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Issue 106, May 2006
37 th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference THE CONFERENCE IN REVIEW Attendance at the 37th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) set yet another record for this conference, with 1546 participants from 24 countries attending the meeting held at the South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center in League City, Texas, on March 13–17, 2006 (see inset for attendance statistics). Rearrangement of the confi guration of the meeting rooms, along with additional overfl ow seating, allowed conference organizers and staff to accommodate the marked increase in attendance, thereby being able to maintain the current meeting venue and hence the low registration fee, which enables the high number of student attendees. LPSC continues to be recognized among the international science community as the most important planetary conference in the world, and this year’s meeting substantiated the merit of that reputation. More than 1400 abstracts were submitted in consideration for presentation at the conference, and hundreds of planetary scientists and students attended both oral and poster sessions focusing on such diverse topics as the Moon, Mars, Mercury, and Venus; outer planets and satellites; meteorites; comets, asteroids, and other small bodies; Limpacts; interplanetary dust particles and presolar grains; origins of planetary systems; planetary formation and early evolution; and astrobiology. Sunday night’s registration and reception were again held at the Center for Advanced Space Studies, which houses the Lunar and Planetary Institute. Featured on Sunday night was an open house for the display of education and public outreach activities and programs. Highlights of the conference program, established by the program committee under the guidance of co-chairs Dr. -
Mission to Jupiter
This book attempts to convey the creativity, Project A History of the Galileo Jupiter: To Mission The Galileo mission to Jupiter explored leadership, and vision that were necessary for the an exciting new frontier, had a major impact mission’s success. It is a book about dedicated people on planetary science, and provided invaluable and their scientific and engineering achievements. lessons for the design of spacecraft. This The Galileo mission faced many significant problems. mission amassed so many scientific firsts and Some of the most brilliant accomplishments and key discoveries that it can truly be called one of “work-arounds” of the Galileo staff occurred the most impressive feats of exploration of the precisely when these challenges arose. Throughout 20th century. In the words of John Casani, the the mission, engineers and scientists found ways to original project manager of the mission, “Galileo keep the spacecraft operational from a distance of was a way of demonstrating . just what U.S. nearly half a billion miles, enabling one of the most technology was capable of doing.” An engineer impressive voyages of scientific discovery. on the Galileo team expressed more personal * * * * * sentiments when she said, “I had never been a Michael Meltzer is an environmental part of something with such great scope . To scientist who has been writing about science know that the whole world was watching and and technology for nearly 30 years. His books hoping with us that this would work. We were and articles have investigated topics that include doing something for all mankind.” designing solar houses, preventing pollution in When Galileo lifted off from Kennedy electroplating shops, catching salmon with sonar and Space Center on 18 October 1989, it began an radar, and developing a sensor for examining Space interplanetary voyage that took it to Venus, to Michael Meltzer Michael Shuttle engines. -
Planetary Science Division Status Report
Planetary Science Division Status Report Jim Green NASA, Planetary Science Division January 26, 2017 Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory CommiBee Outline • Planetary Science ObjecFves • Missions and Events Overview • Flight Programs: – Discovery – New FronFers – Mars Programs – Outer Planets • Planetary Defense AcFviFes • R&A Overview • Educaon and Outreach AcFviFes • PSD Budget Overview New Horizons exploresPlanetary Science Pluto and the Kuiper Belt Ascertain the content, origin, and evoluFon of the Solar System and the potenFal for life elsewhere! 01/08/2016 As the highest resolution images continue to beam back from New Horizons, the mission is onto exploring Kuiper Belt Objects with the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) camera from unique viewing angles not visible from Earth. New Horizons is also beginning maneuvers to be able to swing close by a Kuiper Belt Object in the next year. Giant IcebergsObjecve 1.5.1 (water blocks) floatingObjecve 1.5.2 in glaciers of Objecve 1.5.3 Objecve 1.5.4 Objecve 1.5.5 hydrogen, mDemonstrate ethane, and other frozenDemonstrate progress gasses on the Demonstrate Sublimation pitsDemonstrate from the surface ofDemonstrate progress Pluto, potentially surface of Pluto.progress in in exploring and progress in showing a geologicallyprogress in improving active surface.in idenFfying and advancing the observing the objects exploring and understanding of the characterizing objects The Newunderstanding of Horizons missionin the Solar System to and the finding locaons origin and evoluFon in the Solar System explorationhow the chemical of Pluto wereunderstand how they voted the where life could of life on Earth to that pose threats to and physical formed and evolve have existed or guide the search for Earth or offer People’sprocesses in the Choice for Breakthrough of thecould exist today life elsewhere resources for human Year forSolar System 2015 by Science Magazine as exploraon operate, interact well as theand evolve top story of 2015 by Discover Magazine. -
