 |
|
|
Home | About | AERADE@yoursite | Contact us | Help |
|
Celestial bodies A Science Strategy for the Exploration of Europa This is the full text of a report published by the National Academy Press in 2000. The report is produced by the Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, National Research Council. It is possible to search the text of the report, or alternatively view a listing of sections and select which one to view. It is available in HTML format. Assessment of Mars Science and Mission Priorities This provides access to a Space Studies Board report, prepared by the Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration (COMPLEX), 2001. The failures of two NASA missions in 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander, caused the space agency’s programme of Mars exploration to be systematically rethought, both technologically and scientifically. A new Mars Exploration Program (MEP) was announced in October 2000. The report presents the results of a study carried out by COMPLEX which examined the scientific content and mission priorities of this new programme. There is an executive summary of the report in HTML format, and the full text is available in a series of PDF files. It should be noted that this is an unedited prepublication version of the text. Asteroid and Comet Impact Hazards This site from the NASA Ames Space Science Division is concerned with the possibility of the Earth being hit by an asteroid or comet. The site links to the full text of the Spaceguard Survey report in HTML format, provides general information on the likelihood of an impact and the full text of several reports, including an AIAA position paper, US Congressional hearings and statements, as well as a gallery of images. It is also possible to access a catalogue of known potentially hazardous asteroids and a listing of all known near Earth asteroids with orbital elements. There is also information on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, which is a system of categorising the Earth impact possibility of newly discovered asteroids and comets. Astrobiology Strategy for the Exploration of Mars This is a full text book made available by National Academies Press written by Committee on an Astrobiology Strategy for the Exploration of Mars, National Research Council and dated 2007. Three recent developments have greatly increased interest in the search for life on Mars. The first is new information about the Martian environment including evidence of a watery past and the possibility of atmospheric methane. The second is the possibility of microbial viability on Mars. Finally, the Vision for Space Exploration initiative included an explicit directive to search for the evidence of life on Mars. These scientific and political developments led NASA to request the NRC s assistance in formulating an up-to-date integrated astrobiology strategy for Mars exploration. Among other topics, this report presents a review of current knowledge about possible life on Mars; an astrobiological assessment of current Mars missions; a review of Mars-mission planetary protection; and findings and recommendations. The report notes that the greatest increase in understanding of Mars will come from the collection and return to Earth of a well-chosen suite of Martian surface materials. [Taken from abstract]. The full text is available online in open book format. Astronomical Odds. A Policy Framework for the Cosmic Impact Hazard This technical report (RGSD-184) was published by The RAND Corporation in 2005 and was written by Geoffrey Sommer. Addresses the cosmic impact hazard (the threat to the Earth posed by asteroids and comets) as an extreme example of a low-probability, high-consequence policy problem and presents a comprehensive framework for dealing with the technical and societal uncertainties surrounding the impact hazard. The author assesses the robustness of a proposed policy intervention: social reassurance by means of a demonstrated mitigation capability. [Taken from abstract]. This is a PDF file, so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. Astronomy Thesaurus Produced by the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics within the Australian National University, this thesaurus is available in five European languages, namely English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. It can be searched or browsed alphabetically, and the structure provided allows for broader, narrower and related terms to be identified. It should be noted that the thesaurus has not been updated since 1995. Autonomous Controlled Landing On Cometary Bodies Written by Simon Dawson, Curtis Potterveld, Hans K?smann, and Leo Early, this paper was presented at the AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Meeting on February 9-10, 1998 in Monterey, CA. The paper is produced by staff from Microcosm Inc. and descibes the development of a simulation environment to propagate a controlled orbit about asteroids and comets in the solar system. Control algorithms for autonomous controlled cometary landings are also discussed. This is a PDF file [95k] so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. British National Space Centre : The Learning Zone The Learning Zone is a section of the British National Space Centre's Web site and provides information about space and space exploration. The main part of the section is aimed at helping children understand the subject areas, with advice for parents and teachers on how to support their learning. Lesson plans and worksheets are also included for teachers to use in the classroom. There are also resources aimed at "advanced explorers" to support post-16 studies which explain the issues in more detail and at a more advanced level. British National Space Centre The British National Space Centre (BNSC) is Britain's space agency. It works on behalf of the Government and Research Councils to provide a focus for civil space policies and to oversee the UK's position within space science. The large site provides latest news with links to relevant sites, a description of the BNSC's activities including earth observation, information about the UK's space policy and research projects and the full text of press releases. The UK Space Index is also created and maintained by the BNSC and this provides links to a listing of space-related events worldwide, a catalogue of relevant Web sites and careers opportunities within the industry. Computer Detection and Rocket Interception of Asteroids at an Atmospheric Boundary This paper