Space and Planetary Environment Criteria Guidelines for Use in Space Vehicle Development, 1 9 8 2 Revision Volume 1

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Space and Planetary Environment Criteria Guidelines for Use in Space Vehicle Development, 1 9 8 2 Revision Volume 1 NASA Technicd Memorandum 8 2 4 7 8 Space and Planetary Environment Criteria Guidelines for Use in Space Vehicle Development, 1 9 8 2 Revision Volume 1 Robert E. Smith ar~dGeorge S. West, Compilers George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama National Aeronautics and Space Administration Sclentlfice and Technical lealormation 'Branch TABLE OF CONTENTS Page viii SECTIOP; 1. THE SUN ............................................ .......... 1.1 Introduction ....................... .. ............. ....a* 1.2 Brief Qualitative Description ............................. 1.3 Physical Properties .................................... .. 1.4 Solar Emanations - Descriptive .......................... 1.4.1 The Nature of the Sun's Output .................. 1.4.2 The Solar Cycle ................................... 1.4.3 Variation in the Sun's Output ................... .. 1.5 Solar Electromagnetic Radiation ........................... 1.5.1 Measurements of the Solar Constant ............... 1.5.2 Short-Term Fluctuations in the Solar Constant . .: . 1.5.3 The Solar Spectral Irradiance ..................... 1.6 Solar Plasma Emission .................................... 1.6.1 Properties of the Mean $olar Wind ................. 1.6.2 The Solar Wind and the Interplanetary Magnetic Field ............................................. 1.6.3 High-speed Streams ............................... 1.6.4 Coronal Transients ....................... .. .. .. ... 1.6.5 Spatial Variation of Solar Wind Properties ......... 1.6.6 Variation of the Solar Wind During the Solar Cycle ....................................... 1.7 High-Energy Particles in the Heliosphere ................. 1.7.1 High-Energy Particles from the Sun ............... 1.7.2 Influence of Solar Activity on Energetic Particle Fluxes ................................... REFERENCES ........................................; ........ SECTION 2. TERRESTRIAL SPACE (THE BARTH) .................... ..... 2.1 Introduction ............................................. 2.2 General Discussion ................................... .... 2.3 The Solid Earth and Its Gravity ......................... 2.3.1 The Eart hls Gravitational Field .................... 2.3.2 An Approximate Geopot ential Field ................ 2.4 Neutral Atmosphere and Winds ........................... 2.4.1 Neutral Atmosphere Structure ................... .. 2.4.2 Neutral Atmosphere : Chemical Composition ......... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 2.4.3 Neutral Atmosphere : Temperature ................. 2.4.4 Neutral Atmosphere : . Density Variations ........... 2.4.5 Neutral Atmosphere : 2. 500 to 65.00 0.km Altitude . 2.4.6 Winds in the Neutral Atmosphere ....'. ............. 2.5 Sunlight and Earthshine ................................. 2.6 Meteoroids ............................................... 2.7 Plasma and Electromagnetic Fields ........................ 2.7.1 Magnetic Field .................................... 2.7.2 Electric Field ..................................... 2.8 Charged Particles ......................................... 2.8.1 Low Energy Plasma - fonosphere ................. 2.8.2 Energetic Particles ................................ 2.8.3 Cosmic Radiation ..................... ............ 2.8.4 -Galactic Cosmic Rays .......................... .... 2.8.5 Solar Cosmic Rays ................................ 2.9 Spacecraft Charging ..................................... REFERENCES ................................................. SECTION 3. THE MOON ................................................... 3.1 Introduction ............................................. 3.2 Dynamic Properties ...................................... 3.2.1 Comments ......................................... 3.3 Physical Data ............................................ 3.3.1 Mass. Figure. and Other Physical Properties ...... 3.3 2 Gravity Field ..................................... 3.3.3 Magnetic Field .................................... 3.4 Interior ................................................... 3.4.1 Structure ......................................... 3.4.2 The Core ...................................... 3.4.3 The Mantle ....................................... 3.4.4 The Crust ........................................ 3.5 Surface ofthe Moon ..................................... Surface Morphology ............................... Detailed Lunar Surface Mapping ................... Statistics of Lunar Surface Features .............. Chemistry of Lunar Surface ....................... Lunar Soil Particle Size Distribution ............... Mechanical Properties of Lunar Surface Material .... Electrical Properties of Lunar Surface Material ..... Optical Properties of the Lunar Surface ........... Temperatures of the Lunar Surface ............... TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3.6 Atmosphere ........................................eee... 3.6.1 Composition ............................. ... ....... 