McAuliffe - Scobee - Smith - McNair - Onizuka - Resnik and Jarvis

In Memory - David M Jones

There are moments when you just have to walk away and cry. Lou Angeli

The vast lunar crater Apollo has a diameter of 538 km and is situated on the far side of the Moon. Within its embrace there are seven special smaller craters that stand today as memorials to seven courageous mortals who had one thing in common; they died catastrophically, together, on January 28^th, 1986.  These craters are: McAuliffe – Scobee - Smith - McNair - Onizuka - Resnik and Jarvis.  The crew perished just 73 seconds into launch, with the world looking on, when the Challenger Space Shuttle tragically disintegrated.  This small article may serve as a brief tribute to those seven brave souls, and if nothing else, give them more than ‘just a name’. 

Sharon Christa McAuliffe (1948-1986), a 38 year old American Junior High School teacher.  Sharon is probably best remembered as being ‘the first teacher in space’.  She was selected from more than 11,000 applicants to take part in the NASA Teacher in Space program.  Her official position on STS 51-L Space Shuttle Challenger was that of Payload Specialist (PS).  Her specific tasks were to have been to conduct experiments and teach two lessons from space.  STS-51-L was the twenty-fifth flight of the American Space Shuttle program, and marked the first time a civilian had flown aboard the Space Shuttle.  McAuliffe has had many facilities named in her honour in the USA.  On July 23^rd, 2004, she was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President George W, Bush. 

Francis Richard “Dick” Scobee, (1939-1986), was the commander of the Space Shuttle Challenger.  Scobee enlisted in the USAF in 1957.  He first served as a reciprocating engine mechanic; a world away from space rocketry.  Whilst off duty, Scobee studied at San Antonio College (a community college).  In 1965 Scobee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona.  In that same year he also received an officer commission from the USAF.   Dick Scobee attended flight school, earning his wings in 1966, serving as a combat aviator in the Vietnam War.  As with many who become astronauts, Scobee’s career path followed that of the intrepid test pilot.  Dick Scobee was picked for NASA’s astronaut program in January 1978 and completed his training in August 1979. Scobee was promoted to the role of space craft commander for the fateful Challenger flight.  His last recorded words were: "Roger, go at throttle up".  In 2004, Scobee was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Purple Heart medal.

Michael J Smith, (1945-1986) was a married man with three children.  He graduated from Beaufort High School, Beaufort, North Carolina, in 1963; received a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1967 and a Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1968.  Michael was a career naval aviator.  After completing his aviation jet training at Kingsville, Texas in 1969, he was assigned to the Advanced Jet Training Command (VT-21), where he served as an instructor. Throughout a distinguished career, he saw service in Vietnam, qualified as a US Navy test pilot, cooperated in the development of the  A-6E (attack aircraft) and Cruise missile guidance systems, worked as an instructor, and flew twenty-eight different types of military and civilian aircraft; logging 4,867.7 hours of flying time.  He was selected for the NASA Space Program in May 1980, qualifying as a space shuttle pilot after a year of training. Had he lived, Smith would have piloted Shuttle mission 61-N, tabled to launch in the autumn of 1986.  Michael Smith’s honours include: The Defence Distinguished Service Medal (posthumous), Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, 3 Air Medals, 13 Strike Flight Air Medals, and the Navy Commendation Medal with "V", the Navy Unit Citation, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. 

Dr Ronald Ervin McNair (1950-1986), physicist and astronaut.  Unlike Smith and Scobee, McNair was not a career pilot or a military man.  He is perhaps best described as an academic who had great musical talent.  In 1971, he received a bachelor’s degree in physics (magna cum laude).  In 1976 he received his PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, so becoming nationally recognised for his work in the field of laser physics.  In addition, McNair received three honorary doctorates, numerous fellowships and commendations; and on top of his academic accolades he also achieved a black belt in karate.  After graduating from MIT, he became a staff physicist the Hughes Research Laboratory in Malibu California.  In 1978, he was selected from a pool of ten thousand for the NASA astronaut program; he flew on STS-41-B, aboard Challenger in February 1984, as a mission specialist.  He became only the second African American to fly in space.  As history recalls, he was later selected for the fateful flight STS-51-L.  His task on the mission was linked to the Music in Space program.  McNair, a very accomplished saxophonist, was to have recorded a saxophone solo, which would have made it the first original piece of music to have been recorded in space.

