skunk-works-digest Saturday, October 4 1997 Volume 06 : Number 079 Index of this digest by subject: *************************************************** Re: New Blackbird Re: National Defense Areas SORRY, ANOTHER TEST-IGNORE Re: Military plane crashes - semi off-topic Re: Military plane crashes - semi off-topic Re: SORRY, ANOTHER TEST-IGNORE RE: "This is off subject, but" Disclaimer Re: "This is off subject, but" Disclaimer Sonic Boom on Land Re: Sonic Boom on Land Re: F-117 crash update (release) Re: F-117 crash update (release) Re: F-117 crash update (release) Just testing Re: Just testing Re: Just testing Re[2]: Just testing F-117 Mishap at Baltimore Unsubscribe to other lists Stealth Aircraft Design (fwd) Re: Unsubscribe to other lists Re[2]: Just testing Re: Some new books Re: Stealth Aircraft Design (fwd) Re: Re[2]: Just testing NASA Receives Approval to Launch Cassini Mission *************************************************** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 28 Sep 1997 11:45:20 -0400 (EDT) From: Xelex@aol.com Subject: Re: New Blackbird Some additional information on the new DET 2 Blackbird: 1. It is definitely 962. Refurbishing 968 would be too expensive. 2. The move from Palmdale to Edwards has been delayed until at least next week. 3. It will be refurbished at Edwards because they have more manpower available. 4. Workers will refurbish 962 in their spare time. Peter Merlin ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Sep 1997 12:03:01 -0400 (EDT) From: Xelex@aol.com Subject: Re: National Defense Areas National Defense Areas are temporary restricted zones that contain and secure Federal Government resources in US and US territorial areas that don't fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. The military may need to establish a NDA if: 1. Aircraft are sent to civilial airports. 2. An aircraft carrying nuclear weapons makes an emergency landing. 3. It is necessary to temporarily immobilze nuclear weapons ground convoys. 4. An aircraft crashes. 5. Another unplanned emergency occurs. Installation commanders, through their on-scene commanders, establish NDAs. Minimum requirements for establishing a NDA are: 1. Use a temporary barrier to mark the boundary of the area, 2. Post "National Defense Area" warning sign (AFVA 207-14). 3. Explain the situation to land owners, including why you need to set up the area and the kinds of controls that are in effect. 4. Get the consent and cooperation of the land owner if at all possible, but establish the area with or without consent. 5. To the greatest degree possible, let civilian authorities handle civilian arrest and detention. If local civil authorities are not present, military personnel may apprehend and detain violators or trespassers. Work with the judge advocate representative to release violators and trespassers to proper authorities. This information is from A.F. Instruction 31-101, The Physical Security Program Peter Merlin ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 11:03:38 +1200 From: Brett Davidson Subject: SORRY, ANOTHER TEST-IGNORE At 17:02 26/09/97 +1200, you wrote: > > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 13:02:56 +1200 From: Brett Davidson Subject: Re: Military plane crashes - semi off-topic Server problems at my end here, just trying a resend of a slightly dated response that I feel is relevant to a list that skirts conspiracy theory... >Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 14:26:35 +1200 >To: skunk-works@netwrx1.com >From: Brett Davidson >Subject: Re: Military plane crashes - semi off-topic > >At 09:17 22/09/97 -0400, you wrote: >> Anybody got any thoughts on what might be going on with all of the >> military plane crashes in the last week or so? Could it be that > >As the saying has it, "Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three times is a conspiracy..." Actually, though, one has to consider the characteristics of random statistical distribution. If random events occur, then a perfectly even distribution in time is as unlikely as everything happening at once. The norm is somewhere between the two, with "clumps" - just like winning and losing often coming in streaks. This can be difficult for accident investigators, because they would have to wait quite a while to see if a real trend is emerging requiring a change of policy or not... the wrong change might be worse than the original situation, and while waiting, if something is wrong, people get killed. > >--Brett > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Sep 1997 21:17:10 -0700 From: patrick Subject: Re: Military plane crashes - semi off-topic At 01:02 PM 9/29/97 +1200, you wrote: >Server problems at my end here, just trying a resend of a slightly dated >response that I feel is relevant to a list that skirts conspiracy theory... > >>Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 14:26:35 +1200 >>To: skunk-works@netwrx1.com >>From: Brett Davidson >>Subject: Re: Military plane crashes - semi off-topic >> >>At 09:17 22/09/97 -0400, you wrote: >>> Anybody got any thoughts on what might be going on with all of the >>> military plane crashes in the last week or so? Could it be that >> >>As the saying has it, "Once is an accident, twice is a coincidence, three >times is a conspiracy..." Actually, though, one has to consider the >characteristics of random statistical distribution. If random events occur, >then a perfectly even distribution in time is as unlikely as everything >happening at once. The norm is somewhere between the two, with "clumps" - >just like winning and losing often coming in streaks. This can be >difficult for accident investigators, because they would have to wait quite >a while to see if a real trend is emerging requiring a change of policy or >not... the wrong change might be worse than the original situation, and >while waiting, if something is wrong, people get killed. >> >>--Brett ========================================== Last monday, the day of the AF stand down, a NAVY P-3 Orion blew a tire on landing at an airport on the island of Crete. I believe the plane veered off the runway and as a result suffered some minor damage. I would argue this is once again totally unrelated and falls into the "clump" as Brett mentions. In an unrelated incident.......the unreleased new Jane's book on "flying and fighting in the F-117" is advertising a 30 inch foldout showing the interior of the F-117 cockpit. This may be worth the price of admission alone. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Sep 1997 21:25:06 -0700 From: patrick Subject: Re: SORRY, ANOTHER TEST-IGNORE At 11:03 AM 9/29/97 +1200, you wrote: >At 17:02 26/09/97 +1200, you wrote: >> >> >> > > > I got bounced for several days recently. Some of my prized and valued posts I submitted got lost. George seems to have solved my problems several days ago and maybe yours too? I still find it amusing that keys make noises because we humans need the immediate feed back. We maybe smarter than computers but comparatively speaking we are emotional wrecks! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 09:35:28 +0100 From: Richard Soundy Subject: RE: "This is off subject, but" Disclaimer Actually the previous record holder of the Land Speed Record is Richard Noble in Thrust II, the designer and financier of Thrust SSC Andy's jet car. Regard Richard (ever so picky) Soundy Richard Soundy Enterprise Systems and Technology Group Sybase Inc. email richard.soundy@sybase.com Voicemail +44-1628-597414 Mobile +44-831-877175 Fax +44-1628-597000 Home +44-1453-731656 - -----Original Message----- From: patrick [SMTP:patrick@e-z.net] Sent: Friday, September 26, 1997 7:50 AM To: skunk-works@netwrx1.com Subject: "This is off subject, but" Disclaimer RAF fighter pilot Andy Green took the twin jet engine powered "Sonic Thrust 3" on one run of 700 mph and backed it up with a second run of 728 miles per hour today in California. This resets the unlimited land world speed record officially at 714 mph. The previous record holder, Craig Breedlove will attempt a run tomorrow. patrick cullumber patrick@e-z.net ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Sep 1997 13:16:03 -0400 From: stevek@Paragon.COM (Steve Kovner) Subject: Re: "This is off subject, but" Disclaimer Speed Racer 71 wrote: > > > Do you hear a sonic boom to the side of an object if you > > aren't beneath it? > > Yes. Definetly it will have the sonic boom. The shock wave > propagate in a oblique form... so, you will heard the sonic boom no matter > if you are above, beneath or side of the car.... I bet you more than just hear it if you're *under* the car... :) Actually, given the low ground clearances, I don't think you'd hear ANYTHING if you were under the car. The fastest road kill in the west. Steve Kovner ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 03:26:19 -0500 (CDT) From: jaz5@ix.netcom.com Subject: Sonic Boom on Land If the sonic boom froma car traveling that fast is propagated,w ouldn't it propagate in all directions? If if did, wouldn't it create a very turbulent area just under the nose of the car? And could this tubulent area cause enough disturbance, or lift to cause the car to lose control? JZ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Sep 97 08:23:48 EDT From: keller@eos.ncsu.edu Subject: Re: Sonic Boom on Land JZ shaped the electrons and holes to say: >If the sonic boom froma car traveling that fast is propagated,w ouldn't it >propagate in all directions? Yes, but, perhaps not through ground. Of course, the ground has it's own (much faster) sonic speed. Maybe someone else wants comment on whether aerodynamic shock waves can propagate into the ground. >If if did, wouldn't it create a very turbulent area just under the nose of >the car? And could this tubulent area cause enough disturbance, or lift