3.6.2 Sources of the Atmosphere ........................ 3. 7 Magnetosphere ........................................... 3.8 Space Environment ......................... .-............. 3.8.1 Radiant Energy Fluxes ............................ 3.8.2 Charged Particle Flux ....................... ., .... 3.8.3 Meteoroids ........................................ 3.9 Supplementary Material ................................... 3.9.1 Origin of the Moon ................................ 3.9.2 Where Do We Go From Here ..................... .. 3.9.3 Chronology of Lunar Exploration .................. REFEREN CES ................................................. SECTION 4. MERCURY .................................................... 4.1 Introduction ............................................. 4.2 Dynamic Properties .................................... .. 4.2.1 Comments ................................... .. .... 4.3 Physical Data ............................................ 4.3.1 Mass. Figure. and Other Physical Properties ...... 4.3.2 Comments .................... .. .... .. ....... .. .... 4.3.3 Mapping .......................................... 4.3.4 Gravity Field ............................. ........ 4.3.5 Magnetic Field .................................... 4.4 Interior .................................................. 4.4.1 Core ......,............ .... ....... ................ 4.4.2 Mantle and Crust ................................. 4.5 Surface ................................................... 4.5.1 The Mariner 10 Imaging Experiments .............. 4.5.2 Surface Morphology ............................... 4.6 Atmosphere .......................................... .... 4.6.1 Pressure .......................................... 4.6.2 Composition ....................... ... ....... .. .... 4.6.3 Origin ........................................e. *. 4.7 Ionosphere ............................................... 4.8 Magnetosphere ...........................................\C 4.9 Space in the Vicinity of Mercury - Fields and Fluxes .... REFERENCES .......................... .. ..................... TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page SECTION 5. VENUS ....................................................... 5.1 Introduction ...........................................me 5.1.1 General References ............................... 5.2 Dynamic Properties ....................................... 5.2.1 Comments ......................................... 5.3 Physical Data .................... ...... ................ 5.3.1 Comments ......................................... 5.3.2 Gravity Field ..................................... 5.3.3 Magnetic Field .................................... 5.3.4 Mapping of the Planet ............................. 5.4 Interior .................................................. 5.4.1 Core .............................................. 5.4.2 Crust and Mantle ................................. 5.5 Surface Properties ....................................... 5.5.1 Surface Morphology ............................... 5.5.2 Surface Characteristics ........................... 5.5.3 Chemical Composition - Mineralogy ................ 5.5.4 Physical Properties ................................ 5.6 Atmosphere .............................................. 5.6.1 Lower Atmosphere ................................ 5.6.2 The Middle Atmosphere ........................... 5.6.3 The Upper Atmosphere .......a.e.................. 5.6.4 Radiative Properties of the Venus Atmosphere ..... 5.7 Ionosphere .............................................a. 5.7.1 Ionospheric Ions - Temperature and Total Densities ......................................... 5.7.2 Ions - Composition ............................... 5.7.3 Ionospheric Electrons ............................. 5.7.4 Ionospheric Variability ............................ 5.8 Magnetosphere ........................................... 5.9 Prospects For The Future .............a.e................ REFERENCES ................................................. SECTION 6. MARS ......................................................... 6.1 Introduction ............................................. 6.2 Dynamic Properties ...................................... 6.2.1 Comments ......................................... TABLE OF CONTENTS (Concluded) Page 6.3 Physical Data ..................... .............s.ao.....a 6.3.1 Mass. Figure. and Other Physical Properties ...... 6.3.2 Earth-Mars Configurations ..................... .. 6.3.3 Mapping ................................... ....... 6.3.4 Gravity Field ....................
