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Архив RU.SPACE.NEWS за 21 сентября 1998

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Старт американского межпланетного зонда "Deep Space-1" отложен на 10 Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Старт американского межпланетного зонда "Deep Space-1" отложен на 10 дней Старт межпланетного зонда "Deep Space-1", планировавшийся на 15 октября 1998 года, отложен на 10 дней. Hовой датой названо 25 октября, когда с космодрома на мысе Канаверал должна стартовать ракета-носитель "Delta-2 (7326)". Отсрочка вызвана желанием специалистов NASA еще раз проверить систем стартового комплекса космодрома и лишний раз убедиться в их надежности. Такое повышенное внимание вызвано опасением повторения двух августовских катастроф ракет-носителей, происшедших на космодроме на мысе Канаверал. 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Президент Аргентины посетил Центр космических полетов имени Джонсона Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Президент Аргентины посетил Центр космических полетов имени Джонсона По приглашению директора NASA Daniel Goldin, сегодня Центр космических полетов имени Джонсона посетил президент Аргентины Carlos Saul Menem. Аргентинский гость ознакомился с оборудованием центра, вместе с американским космонавтом John Young "совершил полет" на тренажере корабля многоразового использования. Большое внимание у президента вызвали макеты модулей Международной космической станции, используемые для подготовки будущих экипажей станции. Экскурсию по Центру проводили ветеран американской космической программы James Wetherbee и молодой американский космонавт аргентинского происхождения Fernando Caldeiro. 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Сенатор Mike DeWine предлагает присвоить исследовательскому центру Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Сенатор Mike DeWine предлагает присвоить исследовательскому центру NASA в Кливленде имя John Glenn Сенатор от штата Огайо Mike DeWine, сменивший в сенате США John Glenn, выступил с предложением переименовать NASA Lewis Research Center в городе Кливленде (штат Огайо) в центр имени John Glenn. По мнению Mike DeWine, переименование должно произойти после триумфального возвращения 77-летнего John Glenn в ноябре нынешнего года на Землю. Пока это предложение встречено в космическом ведомстве США без особого энтузиазма. Если переименование произойдет, то тем самым из истории американской космонавтики будет стерто имя George W. Lewis, который с 1924 года до 1947 года возглавлял исследовательский центр, бывший предшественником NASA. В руководстве NASA считают, что есть достаточно других возможностей, чтобы увековечить имя John Glenn, который действительно заслужил того, чтобы быть вписанным в историю освоения космоса. 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: 22 сентября журналистам будет представлен проект NASA "Deep Space-1" Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... 22 сентября журналистам будет представлен проект NASA "Deep Space-1" Hа 22 сентября в штаб-квартире NASA в Вашингтоне намечено проведение брифинга для журналистов, на котором состоится представление проекта "Deep Space-1". В брифинге примут участие помощник директора NASA по научным исследованиям Dr. Wesley T. Huntress, Jr., технический руководитель разработки космического аппарата "Deep Space-1" Dr. Marc Rayman, менеджер проекта David Lehman, технолог программы NASA "Грядущее Тысячилетие" (New Millennium Program) Dr. Barbara Wilson. Hа брифинге будет рассказано о тех исследованиях и экспериментах, которые планируется осуществить с помощью зонда "Deep Space-1". Это, в первую очередь, испытание ионых двигателей и испытание автономной системы астронавигации. "Deep Space-1" - первый космический аппарат, который будет запущен в рамках программы NASA "Грядущее Тысячилетие". 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Hа космодром на мысе Канаверал отправлен новый военный спутник Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Hа космодром на мысе Канаверал отправлен новый военный спутник С завода компании TRW Space & Electronics Group в городе Редондо Бич (штат Калифорния) на космодром на мысе Канаверал отправлен военный спутник "DSP-19". Hа космодроме спутник пройдет предстартовую подготовку и предстоящей зимой будет выведен на геостационарную орбиту ракетой-носителем "Titan-4В". Спутник "DSP-19" должен войти в систему предупреждения о ракетном нападении и обнаружению ядерных испытаний. Строительство спутника осуществлялось по контракту между TRW и Пентагоном. 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: 23 сентября у побережья штата Флорида начинается восьмидневная "Миссия Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... 23 сентября у побережья штата Флорида начинается восьмидневная "Миссия Вызова" При поддержке подразделения NASA по системам жизнеобеспечения, с 23 по 30 сентября нынешнего года у побережья штата Флорида в местечке Кей Ларго должна пройти так называемая "Миссия Вызова". "Миссия Вызова" - уникальный эксперимент, в ходе которого четверо добровольцев проведут восемь дней в полностью изолированном подводном сооружении Scott Carpenter Space Analog Station, представляющем из себя аналог космической станции. Эксперимент предпринимается в целях проверки работы некоторых систем жизнеобеспечения, создаваемых для пилотируемых космических полетов, а также для изучения физических и психологических возможностей людей, представляющих различные возрастные, физические и социальные слои общества. Она проводится как альтернатива космическому полету 77-летнего John Glenn на борту корабля многоразового использования в октябре - ноябре нынешнего года. В "Миссии Вызова" примут участие ветеран американской космонавтики Edwin Aldrin, создатель фильма "Титаник" режиссер James Cameron, актриса Kate Mulgrew, покоритель Эвереста Thomas Whittaker. Дважды в сутки участники эксперимента будут общаться с внешним миром через Internet. 