Juxi's log - posts tagged 'NASA'

VIDEO: time lapse cupola relocation video

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:30:59 GMT

NASA to investigate VASIMR propelled lunar tug concept

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:57:46 GMT

NASA is to investigate a VASIMR propelled lunar tug concept according to a procurement synopsis it published last week. The video above can be found here along with other videos about the tug concept. The NASA synopsis says:

Studies will be conducted to evaluate a Lunar Tug concept utilizing Variable Specific Impulse Magneto-plasma Rocket (VASIMR) engine capabilities from Low Earth Orbit to Lunar Orbit and libration points.

The VASIMR was conceived by former NASA astronaut Franklin Chang Díaz and developed through his Ad Astra Rocket company. Chang Diaz's company and Houston, Texas based-MEI Technologies released a press release last week qouting MEI's chief executive Ed Muñiz saying:

"Ad Astra's impressive technology coupled with our payload integration capabilities will ultimately result in innovative cargo and supply mechanisms, greater access to resources and broader support for robotic and human missions in space," [emphasis added]

The text above, italicised by this blog, indicated something interesting was going on. Hyperbola is still waiting for a response to its request for an interview. New propulsion technologies have been mentioned by NASA administrator Charles Bolden as a focus for the space agency

Space robotics: One Giant leap for Robots

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:54:34 GMT

Robots have been employed by a number of NASA’s missions in the past, particularly those to the Moon, where they have been used to scan the surface and collect samples and various kinds of data. NASA has also been a pioneer in semi-autonomous robots exploring the surface of Mars; the twin Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity are still operating on the surface of the Red planet several years after their initial mission was completed. The Phoenix robot successfully landed on Mars last year and completed its 3-month mission. Moreover, NASA is preparing to launch soon a new generation Mars rover aka the Mars Science Laboratory while testing the ATHLETE rover for a mission to the Moon.

But none of these very cool robots have been able to walk—or build Japanese rock gardens.

In a presentation entitled “Realization of Moon Exploration Using Advanced Robots by 2020,” Toyota shared plans about the future use of its innovative Toyota Partner Robot series. Initially, these humanoid robots were designed to help with life down here on Earth, specifically with elderly care and assistance. A result of Japan’s aging population and a lack of labor force, they are able to perform a variety of tasks, including transporting passengers and helping citizens in need. Their application, however, is set to be taken quite a big step further—to the moon.

There, the Toyota Robots will assemble space tents and relay stations, as well as deploy solar array and use a telescope. Additionally, they will work alongside a Rover to collect further data of the moon. The presentation also showed them building a traditional Japanese rock garden, which is rather cooler than planting a simple flag. To perform these tasks, they will be equipped with a number of big upgrades. As the specs in the yellow table predict, they will have:

joints that are protected from regolith
a small capacity solar battery onboard
their internal status showing on screen on chest
arms exchangeable for different tasks
ability to jump with springs in legs
keep warm during night covered in a metal cloak

That last one paints quite the endearing picture of our robot helpers working all day and camping out beneath the stars at night on a lonely desolate planet. With 2020 being the proposed date, however, we are still a decade away from finding out whether this is yet possible.

[source in Japanese]

Scientific Memory Games: Improve your cognitive abilities.

Spirit Rover Wiggles Her Wheels

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:04:31 GMT

The Spirit Mars rover wiggled her wheels for the first time in months. The rover has been stuck in Martian soil for half a year.

The movement, seen in the image above, doesn’t mean that Spirit has been extricated, but it did provide some excitement for the rover’s operators and fans.

“First drive sequence in 145 sols,” wrote Scott Maxwell, aka @marsroverdriver.

Planetary Society blogger, Emily Lakdawalla, summed up the general excitement among Mars watchers.

“[I]t’s a thrill to see Spirit doing anything like roving again,” Lakdawalla wrote.

Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars in January 2004 and have been exploring the planet ever since. In recent months, while Spirit’s been stuck, she’s also been a bit glitchy, experiencing what the engineers are calling “amnesia.” Despite the problems, the rovers are considered a tremendous success for NASA, having traveled the planet for 20 times longer than the 90 days that were originally planned for.

NASA will hold a press conference on Thursday to discuss further attempts to free the rover. Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers have mocked up the Martian surface to model her predicament in hopes of finding just the right series of moves to unstick her wheels.

Via The Planetary Society

Images: 1. NASA / JPL / animation by Damien Bouic. 2. Dave Bullock/Wired.com

See Also:

WiSci 2.0: Alexis Madrigal’s Twitter, Google Reader feed, and green tech history research site; Wired Science on Twitter and Facebook.