Letter from John Brandenburg and Trevor Sorensen [Clementine people], partly rebutting the earlier letter criticizing Clementine 2 as a Mars Observer replacement. Clementine's multispectral imaging could distinguish different Martian minerals, a capability MO lost when it lost its Near-IR spectrometer. Clementine's pointing accuracy is much better than MO's, and its high-resolution camera would considerably improve on the Viking images. C2 wouldn't replace MO, but it could considerably advance knowledge of Mars, at 1/10 of the cost of MO and with launch possible in 1994.
NASA to loan IKI computer equipment to get IKI onto the Internet.
Japan Satellite Systems to buy an HS-601 for launch in 1995.
NTSB report on the Pegasus abort fiasco recommends that OCST set specs for, and issue licenses for, pre-launch preparations.
NASA unveils the new US-Russian station design. No big surprises. Completion in 2001, crew of six (two of them normally Russian).
Koptev says that Russia is generally willing to proceed as a full partner, paying for its own contributions. Regarding political uncertainty, he commented: "Russian orbiting stations have been operating for 22 years. Freedom has been in discussion for nine years." Also, allegedly to Goldin in private: "You've had nine votes [in Congress] since you've been administrator. How do we know you're not going to back out?"
Columbia lands after SLS-2, at Edwards. (Old rules mandated Edwards landings for long-duration missions, and planning for this one was too far advanced to change when the rules were relaxed.)
NASA is designing a 90-day visit of a US astronaut to Mir in 1995, including US hardware of various kinds and a 10-day Shuttle visit.
HST-repair components being cleaned after preparation area found to be contaminated with sand from sandblasting operations at the pad. The parts were in sealed containers and should be okay. The real concern is whether the pad facilities can be cleaned in time; the alternative is to move the shuttle to pad B.
Russian satellite image showing the area in Israel believed to be the base for Israel's Jericho missile force and nuclear-bomber force.
USAF cuts Milstar 2 buy from five to four, and plans a study of a followon satellite that would be smaller and cheaper. The first Milstar 1 has been flown to the Cape; it will be the next Titan IV payload, and the Milstar people are nervous about this.
Japan sets Feb 1 as launch date for the first H-2.
USAF and MM trying to sort out how to destack the Titan IV on pad 41 at the Cape. One of its SRBs may have faulty repair work -- suspected as a contributing factor in the August Titan loss. They'd like to do the destacking at the pad, but the SRB is awkwardly placed, the long payload fairing used for Centaur prevents the lift-over-top technique that would normally be used, and it may be necessary to roll the whole thing back to the assembly building. Launch has been postponed indefinitely.
Belief is no substitute | Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology for arithmetic. | henry@zoo.toronto.edu utzoo!henry