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Американские и немецкие исследователи намерены исследовать атмосферу Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Американские и немецкие исследователи намерены исследовать атмосферу Луны Группа американских и немецких исследователей во главе с сотрудником немецкого Института имени Макса Планка Urs A. Mall намерена провести детальные исследования атмосферы Луны. Hесмотря на бытующее мнение о том, что Луна лишена атмосферы, очень токая и очень разреженная газовая оболочка на естественном спутнике Земли все-таки присутствует. "По земным стандартом это все равно, что ничто, но для ученых это значительный объект для исследований", - заявил Urs Mall. Ученые намерены определить источники атмосферы, а также ее элементный состав. Исследования должны проводиться с помощью аппаратуры спутника "Wind", движущегося по вытянутой эллиптической орбите. "Wind" был запущен 1 ноября 1994 года и в ноябре нынешнего года будет находится в районе Луны. 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Компания Hughes намерено бороться за новый контракт Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Компания Hughes намерено бороться за новый контракт Американская компания Hughes Space & Communications Company намерена вступить в конкурентную борьбу с группой компаний, возглавляемых Lockheed Martin, за получение контракта от Пентагона на разработку низкоорбитальной системы наблюдения за пусками баллистических ракет. Проект, известный как SBIRS Low, должен, по мнению военных, обеспечить наблюдение за полетом баллистических ракет на всех участках траектории. Основой системы станут инфракрасные датчики, размещенные на борту космических аппаратов. В группу компаний, возглавляемую Lockheed Martin, также входят компании Boeing и GenCorp. В ноябре Пентагон намерен осуществить выбор и предоставить двухлетний контракт на предварительное проектирование системы. 18.9.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Система ориентации солнечных батарей на станции "Мир" восстановлена Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Система ориентации солнечных батарей на станции "Мир" восстановлена С сегодняшнего дня две из трех исправных батарей "Спектра" (третью запустят в октябре, когда на орбиту прибудет "грузовик" с новым блоком управления) автоматически ориентируются на солнце. Таким образом, позавчерашний выход в "закрытый" космос российских космонавтов завершился успешно: система энергообеспечения комплекса восстановлена. Теперь нет необходимости разворачивать "Мир" к солнцу всякий раз, когда станция подставляла ему поврежденный бок и тратить для этого топливо. 18.09.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Турция планирует контролировать свои леса при помощи российских Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Турция планирует контролировать свои леса при помощи российских спутников Во время предстоящего визита в Москву министра лесного хозяйства Турции Эрсина Тараноглу планируется подписание договора о сотрудничестве Турции и России в области контроля за лесами. Турция планирует воспользоваться российскими космическими технологиями для предупреждения незаконной вырубки и несанкционированного строительства на территории лесов. С этой целью российская сторона могла бы сдавать в аренду Турции свои спутниковые каналы или продавать Турции информацию в виде снимков местности и карт. 18.09.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Сводка событий на станции "Мир" Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Сводка событий на станции "Мир" Экипаж 26-й основной экспедиции станции "Мир" в составе командира Геннадия Падалки и бортинженера Сергея Авдеева сегодня занимается исследованиями характеристик конструкционных материалов и радиоэлементов, длительное время находящихся в открытом космическом пространстве, мониторинг потоков нейтронов на околоземной орбите, астрофизические эксперименты. Как сообщает ЦУП, в ходе дня экипаж будет также заниматься профилактическими работами с оборудованием и бортовыми системами орбитального комплекса. Hамечено также провести замену одной из аккумуляторных батарей в системе электропитания станции. По данным расчетного контроля, состояние здоровья и самочувствие Геннадия Падалки и Сергея Авдеева хорошее. 18.09.98 Источник: InfoArt News Agency Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Air Force Space Command specialists, astronauts team up to train for , Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Air Force News Service Released: 14 Sep 1998 Air Force Space Command specialists, astronauts team up to train for NASA mission By Airman 1st Class Elaine Tarello, 750th Space Group Public Affairs ONIZUKA AIR STATION, Calif. (AFNS) -- For thousands of years, mankind has looked to the stars, hoping to decipher their secrets and unlock the mysteries of the universe. Five astronauts, an Air Force Space Command squadron and a high-tech telescope may soon provide the key to unlocking those mysteries. Onizuka people met those five astronauts when the shuttle crew of the upcoming STS-93 mission visited Onizuka Air Station recently, primarily to meet members of 5th Space Operations Squadron's Inertial Upper Stage team. The two groups have been training for the past year to prepare for a January 1999 mission to deploy NASA's Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility. AXAF is an advanced X-ray telescope designed to help scientists understand the universe. "This telescope may just explain the previously unexplainable," said Dr. Steven Hawley, mission specialist and chief engineer. "We may finally have the answers to the universe's greatest mysteries, like black holes and missing mass." NASA, working with the Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Marshall Space and Flight Center, Boeing and Scitor, has spent billions of dollars and two decades preparing for this mission. "It's amazing to think about all the people who spent their careers getting ready for this," said French air force Col. Michel Tognini, mission specialist in charge of deploying the AXAF. The AXAF is the third of a four-part Great Observatories program, which began with the Hubble telescope. Hawley, a five-time veteran of space travel, was on the