[EAS] Science in Space

Peter J. Kindlmann pjk at design.eng.yale.edu
Tue Nov 28 19:23:25 EST 2006


(from WHAT'S NEW   Robert L. Park   Friday, 24 Nov 06   Washington, DC)
<https://listserv.umd.edu/archives/bobparks-whatsnew.html>

SPACE STATION: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, A BIT BEHIND SCHEDULE.
Things are never easy on the ISS: first there was an overheating
space suit, then an exterior hatch stuck and cosmonaut Mikhail
Tyurin's tether got in the way. But finally he got in position to
address the ball with American astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria
holding on to him.  Meanwhile, Moscow mission control deliberated
on how to position the ball.  "It's me that's supposed to be
positioned properly," Tyurin snapped.  At last, using a gold-
plated 6-iron, Tyurin took his swing.  He shanked it, according
to The Moscow Times.com.  No matter, "I can see it moving away
from us," Tyurin exulted.  Element 21, a Toronto golf company, is
paying the Russian Federal Space Agency an undisclosed amount for
the golf stunt to promote its new golf club.  That should silence
the critics who complain that the ISS has no mission.

MARS: THE "MARS GLOBAL EXPLORER" HAS FINALLY FALLEN SILENT.
Launched ten years ago, the durable space craft reached Mars
orbit a year later.  It has mapped the Martian surface, recorded
seasonal changes, and gathered evidence of water in Mar's past.
Today, the US has three orbiters and two surface rovers, and the
European Space Agency has an orbiter, the Mars Express.  Still,
the Global Explorer was collecting valuable climate data.  A
disabled solar panel is thought to be the problem.  Efforts to
reestablish contact are given little chance.  Construction,
launch and operating costs over its long life totaled $242M, or
about one-tenth the cost of a single shuttle mission to the ISS.
It was, however, completely unable to hit a golf ball.



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