FREEZE!
Co-AdminMemberOvomorphNov-29-2012 9:51 AM(thought some of you might enjoy watching this today...)
[center][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/GYpbZ.jpg[/IMG][/center]
Get ready...
Word has it (from a NASA Media Alert) that MESSENGER, the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury, has observed something new and interesting on the first planet from the Sun, and we're going to cover the official announcement from NASA live!
The spacecraft's MESSENGER acronym stands for Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging, and has been studying the planet more intensely than any probe before it, ever since its arrival there in March 2011. Have we whet your appetite yet?
Watch the press conference live as it unfolds on NASA TV at 2 p.m. EST
(and enjoy their regular broadcast before then)
Link to Site: [url=http://blogs.discovery.com/inscider/2012/11/nasa-mercury-announcement.html#mkcpgn=fbsci1]inSCIderblogNASATV[/url]
and another link: [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html]nasatv[/url]
or visit [url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/nov/HQ_M12-219_MESSENGER_Nov-29_News_Conference.html]nasa.gov[/url] for more details.
The news conference participants are:
- Jim Green, director, Planetary Science Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington
- Sean Solomon, MESSENGER Principal Investigator, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, N.Y.
- David Lawrence, MESSENGER Participating Scientist, The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.
- Gregory Neumann, Mercury Laser Altimeter Instrument Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
- David Paige, MESSENGER Participating Scientist, University of California, Los Angeles
[url=http://www.madmax4-movie.com/]Visit the Mad Max: Fury Road Forums today![/url]
Prenihility
MemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 12:19 AMAny updates on that organic material? I've been giddy about it ever since i read that bit of info.
tankgirl
Social LiasonMemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 12:33 AMThe recent announcement was for water Ice on Mercury
organic material is expected to be there ..but that doesnt always mean life... it usually refers to any solid liquid or gas that contains carbon
beacause these are building blocks for potential life
so it may mean life was there or could be if time or conditions are right
or it might even suggest living processes might already be there! : )
but the
announcement from the Curiosity rover on Mars isnt due to be announced until the week of December 3RD-7TH
Im excited too Pren : )
Its going to be announced at the 2012 AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION conference in San Francisco
[url=http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2012/]AGU[/url]
Im thinking that it will be evidence of methane
which is part of living processes
but even better if its organic life or remnants of : )
\"My God, its full of stars\" David Bowman
pulserifle187
MemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 12:48 AMi heard a rumour thru my source witin NASA that they found elvis .
"how do you feel?"-" great, next stupid question"
tankgirl
Social LiasonMemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 12:54 AMha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ive done some research into that pulser
and it has been confirmed!!!!!
[img]http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/tzu/lowres/tzun106l.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.freakingnews.com/pictures/73500/Elvis-the-Alien--73712.jpg[/img]
[img]http://empressempress.tripod.com/alienelvis.jpg[/img]
[img]http://www.elvisblog.net/Elvis%20Photoshop%20-%202/Spock%20Elvis%20.jpg[/img]
\"My God, its full of stars\" David Bowman
caenorhabhditis
MemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 10:05 AMReading back on the posts here from the last couple of days [b]so funny![/b], I am Very excited re Mars announcement!
Reminded me of one minor thing i didnt get about prometheus script was when they were in the tunnel and noted the temperature and the water and wondered jokingly if it was "Martian Piss" well dont they have by that time a well established Mars colony? lol, maybe its just old habit to say Martian when meaning alien
After all we have assumed [b]and maybe correctly[/b] for a long time that there ought to be life on Mars soon we may know for sure! i'm crossing fingers for [b]non-parasitic/pathogenic[/b] nematodes or bacteria so as i can get some to look at!!!!! :D
Though i think it would take some big advances in spaceship/suit design and radiation protection to get me out there doing a "Hi i'm Caenor',... Biology" (yeh am a wimp :p ) but who knows Bransons Virgin Galactic is getting there.....
I LIKE WORMS! I LOVE WORMS!
tankgirl
Social LiasonMemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 1:08 PMLooks like they wont be announcing anything too major..
I just found this...
[url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-377]Update Set in San Francisco About Curiosity Mars Rover[/url]
BUT...
this makes for interesting reading from the examiner
QUOTE:
Yesterday, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) took the extraordinary step of dampening speculation over comments made by one of the leaders of the Mars Curiosity Mission.
Just before Thanksgiving, on November 20, John Grotzinger, principal investigator of the Surface At Mars instrument on the Curiosity Rover, was quoted on NPR radio that a discovery had been made that would be “one for the history books.”
Many scientific observers took that to mean that he was about to announce that Curiosity had discovered organic compounds on Mars – the building blocks of life. In an interview with US News, JPL spokesperson Veronica McGregor says that Grotinsky had been “misinterpreted”.
She said that there were definitely nothing significant about organic compounds in the results to be announced at a scientific conference next week being hosted by the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.
Rather than an earthshaking announcement, it appears that Grotzinger will be presenting much more mundane data and results about the Curiosity Mission – its working fine after a long flight from Earth! Did Grozinger simply overreach himself in commenting about the data and results from a soil analysis by the Curiosity Rover, or is he being muzzled by more senior NASA figures over what was exactly found on Mars?
