Next Best Thing to Being There

The shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to launch August 8. 2007 at 6:36 p.m.
EDT.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Tice F. DeYoung alerted me to a post that has the following blog and
suggested that the lunar-update list might be interested
It contains the NASA News post which I copied below as well.
- LRK -
---------------------------------------------------------------
http://htdaw.blogsource.com/post.mhtml?post_id=456612

  Next best thing to Being There ...

Monday, August 06, 2007 at 1:08 PM EDT
---------------------------------------------------------------

Google Alerts also located a number of news alerts and blogs for the
shuttle.
You might also be interested in seeing what others are saying.
- LRK -

Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
As posted in NASA News. - LRK -
---------------------------------------------------------------

Aug. 6, 2007

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4769
allard.beutel@nasa.gov

Jonas Dino
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-5612/207-3280
jdino@mail.arc.nasa.gov

Kathy Gill
Microsoft Live Labs, Redmond, Wash.
503-443-7000
grey.hautaluoma-1@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 07-170

NASA, MICROSOFT LAUNCH COLLABORATION WITH IMMERSIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

WASHINGTON - On Monday, NASA and Microsoft Corporation of Redmond,
Wash., released an interactive, 3-D photographic collection of the
space shuttle Endeavour preparing for its upcoming mission to the
International Space Station. Endeavour is scheduled to launch from
NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 6:36
p.m. EDT.

For the first time, people around the world can view hundreds of high
resolution photographs of Endeavour, Launch Pad 39A, and the Vehicle
Assembly Building at Kennedy in a unique 3-D viewer. NASA and
Microsoft's Live Labs team developed the online experience using
hundreds of photographs and a photo imaging technology called
Photosynth. Using a click-and-drag interface, viewers can zoom in to
see intimate details of the shuttle booster rockets or zoom out for a
more global view of the launch facility. The software uses
photographs from standard digital cameras to construct a 3-D view
that can be navigated and explored online. The NASA images can be
viewed at Microsoft's Live Labs at:

http://labs.live.com

"This collaboration with Microsoft gives the public a new way to
explore and participate in America's space program," said William
Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for Space Operations,
Washington. "We're also looking into using this new technology to
support future missions."

"With Photosynth, we take pictures of an environment and knit them
together into an experience that people can move through like a 3-D
video game," said Microsoft Live Labs Architect Blaise Aguera y
Arcas. "NASA provided us with some outstanding images, and the result
is an experience that will wow anyone wanting to get a closer look at
NASA's missions."

The NASA collections were created in collaboration between Microsoft's
Live Lab, Kennedy and NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field,
Calif.

"We see potential to use Photosynth for a variety of future mission
activities, from inspecting the International Space Station and the
Hubble Space Telescope to viewing landing sites on the moon and
Mars," said Chris C. Kemp, director of Strategic Business Development
at Ames.

Photosynth was created in collaboration between Microsoft and the
University of Washington. The software combines hundreds or thousands
of regular digital photos of a scene to present a detailed 3-D model
of a subject, giving viewers the sensation of smoothly gliding around
the scene from every angle. A collection can be constructed using
photos from a single source or multiple sources. The NASA Photosynth
collection also includes the return of the space shuttle Atlantis to
the Kennedy Shuttle Landing Facility from Edwards Air Force Base,
Calif., in July.

Microsoft Live Labs is an applied research organization focused on the
incubation of innovative, Internet technologies to improve and
accelerate the next evolution of Microsoft's Internet products and
services.

For more information about space shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 mission,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-
========================================================

Google News Alert for: *NASA Shuttle*

Blanco, Olivier guests at *shuttle* launch
<http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070806/NEWS01/7080603
4>
The Daily Advertiser - Lafayette,LA,USA
Michoud manufactures the external fuel tank for *NASA's shuttle* program
and a top *NASA* official told the Legislature earlier this year that
the facility will *...*
See all stories on this topic
<http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dl
l/article%3FAID%3D/20070806/NEWS01/70806034>


Company Helps Teachers to 'Spice Up' Science Curriculum *...*
<http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-06-20
07/0004640108&EDATE=>
PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA
*NASA's Shuttle* Mission, scheduled to launch August 8th, is the initial
flight of the first educator trained as a Mission Specialist, Barbara
Morgan. *...*
See all stories on this topic
<http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories
.pl%3FACCT%3D104%26STORY%3D/www/story/08-06-2007/0004640108%26EDATE%3D>