Ellison S. Onizuka (Lieutenant Colonel USAF) (1946-1986) – survived by his wife, Lorna, and two daughters.  Born and educated in Hawaii, Onizuka graduated from Konawaena High School, in 1964.  He received Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering in June and December 1969, respectively, from the University of Colorado.  Another defence career crew member, Ellison embarked on active duty with the USAF in January 1970.  He pursued a distinguished career as an aerospace flight test engineer and participated in many flight test programs.   In July 1975, he was assigned to the USAF Test Centre at Edwards Air Force Base, where his duties involved instruction of USAF Test Pilot School courses, and management of all flight test modifications to general support fleet aircraft.  He is recorded as logging more than 1,700 hours flying time.   Selected as a candidate by NASA in January of 1978, Onizuka logged a total of seventy-four hours of space flight time before the disastrous STS-51-L Challenger flight.  His honours include the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organisational Excellence Award, and the National Defence Service Medal.   He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Colonel, and posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honour. 

Dr Judith Arlene Resnik PhD (1949 –1986) was an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She is often shown floating in weightlessness, with her unforgettable shock of black hair.  At the time it was taken, this photo caused quite a stir for viewers more used to seeing ‘crew-cut’ males in space.  She has the honour of being the first Jewish woman in space.  Judith was recruited into the astronaut program in January 1978; her first space flight was as a mission specialist on the maiden voyage of Discovery, from August to September 1984.  It was during this flight Resnik’s sense of humour came to the fore; she gained a reputation for her weightless acrobatics, and she once held up a sign reading ‘Hi Dad’ to the camera.  Since her death, Resnik has been awarded many posthumous honours. Numerous public buildings and facilities have been named after her, mostly schools and educational facilities, including a dormitory at her alma mater, Carnegie Mellon, and the main engineering lecture hall at the University of Maryland.

Gregory Bruce Jarvis (1944-1986) – Air Force Captain Rtd.  Jarvis had a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and also gained a Masters in Electrical Engineering in 1969.  He joined the USAF also in 1969, completing his period of service in 1973; he was honourably discharged with the rank of Captain.  On returning to ‘Civy Street’ he went to work for Hughes Aircraft.  Jarvis was selected as a Payload Specialist for flight STS-51-L.  About six weeks after the disaster, the remains of the crew decks were discovered on the ocean bed.  Gregory Jarvis’ remains were discovered in the lower mid-deck, with the remains of McNair and McAuliffe.  During recovery, the remains escaped from the debris.  His body was rediscovered during a final recovery attempt and eventually returned to shore.  Gregory Jarvis was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honour in 2004. 

In concluding this article, I can only comment that whilst a lunar site for these seven memorials is fitting, the fact that they lie on the far side of the Moon – facing forever towards the darkness of space, seems somewhat incongruous and melancholy in its complete isolation.  One can only hope that - ‘out of sight’ - is never - ‘out of mind’ – for this glaring human failure that cost the lives of seven worthy people.

Refs:

Centre, L. B. J. S. (2003, December 1). Biographical data. Retrieved June 23, 2010, from NASA: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/smith-michael.html.

Centre, L. B. J. S. (2007, January 1). Biographical data. Retrieved June 22, 2010, from National Aeronautics and Space Exploration: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/onizuka.html.

NASA. (2003, December 1). Biographical data. Retrieved June 7, 20010, from National Aeronautics and Space Exploration: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/smith-michael.html.

National, E. (2010). Sharon christa mcAuliffe, the first teacher in space. Retrieved June 4, 2010, from examiner.com: http://www.examiner.com/x-1869-New-England-Fitness-Examiner~y2010m2d7-Profile-Sharon-Christa-McAuliffe-the-first-teacher-in-space.

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2009, August 30). McAuliffe (crater). Retrieved June 2, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McAuliffe_(crater).

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2009, August 30). McNair (crater). Retrieved June 2, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNair_(crater).

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2009, August 30). Onizuka (crater). Retrieved June 2, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onizuka_(crater).

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2009, August 30). Resnik (crater). Retrieved June 2, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resnik_(crater).

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2009, August 30). Scobee (crater). Retrieved June 2, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scobee_(crater).

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2010, May 10). Apollo (crater). Retrieved June 2, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_(crater).

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2010, May 1). Dick scobee. Retrieved June 4, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Scobee.

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2010). Gregory jarvis. Retrieved June 27, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Jarvis.

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2010, May 1). Judith resnik. Retrieved June 22, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Resnik.

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2010, May 1). Michael j smith (astronaut). Retrieved June 3, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Smith_(astronaut).

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2010, June 13). Ronald mcNair. Retrieved June 22, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_McNair.

Wikipedia, T. F. E. (2010, February 18). Smith (lunar crater). Retrieved June 2, 20010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_(lunar_crater).

