Slashdot Mirror

Yep. Check out the breakthrough propulsion physics page at NASA. Propellant grows exponentially with speed--so, to go twice as fast, you're needing along the lines of four times the propellant--unless you can develop better tech, and have four times the thrust from a different type of propellant. (To bring more propellant, you have to bring the propellant to make the propellant move, and.....)

i seem to recall hearing something similar to this quite a while ago, it was about ion drives
That was on the deep space probes (DS1 was the first test, I believe). The rather wonderful Astronomy Picture of the day had a piccie of it with a description a while ago.
As for the difference: they look pretty similar to my untrained eye.

"Building the Linux clustering capacity to be in line with SCO's NonStop Clusters technology"
Linux redundancy is currently limited to a few nodes - SCO claim they will increase this to 12. This will help Linux get accepted into more mission critical applications, where redundancy is a necessity.

Win-win #2

"Beefing up Linux's symmetric multiprocessing capabilities."
We all complained about Mindcraft. SCO deserves credit for deciding to put effort in to fix this.

Win-win #3

"Managing multiple Linux servers as well as applications from a single console as if they were a single system."
Four telnet terms on a screen? Seriously, I wonder to what extent this will be integrated? SGI and others have a similar tool available, enlightenDSM. Linux *really* needs this kind of configuration tool for it to be accepted into the high-end server market.

Win-win #4

"Improving security ..."
Although the article doesn't indicate to what extent this effort will be, it's certainly a good move. Since when did you hear the other vendors claim they are working on improving security issues. Maybe SCO will help fund the linux kernel security auditing project?

Well. Good thoughts SCO. I think they have got the right direction, and im sure 20 years of *nix experience will give some mature input into the "Beloved" OS ;)

ASRS (The Aviation Safety Reporting System) is a program run by NASA for pilots and other aviation workers to, without fear of reprisal, report safety issues. They have a fine website at http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov This document is a collection of raw reports relating to electronic interference with navigational instruments. Makes an interesting read.

ASRS (The Aviation Safety Reporting System) is a program run by NASA for pilots and other aviation workers to, without fear of reprisal, report safety issues. They have a fine website at http://asrs.arc.nasa.gov This document is a collection of raw reports relating to electronic interference with navigational instruments. Makes an interesting read.

• Industrial processes
• Environmental toxins and pollutants
• Space station air quality
• Medicine / body functions
• Food processing
• Military enviromnent
• Toxicology

• Quotidiano: Researchers developing an electronic nose
• JSOnline: Electronic nose takes on a higher profile
• Electronic Nose Club
• Electronic Nose Inspects Cheese, Hints At Human Sense of Smell Caltech Microelectronic Research Group
• Warwick-Southampton Electronic Nose Group
• Isoen2000 Olfactory and Electronic Nose 2000
• Press Releases: Electronic Nose Sniffs Out Fresh Fruit
• Electronic Nose Workshop
• Food Explorer Electronic Nose
• Electronic Nose User Forum
• An Electronic Nose For Business, NSF, NASA, and Others
• Wired: Electronic Nose

• "But how do you know that that's what Tasty Wheat really tastes like? Maybe it's just what the computers think it tastes like. Maybe that's why so many things taste like Chicken, because they don't know how it's supposed to taste!"

You are correct. It is not rad-hard and will experience Single Event Effects (SEE) and eventual lifetime problems (Total Ionizing Dose or TID induced). But the fact of the matter is that "Rad-hard" is not necessarily required to properly operate in space. All devices have radiation effects characteristics which are measurable. You would be surprised at how well commercial off the shelf (COTS) devices perform in space. Many devices have event rates for SEEs (bit upsets, processor hangs, etc.) on the order (average) of years per event...Not a big deal when you consider that software problems often cause bigger problems. For more information, visit www.innocon.com/rad_effects.html or http://flick.gsfc.nasa.gov/radhome.htm

The TRACE spacecraft took some nice (but large) movies. Look here, here, and here.