Recommended publications
  • Geoscience and a Lunar Base
    " t N_iSA Conference Pubhcatmn 3070 " i J Geoscience and a Lunar Base A Comprehensive Plan for Lunar Explora, tion unclas HI/VI 02907_4 at ,unar | !' / | .... ._-.;} / [ | -- --_,,,_-_ |,, |, • • |,_nrrr|l , .l -- - -- - ....... = F _: .......... s_ dd]T_- ! JL --_ - - _ '- "_r: °-__.......... / _r NASA Conference Publication 3070 Geoscience and a Lunar Base A Comprehensive Plan for Lunar Exploration Edited by G. Jeffrey Taylor Institute of Meteoritics University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico Paul D. Spudis U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Astrogeology Flagstaff, Arizona Proceedings of a workshop sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, D.C., and held at the Lunar and Planetary Institute Houston, Texas August 25-26, 1988 IW_A National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Management Scientific and Technical Information Division 1990 PREFACE This report was produced at the request of Dr. Michael B. Duke, Director of the Solar System Exploration Division of the NASA Johnson Space Center. At a meeting of the Lunar and Planetary Sample Team (LAPST), Dr. Duke (at the time also Science Director of the Office of Exploration, NASA Headquarters) suggested that future lunar geoscience activities had not been planned systematically and that geoscience goals for the lunar base program were not articulated well. LAPST is a panel that advises NASA on lunar sample allocations and also serves as an advocate for lunar science within the planetary science community. LAPST took it upon itself to organize some formal geoscience planning for a lunar base by creating a document that outlines the types of missions and activities that are needed to understand the Moon and its geologic history.
    [Show full text]
  • Warren and Taylor-2014-In Tog-The Moon-'Author's Personal Copy'.Pdf
    This article was originally published in Treatise on Geochemistry, Second Edition published by Elsevier, and the attached copy is provided by Elsevier for the author's benefit and for the benefit of the author's institution, for non- commercial research and educational use including without limitation use in instruction at your institution, sending it to specific colleagues who you know, and providing a copy to your institution’s administrator. All other uses, reproduction and distribution, including without limitation commercial reprints, selling or licensing copies or access, or posting on open internet sites, your personal or institution’s website or repository, are prohibited. For exceptions, permission may be sought for such use through Elsevier's permissions site at: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/permissionusematerial Warren P.H., and Taylor G.J. (2014) The Moon. In: Holland H.D. and Turekian K.K. (eds.) Treatise on Geochemistry, Second Edition, vol. 2, pp. 213-250. Oxford: Elsevier. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Author's personal copy 2.9 The Moon PH Warren, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA GJ Taylor, University of Hawai‘i, Honolulu, HI, USA ã 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This article is a revision of the previous edition article by P. H. Warren, volume 1, pp. 559–599, © 2003, Elsevier Ltd. 2.9.1 Introduction: The Lunar Context 213 2.9.2 The Lunar Geochemical Database 214 2.9.2.1 Artificially Acquired Samples 214 2.9.2.2 Lunar Meteorites 214 2.9.2.3 Remote-Sensing Data 215 2.9.3 Mare Volcanism
    [Show full text]
  • TRANSIENT LUNAR PHENOMENA: REGULARITY and REALITY Arlin P
    The Astrophysical Journal, 697:1–15, 2009 May 20 doi:10.1088/0004-637X/697/1/1 C 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. TRANSIENT LUNAR PHENOMENA: REGULARITY AND REALITY Arlin P. S. Crotts Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, 550 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA Received 2007 June 27; accepted 2009 February 20; published 2009 April 30 ABSTRACT Transient lunar phenomena (TLPs) have been reported for centuries, but their nature is largely unsettled, and even their existence as a coherent phenomenon is controversial. Nonetheless, TLP data show regularities in the observations; a key question is whether this structure is imposed by processes tied to the lunar surface, or by terrestrial atmospheric or human observer effects. I interrogate an extensive catalog of TLPs to gauge how human factors determine the distribution of TLP reports. The sample is grouped according to variables which should produce differing results if determining factors involve humans, and not reflecting phenomena tied to the lunar surface. Features dependent on human factors can then be excluded. Regardless of how the sample is split, the results are similar: ∼50% of reports originate from near Aristarchus, ∼16% from Plato, ∼6% from recent, major impacts (Copernicus, Kepler, Tycho, and Aristarchus), plus several at Grimaldi. Mare Crisium produces a robust signal in some cases (however, Crisium is too large for a “feature” as defined). TLP count consistency for these features indicates that ∼80% of these may be real. Some commonly reported sites disappear from the robust averages, including Alphonsus, Ross D, and Gassendi.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 1: Venus Missions