The Journey to Mars: How Donna Shirley Broke Barriers for Women in Space Engineering
The Journey to Mars: How Donna Shirley Broke Barriers for Women in Space Engineering Laurel Mossman, Kate Schein, and Amelia Peoples Senior Division Group Documentary Word Count: 499 Our group chose the topic, Donna Shirley and her Mars rover, because of our connections and our interest level in not only science but strong, determined women. One of our group member’s mothers worked for a man under Ms. Shirley when she was developing the Mars rover. This provided us with a connection to Ms. Shirley, which then gave us the amazing opportunity to interview her. In addition, our group is interested in the philosophy of equality and we have continuously created documentaries that revolve around this idea. Every member of our group is a female, so we understand the struggles and discrimination that women face in an everyday setting and wanted to share the story of a female that faced these struggles but overcame them. Thus after conducting a great amount of research, we fell in love with Donna Shirley’s story. Lastly, it was an added benefit that Ms. Shirley is from Oklahoma, making her story important to our state. All of these components made this topic extremely appealing to us. We conducted our research using online articles, Donna Shirley’s autobiography, “Managing Martians”, news coverage from the launch day, and our interview with Donna Shirley. We started our research process by reading Shirley’s autobiography. This gave us insight into her college life, her time working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and what it was like being in charge of such a barrier-breaking mission. -
Kevin Gill ‘11G
InSight: RIVIER ACADEMIC JOURNAL, VOLUME 14, NUMBER 1, FALL 2018 EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE: Meet Kevin Gill ‘11G Michelle Marrone (From Rivier Today, Fall 2018) From the comfort of his lab chair in sunny, southern California, Kevin Gill ’11G has a view into outer space. As a Science Data Software Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), he spends his time planning and designing technology in support of environmental science and space exploration, as well as data visualization and planetary imaging. His recent work not only produced the first-ever close views of Saturn, but also contributed to NASA’s team winning an Emmy Award. Kevin earned his M.S. in Computer Science at Rivier and has been designing software to render the unique images he gathers ever since. He used an algorithm he developed during his program at Rivier to generate hypothetical images portraying Mars as a vibrant planet with oceans, an oxygen-rich atmosphere, and a green biosphere. The images went viral and within a week his work was featured on major media networks—Discovery News, Fox News, Universe Today, and the Huffington Post. His work captured NASA’s attention and paved the way for his career move. “Rivier taught me many of the algorithms and development practices I still use today at NASA,” says Kevin. “In fact, I can trace the lineage of code currently running on NASA systems directly to my final master’s project at the University.” The systems and tools he develops support a range of scientists specializing in the areas of climate, oceanography, asteroids, planetary science, and others. -
Laser Retroreflectors for Insight and an International Mars Geophysical Network (MGN)
50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference 2019 (LPI Contrib. No. 2132) 1492.pdf Laser Retroreflectors for InSight and an International Mars Geophysical Network (MGN). S. Dell’Agnello1, G.O. Delle Monache1, L. Porcelli1,2, M. Tibuzzi1, L. Salvatori1, C. Mondaini1, M. Muccino1, L. Ioppi1, O. Luongo1, M. Petrassi1, G. Bianco1,3, R. Vittori1,4, W.B. Banerdt5, J.F. Grinblat5, C. Benedetto3, F. Pasquali3, R. Mugnuolo3, D.C. Gruel5, J.L.Vago6 and P. Baglioni6. 1Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare–Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (INFN–LNF), Via E. Fermi 40, 00044, Frascati, Italy ([email protected]); 2Dipartimento di Fisica, Università della Calabria (UniCal), Via P. Bucci, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy; 3Agenzia Spaziale Italiana– Centro di Geodesia Spaziale “Giuseppe Colombo” (ASI–CGS), Località, Terlecchia 75100, Matera, Italy; 4Italian Air Force, Rome, Italy, ASI and Embassy of Italy in Washington DC; 5NASA–Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA; 6ESA–ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Abstract. There are laser retroreflectors on the Moon, of the INFN-ASI Affiliation-Association to NASA- but there were no laser retroreflectors on Mars until the SSERVI sservi.nasa.gov) is shown in the figure below. NASA InSight mission [1][2] landed and started oper- ating successfully on the surface of the red planet on Nov. 26, 2018. The ESA ExoMars Schiaparelli mis- sion, which unfortunately failed Mars landing in 2016, was carrying a laser retroreflector like InSight [3]. These instruments are positioned by measuring the time-of-flight of short laser pulses, the so-called “laser ranging” technique (for details on satellite/lunar laser ranging and altimetry see https://ilrs.gsfc.nasa.gov). -