Mission Endeavour: *Shuttle* Commander, Pilot Aim for Orbit
<http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070805_sts118_cdr_plt.html>
Space.com - USA
By Tariq Malik *NASA's shuttle* Endeavour will have a pair of seasoned
astronauts at the helm when it rockets towards the International Space
Station (ISS) *...*
See all stories on this topic
<http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/0708
05_sts118_cdr_plt.html>


*NASA* Announces Web Coverage of Next Space *Shuttle* Mission
<http://newsblaze.com/story/20070803174951tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories
.html>
NewsBlaze - Folsom,CA,USA
Visitors to *NASA's shuttle* Web site can read about the crew's progress
and watch the spacewalks, which will be broadcast live from the space
station. *...*
See all stories on this topic
<http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://newsblaze.com/story/20070803174951
tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html>


Space *Shuttle* Endeavour is scheduled to launch its latest mission
*...* <http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3451944>
ABC News - USA
My understanding and that of the rest of my crew with regard to *NASA's*
policy on alcohol and flying aircraft, or spacecraft, was no different
before this *...*
See all stories on this topic
<http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/stor
y%3Fid%3D3451944>


Microsoft, *NASA* Allow For 3D *Shuttle* View
<http://www.e-pressen.dk/shownewsb.php?id=79087>
E-pressen - Frederiksberg,Sjælland,Denmark
Its much like a 3D video game--people can explore, walk around or fly
around the *shuttle*, said Adam Sheppard, group product manager for
Microsoft Live Labs, *...*
See all stories on this topic
<http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.e-pressen.dk/shownewsb.php%3Fi
d%3D79087>


Microsoft Teams Up With *NASA* To Offer 3-D *Shuttle* Views
<http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201203270>
InformationWeek - Manhasset,NY,USA
By Paul McDougall Microsoft has joined forces with *NASA* to give
Internet users a three-dimensional tour of the space *shuttle* Endeavour
as it sits on the *...*
See all stories on this topic
<http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ncl=http://www.informationweek.com/news/showA
rticle.jhtml%3FarticleID%3D201203270>


Google Blogs Alert for: *NASA Shuttle*

Microsoft, *NASA* Allow For 3D *Shuttle* View
<http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/06/079210>
By Slashdot.org
C|Net reports that a 3D software version of the space *shuttle* Endeavor
is in the works, thanks to a collaboration project between Microsoft and
*NASA*. The Photosynth viewer will allow fans of the space program an
unprecedented level of *...*
Slashdot - http://slashdot.org/

Countdown begins for new *NASA shuttle*
<http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Countdown_underway_for_new_NASA_shu_08062007.html>
*NASA* on Monday forecast a 70 percent chance of good weather for
Wednesday's space *shuttle* launch, an event the US space agency hopes
will help the public forget the recent stories of drunk and lovesick
astronauts. *...*
RawStory.com Headlines - http://rawstory.com/

Microsoft Teams Up With *NASA* To Offer 3-D *Shuttle* Views
<http://www.geekwithlaptop.com/microsoft-teams-up-with-nasa-to-offer-3-d-shuttle
-views/>
By Sean
Microsoft has joined forces with *NASA* to give Internet users a
three-dimensional tour of the space *shuttle* Endeavour as it sits on
the launch pad at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. Thanks to a technology
called Photosynth that Microsoft *...*
Geek With Laptop - http://www.geekwithlaptop.com

Microsoft, *NASA* Team on *Shuttle* Photos
<http://tech.netscape.com/story/2007/08/06/microsoft-nasa-team-on-shuttle-photos
>
By jeremytoday
To highlight the launch of the US Space *Shuttle* Endeavour Tuesday,
Microsoft has teamed up with *NASA* to provide exclusive 3D views of the
craft and a look at how the space agency prepares it for launch using
Microsoft's Photosynth *...*
Netscape.com Gadgets & Tech Stories - http://www.netscape.com

Microsoft, *NASA* Partner to Visualize *Shuttle*
<http://apb.directionsmag.com/archives/3184-Microsoft,-NASA-Partner-to-Visualize
-Shuttle.html>
By (Adena Schutzberg)
*NASA* and Microsoft are teaming to use Photosynth (Microsoft's
stitching technology to make 2D images 3D visuals) to privide anyone a
downloadable viewer to explore the *Shuttle* Endeavor before its launch
later this week. *...*
All Points Blog - http://apb.directionsmag.com/

------------------------------------------------------------------------
This once a day Google Alert is brought to you by Google.

Snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
==============================================================

Diversifying our planetary portfolio

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/927/1
by Nader Elhefnawy
Monday, August 6, 2007

If you subscribe to Jeff Foust's "The Space Review" you probably read the
article at the link and some of those I posted below.
- LRK -


http://www.thespacereview.com/archive/317a.jpg

Whether on the surface of a planetary body or in free space,
a self-sufficient space colony will need a different set of
industrial technologies and systems than in common terrestrial
use today. (credit: NASA/Ames)
-----------------------------------------
Nader Elhefnawy's first paragraph mentions an article that predicts we
only have 46 years left to colonize Mars if we are toensure long term
survival.
- LRK -

-----------------------------------
A rather provocative headline appeared in the July 17, 2007 edition of
the /New York Times/: "A Survival Imperative For Space Colonization."

The claim, which could not but concentrate the mind, was that "To ensure
our long-term survival, we need to get a colony up and running on Mars
within 46 years."
-----------------------------------

I don't think the rest of the World read the Times article as I don't
see a stampede to launch a Mars Direct mission.

Both the Times article and Nader Elhefnawy's commentary are worth
reading and considering as we see ourselves plodding along while we wait
for an asteroid to hit or the climate to change or the oil to run out,
or someone blows a chunk of this Blue Marble into space in the name of .....

How do you sell a set of encyclopedias to someone that doesn't read?
Do you teach him to read or just go next door and hope there is someone
there that knows how to read?

How do you interest investors in going to the Moon, Mars, and Beyond if
they don't know how to look up?
Do you tell them to wait until some foreign government goes and hope
they will open a way for you?
Phobos in 2009
<http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Russia_Hopes_To_Launch_Craft_To_Mission_Mars_M
oon_Phobos_In_2009_999.html>

How do you get the cost of launch down when the launch companies are
happy with government cost plus arrangements?
Do you launch from a ship at sea if you can get contracts that don't
conflict with one of you parent companies?
http://www.boeing.com/special/sea-launch/

On an earlier post I said == One would like to just be able to propose a
mission and see it happen within your lifetime.

And from deepest, darkest SE GA came this assurance, "Fear not,
Larry!...keep taking your vitamins, drink 2 ounces of red wine a day,
and hang in just little while longer...just don't be surprised when it
happens, the logos won't say "NASA" or "USA", it'll be "Virgin",
"Bigelow", "Scaled Composites", et al....
J"

Sooooh, maybe some of you know of some other logos that might make it
happen.
Maybe you have an idea for a logo of your own and will just go yourself
as you are tired of waiting.
If you do, let me know so I can share.

It is one thing to launch personnel to the ISS or even to the Moon for
brief periods.
It is more complicated to say you will become self sufficient and won't
need care packages from mother Earth.

How self sufficient are you at home here on Earth?

What if garbage strike?
What if power out?
What if water shut off?
What if grocery store closed?
What if an airline strike?
What if the trucks stop?
What if a cold snap?
What if a heat wave?
What if a flood?
What if the sirens sound?

And that is just where you don't have your neighbors shooting at you or
setting booby traps or blowing themselves up.

Can you live on a small island, in the jungle, under a bridge, or in a
ghetto?
http://www.solarhaven.org/AchievingSelfSufficiency.htm
http://www.backwoodshome.com/
http://www.mcn.org/ed/cur/cw/Habitats/Habitats.html

Do you have the necessary medical supplies?

Could you make alcohol from your cardboard boxes?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol
http://www.physorg.com/news100838926.html

Can you drive your car on several types of fuel, whichever is cheaper?
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/alcohols.html

Well, sometimes thinking outside the box is learning to think, how would
I live in a box. :-)

Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-05/17/content_593317.htm
China to launch moon probe next April
By Liu Dan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-05-17 16:37

China's first lunar satellite may be launched during a fly-by mission in
April in 2007, said Luan Enjie, director of the China National Space
Administration on Tuesday, May 16.