    Appendix 1: Venus Missions Sputnik 7 (USSR) Launch 02/04/1961 First attempted Venus atmosphere craft; upper stage failed to leave Earth orbit Venera 1 (USSR) Launch 02/12/1961 First attempted flyby; contact lost en route Mariner 1 (US) Launch 07/22/1961 Attempted flyby; launch failure Sputnik 19 (USSR) Launch 08/25/1962 Attempted flyby, stranded in Earth orbit Mariner 2 (US) Launch 08/27/1962 First successful Venus flyby Sputnik 20 (USSR) Launch 09/01/1962 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Sputnik 21 (USSR) Launch 09/12/1962 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Cosmos 21 (USSR) Launch 11/11/1963 Possible Venera engineering test flight or attempted flyby Venera 1964A (USSR) Launch 02/19/1964 Attempted flyby, launch failure Venera 1964B (USSR) Launch 03/01/1964 Attempted flyby, launch failure Cosmos 27 (USSR) Launch 03/27/1964 Attempted flyby, upper stage failure Zond 1 (USSR) Launch 04/02/1964 Venus flyby, contact lost May 14; flyby July 14 Venera 2 (USSR) Launch 11/12/1965 Venus flyby, contact lost en route Venera 3 (USSR) Launch 11/16/1965 Venus lander, contact lost en route, first Venus impact March 1, 1966 Cosmos 96 (USSR) Launch 11/23/1965 Possible attempted landing, craft fragmented in Earth orbit Venera 1965A (USSR) Launch 11/23/1965 Flyby attempt (launch failure) Venera 4 (USSR) Launch 06/12/1967 Successful atmospheric probe, arrived at Venus 10/18/1967 Mariner 5 (US) Launch 06/14/1967 Successful flyby 10/19/1967 Cosmos 167 (USSR) Launch 06/17/1967 Attempted atmospheric probe, stranded in Earth orbit Venera 5 (USSR) Launch 01/05/1969 Returned atmospheric data for 53 min on 05/16/1969 M.
    [Show full text]
  • Peer Review Draft Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.2 Thresholds
    1 Peer Review Draft 2 Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.2 3 Thresholds of Change in Ecosystems 4 Authors: Daniel B. Fagre (lead author), Colleen W. Charles, Craig 5 D. Allen, Charles Birkeland, F. Stuart Chapin, III, Peter M. 6 Groffman, Glenn R. Guntenspergen, Alan K. Knapp, A. David 7 McGuire, Patrick J. Mulholland, Debra P.C. Peters, Daniel D. 8 Roby, and George Sugihara 9 Contributing authors: Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Julio L. 10 Betancourt, Jeffrey E. Herrick, and Douglas S. Kenney 11 U.S. Climate Change Science Program 12 Draft 5.0 SAP 4.2 9/26/2008 1 1 Table of Contents 2 Executive Summary............................................................................................................ 5 3 Introduction................................................................................................................... 5 4 Definitions.....................................................................................................................5 5 Development of Threshold Concepts............................................................................ 6 6 Principles of Thresholds ............................................................................................... 7 7 Case Studies.................................................................................................................. 8 8 Potential Management Responses............................................................................... 10 9 Recommendations......................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress
    W&M ScholarWorks Undergraduate Honors Theses Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 6-2013 The Wrong Right Stuff: Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress Andrew Follett College of William and Mary Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Follett, Andrew, "The Wrong Right Stuff: Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress" (2013). Undergraduate Honors Theses. Paper 584. https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/584 This Honors Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Theses by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Wrong Right Stuff: Why NASA Consistently Fails at Congress A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Bachelors of Arts in Government from The College of William and Mary by Andrew Follett Accepted for . John Gilmour, Director . Sophia Hart . Rowan Lockwood Williamsburg, VA May 3, 2013 1 Table of Contents: Acknowledgements 3 Part 1: Introduction and Background 4 Pre Soviet Collapse: Early American Failures in Space 13 Pre Soviet Collapse: The Successful Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo Programs 17 Pre Soviet Collapse: The Quasi-Successful Shuttle Program 22 Part 2: The Thin Years, Repeated Failure in NASA in the Post-Soviet Era 27 The Failure of the Space Exploration Initiative 28 The Failed Vision for Space Exploration 30 The Success of Unmanned Space Flight 32 Part 3: Why NASA Fails 37 Part 4: Putting this to the Test 87 Part 5: Changing the Method.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigating Mineral Stability Under Venus Conditions: a Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies Erika Kohler University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
