Download a PDF of the entire issue - Sigma Pi Sigma

More documents

Recommendations

Info

What's next for NASA? by Elizabeth Hook, SPS Communications Specialist “I’m here to tell you that American leadership in space will continue for at least the next half-century because we have laid the foundation for success— and failure is not an option.”—Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator Amid the retirement of the space shuttle fleet and fights for funding, many ask: What’s next for NASA? NASA has been telling anyone who will listen that the end of the space shuttle is not “the end of NASA, or even of NASA sending humans into space.” From studying earth sciences to developing new rockets, NASA has a plan. Earth Science Research How is the global earth system changing? How will the earth system change in the future? These are the big questions about the planet that NASA aims to answer and around which future NASA missions are centered. Upcoming NASA missions will enable scientists to make more accurate estimates of rain and snowfall, and better predict extreme weather events like hurricanes, floods, landslides, and droughts. NASA launched the Near Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project (NPP) in late October 2011 to help meet these goals. NPP is collecting data that will assist in making more accurate weather forecasts, as well as contribute data to research in climate change. NASA recognizes that the earth is 26 Radiations Fall 2011 currently warming and at a faster rate than ever measured before. [1] It plans to study the way this system is changing so that we can better understand the impact humans are having on the earth. NASA will assist with research on the climate, carbon cycle, ecosystems, water cycle, biogeochemistry, and the earth’s surface and interior. As the earth’s climate changes, it is vital for NASA to keep track of the consequences, from changes in the ice sheets to topography to the atmosphere, and anticipate what they mean for the future of the planet. [2] James Webb Space Telescope One of NASA’s programs that has been in the news most recently is the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). After many loud protests in response to a suggestion that the JWST project be cut completely, it appears that the JWST will continue to receive funding (both the House of Representatives and Senate have approved funding at the time this article is being written). Despite delays and budget difficulties, JWST is still passing important milestones in its development. Touted as the successor to the Hubble Telescope, JWST promises big science with four stated goals: TOP Panorama of the Mars rover Spirit’s view from ‘Troy’. NASA Photo. LEFT Artist’s conception of the Space Launch System (SLS). NASA Photo. RIGHT The first six primary mirrors of the James Webb Space Telescope are prepared for testing. NASA Photo.
1. Search for galaxies and objects formed shortly after the big bang, 2. Determine how galaxies evolved, 3. Observe formations of early stars and planetary systems, and 4. Measure characteristics of planetary systems and their potential for life. The Hubble has provided extensive information on both expected and unexpected fronts, and NASA is hoping JWST will continue to inspire current and future scientists, as the Hubble has. While the Hubble searches for visible light, the James Webb Space Telescope will have a near-infrared camera and spectrograph, as well as a mid-infrared instrument and a fine-guidance sensortunable filter. The telescope will also have a unique orbit; the JWST will need to orbit at the second Lagrangian point. (For more information on the orbit and Lagrangian points, visit www.jwst.nasa. gov/orbit.html.) Currently, JWST is looking at a 2018 launch date, assuming everything continues according to plan. The Space Launch System The James Webb Telescope is not the only NASA program in the news recently. On September 14, 2011, NASA announced how it plans on getting Americans into space: the Space Launch System (SLS). SLS is designed primarily to take humans into deep space but would also be backup transportation for the International Space Station (ISS). According to NASA, it will have an initial lift of 70 metric tons, carry an Orion capsule, and have a liquid hydrogen and oxygen propulsion system. In addition, it will incorporate space shuttle main engines and a J-2X engine. The intent of the SLS is to carry humans beyond low Earth orbit, and NASA hopes that SLS will make the moon, near-Earth asteroids, Mars, and eventually Mars’ moons Fall 2011 Radiations 27
Page 1 and 2: Radiations The official publication
Page 3 and 4: The Director’s Corner The Good Ol
Page 5 and 6: The Director’s Corner 2011 Recipi
Page 7 and 8: Society News A Cosmic Connection :
Page 9 and 10: SPS_half_vertical 4/21/11 2:31 PM P
Page 11 and 12: active role in advocating for appro
Page 13 and 14: The Quadrennial Physics Congress is
Page 15 and 16: From Columbiad to Redstone Long bef
Page 17 and 18: Elegant Connections in Physics more
Page 19 and 20: Elegant Connections in Physics Spac
Page 21 and 22: Elegant Connections in Physics knew
Page 23 and 24: Elegant Connections in Physics it w
Page 25: Elegant Connections in Physics man
Page 29 and 30: NASA after the shuttle... continued
Page 31 and 32: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Page 33 and 34: Initiates List 2010-2011 Lockridge,
Page 35 and 36: Initiates List 2010-2011 Maryland-B
Page 37 and 38: Initiates List 2010-2011 The Colleg
Page 39 and 40: The last lap—Tevatron’s end By

Download a PDF of the entire issue - Sigma Pi Sigma

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?