Online Cortex Thoughts on Science and Technology

On Thursday October 16th at 7pm PST, JPL will host a webcast of a lecture on the new Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover. This webcast will require RealPlayer—the free RealPlayer 8 Basic can be downloaded from RealPlayer.
More info can be found here at JPL.

This talk is part of the JPL von Kármán Lecture Series.
Here is the Summary from the JPL Website:

New Wheels on Mars: The Mars Science Laboratory
Dr. Richard Cook
Mars Science Laboratory Project Manager

Building on the success of the two rover geologists that arrived at Mars in January, 2004, NASA’s next rover mission will depart for the Red Planet in 2009. Twice as long and five times as heavy as the Mars Exploration Rovers, the Mars Science Laboratory will collect Martian soil and rock samples and analyze them for organic compounds and minerals which demonstrate that Mars can or did support life. This sophisticated science laboratory will be delivered to the Martian surface using an innovative new landing system. The spacecraft will start by steering itself through the Martian atmosphere in a fashion similar to the way the Apollo entry capsule controlled its entry through Earth’s upper atmosphere. This approach will allow the spacecraft to fly to a desired location above the surface of Mars before deploying its parachute for the final landing. Then, in the final minutes before touchdown, the spacecraft will activate its parachute and retro rockets before lowering the rover package to the surface on a tether.

If you are local, you may be able to attend the talk:

Thursday, October 16, 2008, 7p.m.
The von Kármán Auditorium at JPL
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA
+Directions

Friday, October 17, 2008, 7p.m.
The Vosloh Forum at Pasadena City College
1570 East Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
+Directions

Posted under Astrobiology, Exploration, Mars, Research, Robotics, Space, Technology

I have been thinking about human science and exploration, and how long it takes for these processes to initiate and result in acceptance and conclusion.  When considering exploration, it seems it takes about two human lifetimes to go from the initial explorations to settlement.  Perhaps this is the cultural time required for the old guys and their ideas to die off, and the next generation to think seriously about the problems.  Science seems to progress similarly.

This suggests the following timeline:

1969   Humans walk on the Moon

2050  Humans begin colonizing the Moon
2050  Humans begin exploring Mars

2150   Humans begin colonizing Mars
2150   Humans begin exploring the Outer Solar System
2150   Robotic explorers begin surveying Alpha Centauri and neary stars

2250   Humans begin colonizing Outer Solar System

Its too bad that this will take a long time, but each step requires dramatic cultural changes, which take lifetimes to perform.

Kevin Knuth
Boraceia, Brazil

Posted under Astronomy, Exploration, Space

During the second spacewalk of the STS-123 mission, the crew began assembling Dextre.  Dextre is the newest member of the International Space Station’s Mobile Servicing System, and will act as a repair and construction robot for the ISS’s exterior.  Dextre is enormous “standing” or rather floating at 12 feet tall.  He has an 8 foot shoulder space and two 11 foot arms!

From National Geographic News, Astronaut Garrett Reisman stated,

“Now I wouldn’t go as far to say that we’re worried it’s going to go run amok and take over the space station or turn evil or anything because we all know how it’s operated and it doesn’t have a lot of its own intelligence,” Reisman told the Associated Press last week.

“But I’ll tell you something,” Reisman said. “He’s enormous, and to see him with his giant arms, it is a little scary. It’s a little monstrous, it is.”

Dextre is provided by the Canada Space Agency, who has for years supported the robotic arm on the shuttle.

This is a video of the installation:
High resolution – 50.3 MB
Low resolution – 2.6 MB
More videos and images can be found here.

Kevin Knuth
Albany NY

Posted under Exploration, Intelligent Systems, Research, Robotics, Space, Technology

The MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) probe is approaching Mercury and is sending back the best images of the planet’s surface ever recorded!

The last spacecraft to visit Merury was Mariner 10 in 1975. The MESSENGER probe will flyby Mercury twice and eventually go into orbit around the planet in 2011. Once in orbit, the cameras will be able to resolve detail down to 60 feet across.

Tune into the MESSENGER home page for updates and images.

Kevin Knuth
Albany NY

Posted under Astronomy, Exploration, Space

NASA Astrobiology Institute
Cooperative Agreement Notice (Cycle-5)

The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) announces, through the release of this Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN), an opportunity for the submission of team-based proposals for membership in the Institute. Proposals should clearly articulate an innovative, interdisciplinary, astrobiology research program, together with plans to advance the full scope of NAI objectives as defined in the Institute’s Mission Statement.The Cooperative Agreement Notice can be accessed at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com

CAN Release Date: January 8, 2008
Notices of Intent Due: February 22, 2008
Proposals Due: April 11, 2008

Posted under Astrobiology, Astronomy, Biology, Exploration, Research, Space