To The Moon, Mars, and Beyond
Many folks would like to see us back on the Moon and developing its resources.Special Knoreply@blogger.comBlogger1066125
Updated: 4 weeks 6 days ago
NASA Twin Spacecraft On Final Approach For Moon Orbit
GRAIL update from NASA Headquarters News Media Services.To subscribe to the list, send a message to:
hqnews-subscribe@mediaservices.nasa.gov- LRK -
------------------------------------------- http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-426_GRAIL_Highlights.html
NASA Twin Spacecraft On Final Approach For Moon OrbitDec. 28, 2011
Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov
DC Agle
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-393-9011
agle@jpl.nasa.gov
Caroline McCall
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
617-253-1682
cmcall5@mit.edu
RELEASE: 11-426
NASA TWIN SPACECRAFT ON FINAL APPROACH FOR MOON ORBIT
PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's twin spacecraft to study the moon from crust to core are nearing their New Year's Eve and New Year's Day main-engine burns to place the duo in lunar orbit.
Named Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), the spacecraft are scheduled to be placed in orbit beginning at 1:21 p.m. PST (4:21 p.m. EST) for GRAIL-A on Dec. 31, and 2:05 p.m. PST (5:05 p.m. EST) on Jan. 1 for GRAIL-B.
"Our team may not get to partake in a traditional New Year's celebration, but I expect seeing our two spacecraft safely in lunar orbit should give us all the excitement and feeling of euphoria anyone in this line of work would ever need," said David Lehman, project manager for GRAIL at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif.
The distance from Earth to the moon is approximately 250,000 miles (402,336 kilometers). NASA's Apollo crews took about three days to travel to the moon. Launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Sept. 10, 2011, the GRAIL spacecraft are taking about 30 times that long and covering more than 2.5 million miles (4 million kilometers) to get there.
This low-energy, long-duration trajectory has given mission planners and controllers more time to assess the spacecraft's health. The path also allowed a vital component of the spacecraft's single science instrument, the Ultra Stable Oscillator, to be continuously powered for several months. This will allow it to reach a stable operating temperature long before it begins making science measurements in lunar orbit.
"This mission will rewrite the textbooks on the evolution of the moon," said Maria Zuber, GRAIL principal investigator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. "Our two spacecraft are operating so well during their journey that we have performed a full test of our science instrument and confirmed the performance required to meet our science objectives."
As of Dec. 28, GRAIL-A is 65,860 miles (106,000 kilometers) from the moon and closing at a speed of 745 mph (1,200 kph). GRAIL-B is 79,540 miles (128,000 kilometers) from the moon and closing at a speed of 763 mph (1,228 kph).
During their final approaches to the moon, both orbiters move toward it from the south, flying nearly over the lunar south pole. The lunar orbit insertion burn for GRAIL-A will take approximately 40 minutes and change the spacecraft's velocity by about 427 mph (688 kph). GRAIL-B's insertion burn 25 hours later will last about 39 minutes and is expected to change the probe's velocity by 430 mph (691 kph).
The insertion maneuvers will place each orbiter into a near-polar, elliptical orbit with a period of 11.5 hours. Over the following weeks, the GRAIL team will execute a series of burns with each spacecraft to reduce their orbital period from 11.5 hours down to just under two hours. At the start of the science phase in March 2012, the two GRAILs will be in a near-polar, near-circular orbit with an altitude of about 34 miles (55 kilometers).
When science collection begins, the spacecraft will transmit radio signals precisely defining the distance between them as they orbit the moon. As they fly over areas of greater and lesser gravity, caused both by visible features such as mountains and craters and by masses hidden beneath the lunar surface. they will move slightly toward and away from each other. An instrument aboard each spacecraft will measure the changes in their relative velocity very precisely, and scientists will translate this information into a high-resolution map of the Moon's gravitational field. The data will allow mission scientists to understand what goes on below the surface. This information will increase our knowledge of how Earth and its rocky neighbors in the inner solar system developed into the diverse worlds we see today.
JPL manages the GRAIL mission. MIT is home to the mission's principal investigator, Maria Zuber. The GRAIL mission is part of the Discovery Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver built the spacecraft.
For more information about GRAIL, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/grail
-end-
snip
-------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/main/index.html GRAILGravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory
Mission News
==============================================================http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/overview/index.html GRAILGravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory
Mission Overview==============================================================https://moonkam.ucsd.edu/homeWelcome to GRAIL MoonKAMIn 2011, NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission launched twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the Moon to measure its gravity in unprecedented detail. The mission will answer key questions about the Moon's internal structure and give scientists a better understanding of how our solar system formed.
GRAIL MoonKAM will allow classrooms to request pictures of the lunar surface from cameras on the twin satellites. As we count down to the MoonKAM mission, we will be adding exciting features and resources to this site, including student activities, teacher guides, and more.
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
THE GRAVITY RECOVERY AND INTERIOR LABORATORY (GRAIL)
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/grail/home.cfm
I was asked if GRAIL launched and I must admit I had not followed in detail.
What I found and let me know if things change.
- LRK -
http://moon.mit.edu/
Says will but doesn't look current.
Says launched 10 September but will take some time getting to the Moon.
-------------------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_Recovery_and_Interior_Laboratory
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) is an American lunar science mission in NASA's Discovery Program, which will use high-quality gravitational field mapping of the Moon to determine its interior structure. The two small spacecraft GRAIL A and GRAIL B were launched on 10 September 2011 aboard a single launch vehicle: the most-powerful configuration of a Delta II, the 7920H-10.[1][3][4]
GRAIL A separated from the rocket about nine minutes after launch,
GRAIL B followed about eight minutes later.
They will arrive at their orbits around the Moon 24 hours apart.[5]
The science phase of the mission will last for 90 days. Following the science phase (or extended mission phase), a five-day decommissioning period is planned, after which the spacecraft will impact the lunar surface in about 40 days.[6] The gravity mapping technique is similar to that used by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and the spacecraft design is based on XSS-11.[7]
Unlike the Apollo program missions, which took three days to reach the Moon, GRAIL will make use of a three- to four-month low-energy trans-lunar cruise via the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1 to reduce fuel requirements, protect instruments and reduce the velocity of the two spacecraft at lunar arrival to help achieve the extremely low 50 km (31 mi) orbits with separation between the spacecraft (arriving 24 hours apart) of 175 to 225 km (109 to 140 mi).[8][9] The very tight tolerances in the flight plan leaves little room for error correction leading to a launch window lasting one second and providing only two launch opportunities per day.[10]
Maria Zuber of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is GRAIL's principal investigator. The mission's team of expert scientists and engineers also includes former NASA astronaut Sally Ride, who will lead the mission's public outreach efforts. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the project. As of August 5, 2011, the program has cost US$496 million.[11]
-------------------------------------------------
Aaah, the NASA GRAIL site with mission elapsed clock.
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/main/index.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/launch/index.html
Spacecraft: GRAIL
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II Heavy
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 17B
Launch Date: Sept. 10, 2011
Launch Time: 9:08:52 a.m. EDT
snip
Twin GRAIL Spacecraft Begin Journey to the Moon Aboard Delta II Rocket
A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket successfully sent NASA's twin moon-bound GRAIL spacecraft on their way at 9:08 a.m. EDT on Sept. 10, 2011. The launch came during the second window of the day when upper-level winds proved out of limits during the day's first opportunity, just as they had during the first launch attempt on Sept. 8.
The twin spacecraft will study the moon in unprecedented detail.
GRAIL-A is scheduled to reach the moon on New Year's Eve 2011, while GRAIL-B will arrive New Year's Day 2012. The two solar-powered spacecraft will fly in tandem orbits around the moon to measure its gravity field. GRAIL will answer longstanding questions about the moon and give scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed.
› GRAIL/Delta II Summary (PDF 650KB)
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/583711main_GRAIL%20508%20(2).pdf
-------------------------------------------------
lunar insertion to be in January 2012
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------------
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/grail/home.cfm
snip
Welcome
The Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission will create the most accurate gravitational map of the moon to date, improving our knowledge of near-side gravity by 100 times and of far-side gravity by 1000 times. The high-resolution gravitational field, especially when combined with a comparable- resolution topographical field, will enable scientists to deduce the moon's interior structure and composition... More >
Key Dates:
Launched: Sept. 10, 2011
Lunar Orbit Insertion: January 2012
Science Mission: March - May 2012
snip
-------------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://science.nasa.gov/missions/grail/
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission was competitively selected through the Discovery Program. GRAIL launched on a Delta II launch vehicle and will use high-quality gravity field mapping of the moon to determine the moon's interior structure.
GRAIL’s primary science objectives will be to determine the structure of the lunar interior, from crust to core and to advance understanding of the thermal evolution of the Moon. As a secondary objective, GRAIL will extend knowledge gained from the Moon to the other terrestrial planets
snip
==============================================================
https://moonkam.ucsd.edu/home
Welcome to GRAIL MoonKAM
In 2011, NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission launched twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the Moon to measure its gravity in unprecedented detail. The mission will answer key questions about the Moon's internal structure and give scientists a better understanding of how our solar system formed.
GRAIL MoonKAM will allow classrooms to request pictures of the lunar surface from cameras on the twin satellites. As we count down to the MoonKAM mission, we will be adding exciting features and resources to
this site, including student activities, teacher guides, and more.
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
I was asked if GRAIL launched and I must admit I had not followed in detail.
What I found and let me know if things change.
- LRK -
http://moon.mit.edu/
Says will but doesn't look current.
Says launched 10 September but will take some time getting to the Moon.
-------------------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_Recovery_and_Interior_Laboratory
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) is an American lunar science mission in NASA's Discovery Program, which will use high-quality gravitational field mapping of the Moon to determine its interior structure. The two small spacecraft GRAIL A and GRAIL B were launched on 10 September 2011 aboard a single launch vehicle: the most-powerful configuration of a Delta II, the 7920H-10.[1][3][4]
GRAIL A separated from the rocket about nine minutes after launch,
GRAIL B followed about eight minutes later.
They will arrive at their orbits around the Moon 24 hours apart.[5]
The science phase of the mission will last for 90 days. Following the science phase (or extended mission phase), a five-day decommissioning period is planned, after which the spacecraft will impact the lunar surface in about 40 days.[6] The gravity mapping technique is similar to that used by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and the spacecraft design is based on XSS-11.[7]
Unlike the Apollo program missions, which took three days to reach the Moon, GRAIL will make use of a three- to four-month low-energy trans-lunar cruise via the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1 to reduce fuel requirements, protect instruments and reduce the velocity of the two spacecraft at lunar arrival to help achieve the extremely low 50 km (31 mi) orbits with separation between the spacecraft (arriving 24 hours apart) of 175 to 225 km (109 to 140 mi).[8][9] The very tight tolerances in the flight plan leaves little room for error correction leading to a launch window lasting one second and providing only two launch opportunities per day.[10]
Maria Zuber of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is GRAIL's principal investigator. The mission's team of expert scientists and engineers also includes former NASA astronaut Sally Ride, who will lead the mission's public outreach efforts. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the project. As of August 5, 2011, the program has cost US$496 million.[11]
-------------------------------------------------
Aaah, the NASA GRAIL site with mission elapsed clock.
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/main/index.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/launch/index.html
Spacecraft: GRAIL
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II Heavy
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 17B
Launch Date: Sept. 10, 2011
Launch Time: 9:08:52 a.m. EDT
snip
Twin GRAIL Spacecraft Begin Journey to the Moon Aboard Delta II Rocket
A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket successfully sent NASA's twin moon-bound GRAIL spacecraft on their way at 9:08 a.m. EDT on Sept. 10, 2011. The launch came during the second window of the day when upper-level winds proved out of limits during the day's first opportunity, just as they had during the first launch attempt on Sept. 8.
The twin spacecraft will study the moon in unprecedented detail.
GRAIL-A is scheduled to reach the moon on New Year's Eve 2011, while GRAIL-B will arrive New Year's Day 2012. The two solar-powered spacecraft will fly in tandem orbits around the moon to measure its gravity field. GRAIL will answer longstanding questions about the moon and give scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed.
› GRAIL/Delta II Summary (PDF 650KB)
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/583711main_GRAIL%20508%20(2).pdf
-------------------------------------------------
lunar insertion to be in January 2012
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------------
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/grail/home.cfm
snip
Welcome
The Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission will create the most accurate gravitational map of the moon to date, improving our knowledge of near-side gravity by 100 times and of far-side gravity by 1000 times. The high-resolution gravitational field, especially when combined with a comparable- resolution topographical field, will enable scientists to deduce the moon's interior structure and composition... More >
Key Dates:
Launched: Sept. 10, 2011
Lunar Orbit Insertion: January 2012
Science Mission: March - May 2012
snip
-------------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://science.nasa.gov/missions/grail/
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission was competitively selected through the Discovery Program. GRAIL launched on a Delta II launch vehicle and will use high-quality gravity field mapping of the moon to determine the moon's interior structure.