flight to deploy the Hubble, and was also on the mission to repair it. "We've come a long way since the Hubble. The AXAF has a greater sensitivity on a wider spectrum, as well as the ability to be sensitive to X-rays," said Hawley. On flight day, just eight and one-half minutes after leaving earth's atmosphere, the shuttle crew will work with 5th SOPS to deploy the telescope. "We want more than anything to make this mission successful," said Air Force Lt. Col. Eileen Collins, shuttle commander. "Coming here and meeting the Onizuka team has been extremely beneficial. While we're up there, being able to visualize who the people are and what they're doing will make a huge difference." Lt. Col. Mike Garrell, 5th SOPS commander, agrees. "We needed to be able to put a face to the names. This mission is about people, and the safety of the shuttle crew is our number one concern. Our second priority is deployment of the AXAF." For Navy Capt. Jeff Ashby, shuttle pilot, this mission will be his first into space. "I'm very excited and thrilled to be on this flight. It's great to be even a small part of such a big step into space. This mission opens up an enormous potential to gain knowledge into the universe. "I just hope I don't forget my toothbrush," he joked. (Courtesy of AFSPC News Service) ***** Air Force News Service Released: 14 Sep 1998 Air Force Space Command plays critical role in upcoming NASA mission By Capt. James Quinn, 750th Space Group ONIZUKA AIR STATION, Calif. (AFNS) -- When the Space Shuttle Columbia launches in January 1999 it will carry skyward the culmination of 20 years of work and nearly $2 billion in research. The shuttle carries the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility on the first leg of its 150 nautical mile journey into space. Once the shuttle crew deploys the satellite, members of Air Force Space Command's 5th Space Operations Squadron will take over, guiding the AXAF to its final destination. "This is one of the most important space missions we have happening in the wing," said Lt. Col. Michael Kelly, 50th Space Wing Operations Group deputy commander. AXAF is an X-ray telescope that will assist researchers in understanding the universe. NASA designed it to observe X-rays from high-energy regions of the universe, such as hot gas in the <b style="color:black;background-color:#66ffff">remnants</b> of exploded stars. This telescope is the most sophisticated X-ray observatory ever built, according to a NASA press release. For the mission, NASA will mate AXAF to an Inertial Upper Stage, a deployment system operated by 5th Space Operations Squadron that will propel the telescope into its final orbit. The squadron is the only unit in the U.S. military able to conduct IUS operations. Of all the possible choices for an upper stage vehicle, Marshall Space Flight Center singled out the IUS and the operations team at 5th SOPS to carry out this costly and critical NASA mission, according to Lt. Col. Mike Garrell, 5th SOPS commander. "When it comes to space operations, 5th SOPS enjoys its role as the operational focal point for Air Force and NASA cooperation. We are excited and honored to be part of this historic space event," said Garrell. In the coming months, the scope of the simulations will include the participation of the shuttle crew and the Johnson Space Center flight control team. On mission day, the 5th SOPS flight directors will lead an 80-person team composed of Air Force, contractors and NASA members. Additionally, the flight directors will interface with the astronauts, JSC and the AXAF Operations Control Center. "Our responsibility on this mission is tremendous; the safety of five astronauts and a $2 billion spacecraft rests in our hands," said 1st Lt. Joel Gussy, one of the ISU flight directors. "We have an exceptional team here, and through our extensive training and preparation, we will be ready for anything." (Courtesy of AFSPC News Service) Andrew Yee ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: space news from Aug 3 AW&ST Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... JPL sets up three atmospheric-monitoring stations in the southwestern US, part of a long-term project on space-to-ground laser communications. The stations are small automated observatories which will continuously measure the brightness of known stars through calibrated filters, to build up a database on the effects of cloud and atmospheric turbulence. JSC doing simulation tests on the X-38 control system. Some of them are using the #2 X-38 prototype hung from a cable, with technicians setting it swaying and then the control system damping out the motion. Atlas IIIA prototype, with its RD-180 engine, begins static tests at MSFC. Successful Zenit launch from Baikonur 28 July, carrying an electronic- intelligence satellite for the military. The Russian elint constellation has been aging in the wake of last year's Zenit failure. Michael Armstrong, former head of Hughes Electronics, criticized in Senate for aggressive lobbying five years ago to get the White House to lift sanctions against China (which at the time blocked Long March launches of two Hughes-built comsats). NASDA reports completion of the H-IIA detailed design, aimed at roughly halving costs from the current $150M; first H-IIA launch set for early 2000. The major non-technical change is willingness to buy foreign parts, rather than following NASDA's usual policy of insisting on buying Japanese even when it's more expensive. The LE-7A first-stage engine will be much revised from the current LE-7. The LE-7 puts its pumps beside the chamber, which reduces the length of the engine (and hence the length of the stage, simplifying handling), but complicates the plumbing. The LE-7A will put the pumps on top. Plumbing for cooling of the nozzle skirt has also been simplified, H-II experience having shown that skirt cooling is not as critical as once thought. The H-II first-stage tanks have spherical end caps, but the H-IIA will have flattened caps; they require more complex analysis, but are lighter and cheaper, will increase tank