to >cause the car to lose control? Having a shock wave underneath the car lift, and, possibly, even flip the car is a very real concern. One of the cars involved in the current campaign, I believe the British effort, is designed with a very low ground clearance with exactly this concern in mind. For those who are interested in this topic, there's an interesting article on this in the latest, I think it's the October issue, of Scientific American. - --Paul ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 16:55:15 -0400 (EDT) From: ConsLaw@aol.com Subject: Re: F-117 crash update (release) John Szalay and Patrick Cullumber wrote: >JOHN SZALAY wrote in part >> The next day, Air Force people removed >>their equipment and terminated the National Defense Area > > >Waht exactly is a "National Defense Area" Do they suspend the >constituition? or is it just a statutory order that allows clearing the >area while recovery operations are under way. > >Where in the US Code is it established? > They are probably relying on the same part of the espionage act that was used to seize film outside of the Groom base. What I find astonishing is that there were news reports of journalists whose airshow film and video were seized. I can't believe the press didn't make more of this. The government says that you lose your privacy rights when your affairs are visible in "plain view", yet the military can lose an aircraft in front of 20,000 witnesses and somehow claim a rational for seizing film. If anyone on the list knows or is contacted by anyone who has had film seized (even if it was given back later), PLEASE have that person contact me. Steve Hofer Conslaw ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Oct 97 07:18:51 EDT From: JOHN SZALAY Subject: Re: F-117 crash update (release) As far as the taking of the film from all parties, I suspect that its NOT a security measure, although the security act itself amy be used as the tool to to that. the reason would be to get the views of the aircraft from as many sources and angles as possible to see exactly what lead up to the failure of the wing section. Now the closing of the crash area itself, I can understand, one: you don,t wantthe public and/or agents to get their hands on samples of the RAM as well or any electronic equipment. or anybody from carring off suspect failure evidence. Two. any parts of the wings are needed to check for failure or stress fractures. John Szalay ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 07:27:39 -0600 From: Earl Needham Subject: Re: F-117 crash update (release) At 07:18 AM 10/1/97 EDT, JOHN SZALAY wrote: >Now the closing of the crash area itself, I can understand, one: you don,t wantthe public and/or agents to get their hands on samples of the RAM as well >or any electronic equipment. or anybody from carring off suspect failure >evidence. Two. any parts of the wings are needed to check for failure >or stress fractures. 3. The RWR receivers and their programming are confidential. 4. Mode 4 IFF is confidential, the key of the day has a higher classification. Unfortunately, I don't know what it is. 5. Secure voice radio (KY-58?) is confidential or higher. And I would just bet there are other items that are classified. On ANY fighter or bomber, and on most cargo airplanes. Earl Needham, KD5XB Clovis, NM Conquistador Council, BSA ICQ #925486 mailto:KD5XB@AMSAT.ORG Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Chi '76 Spambot Bait: root@localhost postmaster@localhost admin@localhost abuse@localhost spam@primenet.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Oct 97 17:09:04 EDT From: JOHN SZALAY Subject: Just testing Sorry to bother the list, HOWEVER this is a test. If this goes out the the list, it means we are still up and running. IF not then the point is moot.... John Szalay ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 23:15:09 GMT From: georgek@netwrx1.com (George R. Kasica) Subject: Re: Just testing On Thu, 2 Oct 97 17:09:04 EDT, you wrote: >Sorry to bother the list, HOWEVER this is a test. > >If this goes out the the list, it means we are still up and running. > >IF not then the point is moot.... > > John Szalay > > John: I got it here...I think we're alive. George ===[George R. Kasica]=== +1 414 541 8579 Skunk-Works ListOwner +1 800 816 2568 FAX http://www.netwrx1.com West Allis, WI USA georgek@netwrx1.com Digest Issues at: http://www.netwrx1.com/skunk-works ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Oct 97 20:43:30 EDT From: JOHN SZALAY Subject: Re: Just testing Good, I,m glad we,re still kicking, cause 2 of the recent subscribers have sent me mail wondering if the list was alive, they have seen no postings tothe list BUT while trying to subscribe, the majordomo sez they are already subscribed, go figure. Thanks for the use of all your electrons folks. testing completed. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 21:31:02 -0400 From: gregweigold@pmsc.com (Greg Weigold) Subject: Re[2]: Just testing I heard from an old friend, who recently retired from the Air Force, that there will NOT be any kind of followon to the SR-71, since the UAV programs are so successful and a whole lot cheaper to build and operate. And much simpler to deploy to foreign countries. His response was, of course, unofficial, since he would have had to kill me if he had told me differently!! :-) He prefers to remain anonymous, since he retired because he couldn't get into any of the really neat stuff any more, after too many years with transport/cargo planes. He won't admit it, but I think his eyes had something to do with it. His baby blues don't quite see the things they used to. And his belt's a little too tight..... Course, since he's got all kinds of ratings and hours, he is going to one of the large airlines. But for $100K+ per year (plus his pension), sounds like a good retirement job to me!! Later!! Greg Weigold ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 19:25:25 -0700 From: patrick Subject: F-117 Mishap at Baltimore The CBS Evening News tonite announced the AF has lifted flight restrictions on the F-117 fleet. They have decided that improper assembly of the elevon unit caused its separation in flight. (Guess we know who won't be invited back next year for the coveted air show tour duty.) patrick cullumber patrick@e-z.net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 22:35:16, -0500 From: PXSG24F@prodigy.com (JAMES R MELDRUM) Subject: Unsubscribe to other lists Sorry about not talking about any current topics, but, does anyone know how I can unsubscribe from the NASANews mailing list? Thanks if you can help at all! James Of course the above opinions are mine and not my employers, because I am unemployed! :) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 02:57:35 -0400 (EDT) From: Wei-Jen Su Subject: Stealth Aircraft Design (fwd) - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 07:22:38 -0400 (EDT) From: Wei-Jen Su To: Skunk Works Subject: Stealth Aircraft Design Hello Skunkers. I just want to mention that there is a very good article about stealth aircraft design by Ray Whitford in the September, 1997 issue of AIR International (Vol. 53, No. 3). Ray Whitford is a senior lecturer in aerodynamics and aircraft design at the Royal Military College of Science Cranfield University, England. He is also the author of Design for Air Combat published by Janes. He also gave a lecture of his article at my University last week. The lecture was great, he showed some infrared video clip of Su-37 doing some amazing maneuverability including Cobra, Hammer, and Cobra with a loop (I forgot the name of the maneuverability). He was going to show the infrared video of the B-2 which was taped during its visit in the Paris Air Show, but Air Force officers told him not to show because it is still confidential information even after three years of being filmed. He said the exhausts of the B-2 give a very big infrared signal. I think maybe it is because the B-2 was not flying in a "stealth mode". Any comments? May the Force be with you Su Wei-Jen E-mails: wsu02@utopia.poly.edu wjs@webspan.net ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 03:02:36 -0400 (EDT) From: Wei-Jen Su Subject: Re: Unsubscribe to other lists On Thu, 2 Oct 1997, JAMES R MELDRUM wrote: > Sorry about not talking about any current topics, but, does anyone > know how I can unsubscribe from the NASANews mailing list? Thanks if > you can help at all! > Send a e-mail to: domo@hq.nasa.gov type the following phrase in the BODY (NOT the Subject, which may be left blank) of the message: subscribe press-release And then just send the message. You can also check the NasaNews by their web page at: http://www.nasa.gov/releases/index.html May the Force be with you Su Wei-Jen E-mails: wsu02@utopia.poly.edu wjs@webspan.net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 19:37:22 -0400 From: gregweigold@pmsc.com (Greg Weigold) Subject: Re[2]: Just testing Worked here!!! GW :-) ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: Just testing Author: georgek@netwrx1.com (George R. Kasica) at INTERNET Date: 10/2/97 11:15 PM On Thu, 2 Oct 97 17:09:04 EDT, you wrote: >Sorry to bother the list, HOWEVER this is a test. > >If this goes out the the list, it means we are still up and running. > >IF not then the point is moot.... > > John Szalay > > John: I got it here...I think we're alive. George ===[George R. Kasica]=== +1 414 541 8579 Skunk-Works ListOwner +1 800 816 2568 FAX http://www.netwrx1.com West Allis, WI USA georgek@netwrx1.com Digest Issues at: http://www.netwrx1.com/skunk-works ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 15:58:46 -0400 (EDT) From: Kathryn & Andreas Gehrs-Pahl Subject: Re: Some new books John Stone wrote: >Another SR-71 fan contacted me last nite and said that this Crickmore book >is basically his first book with a new front and rear cover! Well I think >his first book is out of print, but at least they could say that it is his >first book reprinted! Actually, it is Crickmore's second (?) SR-71 book from 1987, originally titled: "SR-71 Blackbird" with the subtitle: "Lockheed's Mach 3 Hot Shot", which consists basically of 120 color photos with captions. The new title: "Lockheed SR-71" and subtitle: "The Mach 3 Blackbird", is definitely misleading, and their advertisement is totally wrong, because the book does not include anything near the promised: "Full details on the design and development features of this unique aircraft." I had bought mine originally for $2.98 or so when it was for sale, and I will send the new one back (which came a couple of days ago, and which costs $10.95 plus $4.95 s/h). Zenith is pretty good with their return policy, and they have a lot of other books, that I can spend this money on. They seem to have never heard the slogan "Truth in advertisement", though. Paul F. Crickmore's first SR-71 book from 1986, titled: "Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird", which I have as a softcover as part of the "Osprey Air Combat" series, is still out of print. This book would have been worth even twice that price, and I would probably have kept a second one. - -- Andreas - --- --- Andreas & Kathryn Gehrs-Pahl E-Mail: schnars@ais.org 313 West Court St. #305 or: gpahl@acm.flint.umich.edu Flint, MI 48502-1239 Tel: (810) 238-8469 WWW URL: http://www.ais.org/~schnars/ - --- --- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997 12:08:41 +1200 From: Brett Davidson Subject: Re: Stealth Aircraft Design (fwd) >confidential information even after three years of being filmed. He said >the exhausts of the B-2 give a very big infrared signal. I think maybe it >is because the B-2 was not flying in a "stealth mode". Any comments? > Speaking from pure prejudice, I doubt that there is such a thing as a specific "stealth mode." A stealthy aircraft would spend long periods performing as a stealth aircraft and would therefore be optimised by its designers to be as efficient as possible in that specific role. Most stealth is passive and airframe-related anyway: switching stealth off and on like a Romulan cloaking device would only make sense if stealth was a quality that could be installed like a stereo. - --Brett ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997 12:10:22 +1200 From: Brett Davidson Subject: Re: Re[2]: Just testing Ditto ...twice. I've been having server problems and I was wondering if was just me. - --Brett At 19:37 2/10/97 -0400, you wrote: > Worked here!!! GW :-) > > >______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ >Subject: Re: Just testing >Author: georgek@netwrx1.com (George R. Kasica) at INTERNET >Date: 10/2/97 11:15 PM > > >On Thu, 2 Oct 97 17:09:04 EDT, you wrote: > >>Sorry to bother the list, HOWEVER this is a test. >> >>If this goes out the the list, it means we are still up and running. >> >>IF not then the point is moot.... >> >> John Szalay >> >> >John: > >I got it here...I think we're alive. > >George > > >===[George R. Kasica]=== +1 414 541 8579 >Skunk-Works ListOwner +1 800 816 2568 FAX >http://www.netwrx1.com West Allis, WI USA >georgek@netwrx1.com >Digest Issues at: http://www.netwrx1.com/skunk-works > > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 05 Oct 1997 12:15:26 +1200 From: Brett Davidson Subject: NASA Receives Approval to Launch Cassini Mission A little off-charter, but things are quiet and this is good news - Cassini will be launched without having to rely on solar panels, windmills, gerbils on treadmills or meditation to power it. Now if only idiocy could be harnessed as an energy source... >Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 16:25:20 -0400 (EDT) >From: NASANews@hq.nasa.gov >Subject: NASA Receives Approval to Launch Cassini Mission >Sender: owner-press-release@lists.hq.nasa.gov >To: undisclosed-recipients:; > >Douglas Isbell/Don Savage >Headquarters, Washington, DC October 3, 1997 >(Phone: 202/358-1547) > >Matthew Donoghue >Department of Energy, Washington, DC >(Phone: 202/586-0619) > >RELEASE: 97-225 > >NASA RECEIVES APPROVAL TO LAUNCH CASSINI MISSION > > NASA today received formal approval from the White House >Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to proceed toward >the launch of the robotic Cassini mission to explore Saturn and its >moon Titan. > > "NASA and its interagency partners have done an extremely >thorough job of evaluating and documenting the safety of the >Cassini mission. I have carefully reviewed these assessments and >have concluded that the important benefits of this scientific >mission outweigh the potential risks," said OSTP Director Dr. John >H. Gibbons, who signed the launch approval. > > NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin said, "I am confident in >the