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From: jsq@ut-sally.UUCP (John Quarterman)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Alternate Energy & Microwaves
Message-ID: <3082@ut-sally.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 15-Aug-84 12:39:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: ut-sally.3082
Posted: Wed Aug 15 12:39:35 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Aug-84 02:09:09 EDT
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Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 18

On putting astronomers in the space station:

Actually, the planned space station will be in low earth orbit,
quite a ways below geosynchronous orbit, which is the most likely
place for power satellites.  The astronomers would at least not
have to contend with Earth's atmosphere, but they'd still have
the power satellites in plain view.  The space station is mostly
for industrial research, anyway.

A useful place for astronomers would be the L2 Terra-Luna libration
point, which is a (more or less) stable point above the far side of the
moon:  no atmosphere, no interference from most light sources on earth
or in most likely earth orbits.  This is preferable to an observatory
on the lunar far side itself because of ease of access.  Or at least
I'd think so.  Doubtless some opinions from astronomers will follow up....
-- 
John Quarterman, CS Dept., University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712 USA
jsq@ut-sally.ARPA, jsq@ut-sally.UUCP, {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax}!ut-sally!jsq