New Mars Forums

There was a university with a scout mission that had a plane that inflated and would have the wings set hard due to epoxy that uv cured. But that mission was dropped from those that were still in the running at that time.

With martian temperatures in the minus most of the time it would most likely be salt water, warmed and probably the experiment could only be done at the equator.

One only needs to look close at adjacent large rocks to see the silt between to know that water did flow.

I think that was Lunar corp.  with radio shack as a sponsor for such a mission?

Follow up story on Robonaut.
NASA’s Robonaut finally gets its ‘legs’
Second-generation android uses wheels or adapter
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5798085/

NASA to Use Sweden Balloon Launch Area
NASA to Use Sweden Facility to Launch Scientific Balloons, Prompting Expansion of Property

snipet:
Already a leading launch area for scientific balloons in northern Europe, operations at Sweden's Esrange launch facility will expand next year with NASA's decision to use it for launches of its largest scientific balloons, a spokesman said Tuesday.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040824_777.html

Columbus: European Laboratory
http://www.esa.int/export/esaHS/ESAFRG0VMOC_iss_0.html
Experiment stations proposed for module.

Fluid Science Laboratory
European Physiology Modules (EPM)
BIOLAB: Biological Experiment laboratory
European Drawer Rack (EDR) Multi-discipline flexible carrier
Material Science Laboratory Electromagnetic Levitator (MSL-EML)

Japanese ISS Module
Experiment Module (JEM) "KIBO"
http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/is … dex_e.html
Centrifuge Project is a laboratory for conducting gravitational biology research
http://www.jaxa.jp/missions/projects/is … dex_e.html

So I guess based on cost of save or replace Hubble, Replace is probably of lower cost.
But how soon could it be done? What other enhancements would be added to make a better optically designed telescope for space?
Of course using what has already been built for hubble for replacement parts to keep the cost even lower is a must.
Placing the new Hubble 2 into the same location and giving a much smaller and simpler deobit control stage for the old hubble to be brought down safely with.

So basically since the only place a shuttle will and continue to go into orbit is at the ISS. Then this is like turning the ISS into a command post, Launch site and missions build area for rocket launches to anywhere.
The only problem is how slow Nasa designs and moves, Retirement of the shuttle by 2010 and lack of funding to create that portion of what I would call the mini CEV unmanned.

Sounds like both processes would be useful on the Moon and on Mars due to Mineral oxide rich soils on both.
Not quite from Star Trek where the tank is made of such stuff but close enough.

Alumina in the clear
A new method of preparing bulk volumes of alumina-based glasses and nanoscale glass-ceramics is reported this week.
http://www.nature.com/nature/links/040812/040812-6.html

Glass breakthrough
Anatoly Rosenflanz and colleagues at 3M in Minnesota used a "flame-spray" technique to alloy alumina (aluminium oxide) with rare-earth metal oxides to produce strong glass with good optical properties. The method avoids many of the problems encountered in conventional glass forming and could, say the team, be extended to other oxides.
http://physicsweb.org/article/news/8/8/9

What I find most interesting is the two stage to orbit that I had posted earlier. Can they really pull off a new design before the US CEV.

Da Vinci rocket pilot faces real dangers

http://www.canada.com/saskato....2ae54ca

Sophisticated aerodynamics, physics and engineering will propel Brian Feeney's attempt at the world's first private space mission, but these measures won't eliminate the danger of his planned launch from Kindersley and subsequent return to Earth.

So we can find small amounts of funding when Nasa feels the need.
Mars Odyssey to voyage into future
NASA's Mars Odyssey mission, originally scheduled to end on Tuesday, has been granted a stay of execution until at least September 2006, reveal NASA scientists.

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996308