National Aeronautics National Aeronautics and Space and Space

Administration Administration (NASA)(NASA)

NASANASA

• Hubble Telescope – Justin LauerHubble Telescope – Justin Lauer

• Mars Exploration – Michelle HernandezMars Exploration – Michelle Hernandez

• International Space Station – Robert RoarkInternational Space Station – Robert Roark

• The Challenger Disaster – Laura MontanezThe Challenger Disaster – Laura Montanez

• Spaceguard Survey Program – Jose RuizSpaceguard Survey Program – Jose Ruiz

• Hypersonic X43A – Pilar LamarqueHypersonic X43A – Pilar Lamarque

• Gravity Probe B – Josh ThomasGravity Probe B – Josh Thomas

Hubble TelescopeHubble Telescope

Mars Exploration: Rover Mars Exploration: Rover MissionMission

By Michelle HernandezBy Michelle Hernandez

Twin Robots: Spirit and Twin Robots: Spirit and OpportunityOpportunity

• A Body: protects the roversA Body: protects the rovers

• Brains:  computers to process Brains:  computers to process informationinformation

• Temperature controls:   internal Temperature controls:   internal heaters, a layer of insulation, and heaters, a layer of insulation, and moremore

• Eyes and other "senses":  cameras Eyes and other "senses":  cameras and instruments give information and instruments give information about their environmentabout their environment

Twin Robots: Spirit and Twin Robots: Spirit and OpportunityOpportunity

• Arm:  a way to extend its reachArm:  a way to extend its reach

• Wheels and "legs":  parts for Wheels and "legs":  parts for mobilitymobility

• Eenergy:  batteries and solar Eenergy:  batteries and solar panelspanels

• Communications:  antennas Communications:  antennas for "speaking" and "listening"for "speaking" and "listening"

Mars Rover DiscoveriesMars Rover Discoveries

• Spirit’s discoveries at Maztzal showed different Spirit’s discoveries at Maztzal showed different layers of Martian dust and network fractureslayers of Martian dust and network fractures

• Opportunity's discoveries at Meridiani Planum Opportunity's discoveries at Meridiani Planum showed rolling, never parallel lines of rockshowed rolling, never parallel lines of rock

Mars Rover Mission Mars Rover Mission

• NASA approved a NASA approved a five extension for five extension for this Missionthis Mission

• Many concerns Many concerns have arised have arised regarding keeping regarding keeping the rovers in the rovers in working conditionworking condition

International Space International Space StationStation

The Power SystemThe Power System

Modules to Live & WorkModules to Live & Work

Laboratory Module InteriorLaboratory Module Interior

Space Station ResearchSpace Station Research

The Challenger Disaster: The Challenger Disaster: A NASA TragedyA NASA Tragedy

Mechanical FlawsMechanical Flaws

• Blow holes forming in puttyBlow holes forming in putty

• Erosion of O-ringsErosion of O-rings

• Joint rotationJoint rotation

• Loss of flexibility in materialLoss of flexibility in material

Administrative FlawsAdministrative Flaws

• Lack of understanding of problemLack of understanding of problem

• Eagerness to launchEagerness to launch

• Underestimating problemUnderestimating problem– Weather not suitable for launchWeather not suitable for launch

““Take off your engineering hat. Put on Take off your engineering hat. Put on your management hat!”your management hat!”

EthicsEthics

• Safety and the public’s well-being is Safety and the public’s well-being is ALWAYS a priorityALWAYS a priority

• Do not become a part of “group think”Do not become a part of “group think”

• Never ignore or underestimate peopleNever ignore or underestimate people

NASA Spaceguard NASA Spaceguard Survey ProgramSurvey Program

Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)

• Asteroid:Asteroid:– Small planetoid that Small planetoid that

orbit the solar systemorbit the solar system– Rocky or metallic Rocky or metallic

compositioncomposition

• CometComet– Composed of ice and Composed of ice and

dustdust– Near sun becomes Near sun becomes

gas and ignites gas and ignites luminous tailluminous tail

NEOs (continued)NEOs (continued)

• NEOs with diameter (d) less than 10 m NEOs with diameter (d) less than 10 m break down as entering atmosphere.break down as entering atmosphere.