GRAIL’s primary science objectives will be to determine the structure of the lunar interior, from crust to core and to advance understanding of the thermal evolution of the Moon. As a secondary objective, GRAIL will extend knowledge gained from the Moon to the other terrestrial planets
snip
==============================================================
https://moonkam.ucsd.edu/home
Welcome to GRAIL MoonKAM
In 2011, NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission launched twin spacecraft in tandem orbits around the Moon to measure its gravity in unprecedented detail. The mission will answer key questions about the Moon's internal structure and give scientists a better understanding of how our solar system formed.
GRAIL MoonKAM will allow classrooms to request pictures of the lunar surface from cameras on the twin satellites. As we count down to the MoonKAM mission, we will be adding exciting features and resources to
this site, including student activities, teacher guides, and more.
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
Fourth Status Report on Commercial Partners Progress Released
This notice received. The report is only a 3 page PDF file.
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-253_CCP_60-day_Report.html
Dec. 16, 2011
Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov / j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-253
FOURTH STATUS REPORT ON COMMERCIAL PARTNERS PROGRESS RELEASED
WASHINGTON - NASA released the fourth in a series of 60-day reports
today showing that commercial spaceflight development programs are
moving forward. The agency's U.S. industry partners continue to make
progress in developing a transportation system to ferry cargo and U.S.
astronauts to the International Space Station. The development
of industry systems will allow NASA to concentrate its resources on
deep space exploration.
The latest status report highlights the progress and accomplishments
for the agency's commercial spaceflight development efforts. The
bi-monthly report is targeted toward non-technical stakeholders and
the American public, to inform them of NASA's achievements in
maintaining spaceflight leadership.
NASA's Commercial Spaceflight Development programs are investing
financial and technical resources to stimulate efforts within the
private sector to develop and demonstrate safe, reliable, and
cost-effective space transportation capabilities.
For the report and more information visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial
-end-
-------------------------------------------
The report link.
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/610831main_Dec_2011_60_Day_Report-508.pdf
The Commercial Space Transportation page.
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/
snip
Commercial space transportation is a vital component to the future
of human space exploration. As NASA charts a new course to send humans
deeper into space than ever before, we are stimulating efforts within
the private sector to develop and operate safe, reliable and
affordable commercial space transportation systems. Once the
capabilities are matured and available to the government and other
customers, NASA could purchase commercial services to transport crew
and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and low Earth
orbit.
This approach will provide assured access to the ISS, strengthen
America's space industry and provide a catalyst for future business
ventures to capitalize on affordable access for space.
snip
-------------------------------------------
And if you are part of the media.
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-252_SpaceX_Media.html
Dec. 16, 2011
Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov/j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-252
MEDIA ACCREDITATION NOW OPEN FOR NASA/SPACEX LAUNCH
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., -- Media accreditation for NASA's second
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration flight is
open. Liftoff of a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9
rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Fla., is targeted for Feb. 7, 2012.
During the flight, the Dragon spacecraft will conduct a series of
check-out procedures to test and prove its systems in advance of a
rendezvous with the International Space Station. The primary
objectives for the flight include a fly-by of the space station at a
distance of approximately two miles to validate the operation of
sensors and a flight system necessary for a safe rendezvous and
approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the capability to abort
the rendezvous.
International news media representatives without U.S. citizenship must
apply for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities by
Jan. 5. The early accreditation deadline is needed because the U.S.
Air Force requires 30 days to process international media credentials.
For U.S. news media, the deadline to apply is Jan. 30.
All media accreditation requests need to be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact
NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site at 321-867-2468.
For more information on NASA's COTS program, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/cots
-end-
snip
-------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/document_library.html
Commercial Crew & Cargo Document Library
Newsletters and Milestone Charts
snip
Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) Space Act Agreements
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/contracts/CCDev.html
- Blue Origin (NNJ10TA02S)
- Paragon Space Development Corporation (NNJ10TA03S)
- Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems
- The Boeing Company
- United Launch Alliance (NNJ10TA06S)
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Demonstration (COTS)
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/contracts/cots.html
- Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NNJ06TA26S)
- Orbital Corporation
- Kistler Aerospace Corporation and Rocketplane Limited, Inc. (NNJ06TA27S)
Commercial Space Transportation Capabilities Agreements
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/contracts/CSTC.html
- Planetspace
- tSpace
- Spacehab
- SpaceDev
- CSI
snip
==============================================================
http://procurement.ksc.nasa.gov/index.htm
WELCOME TO KSC PROCUREMENT
snip
Space Act Agreements
The agreements posted today are an interim proactive public release
based on submitter consent immediately available. A process has been
initiated to receive and consider detailed submitter positions as
contemplated by 14 CFR 1206.610 before posting a final version on the
KSC FOIA webpage.
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-253_CCP_60-day_Report.html
Dec. 16, 2011
Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov / j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-253
FOURTH STATUS REPORT ON COMMERCIAL PARTNERS PROGRESS RELEASED
WASHINGTON - NASA released the fourth in a series of 60-day reports
today showing that commercial spaceflight development programs are
moving forward. The agency's U.S. industry partners continue to make
progress in developing a transportation system to ferry cargo and U.S.
astronauts to the International Space Station. The development
of industry systems will allow NASA to concentrate its resources on
deep space exploration.
The latest status report highlights the progress and accomplishments
for the agency's commercial spaceflight development efforts. The
bi-monthly report is targeted toward non-technical stakeholders and
the American public, to inform them of NASA's achievements in
maintaining spaceflight leadership.
NASA's Commercial Spaceflight Development programs are investing
financial and technical resources to stimulate efforts within the
private sector to develop and demonstrate safe, reliable, and
cost-effective space transportation capabilities.
For the report and more information visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial
-end-
-------------------------------------------
The report link.
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/610831main_Dec_2011_60_Day_Report-508.pdf
The Commercial Space Transportation page.
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/
snip
Commercial space transportation is a vital component to the future
of human space exploration. As NASA charts a new course to send humans
deeper into space than ever before, we are stimulating efforts within
the private sector to develop and operate safe, reliable and
affordable commercial space transportation systems. Once the
capabilities are matured and available to the government and other
customers, NASA could purchase commercial services to transport crew
and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and low Earth
orbit.
This approach will provide assured access to the ISS, strengthen
America's space industry and provide a catalyst for future business
ventures to capitalize on affordable access for space.
snip
-------------------------------------------
And if you are part of the media.
- LRK -
-------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-252_SpaceX_Media.html
Dec. 16, 2011
Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov/j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-252
MEDIA ACCREDITATION NOW OPEN FOR NASA/SPACEX LAUNCH
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., -- Media accreditation for NASA's second
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration flight is
open. Liftoff of a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9
rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Fla., is targeted for Feb. 7, 2012.
During the flight, the Dragon spacecraft will conduct a series of
check-out procedures to test and prove its systems in advance of a
rendezvous with the International Space Station. The primary
objectives for the flight include a fly-by of the space station at a
distance of approximately two miles to validate the operation of
sensors and a flight system necessary for a safe rendezvous and
approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the capability to abort
the rendezvous.
International news media representatives without U.S. citizenship must
apply for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities by
Jan. 5. The early accreditation deadline is needed because the U.S.
Air Force requires 30 days to process international media credentials.
For U.S. news media, the deadline to apply is Jan. 30.
All media accreditation requests need to be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact
NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site at 321-867-2468.
For more information on NASA's COTS program, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/cots
-end-
snip
-------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/document_library.html
Commercial Crew & Cargo Document Library
Newsletters and Milestone Charts
snip
Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) Space Act Agreements
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/contracts/CCDev.html
- Blue Origin (NNJ10TA02S)
- Paragon Space Development Corporation (NNJ10TA03S)
- Sierra Nevada Corporation Space Systems
- The Boeing Company
- United Launch Alliance (NNJ10TA06S)
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services Demonstration (COTS)
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/contracts/cots.html
- Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NNJ06TA26S)
- Orbital Corporation
- Kistler Aerospace Corporation and Rocketplane Limited, Inc. (NNJ06TA27S)
Commercial Space Transportation Capabilities Agreements
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/news/contracts/CSTC.html
- Planetspace
- tSpace
- Spacehab
- SpaceDev
- CSI
snip
==============================================================
http://procurement.ksc.nasa.gov/index.htm
WELCOME TO KSC PROCUREMENT
snip
Space Act Agreements
The agreements posted today are an interim proactive public release
based on submitter consent immediately available. A process has been
initiated to receive and consider detailed submitter positions as
contemplated by 14 CFR 1206.610 before posting a final version on the
KSC FOIA webpage.
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
[history] Passing of Boris Chertok
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/chertok_obit.html
Russian rocket designer Boris Yevseyevich Chertok,
one of the foundingfathers of the Russian space program,
passed away on Dec.14 at the ageof 99.
---
Russian rocket designer Boris Yevseyevich Chertok
Image Credit: NASA
---
[Update from Geoff - http://rt.com/news/chertok-russia-space-science-795/ - nice video here - LRK -]
Rocket designer Boris Chertok, a man whose name figures in almost every major Soviet space achievement and one of the greatest space pioneers in history, has passed away at his home in Moscow at the age of 99
I received an e-mail from Steve Garber for the NASA History Program Office about the death of Boris Chertok.
He provided some information about his four volume memoir, "Rockets and People" and its availability on-line.
A check of Amazon . com showed that even used books are quite pricy so maybe you won't mind reading a PDF version before buying.
http://www.amazon.com/Rockets-People-V-Boris-Chertok/dp/0160732395
On NASA Technical Reports Server the whole volume 1 can be down loaded but you might want it in three parts as listed by Steve Garber.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20050010181_2005010059.pdf (3.4 MB PDF)
- LRK -
--------------------------------------------
Readers: With great sadness, our office announces the recent deathof Boris Chertok, a towering figure in Soviet and Russian spacehistory. Chertok’s four-volume memoir, Rockets and People, hasreceived wide acclaim. The first three volumes ofthis series, edited by Dr. Asif Siddiqi, are available electronicallyfrom the links below and hard copies may be obtained through http://history.nasa.gov/series95.html#orderonline. The fourth and final volume, subtitled The Moon Race, will be published early next year. For more information on Chertok’s tremendous life story, see http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/chertok_obit.htmlonline. In sympathy, Steve Garberhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol1-1.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol1-2.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol1-3.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol2.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol3.pdfStephen Garber
NASA History Program OfficeMail Suite CO72, Room 5N11
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546
202-358-0385
202-358-2866 fax
http://history.nasa.gov-------------------------------------------
history mailing list
history@lists.hq.nasa.gov
https://lists.hq.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/history
--------------------------------------------
There are a lot of books available on line or that can be ordered from NASA.
- LRK -
--------------------------------------------
http://history.nasa.gov/series95.html
Management Histories, (SP-4100 Series):
Much to learn from those that have gone on before.
We stand on their shoulders as we reach for the stars.
- LRK -
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://history.nasa.gov/nltr26-2.pdf
By Asif A. Siddiqi, visiting scholar, Space, Policy, and Society Research Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology For those interested in the history of Russian space exploration, and more broadly in the history of space exploration during the Cold War, the memoirs of Boris Chertok provide a striking and unique perspective. Chertok is one of those rare actors in history who not only played a critical role in the program but has been able to convey with grace and eloquence his experiences to the broader public. For over 40 years, Chertok worked at the senior-most levels of the famous “OKB-1” design bureau, which in its present incarnation as the Energiya Rocket-Space Corporation continues to play a leading role in the Russian human spaceflight program.
snip
http://russianhistoryblog.org/asif-siddiqi/
==============================================================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Chertok
Boris Evseyevich Chertok (Russian: Борис Евсеевич Черток; 1 March 1912 – 14 December 2011) was a prominent Soviet and Russian rocketdesigner, responsible for control systems of a number of ballisticmissiles and spacecraft. He was the author of a four-volume book Rockets and People, the definitive source of information about the history of the Soviet space program.
From 1974, he was the deputy chief designer of the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, the space aircraft designer bureau which he started working for in 1974. He retired in 1992.[2]
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
Russian rocket designer Boris Yevseyevich Chertok,
one of the foundingfathers of the Russian space program,
passed away on Dec.14 at the ageof 99.
---
Russian rocket designer Boris Yevseyevich Chertok
Image Credit: NASA
---
[Update from Geoff - http://rt.com/news/chertok-russia-space-science-795/ - nice video here - LRK -]
Rocket designer Boris Chertok, a man whose name figures in almost every major Soviet space achievement and one of the greatest space pioneers in history, has passed away at his home in Moscow at the age of 99
I received an e-mail from Steve Garber for the NASA History Program Office about the death of Boris Chertok.
He provided some information about his four volume memoir, "Rockets and People" and its availability on-line.
