CENAP Infoline - no 111

Magazine Overview

Title: MORGEN
Issue: Nr. 146
Date: Mittwoch, 28. Juni 2000
Publisher: CENAP-INFOLINE
Focus: Science & Technology

This issue of MORGEN, published by CENAP-INFOLINE, focuses on space exploration and future technology, with a particular emphasis on satellites and advanced spacecraft concepts.

Article 1: Der deutsche „Champ“ wartet auf seinen Einsatz

This article introduces the German research satellite "Champ," which is ready for its mission to explore the Earth's interior. The satellite was presented in Ottobrunn, Germany, and is scheduled to launch from the Russian launch site in Plesetzk on July 15th. "Champ" is a joint project of the Geo-Forschungs-Zentrum Potsdam and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). During its five-year operational phase, it will precisely measure the Earth's gravitational field, aiming to provide new insights into the dynamics of the Earth's interior. The accompanying image is from AP.

The CENAP-INFOLINE itself is described as a supplementary information source to the CENAP-Report, presenting itself as an independent, up-to-date international UFO scene newsletter. It is planned to be published every three weeks but may appear more frequently. The responsible editor is Hansjürgen Köhler from Mannheim. Subscription is required, costing DM 30,-- per year, with payment to be made via bank transfer or check to Sparkasse Mannheim, Account No. 7810906, BLZ 67050101.

Article 2: Die Tortenschachteln halten endlich dicht

This article, written by Christel Heybrock, discusses the "Cluster-Mission" and the upcoming launch of four new satellites four years after a previous mission's failure. The images from June 1996 show the launch of four identical satellites aboard an Ariane rocket, intended to explore Earth's magnetic field. However, the rocket exploded less than a minute after liftoff due to a computer error, resulting in the loss of the satellites, which had cost approximately 840 million Deutschmarks. This event was described as one of the most expensive fireworks ever.

The European Space Agency (ESA), under pressure from international scientists, has rebuilt the four Cluster satellites at Dornier in Friedrichshafen. These satellites, identical in design but with improved electronics, are now in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Due to the previous disaster, they will not be launched all at once. The first pair will launch on July 15th, and the second on August 9th.

The article explains the necessity of having four satellites. They are designed to study the interactions between Earth's magnetic field and solar particle streams, not just on a narrow orbit but across a wide area, to track changes in the magnetic field and solar wind. When the sun emits powerful energy streams, highly energetic particles collide with Earth's magnetic field, which protects life. While this can create spectacular phenomena like the Northern Lights, it can also generate energies that disrupt terrestrial radio waves, electronics, and power supplies, necessitating urgent action from the Cluster mission.

The satellites are equipped with propulsion nozzles sealed by rubber rings. Although they are in a state of weightlessness and gain energy from their solar panels, they also have their own propulsion systems. These systems will be activated after the Soyuz rockets release the satellites. The two pairs of satellites are intended to form a tetrahedron formation high above the Earth, which can only be achieved through individual propulsion systems. The formation can be adjusted in size, with the tetrahedron being narrowed or widened by a few thousand kilometers depending on research needs. The ESOC control center in Darmstadt will manage these maneuvers.

The article describes the satellites as "giant cake boxes" – 1200 kg, cylinder-shaped probes nearly three meters in diameter. They will orbit the Earth from pole to pole. Once in orbit, they will deploy two five-meter arms equipped with measuring instruments and two hundred-meter-long dipole antennas to measure electric fields. The author notes that the term "space travel" has rarely been so literally applicable.

Article 3: Kein Witz - Amis bauen fliegende Untertasse

This article by Tom Drechsler reports on NASA's ambitious plans to develop advanced spacecraft, humorously framed as "Americans are building flying saucers." The article highlights the "Advanced Space Transportation Program" at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, which is working on technologies for future space travel, including warp drives, magnetic propulsion, antimatter, microwaves, and nuclear fusion. The goal is to create a "highway into space" that is safer, cheaper, and faster than current methods.

The article then details several future spacecraft concepts:

• Since 1981: Space Shuttles: Described as the first reusable spacecraft, they launch "piggyback" on solid-fuel rockets and land like airplanes. The cost per kilogram of launch weight is DM 40,000, with about ten flights per year and 170 people involved in launch preparations.
• From 2010: Venture Star (X-33): This second generation of spacecraft is a wedge-shaped, triangular vehicle designed for up to 100 flights per year. A key feature is a rescue capsule for astronauts. The cost per kilogram of launch weight is projected to be DM 4,000, requiring only ten people for launch.
• From 2025: Spaceliner 100: This is envisioned as a hyper-fast, rocket-shaped craft that launches from a rail catapult. It is intended to travel to distant planets as easily as a jumbo jet flight to Florida today. The cost per kilogram of launch weight is expected to be only DM 400, with 2,000 flights planned annually and a ground crew of just two men.

The article also touches upon the concept of a "flying saucer" that could be levitated by invisible microwaves from an outer ring, as if by a ghost.

Images show the Space Shuttle Atlantis, a model of the Venture Star (X-33), and a concept of the Spaceliner 100.

Article 4: Im Segelflug durchs All

This article by Christopher Hess discusses new propulsion systems for interstellar spaceflight, focusing on concepts that utilize solar sails. It posits that by 2010, NASA engineers envision a spacecraft propelled by a solar sail, enabling it to travel vast distances beyond our solar system without traditional fuel. The challenge lies in developing propulsion systems that can achieve the high speeds necessary for such interstellar missions.

The concept involves a large solar sail reflecting photons from sunlight to accelerate the spacecraft. The material proposed for the sail is a few micrometers thin carbon fiber coated with aluminum. The European Space Agency (ESA) also has similar concepts, including a 125x125 meter sail that could propel a 110 kg probe to Mercury in just under two years. To demonstrate this technology, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), in collaboration with ESA, is developing a deployable sail structure of 20x20 meters for ground tests. If successful, a technology demonstrator could be tested in Earth orbit, potentially as a low-cost payload on an Ariane 5 rocket.

The article includes an image of a large, circular solar sail structure and mentions that by 2040, a "flying saucer" with a propulsion system that cannot yet be built could connect Earth, space stations, and planets, with an estimated 10,000 flights per year and a launch cost of DM 40 per kilogram.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of MORGEN are the advancements and future prospects of space exploration, including satellite technology, the challenges of space missions, and speculative concepts for interstellar travel and advanced spacecraft. The magazine appears to have a strong interest in both current space science and futuristic, even speculative, technological developments, including UFO-related concepts. The editorial stance seems to be one of reporting on scientific endeavors, potential setbacks, and ambitious future visions, with a particular focus on international collaboration and technological innovation in the aerospace sector.