This is offtopic, but if you want to learn more about how SOHO recovered, look here.

---
#include <std_disclaimer.h>
Robert Jacobson
Flight Operations Team member - SOHO

The TRACE spacecraft took some nice (but large) movies. Look here, here, and here.

This is offtopic, but if you want to learn more about how SOHO recovered, look here.

---
#include <std_disclaimer.h>
Robert Jacobson
Flight Operations Team member - SOHO

The TRACE spacecraft took some nice (but large) movies. Look here, here, and here.

This is offtopic, but if you want to learn more about how SOHO recovered, look here.

---
#include <std_disclaimer.h>
Robert Jacobson
Flight Operations Team member - SOHO

The TRACE spacecraft took some nice (but large) movies. Look here, here, and here.

This is offtopic, but if you want to learn more about how SOHO recovered, look here.

---
#include <std_disclaimer.h>
Robert Jacobson
Flight Operations Team member - SOHO

The TRACE spacecraft took some nice (but large) movies. Look here, here, and here.

This is offtopic, but if you want to learn more about how SOHO recovered, look here.

---
#include <std_disclaimer.h>
Robert Jacobson
Flight Operations Team member - SOHO

The TRACE spacecraft took some nice (but large) movies. Look here, here, and here.

This is offtopic, but if you want to learn more about how SOHO recovered, look here.

---
#include <std_disclaimer.h>
Robert Jacobson
Flight Operations Team member - SOHO

p.s. Do you have any information where I can get a free counter for my website?

--

First off, sound frequency is the frequency of vibration in a medium. Examples are voice in air and sonar in water.

Electromagnetic Frequency is the frequency of the EM wave. Examples are UV (suntan), Infrared (remote control), regular light, AM, and FM.

they are totally different!

Try this but you won't get much while earth wether pridiction is far better then solar wether it is still pritty lame and probably always will be. Try reading "Chaos" sometime.

Also watch http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ every day for the astronomy picture of the day (almost always interesting, and sometimes root window art)

Also watch http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ every day for the astronomy picture of the day (almost always interesting, and sometimes root window art)

The ISTP site has a nice page that links to all the instruments that will be studying this in real-time. For those who want to watch the Ionosphere, try the SuperDARN Ionospheric Radars real-time page. (Gratuitious Plug - This is my page).

The ISTP site has a nice page that links to all the instruments that will be studying this in real-time. For those who want to watch the Ionosphere, try the SuperDARN Ionospheric Radars real-time page. (Gratuitious Plug - This is my page).

I'm sure glad that they were able to pull SOHO out of its problems, it sure does make some nice observations.

I'm sure glad that they were able to pull SOHO out of its problems, it sure does make some nice observations.

I'm sure glad that they were able to pull SOHO out of its problems, it sure does make some nice observations.

I'm sure glad that they were able to pull SOHO out of its problems, it sure does make some nice observations.

• Lisp as an Alternative to Java - Erann Gat @ jpl
• Python for Lisp Programmers - Peter Norvig
• Lisp as an Alternative to Java - Peter Norvig

In an article from NASA@Today.gov, astronomers are concluding that monstrous black holes weren't simply born big but instead grew on a measured diet of gas and stars controlled by their host galaxies in the early formative years of the universe...

The truth about gravity is very interesting. However, my knowledge cannot be passed on to you because my life holds greater value than the dissemination of this info (from my point of view). I apologize for my selfishness, but must point out that this what society has taught me.

Search here.

I had another attempt after getting some coordinates in January this year as well, but failed to find anything.

Bye, CGRO, you've been a great instrument.

Skylab was from the REAL MACHO days of NASA. They couldn't do anything wrong.

When Skylab was launched (check out this link) it lost a solar panel. The photo on that link is Skylab clearly missing a wing! What happened was during the launch vibration shook the missing solar panel until it deployed. It was ripped off the Saturn V/Skylab stack by *atmospheric drag* taking a meteorite shield and fouling up the other solar panel. The first people to live on Skylab had to clear the remaining solar panel so it could deploy, and rig a sunshade to bring temperatures in the laboratory down to bearable levels.

