New Mars Forums
You are not logged in.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Announcement
#28651 Re: Unmanned probes » Cassini-Huygens III - Continued from previous » 2005-02-04 12:10:28
I am sure that this could also go under the keck observatory telescope but it is of saturn.
Astronomers Find 'Hot Spot' on Saturn
The infrared images captured by the Keck I telescope at the W.M. Keck Observatory atop Mauna Kea on the Big Island suggest a warm polar vortex — a large-scale weather pattern likened to a jet stream on Earth that occurs in the upper atmosphere. It's the first such hot vortex ever discovered in the solar system.
#28652 Re: Human missions » Return to flight slipping » 2005-02-04 12:04:04
Well I wonder where the russian's have been since the last shuttle flight. Have they not been listening to the safe haven argument at all that Nasa has given us with regards to not servicing the Hubble. That Nasa thinks that the ISS is a great safe Haven if a ship is unrepairable.
Is all this concern coming from the constant lack of supplies of food and air, coupled with the recent near accident? ???
Cosmonaut Worried About NASA Shuttle Plans
Cosmonaut questions space shuttle strategy
ISS Can't Serve as Refuge - Russian Cosmonaut
#28653 Re: Human missions » Hubble Mistake **2** - Action still Needed » 2005-02-03 12:07:22
Earth orbit turning into cosmic scrapheap Manmade debris crowds the not-so-friendly skies
This article though starts out about debri it ends sort of on man made objects coming down. This is what is proposed with Hubble and some day with the ISS.
Fall of Hubble
So far this month there have been a couple of U.S. Delta rocket stages that have reentered, as well as a Russian Proton motor.
All this is small stuff compared to something big coming in on its own -- like the Hubble Space Telescope. There’s good reason why an eventual "controlled" reentry is being planned for that orbiting eye on the universe.
Orbital debris analysts have figured out the risk to humans down below if Hubble should plow through the Earth’s atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner.
At least two tons (2,055 kilograms) of the estimated 26,000 pounds (11,792 kilograms) of the observatory would survive the plummet from space. Such a fall would produce a debris track that stretches over 755 miles (1,220 kilometers) in length. The analysis suggests that the risk posed to the human population in the year 2020 is 1:250 -- a risk that exceeds NASA’s own safety standard.
#28654 Re: Not So Free Chat » Tsunami in Asia » 2005-02-03 09:54:28
Something that would go a long ways is earthquake detection.
Italians Make Earthquake Detecting Space Probe
This probably deserves its own thread but it is pertinent to the cause of a tsunami.
Italian scientists say the probe might be able to give a 4 to 5 hours advance warning of quakes by picking up variations in the radiation belts surrounding the Earth.
#28655 Re: Human missions » Hubble Mistake **2** - Action still Needed » 2005-02-03 06:50:30
Hubble Hearing and Presented Testimony February 2 , 2005 - Full Committee Hearing - Options for Hubble Science
links can be found on Nasawatch for each topic:
House Science Committee Explores Options for Hubble
House Science Committee Democrats Urge Administration to Preserve Hubble
House Science Committee Hearing Charter: Options for Hubble Science
What I find funny is how the price tag for any mission keeps ballooning from what is a modest price to something that is way over budget.
#28656 Re: Human missions » Hubble Mistake **2** - Action still Needed » 2005-02-03 05:35:47
Accounting may ultimately decide Hubble's demise
A shuttle mission to the aging Hubble could cost as little as $400 million or as much as $2.2 billion, a panel of experts told members of the House Science Committee. Three separate reviews have concluded that a robotic mission to Hubble could not be ready in time to save the telescope before its batteries die, which is expected to occur as soon as 2007.
In the past, NASA has "charged" the science directorate roughly $350 million to $400 million for shuttle servicing missions to the Hubble. The agency now says a return trip could cost at least $1 billion.
Legislators hear options to keep Hubble working
Gary Pulliam, an official with Aerospace Corp., which studied the options for NASA, said the cost estimates for robotic servicing range from $1.3 billion to $2.2 billion.
Just using a robot to deorbit the telescope -- necessary to safely guide the school bus-sized telescope back to Earth -- could cost $300 million to $1.1 billion.
Then being discussed as another option is
As for a new instrument -- an option known as "rehosting" -- its promise was described by Colin Norman, a physics and astronomy professor at Johns Hopkins University and a member of the team developing the Hubble Origins Probe, or HOP.
This "free-flier" mission would take the instruments intended for the Hubble and put them into orbit as part of a new telescope. Norman said a conservative estimate for the project is $1 billion.
#28657 Re: Human missions » Finally, a sensible solution to the Hubble debate - ... that we can all agree on...maybe. » 2005-02-03 05:29:52
Hubble II ???
