Dale.Amon%CMU-RI-FAS@sri-unix.UUCP (06/19/84)
SCIENTISTS FOR A MANNED SPACE STATION News Release 1:00PM, Monday May 14,1984 Contact: Robert Jastrow 603-646-3361 or 603-646-2373 Eight prominent university scientists have come out in strong support of NASA's manned Space Station. The scientific value of the manned Space Station has been challenged by physicist James Van Allen of the University of Iowa, who says it is "inefficient." In anticipation of a House Appropriation Committee meeting this week, the eight scientists have written to Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-CA), member of the Appropriations Committee. The scientists write, "It is our judgement that NASA's manned Space Station will be of great scientific value in astronomy and lunar and planetary science." The scientists' statement concludes, "The Space Station's combination of scientific uses and commercial applications makes it a highly cost-effective facility with major benefits to the US economy as well as to basic scientific knowledge." The full statement follows: As scientists who have been working in the field of space science for many years, we have concluded that NASA's manned Space Station will be of great scientific value in astronomy and lunar and planetary science and in the scientific observation of the near-earth environment. We want to indicate our strong support for this project on it's scientific merits. In astronomy, we are impressed by the capabilities of the Space Station for orbital repair, refurbishing, and resupply of fuel and cryogenics to costly research facilities including the Space Telescope, the Gamma Ray Observatory and the proposed Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility and Space Infrared Telescope Facility. The orbiting observatories are among the most important scientific projects of our time because they may provide answers to some of the greatest cosmic mysteries. Yet they are extremely expensive; the Space Telescope alone cost more than one billion dollars. If the stop working, they will not be replaced in our lifetime. The manned Space Station can make an invaluable contribution to scientific progress by keeping these great observatories in continuous service. The Shuttle also is useful in this connection, as demonstrated by the repair of Solar Max, but the Space Station will be more cost effective for that purpose because spare parts for operating satellites will be warehoused in the Space Station and available for prompt repairs at essentially zero incremental cost. This is in contrast to special Shuttle launches dedicated wholly or partly to repairs, which cost 70 to 80 million dollars each. In addition, prompt satellite repairs from the SHuttle could require scrubbing of planned missions with disruptive impact on scientific and commercial launch schedules. (The repair of Solar Max was planned years before the mission was undertaken.) Finally, major satellite repairs, requiring extended operations in orbit, are feasible from the Space Station but not from the Shuttle. In lunar and planetary science, the manned Space Station can function as a way station en route to the moon and the planets. It can also function as a lab for preliminary processing of samples returned from planets, comets and earth-approaching asteroids. One of the mmost exciting near-term projhects in planetary exploration is the return of a sample of Martian soil to the earth for geological and biological study. If attempted by direct ascent from the earth's surface, this project would require a Saturn-5-class booster, which is not available and not in NASA's planning. If the elements of the mission are carried into orbit in the Shuttle and assembled at the Space Station, the Mars sample return becomes possible. In the longer term, the return to the moon and the establishment of a lunar base for scientific observations holds great promise as a source of major scientific discoveries. In addition, the lunar base itself, once extablished, greatly increases our capability for exploration of the solar system. Again, the lunar base, if attempted by direct ascent from the earth, is not feasible without a Saturn-class booseter, but becomes a feasible goal if the Space Station if available as a staging area for orbital assembly of supplies and equipment. These scientific uses of the Space Station are in addition to its bread-and-butter activities as a repair shop for commercial satellites, a warehouse for stockpiling spare satellites, and a pilot plant and industrial laboratory for orbital processing of materials. Repairs to satellites in the Space Station can save the taxpayer and the private sector a staggering amount of money over the course of a decade, since large satellites cost about 100 million dollars each and hundreds are planned for launch in the next decade. A large fraction of the cost of the Space Station can be written off in savings from satellite repairs alone. This combination of scientific uses and commercial applications makes the manned Space Station a highly cost-effective facility with major benefits to the US economy as well as to basci scientific knowledge. Signed by: James R. Arnold