A check of Amazon . com showed that even used books are quite pricy so maybe you won't mind reading a PDF version before buying.
http://www.amazon.com/Rockets-People-V-Boris-Chertok/dp/0160732395
On NASA Technical Reports Server the whole volume 1 can be down loaded but you might want it in three parts as listed by Steve Garber.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20050010181_2005010059.pdf (3.4 MB PDF)
- LRK -
--------------------------------------------
Readers: With great sadness, our office announces the recent deathof Boris Chertok, a towering figure in Soviet and Russian spacehistory. Chertok’s four-volume memoir, Rockets and People, hasreceived wide acclaim. The first three volumes ofthis series, edited by Dr. Asif Siddiqi, are available electronicallyfrom the links below and hard copies may be obtained through http://history.nasa.gov/series95.html#orderonline. The fourth and final volume, subtitled The Moon Race, will be published early next year. For more information on Chertok’s tremendous life story, see http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/chertok_obit.htmlonline. In sympathy, Steve Garberhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol1-1.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol1-2.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol1-3.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol2.pdfhttp://history.nasa.gov/SP-4110/vol3.pdfStephen Garber
NASA History Program OfficeMail Suite CO72, Room 5N11
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546
202-358-0385
202-358-2866 fax
http://history.nasa.gov-------------------------------------------
history mailing list
history@lists.hq.nasa.gov
https://lists.hq.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/history
--------------------------------------------
There are a lot of books available on line or that can be ordered from NASA.
- LRK -
--------------------------------------------
http://history.nasa.gov/series95.html
Management Histories, (SP-4100 Series):
- Rosholt, Robert L. An Administrative History of NASA, 1958-1963. NASA SP-4101, 1966. Out of print.
- Levine, Arnold S. Managing NASA in the Apollo Era. NASA SP-4102,1982. Out of print.
- Roland, Alex. Model Research: The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,1915-1958. NASA SP-4103, 1985.
- Fries, Sylvia D. NASA Engineers and the Age of Apollo. NASA SP-4104,1992. Out of print.
- Glennan, T. Keith. The Birth of NASA: The Diary of T. Keith Glennan. Edited by J.D. Hunley. NASA SP-4105, 1993.
- Seamans, Robert C. Aiming at Targets: The Autobiography of Robert C. Seamans. NASA SP-4106, 1996.
- Garber, Stephen J., editor. Looking Backward, Looking Forward: Forty Years of Human Spaceflight Symposium. NASA SP-2002-4107.
- Mallick, Donald L. with Peter W. Merlin. The Smell of Kerosene: A Test Pilot's Odyssey. NASA SP-4108. Out of print.
- Iliff, Kenneth W. and Curtis L. Peebles. From Runway to Orbit: Reflections of a NASA Engineer. NASA SP-2004-4109.
- Chertok, Boris. Rockets and People, Volume 1. (NASA SP-2005-4110).
Click below to view this book in a three part PDF:
Part 1.
Part 2.
Part 3. - Chertok, Boris. Rockets and People: Creating a Rocket Industry, Volume II. (NASA SP-2006-4110).
- Chertok, Boris. Rockets and People: Hot Days of the Cold War, Volume III.(NASA SP-2009-4110).
- Laufer, Alexander, Post, Todd, and Hoffman, Edward. Shared Voyage: Learning and Unlearning from Remarkable Projects (NASA SP-2005-4111).
- Dawson, Virginia P. and Bowles, Mark D. Realizing the Dream of Flight: Biographical Essays in Honor of the Centennial of Flight, 1903-2003. (NASA SP-2005-4112).
- Mudgway, Douglas J. William H. Pickering: America's Deep Space Pioneer.(NASA SP-2008-4113).
Click below to view this book in a three part PDF:
Part 1.
Part 2.
Part 3.
Much to learn from those that have gone on before.
We stand on their shoulders as we reach for the stars.
- LRK -
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://history.nasa.gov/nltr26-2.pdf
By Asif A. Siddiqi, visiting scholar, Space, Policy, and Society Research Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology For those interested in the history of Russian space exploration, and more broadly in the history of space exploration during the Cold War, the memoirs of Boris Chertok provide a striking and unique perspective. Chertok is one of those rare actors in history who not only played a critical role in the program but has been able to convey with grace and eloquence his experiences to the broader public. For over 40 years, Chertok worked at the senior-most levels of the famous “OKB-1” design bureau, which in its present incarnation as the Energiya Rocket-Space Corporation continues to play a leading role in the Russian human spaceflight program.
snip
http://russianhistoryblog.org/asif-siddiqi/
==============================================================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Chertok
Boris Evseyevich Chertok (Russian: Борис Евсеевич Черток; 1 March 1912 – 14 December 2011) was a prominent Soviet and Russian rocketdesigner, responsible for control systems of a number of ballisticmissiles and spacecraft. He was the author of a four-volume book Rockets and People, the definitive source of information about the history of the Soviet space program.
From 1974, he was the deputy chief designer of the S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, the space aircraft designer bureau which he started working for in 1974. He retired in 1992.[2]
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
Landing - it is in the details -
When you talk about landing humans on another planet or moon there are a lot of decisions that have to be made. On the FPSPACE list a question was asked why the American Lunar Modules had insulation wraps on the legs and the Soviet Lunniy Korabl spaceship did not.
----Soviet Lunniy Korabl spaceship in 1:5 scale at http://lunniykorabl.blogspot.comFPSPACE mailing list
FPSPACE@www.friends-partners.org
http://www.friends-partners.org/mailman/listinfo/fpspace----http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LK_(spacecraft)The LK (Lunny Korabl—"lunar ship") was a Soviet lunar lander and counterpart of the American Lunar Module (LM). The LK was to have landed up to two cosmonauts on the Moon. It completed development and was test flown successfully in Earth orbit, but never reached the Moon because development of theN1 rocket, required to take it to the Moon, was unsuccessful.----
This PDF document has a lot of information about the Lunar Module landing-gear. The 60 page NASA Technical Note explains why paint was not enough to keep the temperature within limits especially if the astronauts had to land with the rocket engine still firing as they touched down. Testing, testing, testing, and attention to detail. And how do you drop test at 1/6 G on a 1 G Earth? :-)- LRK -
--------------------------------------------------------
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720018253_1972018253.pdfNASA m D-6850APOLLO EXPERIENCE REPORTLUNAR MODULE LANDING GEAR SUBSYSTEMWilliam F. Rogers, MSC
Page 19----Thermal Insulation
Landing-gear thermal-insulation design is based on several requirements. Landing-gear temperatures must be maintained at or below design levels to ensure positive structural margins of safety and proper mechanical operation during deployment and landing. Temperature control of the honeycomb energy absorbers within specified limits is necessary to ensure that the crush loads will be within proper levels.
Based on these requirements, an estimated 8.0 pounds of thermal paint was allotted to landing-gear thermal control early in the development program. The weight history of the landing-gear thermal insulation is shown in table II. As thermal testing and analysis progressed, it became apparent that 8.0 pounds of thermal paint were totally inadequate for landing -gear thermal protection. Additional insulation had to be provided because of the effects of LM reaction control system (RCS) plume impingement, The impingement from the RCS plume adversely affected the structural temperatures and the temperature of the honeycomb energy absorbers in the primary and secondary struts. Landing-performance analysis, for which the energy -absorber load levels that are temperature dependent were used, showed considerable degradation in landing-gear performance for worst -case combinations of honeycomb temperatures and landing conditions. The outcome of this investigation was the addition of thermal-insulation blankets to the main structural members of the landing gear. The thermal-insulation weight (table II) was increased to 29.4 pounds for the Ap0110 9 LM (LM-3) and Apollo 10 LM (LM-4), which were the first two LM flight articles to have landing gears.[emphasis mine - LRK -]----snip--------------------------------------------------------
A lot of decisions to be made for something as big as the Apollo missions. A lot of people and companies with their own ideas as to what would be the best way to get us to the Moon and back. You can read about it on-line if you haven't already. When talk about new missions that might take humans to space I wonder how much is paid to the details.- LRK -
--------------------------------------------------------
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4205/cover.htmlChariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft
Contents.http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4205/contents.html
Ch 4 Chapter 4 - Matching Modules and Missions
I took a look in this book. Just fold everything up in a neat package until you get ready to leave lunar orbit. Then stretch out your legs and prepare to land on soil that has only been tested by unmanned landers. Will you slide sideways, will you sink into the regolith, will you tip over on the side of meteor crater? Details, details, details!- LRK -
Virtual Apollo: a pictorial essay of the engineering and construction of the Apollo command and service modules : the historic spacecraft that took man to the moon.--------------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books/about/Virtual_Apollo.html?id=-Yc9pPw4OsEC
http://www.cgpublishing.com/Books/VirtualLM.html
In the book, "Virtual LM" by Scott P. Sullivan, he has pictured on p.115, Landing Gear Thermal Insulation. From the list of items: ... (Q) Primary Strut Thermal Covering (1/2 mil Aluminized Kapton), (Q2) Primary Strut Thermal Covering (5 mils Aluminized Kapton), (R) Landing Pad Thermal Covering (1/2 mil Aluminized Kapton), (S) Probe Thermal Coating (2 mils Aluminzed Kapton).
On pages 75 - 92 he has pictured the Landing Gear Assembly in its various configurations. Looks like a lot of electrical and mechanical considerations.
On page 77 Scott has a write up about the landing gear and in the last paragraph he states, "The landing gear primary strut had a footpad at the bottom that was 37 inches in diameter and was attached to the strut with a ball-socket fitting, allowing radial movement. The landing pad was an aluminum honeycomb construction and its large diameter ensured minimal penetration of the LM on lunar impact. During launch, four straps held the pads in a fixed position on the strut. The straps would shear or bend on impact with the lunar surface, permitting the pad to conform to the irregularities of the lunar surface."
On page 83 Scott has a paragraph about the lunar surface-sensing probes that were on on three of the four landing struts. They were retained in a stowed position up against the primary strut until landing gear deployment. During the deployment, mechanical interlocks were released permitting spring energy to extend the probes so that they were approximately 5 feet below the bottom of the footpad. Pressure on the probe head completed an electrical circuit letting the astronauts know to shut off the engine.snip--------------------------------------------------------
And how much weight will you have to add to protect you from radiation from space? Will you want to land on legs? How many legs? If you land on an asteroid, do I need legs? If I land on Mars, do I need legs? Those details.
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/12/aquatic-space-walk-simulates-asteroid-conditions.htmlNew Scientist TVAquanauts prepare for asteroid landing15:22 6 December 2011
NASA is preparing for the next frontier: an asteroid landing. Due to the weak gravity and loose surface of these space rocks, travelling across the rocky terrain will be a challenge. So in October, the NASA Extreme Environments Mission Operations (NEEMO) team tested how cables, jet packs, and poles could help people move over the surface of a simulated asteroidnear Key Largo, Florida.
In this video, David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency tries out a small telescoping boom, a method that should provide the stability necessary in zero gravity. The pole is fastened with magnets to anchor points on the surface. By inching from one of these points to the next, he slowly but steadily approaches his destination. To find out more about asteroid exploration, read our full feature Asteroid touchdown: mission to a mini-world. If you enjoyed this video, watch a simulated Mars walk or check out a 3D moon flyover. snip==============================================================
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/11/3d-moon-flyover-reveals-greatest-detail-ever.htmlNew Scientist TV3D moon flyover reveals greatest detail ever16:22 22 November 2011This flyover of the lunar surface gives the most comprehensive picture of the moon to date. Created by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and NASA, the virtual ride is made up of 70,000 still images captured by a wide-angle camera aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) from an altitude of 50 kilometers.The model highlights low-lying areas in blue and the highest regions in red and white. In the first clip, a full view of the lunar surface initially reveals the Earth-facing side of the moon, showing prominent flat plains that were used as landing sites for the Apollo missions.As the model rotates, the dark side of the moon, which faces out toward space, becomes visible. It's home to the lowest crater, roughly 9100 metres deep, as well as the highest mountains that reach an altitude of 10,760 metres.
Subsequent clips zoom in on the South Pole-Aitken basin, a large impact crater on the far side of the moon, and the landing sites of Apollo 15 and Apollo 17.The virtual flyover took two weeks to create and covers 98 per cent of the lunar surface.Frank Scholten, a geodesic scientist at DLR, used a network of 40 computers outfitted with special software to compare still images from the LRO pixel by pixel. A 3D model was obtained by analysing the point of view of the camera in each shot as well as data from a laser-mapping instrument onboard the LSO. Laser readings were used to map topography at the poles, which is difficult to do otherwise due to persistent shadows."These 3D maps of the moon enable us to better evaluate future landing sites," says lunar researcher Ulrich Köhler from the DLR, who is part of a team working with NASA to survey the moon. "Whether manned or unmanned, future flights to the moon will benefit from the most detailed map of the lunar surface," he says.If you enjoyed this video, watch how the LRO mapped the surface of the moon, see ananimated map of the largest lunar craters or take a mind-bending tour of the solar system.==============================================================WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -==============================================================
----Soviet Lunniy Korabl spaceship in 1:5 scale at http://lunniykorabl.blogspot.comFPSPACE mailing list
FPSPACE@www.friends-partners.org
http://www.friends-partners.org/mailman/listinfo/fpspace----http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LK_(spacecraft)The LK (Lunny Korabl—"lunar ship") was a Soviet lunar lander and counterpart of the American Lunar Module (LM). The LK was to have landed up to two cosmonauts on the Moon. It completed development and was test flown successfully in Earth orbit, but never reached the Moon because development of theN1 rocket, required to take it to the Moon, was unsuccessful.----
This PDF document has a lot of information about the Lunar Module landing-gear. The 60 page NASA Technical Note explains why paint was not enough to keep the temperature within limits especially if the astronauts had to land with the rocket engine still firing as they touched down. Testing, testing, testing, and attention to detail. And how do you drop test at 1/6 G on a 1 G Earth? :-)- LRK -
--------------------------------------------------------
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720018253_1972018253.pdfNASA m D-6850APOLLO EXPERIENCE REPORTLUNAR MODULE LANDING GEAR SUBSYSTEMWilliam F. Rogers, MSC
Page 19----Thermal Insulation
Landing-gear thermal-insulation design is based on several requirements. Landing-gear temperatures must be maintained at or below design levels to ensure positive structural margins of safety and proper mechanical operation during deployment and landing. Temperature control of the honeycomb energy absorbers within specified limits is necessary to ensure that the crush loads will be within proper levels.