• Category 1Category 1– Size: 10 m < d < 100 mSize: 10 m < d < 100 m– Power: 100 kilotons of TNT (a few Hiroshima-Power: 100 kilotons of TNT (a few Hiroshima-

type bombs) type bombs) – Damage: Fire and destruction in radius of up to Damage: Fire and destruction in radius of up to

40 km40 km– Dissipates before hitting groundDissipates before hitting ground

NEOs (continued)NEOs (continued)

• Category 2Category 2– Size: 100 m < d < 1 kmSize: 100 m < d < 1 km– Damage: 1 km objects could have radius of Damage: 1 km objects could have radius of

destruction encompassing whole statesdestruction encompassing whole states– Plunges enough dust into atmosphere to begin Plunges enough dust into atmosphere to begin

influencing global temperaturesinfluencing global temperatures– Creates cratersCreates craters

• Category 3Category 3– Size: 1 km < d < 5 kmSize: 1 km < d < 5 km

Spaceguard Survey Program Spaceguard Survey Program (SSP)(SSP)

• What is it?What is it?– Program which is being developed to Program which is being developed to

explore the sky in order to locate NEOs explore the sky in order to locate NEOs that could pose a threat to collide with that could pose a threat to collide with the Earth.the Earth.

– Started in 1992 and its goal is to Survey Started in 1992 and its goal is to Survey 90% of NEOs with d > 1 km by 2009.90% of NEOs with d > 1 km by 2009.

– Detection rateDetection rate•Currently 70 per yearCurrently 70 per year•When fully expanded 500 per yearWhen fully expanded 500 per year

SSP (continued)SSP (continued)

• International network of programs International network of programs and their observatories such as and their observatories such as LINEAR, NEAT, Spacewatch LINEAR, NEAT, Spacewatch (University of Arizona), LEONOS, and (University of Arizona), LEONOS, and Catalina among others monitoring Catalina among others monitoring about 6000 square degrees per about 6000 square degrees per month.month.

SSP (continued)SSP (continued)

• Detection TechniquesDetection Techniques– PhotographPhotograph

• Films are either exposed in pairs with a gap in time Films are either exposed in pairs with a gap in time between the first and next exposure and scanned with a between the first and next exposure and scanned with a built stereo comparator, objects which move noticeably built stereo comparator, objects which move noticeably from exposure to exposure can be detected in that way. from exposure to exposure can be detected in that way. Angular velocity can be determined by the motion Angular velocity can be determined by the motion between exposures. Selection of potential threats is between exposures. Selection of potential threats is based on the object’s angular velocity and orbits are based on the object’s angular velocity and orbits are calculated only for those who have abnormal motions.calculated only for those who have abnormal motions.

– Charged-Couple Device (CCD) ScanningCharged-Couple Device (CCD) Scanning• Matching the rate of transfer of the charges from row to Matching the rate of transfer of the charges from row to

row of the CCD chip, to the rate of scanning of the row of the CCD chip, to the rate of scanning of the telescope. Each line of the CCD image is clocked into telescope. Each line of the CCD image is clocked into the serial shift register and is read by a computer, the the serial shift register and is read by a computer, the software determines the potential threat of an object software determines the potential threat of an object and prompts for verification.and prompts for verification.

SSP (continued)SSP (continued)

• What if a NEO is going to hit?What if a NEO is going to hit?– Warning anticipationWarning anticipation

•Ranges from months (long term comets) to Ranges from months (long term comets) to decades to centuriesdecades to centuries

– OptionsOptions•Destroy by launching nuclear weapons at itDestroy by launching nuclear weapons at it

•Deflect by trying to attach rockets to deviate Deflect by trying to attach rockets to deviate coursecourse

•Evacuate Area (currently most realistic Evacuate Area (currently most realistic solution)solution)

Mission: Mission: Hypersonic X-43AHypersonic X-43A

Video 1: About X-43AVideo 1: About X-43A

Video 2: X-43A Take Off!Video 2: X-43A Take Off!

By: Pilar LamarqueBy: Pilar Lamarque

Gravity Probe BGravity Probe B

Einstein’s TheoriesEinstein’s Theories

• Special Relativity:Special Relativity:– Does not include Does not include

gravitygravity– E=mcE=mc²²

• General Relativity:General Relativity:– Theory of GravityTheory of Gravity– ““Field”Field”

Gravity Probe BGravity Probe B

• GyroscopeGyroscope

• Reference Reference TelescopeTelescope

• Dewar vesselDewar vessel

LaunchLaunch

Gravity Probe B is scheduled to Gravity Probe B is scheduled to be launched on April 17be launched on April 17thth, 2004., 2004.

Questions?Questions?