Here is what McGregor said about Grotzinger interview on NPR radio that has created much media interest and internet speculation over the last week:
[i]He was extremely excited and continues to be extremely excited that we had the first data coming back from our first sample and the machine is operating beautifully… This was the science team's equivalent of the landing moment. It was a key moment after years of work.[/i]
McGregor is saying that Grotzinger was merely excited that the Mars SAM instrument was working fine after the long trip to Mars, and that it was sending back good data. That was the history making element that Grotzinger was referring to, according to McGregor:
[i]I think there was a misinterpretation of what he said. This is a scientist who was so excited his instrument was sending back data … John was extremely excited about having the first data back from SAM…. It’s very interesting data and the scientists are chewing on this—he does believe this mission will be one for the history books. But knowing these rumors [of organic compounds on Mars] were floating out there and knowing we didn’t yet have the results, we wanted to let people know that they’re definitely not in these initial samples…[/i]
Yet in the NPR interview Grotzinger focused on the data itself as being history in the making, not the transmission of the data. This is what he actually said to the NPR interviewer:
[i]We're getting data from SAM as we sit here and speak, and the data looks really interesting. The science team is busily chewing away on it as it comes down…. This data is gonna be one for the history books. It's looking really good.[/i]
What’s clear from Grotzinger’s own comments is that the data itself is “one for the history books,” not the Curiosity mission or the scientific process by which the data is being transmitted.
[url=http://www.examiner.com/article/is-nasa-muzzling-scientific-results-from-mars-curiosity-mission]examiner[/url]
[img]http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02300/rover_2300144b.jpg[/img]
\"My God, its full of stars\" David Bowman
caenorhabhditis
MemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 2:22 PMahhahahahaaha! noted use of expressions like definately not of interest etc etc very "nothing to see hear people move it along" muzzledddddddddddddddd!!!!!!!
I LIKE WORMS! I LOVE WORMS!
caenorhabhditis
MemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 2:25 PMusually these guys have to play up every little bit of data they find just to justify the massive funding they require so to hear them rush to play something down!, i dont think its too conspiracy theorist to interperet that there was a little hushing up goin on there
I LIKE WORMS! I LOVE WORMS!
caenorhabhditis
MemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 2:26 PMan extraordinary step... yup
I LIKE WORMS! I LOVE WORMS!
tankgirl
Social LiasonMemberOvomorphDec-01-2012 3:17 PM I totally agree with you caenor
its so hard for NASA when their budgets are getting cut so severely
and getting public interest in their projects an be challenging
but ...
it is an interesting playing out of events...
maybe the data isnt conclusive enough yet?
[b]or maybe[/b].............
[img]http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me4c9d45Az1qediflo1_500.jpg[/img]
\"My God, its full of stars\" David Bowman
ZetaReticuli
MemberOvomorphDec-02-2012 11:37 AMTankgirl, that negative photo of a magnified worm looks like something
that would grace a Prometheus sequel or even a Lovecraft film like 'At The Mountains of Madness'.
NoXWord
MemberOvomorphDec-03-2012 1:21 PMDon't expect anything exciting for a scientist to be exciting for a non scientist!
[img]http://zs1.smbc-comics.com/comics/20121130.gif[/img]
As published a few days ago on the excellent [url=http://www.smbc-comics.com/]SMBC[/url].
Edit: wooo, 800 posts, not bad for an AFKer!
Ridley Scott will eventually tell us how the Queen was born.
Right now we have the Deacon; coming soon the Mercury, the May and the Taylor.
Oneironaut 717
MemberOvomorphDec-03-2012 1:50 PMMore interesting news about Mercury, Europe is planning to send its first satellite - BepiColombo to Mercury departing from earth in 2015, and arriving at its destination in 2022.
[b]BepiColombo's to do list:[/b]
[list]
-Investigate the origin and evolution of a planet close to the parent star
-Study Mercury as a planet: its form, interior structure, geology, composition and craters
-Examine Mercury's vestigial atmosphere (exosphere): its composition and dynamics
-Probe Mercury's magnetized envelope (magnetosphere): its structure and dynamics
-Determine the origin of Mercury's magnetic field
-Investigate polar deposits: their composition and origin
-Perform a test of Einstein's theory of general relativity
[/list]
[url=http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=30]Source[/url]
tankgirl
Social LiasonMemberOvomorphDec-03-2012 2:33 PM
@ZetaReticuli
I know right?? that worm looks so freaky!!! You dont have to look far on Earth for ideas for amazing Alien creatures! They're right here! : )
@Noxword
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
great comic!! and so true and sad at the same time
I was actually excited if they has just found some evidence of methane
I reckon they may have some data supporting that
but are waiting for more solid evidence and verification
@ Oneironaut
That looks really exciting!
2022 Im gonna have to be patient! : D
\"My God, its full of stars\" David Bowman
NoXWord
MemberOvomorphDec-04-2012 3:12 AMAh, BepiColombo!
I've been working on that project as a researcher a few years ago (on the high resolution camera) ... good memories!
When pictures will start coming back to earth, I'll know that I have contributed to them!
Totally looking forward to it!
Ridley Scott will eventually tell us how the Queen was born.
Right now we have the Deacon; coming soon the Mercury, the May and the Taylor.
Oneironaut 717
MemberOvomorphDec-04-2012 10:22 AMSeriously? That's amazing NoXword, are you currently working on any other projects connected with future launches?
tankgirl
Social LiasonMemberOvomorphDec-04-2012 12:19 PMNoxword
thats awesome!!!
can you tell us anything about it???
wow....
thats such a brilliant project to be able to say you have been part of it
total kudos!
\"My God, its full of stars\" David Bowman
Indy John
MemberOvomorphDec-05-2012 8:27 AMIf these projects include Planetary Cave exploration watchout for any hidden Juggernauts.
Be choicelessly aware as you move through life