was given at the 5th Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space (DCSSS) conference by A.S. Alekseev, Yu.A. Vedernikov, I.I. Velichko, V.A. Volkov, B.P. Kryukov, B.M. Pushnoi, G.G. Sytii and S.A. Zelepugin. The conference took place in July 2002 at King's College, Cambridge. A non-nuclear method for the destruction of asteroids 0,5-1 km in diameter that threaten the Earth at an atmospheric boundary is proposed. The method is as follows. Several rocket ENERGY carriers are launched. The controllable rockets carry kinetic star-like penetrators (KSP) 115 m in length. During the flight they line up one after another at an optimal distance, and in such an arrangement penetrate into an asteroid. [Taken from abstract]. This is a PDF file, so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. Conceptual Design of Penetrating Elements as Constituents of the Aviation and Rocket Complex of Antimeteorite Protection This paper was given at the 6th Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space (DCSSS) conference by V.G. Dulov, B.I. Gutov and Yu.A. Vedernikov. The conference took place in July 2004 at Riomaggiore, Italy. The purpose of the present work is the discussion of an aviation/rocket conception of the anti-asteroid defense of the Earth. It is proposed to use an ASP with a magnetoplasmachemical thruster as the first stage of the acceleration complex. The questions of the optimal design of hypersonic inlets for such spacecraft are discussed. A numerical algorithm is presented for determining the conditions of an optimal launching of a rocket from the aerospace plane. Some efficient designs of penetrating elements are discussed. [Taken from abstract]. This is a PDF file, so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use The web site provides access to a Dictionary of Technical Terms for Aerospace Use, edited by Daniel R. Glover, Jr, NASA Glenn Research Center. Ths dictionary was originally published as NASA SP-7 in 1965. This electronic edition began as a direct translation of the original into HTML. There is a foreword and intoduction to both the 1965 edition, and the web update. The dictionary is arranged alphabetically, and includes the following tables: Table I, Asteroids; Table IV, Relative Atomic Mass; Table V, Constellations; Table VI, Terrestrial and Celestial Coordinates Systems, and Table XII, Planets amongst others. Dynamics and Control of Impact Cumulative Systems in the Atmosphere and Free Space of the Earth This paper was given at the 6th Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space (DCSSS) conference by Yu. A. Vedernikov. The conference took place in July 2004 at Riomaggiore, Italy. Impact bodies and nongradient jet parts thrown by a group of shaped charges make it possible to achieve space velocities of flight in laboratory conditions. Thereby, with the help of impact cumulative systems one can model both experimentally and numerically the dynamics of collective motion of micrometeorites in various media and control their spatial interaction in the atmosphere. [Taken from abstract]. This is a PDF file, so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. ESA Science : Rosetta This is part of the European Space Agency's ESA Science web site. The Rosetta pages describe the ESA misssion to catch comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014 and accompany it into the interior solar system. The site includes a mission overview, news announcements, and sections on the background science of asteroid encounters, information on the orbiter and lander, the launcher, and mission operations. The site also provides access to relevant publications including a factsheet, status reports, as well as an orbit view, images and video clips.The link below is the ESA website for additional details. http://sci.esa.int/home/rosetta/index.cfm European Asteroid Research Node (EARN) EARN is an informal association of European research groups active in asteroid research. Their site is designed to promote communication and data exchange between participating groups. A variety of information resources is available including a database of properties of near Earth objects (NEOs), details of participants with links to their home pages, a list of related articles providing preprints in PostScript format and links to other relevant sites. European Space Agency : Solar Orbiter This is the home page of the Solar Orbiter mission, due to launch in October 2013 no later that May 2015 and is confirmed in the cosmic vision programme. By approaching as close as 48 solar radii, the Solar Orbiter will view the solar atmosphere with unprecedented spatial resolution circa 100km pixel size. Over extended periods the Solar Orbiter will deliver images and data of the polar regions and the side of the Sun not visible from Earth. The site provides a lot of information including a fact sheet, technical documentation in PDF format. Exploring Organic Environments in the Solar System This is a full text book made available by Natgional Academies Press written by Task Group on Organic Environments in the Solar System, National Research Council and dated 2007. The sources, distributions, and transformation of organic compounds in the solar system are active study areas as a means to provide information about the evolution of the solar system and the possibilities of life elsewhere in the universe. There are many organic synthesis processes, however, and ambiguity surrounds the relative effectiveness of these processes in explaining the distribution of organic compounds in the solar system. As a consequence, NASA directed the NRC to determine what processes account for the reduced carbon compounds found throughout the solar system and to examine how planetary exploration can advance understanding of this central issue. This report presents a discussion of the chemistry of carbon; an analysis of the formation, modification, and preservation of organic compounds in the solar system; and an assessment of research opportunities and strategies for enhancing our understanding of organic material in the solar system. [Taken from abstract]. The full text is available to read online in open book format. Exploring the Moon and Mars : Choices for the Nation This report was produced by the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment, OTA-ISC-502, in July 1991. It is the result of an assessment of the potential for automation and robotics technology to assist in the exploration of the Moon and Mars. It raises a number of issues of relevance to the U.S. civilian