backtop

Print 16 comment(s) - last by christojojo.. on Jul 23 at 6:26 PM
A storm on Mars continues to give mars rovers problems; JAXA's SELENE mission delayed again; and Sunita Williams talks about her time in space

A dust storm that has lasted more than three weeks continues to pound the NASA Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.  Both rovers receive power from solar energy and inactive during large storms.  NASA officials turned Spirit and Opportunity on once per day to check solar power levels, but quickly shut off the rovers after the readings are completed.

The storm has continually blocked up to 99 percent of direct sunlight that the rovers need. NASA officials are not sure when the storm will let up. There is a small possibility the rovers "will not be able to generate enough power to keep themselves warm and operate at all, even in a near-dormant state."

This is the first time in three years that at least one of the rovers will be unable to communicate with NASA directors on Earth at least once during the day.

JAXA had to delay the scheduled mid-August launch of its SELENE lunar orbiter - one more delay for a project that is already more than four years behind schedule.  The Selenological and Engineering Explorer, known as SELENE, is a project said to be the largest since the NASA Apollo space program.

The project, which has already cost $269 million, will locate one satellite in orbit 60 miles above the moon and two more satellites will be located at polar orbits.  The collected research will help scientists learn more about the origin and evolution of the moon.

After U.S. astronaut Sunita Williams returned to Earth aboard the shuttle Atlantis, she has endured numerous interviews about her historic 188 days in space.  One of her recent interviews was a video conference to students and spectators in New Delhi, Madras, Bombay and Calcutta - where she spoke about what her transition on Earth has been like so far.

"I almost forgot what it was like to walk," Williams said after returning to Earth.

She continues her stay at a NASA physical rehabilitation facility designed to help returning astronauts regain strength in bones and muscles.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Typo?
By Ringold on 7/21/2007 11:39:56 PM , Rating: 2
SELENE wont be larger than Apollo (the Europeans could only wish), but the largest *since* Apollo -- as was said in the news item you linked to.




RE: Typo?
By Matty P on 7/22/2007 3:56:49 AM , Rating: 2
Don't you mean the Japanese Ringold? I believe the European one you may be thinking of is the ATV http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/ATV_English_fina...
Which really is quite big, although still not Apollo sized. I like the picture of a London bus inside it :)


RE: Typo?
By bubbacub616 on 7/22/2007 4:18:42 AM , Rating: 2
is a larger boosting rocket really any "better" if all you want to do is get into orbit? ariane 5 is the right size for current economic needs - why would the ESA "wish" (as you put it) to build something bigger than apollo if there is no need for it.


RE: Typo?
By GaryJohnson on 7/22/2007 5:11:30 AM , Rating: 2
I think this is the original "Largest since apollo" statement: http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/selene/index_e.htm...

The actual phrasing is:
quote:
The largest lunar mission since the Apollo program


It seems to be referring to the size of the mission not the size of the rocket.


RE: Typo?
By TSS on 7/22/2007 11:59:14 AM , Rating: 5
i would agree. it's not the size of the rocket that matters, it's what you do with it.


More Funding
By lompocus on 7/22/07, Rating: 0
RE: More Funding
By christojojo on 7/22/2007 1:19:22 PM , Rating: 4
You know that calling all people on welfare lazy *** is like calling all posters here smart.

Most people on welfare actually need it. I grant that there is abuse. Just like there are some programmers that over bill and under work. Just like teachers that just handout worksheets and unchanged previously done notes (yawn). Just like there are .... well you get the point.

We see only what other people show us; unless of course, we decide to find out on our own. I have worked in the poorer sections as a mailman and a teacher; here are a few things I have learned.

1 Most living there are there because their parents were (gasp) poor.
2 Most hate living there but cannot afford to leave.
3 They are victims of their own cultures and the outside cultures. A poor highly intelligent black persons greatest enemy is his culture. (accusation that the those student endure include; "You're doin whiteys work", "you think you're to smart for us", and just plain old peer pressure. Then they get an outside job and other races expect them all to be gangstas. That is just one race.

Lets face it its hard enough to dig out of a hole you put yourself in but and internal, social, and economic pressures and its amazing anyone gets out.

Since most people just complain about the problem and never give solutions here is what I think would help.

1 Welfare for work.
2 No welfare if you committed crimes. (Welfare is an alternative to committing crimes to get out of tight spots (i.e. food)
3 Money should be given as long as the family unit goes to classes to improve selves/family (Absentee parents need not apply)

Finally, YES!, I know this is long winded and off topic but an ignorant thing was put on this fine (Truthfully) forum. It offended me and I'm sure offends others as well. I'm also, betting on the fact that most ignoramuses (aka lazy *** bigots) won't read this whole thing.


RE: More Funding
By porkpie on 7/22/2007 2:21:43 PM , Rating: 2
> "calling all people on welfare lazy ***..."

Maybe 1 in 100 actually needs welfare. Most simply don't want to work. M millions of Mexicans flood illegally into the country every year. Why? Because they can find a job. In a heartbeat. Without even trying.