[Ooops - didn't happen, did it. - LRK -]
Snip
--------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/library/news/2007/space-070520-voa01.htm
China to Launch Moon Probe This Year

By VOA News
/20 May 2007/

China's media say Beijing plans to launch a lunar orbiter later this year.

The Xinhua news agency quotes China's space agency chief, Sun Laiyan, as
saying the launch is the first step towards a lunar probe. Sun said the
lunar exploration program has been divided into three steps: orbiting
the moon, landing on the lunar surface and coming back to Earth with
moon samples.

Xinhua says a moon rover mission is scheduled for around 2012.

Sun, who spoke at Beijing Jiaotong University, says China will also
continue research on manned space missions, including a space walk and
experiments tp link passing spacecraft.

In 2003, China became the third country - after the former Soviet Union
and the United States - to launch a man into space.

/Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters./

[Would August be later in the year? Maybe later, later.- LRK -]
------------------------------------------------------------------
Next manned launch slips some too. - LRK -
http://www.china.org.cn/english/2006/Mar/160186.htm
China to Postpone Launch of Shenzhou VII to 2008

China will postpone the launch of its third manned space mission
Shenzhou VII spacecraft for about half a year to 2008, a senior
consultant to the country's space program said yesterday.

"There is nothing wrong. We just need more time to prepare for the
mission," Huang Chunping, chief consultant for China's manned launching
vehicle system, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency.
snip


==============================================================
As noted in ---

Welcome to this week's issue of The Space Review:

Diversifying our planetary portfolio
---
A recent article suggests that humanity has less than a half-century
to establish a permanent presence beyond Earth.  Nader Elhefnawy
argues that a truly self-sufficient space colony will require
revisiting the industrial technologies and techniques in common use
today.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/927/1

From Russians to Berserkers
---
Not every idea in the space field is grand enough to be worthy of its
own full-length article.  Dwayne Day combines several of these,
including updates on past reports on Russia and famous helicopters,
into a single report.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/926/1

The state of the RLV industry, 2007 (part two)
---
Last month's accident at Scaled Composites will have an effect on the
entrepreneurial space industry, although how significant remains to
be seen.  Taylor Dinerman examines the evolution of this industry and
the need for openness by some of its participants.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/925/1

The fragility and resilience of NASA
---
Recent problems have illustrated both the technical challenges facing
NASA projects as well as the agency's public perception.  Eric Hedman
discusses why this makes NASA's new strategic communications efforts
all the more important.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/924/1

Review: the voice of von Braun
---
Wernher von Braun had the rare combination of technical expertise and
the ability to communicate effectively with the public at large.
Jeff Foust reviews a book that compiles a number of von Braun's
speeches over the years where he described his visions of spaceflight.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/923/1

Snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
==============================================================

*Phoenix Heads for Mars, Spacecraft Healthy

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/181866main_Liftoff.jpg
*Image above: (08/04/2007) A Delta II rocket lit up the early morning sky
over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida as it carried the Phoenix
spacecraft on the first leg of its journey to Mars. The powerful three-stage
rocket with nine solid rocket motors lifted off at 5:26 a.m. EDT.
Image Credit: NASA
+ View larger image
<http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/181867main_Liftoff-lg.jpg>

==============================================================
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/
The Phoenix spacecraft has separated from the Delta II rocket and ground
controllers at NASA's Deep Space Network have acquired its signal and
begun assessing its health. The solar panels that will power the
mission's cruise phase will be deployed and Phoenix will be pointed to
best receive solar power and communicate with Earth.

The spacecraft has oriented itself to the sun as it was programmed to
do. It will use solar panels to generate electricity during the
nine-month coast to Mars. A separate set of solar arrays is attached to
the lander itself.

The Phoenix Mars lander's assignment is to dig through the Martian soil
and ice in the arctic region and use its onboard scientific instruments
to analyze the samples it retrieves.

