[net.space] SAA

mabgarstin (01/03/83)

   I just got this super book for Christmas called, "The Space Shuttle
Operator's Manual" (Ballantine Books, New York, $14.95, in U.S. $9.95).
It is loaded, it has everything every good Russian spy would want to know
about the space shuttle but was afraid to snoop around for. It has detailed
layouts of the control panels, explanations on what it all means and how it
operate it, it even goes through a step-by-step description on how to snuggle
down in the seat of one of those neat birds, blow the tubes and get your tail
off the pad, into LEO and back down again. Like, it is all there in full
gory detail.
   What I'm writting about though is on one of the fold outs is a Mercator
projection of terra-firma with the first 64 orbits of STS-3 drawn on it. In
the middle of the south Atlantic is this hideously shaded blob entitled the
South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). Now I know that this was discussed not too long
ago but if memory serves me correctly I think I just glossed over the related
articles with too much of the information-osmosis process in gear. Could
some dear kind soul out there in net.land please refresh my dynamic memory on
this topic and put me out of my misery.

P.S.- Since I'm writting this in REAL-TIME errors abound, that one line above
     sould read ....with NOT too much of the information-osmosis....

                                  happy space trails...
                                         MAB
                                 University of Waterloo

karn (01/05/83)

I also purchased a copy of "The Space Shuttle Operator's Manual".
If you can tolerate the space cadet writing style, it actually does contain
a remarkable amount of detail, for a readily available publication.
The foldouts of control panels, orbital maps, etc, are particularly useful.

There is another (better) publication that describes the shuttle in even more
detail for the outsider: the Rockwell press kit, a thick (1.5")
loose-leaf notebook.  I do not know if further copies are available.

I borrowed a copy dated February 1981, and was amazed at its
depth, especially when you consider its intended audience...
However, even it contains some flubs.  They slavishly give virtually all
measurements in as many systems of standards as there are, e.g, 
distances in statute miles, nautical miles and kilometers.
In the section on thermal tiles, densities are in both kilograms
per cubic meter and in pounds per cubic foot.  However, a
conversion factor of 2.2 was used for all the numbers!  Gee, now I don't know
whether the tiles just float on water, or if they're also supposed to
float on air as well....

Phil Karn