capacity, and will make the tanks shorter, holding first-stage length at its current 28m despite the longer engine. Preburner temperatures will be reduced, cutting Isp about 5s (to 441s) but easing materials problems. The LE-5B second-stage engine will switch from the LE-7A's gas-generator cycle to a dump cycle [they call it an "expander bleed" cycle, but I think a dump cycle is what they're talking about -- the turbine is driven by hot H2 from the chamber cooling, but turbine exhaust gas goes overboard, instead of into the chamber as in the expander cycle], H-II experience having shown that chamber heat alone supplies enough energy to drive the pumps. The second-stage tanks will be separated, with an intertank ring joining them, the H-II's common-bulkhead design having turned out to be difficult to work with. The H-IIA SRBs will be shorter and fatter, permitting a one-piece design that will simplify handling. The originals were long and thin so that their upper attach point could be at the top of the first stage, avoiding stresses on the tanks, but this is no longer thought necessary. The new ones will contain slightly more fuel, compensating for small performance losses from the changes elsewhere. Boeing starts work on modifying LC37 at the Cape for Delta IV. Most of the old Saturn I facilities are long gone, but the big domed blockhouse will be used to house some electronics. (The launch crew, following more modern practice, will be located much farther away.) Only one pad is planned for now, although there's room for a second one if demand is high. Soho found, in what is probably the farthest-ever detection of a man-made object by radar, with Arecibo transmitting and Goldstone receiving. (The idea came from Alan Kiplinger, a UColorado researcher, and was executed by a team headed by Donald Campbell, associate director of Arecibo.) The echo was stronger than expected. Soho is where it should be -- relieving fears that thrusters might have continued to fire after loss of control -- and Doppler broadening of the echo indicates that it's spinning at about 1RPM, which is about what was expected. Further observations are planned, in hopes of determining which way it's pointing, and hence when it will have power again. Soho engineers are worried that when power is again available, the spacecraft may come up in Emergency Sun Reacquisition mode, and proceed to make things worse as a result of confusion caused by the original problems plus the high spin rate. DSN is now sending a near-continuous stream of "do nothing until you get further instructions" commands. Galileo goes into safe mode, due to computer problems, just before 20 July Europa flyby. Most flyby observations lost. The symptoms match a problem last seen about five years ago: debris from the slip rings, between the spun and despun sections, causing shorts in processor communication lines. Both Command and Data System processors were affected, with CDS-A failing first and transferring control to CDS-B, and CDS-B itself being hit but persisting, knowing that CDS-A was already sick and so there was no point in transferring control back. Once the problem was understood, Galileo was revived, and the next Europa flyby (late Sept) should be unaffected unless the problem recurs. Galileo is generally healthy, and the prognosis for finishing its extended mission (about another year) is good. So far, the only problem seen from radiation damage -- probably -- is a partial failure in the A/D converter for one gyroscope, which now gives higher readings for motion in one direction than for motion in the other. This happened last Dec, and fouled up attitude control slightly for a while until it was diagnosed, but a software workaround has compensated for it successfully. Two more Iridiums fail 22 July, bringing the total casualty count to 7. Suspected causes have not been revealed, although Motorola says that the seven malfunctions appear to be unrelated random problems, that they are within the expected rate of infant-mortality failures, and that no design changes have been made. Iridium is still supposedly on track for initial commercial service 23 Sept, despite the satellite failures and some delays in handset testing. The 72 Iridium birds are split over six planes, each of which is supposed to have 11 operational and one on-orbit spare. Plane 2 is down two, Plane 6 is now down three, and Planes 3 and 5 are each down one. Plans for a Long March launch of two satellites in July to Plane 6 have been revised; those two will now go into Plane 2 in mid-August, while a Delta launch at the end of August carries five into Plane 6. This will leave Plane 6 somewhat oversupplied, and Motorola is considering whether one of the extras could be moved to Plane 5. Being the last man on the Moon is a | Henry Spencer henry@spsystems.net very dubious honor. -- Gene Cernan | (aka henry@zoo.toronto.edu) Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: LANL receives NASA funding to test critical instrument components for Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... Public Affairs Office (PAO) Los Alamos National Laboratory CONTACT: Ternel Martinez, 505-665-7778 (98-136) Lab receives NASA funding to test critical instrument components for possible use on future Europa mission LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Sept. 16, 1998 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists recently received a $120,000 grant from NASA to use Laboratory space instrument design and manufacturing expertise and test critical components of an instrument that may lead to a final product for use on a future mission to the Jupiter moon Europa. Concurrently, three Los Alamos researchers are part of a 17-member international team working on a feasibility study for NASA to determine the technical requirements for an instrument to study the moon's icy surface. The preliminary report is due Nov. 1. Called the Ice Penetrating Radar, the instrument would use a three-antenna array that sends millions of radar signals at different frequencies to map out the thickness of Europa's ice