Director, California Space Institute and Harold C. URey Professor of Chemistry, University of California an La Jolla Charles A. Barth Director, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Professor Astrophysics and Professor Planetary and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Colorado Paul Coleman President, Universities Space Research Association, Professor of Geophysics and Space Physics, University of California at Los Angeles, and Assistant Director, Los Alamos National Labortory Robert Jastrow Founder and Director (retired), Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Professor of Earth Sciencese, Dartmouth College Eugene Shoemaker Porfessor of Geology and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technolgy, and Research Geologist, US Geological Survey. Bradford A. Smith Professor of Astronomy and Professor of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona Harlan Smith Director of McDonald Observatory, Professor of Astronomy, University of Texas, and former Chairman of the Committee on Space Astro Laura Wilkening Vice Provost and professor of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona END ======================================================================= Once again
David.Pugh@K.CS.CMU.EDU (02/01/86)
Many of you may remember when we created 'Scientists For a Manned Space Station' on short notice. This action was critical in gaining funding for the station by defeating efforts in committee to divert or cut funding. Well folks, we need you again. If you were not part of that effort, or if you have changed phone, USnail address or net address over the last year, please send an update to: dep@k.cs.cmu.edu Membership requirements are: a) You work in science (not necessarily a Phd) b) You agree that a manned space station is a good idea Among the key figures who worked with us at one point or another over the last two years are: Dr. Jastrow, Dr. Sheffield as spokespersons; Dr. James Fletcher (Former NASA director), Dr. Noel Jarret (tech. dir. at Alcoa), Gordon Woodcock, Peter Vijk, Marvin Minsky, John McCarthy, and many others by lending their names. In previous years, we have only needed your names to help us in the congressional battle. With Gram-Rudman plus the tragedy we will be facing a fight that makes previous ones pale by comparison. This will be a very rough year. In addition to this, we wish to ask you to take active measures on your own to defend manned flight. There is little doubt that as soon as the period of mourning is over, the lowlifes will crawl from under their rocks and begin the search for scandal and personal fame and fortune. When they attack the dream those seven people shared with us, and for which those seven risked and lost their lives, we must all be ready to cry "HOW DARE YOU!!!" The direct action we suggest is the following: 1: contact your congressmen, call or write them in support of space 2: get on talk shows and push manned space flight. Urge your colleagues to do the same. It is really quite easy to get on. Simply call a local station that has a talk show give them your credentials and the topic. You will be on the air in a week or less. 3: Send letters to editors, PARTICULARY when you find editorial or news articles with a slant that you find offensive to the memory of the Challenger crew. For TV or radio news, call in and complain. Don't let your rage go unvented. 4: write articles and do interviews for your local papers and magazines, and if you have the credentials or skills, get articles in national magazines. 5: listen to the state of the union address and call the white house comment line, 202-456-7639 (last years number, probably unchanged) with comments in support of space To lend your support, mail the following information to dep@k.cs.cmu.edu Name: Dr. Public Title: Professor of Foobaz Affiliation: Computer Science Department, CMU Mail: work or home Phone: work and/or home Net: network address Comments: Get people in other departments if you can. If they do not have an EMAIL address, send us the rest of the info. We may have some old fashioned mailing this year. Get the info in as soon as possible. We want to show a ground swell of support for getting on with the job of opening the space frontier. As SFMSS is not 'organized' per se, there is no particular game plan. We ask you to remember your dreams, listen to your heart and personally take whatever action you can. The Challenger crew will not be forgotten. Ad Astra, Dale Amon
space@ucbvax.UUCP (02/18/86)
Name: Douglas L. Ice
Title: Member of the Technical Staff
Affiliation: TRW, Inc.
Mail: Doug Ice
R6/1186
TRW
One Space Park Drive
Redondo Beach, Ca. 90278
Phone: (213)536-3150 (W)
(213)542-1190 (H)
Net: UseNet, trwrb (I don't know my path -- sorry)
Comments: I was a payload engineer for TDRSS Flight 2,
which was destroyed with the orbiter and crew.
I also have minor involvement with the Space
Station work going on now. The manned space
station is a necessity, if we are interested
in exploring space further. Robots are great,
but we need PEOPLE in space!!!ice@trwrba.UUCP (Douglas L. Ice) (02/19/86)
I had intended to mail the article, not post it. Sorry!!!