space programme, and includes a discussion of how automation and robotics technologies could contribute to space exploration. The report is made available as part of the OTA Online Archive. The full text is accessible online in PDF format (2706K). Alternatively, the front matter, table of contents and individual chapters are available as separate PDF files. Full-sky Astrometric Mapping Explorer (FAME) Launched in 2004, FAME is designed with a lifetime of 5 years and aimed at precisely measuring the positions, distances, and motions of some 40 million stars. It is a collaborative project involving amongst others the U.S. Naval Observatory and NASA. The web site provides access to a range of information resources including: news items, press releases, overviews of the mission goals and science objectives, presentations and publications. The presentations include a number of meeting contributions and cover topics such as the precision of spinning spacecraft and radiation torques. The publications include a variety of papers on the mission as well as the Fame Concept Study Report. Galaxy Zoo Galaxy Zoo is a website that has been set up so that web users can help classify the myriad of galaxies that have been found in the universe. Anyone can classify a galaxy and there is a quick tutorial to give you guidance. Galaxy Zoo has been able to collect millions of classifications of galaxies in this way and they are currently preparing the first science papers for submission to peer-reviewed journals and the website will keep you posted on the progress of the papers on the BLOG and the FORUM. From now on, if you classify galaxies on the ANALYSIS page, your classifications will continue to be recorded and will be part of the public release. As part of the follow-up work, volunteers are needed to review our set of possible merging galaxies. Galaxy Zoo 2 will go live in the near future featuring a much more detailed classification system, while further off GalaxyZoo 3 is planned with lots of exciting new data. Genesis Mission Home Page This site provides detailed information about NASA's Genesis mission. It was launched in August 2001 and will collect samples of the solar wind, material flowing outward from the Sun, and return these samples to Earth. Scientists will compare the compositions of these samples with known compositions of the planets. This will help the effort to understand how the solar system and its planets formed. The site provides easily understandable information about the science and technology behind the mission, the people who are contributing, a multimedia area and an image gallery. Learning resources for students and teachers, activities for children and news and resources for media professionals are also provided. Great Images in NASA (GRIN) Provided by NASA, this is a collection of over 1000 images of historical interest which is aimed at the media, publishers and the general public. The images have been scanned at high resolution and in several sizes. They can be found by browsing by subject then selecting the relevant category, searched by keyword and date, or browsed by the centre that produced the image. The photographs are not protected by copyright, unless it is stated, and NASA must be acknowledged as the source of the image. Kepler Mission This is the web site of the Kepler mission, a NASA Discovery Program for detecting potentially life-supporting planets around other stars. This is achieved by employing the transit method - observing repeated transits of planets passing in front of the parent star at regular intervals. This suggests that a planet exists, and from the time between transits the size of the planet's orbit can be calculated and the planet's temperature estimated. These qualities determine possibilities for life on the planet. The site provides background information, including a factsheet and lithograph, details of the spacecraft and photometer, links to the mission science website at NASA Ames Research Center and educational resources and classroom activities. LANL Astrophysics e-Prints This service can be searched from this site on its own, or as part of the NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS). The site provides access to six months worth of preprints which have been submitted to astronomical journals and conference proceedings. They expire after 6 months, as this is the average time it takes for publications to accept them for publication. The service can be searched by author, date, words in title and words in text. The full text can be viewed in a variety of formats, including PDF, Postscript and DVI. Leicester Database and Archive Service (LEDAS) The Leicester Database and Archive Service is located in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester, UK. The LEDAS provides an online astronomical database service and access to archive data from high energy astrophysics missions. The five main datasets available on LEDAS are as follows: X-Ray Data Archives (online data archives for ROSAT, Ginga, ASCA and Chandra), Catalogues (3000+ astronomical catalogues searchable via ARNIE, BLASTA and VIZIER), sky images from the Digitised Sky Survey, the SIMAD bibliography and downloadable X-ray data reduction/analysis software. Letter Report : Scientific Assessment Options for the Disposal of the Galileo Spacecraft This is the full text of a letter report published by the National Academy Press in 2000. The report is produced by the Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, Space Studies Board, National Research Council. It is possible to search the text of the report, or alternatively view a listing of sections and select which one to view. The background to the report is considered, as are planetary-protection considerations, scientific considerations and the interplay of these with each other. Low-Cost Autonomous Orbit Control About Mars : Initial Simulation results Written by Simon Dawson, Leo Early, Curtis Potterveld, and H.J. Königsmann, this paper was presented at the 3rd IAA International Conference on Low-Cost Planetary Missions on April 27 - May 1, 1998 in Pasadena, CA. The paper, produced by staff at Microcosm Inc., presents results from initial simulations of autonomously controlled orbits around Mars, and highlights uses of the technology and areas of operation, where cost conscious and robust autonomy could prove effective. This is a PDF file [95k] so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Home Page This site provides detailed information about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter which is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. It is scheduled for launch in 2005 and will search for evidence that water persisted on the surface of Mars for a long period of time as it is unknown whether water was ever around long enough to provide a habitat for life. The site provides a great deal of easily understandable information about the science and technology behind the mission, the launch vehicle, spacecraft and rover, the timeline, people who are contributing and a multimedia area which includes images and video. Mathematical Modelling of Gravitational Control of Flights of Meteorites by Artificial Satellites This paper was given at the 6th Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space (DCSSS) conference by A. S. Alekseev and Yu. A. Vedernikov. The conference took place in July 2004 at Riomaggiore, Italy. Among the methods proposed for anti-asteroid protection of the Earth, gravitational control of the flights of meteorites by a group of artificial satellites is the most secure and environmentally safe. In this method, a threatening asteroid or meteorite is escorted by a system of artificial satellites controlled from the Earth. Calculations have shown that five such satellites forming a chain can shift considerably the center of the asteroid mass and thereby change its trajectory. For multiple corrections of the flight of an asteroid, several ?parades? of its artificial satellites are necessary. [Taken from abstract]. This is a PDF file, so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. MUSES-C This Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), now the Space Science Research Division of JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), web site brings together a range of information resources relating to the MUSES-C (HAYABUSA) mission. This is an asteroid sample return mission. The target asteroid will be (10302) 1989ML, The site contains overviews of mission objectives, scientific instruments; spacecraft propulsion, navigation and sampling techniques. There is a feature on the M-V launch system including: history, design guidelines, development, configuration, and illustrated flight sequence. Links are provided to other ISAS resources including ISAS enterprises and image library. NASA Astrophysics Data System : Query Form This database is available to search as part of NASA's Technical Reports Server, or on its own from this Harvard University site. The coverage of the resource includes astronomy, lunar and planetary exploration and space radiation, instrumentation, physics and geophysics. The database can be searched in a number of ways, such as author name, title words, text keywords and publication date. The database covers material back to 1975 and provides report abstracts. NASA Near-Earth Object Program Office The Program Office was established at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in mid-1998 to help coordinate, and provide a focal point for, the study of comets and asteroids that can approach the Earth's orbit. The web site provides an introduction to the Program, an overview of near-earth objects, news items, an FAQ, a collection of images, and links to related sites, search programmes and spacecraft missions. A variety of statistical and tabular information resources are also available including number of NEOs, a 3D java tool for visualising NEO orbits, and a table of J2000 heliocentric ecliptic orbital elements for NEAs (Near-Earth Asteroids) sorted by object number/name. Tables (updated daily) showing future and past NEO close-approach data, including uncertainties, as well as lists of potential future Earth impact events are also included. NASA Planetary Data System : Map-A-Planet This service from NASA allows you to create customised image maps of Venus, the Moon, Mars, Callisto, Europa, Ganymede and Io. There are three levels of customisation - clickable map, clickable map with advanced options (select map size, resolution and projection) and forms based (selection of areas of interest by entering numerical values for the centre latitude and longitude of the map you wish to create). Images can be saved in JPEG format using browser options or can be ordered for ftp transfer. NASA Space Science : Missions This web site provides links to the home pages of all of NASA's space science missions. The links take you directly to the mission home page and are organised into four categories - under study, in development, operating and past missions. There is also a link to a page which includes very preliminary mission concepts. NASA's Origins Programme This is part of NASA's Space Science Enterprise initiative. The aim of Origins is to address the fundamental questions of 'Where do we come from?' and 'Are we alone?'. This site provides background information about the programme including missions, astrophysics, the novel telescope technology being developed to fulfill the aims of Origins, PlanetQuest, and Astrobiology. The 'Library' section provides access to documentation relating to the project including full text technical reports, fact sheets, speeches and presentations and online tutorials. Latest news is also available. NASA's Solar System Exploration Programme This is part of NASA's Space Science Enterprise initiative. The goal of the programme is to understand the nature and history of the Solar System and the differences and similarities between Earth and other planets. The site gives details of the aims of the programme, details about past and present missions and the technology being developed and used. Visitors to the site can also interrogate the Planetary Data System (PDS), an archive of information from NASA planetary missions, amongst other resources. NASA's Structure and Evolution Programme This is part of NASA's Space Science Initiative. The aim of this particular programme is outlined in three Quests - 'How did structure in the Universe form?', 'What are the cycles of matter and energy in the evolving Universe?' and 'What are the ultimate limits of gravity and energy in the Universe'. The site provides detailed information on these topics and provides the full text of NASA's 'roadmap' which develops a research outline to fulfill the Quests in PDF format. Visitors to the site can view information on past and planned missions as well as a resource centre which provides video footage (requiring RealPlayer to view), image libraries, full text documents and papers and presentations. NASA's Sun Earth Connection Programme This is part of NASA's Space Science Enterprise initiative, the aim of which is to understand more about the Sun and and its influence on the Earth and other bodies. The site provides background information on the programme including missions, the strategic plan or Roadmap, research announcements, missions, the 'Living with a star' (LWS) initiative, the Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) programme and an image gallery. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration : Space Environment Center The Space Environment Center (SEC) provides real-time monitoring and forecasting of solar and geophysical events. Their site provides space weather data for the sun, interplanetary space, geomagnetism and near-earth. It is organised by space weather environment, by sensor, by program and format or by user group (such as navigation and electric power). Some of the data is real-time or near-real-time. Near Earth Objects Information Centre The NEO Information Centre is part of the UK Government's response to the Report of the Task Force on Potentially Hazardous Near Earth Objects. The site provides information about the nature of NEOs and the hazard they pose, what efforts are being made to detect NEOs and what could be done to avert a collision. Materials for educators, information and contact services for the media, and support for NEO scientists in communicating and conducting their work are also provided. There is an exhibition which includes interactive movies and simulations along with a screen saver of the craters of the world. The PDF full-text OECD report on the NEO hazard is also available. Updates on the newly discovered asteroid, 2003 QQ47 which has a potential impact on 21 March 2014 will be available. Planetary Photojournal Made available by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) this site provides a large selection of photographic images of the planets in our solar system and their satellites and other small bodies found in space. They are accessible by clicking on an image of the planetary body you are interested in. Each image has a title and a thumbnail and is also available as a full resolution TIFF. Details of the mission the picture was taken on are provided. It is also possible to search for pictures from a particular mission, spacecraft or instrument, and to search by feature name or by collection type. Preparing for a 21st Century Program of Integrated, Lunar and Martian Exploration and Development : 5th Cosmic Study of the IAA This web site provides access to an International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) cosmic study prepared by H.H. Koelle (Editor-in-Chief), D.G. Stephenson (Assistant editor) and others, dated July 2000. The study reviews the most recent results of a continuing effort to predict and analyse the course, manner and ultimate aims of the twenty first century exploration and development of the Moon and the planet Mars. It assumes that a human presence on these bodies will be essential and emphasizes the rationale, the strategic restraints, the program structure, stages in the development of the programme and initial organization. The executive summary (19 pages) is available in HTML format, and a link is provided to the full text (101 pages, 64 tables and 16 figures) in PDF format. Preventing the Forward Contamination of Europa This is the full text of a report published by the National Academy Press in 2000. The report is produced by the Task Group on the Forward Contamination of Europa, Space Studies Board, National Research Council. It is possible to search the text of the report, or alternatively view a listing of sections and select which one to view. The report considers aspects such as planetary protection policies, life in extreme environments, sterilisation and cleaning methods, microbial detection and identification, and recommends a planetary protection strategy for Europa. Preventing the Forward Contamination of Mars This is a full text book by the United States Committee on Preventing the Forward Contamination of Mars, National Research Council made available by the National Academies Press. Recent spacecraft and robotic probes to Mars have yielded data that are changing our understanding significantly about the possibility of existing or past life on that planet. Coupled with advances in biology and life-detection techniques, these developments place increasing importance on the need to protect Mars from contamination by Earth-borne organisms. To help with this effort, NASA requested that the NRC examine existing planetary protection measures for Mars and recommend changes and further research to improve such measures. This report discusses policies, requirements, and techniques to protect Mars from organisms originating on Earth that could interfere with scientific investigations. It provides recommendations on cleanliness and biological burden levels of Mars-bound spacecraft, methods to reach those levels, and research to reduce uncertainties in preventing forward contamination of Mars. The full text can be read online in open book format and a summary is available for downloading in PDF format. Safe on Mars : Precursor Measurements Necessary to Support Human Operations on the Martian Surface The site provides access to a report prepared by the Committee on Precursor Measurements Necessary to Support Human Operations on the Surface of Mars, published by National Academy Press, 2002. The study, commissioned by NASA, examines the role of robotic exploration missions in assessing the risks to the first human missions to Mars. Hazards arising from exposure to environmental, chemical, and biological agents on the planet are assessed. The text of the report is available in Open Book format. Science@NASA : the Space Mission Directorate Website Recently NASA began the transformation of its Earth and space science programs by combining them into an integrated Science Mission Directorate. The new Directorate will be closely involved in the Vision for Space Exploration through its support of science that both enables, and is enabled by, NASA's exploration activities. The site provides multimedia resources, mission information and resources for scientists, engineers, teachers and children. Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon : Final Report This is a full text book made available by National Academies Press written by Committee on the Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon, National Research Council and dated 2007. Because of the Moon s unique place in the evolution of rocky worlds, it is a prime focus of NASA s space exploration vision. Currently NASA is defining and implementing a series of robotic orbital and landed missions to the Moon as the initial phase of this vision. To realize the benefits of this activity, NASA needs a comprehensive, well-validated, and prioritized set of scientific research objectives. To help establish those objectives, NASA asked the NRC to provide guidance on the scientific challenges and opportunities enabled by sustained robotic and human exploration of the Moon during the period 2008-2023 and beyond. This final report presents a review of the current understanding of the early earth and moon; the identification of key science concepts and goals for moon exploration; an assessment of implementation options; and a set of prioritized lunar science concepts, goals, and recommendations. An interim report was released in September 2006. [Taken from abstract]. The full text is available to read online in open book format. Scientific Context for Exploration of the Moon : Interim Report This is a full text book made available by National Academies Press and published in 2006. Because of the Moon's unique place in the evolution of rocky worlds, it is a prime focus of NASA's space exploration vision. Currently NASA is defining and implementing a series of robotic orbital and landed missions to the Moon as the initial phase of this vision. To realize the benefits of this activity, NASA needs a comprehensive, well-validated, and prioritized set of scientific research objectives. To help establish those objective, NASA asked the NRC to provide guidance on the scientific challenges and opportunities enabled by sustained robotic and human exploration of the Moon during the period 2008-2013+. This interim report, which focuses on science of the Moon, presents a number of scientific themes describing broad scientific goals important for lunar research, discussions of how best to reach these goals, a set of three priority areas that follow from the themes, and recommendations for these priorities and related areas. A final report will follow in the summer of 2007. [Taken from abstract]. The full text of the report can be read online in open book format from the website of the National Academies Press. Solar Terrestrial Probes Program The STP programme is part of NASA's Sun-Earth Connection space science theme. The web site provides an overview of the programme objectives, mission schedules, and research opportunities. There are links to further information on each of the STP missions including: TIMED; STEREO; SOLAR-B; and MMS (Magnetospheric Multiscale). The site also contains sections devoted to news information, Education and Public Outreach activities and multimedia, which is under construction as of April 2005. Space Calendar Maintained by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), this site provides a month-by-month listing of space-related activities and anniversaries for the coming year. The information available includes launch dates, conferences, and asteroid and planetary movements. There are links to homepages and further information for each calendar entry. Archives of the previous 3 years are available and there are entries for the following year too. Space Physics Data Availability Catalog (SPDAC) This catalog is an attempt to summarize the kinds and extent of data now being made available in current flight programs sponsored by the Sun-Earth Connection theme. This catalog and associated reports serve as a focused information source for NASA HQs management interests in availability and accessibility of mission data. As a secondary purpose, the catalog can also be used as an alternative way for the NASA science community to locate data of interest from current missions. The Sun-Earth Connection (SEC) Data Availability Catalog (SECDAC) interface starts with a Mission Overview Matrix where the mission names (and subsequent investigation names) link to the next level of SECDAC information. Appropriate updates (to edit existing information or to add entries) are possible at each level. Please note that updates submitted are manually reviewed and, while immediately acknowledged, will not be immediately reflected in the displayed catalog. Last modified: 05/17/2005 Space Telescope Science Institute The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)is the astronomical research centre responsible for operating the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) as an international observatory. The Web site has six major sections. Astronomy Resources provides a wide range of information services and software tools to astronomers and the public. The Multi-Mission Archive at Space Telescope (MAST) supports a variety of astronomical data archives, with the primary focus on scientifically related data sets in the optical, ultraviolet, and near-infrared parts of the spectrum derived from the HST, the Digitized Sky Survey, the Guide Star Catalog, and many other NASA missions. The HST section contains instrumentation descriptions, instructions for writing and submitting observing proposals, how to retrieve and analyze HST data, and images from the telescope. The resources section contains links to datasets, software descriptions, and publications, including a newsletter, searchable HST bibliography and a collection of online conference papers. A section of the site is concerned with another of the STScI's major projects, James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The site also provides background information on the Institute including its governance, contact details, and employment opportunities Space: UK Magazine Published by the British National Space Centre (BNSC) this monthly magazine provides news and comment about the British space programme. Each issue is available in PDF format. Previous issues are available back to issue 7, 2002. Spacecraft Design Concept to Explore Asteroids This paper was given at the 6th Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space (DCSSS) conference by V. A. Volkov, V. A. Danilkin, V. G. Degtyar and G. G. Sytyi. The conference took place in July 2004 at Riomaggiore, Italy. Herein a research spacecraft design is theoretically and experimentally estimated. The suggested spacecraft ensures guidance of a massive penetrating probe impacted on an asteroid and carrying out telemetry analysis in synchronism with the spectroscope examination of the procedures accompanying the impact to determine physic-chemical and mechanical properties of the asteroid in-depth substance. Both the spacecraft and the penetrating probe being its component have propulsion and control systems providing direct probe penetration into the asteroid and the specified distance between position of the spacecraft equipped with telemetry instrumentation and the asteroid during the impact. The spacecraft is launched into the asteroid impact trajectory by the launch vehicles MOLNIYA, PROTON, TITAN-4, ARIANE-5, N-2, ANGARA. The spacecraft configuration will permit it to conduct effective investigations of asteroids approaching the Earth at a distance of up to one million kilometres. [Taken from abstract]. This is a PDF file, so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. SpaceDaily This site is devoted to reporting the latest news from the industry. Current news headlines are available in brief from the home page, clicking on the title expands the story. 