*Media Resources*
+ Audio clips from Aug. 2, 2007, briefing
<http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/audio/jpl-phoenix-20070802.html>
+ Launch Press Kit (6.5Mb-PDF)
<http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/181835main_phoenix-launch-presskit.pdf>
+ Phoenix Fact Sheet (244Kb - PDF)
<http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/182972main_mars-phoenix.pdf>
+ Spacecraft and rocket processing images
<http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=174>
+ Planned Mars landing site for Phoenix (high resolution image)
<http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/183669main_ra1-global-hires.jpg>

*Podcasts*
+ Listen to Journey to the Martian North Pole
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/jplpod-phoenix-20070802.html>
+ View Phoenix Webcast
<http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/phx_webcast-transcript.html>
==============================================================

I listen and read about our slowness to go back to the Moon.  It wasn't
politically correct.
One would like to just be able to propose a mission and see it happen
within your lifetime.

Sometimes it just seems like time stands still.
Other missions catch the ear of those that control the purse strings,
and they get funded.
There just are not enough gold coins in the purse for everyone and
some go hungry.

Then again, some with a vision find ways to use what is left from
missions failed or left behind in the scramble for the purse strings.
As you look behind the curtains and see the workings of the stage hands,
you get an appreciation for just not giving up.

Do take a look at the Phoenix Mission.  Here we have the University of
Arizona, a public university leading a mission to Mars.
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/mission.php
- LRK -

==============================================================
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/
Phoenix Has Launched!
by Jesse Cornia & Sara Hammond
August 4, 2007

At 5:26 EDT the Delta II Rocket carrying the Phoenix Mars Lander lifted
off from its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base.
In less than 90 minutes the spacecraft had left Earth's orbit headed for
the Red Planet. This marks the beginning of Phoenix's 10 month cruise to
Mars.
Phoenix will land on the northern plains of Mars and will dig into the
soil and water-ice looking for evidence of past habitability.

Snip
==============================================================

Alright, it has launched and it will take some time to get to Mars.
Turn around and look up.  There is a lunar eclipse happening this month.
See Science @ NASA info below.
- LRK -


Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
NASA Science News for August 3, 2007

Mark your calendar: On Tuesday, August 28th, there's going to be a
dreamy, colorful, total eclipse of the Moon.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/03aug_dreamyeclipse.htm?list965414

The Science@NASA Podcast feed is available at
http://science.nasa.gov/podcast.xml.

Snip
==============================================================
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/present/phoenix.html
*Spacecraft*
/Launch:/ August, 2007
/Arrival:/ May 25, 2008

*Overview*

The Phoenix mission is the first chosen for NASA's Scout program, an
initiative for smaller, lower-cost, competed spacecraft. Named for the
resilient mythological bird, Phoenix uses a lander that was intended for
use by 2001's Mars Surveyor lander prior to its cancellation. It also
carries a complex suite of instruments that are improved variations of
those that flew on the lost Mars Polar Lander.

In the continuing pursuit of water on Mars, the poles are a good place
to probe, as water ice is found there. Phoenix will land on the icy
northern pole of Mars between 65 and 75-north latitude. During the
course of the 150 Martian day mission, Phoenix will deploy its robotic
arm and dig trenches up to half a meter (1.6 feet) into the layers of
water ice. These layers, thought to be affected by seasonal climate
changes, could contain organic compounds that are necessary for life.

To analyze soil samples collected by the robotic arm, Phoenix will carry
an "oven" and a "portable laboratory." Selected samples will be heated
to release volatiles that can be examined for their chemical composition
and other characteristics.

Imaging technology inherited from both the Pathfinder and Mars
Exploration Rover missions will also be implemented in Phoenix's stereo
camera, located on its 2-meter (6.6-foot) mast. The camera's two "eyes"
will reveal a high-resolution perspective of the landing site's geology,
and will also provide range maps that will enable the team to choose
ideal digging locations. Multi-spectral capability will enable the
identification of local minerals.

To update our understanding of martian atmospheric processes, Phoenix
will also scan the martian atmosphere up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles)
in altitude, obtaining data about the formation, duration and movement
of clouds, fog, and dust plumes. It will also carry temperature and
pressure sensors.

For more information on the Phoenix mission, visit:
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu

Snip
==============================================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
==============================================================