Cost Estimate page
item discription FY04 $M
1 Spacecraft 190
2 DeOrbit Module 12
3 Optical Telescope Assembly 242
4 science Instrument Modifications 35
5 Science Instrument Integration 12
6 Fine Guidance Sensors 63
7 Space Vehicle Integration & Test 115
Subtotal 667
30% Contingency 174
8 Atlas 521 Launch Vehicle 150
Total 991
#28658 Re: Human missions » Finally, a sensible solution to the Hubble debate - ... that we can all agree on...maybe. » 2005-02-03 03:20:32
This Hubble though as it is named is really a new one to be placed into space.
The Hubble Origins Probe (HOP) is a proposed 2.4 meter free flying space telescope.The HOP concept is to replicate the design of the Hubble Space Telescope with a much lighter unaberrated mirror and optical telescope assembly, enabling a rapid path to launch, significant cost savings and risk mitigation. HOP will fly the instruments originally planned for the 4th HST servicing mission as well as a new very wide field imager, enhancing the original science mission of Hubble.
#28659 Re: Human missions » More ISS hardball - How does this affect US vision? » 2005-02-02 21:34:00
Gee can nothing go right on the ISS. ???
German Robot On ISS Does Not Work
A robot recently installed on the International Space Station does not respond to signals emitted from Earth-based controllers, local media reported Wednesday.
An undisclosed source at the Russian Mission Control Center was quoted by the ITAR-TASS news agency as saying the German robotic device, called Rokviss, has been able to send a signal to Earth, but it cannot pick up a reply. German and Russian specialists will switch on Rokviss several more times in the near future to test it, the source added.
#28660 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Singularity - Black Holes, Gamma Rays, Magnetars, etc » 2005-02-02 21:31:27
More on another telescope using balloons for lift under the Earth or space telescope thread.
#28661 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Planned Earthly or Space Telescopes - from any nation » 2005-02-02 21:28:19
The birth of galaxies and stars Cardiff experts' key role in space telescope mission
Experts at Cardiff University, UK, are designing and building highly sophisticated equipment, which will travel deep into space to enable scientists to look back in time to observe the formation of galaxies and stars.
A team in the School of Physics and Astronomy is heading an international consortium, led by Cardiff's Professor Matt Griffin, to produce SPIRE. This is a three-colour camera and spectrometer, which will be launched aboard the European Space Agency's Herschel Space Observatory in 2007.It will detect radiation at very long wavelengths, revealing distant galaxies - up to 10 billion light years away - which are invisible to other telescopes. This is equivalent to looking up to 10 billion years into the past, and hence SPIRE will be able to view distant galaxies in their early stages of formation. SPIRE will also be able to look at closer clouds of dust and gas in our own galaxy, and view the formation of stars in "stellar nurseries".
#28662 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Planned Earthly or Space Telescopes - from any nation » 2005-02-02 21:25:33
Hard X-Ray telescope up for final NASA review; project will be led by Caltech's Fiona Harrison
Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array--or NuSTAR
If all goes well with a technical study approved by NASA for this year, an innovative telescope should be orbiting Earth by the end of the decade and taking the first focused high-energy X-ray pictures of matter falling into black holes and shooting out of exploding stars. Not only will the telescope be 1,000 times more capable of finding new black holes than anything previously launched into space, but it will also give us an unprecedented look at the origins of the heavy elements we're all made of.
April high-altitude balloon flight in New Mexico should help to demonstrate whether the advanced sensors invented and built at Caltech are ready for space.
#28663 Re: Human missions » The need for a Moon direct *2* - ...continue here. » 2005-02-02 21:21:19
I have been posting the developements of the Indian space moon probe under the space fairing nations thread for some time and noted the importance of not duplicating on going missions. That are schedueled before we would send ours, unless ours would yield better or high degree of data as needed before the US would send men back to the moon.
NASA Selects Moon Mapper for Mission of Opportunity
NASA chose the Moon Mineralogy Mapper
(M3) to fly as part of the scientific payload for the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Chandraayan-1 mission, slated for launch in 2007. The M3 is designed to create a mineral-resource map of the moon. It will be flown as part of the Chandraayan-1 mission if it is selected by ISRO in an
independent competition.
#28664 Re: Human missions » Hubble Mistake **2** - Action still Needed » 2005-02-02 21:15:52
Here are a few evening articles:
Hubble Repair Could Hinge on Who Pays at NASA
Congress Frets Over Saving Hubble Project
#28665 Re: Human missions » Finally, a sensible solution to the Hubble debate - ... that we can all agree on...maybe. » 2005-02-02 21:12:47
Here are a few more articles:
[url=http://www.jhu.edu/news_info/news/home05/feb05/hop.html] Astronomers Urge Congress to Continue Hubble Science
Johns Hopkins-led team presents new option[/url]
#28666 Re: Human missions » Hubble Mistake **2** - Action still Needed » 2005-02-02 15:23:39
Just found this on nasawatch sort of snuck in without a notice...
Real curious to find out more ???
Hubble Hearing on Wednesday
House Science Committee Democrats Urge Administration to Preserve HubbleHouse Science Committee Hearing Charter: Options for Hubble Science
House Science Committee Hearing: Options for Hubble Science
10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
2318 Rayburn House Office Building (WEBCAST)
Just check the spacepolitics site:
Senate commerce reorganization
While the House is grappling with a potential reorganization of appropriations subcommittees, the Senate Commerce Committee has quietly completed a reorganization of its own. Of note is that the former "Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space" is now the "Subcommittee on Science and Space"; technology gets its own subcommittee where it is coupled with "innovation and competitiveness". Although I have not seen a formal announcement, it's my understanding that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) will chair the science and space subcommittee. Given that Hutchison is considering a run for Texas governor, it's not clear yet how much attention she will be able to devote to the subcommittee.
#28667 Re: Human missions » Is Kistler Dead? » 2005-02-02 14:53:20
You are referring to the Lunar Transportation Systems- A New Private Commercial Space Venture
I would say that it would mean that they are continuing on IMO.
#28668 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Riddle of the Zero-Time "Ghost" » 2005-02-02 13:52:19
Sort of like a snow globe that has been shaken and then layed to rest. Was the snow ever floating?
#28669 Re: Human missions » China The Dominant Superpower In 20 Years..... - What does this mean for US? » 2005-02-02 12:48:22
China, Russia To Hold First Ever Joint Military Drill
Russia and China will conduct their first ever joint military exercises in August or September to better coordinate the fight against terrorism, state media reported Tuesday.
Wow...
#28670 Re: Unmanned probes » Phoenix - North Pole Region Lander (PHX) » 2005-02-02 12:28:50
Even though this article is about the subject we are discussing it really aught to be under rover design.
The Sands Of Mars
It does get into some of the answers but I think leaves somethings still to question.
#28671 Re: Science, Technology, and Astronomy » Unique and not so Unique - Experiments onboard the ISS » 2005-02-02 08:50:29
We have started really discussion on what a white elephant and sink hole the ISS is or has become. That the US should just get out of it to free up the cash for the CEV and beyound efforts.
We know of Plant growth experiments as noted in the Iss Plant growth experiments planning the future in 0g
But here is another experiment that is on going,
plasma crystal experiment
The Russian-American crew of the International Space Station (ISS) begins on Wednesday the final, 12th session of the Plasma Crystal experiment.
I must have been sleeping for the other 11 cycles of this experiment. But this illustrates that not much is ever said for what or which science experiments are being preformed onboard the ISS.
#28672 Re: Human missions » More ISS hardball - How does this affect US vision? » 2005-02-02 07:01:10
Generator to fly sooner, NASA wants backup oxygen maker on station before crew expansion
NASA has moved up the launch of a new oxygen generator, which will fly to the International Space Station as soon as 2007.
Hamilton Sundstrand is developing the generator and plans to deliver it to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center next month, so it can be integrated with its power supply.
It will be installed in the station's U.S. laboratory. Previously, it was to be housed in the yet-to-fly European-built Node 3.
Why so long to send it up after getting the unit at the end of 2005? Does it really take that long to add a power supply unit? Why does it not come with one?
#28673 Re: Not So Free Chat » Adios JIMO? - Was that my bet or was it Josh? » 2005-02-02 05:42:25
I could see why renaming the promethues program Prometheus 1 in order to distance the JIMO mission from the research of nuclear reactors.
Having Done so, what would the first reactor be used for under the prometheus nuclear program and where would its new destination be for trial testing?
Is a reactor in the cards for the manned moon missions first under the space exploration vision?
Was there not also some mention of another nuclear propulsion mission just within the last few months leaked as discussed in this thread
Neptune Orbiter with Probes, ...part of NASA's "Vision Missions"
#28674 Re: Interplanetary transportation » Super Sail to Mars - Boiling paint with microwaves » 2005-02-02 05:25:14
I knew that I had seen this before and had commented on it. I thought I was going crazy until I looked under this thread Japan launches Solar Sail at last someone did it! and found what I had not only asked but had put forth on the subject though it was not much.
Does not the sun its self give off microwave rays as well as other wave lenghts.
Sounds like all that would be needed is a wave guide feedhorn arrangement to collect and direct them onto the target sail.
Grypd response can be found next in that thread.
But the long and short of it is that it is roughly an ION engine but with out all the high energy demand.
I one could make the suns energy after collecting and refocusing it onto this sail IMO this would be quite the way to go, at least one way to mars.
#28675 Re: Unmanned probes » Phoenix - North Pole Region Lander (PHX) » 2005-02-02 05:15:16
I know that they had a large problem with the fender skirting on the rear tires being to small. I remember seeing duck taped cardboard added to them.
As for tipping over? I think the fear was of the near weighlessness effect of equal and opposite reactions to there movement in and out of the vehicle. In that on a slope it would be easier for the rover to move from there exit from it as they pushed themselves from it.