Jan 10 1995
From The Space Library
Supercomputers helped scientists from the University of Arizona and the Los Alamos National Laboratory to understand the hidden mechanism by which massive stars explode. Computer simulations show that stellar explosions (supernovas) erupt unevenly from the collapsed stellar core. The trigger appears to be the energy of neutrinos, particles that have near zero mass and zero electrical charge. (W Post, Jan 10/95, LA Times, Jan 10/95)
A senior scientist at the National Museum of Natural History, Kenneth M. Towe, refuted a recent satellite-based NASA claim that the presence of hydrogen fluoride in the atmosphere confirms that ozone depletion is largely caused by chlorofluorocarbons. Towe pointed out that, contrary to NASA's contention, hydrogen fluoride does have a natural source-it is emitted by volcanoes-and it plays a large role in the destruction of ozone in the lower stratosphere. Towe's position received corroboration from another authority, Michael S. Coffman, president of Environmental Perspectives, Inc., in Bangor, Maine. (W Times, Jan 10/95; WSJ, Jan 12/95; Bangor Daily News, Jan 11/95))
Remote control technology and the Internet are expected to play major parts in the operation of the South Pole Infrared Explorer telescope and the Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory, both in Antarctica. These instruments were built and are operated by the Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica, a consortium of universities and research laboratories supported mostly by the National Science Foundation. Astronomers will be able to control these instruments from any place in the world with an Internet or modem connection. (NY Times, Jan 10/95)
Boris Ostroumov, deputy general director of the Russian Space Agency, said that the Baikonur Cosmodrome is a scientific and technical complex and that it will not become a Russian military base. The facilities will be used for scientific and national economic needs and will be administered by the Russian Space Agency, Ostroumov said. (FBIS-Sov, Jan 10/95)
The claim of a new discovery by three NASA astronomers was refuted by a galaxy expert who was invited to their press conference. At a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Tucson, Arizona, the astronomers claimed to have discovered six dwarf spiral galaxies, which they also claimed astronomers long thought existed but had never found. The Canadian galaxy expert claimed that dwarf spirals had been discovered by astronomers in the 1950s. (AP, Jan 11/95; Reuter, Jan 10/95)
Industry analysis by the Virginia firm Teal Group showed that almost 1,000 satellites, mostly for communications, will be launched during the next 10 years. Most of these satellites will belong to mobile communications multi-satellite systems such as Motorola's Iridium and Space Systems/Loral's Globalstar. The most common destination for these satellites will be Earth low orbit. (Defense Daily, Jan 10/95)
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