space@mit-mc (02/26/85)
From: Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI <wmartin@ALMSA-1.ARPA> I noticed, in a recently-posted propagation forecast over on Info-Hams (or net.ham-radio), a reference to a certain part of the sun coming back into view, due to solar rotation. (This was in reference to activity on that part of the solar surface, and its effect on the ionosphere.) Anyway, that made me wonder -- do we now have sufficient spacecraft in solar orbits that we can keep the entire solar surface in view all the time? Or do we just have a few (or just one), making near-sun observations? I'm so used to having a myriad of earth satellites that I lose track of what is going on in other parts of the solar system. I would think it would pay economic benefits to know what is going on all over the solar surface, since what is happening on the opposite side will hit us a few days later on. Is such a program in effect now, in the planning stages, or not being considered as worthy of the cost involved? Regards, Will ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin