MARSBUGS: The Electronic Astrobiology Newsletter Volume 8, Number 5, 5 February 2001. Editors: Dr. David J. Thomas, Math and Science Division, Lyon College, Batesville, AR 72503-2317, USA. dthomas@lyon.edu Dr. Julian A. Hiscox, School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, RG6 6AJ, United Kingdom. J.A.Hiscox@reading.ac.uk Marsbugs is published on a weekly to quarterly basis as warranted by the number of articles and announcements. Copyright of this compilation exists with the editors, except for specific articles, in which instance copyright exists with the author/authors. While we cannot copyright our mailing list, our readers would appreciate it if others would not send unsolicited e-mail using the Marsbugs mailing list. The editors do not condone "spamming" of our subscribers. Persons who have information that may be of interest to subscribers of Marsbugs should send that information to the editors. E-mail subscriptions are free, and may be obtained by contacting either of the editors. Article contributions are welcome, and should be submitted to either of the two editors. Contributions should include a short biographical statement about the author(s) along with the author(s)' correspondence address. Subscribers are advised to make appropriate inquiries before joining societies, ordering goods etc. Back issues and Adobe Acrobat PDF files suitable for printing may be obtained from the official Marsbugs web page at http://welcome.to/marsbugs. The purpose of this newsletter is to provide a channel of information for scientists, educators and other persons interested in exobiology and related fields. This newsletter is not intended to replace peer- reviewed journals, but to supplement them. We, the editors, envision Marsbugs as a medium in which people can informally present ideas for investigation, questions about exobiology, and announcements of upcoming events. Astrobiology is still a relatively young field, and new ideas may come from the most unexpected places. Subjects may include, but are not limited to: exobiology and astrobiology (life on other planets), the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), ecopoeisis and terraformation, Earth from space, planetary biology, primordial evolution, space physiology, biological life support systems, and human habitation of space and other planets. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS 1) NASA SCIENTISTS FIND CLUES THAT LIFE BEGAN IN DEEP SPACE NASA/Ames release 01-06AR 2) MARS ROVER PROJECTS MOVE AHEAD Mars Society release 3) REGISTRATION OPENS FOR 4TH INTERNATIONAL MARS SOCIETY CONVENTION Mars Society release 4) 4TH INTERNATIONAL MARS SOCIETY CONVENTION-CALL FOR PAPERS Mars Society release 5) FIRST MARS SOCIETY EUROPEAN CONVENTION-CALL FOR PAPERS Mars Society release 6) CHILDREN OF THE STARS By Edna DeVore 7) NEW ERA BEGINS AS MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR COMPLETES PRIME MISSION JPL release 8) MARS EXPRESS TAKES SHAPE-AND ON TIME, TOO! From ESA Science News 9) SCIENTIST SEARCHES YELLOWSTONE PARK FOR CARBON DIOXIDE-EATING MICROBE By Annette Trinity-Stevens 10) JOVIAN MOONS From the NASA Astrobiology Institute 11) ENHANCED EXERCISE HARNESS TO BE TESTED ON NASA'S KC135 By A'ndrea Elyse Messer 12) SETI 2020: A NEW ACTION PLAN FOR THE SEARCH FOR LIFE By Leonard David 13) CLEARING THE AIR ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION From SpaceDaily 14) NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ASTROBIOLOGY INDEX By David J. Thomas 15) CASSINI WEEKLY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS JPL release 16) THIS WEEK ON GALILEO JPL release 17) ISS STATUS REPORT NASA/JSC release 18) STARDUST STATUS REPORT JPL release --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA SCIENTISTS FIND CLUES THAT LIFE BEGAN IN DEEP SPACE NASA/Ames release 01-06AR 29 January 2001 Duplicating the harsh conditions of cold interstellar space in their laboratory, NASA scientists have created primitive cells that mimic the membranous structures found in all living things. These chemical compounds may have played a part in the origin of life. This breakthrough by scientists at NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley is important because some scientists believe that the delivery-by comets, meteorites and interplanetary dust-of similar organic compounds born in interstellar space might have "kick-started" life on Earth. "Scientists believe the molecules needed to make a cell's membrane, and thus for the origin of life, are all over space. This discovery implies that life could be everywhere in the universe," said Dr. Louis Allamandola, the team's leader. Using simple, everyday chemicals, researchers from Ames' Astrochemistry Laboratory and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz, have created, for the first time, "proto"-cells. These are the primitive cells that mimic the membranous structures found in all life forms. "This process happens all the time in the dense molecular clouds of space," Allamandola said. This discovery has important implications for NASA's astrobiology mission. "The formation of these biologically interesting compounds by irradiating simple interstellar ices shows that some of the organics falling to Earth in meteorites and interplanetary dust might have been born in the coldest regions of interstellar space," Allamandola said. "The delivery of these compounds could well have been critical to the origin of life on Earth." Their results will be published January 30 in the special astrobiology issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Scientists do not yet know whether life began as naked RNA or as genetic material encapsulated in membranes. But at some point, membranes became important. "All life as we know it on Earth uses membrane structures to separate and protect the chemistry involved in the life process from the outside," said Dr. Jason Dworkin of the SETI Institute, the paper's lead author and a team member. "All known biology uses membranes to capture and generate cellular energy." "Membranes are like a house," Dworkin added. "Maybe these molecules were just the raw lumber lying around that allowed origin-of-life chemicals to move in and set up housekeeping or construct their own houses." In the lab, the scientists recreated the conditions found in space- which is a cold vacuum-zapping a series of simple ices with the ultraviolet radiation found everywhere. They created solid materials which, when immersed in water, spontaneously created soap bubble-like membranous structures that contained both an "inside" and an "outside" layer. In contrast to current thinking, this new work shows that the early chemical steps believed to be important for the origin of life do not require an already-formed planet. Instead, they seem to take place in deep space long before planet formation occurs. This implies that the vastness of space is filled with chemical compounds, which, if they land in a hospitable environment like our Earth, can readily jump-start life. Interstellar ices are made of familiar everyday chemicals such as water, methanol (wood alcohol), ammonia and carbon monoxide that are frozen together. The astrobiology research team also included Dr. Scott Sandford of Ames and David Deamer of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of UC Santa Cruz. Further information about this research is available at http://web99.arc.nasa.gov/~astrochm/vesicle.html. The research was supported by the Space Science Division at Ames and the Offices of Exobiology and Astrobiology at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC. NASA Ames is the agency's lead center for astrobiology and the location of the central office of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, an international research consortium. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, dispersion and future of life in the universe. Contact: Kathleen Burton NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA Phone: 650-604-1731, 650-604-9000 kburton@mail.arc.nasa.gov Additional articles on this subject are available at: http://CNN.com/2001/TECH/space/01/30/space.cells.reut/index.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1142000/1142840.stm http://www.universetoday.com/html/articles/2001-0130a.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- MARS ROVER PROJECTS MOVE AHEAD Mars Society release 29 January 2001 The three university-based Mars Society Pressurized Rover Project design teams have been working around their various school schedules and making progress. Each team is required to report to the project manager (Tom Hill, at hillkid@earthlink.net) bi-weekly on their progress. These reports are published upon receipt on the project web site at http://www.marssociety.org/projects/rover/. The team leaders' email addresses are listed on that page as well. Those wishing to join their efforts should feel free to contact them. The following reports represent project status as of January 20, 2001. Australia Australia's rover is part of a larger effort devoted to creating a Mars Analog in the outback. The team has procured a 4WD minivan vehicle, which they will strip down and place a new shell over to create a mobile habitat. Their publicity efforts span the continent. ARES This team is truly international, bringing universities together from the US and Canada. They have secured facilities near MIT to work on their vehicle, and raised over $20,000 in funds. They plan to modify a Humvee by adding a new shell over it to create an analog pressurized rover. Michigan This team has taken on the largest project, building a rover from the frame up from scratch. Their first meeting drew over 150 interested students, and their location in one of the factory centers of the United States should give them plenty of resources. A major milestone for the teams occurs during the first week of April, when the Society will conduct a progress review. For further information, see our web site at http://www.marssociety .org or contact info@marssociety.org. --------------------------------------------------------------------- REGISTRATION OPENS FOR 4TH INTERNATIONAL MARS SOCIETY CONVENTION Mars Society release 29 January 2001 Registration is now open for the 4th International Mars Society Convention, to be held August 23-26, 2001 at Stanford University, Stanford, California https://commerce.maplesquare.com/marssociety/ The Mars Society was founded to further the exploration and settlement of the Red Planet. The International Mars Society convention presents a unique opportunity for those interested in Mars to come together and discuss technology, science, social implications, philosophy and a multitude of other aspects of Mars exploration. Highlights of the convention will include reports from the second field season of the Devon Island Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station; status reports from the Analog Rover teams; panels and debates concerning key issues bearing on Mars exploration and settlement; and keynote addresses from many prominent leaders of the effort to get humans to Mars. Prior conventions have drawn thousands of participants from all over the world and received extensive press coverage in many of the leading international media. The Stanford location blends a beautiful campus with a leading-edge innovative community in the San Francisco Bay area. This year's conference should be the most exciting event to date. Conference sessions 1. The Search for Life on Mars 2. The Latest Findings from Global Surveyor 3. Plans for the Mars Missions of 2001 and 2003 4. The Cross-Contamination Threat-myth or reality? 5. Concepts for Future Robotic Mars missions 6. Piloted Missions to Mars 7. Advanced Propulsion 8. Launch Vehicles for Mars Exploration 9. Long Range Mobility on Mars 10. Life Support technology 11. Biomedical issues in Mars Exploration 12. Options for Producing Power on Mars 13. Methods of Martian Construction 14. In Situ Resource Utilization 15. Water on Mars-accessing the hydrosphere 16. Concepts for a Permanent Mars Base 17. Colonizing Mars 18. Terraforming-creating an ecology for Mars 19. Analog Studies Relating to Mars Exploration 20. The Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station 21. The Mars Analog Rover project 22. Human Factors Impacting a Mission 23. Engineering for Acceptable Risk 24. The Value of Mars Exploration to the Earth 25. Public Policy and Mars Exploration 26. Concepts for Privately Funded Mars Missions 27. International Cooperation in Mars exploration 28. Law and Governance for Mars 29. Social Systems for Mars 30. The Significance of the Martian Frontier 31. Philosophical Implications of Mars Exploration. 32. Mars and Education 33. Mars and the Arts 34. Outreach Strategy for the Mars Society 35. Proposed Projects for the Mars Society 36. Martian Calendars and Timekeeping Systems Conference Registration Form Conference fees for this year's convention remain at the 2000 level. A limited number of dormitory rooms are available on the Stanford campus. Dorm rooms may be booked only as a package for the four nights of the conference and include catered lunches and one additional dinner. They are priced at an extremely attractive rate. Please book and pay for your dorm room along with your conference registration. You can register online at www.marssociety.org or by printing out and mailing in the form below. MARS SOCIETY CONVENTION August 23-26, 2001 Stanford University, Stanford, California Registration Information Name:_________________________________ Address:______________________________ City:_____________________ St:__________ Zip: Country:___________________ Email address:______________________________________________ Will you be submitting an abstract? __________________ Type of registration (circle amount): Full conference registration before 6/30/01 - $180 Full conference registration after 6/30/01 - $240 Student/senior conference registration - $60 Student/senior conference registration with banquet - $110 (Members may deduct dues paid after 8/13/2000 from conference fees) Optional Dormitory Registration (circle amount): Single Room - $230 ($57.50 per night) Double Room - $179 ($44.75 per night) Total charges: ________________ Payment method: Check/MO _____ Credit Card _____ Credit Card Type: ______ CC#: ____________________________ Expiration Date:_________ Name on Card: ___________________________ Signature:____________________________________ Mail registration to The Mars Society, P.O. Box 273, Indian Hills, CO 80454, USA, or send via fax to 303-980-0753. Online registration is available at http://www.marssociety.org. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 4TH INTERNATIONAL MARS SOCIETY CONVENTION-CALL FOR PAPERS Mars Society release 29 January 2001 Presentations for the convention are invited dealing with all matters (science, engineering, politics, economics, public policy, etc.) associated with the exploration and settlement of Mars. Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be sent by June 15th, 2001 to: The Mars Society, P.O. Box 273, Indian Hills 80454, or sent via email to: mzubrin@aol.com (email submission preferred). --------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST MARS SOCIETY EUROPEAN CONVENTION-CALL FOR PAPERS Mars Society release 29 January 2001 The First Mars Society European Convention will be held the 28, 29 and 30th (morning) of September 2001 in Paris, at the "Palais de la Decouverte" (av. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 75008-Paris). This conference is organized by the Planete Mars Association, the French chapter of the Mars Society, with support from other European chapters of the Mars Society and from the French Association for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAAF). Lecturers (and attendees) from all over the world are welcome! Note that the convention will be held the weekend just before the IAF congress in Toulouse (France). So this is an opportunity to stay afew days in Paris for those attending the IAF. Sessions will cover the following topics 1) Discovering the planet-Geology, water, volcanism, climate, lessons for planetary evolution. 2) Mars and Life-Past and future research, life in extreme conditions. 3) Robotic exploration-Next missions. 4) Man to Mars-Travel, medical aspects, exploration, terraforming. 5) The Mars Society projects. 6) Mars exploration promotion and education. Abstracts between 300 and 700 words in Word for PC format (.doc or .rtf) without drawings or pictures and in Times New Roman 12, have to be sent before the 15th of April to the program committee chairman at alain.souchier@worldonline.fr and to the convention organization committee at nicolas.stephan@caramail.com The abstracts will mention the presentation title, the authors' names, the organization or company if wished, the address, phone number and e-mail address, the proposed session number. The abstract language may be English or French. The language for the presentations will be English. The foreseen duration for each presentation will be 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes for questions. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CHILDREN OF THE STARS By Edna DeVore, Director of Educational Programs, SETI Institute From Space.com 30 January 2001 Are we alone? Are humans unique in the universe, or is our existence the natural outcome of universal processes that produced complex life on Earth and elsewhere? As we observe the universe beyond Earth, we find that we are fundamentally a part of it... To understand the relationship of humans to stardust requires understanding evolution in its broadest sense. The concept that each atom in our bodies and the world we live on was once part of a dying star unites fundamental theories of change in astronomy, geology, biology and human history... Evolution, in its broadest sense, describes the processes that brought about the universe we see and the beings we are... ... Not surprisingly, evolution is emphasized in the national standards for science education: National Science Education Standards and The Benchmarks for Science Literacy. The study and understanding of change over time in physical and living systems offers a unified view of science. But, teaching evolution engenders controversy in many American communities where teachers and schools are pressured to ignore evolution in science classrooms or to teach "creation science" as an equally valid theory. Get the full story at http://www.space.com/searchforlife/devore_seti_010130.html --------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW ERA BEGINS AS MARS GLOBAL SURVEYOR COMPLETES PRIME MISSION JPL release 31 January 2000 NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, which has collected more information about the red planet than all previous missions combined, completes its primary science mission today and begins a new era of continued exploration. "By any conceivable measure the scientific impact of Mars Global Surveyor has been extraordinary. In many ways we now know Mars to be a different planet than when the spacecraft arrived in 1997, and our perspective continues to evolve as the data keep flowing," said Dr. Arden Albee, Global Surveyor project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "In some aspects, we now have better maps of Mars than we do of Earth." During the primary science mission, the spacecraft studied the climate, surface topography and subsurface resources and mapped the entire planet," said Tom Thorpe, Global Surveyor project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "The extended mission will continue to take advantage of these extraordinary mapping capabilities and the data will be used to select future landing sites for several upcoming missions." Mars Global Surveyor's extended mission has been approved through April 2002. The robotic orbiter was launched on November 7, 1996, and arrived at Mars on September 12, 1997. The spacecraft began its primary mapping mission in March 1999 and has collected data for a full martian year, equivalent to about two Earth years. Those comprehensive observations are proving invaluable to understanding the seasonal changes on Mars. Some of the most significant findings of the mission include: * Enticing evidence for recent liquid water at the martian surface. * Dramatic evidence for layering of rocks that points to widespread ponding of water or lakes on Mars in its early history. * The first good estimate of the amount of water currently trapped in both martian polar caps combined-about one and a half times the amount of ice in Greenland. * Topographic evidence for a South Pole-to-North Pole slope that controlled the transport of water and sediments, and recognition of the flat Northern Hemisphere that has been proposed as the possible site of an ancient ocean. * The surprising detection of highly magnetized crust in the Southern Hemisphere, which indicates rapid cooling of Mars in the beginning of its history that may have contributed to its earlier, warmer climate. * The first reliable models of the crustal structure of Mars, including the detection of ancient impact basins and possible channels buried beneath the northern plains. * Identification of the mineral hematite, indicating a past surface- hydrothermal environment that may be an analog for the kinds of areas in which early life developed on Earth. * Significantly improved understanding of the dynamics of the atmosphere, including the monitoring of cyclonic storms, and the daily and seasonal behavior of carbon dioxide and water ice clouds. * Extensive evidence for the role of dust in re-shaping the recent martian environment in the form of dust devils, dust storms, dunes and sand sheets. As of 4:33 PM PST (7:33 PM EST) January 31, 2001, the spacecraft will have made 8,505 orbits of the planet and taken more than 58,000 images, 490 million laser-altimeter shots to measure topography and 97 million spectral measurements. The Global Surveyor mission is managed by JPL for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, DC. Lockheed Martin Astronautics, Denver, CO, developed and operates the spacecraft. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology. Additional information on the mission can be found at http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/. Contact: Mary Hardin Media Relations Office Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology National Aeronautics and Space Administration Pasadena, CA 91109 Phone: 818-354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Additional articles on this subject are available at: http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mgs_update_011131_wg.html http://www.spacedaily.com/news/010201042758.zpydk4w6.html. --------------------------------------------------------------------- MARS EXPRESS TAKES SHAPE-AND ON TIME, TOO! From ESA Science News http://sci.esa.int 31 January 2001 The spacecraft ESA will send to Mars in 2003 is now well and truly under construction. Last week, engineers at Contraves, Zurich, Switzerland were celebrating the readiness of the Mars Express flight structure to undergo tests to ensure that it meets its design requirements. "The tests are starting on time. "If you look at our planning from the beginning of the program, we're keeping to the schedule. It's extremely pleasing," says Don McCoy who is responsible for assembly, integration and verification for Mars Express at ESTEC. Once the tests are completed sometime in February, the structure- which is the skeleton of the spacecraft, equivalent to the chassis of a car-will spend the next year accumulating parts and undergoing further tests in different locations in Europe. By this time next year, it should have traveled extensively across the continent and acquired all the elements to turn it into the fully-fledged Mars Express spacecraft. First stop will be Stevenage, UK where Astrium, UK will attach the propulsion system to the structure. Structure plus propulsion system will then travel to Alenia in Torino, Italy where accurate dummies of the spacecraft sub-systems and instruments will be mounted. The spacecraft will then travel to Intespace, Toulouse, France for mechanical tests lasting several months. At the end of the summer, it will return to Alenia, Torino for the dummies to be replaced by the flight models. After this step, it will be the complete spacecraft that will fly to Mars, with all sub-systems and instruments fully integrated. One of the most important test periods will occur from June 2001, when the spacecraft mounted with dummies will be subjected to mechanical tests. Last week, all those who will be involved in this testing period met at Alenia, Torino to discuss and develop the plans. Representatives were present from Astrium SAS, the Mars Express prime contractor, ESTEC and Alenia, which will take overall responsibility for this series of tests even though some of them will be performed at Intespace, Toulouse. "There was a team spirit showing good cooperation and a clear commitment from the various parties to the success of the Mars Express mission," says McCoy. Just before the meeting (17 January), Alenia had taken delivery of the flight structure of the Rosetta spacecraft, ESA's comet chaser, which will be launched early in 2003, before Mars Express. Rosetta and Mars Express share many subsystems and technologies in common. "Alenia is well suited to the Mars Express assembly, integration and verification, as they are currently performing similar duties for Rosetta, " says McCoy. Useful links for this story Mars Express home page http://sci.esa.int/marsexpress Image captions [Image 1] http://sci.esa.int/content/searchimage/searchresult.cfm?aid=9&cid=12& oid=25970&ooid=25971 The assembly, integration and verification team meeting at Alenia. [Image 2] http://sci.esa.int/content/searchimage/searchresult.cfm?aid=9&cid=12& oid=25970&ooid=25972 The Mars Express flight structure. At Contraves, Zurich, Switzerland engineers were celebrating the readiness of the Mars Express flight structure to undergo tests to ensure that it meets its design requirements. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SCIENTIST SEARCHES YELLOWSTONE PARK FOR CARBON DIOXIDE-EATING MICROBE By Annette Trinity-Stevens Montana State University-Bozeman release 31 January 2001 Wanted: algae of the most adventurous type. Must grow in slime on scratchy plastic discs. A willingness to be periodically purged in favor of new recruits required. Above all, must have a hearty appetite for carbon dioxide and a tolerance for scalding temperatures. This is roughly the job description Keith Cooksey, professor of microbiology at Montana State University-Bozeman, carries with him as searches the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park this winter. Cooksey's on a mission, of sorts. Well, a subcontract, really. He's part of a three-member team looking for ways of naturally lowering carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. Besides Cooksey, the threesome includes David Bayless, a mechanical engineer at Ohio University, and researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. Helping Cooksey at MSU is postdoctoral researcher Igor Brown. Together, the group has $1-million from the U.S. Department of Energy. Cooksey and Brown's portion of the project is about $100,00 a year for three years. Brown also has support from the MSU Thermal Biology Institute, which similarly studies unique microbes from Yellowstone. While the coal-fueled power industry has reduced particulate and sulfur emissions, it still produces high amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, now believed to be undesirably warming the planet. Ohio University is experimenting with ways of absorbing carbon dioxide with algae. Like other plants, algae use the gas as part of their metabolic process called photosynthesis. Ohio University has piloted Bayless's technology using algae from the desert. But they believe there's a better organism out there, and now it's Cooksey's job to look. "If you want thermotolerant, we're in a good place to look," Cooksey says, referring to Yellowstone National Park. The park is well known for heat-loving organisms that live in and around park hot springs. "They must be thermotolerant because the gases from these coal-fired power plants-which are about 14 percent carbon dioxide-are hot," Cooksey said. "The gases have been through the scrubbers to get rid of the ash, but they still have lots of CO2." Is it likely he'll find what he's looking for? "I'm sure it is," he said without hesitation. "I suspect Keith is right," echoed Ann Deutch, research permit coordinator for the park. "I have no reason to believe he won't succeed." After all, fewer than one percent of the park's microorganisms have been discovered and characterized, Deutch said, meaning so many more algae and related organisms are yet to be found. As microbiologists continue to improve their ability to look, they find greater layers of complexity in the microbial community, she said. When Cooksey finds some likely candidates, he'll isolate them and describe them scientifically. The plan is to grow them on plastic sanding discs in a layer of slime called biofilm. Oak Ridge National Labs has figured out how to pipe sunlight to the algae from roof-top solar collectors. Power-plant gases would first be scrubbed of their flyash and sulfur, then piped through mats of algae before going out the smokestack, Cooksey said. "That exhaust is what we're going to remove the CO2 from," he said. "We don't know how much CO2 we can get out of it." Cooksey also doesn't yet know how long the algae can do their job before having to be re-grown. Harvested algae would likely be used as fertilizer, since they would be rich in both carbon and nitrogen. Elsewhere, scientists are contemplating other ways of absorbing excess carbon dioxide. One approach, which Cooksey finds troubling, is injecting it into oceans. He'd rather hire a microbe from Yellowstone, born and bred to handle heat, for the hot-gas industrial assignment. Deutch, too, likes the idea of a Yellowstone microbe finding work as a CO2 scrubber. Sure, it would mean royalties for the park, but turning philosophical for a moment, she said it's projects like Cooksey's that make her glad Yellowstone National Park was set aside for future generations. "When the park was created in 1872, they certainly weren't thinking of a CO2 scrubber for a coal-fired power plant," Deutch said. "Who'd have known?" Additional stories on this subject are available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/01/010129064314.htm http://www.spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01d.html. --------------------------------------------------------------------- JOVIAN MOONS From the NASA Astrobiology Institute 1 February 2001 Our moon, while celebrated in song and literature for its beauty, does not harbor life. With no atmosphere and little known water, conditions on our moon are not adequate to support life as we understand it. There are, however, a total of 61 moons orbiting the 9 planets in our solar system and some of them have atmospheres, organic molecules, water, or heat energy-the conditions necessary for life to exist. The larger moons of Jupiter, for instance, have some of the qualities that would make life possible. These moons-Europa, Io, Callisto, and Ganymede-are called the Galilean moons because they were first spotted by Galileo Galilei in 1610. The moons were individually named by the German astronomer Simon Marius, who discovered them the same year as Galileo. Other materials could possibly combine to create life, but not as readily as the combination of liquid water and organic materials like carbon. Carbon is plentiful throughout the universe and, more importantly, it can form an amazing variety of intricate compounds. Liquid water helps this process along by acting as a stable medium for the organic molecules to dissolve in, while still being fluid enough so the molecules can interact. No other combination of elements that we know of can beat this happy partnership between carbon and liquid water in the creation of life. This blend of elements may have occurred on Europa, the Jovian moon with the strongest possibility for the existence of life. When the Galileo spacecraft sent back images of Europa, we saw that the surface ice layer was covered with various cracks and gashes. These fissures seem to indicate tectonic activity much like the tectonic activity on Earth, where the continents are always shifting. Underneath this surface layer of pure ice, Europa is believed to have liquid water melted by radioactive decay and tidal heating. Scientists differ on the thickness of this ice layer: estimates range from fewer than 20 kilometers (12 miles) to more than 150 kilometers (90 miles). There is no definitive proof that liquid water exists on Europa. Recently, however, the Galileo spacecraft found evidence that Europa has a periodically varying magnetic field. This finding is best explained by the presence of a salt-water ocean beneath the moon's icy crust. Another indication of possible life is the presence of organic molecules, which the Galileo space probe has detected on Europa. The Galileo spacecraft's near-infrared mapping spectrometer sent back data indicating the presence of combinations of oxygen, carbon, sulfur, hydrogen and nitrogen on Europa. The data also included a suggestion of the presence of tholins, complex organic compounds. "This doesn't mean there is life on Europa. The exciting thing now is the evidence that Europa may have all three of the ingredients [for life: heat, water, and organics]," said University of Hawaii geophysicist Thomas McCord. The Galileo probe also detected organic molecules on the Jovian moons Callisto and Ganymede. Like Europa, Callisto and Ganymede are composed of a rocky core and an outer layer of ice. Ganymede shows some indication of tectonic activity, while Callisto does not. Consequently, parts of Ganymede show cracks similar to the cracks on Europa. Callisto, whose surface remains unchanged by any internal activity, is covered with ancient impact craters from meteors. Ganymede, like Europa, has an oxygen atmosphere, while Callisto appears to have its oxygen locked up in ice and rocks. Callisto's atmosphere is composed mostly of carbon dioxide. Recent evidence from the magnetometer aboard the Galileo spacecraft indicate that both Ganymede and Callisto may also have liquid oceans deep beneath their icy surfaces. Jupiter's moon Io hosts an environment very different from that of the planet's three other giant moons. Io's surface is liberally dotted with volcanoes, giving it-in combination with the sulfur-rich surface-a uniquely colorful appearance. Io is a greenish-yellow moon speckled with red, orange, white, and black markings. Analysis conducted by Galileo determined that the lava of Io's volcanoes reaches temperatures of 1430 to 1730 degrees Celsius (2,600 to 3,140 degrees Farenheit), exceeding the temperatures of earthen lava, which only reaches about 1090 degrees Celsius (2,000 degrees Farenheit). Io seems to have enough heat and energy to sustain life, and it does have a thin sulfur dioxide atmosphere, but it lacks water. Io's volcanoes are constantly resurfacing the planet, and the intense heat generated by this activity probably caused any water present to evaporate billions of years ago. Io is one of the few bodies in the solar system known to be volcanically active (along with Neptune's moon Triton, the planet Venus, and of course, Earth). Data from the Galileo probe suggest that Ganymede may also have experienced volcanic activity in the past, although it is not believed to be volcanically active today. Europa could possibly also have volcanic activity. Because Io's volcanic processes are driven by internal tidal friction, it is thought that the weaker tidal friction on Europa could generate a less intense form of volcanic activity. Gravitational effects that pull and stretch the moon cause this tidal friction. The closer a moon is to Jupiter, the greater its tidal friction. The occurrence of underwater volcanic activity on other worlds is an exciting prospect in the search for extraterrestrial microbial life. Recent findings have shown that Earth's submarine volcanic systems are linked to an abundance of carbon-based life forms. These microbes, called thermophiles-organisms that like extreme heat-live and thrive around hydrothermal vents in the seafloor. Whether life can actually originate in such environments is still highly controversial, however. "The Galilean satellites are located in the temperature region of the solar system where water ice and other volatiles become stable over the age of the solar system. The composition and chemistry of the surfaces of these objects is of interest because they provide clues to the origin of our solar system and because they contain water ice and may contain organic molecules that are essential for the initiation of life," notes McCord. Jupiter itself seems to be a long shot in the search for extraterrestrial microbial life. True, the planet is warm and has plenty of organic materials. Jupiter has wet and dry areas like the desert and tropical regions of Earth. Telescopes on Earth and on the Galileo space probe even have detected areas on Jupiter with clouds of water that could indicate rainfall. But other qualities of Jupiter seem too extreme to sustain life. For instance, a great deal of Jupiter is composed of liquid metallic hydrogen, an element only possible at pressures exceeding 4 million bars. (The atmospheric pressure on Earth at sea level is a little over one bar, or 14.7 pounds per square inch.) Any life that could withstand such conditions would still have to face Jupiter's torrential winds, which clock in at an astounding rate of 400 miles per hour, twice as fast as tornadoes on Earth. While Europa seems to be the only part of the Jovian system that may have all of the ingredients necessary to cook up the dish called "life"-an atmosphere, liquid water, organic molecules, and heat energy-the other Jovian moons and the planet Jupiter can not yet be completely ruled out. There is so much about that region of space, and about the existence of life itself, that we still don't know. What next? The Galileo probe continues its investigations of the Jovian system. The Galileo Europa Mission (GEM) is a highly focused follow-on to Galileo's Jupiter system exploration and a precursor for future missions to Europa and Io. GEM will conduct a detailed study of Europa over 14 months, then plunge repeatedly through the Io Plasma Torus to reach volcanic Io. For more information on this article see http://nai.arc.nasa.gov/index.cfm?page=jovian_moons. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ENHANCED EXERCISE HARNESS TO BE TESTED ON NASA'S KC135 By A'ndrea Elyse Messer Pennsylvania State University release 1 February 2001 This March, four Penn State undergraduate engineering students will risk their equilibrium and stomachs aboard NASA's KC135, nationally known as the "Vomit Comet," to test modifications to exercise equipment used in space. Chosen as participants in NASA's Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program, the group will test a modification of the Subject Load Device, the equipment currently used aboard the shuttle to tether astronauts to a treadmill in an attempt to ward off microgravity-induced osteoporosis. "We don't know whether astronauts are loading their hips and spines to levels found here on Earth," says Dr. James Pawelczyk, assistant professor of kineseology and one of the group's co-advisers. Pawelczyk was a payload specialist during STS-90 on the space shuttle Columbia. NASA's current Subject Load Device is passive, providing only the force of springs to tether the subject. "We wanted a meaningful experiment, not just something we created to fly on the KC135," says Dawn Noga, a sophomore in engineering science. "We wanted a practical application to keep humans healthy in space." "The problem is that the current design can't accommodate the range of motion found in typical human activities like squatting and running," says Pawelczyk. Combating osteoporosis in microgravity is important because inhabitants of the Russian space station MIR experienced a bone-loss rate of 1.5 percent a month, 15 times greater than that experienced by postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis may be the limiting factor in long distance space flight, but understanding bone loss in space might also help treat age and immobility induced bone loss. "Generally, NASA wants to load the hips of the astronauts with force equal to their body weight," says John Halenar, senior in electrical engineering. "But with the current system, if they load a 200-pound person to 200 pounds of force, the tension on the springs will be set at specific values. If that person bends over, then the tension decreases and the equipment would apply a proportionately lower load." The modified equipment the students plan to test will have an active feedback system to produce a constant load. The new approach will also allow exercise that requires bending or squatting, exercise that will not work on the current system. Four of the eight-student team will fly aboard the Boeing KC-135A, two in each of two flights. John; Dawn; Ben Weber, senior, mechanical engineering and Bill Marshall, senior mechanical engineering will brave the "Vomit Comet." The other four team members, Amy Seaman, sophomore chemical engineering; Mike Moss, sophomore, electrical engineering; Robyn Berridge, sophomore, electrical engineering and Dana Ahmed, sophomore, electrical engineering will provide ground support. The group, including their co-advisor Sven Bilén, assistant professor of engineering design and graphics and electrical engineering, will spend a week at NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas and will test their device both on the ground and in the air. "The NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program provides an excellent interdisciplinary design experience for the students," says Bilén. "The students are in several different majors and are at different stages of their education. They have found that they have to work together effectively to meet deadlines and to develop a winning and ultimately flyable design." The KC-135 simulates microgravity conditions by flying a roller- coaster shaped path, where the roller coaster has a 12,000-foot hill and the participants ride 40 times in a row. The topmost portion of the hill and the change in direction provide from 20 to 30 seconds of simulated microgravity during each loop. Although NASA routinely issues motion sickness medications, the "Vomit Comet" generally earns its nickname. The Flyin' Lions' device will consist of a force plate, laptop computer, and the modified subject load device consisting of two stepper motors to provide the active feedback force, a worm gear system and backup springs, along with the existing exercise harness. The force plate upon which the students will walk or squat will be fixed so that the subjects will be lying down during most of the flight, helping them to avoid motion sickness. During the simulated microgravity portion of the flight, one student acting as the subject will either step in place or squat while wearing the exercise harness. Halfway through the flight, the two students on board will switch places and continue the experiment. The students recognize that this is a proof-of-concept experiment that may or may not prove useful. Pawelczyk, however, believes that the experience goes far beyond the experiment or the classroom. "These undergraduates have had to sit before the Behavioral and Biomedical Institutional Review Board, they have been through a design review, reacted to feedback and written their proposal. These are real life experiences that they will find valuable in their professional careers." The students have also planned a broad outreach program which includes a project journalist, Katie O'Toole, writer and co-host of "What's In The News," a WPSX public television show aimed at grade school children. O'Toole will also be on the plane with the students. While NASA provides flight time and training, it does not provide funding. The Flyin' Lions need to raise transportation and living costs and equipment funds. Professors have donated some of the equipment and funds were received from the college of Engineering, the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium, the Department of Engineering Science and the Envisioneers. Contacts: A'ndrea Elyse Messer, 814-865-9481, aem1@psu.edu Vicki Fong, 814-865-9481, vfong@psu.edu Contact the Flyin' Lions via Bill Marshall at 814-862-7015 or by e- mail at wmm123@psu.edu. --------------------------------------------------------------------- SETI 2020: A NEW ACTION PLAN FOR THE SEARCH FOR LIFE By Leonard David From Space.com 02 February 2001 The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has always been a long shot in the dark. A new action plan is being pursued that could hasten the day when Earth is on the receiving end of signals from civilizations circling distant stars. The privately funded SETI Institute here is moving forward on a three-pronged effort to be carried out over the next two decades. A specially convened working group, made up of 30 engineers, scientists, astronomers, technologists and others from around the globe, worked for two years to script the SETI 2020 report. The soon-to-be-published study is considered a turning point in creating powerful search engines to snag signals from other star folk. Get the full story at http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_roadmap_010202.html. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CLEARING THE AIR ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION From SpaceDaily 5 February 2001 An advanced air processing and filtering system, built at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, is scheduled for launch to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle Atlantis on February 7, 2001. The Trace Contaminant Control System (TCCS), installed in the Destiny Laboratory Module, will ensure that over 200 various trace chemical contaminants, generated from material off- gassing and metabolic functions in the Space Station atmosphere, remain within allowable concentration levels... The Space Station environment will be maintained at a level far cleaner than that in a modern office building. There will be TCCS units installed aboard equipment racks in two modules in the Space Station. The first will be in the Destiny Laboratory Module. A second TCCS will be installed in U.S. Node 3, currently targeted for launch in 2005. Get the full story at http://www.spacedaily.com/news/iss-01b.html. --------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW ADDITIONS TO THE ASTROBIOLOGY INDEX By David J. Thomas http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas/astrobiology/astrobiology.h tml 5 February 2001 Articles about astrobiology, exobiology and terraformation http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas/astrobiology/online_article s1.html H. Bortman, 2001. Greening the Red Planet. SpaceDaily. K. Croswell, 2001. Looking for life among the interstellar garbage. SpaceDaily. Articles about the biology of extreme environments (on Earth) http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas/astrobiology/online_article s2.html Montana State University, 2001. Scientist searches yellowstone park for carbon dioxide-eating microbe. ScienceDaily. UniSci, 2001. Symbiotic bacteria on some plants use light for energy. UniSci. Articles about human space exploration and the microgravity environment http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas/astrobiology/online_article s3.html J. F. Moore, 1999. '2001': Kubrick's space oddity. Space.com. SpaceDaily, 2001. Clearing the air on the International Space Station. SpaceDaily. SpaceDaily, 2001. Wanted: couch potatoes. SpaceDaily. Articles about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas/astrobiology/online_article s4.html E. DeVore, 2001. Children of the stars. Space.com. Articles about primordial evolution and prebiotic chemistry http://www.lyon.edu/webdata/users/dthomas/astrobiology/online_article s5.html E. DeVore, 2001. Children of the stars. Space.com. M. Perew, 2001. Proto cell walls concocted from interstellar soup. Universe Today. ScienceDaily, 2001. NASA scientists find clues that life began in deep space. ScienceDaily. SpaceDaily, 2001. Scientists find clues that life began in deep space. SpaceDaily. D. Whitehouse, 2001. 'Cells' hint at life's origin. BBC News. --------------------------------------------------------------------- CASSINI WEEKLY SIGNIFICANT EVENTS JPL release 25-31 January 2001 The most recent spacecraft telemetry was acquired from the Goldstone tracking station on Wednesday, January 31. The Cassini spacecraft is in an excellent state of health and is operating normally. The speed of the spacecraft can be viewed on the "Present Position" web page at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/english/where/. Phase F Post Jupiter Activities continued this week with Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) atmosphere observations, and Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) Magnetosphere observations, uplink and execution of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) memory readout (MRO) mini-sequence, and uplink of a MIMI flight software patch. The MIMI patch went in as expected, and should reduce susceptibility to motor control stack overflows. Additional commanding included clearing of the AACS High Water Marks, an AACS Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA) momentum unload, and an RWA slow time MRO. The Probe Relay Test mini-sequence was uplinked along with additional commands to power off CAPS and the RSS Ka-band transmitter. The remaining instruments were placed in "sleep" for the duration of the test period. The test began execution Wednesday with data from the first test downlinked late in the day. The activity is proceeding well and will continue to run over the next 4 days. The Cassini Instrument Operations (IO) Team and the Multi Mission Image Processing Laboratory have produced and delivered 21,987 ISS images-15,054 from the NAC and 6,933 from the Wide Angle Camera-and 4,689 Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) cubes since Jupiter encounter began. No additional cubes were processed this past week. A software upgrade is expected soon that will enhance processing of the 2X2 cubes. Analyses continue on the Jupiter data received earlier this month. The data show preliminary detection of the synchrotron emission of high-energy electrons in the Jovian radiation belts. The Cassini RADAR Jupiter Synchrotron experiment was performed jointly with the Very Large Array (VLA), the Deep Space Network (DSN), the Goldstone- Apple Valley Radio Telescopes and their students, and with Cassini Outreach. These are the first data obtained of the Jupiter synchrotron emission in the two-cm wavelength range. This wavelength has been unattainable from earth-based telescopes. The Cassini radiometer data will tie down the previously unexplored upper limit when combined with our ground based partners' synchrotron emission data acquired in the 20 cm and 90 cm wavelength ranges. These combined data will be used to create a new map of the Jovian energetic particle distribution within Jupiter's radiation belts. Analyses of the RADAR Jupiter data have shown that the radiometer is proving to be an extremely sensitive instrument. This information is being factored into Tour planning activities and the addition of more RADAR/radiometer targets of opportunity such as Saturn's disk and the rings. Last week the Ka-band signal on Cassini was tracked for the first time using the Monopulse Tracking System at Deep Space Station 25. Monopulse is an enabling system for the Gravitational Wave Experiment to be conducted in November of this year. The entire DSS-25 Cassini Radio Science Upgrade Task will be delivered in mid-April 2001. A preliminary Sequence Integration & Validation (SIV) Sequence Change Request (SCR) approval meeting was held this week for C25. Sequence change requests pertaining to the update of the DSN allocation file were approved. All Cassini Teams supported an Independent Annual Review (IAR) held at JPL. Topics included a Program Overview, Jupiter Science Presentation, and presentations by Science, Development, System Engineering, Mission Assurance, Spacecraft Operations Office, Science & Uplink Office, and the Mission Support & Services Office. The Program Science Group meeting held at JPL concluded this week. Working groups met for the Huygens Science Working Team, RADAR, Atmospheres, Magnetometer Subsystem (MAG), Magnetospheric and Plasma Science (MAPS), Rings, and Surfaces. Presentations at the plenary sessions included a Cassini Program Status Report, Huygens Reports including Flight Operations, Uplink Test, and Recovery Task Force, SCO Activities report, Jupiter Lessons Learned, SOAP Movie-Tour Highlights, Tour Safety Hazards, Science Operations Plan Development, Tool Development/Modules, Power Modes/Ops Modes, Radiator Flight Rule Status, SOST Status Report, TOST Status Report, Publications & Meetings Status Reports, presentation of Rings, Atmospheres, Surfaces and MAPS Working Group Reports, and instrument reports featuring Jupiter results. At the conclusion of the PSG, a Future Titan Missions Workshop was held. Concurrent with the PSG, training continued providing visiting Cassini instrument personnel and JPL resident Flight Team Members the opportunity to view presentations on a number of topics. Science and Uplink Office (SAUL) personnel gave hands-on demonstrations of the Cassini Information Management System (CIMS), Pointing Design Tool (PDT), and Science Opportunity Analyzer (SOA). Instrument Operations held a session on the Planetary Data System and plans for data archiving and System Engineering and Instrument Operations covered how the Cassini Program tracks and responds to anomalies. The Telecommunications and Mission Operations Directorate (TMOD) provided a trainer to cover the Mission Ground Data System. Cassini is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, manages the Cassini mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, DC. --------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS WEEK ON GALILEO JPL release 29 January - 4 February 2001 This week, Galileo winds down on its 14-week-long successful collaboration with the Cassini spacecraft to study the influence of the solar wind on the Jovian magnetosphere. The survey data collected by the spacecraft's Fields and Particles instruments (Dust Detector, Energetic Particle Detector, Heavy Ion Counter, Magnetometer, Plasma Detector, and Plasma Wave instruments) are sent to the onboard tape recorder six times this week, in order to maintain the continuity of data collection. The tape recorder is used because the radio antennas of the Deep Space Network (DSN) are scheduled to listen to Galileo for only about 106 hours (out of a total 168 hours possible in a given week). On Monday, the spacecraft performs standard maintenance on its propulsion systems. Other than that, it's another quiet week in deep space, as Galileo increases its distance from Jupiter from 12 million kilometers (7.5 million miles) out to 13 million kilometers (8.2 million miles). Scientists frequently measure distances from a planet in terms of the radius of that planet. Since Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, has a radius of 71,492 kilometers (44,423 miles), that means that this week Galileo is travelling between 168 and 182 Jupiter radii out from its December 29 flyby. And it still has another five weeks to go before it reaches its most distant point in this orbit! At these distances, Galileo is expected to be outside of the magnetosphere, measuring the solar wind. Cassini's Fields and Particles instruments are making measurements of the magnetotail boundary, about 30 million kilometers (18.7 million miles) from Jupiter. On Saturday, commands will be sent to the spacecraft that will govern its activities for the next seven weeks. Each of the command sequences is a small computer program that tells the spacecraft what to do at any particular time: "turn here", "point there", "record this", "play back that". All of the activities reported in these bulletins are accomplished by such programs, which, in the long periods between flybys, are sent to the spacecraft every month or so. For more information on the Galileo spacecraft and its mission to Jupiter, please visit the Galileo home page at one of the following URL's: http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo --------------------------------------------------------------------- ISS STATUS REPORT NASA/JSC release 31 January 2001 Activity aboard the International Space Station continues to focus on preparations for the arrival of Space Shuttle Atlantis late next week bringing the first scientific laboratory on the STS-98 mission. Following the shuttle's return to the launch pad, the U.S. Laboratory Destiny was installed in the payload bay Tuesday and the doors closed for flight last night. Atlantis' launch remains scheduled for 6:11 PM EST, February 7. The STS-98 flight crew of Commander Ken Cockrell, Pilot Mark Polansky and Mission Specialists Tom Jones, Marsha Ivins and Bob Curbeam are scheduled to fly to the Kennedy Space Center Sunday afternoon with the countdown scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM EST. Meanwhile aboard the station, the Expedition One crew of Commander Bill Shepherd, Pilot Yuri Gidzenko and Flight Engineer Sergei Krikalev continue the task of preparing for the shuttle's arrival while continuing their daily routine of exercise and housekeeping chores. Troubleshooting efforts on a vibration measuring experiment paid off late last week when Expedition One Commander Bill Shepherd recovered the operation of the Middeck Active Control Experiment (MACE). The experiment appears to be working fine and timeliners are busily searching for openings in the crew's long-range plan to accommodate further operations with this experiment that originally flew as a shuttle payload to measure tiny amounts of vibration in an effort to identify how normal activity onboard may affect sensitive experiments. Flight controllers plan to conduct an experiment to measure the electrical charging on the outside of the station by strategically positioning the large U.S. solar arrays as the station circles the Earth. The hopes are to correlate the array position with the amount of arcing that may be generated. Plasma Contactor Units on the station are designed to eliminating the arcing, if present. This Detailed Test Objective is designed to gather additional information that will help verify engineering models and/or refine future planning that may be required. Additionally, the crew and flight controllers are planning to conduct a dry run of the procedures for the shuttle docking to the ISS planned for two days after launch. Here's a quick look at major activity during the STS-98 mission. Event | Time (EST) | Date | Mission Elapsed Time Launch of Atlantis | 6:11 PM | February 7 | 00/00:00 Atlantis/ISS Docking | 11:56 AM | February 9 | 01/17:45 Hatch Opening | 1:41 PM | February 9 | 01/19:30 EVA 1-Destiny installation | 10:15 AM | February 9 | 02/16:05 EVA 2 | 10:40 AM | February 11 | 04/16:30 EVA 3 | 10:15 AM | February 14 | 06/16:05 Undocking | 9:10 AM | February 16 | 08/14:59 Deorbit Burn | 11:53 AM | February 18 | 10/17:42 KSC Landing | 12:58 PM | February 18 | 10/18:47 Plans for the crew and flight controllers may include a test of station procedures that will be used for the docking of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Orbiting the Earth at an average altitude of 230 statute miles, the International Space Station is operating in excellent condition. The next update on the International Space Station and its Expedition One crew will be issued after the launch of Atlantis as part of the STS- 98 Mission Control Center status reports. --------------------------------------------------------------------- STARDUST STATUS REPORT JPL release 2 February 2001 There were numerous Deep Space Network (DSN) tracking passes in the past week and all subsystems are performing normally. The successful flyby of Earth was so precise that trajectory correction maneuver 6 (TCM-6), planned for mid-February to correct the trajectory errors during Earth flyby, was cancelled. Pre-launch studies showed that TCM-6 might have to correct the trajectory as much as 2.7 meters/second, but after the flyby, TCM-6 was calculated only to be 0.4 meters/second. The precision flyby of Earth has allowed the flight team to remove a major scheduled activity, a reward for the hard work leading to a near-perfect Earth gravity assist. Sequence SC027 is the active sequence and the Sequence SC028 kickoff meeting was completed. Sequence SC028 marks the start of the Cometary Interplanetary Dust Analyzer (CIDA) instrument Interstellar collection Period (ISP) #2. The CIDA impact target will be pointed to optimize interstellar dust particle impacts through July. For more information on the Stardust mission-the first ever comet sample return mission-please visit the Stardust home page at http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov. --------------------------------------------------------------------- End Marsbugs, Volume 8, Number 5.