'Channels' are available such as MarsDaily and Station News. The site can also be searched and there is a free daily email newsletter which can be received after free registration Spacewatch Project This project is based at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. The aim of the project is to investigate small objects in the solar system, and study the statistics of asteroids and comets in order to explore the evolution of the solar system. The site provides background information to the project including a history, latest news, information on discoveries, pictures, the telescopes and details of selected publications. Stardust : Bringing Cosmic History to Earth This is the site for NASA's Discovery mission 'Stardust'. The aim of the mission is to collect particles from Comet Wild 2 using a material called aerogel. The site provides a history and overview of the mission, frequently asked questions (FAQ), information about comets themselves and factsheets and models in PDF format. In addition, there is a latest news facility and a gallery containing images relevant to the project including launch and mission photographs. STARDUST-NExT STARDUST-NExT - short for “New Exploration of Tempel-1” is a follow-on mission for STARDUST, one of the great successes of NASA's Discovery program. STARDUST returned a capsule of dust samples to Earth from an encounter with the comet Wild-2 and will now fly by comet Tempel-1 to observe the crater left over from the DEEP IMPACT mission. On July 4, 2005, DEEP IMPACT’s high-speed copper projectile slammed into the surface of Tempel-1 leaving a crater and excavating fresh material from beneath the comet’s surface. DEEP IMPACT then observed the fresh ejecta as it flew by the comet at a high rate of speed, but unfortunately, had a very limited view of the crater which was obscured by dust. STARDUST-NExT is due to reach Tempel-1 in 2011 in which time the dust cloud will have cleared, allowing scientists an unprecedented view beneath the comet’s surface. The encounter will occur very close to one “comet year” (one orbit of Tempel-1 around the sun) since the DEEP IMPACT collision and scientists will observe changes to the comet’s surface which may have resulted from solar heating, landslides or shifting of material, or impacts by other small objects. The Stardust-NExT mission will also offer a unique opportunity to compare particle analysis from two comets, Wild 2 and Tempel-1, taken with the same instruments -- and to compare two observations of a single comet, Tempel-1, taken before and after a single orbit around the sun. It will also allow the correlation between the two spacecraft’s instruments to further help refine the original data obtained by each individual spacecraft. Recycling STARDUST to perform this mission required creative thinking, planning and is a wonderful example of engineering versatility, but is also a prime example of using an existing resource for very little cost. DEEP IMPACT has also been recycled to perform the EPOXI mission to study extra-solar planets and the nucleus of comet Hartley-2. Comets and their asteroid kin are the leftover building blocks of planets, and might have contributed water and organic material to the ancient Earth, aiding the start of life. By observing comets, scientists can start to understand more about the formation and evolution of the solar system and how life came to exist on Earth. Study to Determine the Feasibility of Extending the Search for Near-Earth Objects to Smaller Limiting Diameters This is the report of the Near-Earth Object Science Definition Team, which was prepared at the request of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Space Science, Solar System Exploration Division, August 22, 2003. In 1998, NASA formally embraced the goal of finding and cataloging, by 2008, 90% of all near-Earth objects (NEOs) with diameters of 1 km or larger that could represent a collision risk to Earth. While this goal covers the larger objects, which could cause global devastation, it is silent on the much more numerous smaller objects (between 50 meters and 1 km diameter) that could cause local or regional damage in an impact. Given the steeply increasing population of near-Earth objects with decreasing diameter, it is much more likely that civilization will experience the impact of an object smaller than 1 km than experience an impact from a larger one. Therefore in August of 2002, NASA initiated the formation of a Science Definition Team with a charter to develop an understanding of the threat posed by near-Earth objects smaller than one kilometer and to assess methods of providing warnings of potential impacts. An executive summary is available in HTML while the full text of the report is available for downloading in PDF format. The Cassini-Huygens Mission : Lifting the Veil of Secrecy This is one of CSA's (Cambridge Scientific Abstracts) series of Hot Topics. It was released in October 2004 and provides an overview of the Cassini-Huygens Mission, whose aim is to orbit Saturn for four years to probe its rings, its atmosphere, and its moons. Key citations, web sites and a glossary are also provided. Further information regarding the mission can be found at NASA's website: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm The International Exploration of Mars : 4th Cosmic Study of the IAA This web site provides access to an International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) cosmic study prepared by the Subcommittee on the International Exploration of Mars, dated November 1997. It examines the possibilities and implications of establishing an international robotic and human space exploration program leading to the establishment of an International Mars Base. The study contains chapters on Mars automated missions and precursors, options for human expeditions, Mars surface systems and operations, human factors and physiological aspects, and economic and resource considerations. The final report comprises four parts: The study itself, addendum I, Update Of Mars Exploration Programs - c1995; addendum II, Mars Direct: A Practical Low-Cost Approach To Near-Term Piloted Mars Missions; and addendum III, Mission Planning and Mars Architecture Trade-Offs. The Planetary Society
