newsgroups: sci.space
From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Shuttle computers
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 21:44:07 GMT
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology

In article <BxsMA3.D2o.1@cs.cmu.edu> roberts@cmr.ncsl.nist.gov (John Roberts) writes:
>-... aren't independent systems -- those five main computers operate
>-in very close lockstep for fault tolerance.  This isn't just a tougher
>-version of a commercial computer system.
>
>Do you recall how tight the lockstep is? I don't believe I've seen anything
>written on that since before STS-1.

It's not a cycle-by-cycle lockstep like some redundant systems.  Every
couple of milliseconds, the four computers in the main redundant set
compare notes; if one disagrees with the others twice in a row, the
others declare it to have failed.  The fifth computer runs completely
different software, programmed by a different group using different
methods, as a final backup against disastrous failure; I think switchover
to it is entirely manual.

That's the configuration used when going up and coming down.  On orbit,
I believe they typically preload one or two of the computers with reentry
software and then take them out of service completely as reserves, while
the others are used for routine on-orbit operations.
-- 
MS-DOS is the OS/360 of the 1980s.      | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
              -Hal W. Hardenbergh (1985)|  henry@zoo.toronto.edu  utzoo!henry
Newsgroups: sci.space