ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, September 10, 1996 TAG: 9609100065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: what's on your mind?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: After NASA lost a satellite when the tether holding it to the space shuttle broke this year, I read about a similar attempt several years ago. Was the first satellite ever retrieved? What kind of satellite was it? Does NASA have any plans for another attempt?
Student @ NRCC
A: The first satellite, in 1992, was an unsuccessful attempt to generate electricity by dragging a satellite on a 12.5-mile cord through Earth's magnetic field.
The tether unwound only to 850 feet and jammed, but the astronauts were able to reel the satellite back into the shuttle's cargo hold.
The second attempt, in February this year, gave NASA most of the data it wanted, even though hardware from the $400 million experiment drifted away and burned on re-entry.
About 3,500 volts were being generated when the copper-nylon-Teflon cord melted.
At the time, NASA was hoping the experiment would help it develop technology to power the proposed space station.
But on Monday, a NASA spokesman was talking about longer flights. He mentioned the possibility of Mars.
"It proved we can generate electricity. It gives us more background and impetus to develop technology for generating electricity that way and possibly achieve higher orbits with less fuel," said NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham.
The space station is not the only item on NASA's agenda. "We have a lot of things on the drawing board," particularly other space vehicles, Buckingham said. Their destinations could be Mars, other planets or a return to the moon, he said.
Meter inspection fee
Q: Why is there a new requirement in Roanoke County for yearly inspection of the back-flow device on residence water meters, at a cost of $30. If the meter is just for a sprinkler system or a pool, what is the concern?
S.S., Roanoke
A: The back-flow device prevents chemicals from a swimming pool or lawn treatment from being sucked back into the public water lines, a Roanoke County spokeswoman said.
Your question involves secondary water meters that allow people to fill pools and water lawns without paying the sewer portion of the water-sewer bill.
Apparently there's some concern that chemical-application devices could be attached to the pipes to treat the water before it enters the pool or gets sprayed onto a lawn.
A charge of $30 for looking at a meter seems a bit steep; but on the other hand, these uses apparently carry as much potential risk as ordinary residential pipes.
This potential was realized in a Northwest Roanoke neighborhood a few years ago when a pest-treatment worker left a water hose in a bucket of pesticide.
At the same time, city crews working nearby shut off water to the entire block temporarily, causing a drop in water pressure. The resulting vacuum sucked the pesticide back into the city lines and distributed it to every house on the block, causing several to require new plumbing.
Have a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Call us at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RayR@Roanoke.Infi.Net. Maybe we can find the answer.
LENGTH: Medium: 68 linesby CNB