Good day,

Jeff Marraccini asked if I might be interested in using a web based e-mail server for the lunar-update list. Jeff is providing this Majordomo list server so that I could continue posting to the lunar-update list.
This has been a one way, me to you, type of presentation and the only interaction has been if you wrote to me specifically. Since I don't have any great agenda, the posts have often been triggered by someone asking a question or saying, "Have you seen this?"

My thought is that maybe you would like more discourse although I probably create enough noise in an already hectic e-mail world.

With this GNU Mailman installation, posts could be set up to allow members to post to the list or it could remain a moderated list with only myself making the posts.

What I liked about it was that it provides a way of sorting the archive list by Thread, Subject, Author, and Date. This would make it possible to find past subject material.

You could probably get similar results from the various other group type subscriptions and put up with all their ads. (Yahoo comes to mind)

I would be interested in hearing from the list as to whether you want more interaction and participation or if my one way, me to you, discourse is enough.

My thanks to Jeff for providing the Majordomo service and offering the upgrade as a way to continue talking about the Moon, Mars, and Beyond.
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>Jeff Marraccini

Manager, Altair Systems
Altair Engineering, Inc.
http://www.altair.com/

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I don't want to forget you folks either, thanks for looking up with me.

Now a bit about the Moon, Mars and Beyond.

I attended an hour long presentation by Dr. David Des Marais about the status of the Mars Rovers.
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/

http://www-space.arc.nasa.gov/news.cfm#desmarais
It was a most interesting talk. He said that the rovers were taking pictures of not only where they were going, but where they have been. This will make it possible to make a 3D virtual reality presentation in the future it was hoped. - LRK -
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http://www4.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap.nsf/ByTitle/44.15.10.B5808?OpenDocument
Dr. David Des Marais leads a team that will investigate questions dealing with the origin, evolution, and future of habitable environments and life, including research on planetary formation and habitability, the nature of the first cells, atmospheric biosignatures that might allow detection of living planets beyond the solar system, and the ability of terrestrial life to survive in space. Ames Research Center is a returning founding team of the NAI.
snip
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A video, should you care to down load. - LRK -
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http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/video_archive/desmarais.cfm (Quick time clip)

David Des Marais
NASA Ames Research Center
Senior Research Scientist

Dave Des Marais studies the stable isotope biogeochemistry of lunar rocks and soils, midocean ridge basalts, carbonaceous meteorites, geothermal gases, and ancient (Precambrian) shales and carbonates. He also coordinated a ten-year consortium study of microbial (cyanobacterial) mats, which currently serve as analogs of ancient biological communities. In addition, Des Marais has published more than 90 research articles, six book chapters, and several articles for popular press. He is currently an associate editor of the Journal of Geophysical Research and Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.

For more information on astrobiology research led by Des Marais' team, see:
http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/institute/lead_teams_detail.cfm?ID=1
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http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/video_archive/

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SMART-1 is starting science at our Moon.
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120371_index_0_m.html

and its mission extended until August of 3006
http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/news/expandnews.cfm?id=10250

2005-02-18 | MISSIONS
*SMART-1 Mission Extended*

ESA has decided to extend the SMART-1 mission. The mission was initially scheduled to end in August 2005, but will now continue until August 2006. The extension will allow SMART-1 time to map both the northern and southern hemispheres of the Moon in high resolution.

Data from SMART-1 will help scientists better understand the Earth-Moon system and provide information that will aid in developing potential long-duration human missions to the Moon. Understanding how the Moon was formed can tell us a great deal about the history and evolution of our own planet . Developing a human presence on the Moon could be a stepping stone to further locations like Mars, and the technologies being tested aboard SMART-1 may help to make such missions possible.
snip

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM2H8YEM4E_index_0.html
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A list of links for the Latest in Astrobiology News.
http://astrobiology.arc.nasa.gov/news/index.cfm


Larry Kellogg
http://www.larryrussellkellogg.net/index.html
http://www.larryrussellkellogg.net/links.html
http://www.larryrussellkellogg.net/LarryKelloggReports.htm
http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/