    University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ScholarWorks@UARK Theses and Dissertations 5-2016 Investigating Mineral Stability under Venus Conditions: A Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies Erika Kohler University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd Part of the Geochemistry Commons, Mineral Physics Commons, and the The unS and the Solar System Commons Recommended Citation Kohler, Erika, "Investigating Mineral Stability under Venus Conditions: A Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies" (2016). Theses and Dissertations. 1473. http://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/1473 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UARK. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UARK. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Investigating Mineral Stability under Venus Conditions: A Focus on the Venus Radar Anomalies A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Space and Planetary Sciences by Erika Kohler University of Oklahoma Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, 2010 May 2016 University of Arkansas This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. ____________________________ Dr. Claud H. Sandberg Lacy Dissertation Director Committee Co-Chair ____________________________ ___________________________ Dr. Vincent Chevrier Dr. Larry Roe Committee Co-chair Committee Member ____________________________ ___________________________ Dr. John Dixon Dr. Richard Ulrich Committee Member Committee Member Abstract Radar studies of the surface of Venus have identified regions with high radar reflectivity concentrated in the Venusian highlands: between 2.5 and 4.75 km above a planetary radius of 6051 km, though it varies with latitude.
    [Show full text]
  • March 21–25, 2016
    FORTY-SEVENTH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE PROGRAM OF TECHNICAL SESSIONS MARCH 21–25, 2016 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT Universities Space Research Association Lunar and Planetary Institute National Aeronautics and Space Administration CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS Stephen Mackwell, Lunar and Planetary Institute Eileen Stansbery, NASA Johnson Space Center PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIRS David Draper, NASA Johnson Space Center Walter Kiefer, Lunar and Planetary Institute PROGRAM COMMITTEE P. Doug Archer, NASA Johnson Space Center Nicolas LeCorvec, Lunar and Planetary Institute Katherine Bermingham, University of Maryland Yo Matsubara, Smithsonian Institute Janice Bishop, SETI and NASA Ames Research Center Francis McCubbin, NASA Johnson Space Center Jeremy Boyce, University of California, Los Angeles Andrew Needham, Carnegie Institution of Washington Lisa Danielson, NASA Johnson Space Center Lan-Anh Nguyen, NASA Johnson Space Center Deepak Dhingra, University of Idaho Paul Niles, NASA Johnson Space Center Stephen Elardo, Carnegie Institution of Washington Dorothy Oehler, NASA Johnson Space Center Marc Fries, NASA Johnson Space Center D. Alex Patthoff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Cyrena Goodrich, Lunar and Planetary Institute Elizabeth Rampe, Aerodyne Industries, Jacobs JETS at John Gruener, NASA Johnson Space Center NASA Johnson Space Center Justin Hagerty, U.S. Geological Survey Carol Raymond, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lindsay Hays, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Paul Schenk,
    [Show full text]
  • GSA TODAY • Radon in Water, P
    Vol. 8, No. 11 November 1998 INSIDE • Field Guide Editor, p. 5 GSA TODAY • Radon in Water, p. 10 • Women Geoscientists, p. 12 A Publication of the Geological Society of America • 1999 Annual Meeting, p. 31 Gas Hydrates: Greenhouse Nightmare? Energy Panacea or Pipe Dream? Bilal U. Haq, National Science Foundation, Division of Ocean Science, Arlington, VA 22230 ABSTRACT Recent interest in methane hydrates has resulted from the recognition that they may play important roles in the global carbon cycle and rapid climate change through emissions of methane from marine sediments and permafrost into the atmosphere, and in causing mass failure of sediments and structural changes on the continental slope. Their presumed large volumes are also consid- ered to be a potential source for future exploitation of methane as a resource. Natural gas hydrates occur widely on continental slope and rise, stabilized in place by high hydrostatic pressure and frigid bottom-temperature condi- tions. Change in these conditions, Figure 1. This seismic profile, over the landward side of Blake Ridge, crosses a salt diapir; the profile has either through lowering of sea level or been processed to show reflection strength. The prominent bottom simulating reflector (BSR) swings increase in bottom-water temperature, upward over the diapir because of the higher conductivity of the salt. Note the very strong reflections of may trigger the following sequence of gas accumulations below the gas-hydrate stability zone and the “blanking” of energy above it. Bright events: dissociation of the hydrate at its Spots along near-vertical faults above the diapir represent conduits for gas venting.