Based on these requirements, an estimated 8.0 pounds of thermal paint was allotted to landing-gear thermal control early in the development program. The weight history of the landing-gear thermal insulation is shown in table II. As thermal testing and analysis progressed, it became apparent that 8.0 pounds of thermal paint were totally inadequate for landing -gear thermal protection. Additional insulation had to be provided because of the effects of LM reaction control system (RCS) plume impingement, The impingement from the RCS plume adversely affected the structural temperatures and the temperature of the honeycomb energy absorbers in the primary and secondary struts. Landing-performance analysis, for which the energy -absorber load levels that are temperature dependent were used, showed considerable degradation in landing-gear performance for worst -case combinations of honeycomb temperatures and landing conditions. The outcome of this investigation was the addition of thermal-insulation blankets to the main structural members of the landing gear. The thermal-insulation weight (table II) was increased to 29.4 pounds for the Ap0110 9 LM (LM-3) and Apollo 10 LM (LM-4), which were the first two LM flight articles to have landing gears.[emphasis mine - LRK -]----snip--------------------------------------------------------
A lot of decisions to be made for something as big as the Apollo missions. A lot of people and companies with their own ideas as to what would be the best way to get us to the Moon and back. You can read about it on-line if you haven't already. When talk about new missions that might take humans to space I wonder how much is paid to the details.- LRK -
--------------------------------------------------------
http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4205/cover.htmlChariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft
Contents.http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4205/contents.html
Ch 4 Chapter 4 - Matching Modules and Missions
- 1962
- The Team and the Tools
- Preliminary Designs for the Lunar Lander
- Pressures by PSAC
- Fitting the Lunar Module into Apollo
- NASA Adjustments for Apollo
- NASA-Grumman Negotiations
- End of a Phase
- 1963-1964
- External Design
- Tailoring the Cockpit
- Hatches and Landing Gear
- Engines, Large and Small
- Environment and Electricity
- The "Sub-Prime" and the Radar Problem
- Guidance and Navigation
- Mockup Reviews
- The Lunar Module and the Apollo Program
I took a look in this book. Just fold everything up in a neat package until you get ready to leave lunar orbit. Then stretch out your legs and prepare to land on soil that has only been tested by unmanned landers. Will you slide sideways, will you sink into the regolith, will you tip over on the side of meteor crater? Details, details, details!- LRK -
Virtual Apollo: a pictorial essay of the engineering and construction of the Apollo command and service modules : the historic spacecraft that took man to the moon.--------------------------------------------------------
http://books.google.com/books/about/Virtual_Apollo.html?id=-Yc9pPw4OsEC
http://www.cgpublishing.com/Books/VirtualLM.html
In the book, "Virtual LM" by Scott P. Sullivan, he has pictured on p.115, Landing Gear Thermal Insulation. From the list of items: ... (Q) Primary Strut Thermal Covering (1/2 mil Aluminized Kapton), (Q2) Primary Strut Thermal Covering (5 mils Aluminized Kapton), (R) Landing Pad Thermal Covering (1/2 mil Aluminized Kapton), (S) Probe Thermal Coating (2 mils Aluminzed Kapton).
On pages 75 - 92 he has pictured the Landing Gear Assembly in its various configurations. Looks like a lot of electrical and mechanical considerations.
On page 77 Scott has a write up about the landing gear and in the last paragraph he states, "The landing gear primary strut had a footpad at the bottom that was 37 inches in diameter and was attached to the strut with a ball-socket fitting, allowing radial movement. The landing pad was an aluminum honeycomb construction and its large diameter ensured minimal penetration of the LM on lunar impact. During launch, four straps held the pads in a fixed position on the strut. The straps would shear or bend on impact with the lunar surface, permitting the pad to conform to the irregularities of the lunar surface."
On page 83 Scott has a paragraph about the lunar surface-sensing probes that were on on three of the four landing struts. They were retained in a stowed position up against the primary strut until landing gear deployment. During the deployment, mechanical interlocks were released permitting spring energy to extend the probes so that they were approximately 5 feet below the bottom of the footpad. Pressure on the probe head completed an electrical circuit letting the astronauts know to shut off the engine.snip--------------------------------------------------------
And how much weight will you have to add to protect you from radiation from space? Will you want to land on legs? How many legs? If you land on an asteroid, do I need legs? If I land on Mars, do I need legs? Those details.
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/12/aquatic-space-walk-simulates-asteroid-conditions.htmlNew Scientist TVAquanauts prepare for asteroid landing15:22 6 December 2011
NASA is preparing for the next frontier: an asteroid landing. Due to the weak gravity and loose surface of these space rocks, travelling across the rocky terrain will be a challenge. So in October, the NASA Extreme Environments Mission Operations (NEEMO) team tested how cables, jet packs, and poles could help people move over the surface of a simulated asteroidnear Key Largo, Florida.
In this video, David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency tries out a small telescoping boom, a method that should provide the stability necessary in zero gravity. The pole is fastened with magnets to anchor points on the surface. By inching from one of these points to the next, he slowly but steadily approaches his destination. To find out more about asteroid exploration, read our full feature Asteroid touchdown: mission to a mini-world. If you enjoyed this video, watch a simulated Mars walk or check out a 3D moon flyover. snip==============================================================
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/nstv/2011/11/3d-moon-flyover-reveals-greatest-detail-ever.htmlNew Scientist TV3D moon flyover reveals greatest detail ever16:22 22 November 2011This flyover of the lunar surface gives the most comprehensive picture of the moon to date. Created by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and NASA, the virtual ride is made up of 70,000 still images captured by a wide-angle camera aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) from an altitude of 50 kilometers.The model highlights low-lying areas in blue and the highest regions in red and white. In the first clip, a full view of the lunar surface initially reveals the Earth-facing side of the moon, showing prominent flat plains that were used as landing sites for the Apollo missions.As the model rotates, the dark side of the moon, which faces out toward space, becomes visible. It's home to the lowest crater, roughly 9100 metres deep, as well as the highest mountains that reach an altitude of 10,760 metres.
Subsequent clips zoom in on the South Pole-Aitken basin, a large impact crater on the far side of the moon, and the landing sites of Apollo 15 and Apollo 17.The virtual flyover took two weeks to create and covers 98 per cent of the lunar surface.Frank Scholten, a geodesic scientist at DLR, used a network of 40 computers outfitted with special software to compare still images from the LRO pixel by pixel. A 3D model was obtained by analysing the point of view of the camera in each shot as well as data from a laser-mapping instrument onboard the LSO. Laser readings were used to map topography at the poles, which is difficult to do otherwise due to persistent shadows."These 3D maps of the moon enable us to better evaluate future landing sites," says lunar researcher Ulrich Köhler from the DLR, who is part of a team working with NASA to survey the moon. "Whether manned or unmanned, future flights to the moon will benefit from the most detailed map of the lunar surface," he says.If you enjoyed this video, watch how the LRO mapped the surface of the moon, see ananimated map of the largest lunar craters or take a mind-bending tour of the solar system.==============================================================WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -==============================================================
Curiosity and the Solar Storm
One of the major problems with sending humans to space on long trips will be how much radiation they may receive. The more we can learn about this hazard the better. The Mars Rover, Curiosity, is on its way to Mars and will be measuring what radiation might hit it.
- LRK ----------------------------------------------------------http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/14dec_mslrad/There was no danger of a collision—Mars rover vs. solar storm. Racing forward at 2 million mph, the plasma cloud outpaced Curiosity’s rocket by a wide margin. Next time could be different, however. With solar activity on the upswing (Solar Max is expected in 2012-2013) it’s only a matter of time before a CME engulfs the Mars-bound rover.That suits some researchers just fine. As Don Hassler of the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in Boulder, Colorado, explains, “We look forward to such encounters because Curiosity is equipped to study solar storms."snipAs important as RAD’s cruise phase measurements are, the instrument’s primary mission doesn’t really begin until it lands on the Red Planet. Mars has a very thin atmosphere and no global magnetic field to protect it from space radiation. Energetic particles reaching ground level might be dangerous to life--both future human astronauts and extant Martian microbes. RAD will find out how much shielding human explorers need on the surface of Mars. RAD will also help researchers estimate how far below ground a microbe might have to go to reach a radiation “safe zone.” Solar storms are just for starters. Stay tuned to Science@NASA for the second installment of this story:Curiosity and the Habitability Mars.Author:Dr. Tony Phillips| Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA---------------------------------------------------------Footnote:1Posner notes that only the most powerful CMEs will still be accelerating particles when they are as far from sun as Curiosity will be. For a typical CME, the main thing RAD will detect is the modulation of galactic cosmic rays passing through the CME. Cosmic ray modulation could reveal new information about the interior structure of these storm clouds.Mars-Bound Rover Begins Research in Space -- NASA press releaseMars Science Lab (a.k.a. "Curiosity") -- home pageThe Strange Attraction of Gale Crater -- Science@NASAA Mars Rover Named Curiosity -- Science@NASACuriosity Takes Off -- Science@NASACredits: The Mars Science Lab mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The rover was designed, developed and assembled at JPL. NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida managed the launch. NASA's Space Network provided space communication services for the launch vehicle. NASA's Deep Space Network will provide spacecraft acquisition and mission communication.---------------------------------------------------------Whatever vehicle takes humans to space, finding a way to protect them from harmful radiations is going to be a problem that needs to be solved.
- LRK ----------------------------------------------------------
http://spaceradiation.usra.edu/aboutUs/About UsThe goal of NASA's Space Radiation Program (SRP) is to enable humans to explore space without exceeding an acceptable level of risk from exposure to space radiation.To achieve this goal, the SRP pursues a robust and active research program that encompasses biological, biomedical and radiation physics expertise to provide:
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/slsd/about/divisions/hacd/index.htm
The Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Division (HACD) is responsible for the performance of biomedical research focused on: 1) understanding the normal human response to space flight, and 2) developing, testing, and delivering countermeasures to those untoward responses that may affect crew health, safety, and/or performance during or after space flight missions. The HACD is comprised of two branches.
snip==============================================================
http://www.bnl.gov/medical/nasa/LTSF.aspManned space exploration in the 21st century holds exciting prospects for the advancement of science and the expansion of the human experience. Plans include the Alpha space station, an outpost on the Moon, exploration of near asteroids, and a piloted mission to Mars. However, for space exploration to go on, human crew members must be protected against the harsh environment of space, in particular, against the hazards of ionizing radiation. The radiation environment in space consists of high energy protons and high energy heavy ions (HZE).The principal source of HZE ions in nature is galactic cosmic rays (GCR), which consist mostly of protons, with small components of helium and heavier nuclei, electrons and positrons. Although the GCR will be attenuated and fragmented by electromagnetic and nuclear interactions in shielding material, crew members will still be exposed to significant radiation from both primary and secondary nuclei.snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -==============================================================
- LRK ----------------------------------------------------------http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/14dec_mslrad/There was no danger of a collision—Mars rover vs. solar storm. Racing forward at 2 million mph, the plasma cloud outpaced Curiosity’s rocket by a wide margin. Next time could be different, however. With solar activity on the upswing (Solar Max is expected in 2012-2013) it’s only a matter of time before a CME engulfs the Mars-bound rover.That suits some researchers just fine. As Don Hassler of the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in Boulder, Colorado, explains, “We look forward to such encounters because Curiosity is equipped to study solar storms."snipAs important as RAD’s cruise phase measurements are, the instrument’s primary mission doesn’t really begin until it lands on the Red Planet. Mars has a very thin atmosphere and no global magnetic field to protect it from space radiation. Energetic particles reaching ground level might be dangerous to life--both future human astronauts and extant Martian microbes. RAD will find out how much shielding human explorers need on the surface of Mars. RAD will also help researchers estimate how far below ground a microbe might have to go to reach a radiation “safe zone.” Solar storms are just for starters. Stay tuned to Science@NASA for the second installment of this story:Curiosity and the Habitability Mars.Author:Dr. Tony Phillips| Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA---------------------------------------------------------Footnote:1Posner notes that only the most powerful CMEs will still be accelerating particles when they are as far from sun as Curiosity will be. For a typical CME, the main thing RAD will detect is the modulation of galactic cosmic rays passing through the CME. Cosmic ray modulation could reveal new information about the interior structure of these storm clouds.Mars-Bound Rover Begins Research in Space -- NASA press releaseMars Science Lab (a.k.a. "Curiosity") -- home pageThe Strange Attraction of Gale Crater -- Science@NASAA Mars Rover Named Curiosity -- Science@NASACuriosity Takes Off -- Science@NASACredits: The Mars Science Lab mission is managed by JPL, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The rover was designed, developed and assembled at JPL. NASA's Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida managed the launch. NASA's Space Network provided space communication services for the launch vehicle. NASA's Deep Space Network will provide spacecraft acquisition and mission communication.---------------------------------------------------------Whatever vehicle takes humans to space, finding a way to protect them from harmful radiations is going to be a problem that needs to be solved.
