Monday, November 21, 2011
MSL launch delayed to Saturday, Nov. 26
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) has been delayed one day to allow time for the team to remove and replace a flight termination system battery. The launch is rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The one hour and 43 minute launch window opens at 10:02 a.m. EST.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
MSL GO!
 Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity)11/18/11 1:51 PM One week to launch! @NASA gave me the "GO" to proceed toward liftoff, 10:25am ET, Nov 25. Countdown page: bit.ly/rxAEkz |
Plants in Space
 Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson)11/18/11 12:49 PM Sergei Volkov studies plant life in space for potential nutrition on future missions. go.usa.gov/Ife pic.twitter.com/PukeZ60s |
NPP update
 Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight)11/18/11 12:22 PM ARTICLE: NPP arrives on final orbit, enjoys early success ahead of pathfinder operations - tinyurl.com/7k26ueh #NPP |
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
ISS Flyover Thursday Morning
Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:12 a.m. (EST)
Thursday morning just before dawn will be the next opportunity to see the International Space Station (ISS) fly over the New York metro area. The ISS will rise in the southwest and travel in front of the moon and directly overhead before setting in the northeast. Look for a large, slow moving dot of light. It will appear as a large, bright star but with a steady motion across the sky. This pass will last about six minutes because it will be so high in the sky. The unfortunate thing is the weather forecast right now. It may not have cleared enough to see the ISS.
| Satellite Name (Peak Magnitude) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | Time | El | Az | Range | |
Sunset: | 4:36:36 PM | ||||
Midnight: | 12:00:00 AM | ||||
ISS (-3.0) | |||||
| Start: | 6:12:14 AM | 10° | 230°(SW) | 856 mi | |
| Peak: | 6:15:18 AM | 81° | 146°(SE) | 236 mi | |
| End: | 6:18:22 AM | 10° | 56°(NE) | 852 mi | |
Sunrise: | 6:44:51 AM | ||||
Pass predictions by GoSatWatch
www.gosoftworks.com
Monday, November 14, 2011
Why Go To Mars?
As the launch of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and Curiosity Rover draw closer, I have been sharing the mission objectives and launch preparations with my 4th and 5th grade math and science students (9-11 year olds). These discussions have been an incredible mix of excitement, fascination, awe, and serious thinking. I asked them, “Why should we go to Mars?” I have collected their responses to share with you here:
Many students responded that they are concerned at the demands humans have placed on our Earth ecosystem. With more than 7 billion people on the planet, they are concerned with the availability of resources and space to support an ever growing population. They also shared concerns with the damage humans have done to the ecosystem and are concerned that human actions may be making the Earth less habitable. From these concerns, they spoke to humans needed other options of places where we can survive. Finding that Mars could support life, might mean that it could be somewhere humans could colonize and take some of the pressure off of Earth. “Curiosity will help us figure out if Mars is safe [for humans].”
Along these lines, some of my students also thought that there might be minerals or other resources on Mars that we could exploit. Things that might lead to new medicines or improve our condition here on Earth in some way.
Many students spoke to the sheer curiosity, sense of adventure, and exploration for the sake of exploration. If we can explore and study it, why not?! “I just want to know if alien life is out there.”
Finally, they also shared their concerns and need for caution as humans explore space. “We already made a bit of a mess here, we don’t want to just junk up Mars the way we have Earth.” Curiosity will help us “understand the Martian ecosystem so we don’t mess it up.” “If we go there, we don’t want to mess it up by doing something wrong.”
Of course my students have a little more information that other children their age might, just because they are in my classes. But at the core of all this is deep thinking about how our planet functions and the needs of living things. They care deeply about their home and their future. To them, Curiosity brings a sense of hope in that future. It sparks the imagination, excites the spirit. We are going to Mars!
Many students responded that they are concerned at the demands humans have placed on our Earth ecosystem. With more than 7 billion people on the planet, they are concerned with the availability of resources and space to support an ever growing population. They also shared concerns with the damage humans have done to the ecosystem and are concerned that human actions may be making the Earth less habitable. From these concerns, they spoke to humans needed other options of places where we can survive. Finding that Mars could support life, might mean that it could be somewhere humans could colonize and take some of the pressure off of Earth. “Curiosity will help us figure out if Mars is safe [for humans].”
Along these lines, some of my students also thought that there might be minerals or other resources on Mars that we could exploit. Things that might lead to new medicines or improve our condition here on Earth in some way.
Many students spoke to the sheer curiosity, sense of adventure, and exploration for the sake of exploration. If we can explore and study it, why not?! “I just want to know if alien life is out there.”
Finally, they also shared their concerns and need for caution as humans explore space. “We already made a bit of a mess here, we don’t want to just junk up Mars the way we have Earth.” Curiosity will help us “understand the Martian ecosystem so we don’t mess it up.” “If we go there, we don’t want to mess it up by doing something wrong.”
Of course my students have a little more information that other children their age might, just because they are in my classes. But at the core of all this is deep thinking about how our planet functions and the needs of living things. They care deeply about their home and their future. To them, Curiosity brings a sense of hope in that future. It sparks the imagination, excites the spirit. We are going to Mars!
Post Script:
I appreciate so much the thoughts of my students and enjoy the discussions we have. I am honored to share their thoughts with my followers. If you care to share your comments, please do so using the Blogger commenting feature and I will share them with my students.
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