The Planetary Society is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation whose aim is to encourage the exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial life. Its web site provides an introduction to its aims, news headlines and events, a Learning Center The Quarantine and Certification of Martian Samples This provides access to a National Research Council, Space Studies Board report, prepared by the Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration, 2002. The report examines a number of issues relating to the quarantine and subsequent release of samples returned from Mars. This is a prepublication version of the text in Open Book page image format. The images are linked to pdf files for ease of printing. The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) This project is a collaboration between the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC). The aim of the project is to scan the entire sky in three near-infrared bands to detect and characterise point sources brighter than 1 mJy in each band with signal-to-noise ratio greater than 10. This site provides background information, documentation, an image gallery and survey data processing information. Titan : From Discovery to Encounter This is the full text of European Space Agency (ESA) report SP 1278, April 2004. In contains a selction of papers from an international conference held at ESTEC which brought together historians and space scientists to discuss the life and work of Christiaan Huygens, the brilliant Dutch scientist after whom the Huygens probe is named. There were also reviews of space missions to Saturn, and presentations on the current scientific knowledge of Titan, the moon of Saturn that Huygens discovered and that is the destination of the probe. The report includes three of the papers presented: Christiaan Huygens and his telescopes by Peter Louwman; The Huygens mission to Titan: an overview by Jean-Pierre Lebreton, Dennis L. Matson; and, Flight through Titan's atmosphere by Imke de Pater, Máté Ádámkovics, Seran Gibbard, Henry Roe, and Caitlin Griffith. text of the report is available in PDF format from the ESA publications web site. Universal Space Vehicle Design Concept to Defend the Earth against Asteroidal - Cometary Danger This paper was given at the 6th Dynamics and Control of Systems and Structures in Space (DCSSS) conference by V. A. Volkov, V. A. Danilkin, V. G. Degtyar and G. G. Sytyi. The conference took place in July 2004 at Riomaggiore, Italy. Theoretical and experimental estimations are given on the structure of a universal space interceptor designed on the modular principle. The interceptor comprising one command-impact module and a variable number of separable impact modules, each with propulsion and guidance systems, can be injected into a trajectory towards an Earth approaching space object by launch vehicles MOLNIYA, PROTON, TITAN-4, ARIANE-5, N-2, and ANGARA. The universal space interceptor is capable to attack Earth approaching asteroids and comets of up to 300 m in diameter and destroy them into a number of safe fragments. In this case objects with a diameter of up to 100-150m are destroyed by non-nuclear kinetic module and to attack larger objects it is requiredto use a nuclear explosive device. [Taken from abstract]. This is a PDF file, so Adobe Acrobat software will be required in order to read it. US Naval Observatory The role the US Naval Observatory is to determine the position and motions of the Sun, Earth, Moon, planets, stars and other celestial objects, provide astronomical data, determine precise time, measure the Earth's rotation and maintain the US Master Clock. The site provides an FAQ, and some astronomical data is available online. This includes the sun/moon rise/set table and sun and moon data for one day. Venus Express This site has been created by The European Space Agency (ESA) to provide ongoing coverage of the Venus Express mission. The site provides access to news bulletins and progress updates, VideoTalk, a multimedia feature that discusses the latest developments in space exploration, a webcam from the ESOC Main Control Room, a press kit, brochure (PDF format), image gallery, video clips, and a 3D Flash 'model'. In addition to this emphasis on live coverage the site also provides access to more in depth information sources on Venus and on the mission. The latter includes mission facts, objectives, and descriptions of the spacecraft, the orbiter instruments, the launcher and communications and control. Visible Earth This site from NASA provides a maintained, central point of access to a searchable directory of images, visualisations and animations of the Earth. It can also be browsed by subject, satellite or sensor, and location. The images can be used freely if credit is given to NASA and are available in several different formats. Voyager : the Interstellar Mission The twin Voyager spacecraft were launched in 1977 and are still sending data regarding new characteristics of the effects of the sun in the distant solar wind. The site provides an overview of the mission and its history, the science behind the mission and what it aims to achieve, details about the spacecraft, and related news, images and multimedia. Windows to the Universe Funded by NASA, this is a learning system on the Earth and Space sciences for the use of the general public. Documents, images, movies, animations, and data sets that explore the Earth and Space sciences and the historical and cultural ties between science, exploration and the human experience are included. Whilst it is more appropriate to a general audience rather than a purely academic one, the space missions section contains brief descriptions of manned and unmanned missions. The information relating to the various celestial bodies, eg planets, asteroids, comets etc, may be useful for quick reference purposes. |
|
Free flight to the information you need - fast! |
|
Home
|
Aerospace & defence |
DEVISE |
ESDU Series |
|
|