- LRK ----------------------------------------------------------
http://spaceradiation.usra.edu/aboutUs/About UsThe goal of NASA's Space Radiation Program (SRP) is to enable humans to explore space without exceeding an acceptable level of risk from exposure to space radiation.To achieve this goal, the SRP pursues a robust and active research program that encompasses biological, biomedical and radiation physics expertise to provide:
- Recommendations for space radiation permissible exposure limits for exploration missions
- Discovery of the mechanisms of biological effects from celestial radiation such as protons and heavy ions, including potential differences between celestial and terresterial radiation, such as X-rays or gamma-rays in producing biological effects
- Radiobiological data, projection models, and computational tools to assess and project astronauts risk of cancer, central nervous system and degenerative diseases, and acute radiation syndromes from space radiation
- Computational tools and models to project astronaut risk and to assess vehicle design for radiation protection
- Assessment of updated technologies if needed, for monitoring radiation exposure, and recommendations on technologies to be used operationally
- Uncertainty reductions to enable radiation protection design and crew constraints for lunar and Mars missions
- Discovery of biological countermeasures for space radiation risks, and the accurate assessment of the effectiveness of physical, biological, or biological countermeasures or mitigations
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/slsd/about/divisions/hacd/index.htm
The Human Adaptation and Countermeasures Division (HACD) is responsible for the performance of biomedical research focused on: 1) understanding the normal human response to space flight, and 2) developing, testing, and delivering countermeasures to those untoward responses that may affect crew health, safety, and/or performance during or after space flight missions. The HACD is comprised of two branches.
snip==============================================================
http://www.bnl.gov/medical/nasa/LTSF.aspManned space exploration in the 21st century holds exciting prospects for the advancement of science and the expansion of the human experience. Plans include the Alpha space station, an outpost on the Moon, exploration of near asteroids, and a piloted mission to Mars. However, for space exploration to go on, human crew members must be protected against the harsh environment of space, in particular, against the hazards of ionizing radiation. The radiation environment in space consists of high energy protons and high energy heavy ions (HZE).The principal source of HZE ions in nature is galactic cosmic rays (GCR), which consist mostly of protons, with small components of helium and heavier nuclei, electrons and positrons. Although the GCR will be attenuated and fragmented by electromagnetic and nuclear interactions in shielding material, crew members will still be exposed to significant radiation from both primary and secondary nuclei.snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -==============================================================
This Way to Mars: How Technologies Borrowed from Robotic Missions Could Deliver Astronauts to Deep Space
Bryan sent me a link to an article in the December Scientific American about how we might find our way to Deep Space.
[See link below - LRK -]
Whether the ideas presented will create more interest remains to be seen.
- LRK -
------------------------------------------
The following from ScientificAmerican.com has been sent to you by Bryan K.
------------------------SUBSCRIBE NOW----------------------------
Stay connected to the latest trends in science and technology with SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.
Subscribe today and save!
http://www.scientificamerican.com/subscribe/index.cfm?lsource=friendmail
------------------------------------------------------------------
This Way to Mars: How Technologies Borrowed from Robotic Missions Could Deliver Astronauts to Deep Space
The best concepts I have seen for a while! Keep looking up . . .
By Damon Landau and Nathan J. Strange
By adapting ideas from robotic planetary exploration, the human space program could get astronauts to asteroids and Mars cheaply and quickly
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=this-way-to-mars
© 2011 Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
snip
------------------------------------------
Having read the article I wonder if this will just result in more plans that eventually get dropped for lack of continued interest or money.
I have been reading some of David S. F. Portree's blogs about previous plans for going to space that didn't materialize. We seem to be good at generating ideas but not so good at following through to implementation. If you check out some of links in the blog below you will see what I mean.
- LRK -
------------------------------------------
http://beyondapollo.blogspot.com/2011/11/from-author-top-10-articles.html
Recently a correspondent asked me to identify my top 10 favorite Beyond Apollo articles. Here's the list, in case anyone else is interested. I found that I couldn't stop at 10, so I decided to list one for every 10 Beyond Apollo articles. I think that this list is a good place for a newcomer to start their exploration of Beyond Apollo, which currently amounts to more than 230 articles.
snip
------------------------------------------
We will be watching how the latest Mars rover mission, Curiosity, does on its way to Mars. Even while still in its shroud the mission begins with turning on the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD). Wish them luck on its way to a Martian landing.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
- LRK -
------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-414_Mars_Research.txt
Dec. 13, 2011
Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov
Guy Webster
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,Calif.
818-354-6278
guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov
RELEASE: 11-414
NASA MARS-BOUND ROVER BEGINS RESEARCH IN SPACE
WASHINGTON -- NASA's car-sized Curiosity rover has begun monitoring space radiation during its 8-month trip from Earth to Mars. The research will aid in planning for future human missions to the Red
Planet.
Curiosity launched on Nov. 26 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., aboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). The rover carries an instrument called the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) that monitors high-energy
atomic and subatomic particles from the sun, distant supernovas and other sources.
These particles constitute radiation that could be harmful to any microbes or astronauts in space or on Mars. The rover also will monitor radiation on the surface of Mars after its August 2012 landing.
"RAD is serving as a proxy for an astronaut inside a spacecraft on the way to Mars," said Don Hassler, RAD's principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. " The instrument is deep inside the spacecraft, the way an astronaut would be. Understanding the effects of the spacecraft on the radiation field will be valuable in designing craft for astronauts to travel to Mars."snipInformation about the mission is available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/msl
You can follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at:
http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity
or
http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity
snip------------------------------------------And while reading about ways to get to Mars, just happened to see the movie Red Planet on cable TV. Not the best but points out that things can go wrong. Doesn't help that you used some military hardware for your robot, AMEE which complicates your crash landing.- LRK -------------------------------------------http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Planet_(film)Red Planet is a 2000 Technicolor science fiction film directed by Antony Hoffman, starringVal Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss. It was released on November 10, 2000.PlotIn 2056 AD, Earth is in ecologic crisis as a consequence of pollution and overpopulation. Meanwhile, automated interplanetary missions have been seeding Mars with atmosphere-producing algae for twenty years as the first stage in terraforming the planet. When the oxygen quantity produced by the algae is inexplicably reduced, the crew of Mars-1investigates, and must continue the mission of terraforming the planet for human colonization.
snip
The landing craft is damaged entering the Martian atmosphere, veers off course, and crash-lands far from their landing zone near the habitat. In the process, they lose track of "AMEE"(Autonomous Mapping Exploration and Evasion), a military combat robot re-purposed to serve as their "Mars surface navigator", and Chantillas suffers a ruptured spleen in the crash landing. With limited air, Chantillas is left behind to allow the others to complete the mission.
snip
Critical responseThe film received negative reviews, with only a 14% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 100 reviews.[2] Stephen Holden's review in the New York Times was almost entirely negative, calling the film "a leaden, skimpily plotted space-age Outward Bound adventure with vague allegorical aspirations that remain entirely unrealized."[3]
Errors
snip
Due to significant scientific inaccuracies, NASA refused to serve as a scientific adviser for the film, which it normally does for science fiction films. "The science was just so off the wall that eventually we felt, 'You guys go ahead and make your movie.' If there's something that's going to be so misleading to the public that we don't want to participate, then we'll say no," said Bert Ulrich, a NASA spokesperson. "The big thing is, we want to make sure we're not misleading the public completely."[5]
snip------------------------------------------Hmmmm, must watch out for those significant scientific inaccuracies.- LRK -
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-248_Asteroid_Campout.htmlMEDIA ADVISORY: M11-248MEDIA INVITED TO SIMULATED ASTEROID CAMPOUT IN HOUSTONHOUSTON -- For three days this week, a small part of NASA's JohnsonSpace Center in Houston will simulate a human mission to an asteroid.Reporters are invited to observe what the mission might entail.As NASA continues plans to send humans to explore asteroids and otherdestinations beyond low-Earth orbit, a number of questions are beingasked about how astronauts could live and work in space. NASAastronaut Mike Gernhardt and geologist Brent Garry of the PlanetaryScience Institute in Tucson, Ariz., will spend three days and twonights living inside the cabin of a prototype multi-mission SpaceExploration Vehicle (SEV) answering some of those questions.Reporters may visit the test site at 10:30 a.m. CST on Thursday, Dec.15, during a simulated spacewalk in which a crew member will use amicrogravity simulator. To attend contact Amiko Kauderer atamiko.kauderer-1@nasa.gov by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.The public is invited to ask the crew questions via twitter@Desert_RATS; for a Twitterview the crew will participate in at 11a.m. on Friday, Dec. 16. Questions should be marked #SEV.
snip==============================================================http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=35532-- Paul Allen Announces Revolution in Space Transportation Stratolaunch SystemEntrepreneur and philanthropist Paul G. Allen announced today that he and aerospace pioneerBurt Rutan have reunited to develop the next generation of space travel. Allen and Rutan, whoseSpaceShipOne was the first privately-funded, manned rocket ship to fly beyond earth'satmosphere, are developing a revolutionary approach to space transportation: an air-launchsystem to provide orbital access to space with greater safety, cost-effectiveness and flexibility.snip==============================================================WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
[See link below - LRK -]
Whether the ideas presented will create more interest remains to be seen.
- LRK -
------------------------------------------
The following from ScientificAmerican.com has been sent to you by Bryan K.
------------------------SUBSCRIBE NOW----------------------------
Stay connected to the latest trends in science and technology with SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.
Subscribe today and save!
http://www.scientificamerican.com/subscribe/index.cfm?lsource=friendmail
------------------------------------------------------------------
This Way to Mars: How Technologies Borrowed from Robotic Missions Could Deliver Astronauts to Deep Space
The best concepts I have seen for a while! Keep looking up . . .
By Damon Landau and Nathan J. Strange
By adapting ideas from robotic planetary exploration, the human space program could get astronauts to asteroids and Mars cheaply and quickly
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=this-way-to-mars
© 2011 Scientific American, a division of Nature America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
snip
------------------------------------------
Having read the article I wonder if this will just result in more plans that eventually get dropped for lack of continued interest or money.
I have been reading some of David S. F. Portree's blogs about previous plans for going to space that didn't materialize. We seem to be good at generating ideas but not so good at following through to implementation. If you check out some of links in the blog below you will see what I mean.
- LRK -
------------------------------------------
http://beyondapollo.blogspot.com/2011/11/from-author-top-10-articles.html
Recently a correspondent asked me to identify my top 10 favorite Beyond Apollo articles. Here's the list, in case anyone else is interested. I found that I couldn't stop at 10, so I decided to list one for every 10 Beyond Apollo articles. I think that this list is a good place for a newcomer to start their exploration of Beyond Apollo, which currently amounts to more than 230 articles.
snip
------------------------------------------
We will be watching how the latest Mars rover mission, Curiosity, does on its way to Mars. Even while still in its shroud the mission begins with turning on the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD). Wish them luck on its way to a Martian landing.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
- LRK -
------------------------------------------
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-414_Mars_Research.txt
Dec. 13, 2011
Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov
Guy Webster
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,Calif.
818-354-6278
guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov
RELEASE: 11-414
NASA MARS-BOUND ROVER BEGINS RESEARCH IN SPACE
WASHINGTON -- NASA's car-sized Curiosity rover has begun monitoring space radiation during its 8-month trip from Earth to Mars. The research will aid in planning for future human missions to the Red
Planet.
Curiosity launched on Nov. 26 from Cape Canaveral, Fla., aboard the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). The rover carries an instrument called the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) that monitors high-energy
atomic and subatomic particles from the sun, distant supernovas and other sources.
These particles constitute radiation that could be harmful to any microbes or astronauts in space or on Mars. The rover also will monitor radiation on the surface of Mars after its August 2012 landing.
