NASA Ames to Establish Nationwide Lunar Science Institute
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November 2007 Worden gives upbeat message about future work for Ames BY JOHN BLUCK "We have switched material to In an upbeat talk to a crowd that phenolic impregnated carbon abla- filled the Ames main auditorium, tor (PICA), a (heat shield) material Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden developed here," Worden noted. His outlined an exciting future at Ames projected slide also listed Ames as that includes new work in exploration, leading PICA development and test- science and aeronautics -- each about a ing both for the Crew Exploration Ve- third of the center's efforts, he said. "I hicle, now called Orion, and the Mars have a gazillion charts to go through," Science Laboratory (MSL), which has photo by Eric James NASA he said. a planned launch date in fall 2009. His wide-ranging presentation Worden said that Ames' arc jets about Ames touched on moon explo- facility "a unique facility in the world." ration, a lunar institute, moon dust re- He added, "We want to upgrade search, heat shield work for spacecraft them." destined for the moon and Mars, a Mars sample "cache box" assignment, Life Sciences rising supercomputer capability, small "We are getting additional life Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden responds satellite work with a potential for support tasks assigned by Johnson to a question during the recent upbeat talk he many missions, increased astrobiology (and Marshall)," Worden said. "This is gave to the center about the future of Ames. work, growing cooperation among significant." continued on page 5 academia, and commercial partners and Ames and much more. NASA Ames to establish Moon work The Ames fast-paced Lunar CRater nationwide lunar science institute Observation and Sensing Satellite BY MICHAEL MEWHINNEY center currently manages a similar dis- (LCROSS) mission to hit the moon is NASA recently announced its tributed NASA Astrobiology Institute. important because it is, "demonstrat- intent to establish a new lunar science NLSI's operations are expected to ing what this center can do on sched- begin March 1, 2008. NLSI will aug- ule and in budget," Worden declared. ment other, already established lunar LCROSS, part of NASA's Explora- science investigations funded by tion Systems Mission Directorate's NASA by encouraging the formation activity, will strike the moon's south photo NASA of interdisciplinary research teams that polar region, and kick up lunar mate- are larger than those currently at work rial to enable scientists to analyze it for water content. in lunar science. "We're coordinating a worldwide "I am excited about NLSI," said LCROSS moon impact observation Alan Stern, associate administrator for campaign (led by Ames planetary NASA's Science Mission Directorate, scientist Jen Heldmann)," Worden NASA Headquarters, Washington. "As continued. continued on page 12 The LCROSS launch, slated for October 2008, is, Worden said, "on schedule and on budget. We are mak- On the Inside . ing a great program." institute. This effort, with dispersed Page 2 - ‘Return to the Moon Family Speaking about the agency's effort teams across the nation, will help lead Night’ attracts thousands to go back to the moon and travel to the agency's research activities for Page 3 - NASA’s Remotely piloted plane Mars and beyond--the Constellation future lunar science missions related helps battle wildfires Program--Worden said there is a lot to NASA's exploration goals. Page 4 - NASA ‘MULEs’ help move large of work to do for Ames. "We have a Named the NASA Lunar Sci- objects on moon number of very critical elements. The ence Institute (NLSI), the effort will Page 14 - Ames Ongoing Events thermal protection folks are working be managed from NASA Ames. The Page 15 - Classifieds overtime." www.nasa.gov Conference held on exploration of moons - Phobos and Deimos The First International and students interested in discuss- Conference on the Exploration ing the status and advancement of of Phobos and Deimos: The the exploration of Mars' satellites, Science, Robotic Reconnaissance, and the exploration of Mars itself and Human Exploration of the and other near-Earth objects (NEOs) Two Moons of Mars was the first through them. international meeting focused on The conference was held dur- NASA photo by Dominic Hart NASA Phobos and Deimos, and on how ing a time of renewed interest in the their exploration relates to that exploration of Phobos and Deimos, of the moon, Mars and the solar with several international space- system beyond. craft missions and concept studies The conference was an open underway. international forum bringing Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden speaking at the together scientists, engineers, First International Conference of Photos and Deimos held space exploration professionals recently at the center. ‘Return to the Moon Family Night’ attracts thousands BY RACHEL PR UCEY The moon was high and bright Participants at the in the clear evening sky on Nov. 17 recent Ames ‘Return during ‘Return to the Moon Family to the Moon Fam- Night.’ NASA Ames was abuzz with ily Night’ held at the center got to try an estimated 6,500 attendees, some of science gizmos first whom were outfitted in shiny silver hand. Kids got the spacesuits or other astronaut apparel to chance to operate show their NASA spirit. remote-controlled rov- Volunteer parking attendants ers (top photo); to look equipped with light sabers and event through telescopes staff guided excited children, families at the moon, Comet Holmes (middle left and NASA enthusiasts to the night’s photo) and other ce- various activities and displays. They lestial objects (middle included presentations by scientists, photo); and experience videos, authentic moon rocks on other computer-simu- display, robotic rover demonstrations, lated displays (bottom telescopes to peer into the night sky right photo.) and even a virtual playground of kid’s activities. Seating was scarce at presenta- tions by Ames Center Director S. Pete Worden and Ames scientists who are leading the Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mis- sion; including Tony Colaprete, Jennifer Heldmann and Stuart Moses. NASA photos by Dominic Hart Crowds flooded the Shenandoah Parade Ground waiting for a chance to view the night’s ‘star’ and main attraction: the moon. Curiosity shone on people’s faces as they learned about NASA’s effort to return and discover moon’s surface purple and green, while all the family night coordinators and more about the moon either by talking others used remote-controlled, mini volunteers, Ames opened its doors to to knowledgeable staff at fun booths rovers to weave through a moon-like the community to share NASA’s excite- featuring colorful handouts, videos and obstacle course, or puzzle together ment and efforts in cutting-edge sci- miniature rovers, or by touching the artistic renderings of space. ence and space exploration. Stay tuned actual materials used on space shuttles. Once again, through the help of for future family events! Little hands creatively colored the event manager Barbara Patterson and 2 Astrogram November 2007 NASA’s remotely piloted plane helps battle wildfires BY JOHN BLUCK NASA pilots flew the Ikhana un- National Interagency Fire Center. part of the Western States Fire Mis- manned airplane and its instruments Last month, Ikhana flights were sion to demonstrate improved wildfire that can see through smoke over as conducted as part of a series of wild- imaging and mapping capabilities of many as seven of a dozen the sophisticated imaging Southern California wild- sensor and real-time data fires in late October. communications equipment The Ikhana took off developed at Ames. During from NASA Dryden Flight the September missions, Research Center, Edwards pilots flew the airplane for Air Force Base, Calif., to earlier missions remotely observe wildfires while from NASA Dryden as well. flying south for a 10-hour NASA's Ikhana is a mission. It first observed Predator B unmanned the fires near Lake Arrrow- aircraft system built by head and flew as far south General Atomics Aeronauti- as San Diego County near cal Systems and adapted the Mexican border. for environmental science NASA Ames developed and technology research the Autonomous Modular missions. Each flight is Sensor-Wildfire to look being coordinated with the through the smoke to see FAA to allow the remotely hot spots, flames and tem- piloted aircraft to fly within perature differences. the national airspace while According to Jim photo by NASA and U.S. Forest Service maintaining separation Brass of Ames, who flew Thermal-infrared imaging sensors on NASA’s Ikhana remotely piloted research from other aircraft. to Dryden to conduct the aircraft acquired this image at in the afternoon on Oct. 25 over the Harris Fire in Also, a NASA satellite Ikhana's mission, the fire San Diego County in Southern California. The colorized image shows a mosaic of images looking south, draped over the terrain and shown in 3D. The active wildfire has captured remarkable images are taken from the fronts are in yellow and red, while hot, previously burned areas are in shades of imaging of the wildfires. Ikhana aircraft and are dark red and purple. Unburned areas are shown in green hues. To view and download processed on board. Pilots images and for additional remotely flew the UAV information, visit: http:// from NASA Dryden. fire imaging demonstration missions www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookin- "After processing, the images are being conducted by NASA and the gatearth/socal_wildfires_oct07.html transmitted through a communica- U.S. Forest Service. The flights were tions satellite to NASA Ames where the imagery is placed on an Ames Web site. Then the imagery is com- Scientists teach audience about Arctic bined with Google Earth maps," Brass In late October, a team of six scientists and explained. Arctic residents told their personal stories of "We anticipated an event like the life and research in polar regions, supported wildfire siege in Southern California by dramatic high definition video footage, to occurring in October," said the project help the rest of of the audience get a feel for principal investigator Vince Ambrosia life on the world’s icy edges.