surface and detect, if present, a subsurface Europan ocean. The IPR also would characterize Europa's ice surface. A liquid ocean is the most important ingredient in the development and sustenance of life; detecting and characterizing Europa's oceans, if present, are an integral part of scientists' search for evidence of life in the solar system. "If we can confirm the existence of a water ocean on Europa, it would be the only ocean known to exist in our solar system outside of Earth's," said Brad Edwards of Los Alamos' Space and Remote Sensing Sciences Group. Edwards also is part of the 17-member Instrument Definition Team, which includes researchers from around the world. Because ice is transparent to a large range of radar signals, the IPR will be able to record waves reflected off the top layer of ice and the ice-water interface, ultimately converting them into three-dimensional images. "We think the ice crust surface could be as deep as 100 kilometers, but data we received from the Galileo spacecraft indicate that the ice could be as thin as hundreds of meters," explained Edwards. Photos transmitted by the Galileo spacecraft in 1994 presented the first evidence of the possible existence of liquid water on Europa. "If a water ocean does exist on Europa, the IPR can map thin areas of the ice surface for future lander missions to Europa to sample the water for signs of life," said Edwards. Edwards said the Instrument Definition Team currently is studying many things, including how to distinguish the different radar reflection signals returned by rocks, cracks in the ice, salty and nonsalty ice, and other conditions on the moon's surface. Another obstacle is making sure the IPR survives Jupiter's intense radiation that surrounds Europa, he added. "The radiation around Europa measures about 25 megarads per month. That's enough radiation to fry a desktop computer in about five minutes," he said. Still another important consideration is determining just how much power the IPR will need in order to transmit and receive its radar signals and the kinds of antennas that need to be used, said Xuan-Min Shao of Los Alamos' Space and Atmospheric Sciences Group and fellow IDT member. Shao said he hopes to begin testing the IPR prototype's antennas within the next couple of months. The testing will take place at Los Alamos. Shao said the instrument's weight is another major factor in designing and building the prototype. "We think the Ice Penetrating Radar should weigh no more than eight kilograms," he said, or about 17 pounds. The final draft design for the IPR is scheduled to be submitted to NASA sometime in March 1999, said Edwards. At that time, NASA will put out an announcement for opportunities for the Europa mission, scheduled for launch sometime in 2004. It would take anywhere from five to seven years for the instruments to reach Europa, after which time measurements would be taken for about a month. The IPR is one of a suite of instruments -- called a strawman's payload -- that NASA currently is considering sending to Europa, the other instruments being an optical camera, transponder and laser altimeter. The IPR is the primary instrument; the laser altimeter would be used to measure the tidal bulge of Europa's surface caused by Jupiter's tremendous gravitational pull on the moon. "The laser altimeter will measure the moon's tides. If they're small, then we'll know that there's little or no water underneath the surface," said Edwards. Shao said although it is conceivable that NASA may choose an instrument suite that does not include the IPR for the Europa mission, because the IPR is one of only a few instruments that can both measure Europa's ice surface depth and characterize its structure, there is a good chance that it will remain part of the suite that ultimately makes the 400-million-mile trek. Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy. Andrew Yee ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Satellite meeting-Seattle Oct 30 Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... October 30th and 31st, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is hosting "Satellites In Our Everyday World," in Seattle, Washington. Two full days of sessions will provide a broad overview of how satellites (especially the NOAA-operated satellites) are being used everyday in a wide range of human activities. The NOAA satellites are much more than the "weather satellites!" During this meeting we'll explore how these spacecraft are being used in oceanography and fisheries, forestry and agriculture, meteorology, flood forecasting, studying the sun, enhancing Earth science studies in the classroom and more! The breadth of topics to be covered will appeal to a wide variety of interests in education, industry, government, the media and anyone interested in learning more about the high tech world of satellites and remote sensing. There will be special sessions for educators. With the Seattle meeting location, many of the presentations will have Pacific Northwest and North Pacific Ocean themes. Speakers will be from some of the following organizations: Institute of Ocean Sciences, U.S. Forest Service, Florida State University, NOAA Pacific Environmental Research Laboratory, National Weather Service, A.E.S. Pacific Weather Centre, Rutgers University, and University of Washington. There is a small registration fee. For complete details on this meeting, see our web site at http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/EBB/Seattle.html -- or send an Email to wwinston@nesdis.noaa.gov to have a meeting leaflet mailed to you. Wayne Winston NOAA - Suitland, MD -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/rg_mkgrp.xp Create Your Own Free Member Forum Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Astronomers test a way to see planets of other stars (Forwarded) Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... News Services University of Arizona Contact(s): Phil Hinz, 520-621-7866, phinz@as.arizona.edu September 16, 1998 Astronomers test a way to see planets of other stars Astronomers at