Astrophysics
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Astrophysics Astronomy and Astrophysics Paul Hertz Advisory Committee Director, Astrophysics Division Washington, DC Science Mission Directorate January 26, 2017 @PHertzNASA www.nasa.gov Why Astrophysics? Astrophysics is humankind’s scientific endeavor to understand the universe and our place in it. 1. How did our universe 2. How did galaxies, stars, 3. Are We Alone? begin and evolve? and planets come to be? These national strategic drivers are enduring 1972 1982 1991 2001 2010 2 Astrophysics Driving Documents 2016 update includes: • Response to Midterm Assessment • Planning for 2020 Decadal Survey http://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/documents 3 Astrophysics - Big Picture • The FY16 appropriation/FY17 continuing resolution and FY17 President’s budget request provide funding for NASA astrophysics to continue its planned programs, missions, projects, research, and technology. – The total funding (Astrophysics including Webb) remains at ~$1.35B. – Fully funds Webb for an October 2018 launch, WFIRST formulation (new start), Explorers mission development, increased funding for R&A, new suborbital capabilities. – No negative impact from FY17 continuing resolution (through April 28, 2017). – Awaiting FY18 budget guidance from new Administration. • The operating missions continue to generate important and compelling science results, and new missions are under development for the future. – Senior Review in Spring 2016 recommended continued operation of all missions. – SOFIA is adding new instruments: HAWC+ instrument being commissioned; HIRMES instrument in development; next gen instrument call in 2017. – NASA missions under development making progress toward launches: ISS-NICER (2017), ISS-CREAM (2017), TESS (2018), Webb (2018), IXPE (2020), WFIRST (mid-2020s). – Partnerships with ESA and JAXA on their future missions create additional science opportunities: Euclid (ESA), X-ray Astronomy Recovery Mission (JAXA), Athena (ESA), L3/LISA (ESA). -
+ New Horizons
Media Contacts NASA Headquarters Policy/Program Management Dwayne Brown New Horizons Nuclear Safety (202) 358-1726 [email protected] The Johns Hopkins University Mission Management Applied Physics Laboratory Spacecraft Operations Michael Buckley (240) 228-7536 or (443) 778-7536 [email protected] Southwest Research Institute Principal Investigator Institution Maria Martinez (210) 522-3305 [email protected] NASA Kennedy Space Center Launch Operations George Diller (321) 867-2468 [email protected] Lockheed Martin Space Systems Launch Vehicle Julie Andrews (321) 853-1567 [email protected] International Launch Services Launch Vehicle Fran Slimmer (571) 633-7462 [email protected] NEW HORIZONS Table of Contents Media Services Information ................................................................................................ 2 Quick Facts .............................................................................................................................. 3 Pluto at a Glance ...................................................................................................................... 5 Why Pluto and the Kuiper Belt? The Science of New Horizons ............................... 7 NASA’s New Frontiers Program ........................................................................................14 The Spacecraft ........................................................................................................................15 Science Payload ...............................................................................................................16 -
Titan and the Moons of Saturn Telesto Titan
The Icy Moons and the Extended Habitable Zone Europa Interior Models Other Types of Habitable Zones Water requires heat and pressure to remain stable as a liquid Extended Habitable Zones • You do not need sunlight. • You do need liquid water • You do need an energy source. Saturn and its Satellites • Saturn is nearly twice as far from the Sun as Jupiter • Saturn gets ~30% of Jupiter’s sunlight: It is commensurately colder Prometheus • Saturn has 82 known satellites (plus the rings) • 7 major • 27 regular • 4 Trojan • 55 irregular • Others in rings Titan • Titan is nearly as large as Ganymede Titan and the Moons of Saturn Telesto Titan Prometheus Dione Titan Janus Pandora Enceladus Mimas Rhea Pan • . • . Titan The second-largest moon in the Solar System The only moon with a substantial atmosphere 90% N2 + CH4, Ar, C2H6, C3H8, C2H2, HCN, CO2 Equilibrium Temperatures 2 1/4 Recall that TEQ ~ (L*/d ) Planet Distance (au) TEQ (K) Mercury 0.38 400 Venus 0.72 291 Earth 1.00 247 Mars 1.52 200 Jupiter 5.20 108 Saturn 9.53 80 Uranus 19.2 56 Neptune 30.1 45 The Atmosphere of Titan Pressure: 1.5 bars Temperature: 95 K Condensation sequence: • Jovian Moons: H2O ice • Saturnian Moons: NH3, CH4 2NH3 + sunlight è N2 + 3H2 CH4 + sunlight è CH, CH2 Implications of Methane Free CH4 requires replenishment • Liquid methane on the surface? Hazy atmosphere/clouds may suggest methane/ ethane precipitation. The freezing points of CH4 and C2H6 are 91 and 92K, respectively. (Titan has a mean temperature of 95K) (Liquid natural gas anyone?) This atmosphere may resemble the primordial terrestrial atmosphere. -