Shedding Some Light - July, 2011 – Davy Jones

This article was written for the July 2011 edition of Prime Focus, and was one of a series related to 'energy'.  It appears here in a slightly adapted form for interested Face Book followers on Macarthur Astronomical Society page...

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The less one knows about the universe, the easier it is to explain – Leon Brunschvicg 1869-1944

                                                                                   

Before moving into the scientific complexities of the 20^th century, it is worth consolidating the synoptic view created over the past few articles.  I began this series by asking: ‘What is Energy’; and continued with an examination of the early growth of human scientific thought.  It became apparent that certain human traits and conditions stymied human logic and the development of scientific reflection. 

Identified amongst these traits and conditions were religion and spiritual fantasy, economics, politics, cultural needs or desires, and fluctuating levels of human curiosity; not to mention professional envy.  Each of the above-mentioned traits or conditions provide a rich area for debate in their own right.  The human race has only itself to blame for its incredibly slow scientific development.  Even in today's world, there are powerful elements who would, for purely selfish reasons, plunge the world back hundreds of years simply to enhance their own megalomaniacal  appetites. 

Our primary interest is astronomy and cosmology, so I don’t intend to stray too far down a philosophical, political, religious or psychological path.  However, to achieve the objective of understanding scientific development, we should perhaps first be cognizant of the most basic human needs. 

‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ plays a large part in human intellectual development.  Without going too deeply into this phenomenon, suffice to say, Abraham Maslow maintained that without a full belly, and the most basic needs of life, humans tend not to be too concerned with deeply intellectual or academic matters.  One can imagine many periods of human history where the sole concern was basic survival – not scientific advancement.  

http://www.businessballs.com/maslow.htm

Another aspect worth considering is the difference between ‘scientific development’ and ‘technological development’ – these are two distinctly differing fields of human enterprise.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Science_vs_Technology

The Egyptians, for example, were without doubt technologically advanced.  However, they weren’t necessarily scientifically astute!    Quite simply; they made many items that made life easier and more comfortable, without necessarily understanding the scientific principles that underpinned them.  Much the same could be said today – many of us drive technologically advanced vehicles – however few understand what makes them work! 

One final point worth consideration; in earlier times, it had been possible, if one were among a privileged few, to ‘know all there was to know’.  The sum of human knowledge was such that, without modern day distractions, a person could study to ‘understand everything’. 

The last statement must be taken cautiously; but reflects how little was understood scientifically.  As the Enlightenment progressed into the Industrial Revolution, science and physics started to get serious.  Pandora’s Box inched to open.  Scientists began to specialise in their own focussed areas of interest.  The world was still a large place at the end of the 19^th century, with poor infrastructures and communication.  Nevertheless, progress was made and information started to be collated; and more importantly, shared.

By the end of the 19th century and moving into the 20th century, the three classical states of matter, liquid, solids and gas had been   seriously investigated.  Study then progressed into the non-classical states – glass and crystal etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_matter 

With the coming of quantum physics, the field would widen again into low temperature states, high-energy states, very-high energy states and ever onward into other proposed states.

Hypothesis built upon hypothesis as theories were proven or disproved; perfect unadulterated science thrived in this environment. 

The First and Second World Wars would drive further discoveries – some more welcome than others.  Year by year, scientists presented the human race with a growing array of deepening mysteries; mysteries that would stretch ordinary mortal mental capacities beyond everyday limits.  Some of these discoveries have led us to rethink the concept of 'reality' itself.  Take the following examples; I take the liberty of assuming most readers are aware of the properties of an atom in general terms:

If one accepts the world human population now to be 6,000,000,000 (6x10⁹) – and the number of atoms in the human body on average to be 7,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (7x10²⁷) then the whole human race comprises: 6x10⁹ x 7x10²⁷ = 4.2×10³⁷ atoms.  Stripping away the outer layers of those atoms, leaving only their nuclei - matter - the space required to ‘store’ the whole human race can now be reduced to something akin to the volume of a sugar lump.  

Or conversely:  the density of a neutron star – let's say about 20 km in diameter - is such that one teaspoon of its substance has a mass of about 100 million tons, which is about as much weight as a good-sized mountain.  

The consequential force of gravity for such a star, is so powerful, that if an object were to fall from just one metre high it would hit the surface of the star at around 2,000 kms per second, or 4.3 million mph.

  

These statements are tricky for people to comprehend, because they lay outside the confines of ‘common sense’ or logic; but remember, the same ‘common sense’ or logic, was once a valid reason for accepting the geocentric model of the universe!

http://www.universetoday.com/32607/geocentric-model/ 

Today, there are still those who support the notion of a flat earth.  Religion and superstition still retain an iron grip on the human psyche throughout the world.  Economics undoubtedly  restricts funding for long term scientific research, and professional jealousy still gets in the way of scientific progress. 

Increasingly, politics in this modern age has an unfortunate habit of creating misleading ‘scientific facts’ for purely political ends.  In spite of these negatives, whilst it may have slowed, genuine scientific knowledge continues to develop apace, even in the face of often vitriolic opposition from those with negative vested interests.

Having indulged in a little consolidation, we can now examine some of the specific areas of scientific development concerning the nature of the universe.  As we have seen scientific arguments and debates have raged throughout history.  That is the essential strength of science – one must always question the results. 

Darwin’s Theory – may be termed ‘only a theory’ – but since first proposed, all subsequent evidence has only supported and strengthened that ‘theory’.  Nothing has cast serious doubt upon Darwin’s empirical evidence and ensuing conclusions.

Conversely, the scientific debate that raged for years over the existence of cosmic ether as the medium by which light moved through the universe, was eventually lost; in spite of assertions - there ‘must be something’ in which light could travel.  Common sense again!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminiferous_aether 

Since the Ancient Greeks, it was speculated that light had a finite speed.  Our old champion, Galileo, actually carried out some crude research attempting to establish the speed of light.  Some seventy years later, the Danish astronomer, Ole Roemer estimated the speed of light at about 220,000 km/s – nearly 26% lower than its correct value.  It wasn’t until 1849, that Armand-Hippolyte-Louis Fizeau (1819-1896) made a reasonably successful attempt to establish the actual speed of light.  In coming years, eminent scientists from Leon Foucault to Mittelstaedt through to Bergstrand, in 1951, struggled to achieve a correct result. 

The American, Albert Abraham Michelson (1852-1931), typified the calibre of those whose efforts would lead to an accurate assessment of the speed of light.  Michelson is particularly interesting because his greatest claim to fame was a failed experiment, which lasted an agonising seven years. 

Michelson initially set out to prove the existence of the enigmatic substance - ‘ether’.  Finally – he succeeded in proving beyond doubt that ether didn’t exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelson-Morley_experiment

Incidentally, in 1880 – Michelson estimated the speed of light to be: 2990,910 km/s.  Although incorrect, it was however a respectably accurate estimate.  In 1921-22, Michelson, in association with Francis Pease, became the first to measure the diameter of a star, other than the Sun.  Using an ‘astronomical interferometer’ at the Mt Wilson Observatory, the pair successfully measured the super-giant star – Betelgeuse.

In 1905, Albert Einstein demonstrated that the velocity of light was an essential constant – and in fact the definitive speed for any object. 

In 1951, using a Kerr Cell shutter, an instrument previously used as early as 1875, Erik Bergstrand put the speed of light at 299,793.1 km/s – an error of just 0.3.  Accumulated knowledge and advances in technology were finally closing the gap on the elusive ancient speculation. 

In the second half of the 20^th century, methods such as cavity resonance techniques, and later laser interferometer techniques ensured increasingly accurate measurements of the speed of light.  In 1983, the metre was redefined to increase the accuracy of various methods of measurement – the current definition now reads: “the metre is the length of the path travelled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second.’ 

As a consequence of this reclassification the value of the speed of light in a vacuum is now given as 299,792,458 m/s by the International System of Units (SI).  

http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/meter.html

Finally – it is worth remembering, when we speak about the ‘speed of light’ - we are in fact referring to the ‘speed of electromagnetic radiation’.  What we call, visible light is only a small part of that greater electromagnetic spectrum. 

Refs:

 BIBLIOGRAPHY Encyclopedi, W. t. (2010). State of Matter. Retrieved June 1, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_matter

Fowler, M. (2009). Galileo and Einstein. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from Uva Dept of Physics: http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/

Fowles, G. (1989). Introduction to Modern Physics. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from Physlink.com: http://www.physlink.com/education/askexperts/ae22.cfm

Gibbs, K. (2010). Speed of Light. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from School Physics: http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/age16-19/Wave%20properties/Wave%20properties/text/Speed_of%20light/index.html?PHPSESSID=325fe609a38643798b41aced112cbcd0

Singh, S. (2005). Big Bang. London: Harper Perennial.

WikiAnswers. (2011). How much would a spoonful of neutron star weigh. Retrieved June 1, 2011, from Answers.com: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_would_a_spoonful_of_a_neutron_star_weigh

Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. (2011). Speed of Light. Retrieved June 10, 2011, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_light