"RAD is serving as a proxy for an astronaut inside a spacecraft on the way to Mars," said Don Hassler, RAD's principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. " The instrument is deep inside the spacecraft, the way an astronaut would be. Understanding the effects of the spacecraft on the radiation field will be valuable in designing craft for astronauts to travel to Mars."snipInformation about the mission is available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/msl
You can follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at:
http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity
or
http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity
snip------------------------------------------And while reading about ways to get to Mars, just happened to see the movie Red Planet on cable TV. Not the best but points out that things can go wrong. Doesn't help that you used some military hardware for your robot, AMEE which complicates your crash landing.- LRK -------------------------------------------http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Planet_(film)Red Planet is a 2000 Technicolor science fiction film directed by Antony Hoffman, starringVal Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss. It was released on November 10, 2000.PlotIn 2056 AD, Earth is in ecologic crisis as a consequence of pollution and overpopulation. Meanwhile, automated interplanetary missions have been seeding Mars with atmosphere-producing algae for twenty years as the first stage in terraforming the planet. When the oxygen quantity produced by the algae is inexplicably reduced, the crew of Mars-1investigates, and must continue the mission of terraforming the planet for human colonization.
snip
The landing craft is damaged entering the Martian atmosphere, veers off course, and crash-lands far from their landing zone near the habitat. In the process, they lose track of "AMEE"(Autonomous Mapping Exploration and Evasion), a military combat robot re-purposed to serve as their "Mars surface navigator", and Chantillas suffers a ruptured spleen in the crash landing. With limited air, Chantillas is left behind to allow the others to complete the mission.
snip
Critical responseThe film received negative reviews, with only a 14% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 100 reviews.[2] Stephen Holden's review in the New York Times was almost entirely negative, calling the film "a leaden, skimpily plotted space-age Outward Bound adventure with vague allegorical aspirations that remain entirely unrealized."[3]
Errors
snip
Due to significant scientific inaccuracies, NASA refused to serve as a scientific adviser for the film, which it normally does for science fiction films. "The science was just so off the wall that eventually we felt, 'You guys go ahead and make your movie.' If there's something that's going to be so misleading to the public that we don't want to participate, then we'll say no," said Bert Ulrich, a NASA spokesperson. "The big thing is, we want to make sure we're not misleading the public completely."[5]
snip------------------------------------------Hmmmm, must watch out for those significant scientific inaccuracies.- LRK -
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-248_Asteroid_Campout.htmlMEDIA ADVISORY: M11-248MEDIA INVITED TO SIMULATED ASTEROID CAMPOUT IN HOUSTONHOUSTON -- For three days this week, a small part of NASA's JohnsonSpace Center in Houston will simulate a human mission to an asteroid.Reporters are invited to observe what the mission might entail.As NASA continues plans to send humans to explore asteroids and otherdestinations beyond low-Earth orbit, a number of questions are beingasked about how astronauts could live and work in space. NASAastronaut Mike Gernhardt and geologist Brent Garry of the PlanetaryScience Institute in Tucson, Ariz., will spend three days and twonights living inside the cabin of a prototype multi-mission SpaceExploration Vehicle (SEV) answering some of those questions.Reporters may visit the test site at 10:30 a.m. CST on Thursday, Dec.15, during a simulated spacewalk in which a crew member will use amicrogravity simulator. To attend contact Amiko Kauderer atamiko.kauderer-1@nasa.gov by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.The public is invited to ask the crew questions via twitter@Desert_RATS; for a Twitterview the crew will participate in at 11a.m. on Friday, Dec. 16. Questions should be marked #SEV.
snip==============================================================http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=35532-- Paul Allen Announces Revolution in Space Transportation Stratolaunch SystemEntrepreneur and philanthropist Paul G. Allen announced today that he and aerospace pioneerBurt Rutan have reunited to develop the next generation of space travel. Allen and Rutan, whoseSpaceShipOne was the first privately-funded, manned rocket ship to fly beyond earth'satmosphere, are developing a revolutionary approach to space transportation: an air-launchsystem to provide orbital access to space with greater safety, cost-effectiveness and flexibility.snip==============================================================WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
MSL launch delayed to Saturday, Nov. 26
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
Well now it is our turn to launch a mission to Mars.I hope all goes well.- LRK -
------------------------------------------MSL launch delayed to Saturday, Nov. 26http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:09:33 PM PST
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has been delayed one day to allow time for the team to remove and replace a flight termination system battery. The launch is rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The one hour and 43 minute launch window opens at 10:02 a.m. EST.
The Monday, Nov. 21 schedule of prelaunch tours and briefings will remain the same. Rollout of the Atlas V to the launch pad moves to Friday, Nov. 25. The rest of the week's briefings and events are being reevaluated and a new prelaunch schedule will be issued on Monday.
snip
NASA News Conferences and Events for Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Launch
These events will be broadcast on NASA Television NASA Television and also carried on the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory Ustream channel.
Times are subject to change, so check this page for updates.
Nov. 10, 1:15 p.m. EST (10:15 a.m. PST), at NASA Headquarters, Washington, Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Mission Preview News Conference
› Archived news conference on Ustream
Nov. 21, 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST), at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., What Do We Know About Mars?
Nov. 26, 8 a.m. EST (5 a.m. PST), from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Live Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity launch coverage. First launch opportunity is at 10:02 a.m. EST (7:02 a.m. PST)
Nov. 26, approximately two to three hours after launch, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Post-Launch News Conference
snip------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/mars-science-laboratory-mission.aspxMars Science Laboratory (MSL) MissionOn November 26, 2011, the Curiosity Rover will launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket as part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission. Mars, the Red Planet, will be the rover's destination in August 2012.Curiosity will spend 23 months after landing gathering samples of rocks and soil. Curiosity is equipped with equipment to drill through rocks, and instrumens to collect samples and distribute to onboard test chambers. Curiosity's goal is to assess whether Mars ever had, or does still have today, an environment capable of supporting microbial life and habitability.The rocket launch is scheduled between 10:02 - 11:45 a.m. EST on November 26, 2011. Please check back for operating hours. snip------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/Mars Science Laboratory
sniphttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/
Scheduled to launch on Nov. 26, 2011, 7:02 a.m. PST (10:02 a.m. EST). The launch window is between Nov 25 - Dec. 18, 2011, Mars Science Laboratory is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. Mars Science Laboratory is a rover that will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet's "habitability."
snip------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/events.htmlMars Science Laboratory/Atlas V Launch Briefing and Events Schedule11.18.11(All times are Eastern)
All briefings for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launch will be held inside the Kennedy news center auditorium and will be carried live on NASA Television, unless otherwise noted.
L-4 Days – Monday, Nov. 21 – Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
11 a.m. -- Kennedy Space Center Radiological Control Center (RADCC) Tour – Safety Procedures for MSL's Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) – (Not on NASA TV)
- Arrive at Press Site by 10:30 a.m. for 10:45 p.m. departure; Return to Press Site by 12:30 p.m.
1 p.m. -- What Do We Know About Mars? News Conference
- Michael Meyer, lead scientist, Mars Exploration Program
- John Grotzinger, project scientist, Mars Science Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
- Bethany Ehlmann, scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory assistant professor, California Institute of Technology
2:30 p.m. -- 21st Century Ground Systems Program Tour (Not on NASA TV) – Launch Equipment Test Facility, Operations & Checkout Building for Orion, Multi-Payload Processing Facility and Canister Rotation Facility
- Arrive at Press Site by 2:15 p.m. for 2:30 p.m. departure; Return to Press Site by 4:30 p.m.
snip==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/index.htmlMars Science Laboratory
Multimedia info.
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
Well now it is our turn to launch a mission to Mars.I hope all goes well.- LRK -
------------------------------------------MSL launch delayed to Saturday, Nov. 26http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
Sat, 19 Nov 2011 01:09:33 PM PST
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has been delayed one day to allow time for the team to remove and replace a flight termination system battery. The launch is rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The one hour and 43 minute launch window opens at 10:02 a.m. EST.
The Monday, Nov. 21 schedule of prelaunch tours and briefings will remain the same. Rollout of the Atlas V to the launch pad moves to Friday, Nov. 25. The rest of the week's briefings and events are being reevaluated and a new prelaunch schedule will be issued on Monday.
snip
NASA News Conferences and Events for Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Rover Launch
These events will be broadcast on NASA Television NASA Television and also carried on the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory Ustream channel.
Times are subject to change, so check this page for updates.
Nov. 10, 1:15 p.m. EST (10:15 a.m. PST), at NASA Headquarters, Washington, Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity Mission Preview News Conference
› Archived news conference on Ustream
Nov. 21, 1 p.m. EST (10 a.m. PST), at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., What Do We Know About Mars?
Nov. 26, 8 a.m. EST (5 a.m. PST), from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Live Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity launch coverage. First launch opportunity is at 10:02 a.m. EST (7:02 a.m. PST)
Nov. 26, approximately two to three hours after launch, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Post-Launch News Conference
snip------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/mars-science-laboratory-mission.aspxMars Science Laboratory (MSL) MissionOn November 26, 2011, the Curiosity Rover will launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Rocket as part of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission. Mars, the Red Planet, will be the rover's destination in August 2012.Curiosity will spend 23 months after landing gathering samples of rocks and soil. Curiosity is equipped with equipment to drill through rocks, and instrumens to collect samples and distribute to onboard test chambers. Curiosity's goal is to assess whether Mars ever had, or does still have today, an environment capable of supporting microbial life and habitability.The rocket launch is scheduled between 10:02 - 11:45 a.m. EST on November 26, 2011. Please check back for operating hours. snip------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/Mars Science Laboratory
sniphttp://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/overview/
Scheduled to launch on Nov. 26, 2011, 7:02 a.m. PST (10:02 a.m. EST). The launch window is between Nov 25 - Dec. 18, 2011, Mars Science Laboratory is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, a long-term effort of robotic exploration of the red planet. Mars Science Laboratory is a rover that will assess whether Mars ever was, or is still today, an environment able to support microbial life. In other words, its mission is to determine the planet's "habitability."
snip------------------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/events.htmlMars Science Laboratory/Atlas V Launch Briefing and Events Schedule11.18.11(All times are Eastern)
All briefings for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) launch will be held inside the Kennedy news center auditorium and will be carried live on NASA Television, unless otherwise noted.
L-4 Days – Monday, Nov. 21 – Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
11 a.m. -- Kennedy Space Center Radiological Control Center (RADCC) Tour – Safety Procedures for MSL's Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) – (Not on NASA TV)
- Arrive at Press Site by 10:30 a.m. for 10:45 p.m. departure; Return to Press Site by 12:30 p.m.
1 p.m. -- What Do We Know About Mars? News Conference
- Michael Meyer, lead scientist, Mars Exploration Program
- John Grotzinger, project scientist, Mars Science Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
- Bethany Ehlmann, scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory assistant professor, California Institute of Technology
2:30 p.m. -- 21st Century Ground Systems Program Tour (Not on NASA TV) – Launch Equipment Test Facility, Operations & Checkout Building for Orion, Multi-Payload Processing Facility and Canister Rotation Facility
- Arrive at Press Site by 2:15 p.m. for 2:30 p.m. departure; Return to Press Site by 4:30 p.m.
snip==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/index.htmlMars Science Laboratory
Multimedia info.
snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
New Lunar Topological Map
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/484-Lunar-Topography-As-Never-Seen-Before!.html
---
---
Dan passed me some links about the recent notice of a new topological map of the Moon.
Let me share them with you.- LRK -
----------------------------------- (http://science.slashdot.org/story/11/11/18/0336225/high-resolution-global-topographic-map-of-moon) article on "High Resolution Global Topographic Map of Moon."
The image at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/lro-topo.html gives you an idea of why people say the moon is made of green cheese!
The ASU site (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/484-Lunar-Topography--As-Never-Seen-Before!.html) is also interesting.snip
-----------------------------------
Spaceref article as well.- LRK -
------------------------------------- New Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter High-Resolution Topographic Map of the Moon
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=35266
The science team that oversees the imaging system on board NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter (LRO) has released the highest resolution near-global topographic map of the Moon ever
created. This new topographic map, from Arizona State University in Tempe, shows the surface
shape and features over nearly the entire Moon with a pixel scale close to 100 meters (328 feet).
A single measure of elevation (one pixel) is about the size of two football fields placed side-by-
side.
snip
-----------------------------------
So now let us hope the information will help in planning some lunar landings.- LRK -
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/604358main1_WAC_CSHADE_O000N1800_1000-670.jpg
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/index.html
Featured Image
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/categories/2-Featured-Image
snip==============================================================
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/EPO/index.phpAbout LROC OutreachWelcome to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Education & Public Outreach (EPO) web page! LROC EPO is geared toward the public sector, teachers and the scientific community. The LROC EPO website will share exciting information on the LROC's observations of the Moon through its two Narrow Angle Cameras (NAC) and one Wide Angle Camera (WAC). Keep looking here for amazing, up-to-date information about LROC, incredible virtual tours of the LROC Science Operation Center (SOC) Visitor's Gallery, the thrilling history and future of lunar exploration, and fun links to NASA and to our outreach partners at the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum.
snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
---
---
Dan passed me some links about the recent notice of a new topological map of the Moon.
Let me share them with you.- LRK -
----------------------------------- (http://science.slashdot.org/story/11/11/18/0336225/high-resolution-global-topographic-map-of-moon) article on "High Resolution Global Topographic Map of Moon."
The image at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/lro-topo.html gives you an idea of why people say the moon is made of green cheese!