the Center for Astronomical Adaptive Optics (CAAO) at The University of Arizona in Tucson have recently demonstrated a technique with the potential for imaging planets circling nearby stars. The observations, which are reported in the current (Sept. 17) issue of the science journal, Nature, were made at the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) atop Mount Hopkins, Ariz., by a team led by graduate student Phil Hinz. Astronomers know of several planets orbiting nearby stars, revealed by the wobble of the star, but none of these planets can be seen directly, even with the Hubble Space Telescope. This is because, Hinz says, they lie so close to the dazzling brightness of their parent stars, roughly millions of times brighter. By current methods the planet is simply washed out in the glare of the star. The trick for getting past all of that glare is a technique called nulling interferometry, which can be used to cancel out the light from the bright star while leaving the image of the planet intact. The experiment at the MMT is the first time nulling interferometry has been demonstrated on a telescope. Light from two of the MMT's mirrors are combined in such a way that the waves of starlight from one mirror cancel out those from the other, while the light waves from very dim objects close by to these stars are reinforced. To demonstrate this the astronomers took images of Betelgeuse, a nearby supergiant star in the familiar constellation of Orion. With the light from the Betelgeuse canceled they were able to see clearly an image of a faint dust cloud that surrounds the star. While astronomers have known of this dust cloud previously, nulling interferometry provided the first direct images of it, free of contamination from star light. These experiments are the first step in a succession of advances needed to image extrasolar planets and determine if they contain any signs of life. Using the same method, the much more powerful Large Binocular Telescope, currently under construction on Mt. Graham, Ariz., will be able to see planets the size of Jupiter and larger, while NASA's planned Terrestrial Planet Finder, a space-based nulling interferometer, is planned for detection and spectral analysis of planets as small as the Earth around nearby stars. Andrew Yee ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Scientists, journalists team up in U.Florida/NASA communications , all Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... University of Florida Writer: Kristen Vecellio, Vecellio@ufl.edu Source: Debbie Treise, (352) 392-9755, dtreise@jou.ufl.edu Sept. 16, 1998 SCIENTISTS, JOURNALISTS TEAM UP IN UF/NASA COMMUNICATIONS ALLIANCE GAINESVILLE -- Think a manned trip to Mars is a great idea but tracking the migration patterns of monarch butterflies is a colossal waste of time and money? Everyone's entitled to their own view, but some opinions may be misinformed. NASA and the University of Florida are trying to remedy that problem with a new program aimed at improving how scientists and journalists communicate with each other and the public about the benefits of scientific research. "Many are concerned that people will have less of a voice about things that impact their lives if they are unaware of choices or current findings," said Debbie Treise, associate professor of advertising at UF and the lead researcher in the UF/NASA alliance. UF's College of Journalism and Communication is working with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center's Space Sciences Laboratory in Huntsville, Ala., to develop ways to advance scientific knowledge among the general public. Treise said scientists will talk to each other, but they have a social responsibility to advance communication beyond peer groups and that duty is being neglected. "This partnership is about research and learning how people outside the peer community receive and use scientific information," said John Horack, director of science communications at the Space Sciences Laboratory at Marshall. "For 30 years we've been great at advancing the state of knowledge, and it's time we do just as good a job communicating those advancements and their importance to the national interest." The UF/NASA partnership, funded by a two-year grant from NASA, allowed Treise to conduct a survey of the National Association of Science Writers. The survey's 510 respondents felt the biggest concern for science communication was the lack of science literacy and a low overall interest in science among students in all levels of school and the general public, Treise said. By fall 1999, the College of Journalism and Communication plans to offer a specialization in science and health communications within its existing master's of communications degree, said John Wright, assistant dean of graduate studies at the college. "The UF master's specialization is not just for journalists but for scientists as well," said Treise. The acceptance of scientists into the program makes it unique among similar programs at other universities. She said one focus will be on national and state policy issues surrounding science communication. The program hopes to produce scientists, public affairs officers, public information officers and journalists who are savvy in science and communications. The alliance also has created a science communication workgroup of 12 people across the country who are involved in the sciences and media. The group meets about four times a year, most recently in June, to discuss science communication and how to disseminate information to others. "NASA scientists have a primary responsibility to not only advance the state of knowledge, but also to communicate that advancement to many different audiences," said Horack. "If all we do is acquire knowledge and it sits on the shelf of a library, we haven't done our job." Andrew Yee ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: Ground-Breaking Set for UMass-Mexico Telescope (Forwarded) Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... University of Massachusetts-Amherst Contact: Kay Scanlan Release: September 