Are you seriously going to sit on your pompous rear and pretend that, when an illegal immigrant with no documents and little to no command of English can find a job in 24 hours or less-- that a welfare recipient cannot?

Fact is, they simply don't want to work. Not for the wages they'd get. They'd rather sit home in their air-conditioned low-rent government housing. That's simple fact, which I'd realize even if I didn't have a couple of my own relatives in just the same situation. Exploiting the system and the taxpayer, just to suit themselves.


RE: More Funding
By christojojo on 7/22/2007 6:17:10 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
seriously going to sit on your pompous rear and pretend that


My wife said, "you forgot fat". I, also, stated I worked with many of these people.

quote:
hey simply don't want to work. Not for the wages they'd get.


Neither do you, many of the jobs you are talking are under minimum wage, long hours and unhealthy.

Also, if you have ever been unemployed you would find out how much the government punishes you for working. So working for a small wage that would remove benefits just isn't worth it. It would be like if a programmer would get fined for working over forty hours a week.

Read this link;

http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/art...

http://tinyurl.com/3cqbeo

is the same just truncated
or if you don't trust me

http://preview.tinyurl.com/3cqbeo

quote:
That's simple fact, which I'd realize even if I didn't have a couple of my own relatives in just the same situation. Exploiting the system and the taxpayer, just to suit themselves.


Admission is the first step to redemption.

I said that not all are deserving. What I tried to say is the system and societal pressure cause this.

I do think it is immoral to starve children and willing adults.

I do think that reforms are needed (reread my solutions in my OP).

I don't think pointing to illegal immigrants working for slave wages is a viable argument. I wouldn't want my children picking fruit, laying brick, hot patching roofs for 14 hr days and 4-5 dollars an hour nor anyone else.


RE: More Funding
By porkpie on 7/23/2007 12:31:57 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
> "My wife said, "you forgot fat".

Well since your wife believes you're correct, I guess that settles the issue eh?

quote:
many of the jobs you are talking are under minimum wage, long hours and unhealthy.
For those on welfare in an urban area (the vast majority) there are no jobs AT minimum wage, much less under. The local McDonalds pays $8.50/hour, and is constantly begging for jobs. There hasn't been a day in the last 5 years they haven't had a wanted sign up. The lawn service companies pay $12-$15/hour, a premium for actually having to work in the sun. They're usually late to cut my grass, because they cannot find enough workers to meet demand.

What's wrong with these jobs? Any one of the millions on welfare could take one of these. They wouldn't starve...maybe (gasp! god forbid!) they might even make a little less than they would from the free government paycheck, but they'd be earning their own way. And they wouldn't be starving, nor would they be living off yours and my money.

Fact is, they don't WANT to work long hours over a hot burger grill or in the hot sun. They'd much rather sit at home and watch TV. And as long as the bucks roll in, why shouldn't they?


RE: More Funding
By christojojo on 7/23/2007 6:26:50 PM , Rating: 2
Seriously read the article posted first then respond. We'll playfully argue and take jabs at each other after you read it.

I'm saying that working at those wages prevents them from taking care of their families.

If you have ever had a child (god forbid) break an arm and you were not insured you would understand the problems living at or near poverty.

For the record I have worked at minimum wage (three jobs at once plus gone to finish my bachelors) It was tough even though I had a good/ lucky upbringing and not other societal pressures.


Turn one of the rovers on I say.
By rudy on 7/22/2007 10:24:22 PM , Rating: 2
The rovers have lasted well past their missions design, they have been going for years more then they are suppose too. I think they should turn one on even if it does end its life and try to get some pictures of this storm.




RE: Turn one of the rovers on I say.
By dude on 7/23/2007 1:29:52 AM , Rating: 2
I would have to disagree.

However, is it a problem to put them to sleep and then wake them up after a few weeks/months or even a year after the dust storm blows away? Would the electronics go bad in the cold weather? I would assume that it's extremely bad for the batteries, but even rechargeable batteries are known to work after thawing from the fridge. Except if they were lithium or lead acid batteries...


RE: Turn one of the rovers on I say.
By dude on 7/23/2007 1:33:04 AM , Rating: 2
Damn edit button disappeared on me again! :p

All you would see in a dust storm is what you would see in the desert. There was one in (I believe) Arizona last week, and probably a daily occurrence in the middle east and in the Sahara Desert.


By SiliconAddict on 7/21/2007 11:03:14 PM , Rating: 2
At least it can be said they had one hell of a run. No one expected them to last nearly this long. That being said they have had some close calls in the past as well. Who knows.




By Combatcolin on 7/22/2007 4:15:59 AM , Rating: 2
You can learn as much from space hardware after its planned service time as during its actual service time.

Look at Mir, an excellent example of "crisis management", keeping hardware up and running years after it was de to be de-commissioned.

Now NASA can find out just how well they designed and built the Mars Rovers, ad what they need to plan for the future.


"So, I think the same thing of the music industry. They can't say that they're losing money, you know what I'm saying. They just probably don't have the same surplus that they had." -- Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA











botimage
Copyright 2012 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki