Perpetual Ocean is a cool visualization of some of the world’s surface ocean currents.
FISO: NASA’s planetary protection policy for Mars exploration – Cassie Conley
The latest presentation to the Future In-Space Operations (FISO) study group is now posted in the FISO Working Group Presentations Archive. Both slides (pdf) and audio (mp3) are available for the talk, NASA’s Planetary Protection Policy for Mars Exploration – Planetary Protection Part 2 – Cassie Conley, NASA HQ – August 7, 2013
Conley talks about how to avoid contaminating Mars with earth bacteria before we know if there are any native Martian bacteria and vice versa. Don’t see any discussion of the exchange of life forms between earth and Mars via debris expelled via large impacts. (See Martian meterorites.)
ESA: The Soyuz launch sequence
Via Universe Today comes this ESA video showing how the Soyuz launch system works:
Space policy roundup – Aug.8.13
Some space policy items from today:
- Shelton Orders Shutdown of Space Fence – SpaceNews.com
- At anniversary of Curiosity landing, recommit to planetary science: Adam Schiff – LA Daily News – Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Burbank
- Tales of Recent U.S. Space Exploration Insufficiency – SpaceNews.com
- Editorial | Debilitating Budget Politics -SpaceNews.com
- Senate Appropriators Cut, Reconfigure EELV FY2014 Funding, Add Money for ORS – SpacePolicyOnline.com
Update:
Video: Morpheus lander test flight
The Project Morpheus lander had another tethered flight test today. The video includes a neat infrared view of the heat around the vehicle.