And, not to be completely offtopic, today's Astronomy Picture of the Day has a good page about the Compton re-entry.

Skylab was from the REAL MACHO days of NASA. They couldn't do anything wrong.

When Skylab was launched (check out this link) it lost a solar panel. The photo on that link is Skylab clearly missing a wing! What happened was during the launch vibration shook the missing solar panel until it deployed. It was ripped off the Saturn V/Skylab stack by *atmospheric drag* taking a meteorite shield and fouling up the other solar panel. The first people to live on Skylab had to clear the remaining solar panel so it could deploy, and rig a sunshade to bring temperatures in the laboratory down to bearable levels.

And, not to be completely offtopic, today's Astronomy Picture of the Day has a good page about the Compton re-entry.

Quick, everybody, /. NASA so they can't do the final burn like they need to. With any luck it will hit a city where either Metallica, Madonna, or the RIAA happens to be.

What chemical analyses? Viking's instruments were aimed at the detection of life, not oddball inorganic chemicals. Check the Viking 1 Lander Experiment List:

The Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer measured the volatile substances given off when surface dirt was roasted, but superoxides aren't volatile.

The biology experiments (GEX/LR/PR) were the ones that gave the weird results, but were designed to detect organic compounds (PR) or microbes (LR, GEX).

The X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRFS) could only detect elements, not their molecular composition.

The other instruments like RPA or NMS only worked during the landing, not on the surface.

b) as the original poster said, such chemicals are not consistent with our current understanding of Martian surface and atmospheric chemistry. They would have given up their oxygen (or reacted with other substances) millions of years ago. they are highly reactive, and Mars, with its thin atmosphere, gets more UV than the earth's surface

On the contrary, you're near the proposed solution. Yes, the super-oxides break down easily, but they are likely produced by the UV light, eventually reaching an equilibrium point. Bingo! Super-oxides in the dirt.

Reference: Viking Project Information
--

What chemical analyses? Viking's instruments were aimed at the detection of life, not oddball inorganic chemicals. Check the Viking 1 Lander Experiment List:

The Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer measured the volatile substances given off when surface dirt was roasted, but superoxides aren't volatile.

The biology experiments (GEX/LR/PR) were the ones that gave the weird results, but were designed to detect organic compounds (PR) or microbes (LR, GEX).

The X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRFS) could only detect elements, not their molecular composition.

The other instruments like RPA or NMS only worked during the landing, not on the surface.

b) as the original poster said, such chemicals are not consistent with our current understanding of Martian surface and atmospheric chemistry. They would have given up their oxygen (or reacted with other substances) millions of years ago. they are highly reactive, and Mars, with its thin atmosphere, gets more UV than the earth's surface

On the contrary, you're near the proposed solution. Yes, the super-oxides break down easily, but they are likely produced by the UV light, eventually reaching an equilibrium point. Bingo! Super-oxides in the dirt.

Reference: Viking Project Information
--

for the first time ever all three KEY positions were female : Sarah A. Gavit = the mars project manager Suzanne E. Smrekar, 37, the lead mars scientist Kari A. Lewis= the mars project's chief engineer

These women were the DS2 microprobe project manager, scientist and chief engineer, respectively. They had nothing to do management-wise with either Mars Polar Lander or Mars Climate Orbiter. DS2 was a $30M program, compared with $320M (your number, but close) for MPL/MCO.

Your other comments and sweeping generalizations (re women, IQs, etc) are repulsive.

Visit here to get some accurate information on MCO and MPL, or contact JPL Media Relations at (818) 354-5011. I'm sure Mary Hardin would love to discuss your views on the Mars program and women.

JPL's Open House is this weekend (June 3-4) as well. Why not get the data in person?

