Section Eight

Communications: Computer Networks

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Introduction

Many SEDS-USA chapters, in utilizing resources available through their host institutions, have derived tremendous benefits by accessing the international computer networks (e.g. Internet, Janet). These networks provide a means for finding out what is going on in the space world and communicating between SEDS-USA chapters and other groups. For example, the Executive Committee holds biweekly teleconferences via telnet utility.

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The SEDS-L, SEDSNEWS and SEDSEXEC

SEDS-USA has its own mailing lists. They are the SEDS-L, SEDSNEWS, and SEDSEXEC. The SEDS-L has information concerning business and general communication for SEDS-USA. To subscribe to the SEDS-L, send an email message to listserv@tamvm1.tamu.edu, leaving the subject line blank, and write SUB SEDS-L [your username]. To post a message to the -L, just send your post to seds-l@tamvm1.tamu.edu or simply post using your local newsreader. Or, to subscribe to SEDSNEWS, send an email message to the same address as above with the subject line blank, this time with the message SUB SEDSNEWS [your username]. News and information cross-posted from other space-related newsgroups gets posted to SEDSNEWS. The SEDSEXEC mailing list is for the National Executive Board and the presidents of SEDS chapters. If your chapter would like to subscribe, send a message to jeff@astron.mit.edu asking that your chapter be included on the SEDSEXEC mailing list.

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FTP Sites

There exist a number of FTP sites from which you can access information for your chapter. NASA has an FTP site at ames.arc.nasa.gov from which NASA information summaries and images can be obtained. SEDS-USA has its own anonymous FTP site fr om which SEDS information and images can be obtained. The address is seds.lpl.arizona.edu.

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SEDS' Sparc 10, which was donated by SUN, houses the SEDS' ftp and web sites.

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World Wide Web

There is also a home page on the WWW for SEDS-USA. The URL is http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/. It is being constantly updated and contains new and accurate information about SEDS-USA. It also introduces SEDS-USA to those who are not familiar with our organization.

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Electronic Mail (e-mail)

Email is one of the most important tools that SEDS-USA members use to keep in contact with each other. The address for the Executive Board is sedsexec@athena.mit.edu. This is a list that will send mail to all members of the Executive Board. There is a list of the Executive Board members and their email addresses as well as their postal addresses and their phone numbers on a sheet included with the Kit. For more information about the computer networks, just email seds@seds.lpl.arizona.edu.

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Computer Communications Within Your Chapter

We suggest that you set up an internet account for the executive committee members of your club. From there you can communicate with others in your club, region or SEDS-USA. We also suggest that you compile an electronic mailing list of your members and other interested people. A local newsgroup can provide a forum for debate and discussion about space-related issues.