15, 1998 Ground-Breaking Set for UMass-Mexico Telescope AMHERST, Mass. -- On Sept. 23, representatives from the University of Massachusetts will participate in a ground-breaking ceremony in Puebla, Mexico, to initiate construction of the world's largest radio telescope operating at millimeter wavelengths -- the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) [http://www-lmt.phast.umass.edu/]. Keynote speeches will be given by the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Jeffrey Davidow, a University alumnus, and Manuel Bartlett-Diaz, Governor of the State of Puebla, Mexico. A day-long series of events is planned, with the ground-breaking scheduled at 10 a.m., followed by lunch, and several guest lecturers. These include several Mexican scientists, whose names will be announced shortly, plus Paul van den Bout, director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, Va., and Paul Goldsmith, director of the Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico. According to Stephen Strom, professor of astronomy and LMT principal investigator/USA, when fully installed on its 15,000-foot high mountain site -- Cerro La Negra, 140 miles east of Mexico City -- late in the year 2000, LMT's unparalleled collecting area (an antenna with a diameter of 50 meters, or more than half the size of a football field) plus advanced detectors will enable astronomers to carry out scientific programs of fundamental importance to advancing the understanding of the origin of the universe and its constituent building blocks. Moreover, "LMT will provide astronomers with a uniquely powerful tool to detect radio waves which started their journey earthward approximately 10 to 15 billion years ago when the first stars in the universe burst into existence," according to Frederick W. Byron, interim vice chancellor for research. F. Peter Schloerb, director of the University's Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory, said: "This telescope will allow us to search for forming, and already formed, solar systems analogous to our own, and perhaps to uncover the chemical paths that lead to the creation of complex, perhaps pre-biotic molecules." LMT's power to make these observations derives from its ability to detect radio signals emanating from gas and dust in the coldest regions of the universe -- regions which emit insignificantly at wavelengths (0.0005 mm) to which the human eye is sensitive, but which by contrast produce detectable signals at wavelengths near 1 mm, Byron said. The telescope is a joint project of the University and the Instituto Nacional de Astrofisica, Optica y Electronica (INAOE, or, in English, the Mexican National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics, a degree- granting research institution located near Puebla, Mexico). Preparing the mountain site and building the telescope will cost about $65 million U.S. dollars, with funding coming from the U.S. Government's Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Federal Government of Mexico, and the State of Puebla, Mexico. The design and construction of the antenna will be led by the German firm MAN Technologie, which has had extensive experience in manufacturing and installing major radio telescopes in the U.S. and Europe. The University's Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory will construct the sophisticated instruments needed to detect weak cosmic radio signals, and will work jointly with MIT's Lincoln Laboratory to develop the advanced laser measuring system critical to enabling the telescope to point and track with the required exquisite accuracy. The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm of Simpson, Gumpertz and Hager, along with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will also collaborate with UMass and INAOE astronomers in guiding the design and construction efforts. Astronomers at INAOE will oversee site development, a key portion of the telescope optics, and the installation and final adjustment of the approximately 2,000 ultra- precision panels comprising the antenna surface. According to Dr. Alfonso Serrano, director general of INAOE and deputy director of the Mexican National Science Foundation (CONACYT), when it is fully operational, viewing time of the giant telescope will be divided equally between the partnering institutions, both of which plan to make significant blocks of time available to research astronomers throughout the world, based on competitive review of proposed research. Serrano said: "Not only will LMT enable fundamental scientific advances, but perhaps more importantly it symbolizes the deep commitment of both Mexico and the U.S. to support exploration at the frontiers of knowledge. I think that is critical to exciting the imagination of young people, some of whom will become the scientists and engineers of tomorrow. To a large extent, the economic health and vitality of both societies rests in their hands." University Chancellor David K. Scott remarked that, "Partnerships like the LMT represent the future -- one in which institutions in the U.S. and other countries work in close partnership to develop the tools of modern science, the technologies of tomorrow, and tomorrow's leaders." Andrew Yee ayee@nova.astro.utoronto.ca Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