    [Show full text]
  • Water on the Moon, III. Volatiles & Activity
    Water on The Moon, III. Volatiles & Activity Arlin Crotts (Columbia University) For centuries some scientists have argued that there is activity on the Moon (or water, as recounted in Parts I & II), while others have thought the Moon is simply a dead, inactive world. [1] The question comes in several forms: is there a detectable atmosphere? Does the surface of the Moon change? What causes interior seismic activity? From a more modern viewpoint, we now know that as much carbon monoxide as water was excavated during the LCROSS impact, as detailed in Part I, and a comparable amount of other volatiles were found. At one time the Moon outgassed prodigious amounts of water and hydrogen in volcanic fire fountains, but released similar amounts of volatile sulfur (or SO2), and presumably large amounts of carbon dioxide or monoxide, if theory is to be believed. So water on the Moon is associated with other gases. Astronomers have agreed for centuries that there is no firm evidence for “weather” on the Moon visible from Earth, and little evidence of thick atmosphere. [2] How would one detect the Moon’s atmosphere from Earth? An obvious means is atmospheric refraction. As you watch the Sun set, its image is displaced by Earth’s atmospheric refraction at the horizon from the position it would have if there were no atmosphere, by roughly 0.6 degree (a bit more than the Sun’s angular diameter). On the Moon, any atmosphere would cause an analogous effect for a star passing behind the Moon during an occultation (multiplied by two since the light travels both into and out of the lunar atmosphere).
    [Show full text]
  • Origin of the Solar System
    Creation Myths The rise of the monotheistic religions changed this view. When one of the gods got a higher Old Myths status than others (who in some cases became Speculation about the origin and evolution of demons or devils), he continued to increase in the earth and the celestial bodies is probably as prestige and power until he became the Supreme old as human thinking. During the millennia that Lord, the undisputed ruler of the whole world. are covered by the history of science, philosphy, Then it was not enough for him to create the world and religion we can distinguish three types of ap­ in the sense of organizing a preexisting chaos; he proach to this problem. had to create it all from nothing (ex nihilo) by The first is the "theocratic-myth" approach, pronouncing a magic word or by his will power. according to which the evolution of the world was This is the meaning of "creation" when we use it governed by gods who once upon a time created today, but it is a relatively new concept. It was it. However, we must remember that the meaning generally accepted in Christianity in the second of "creation" has changed. The earliest meaning century A.D. but the Genesis description of the of this term seems to have been that the gods Creation seems to have either meaning. The crea­ brought order into a preexisting chaos. The world tion ex nihilo was not generally accepted by the was "ungenerated and indestructible"-as Aris­ philosophical-scientific community until the syn­ totle puts it-and the gods were part of this world thesis by St.
    [Show full text]
  • GEOLOGY THEME STUDY Page 1
    NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS Dr. Harry A. Butowsky GEOLOGY THEME STUDY Page 1 Geology National Historic Landmark Theme Study (Draft 1990) Introduction by Dr. Harry A. Butowsky Historian, History Division National Park Service, Washington, DC The Geology National Historic Landmark Theme Study represents the second phase of the National Park Service's thematic study of the history of American science. Phase one of this study, Astronomy and Astrophysics: A National Historic Landmark Theme Study was completed in l989. Subsequent phases of the science theme study will include the disciplines of biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and other related sciences. The Science Theme Study is being completed by the National Historic Landmarks Survey of the National Park Service in compliance with the requirements of the Historic Sites Act of l935. The Historic Sites Act established "a national policy to preserve for public use historic sites, buildings and objects of national significance for the inspiration and benefit of the American people." Under the terms of the Act, the service is required to survey, study, protect, preserve, maintain, or operate nationally significant historic buildings, sites & objects. The National Historic Landmarks Survey of the National Park Service is charged with the responsibility of identifying America's nationally significant historic property. The survey meets this obligation through a comprehensive process involving thematic study of the facets of American History. In recent years, the survey has completed National Historic Landmark theme studies on topics as diverse as the American space program, World War II in the Pacific, the US Constitution, recreation in the United States and architecture in the National Parks.
    [Show full text]