Galileo Telecommunications
Chapter 4 Galileo Telecommunications Jim Taylor, Kar-Ming Cheung, and Dongae Seo 4.1 Mission and Spacecraft Description This chapter describes how the Galileo orbiter received and transmitted data with the Deep Space Network (DSN). The relay communications subsystems and the link between the Galileo probe and the orbiter are also described briefly. The chapter is at a functional level, intended to illuminate the unique mission requirements and constraints that led to both design of the communications system and how the mission had to be modified and operated in flight. Augmenting the spacecraft downlink design and the supporting ground system for science return with only the low-gain antenna (LGA) was a particular challenge for the Galileo planetary mission. The Galileo orbiter was designed and built at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, and the Galileo probe was designed and built at the NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) in Sunnyvale, California. The orbiter flight team was located at JPL, as was the probe flight team during that portion of the mission. 4.1.1 The Mission The Galileo spacecraft was launched in 1989 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS [Space Transportation System]-34). Its primary objective was to study the Jovian System. The Galileo launch delay after the Challenger Space Shuttle 81 82 Chapter 4 accident in 1986 necessitated a change in the strategy to get Galileo to Jupiter.1 The original strategy was a relatively direct flight to Jupiter with a single gravity assist at Mars. The new mission plan had to work with less propulsion, so it made use of a longer, much less direct flight, with gravitational assists from Venus once and Earth twice, to give the spacecraft enough energy to get to Jupiter. -
Activity 2. Starry Messenger: Close Reading. Teacher's Version
Activity 2. Starry Messenger: Close Reading. Teacher’s Version Preliminary Notes • This close reading is divided into seven sections of varying length in the left-hand column. Directed questions and explanatory text are found in the right-hand column along with focus questions that respond to CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4, 7, and 9. • The Launchpad does not contain the question answers or the supplementary comments. It is suggested that the student version of the questions, which appears in the Launchpad version of the handout, be distributed after the close reading of the section(s) at the discretion of the teacher. • Academic vocabulary is bolded only in the teacher’s version; see the Teacher’s and Student version worksheets of the complete lists of vocabulary items. • Call-outs for the handouts of Galileo’s drawings of Orion and the Pleiades are introduced in Section 5 of both the Teacher’s and student version, and in the Launchpad. ****************************************************************************** Suggested Sequence for Close Reading Reading 1 The teacher will model a reading of the entire first section with the class. Instruct them as they read to highlight unfamiliar words or passages. For each chunk of text, have students briefly note what they think it means. Reading 2 Read again the first section aloud to the class, modeling the types of questions that students will be answering when they read the rest of the sections on their own. Individual Readings If feasible, divide the class into small groups of 3 students each and have each group read aloud the six remaining passages to the class, finding answers to the focus questions (right hand column and on their graphic organizer). -
In Situ Exploration of the Giant Planets Olivier Mousis, David H
In situ Exploration of the Giant Planets Olivier Mousis, David H. Atkinson, Richard Ambrosi, Sushil Atreya, Don Banfield, Stas Barabash, Michel Blanc, T. Cavalié, Athena Coustenis, Magali Deleuil, et al. To cite this version: Olivier Mousis, David H. Atkinson, Richard Ambrosi, Sushil Atreya, Don Banfield, et al.. In situ Exploration of the Giant Planets. 2019. hal-02282409 HAL Id: hal-02282409 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02282409 Submitted on 2 Jun 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. In Situ Exploration of the Giant Planets A White Paper Submitted to ESA’s Voyage 2050 Call arXiv:1908.00917v1 [astro-ph.EP] 31 Jul 2019 Olivier Mousis Contact Person: Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LAM, Marseille, France ([email protected]) July 31, 2019 WHITE PAPER RESPONSE TO ESA CALL FOR VOYAGE 2050 SCIENCE THEME In Situ Exploration of the Giant Planets Abstract Remote sensing observations suffer significant limitations when used to study the bulk atmospheric composition of the giant planets of our solar system. This impacts our knowledge of the formation of these planets and the physics of their atmospheres. A remarkable example of the superiority of in situ probe measurements was illustrated by the exploration of Jupiter, where key measurements such as the determination of the noble gases’ abundances and the precise measurement of the helium mixing ratio were only made available through in situ measurements by the Galileo probe.