Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Where is Rosetta, and PRISMA? Want to build a Lunar Rover or play ‘Moonbase Alpha’?

---------------------------------------------------
http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002571/
The Planetary Society Blog
By Emily Lakdawalla

Three days to Lutetia for Rosetta!
Jul. 7, 2010 | 06:34 PDT | 13:34 UTC

On July 10, 2010, at 15:44:56 UTC, the Rosetta spacecraft will fly within 3,162 kilometers of the largest asteroid yet visited by a spacecraft. Named (21) Lutetia, the 132-by-101-by-76-kilometer-diameter body is a puzzle to astronomers, who have been unable to determine its composition. Both the Rosetta orbiter and its still-attached Philae lander have a full slate of science observations planned for the encounter, which will serve both as a test of its instruments and procedures to prepare for its eventual cometary mission and as an opportunity to observe a unique solar system body.

snip
---------------------------------------------------
http://www.esa.int/esaMI/Rosetta/index.html
Call for Media: Rosetta flyby of asteroid Lutetia on 10 July

30 June 2010   ESA PR-14 2010: The media are invited to ESA's Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, to follow Rosetta's encounter with asteroid Lutetia on 10 July, 18:00–23:00 CEST. The first images of the asteroid will be released before midnight, with experts available for interview.
snip

Latest Rosetta navigation camera image of Lutetia is now live in the Rosetta blog
http://webservices.esa.int/blog/blog/5/
---------------------------------------------------

Closer to home a bit of Collision Avoidance called for.
- LRK -

---------------------------------------------------
http://www.prismasatellites.se/?id=17038
Collision Avoidance Manoeuvre!
Camille Chasset

No no, TANGO is not yet separated, and we are not talking here about a possible collision between MANGO and TANGO, but between PRISMA and an object called “COSMOS 2251 DEB”, one of the numerous debris resulting from the collision between an Iridium satellite and the COSMOS satellite last year.

All of you who believed that the PRISMA satellite would nicely stay in “asleep” state for a few weeks were wrong, and the last 24 hours have been pretty exiting. Yesterday, we indeed received the following “Close Approach Message” from the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) in California:

“Sir/Ma'am,

The United States Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has identified a predicted conjunction between PRISMA (SCC# 36599) and SCC# 34544.

Primary Object: PRISMA (SCC# 36599)
Secondary Object: SCC# 34544
Time of Closest Approach: 06 JUL 2010 22:59 UTC

Overall miss distance: 144 meters
Radial (dU) miss distance: 76 meters
In-Track (dV) miss distance: -83 meters
Cross-track (dW) miss distance: -91 meters”

“Oj oj oj!” would say my Swedish colleagues! In short this was a warning informing us that tonight, 6th of July, at 22:59 UTC our satellite will get as close as 144m from the other object. It is difficult to get an idea of how “close” this is, but I can tell you that, compared to the immensity of Space, this is VERY close. Scary news!!!

snip
---------------------------------------------------

Thank you Canadian Space Agency
- LRK -

---------------------------------------------------
http://tinyurl.com/2dv2qxz
Canadian Space Agency Issues RFP for Moon Rover Prototypes

   * By Marc Boucher
   * Posted July 7, 2010 7:07 AM

The Canadian Space Agency today issued a call for proposals to build two Lunar Exploration Light Rover (LELR) prototypes at maximum cost of $11 million per rover. Up to two contracts will be awarded with each contract requiring a prototype to be built. Only one contract will be awarded per bidder. Proposals are due by August 17th.

The winning bid(s) will have until December 31, 2012 to complete the contract. The winning contractor will design, development, produce, assemble and test the prototype, integrate payloads on the rover and conduct a field deployment.

snip
---------------------------------------------------

Well at least we will be allowed to imagine what it would be like to go to the Moon.
- LRK -

---------------------------------------------------
http://www.moonbasealphagame.com/
Do you have what it takes ...

In ‘Moonbase Alpha’, players will step into the role of an exploration team member and will be immersed in a futuristic 3D lunar settlement. Their mission is to restore critical systems and oxygen flow after a nearby meteor strike cripples a solar array and life support equipment. Available resources include an interactive command center, a lunar rover, mobile robotic repair units and a fully stocked equipment shed.

This 'First Person Explorer' serious game includes both a single player capability and LAN or internet multiplayer gameplay for up to six active players on a team. Selectable maps will be available for specific player numbers (e.g., 2 player map, 4 player map, etc.).  Each of these maps is represented and tracked individually within the game’s leader boards.

snip

http://www.massively.com/2010/07/06/moonbase-alpha-takes-one-small-step-goes-live/
Moonbase Alpha takes one small step, goes live
by Jef Reahard Jul 6th 2010 at 6:30PM

Ready for the federal government's first MMORPG? We're not either, but we're getting a taste of one possible future with today's release of Moonbase Alpha, a multiplayer simulation co-developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Virtual Heroes.

While the game is not technically an MMO as of yet, it will eventually feature a massively multiplayer version, in much the same way that the forthcoming Torchlight MMO started life as a smaller dungeon-crawler. Moonbase Alpha looks to immerse players in a "futuristic 3D lunar settlement. Their mission is to restore critical systems and oxygen flow after a nearby meteor strike cripples a solar array and life support equipment. Available resources include an interactive command center, a lunar rover, mobile robotic repair units and a fully stocked equipment shed," according to the game's website.

snip
----------------------------------------------------

Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

=============================================

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

=============================================