Дата: 21 сентября 1998 (1998-09-21) От: Alexander Bondugin Тема: * SpaceNews 21-Sep-98 * Привет всем! Вот, свалилось из Internet... SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0921 * SpaceNews 21-Sep-98 * BID: $SPC0921 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 1998 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-commercial use. * OSCAR-11 NEWS * Its been another uneventful month for OSCAR-11. During the period 1998-Aug-15 1998-Sep-15, good signals have been received from OSCAR-11's 145.826 MHz FM beacon. Telemetry has been nominal, and the battery voltage continues to improve, averaging 13.8 volts, with values ranging from 13.6 to 13.9 volts observed. OSCAR-11's internal temperatures are slowly increasing and are now 6.6C and 4.8C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively, thus indicating an increase of about 3C during the month. This is due to the decrease in solar eclipse times, which is improving the power budget without creating excessive internal temperatures. The single WOD survey of channels 1, 2, 3, 61 (magnetometers) dated 1998-Jul-01 which began at 16:24:09 UTC has is still being transmitted by the satellite. A report of the OSCAR-11 Mode-S beacon has been received from Ted, WA2HKS, who has heard the beacon many times during the last two months. Many thanks Ted. The operating schedule remains unchanged: ASCII status (210 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY SEU (30 seconds) ASCII TLM (90 seconds) ASCII WOD (120 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY ENG (30 seconds) The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message detailing modes and frequencies of all the amateur radio satellites. Additional status blocks are currently being transmitted after each news bulletin and between ASCII TLM and WOD. The Mode-S beacon is ON transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but telemetry indicates that it has partially failed, and delivering half power. This beacon is a useful test source for those testing Mode-S converters, prior to the launch of P3-D. It is considerably weaker than DOVE, which should be used for initial testing. Any reports of reception on 2401 MHz would be most welcome, and should be directed to Clive Wallis at: g3cwv@amsat.org. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally OFF. However, it can sometimes be heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control, ie. within range of Guildford, UK. When the 435 MHz beacon is transmitting, the 145 MHz beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly binary. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in Clive Wallis's OSCAR-11 web site. The site contains details of hardware required and some software for capturing data and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD. There is an archive of raw data (mainly WOD) for analysis which is continually being expanded as new data is captured. Also included are some audio files including examples of each type of data transmitted by OSCAR-11. Each one plays for about ten seconds. There are also examples of Mode-S reception. All the audio files are zipped, so that they can be played off-line. These should help listeners identify the various types of data and give an indication of the signal quality required for successful decoding. Two new Whole Orbit Data software packages were recently added to Clive's OSCAR-11 Web site. The first package, ORBILL.ZIP, enables various WOD channels to be compared with the solar eclipse status of the satellite. The second package, U2MAG1.ZIP, compares measured and calculated magnetic fields encountered by the satellite. Both packages are of an advanced nature, especially U2MAG1.ZIP, which is rather complicated! Users will need experience of using the other WOD packages on the web site as well as a spread sheet program. The URL is: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV] * UA3CR - SK * Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, sadly reported that Leonied Labutin, UA3CR, died of a heart attack on 1998-Sep-10 at his summer residence near Moscow. Pat Gowen, G3IOR, reports that Leo got thoat cancer some years ago, and was only able to communicate with him on a regular basis by means of packet radio or CW. Peter stated that Leo was a very well known and respected person in the Russian amateur satellite and space scene for a long while, and was very active until his death. He was on the South Pole after the launch of RS5 through RS8 for testing Store & Foward techniques from such remote locations. He also assisted the North Pole Bearing bridge Transpolar Ski Trek Expedition between the USSR and Canada in 1989 that included communications via Amateur Satellites. Leo was directly involved in various RS satellite projects, and helped to negotiate the delivery of amateur radio equipment to the MIR space station. Leo also operated a mailbox system and digipeater in Moscow with a regular Gateway to UO-22. He was also one of the first groundstations and gateway for the Digital Communications Experiment on UO-11. Leo will be missed by the entire amateur satellite community. [Info via Peter Guelzow, DB2OS] * AO-27 NEWS * If anyone needs Hawaii and/or Alaska on satellite, now is a good time to try AO-27. In the past couple of weeks, Hawaii and Alaska have been quite active on AO-27. As always, make sure you can at least copy callsigns before transmitting on AO-27 so you don't cause QRM. AO-27 has a very sensitive receiver and it is rare that someone isn't active on AO-27 on North American passes. AH6HH has been especially active over the past week, and is making special efforts to give folks on the mainland a chance to work the Islands. [Info via KD6PAG] * FO-29 NEWS * Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, reports no new information regarding the operation of the FO-29 satellite. The satellite continues in Mode JA. * THANKS! * Thanks to all who recently sent messages of appreciation to SpaceNews, especially: WA1STO W5ZA martys@aug.com * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below: WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/ PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19, KITSAT-OSCAR-25 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet since 1987 -=>> /EX -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Internet : kd2bd@amsat.org | Voice : +1.732.224.2948 Satellite : AO-16, LO-19, KO-25 | Morse : -.- -.. ..--- -... -.. Packet : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA | WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/ Video : 426.250 MHz/439.250 MHz | FAX : +1.732.224.2060 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Titanic '12, Hindenburg '37, Windows '98 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Hа сегодня все, пока! =SANA=

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