"As to specific results, the consensus is that no evidence for life was
found even though the biology experiments reacted in a strongly
positive way. The reason for the reaction is that the Martian soils
contain compounds that liberate oxygen in the presence of water."

"As to specific results, the consensus is that no evidence for life was
found even though the biology experiments reacted in a strongly
positive way. The reason for the reaction is that the Martian soils
contain compounds that liberate oxygen in the presence of water."

"As to specific results, the consensus is that no evidence for life was
found even though the biology experiments reacted in a strongly
positive way. The reason for the reaction is that the Martian soils
contain compounds that liberate oxygen in the presence of water."

Anybody interested in what NASA thinks a manned flight to Mars would be like should take a look at this (warning-BIG pdf file). Heavy reliance is placed on the use of local resources, ie. the idea put forward by Bob Zubrin in "The Case for Mars". The report is fascinating but remember it's complete vapourwear. Nobody is putting up money for this, now or in the forseeable future.

NASA has a research group that focus on all aspects of physics that *could* lead to the developement of superluminal drive technology.

They recently accepted some proposals for experiments that will receive a grant from NASA. One of them, number 5, is essentially the same we are talking about in this discussion.

BTW, do take a look at the BPP site and "Warp drive When" page, if you didn't have already.

Ciao,
Rob!

NASA has a research group that focus on all aspects of physics that *could* lead to the developement of superluminal drive technology.

They recently accepted some proposals for experiments that will receive a grant from NASA. One of them, number 5, is essentially the same we are talking about in this discussion.

BTW, do take a look at the BPP site and "Warp drive When" page, if you didn't have already.

Ciao,
Rob!

Time to get out the cluestick....

Whack, Whack, Whack

Where are you getting your information that Mars is larger?

Here is the data sheet at Nasa. Notice that the radius, mass and density are all smaller than earth, so in what way is Mars larger? The mass is ~1/10, the radius is ~1/2 and the density is ~3/4.

Because this special type of bacteria naturally produces methane, it may be used to start a new colony on Mars. It could also be used to produce an environment close to Earth's. Methane is a greenhouse gas, which means it can warm the surface.

>Now, if the station is international, how can national NASA enter into any unilatera; contracts regarding ISS?

Short answer: because the station is not owned in common; each nation retains ownership of the modules it builds.

Long answer: Station operations are governed by a suite of bilateral agreements signed in 1998 among NASA, RSA (Russia), CSA (Canada), ESA (European Union), and NASDA (Japan). These agreements specify down to the tenth exactly how much usage of each module each of the partners is entitled to [for instance, the Russians have 100% usage of their modules; the Americans have 97.7% use of theirs; but Japan and Europe have smaller percentages, mainly because they can't launch their own elements]. Most of the "financial" arrangements among the partners are handled by barter, e.g. we agree to provide X module in return for Y launch vehicle or J station support service or K slots for an astronaut from our program.

In the case of this ISS multimedia deal, essentially what is happening is that NASA is getting a third party (Disney) to pony up for the provision of expensive cameras and transmission equipment (ISS support) in return for the usual temporary embargo allowing them exclusive public use of the images. This equipment will actually be available to all partners to a certain extent.

Effectively NASA is providing something for the ISS without paying for it.
----

That was true in the days of Apollo, but doesn't apply to shuttle crew anymore. Mission specialists can be anywhere between 58.5 and 76 inches (149 to 193 cm). Pilots must be at least 64 inches (163 cm) tall. Find out more here .

The images can be viewed in NASA PDS format...

Viewers and tools are here:

http://www-pdsimage.jpl.nasa.gov/PDS/

By the way, when you go to that page linked in the /. story (once it's not /.'ed...), there's three main choices for the images...the one on the right is the new stuff that was released.

--

--

As was suspected by most scientists, the face is just a photographic artifact, due to lighting conditions, low resolution and extensive image processing of the original Viking picture, similar in nature to the famous, but non-existant "Martian Canals".

It's a pity De Palma didn't seem to bother to read this before creating lost oppurtunity that was "Mission to Mars"...