The ASU site (http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/?archives/484-Lunar-Topography--As-Never-Seen-Before!.html) is also interesting.snip
-----------------------------------
Spaceref article as well.- LRK -
------------------------------------- New Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter High-Resolution Topographic Map of the Moon
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=35266
The science team that oversees the imaging system on board NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance
Orbiter (LRO) has released the highest resolution near-global topographic map of the Moon ever
created. This new topographic map, from Arizona State University in Tempe, shows the surface
shape and features over nearly the entire Moon with a pixel scale close to 100 meters (328 feet).
A single measure of elevation (one pixel) is about the size of two football fields placed side-by-
side.
snip
-----------------------------------
So now let us hope the information will help in planning some lunar landings.- LRK -
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/604358main1_WAC_CSHADE_O000N1800_1000-670.jpg
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/index.html
Featured Image
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/categories/2-Featured-Image
snip==============================================================
http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/EPO/index.phpAbout LROC OutreachWelcome to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Education & Public Outreach (EPO) web page! LROC EPO is geared toward the public sector, teachers and the scientific community. The LROC EPO website will share exciting information on the LROC's observations of the Moon through its two Narrow Angle Cameras (NAC) and one Wide Angle Camera (WAC). Keep looking here for amazing, up-to-date information about LROC, incredible virtual tours of the LROC Science Operation Center (SOC) Visitor's Gallery, the thrilling history and future of lunar exploration, and fun links to NASA and to our outreach partners at the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum.
snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
American Academy of Arts and Science
http://www.amacad.org/default.aspx
One can find a lot of interesting publications to read on the Internet.
I thought I should share some of which keeps me occupied and hence may distract me from posting.
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has a large number of publications that can be down loaded or procured.
Let me pass on a few links that pertain to the use of space.
We may have some topics worth looking into.
Hope you find something of interest.
- LRK -
-----------------------------------
http://www.amacad.org/about.aspx
About the Academy For over 230 years, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences has been honoring excellence and providing service to the nation and the world. Through independent, nonpartisan study, its ranks of distinguished "scholar-patriots" have brought the arts and sciences into constructive interplay with the leaders of both the public and private sectors.
The Academy was founded during the American Revolution by John Adams, James Bowdoin, John Hancock, and other leaders who contributed prominently to the establishment of the new nation, its government, and its Constitution. Its purpose was to provide a forum for a select group of scholars, members of the learned professions, and government and business leaders to work together on behalf of the democratic interests of the republic.
snip-----------------------------------
Just some of the papers.
- LRK -
-----------------------------------
http://www.amacad.org/publications/occasional.aspx#top
Occasional Papers A series of Occasional Papers, disseminating the work of Academy projects, is available online. To order a copy of an Occasional Paper ($6.00 ea. unless otherwise noted) click here, or e-mail publications@amacad.org. To view individual publications, select from their titles.
Occasional Papers are sorted by project areas:
Education
Global Security
Humanities & Culture
Science & Technology Policy
Social Policy & American Institutions
snip-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
http://www.amacad.org/publications/occasional.aspx#security
Global Securitysnip
A European Approach to Space Security
Xavier Pasco (2006)
snip
The Future of Human Spaceflight: Objectives and Policy Implications in a Global Context
David A. Mindell, Scott A. Uebelhart, Asif A. Siddiqi, and Slava Gerovitch (2009)
snip
The Physics of Space Security: A Reference Manual
David Wright, Laura Grego, and Lisbeth Gronlund ($15.00) (2005)
snip
A Place for One’s Mat: China’s Space Program, 1956–2003
Gregory Kulacki and Jeffrey G. Lewis (2009)
snip
Reconsidering the Rules for Space Security
Nancy Gallagher and John D. Steinbruner (2008)
snip
Russian and Chinese Responses to U.S. Military Plans in Space
Pavel Podvig and Hui Zhang (2008)
snip
United States Space Policy: Challenges and Opportunities
George Abbey and Neal Lane (2005)
snip
United States Space Policy: Challenges and Opportunities Gone Astray
George Abbey and Neal Lane (2009)
snip-----------------------------------
The project for which the above references are part of.
- LRK -
-----------------------------------http://www.amacad.org/projects/space.aspx
Reconsidering the Rules of Space Societies rely increasingly on satellites for vital communication services, environmental monitoring, navigation, weather prediction, and scientific research. This largely beneficial trend is expected to intensify as more countries develop satellite technology and utilize the services derived from it.
These technological trends have also inspired the development of military capabilities in space that go far beyond the traditional intelligence and early warning missions of the Cold War period. Protecting and enhancing US military capability in space has emerged as an important focus of military planning. Recent official documents have proposed, for example, various anti-satellite and space-based weapons to protect and augment US capabilities in space. Serious public discussion of military space plans has not yet occurred in the United States, though important questions of policy, planning and budgeting loom.
The development of space affects a range of government, commercial, and scientific interests around the world, and US leaders have yet to propose a policy framework that adequately balances these interests. The American Academy initiated the Reconsidering the Rules of Space project to examine the implications of US policy in space, and to consider the international rules and principles needed to maintain a balanced use of space over the long term.
The project has facilitated discussions between international security experts and leading stakeholders in both commercial development and scientific advancement in space. The project has published a series of papers, intended to help inform public discussion and to induce a further examination of US official policies. These papers consider the implications of physics for space security; the interaction of military, scientific, and commercial activities in space; Chinese and Russian perspectives on US space plans; and the possible elements of a more comprehensive set of rules for space security.
The Reconsidering the Rules of Space project is supported by a generous grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
snip
-----------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.amacad.org/projects/science.aspx
Science, Technology, and Global Security The Academy undertakes studies to explore how the international community can devise new cooperative structures to improve global security and employ science and technology to enhance the human condition. The Academy's longstanding Committee on International Security Studies addresses how globalization is impacting social, economic, environmental, and technological transformations and prospects for peace.
Other Science, Technology, and Global Security projects draw on the Academy's unique mix of scientists, humanists, social scientists, lawyers, and others to analyze the international impact of rapid developments in science and technology; suggest approaches to governing those transformations; and formulate a broader understanding of the social implications of these advances. These activities are grouped under the Initiative for Science, Engineering, and Technology. Launched in 2006, this major Academy initiative explores how science and technology are changing, how to help the public understand those changes, and how society can better adapt to those changes.
snip==============================================================
http://www.amacad.org/projects.aspx
Academy Projects Under the direction of its Committee on Studies, the Academy carries out influential and pioneering work on significant contemporary issues. Bringing together scholars, policymakers, business leaders, and writers, Academy studies provide multidisciplinary analyses of complex social, political, and intellectual topics in an objective environment. This framework distinguishes the Academy from other research institutes and think tanks whose agendas may be defined by the research needs of outside agencies. Academy studies often shape new fields of study that transcend disciplinary boundaries and explore issues before their importance has been recognized.
Academy studies are grouped under four large-scale initiatives, each of which may also contain program areas with distinct identities, such as the Committee on International Security Studies.
The Academy's major program areas are:
Science, Technology, and Global Security: This area explores how the international community can devise new cooperative structures to improve global security, analyzes the impact of rapid developments in science and technology, and develops policies to govern these transformations. Social Policy and American Institutions: Under this program, Fellows carry out studies that focus on American institutions at the crossroads, particularly the government and the corporation. Humanities and Culture: Work within this initiative is designed to enhance public understanding of the value and role of the humanities in American life and to create new resources to inform coherent policy analyses relative to the humanities. Education: This program deals with education at all levels—from primary and secondary education to teaching and research at the university level. snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
List of current and future lunar missions
I thought I would see what is happening in regards to lunar missions and was pleasantly surprised at the number that are actually going on or in the works. You might be interested in checking out this Wikipedia link
There are a lot of tables with mission information so will not copy. Better you just take a look.- LRK -----------------------------------http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_and_future_lunar_missionsList of current and future lunar missionsCurrently, there are several future lunar missions scheduled or proposed by various nations or organisations.snip----------------------------------
It would be nice to see some lunar rovers that hopefully would have live Internet presence.- LRK -
----------------------------------http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_roverA lunar rover or Moon rover is a space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of the Moon. Some rovers have been designed to transport members of a human spaceflight crew, such as the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; others have been partially or fully autonomous robots, such as Lunokhod 1.snip----------------------------------
The Moon so close, but so far politically. :-)
I may have to buy a smartphone to try out some of the lunar Apps coming out.- LRK -
-----------------------------------http://dailyappshow.com/lunar-module-3d-iphone-app-reviewLunar Module 3D app
LunarModule3D is a unique lunar lander style game that mixes classic arcade action with realistic environments. The game takes you through 5 real locations on the moon including 4 of the apollo landing sites and Tycho crater. All of the lunar environments have been generated from actual photos of the moon using shape from shading technology.snip-----------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update=============================================================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_the_MoonExploration of the MoonThe physical exploration of the Moon began when Luna 2, a space probe launched by the Soviet Union, made an impact on the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959. Prior to that the only available means of exploration had been observation. The invention of the optical telescope brought about the first leap in the quality of lunar observations. Galileo Galilei is generally credited as the first person to use a telescope for astronomical purposes; having made his own telescope in 1609, the mountains and craters on the lunar surface were among his first observations using it.In 1969, NASA's Project Apollo first successfully landed people on the Moon. They placed scientific experiments there and returned rocks and data that suggested the Moon is of a similar composition to the Earth.
snip==============================================================http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon_Is_a_Harsh_MistressThe Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a 1966 science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein, about a lunar colony's revolt against rule from Earth.Originally serialized in Worlds of If (December 1965, January, February, March, April 1966), the book received the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel in 1967,[1] and was nominated for the Nebula Award in 1966.[2]
snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
There are a lot of tables with mission information so will not copy. Better you just take a look.- LRK -----------------------------------http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_and_future_lunar_missionsList of current and future lunar missionsCurrently, there are several future lunar missions scheduled or proposed by various nations or organisations.snip----------------------------------
It would be nice to see some lunar rovers that hopefully would have live Internet presence.- LRK -
----------------------------------http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_roverA lunar rover or Moon rover is a space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of the Moon. Some rovers have been designed to transport members of a human spaceflight crew, such as the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle; others have been partially or fully autonomous robots, such as Lunokhod 1.snip----------------------------------
The Moon so close, but so far politically. :-)
I may have to buy a smartphone to try out some of the lunar Apps coming out.- LRK -
-----------------------------------http://dailyappshow.com/lunar-module-3d-iphone-app-reviewLunar Module 3D app
LunarModule3D is a unique lunar lander style game that mixes classic arcade action with realistic environments. The game takes you through 5 real locations on the moon including 4 of the apollo landing sites and Tycho crater. All of the lunar environments have been generated from actual photos of the moon using shape from shading technology.snip-----------------------------------
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update=============================================================
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploration_of_the_MoonExploration of the MoonThe physical exploration of the Moon began when Luna 2, a space probe launched by the Soviet Union, made an impact on the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959. Prior to that the only available means of exploration had been observation. The invention of the optical telescope brought about the first leap in the quality of lunar observations. Galileo Galilei is generally credited as the first person to use a telescope for astronomical purposes; having made his own telescope in 1609, the mountains and craters on the lunar surface were among his first observations using it.In 1969, NASA's Project Apollo first successfully landed people on the Moon. They placed scientific experiments there and returned rocks and data that suggested the Moon is of a similar composition to the Earth.
- 1 Early history
- 2 Space race
- 3 Recent exploration
- 4 Future plans
- 5 Timeline of Moon exploration
- 6 See also
- 7 References
- 8 External links
snip==============================================================http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Moon_Is_a_Harsh_MistressThe Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress is a 1966 science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein, about a lunar colony's revolt against rule from Earth.Originally serialized in Worlds of If (December 1965, January, February, March, April 1966), the book received the Hugo Award for best science fiction novel in 1967,[1] and was nominated for the Nebula Award in 1966.[2]
- 1 Plot
- 2 Characters
- 3 Major themes
- 4 Sources, Allusions, and References
- 5 Reception
- 6 Awards and nominations
- 7 Influence
- 8 Audiobook releases
- 9 Film adaptation
- 10 See also
- 11 References
- 12 External links
snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
Russian Mars - Phobos sample mission with Chinese Orbiter and Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment - set to launch
This week's issue of The Space Review informs me that I should be watching to see if the Russian launch of the Phobos-Grunt mission to Mars makes it off successfully. It is set to launch November 9, 2011.
- LRK -
------------------------
Welcome to this week's issue of The Space Review:
http://www.thespacereview.com/
Phobos sample return launches tomorrow
---
This week Russia will launch Phobos-Grunt, a mission to travel to Mars and return a sample of the Martian moon Phobos. Lou Friedman describes the mission and an unusual experiment from The Planetary Society that is onboard the spacecraft.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1966/1
Red moon around a Red Planet
---
Phobos-Grunt is a very ambitious mission for any space power, let alone for a country that hasn't launched a Mars mission in 15 years. Dwayne Day writes that it may be too ambitious a mission, but if successful could have a major payoff for planetary exploration.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1965/1
Will Russia end its curse at Mars?
