December 13, 2002 Inside Volume 32 Number 25 News Briefs . 2 One Year to Go . 3 Special Events Calendar . 2 Letters, Retirees . 4 Multimedia facility breaks ground 2 Passings, Classifieds . 4 Jet Propulsion Laboratory e m e h t s OLAR SYSTEM NASA HAS SELECTED FOUR PROPOSALS provide breakthrough understanding of the chemistry of Mars, its surface, atmosphere, interior evolution and Amalthea is for detailed study as candidates for the 2007 “Scout” potential biological activity. rocky, loosely mission in the agency’s Mars Exploration Program. JPL co-investigators on this mission would be Steven Jones (Section 3538), Amy Jurewicz (3224) and Albert Yen (3223). packed Mars Scout • Aerial Regional-scale Environmental Survey, led by JPL’s Galileo spacecraft Dr. Joel Levine, NASA Langley Research Center, Hamp- continues to deliver surprises ton, Va. This mission offers to provide the first in-situ with the discovery that Jupiter’s concepts measurements of the near-surface atmospheric chem- potato-shaped inner moon, istry within the Mars planetary-boundary layer, thereby named Amalthea, appears to selected providing critical clues to the chemical evolution of the have a very low density, indicat- planet, climate history, and potential biological activity. ing it is full of holes. By Guy Webster Should this mission be selected, the JPL co-investi- “The density is unexpectedly gator would be Diana Blaney. and Mark Whalen low,” said JPL astronomer Dr. • Phoenix, led by Dr. Peter Smith, University of John D. Anderson on Monday at Arizona. This mission proposes to conduct a stationary, the fall meeting of the American JPL would lead in-situ investigation of volatiles (especially water), Geophysical Union in San Fran- organic molecules and modern climate. It aims to cisco. “Amalthea is apparently a one mission, partner “follow the water” and measure indicator molecules at loosely packed pile of rubble.” on three others More than 20 proposals were considered, and the high-latitude sites where Mars Odyssey has discovered The empty gaps between sol- principal investigator leaders of the four selected by evidence of large ice concentrations in the Martian soil. id chunks likely take up more of NASA have chosen JPL to be their project management JPL co-investigators on Phoenix would be Blaney, the moon's total volume than partner. If any of the four proposals were to be selected Eric de Jong (3222), Michael Hecht (384) and Leslie the solid pieces, and even the Artist’s rendering shows for development, JPL would provide project systems Tamppari (314). chunks are probably material the Mars Volcanic Emission engineering, mission assurance leadership, mission Designs for the Marvel mission, the spacecraft and that is not dense enough to fit trajectory design and navigation, and mission opera- operations draw heavily from the successful 2001 Mars some theories about the origin and Life Scout spacecraft tions leadership. Odyssey mission, now in orbit at Mars. of Jupiter's moons. “Amalthea and instruments. Final selection of one concept for flight development “One of the most exciting questions people ask is now seems more likely to be will be made by the NASA associate administrator for whether life exists elsewhere,” Allen said. “A lot of us mostly rock with maybe a little space science, Dr. Edward Weiler, by next summer. on this team think that if life ever existed on Mars, ice, rather than a denser mix of The four Mars Scout mission concepts selected, and there is a good chance life still exists if there is any rock and iron,” said Galileo their principal investigators, are: place warm and wet.” Project Scientist Dr. Torrence • Mars Volcanic Emission and Life Scout (Marvel), The mission would equip a Mars orbiter with two Johnson. led by Dr. Mark Allen of JPL. This mission proposes to types of instruments that have proven useful in study- This red-tinted moon mea- conduct a global survey of the Martian atmosphere’s ing Earth’s atmosphere from Earth orbit. One, an sures about 270 kilometers photochemistry to search for emissions that could be infrared solar occultation spectrometer, would look (168 miles) in length and half related to active volcanism or microbial activity, as well sideways through Mars’ atmosphere toward the setting that in width. Anderson and as to track the behavior of water in the atmosphere or rising Sun for an extremely sensitive reading of what colleagues estimated Amal- across a full annual cycle. chemicals are in the thin air that the sunlight passes thea’s mass from its gravitation- JPL co-investigators would be Mike Janssen (Section through before hitting the instrument. The other, a al effect on Galileo, when the 3262), Geoff Toon (3243) and Marguerite Syvertson submillimeter spectrometer, would look through any spacecraft passed within about (185). dust in the atmosphere to seek localized atmospheric 160 kilometers (99 miles) of • Sample Collection for Investigation of Mars, led by concentrations of the chemicals of