Oct 14 1975
From The Space Library
Manufacture of unique items in space is nearing reality with the availability of the Space Shuttle, scientists from TRW Systems Group told the 6th U.S.-European conference on partnership for space applications. Five practical processes in the space environment would be crystal growth, purification and separation, mixing, solidification, and processes in fluids. The gravity-free environment would permit the manufacture of items such as contamination-free glass for laser requirements, pure crystals for semiconductors, and highly pure vaccines. Also, if materials like copper-lead alloys that do not mix on earth could be combined in zero gravity, real breakthroughs in aircraft and automotive parts manufacture might be possible. (SBD, 14 Sept 75, 221)
Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists reported that a joint JPL-Univ. of Texas astronomy team had detected carbon monoxide in the atmosphere of Jupiter for the first time. Instrumentation at McDonald Observatory, the Univ. of Texas's 27-m telescope facility in Austin, made the discovery by using high-resolution spectra. Dr. Reinhard Beer, JPL leader of the team, reported that the near-infrared spectra had been produced by a Connestype Fourier spectrometer in 1974; spectral lines-the "signatures" of various molecules-had disclosed that carbon monoxide molecules were present to a depth of at least 50 km into the lower atmosphere. Carbon monoxide had been previously found in minor amounts in the atmospheres of earth, Venus, and Mars. Although the spectra had shown no indication of carbon dioxide in the Jovian atmosphere, Dr. Beer reported, future telescope searches from higher altitudes might reveal its presence there. (NASA Release 75-269)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