---
Probos-Grunt is the latest in a long line of Russian/Soviet Mars missions, most of which failed. Doug Messier examines the history of that program and whether this mission can break from that history.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1964/1
snip
------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fobos-Grunt
Fobos-Grunt (Russian: Фобос-Грунт, lit. «Phobos-Soil») is a sample return mission to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars. Funded by the Russian space agency Roscosmos and developed by NPO Lavochkin and the Russian Space Research Institute, Fobos-Grunt is to become the first Russian interplanetary mission since the failed Mars 96. It is also set to become the first spacecraft to return a macroscopic extraterrestrial sample from a planetary body since Luna 24 in 1976.[3] Launch is scheduled for 8 November 2011 from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars' orbit in September 2012, with landing on Phobos scheduled for February 2013. The return vehicle, carrying up to 200 g of soil from Phobos, is expected to be back on Earth in August 2014.
The Chinese Mars orbiter Yinghuo-1 will be sent together with the mission, as will the Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment funded by the Planetary Society.
snip
------------------------
More info and pictures.
See the links on the page as well
- LRK -
------------------------
http://www.universetoday.com/90373/russia-fuels-phobos-grunt-and-sets-mars-launch-for-november-9/
Russia Fuels Phobos-Grunt and sets Mars Launch for November 9
by Ken Kremer on October 29, 2011Russia’s Space Agency, Roscosmos, has set November 9 as the launch date for the Phobos-Grunt mission to Mars and its tiny moon Phobos. Roscosmos has officially announced that the audacious mission to retrieve the first ever soil samples from the surface of Phobos will blastoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan atop a Zenit-2SB rocket at 00:26 a.m. Moscow time.
Roscosmos said that engineers have finished loading all the propellants into the Phobos-Grunt main propulsion module (cruise stage), Phobos lander and Earth return module at Facility 31 at Baikonur.
snip
------------------------
With a successful launch we will just have a long wait to see how everything goes. :-)
- LRK -
There have been a number of missions to Mars.
See a list here.
- LRK -
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft_planetary_mars.html
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.thestatecolumn.com/science/russia-spacecraft-soil-mars-moon/Scientists prepare to sample soil of Mars moondustThe State Column | Staff | Monday, November 07, 2011
Read more: http://www.thestatecolumn.com/science/russia-spacecraft-soil-mars-moon/#ixzz1d3uqxKAl
snip==============================================================
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/07/russia-plans-mars-mission-haunted-by-past-failures/
Russia Plans Mars Mission, Haunted by Past Failures
Published November 07, 2011
| Reuters
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/07/russia-plans-mars-mission-haunted-by-past-failures/#ixzz1d3w6iSDl
snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
snip==============================================================
- LRK -
------------------------
Welcome to this week's issue of The Space Review:
http://www.thespacereview.com/
Phobos sample return launches tomorrow
---
This week Russia will launch Phobos-Grunt, a mission to travel to Mars and return a sample of the Martian moon Phobos. Lou Friedman describes the mission and an unusual experiment from The Planetary Society that is onboard the spacecraft.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1966/1
Red moon around a Red Planet
---
Phobos-Grunt is a very ambitious mission for any space power, let alone for a country that hasn't launched a Mars mission in 15 years. Dwayne Day writes that it may be too ambitious a mission, but if successful could have a major payoff for planetary exploration.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1965/1
Will Russia end its curse at Mars?
---
Probos-Grunt is the latest in a long line of Russian/Soviet Mars missions, most of which failed. Doug Messier examines the history of that program and whether this mission can break from that history.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1964/1
snip
------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fobos-Grunt
Fobos-Grunt (Russian: Фобос-Грунт, lit. «Phobos-Soil») is a sample return mission to Phobos, one of the moons of Mars. Funded by the Russian space agency Roscosmos and developed by NPO Lavochkin and the Russian Space Research Institute, Fobos-Grunt is to become the first Russian interplanetary mission since the failed Mars 96. It is also set to become the first spacecraft to return a macroscopic extraterrestrial sample from a planetary body since Luna 24 in 1976.[3] Launch is scheduled for 8 November 2011 from Baikonur Cosmodrome. The spacecraft is expected to reach Mars' orbit in September 2012, with landing on Phobos scheduled for February 2013. The return vehicle, carrying up to 200 g of soil from Phobos, is expected to be back on Earth in August 2014.
The Chinese Mars orbiter Yinghuo-1 will be sent together with the mission, as will the Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment funded by the Planetary Society.
snip
------------------------
More info and pictures.
See the links on the page as well
- LRK -
------------------------
http://www.universetoday.com/90373/russia-fuels-phobos-grunt-and-sets-mars-launch-for-november-9/
Russia Fuels Phobos-Grunt and sets Mars Launch for November 9
by Ken Kremer on October 29, 2011Russia’s Space Agency, Roscosmos, has set November 9 as the launch date for the Phobos-Grunt mission to Mars and its tiny moon Phobos. Roscosmos has officially announced that the audacious mission to retrieve the first ever soil samples from the surface of Phobos will blastoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan atop a Zenit-2SB rocket at 00:26 a.m. Moscow time.
Roscosmos said that engineers have finished loading all the propellants into the Phobos-Grunt main propulsion module (cruise stage), Phobos lander and Earth return module at Facility 31 at Baikonur.
snip
------------------------
With a successful launch we will just have a long wait to see how everything goes. :-)
- LRK -
There have been a number of missions to Mars.
See a list here.
- LRK -
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft_planetary_mars.html
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================
http://www.thestatecolumn.com/science/russia-spacecraft-soil-mars-moon/Scientists prepare to sample soil of Mars moondustThe State Column | Staff | Monday, November 07, 2011
Read more: http://www.thestatecolumn.com/science/russia-spacecraft-soil-mars-moon/#ixzz1d3uqxKAl
snip==============================================================
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/07/russia-plans-mars-mission-haunted-by-past-failures/
Russia Plans Mars Mission, Haunted by Past Failures
Published November 07, 2011
| Reuters
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/07/russia-plans-mars-mission-haunted-by-past-failures/#ixzz1d3w6iSDl
snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
snip==============================================================
UK science says 'fly me to the Moon'
This should be interesting. And if they should bring back a piece of regolith from the south polar region what do I hear it will sell for? Could we have an auction please. Who will be the highest bidder?Any proto protozoa in those dark craters?- LRK -
---------------------British scientists and engineers want a piece of the Moon.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-155746533 November 2011 Last updated at 14:43 ETJonathan Amos
They're keen to participate in the European Space Agency's (Esa) Lunar Lander mission which will attempt to put down on the body's southern pole later this decade.The lander will be unmanned but it will do the kind of experiments that would help prepare for a human mission at some future date - checking the local environment for hazards and looking for possible resources in the regolith, or "soil".Esa will soon ask member states to declare their interest in the project, and the UK will have to decide if it wants to take part and, if so, the level of financial investment it is prepared to make.The British lunar science community and industry recently held a meeting in London to mould their position.They know they will have to make a strong case to the UK Space Agency (UKSA), which represents Britain at Esa.The UKSA will have a limited pot of cash to put on the table in Europe, and other interests and activities will be competing for a share."We're going through a process where we're allowing all the different communities to make their cases for the programmes they want to be involved in," explained Dr Sue Horne from the UKSA."Through December, we'll be assessing those so that over the course of the following months, we can have some hard negotiation with Esa with clear ideas of what we want," she told me.The Lunar Lander project will be led by Germany and is expected to cost somewhere in the region of 600-700 million euros.snip---------------------
Hmmm, only 600- 700 million euros.
No cold war here, just a bidding war.I wonder who has the money?- LRK -
Who gets the movie rights and the marketing rights for kids lunar lander toys?How about some chemistry sets to identify soil samples so you can prepare the youngster for a job analyzing lunar samples.Maybe an erector set that will let you build miniature digging machines that have some smart brains to teach you how to prepare a lunar lava tube for habitation. Throw in some smart avatars that will do your bidding from your latest smart phone App.- LRK -
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================Google Lunar X Prizehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Lunar_X_Prize
The Google Lunar X PRIZE, abbreviated GLXP, sometimes referred to as Moon 2.0,[2][3] is a space competitionorganized by the X Prize Foundation, and sponsored by Google. It was announced at the Wired Nextfest on 13 September 2007.[4] The challenge calls for privately-funded spaceflight teams to compete in successfully launching, landing, and then traveling across the surface of the Moon with a robot, while also sending back to Earth specifiedimages and other data.
snip==============================================================Connect and Collaborate with NASAhttp://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.htmlVisualization Explorer for iPad
NASA science: revealed! A direct connection to NASA's extraordinary fleet of research spacecraft, this app presents Earth as you've never seen it before; travel to places otherwise unavailable to even the most intrepid explorers!
› Learn More→
› Get the App on the App Store→snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================
China spacecraft dock together in orbit over Earth
Well while I have had my head in books on the synaptic organization of the brain, others have continued to work at learning how to conquer space.- LRK -
----------http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9QP93880.htmTHE ASSOCIATED PRESS November 3, 2011, 9:05AM ETChina spacecraft dock together in orbit over EarthBy GILLIAN WONG
BEIJINGTwo unmanned Chinese spacecraft docked successfully and were orbiting the Earth together Thursday in a step that moves China closer to manning its own space station in about a decade.The Shenzhou 8 craft that was launched Tuesday docked with the already orbiting Tiangong 1 module, said Wu Ping, spokeswoman for China's manned space program. The assembly has orbited Earth six times, with onboard instruments working normally, she said.The U.S. and Russia are the only other countries to master the space docking technique. It was "a milestone success and sets a sound foundation for continued missions," Wu said.----------
Hmmmm, we went to the Moon with the Apollo missions to show the Russians that we could best them in space.No humans back to the Moon since then. Who will be the next to land on the Moon?
Today China is showing the world that they can enter space as well.We will watch and see what they do with their space station and will they go further than LEO.
And how does NASA react?- LRK -
----------http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45154530/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/nasa-chief-says-us-could-cooperate-china/#.TrR-ZkOXu7sNASA chief says US could cooperate with ChinaBolden sees benefits to American program, but runs into critics in House hearingBy Mike Wallupdated 11/3/2011 5:01:11 PM ETWhile China and the United States don't see eye to eye on many issues, there is room for the two nations to work together in space science and exploration, NASA chief Charlie Bolden says.In fact, cooperation in the space arena could help bridge the divide between the two superpowers while potentially benefiting both, Bolden told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Capitol Hill on Wednesday."Some level of engagement with China in space-related areas in the future can form the basis for dialogue and cooperation in a manner that is consistent with the national interests of both our countries, when based on the principles of transparency, reciprocity and mutual benefit," Bolden said in testimony before the subcommittee on oversight and investigations.snip----------
If you don't want to read about China or NASA, I guess you could check on what SpaceX or Orbital Sciences Corp. are doing towards getting to space.- LRK -
http://www.spacex.com/updates.phpDRAGON SPACECRAFT | 2011 BREAKTHROUGH AWARD WINNER
http://www.orbital.com/TaurusII/
Updated Taurus II & COTS/CRS Development & Flight Milestones
And if you just want to see what mother nature has in store for us, check out the asteroid that is NOT going to hit us, but close enough to check out with a telescope. Could have been a bad hair day if a bit closer.- LRK -
----------http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/242791/20111103/nasa-asteroid-giant-antennae-photos-2005-yu55.htm
NASA Readying Giant Antennae to Take Photos of Passing AsteroidBy Lena Kim | November 3, 2011 10:10 AM EDT
Asteroid 2005 YU55 is scheduled to skirt Earth on Nov. 8, giving astronomers an unparalleled opportunity to make observations about the space rock. Over four hundred yards across, the asteroid is large enough to cause damage on a regional scale if it were to make contact. Luckily, it will just miss Earth, whizzing past at the decidedly cozy distance of 201,700 miles - closer than our own Moon.snip----------http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-332
I think I will just go back and do some reading about intelligent systems.
Thanks for looking up with me.- LRK -
Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/ BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/ WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/ RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update==============================================================http://www.asteroidwatch.com/Asteroid_News--nn-asteroid.htmAn asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier will zoom past Earth on Tuesday just inside the orbit of the moon. The space rock poses no danger, as its nearest approach will be a comfortable 202,000 miles distant. But the event marks the closest flyby of an asteroid this large since 1976, according to NASA. Read full article >>http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/as-asteroid-flies-by-scientists-will-stare/2011/11/02/gIQA8FTngM_story.html?wprss=rss_national
snip==============================================================http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/world/asia/chinas-space-program-boosted-by-first-docking.htmlChina’s Space Program Bolstered by First DockingBy ANDREW JACOBSPublished: November 3, 2011
BEIJING — With a “kiss” more than 200 miles above Earth, a pair of Chinese spacecraft successfully coupled early Thursday morning, bringing the country one step closer to its four-decade quest for manned space exploration.
The docking of the Shenzhou 8 capsule with the Tiangong 1 module was broadcast live on national television. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao watched from the control center in Beijing, and thousands of citizens expressed their pride through Internet postings in what many referred to as the country’s first “space kiss,” remarking how far China had come since its more impoverished days.
snip==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==============================================================