safety of the Cassini mission, and I fully expect that it will >return spectacular images and scientific data about Saturn, in the >same safe and successful manner as the Voyager, Galileo and Ulysses >missions." > > White House launch approval is required by presidential >directive due to the type of power source used to provide >electrical power for the Cassini spacecraft and its scientific >instruments, and the heater units that it carries to keep the >spacecraft's instruments and electronics warm in deep space. > > The Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) and >Radioisotope Heater Units used to power Cassini and keep its >internal systems warm have been used in previous NASA missions >ranging from Apollo to Galileo, and have been approved by five >previous administrations ranging from Nixon to Bush. RTGs produce >power by the heat generated through the natural radioactive decay >of non-weapons grade plutonium dioxide, which is transformed into >electricity by solid-state thermoelectric converters. > > Before Administrator Goldin sent the request for launch >approval to OSTP, two separate processes were completed to address >the environmental and safety aspects of the mission. NASA >completed an Environmental Impact Statement in June 1995 and a >supplement in June 1997, as required by the National Environmental >Policy Act and NASA policy. > > Consistent with long-standing Presidential policy, the >Department of Energy (DOE) prepared over the past seven years a >comprehensive Safety Analysis Report. In addition, an Interagency >Nuclear Safety Review Panel, including safety experts from DOE, >NASA, the Department of Defense (DOD), the Environmental Protection >Agency (EPA), and a technical advisor from the Nuclear Regulatory >Commission conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the safety >analysis. This panel was supported by over 50 scientific experts >from academia and industry. > > DOD, EPA and DOE have written to the NASA Administrator >confirming that, in their view, the safety analysis conducted for >the mission is comprehensive and thorough. > > Cassini is a cooperative endeavor of NASA, the European Space >Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency, or Agenzia Spaziale >Italiana. The mission will send a sophisticated robotic spacecraft, >equipped with 12 scientific experiments, to orbit Saturn for a >four-year period and study the Saturnian system in detail. The ESA- >built Huygens probe that will parachute into Titan's thick >atmosphere carries another six scientific instrument packages. > > Saturn is the second-largest planet in the solar system and is >made up mostly of hydrogen and helium. Its placid-looking, >butterscotch-colored face masks a windswept atmosphere where jet >streams blow at 1,100 miles per hour and swirling storms roil just >beneath the cloud tops. Previous spacecraft passing by Saturn >found a huge and complex magnetic environment, called a >magnetosphere, where trapped protons and electrons interact with >each other, the planet, rings and surfaces of many of the moons. > > Although it is believed to be too cold to support life, haze- >covered Titan is thought to hold clues to how a primitive Earth >evolved into a life-bearing planet. It has an Earth-like, nitrogen- >based atmosphere and a surface that many scientists believe >probably features chilled lakes of ethane and methane. Scientists >believe that Titan's surface is probably coated with the residue of >a sticky brown organic rain. > > The launch of Cassini aboard a Titan IV-B/Centaur launch >vehicle is scheduled for 4:55 a.m. EDT on October 13 from Cape >Canaveral Air Station, FL. An on-time launch will deliver the >Cassini mission to Saturn almost seven years later on July 1, 2004. >Cassini's primary mission concludes in July 2008. > > -end- > > > ------------------------------ End of skunk-works-digest V6 #79 ******************************** To subscribe to skunk-works-digest, send the command: subscribe in the body of a message to "skunk-works-digest-request@netwrx1.com". If you want to subscribe something other than the account the mail is coming from, such as a local redistribution list, then append that address to the "subscribe" command; for example, to subscribe "local-skunk-works": subscribe local-skunk-works@your.domain.net To unsubscribe, send mail to the same address, with the command: unsubscribe in the body. Administrative requests, problems, and other non-list mail can be sent to georgek@netwrx1.com. A non-digest (direct mail) version of this list is also available; to subscribe to that instead, replace all instances of "skunk-works-digest" in the commands above with "skunk-works". Back issues are available for viewing by a www interface located at: http://www.netwrx1.com/skunk-works If you have any questions or problems please contact me at: georgek@netwrx1.com Thanks, George R. Kasica Listowner