interest. the moon on Nov. 5. Dr. Peter Professor Laurie Leshin of Arizona State University. “By the end of this decade, Marvel could either Thomas of Cornell University This innovative mission would sample atmospheric dust detect and localize any existing life and active volcan- had calculated Amalthea’s and gas using aerogel and use a “free-return trajectory” ism on Mars or put extremely stringent limits on their volume from earlier Galileo to bring samples back to Earth. Such samples could existence,” Allen said. images of the moon. The winds that raced through JPL two days before Thanksgiving caused Wind damage considerable damage to Building 198 that displaced dozens of employees, but the good news is that no one was injured. All staff members in the causes flood, building were evacuated the morning of Nov. 26, as high winds caused a section of the roof to peel back. The loose piece of roof then sheared a fire- closes half hose connection line on the roof, causing a massive flood. The majority of the damage was done to the eastern side of the building, of building where approximately 100 staff members in Division 34 scrambled to find temporary places to do their work. Those in the western half of the building returned to their offices on Monday. By Mark Whalen It wasn’t long before those who escaped the flooded areas found new Photo courtesy of Don Plagge No injuries reported in homes. People from across the 3X Directorate and elsewhere have offered extra desks and chairs. Vacant offices have been located. Some conference hard hats) could enter the building to pick up personal belongings. pre-Thanksgiving gusts rooms have been converted to office space, and many people have begun to All flight hardware was spared damage, but the flooding caused share their offices with others. damage to several computers as well as ceiling tiles, carpeting, wall- “It’s amazing how everyone has been absorbed into the system,” said Bob board and items that were on top of furniture at the time of the flood. Right: Nov. 26 windstorms Develle, manager of the Facilities Engineering and Construction Section. Develle noted that the roof membrane dislocated by wind was “Everyone has been wonderful in trying to help,” added Susan Henry, quickly put back in place, and the building sustained no leaks from the caused significant damage deputy director, Business Operations and Human Resources Directorate. rains over the holiday. to Building 198’s roof. “We were so lucky to come out of this as well as we did.” The building is now dry, repairs and replacement of damaged items On Monday, personnel from the Occupational Safety Office toured the are underway, and Develle expects that all staff can return sometime building and agreed that residents of the east side of the building (wearing in January. 2 Ostro wins Kuiper Prize Radar to track vehicle speed Universe For his years of research demon- In response to concerns regarding strating the power of radar techniques speeding vehicles on-Lab, JPL Secu- Special Events Calendar to wrest information from near-Earth rity will soon implement the use of asteroids, DR. STEVEN OSTRO will a new enforcement tool. Beginning day crafts for children, storytelling receive the prestigious Gerard P. Jan. 6, 2003, Security will use radar Ongoing Support Groups and an appearance by Santa. Contact Homaira Majid at (626) 683-3544 or Kuiper Prize next year from the to deter speeding and will issue Alcoholics Anonymous— Call the walid@ caltech.edu. American Astronomical Society’s traffic citations to any vehicle ex- Employee Assistance Program at ext. News Division for Planetary Sciences. ceeding the posted 20 mph maximum 4-3680 for meeting time and location. Ostro, a JPL senior research scien- speed limit on the property, or the Thursday, December 19 tist, began probing these miniature 10 mph maximum speed limit in the Caregivers Support Group—Meets the first Thursday of the month at Social Security—A representative will planets with radar more than 20 years parking lots. be available for one-on-one counsel- Briefs ago, and was essentially the only noon in Building 167-111 (The Several security officers have been Wellness Place). Call the Employee ing. For an appointment, call the researcher doing so through the trained and certified with the Califor- Assistance Program at ext. 4-3680. Benefits office at 4-3760. 1980s. The field has grown in the past nia Highway Patrol in the use of decade, with increasing recognition of radar. Codependents Anonymous—Meets at the scientific importance of asteroids. Personnel are reminded to adhere noon every Wednesday. Call Occupa- Friday, December 20 Ostro and his colleagues have to the Laboratory speed limits and tional Health Services at ext. 4-3319. Tax Deferred Account Deadline— successfully obtained radar echoes operate their vehicles in a safe Salary Reduction Agreements for 2003 Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Group— from nearly 200 asteroids, mostly manner at all times.