A new space explorer is waiting in the wings and ready to take center stage: the Mars land
A new space explorer is waiting in the wings and ready to take center stage: the Mars lander called Phoenix. Phoenix's assignment is to dig through the Martian soil and ice in the arctic region and use its onboard scientific instruments to analyze the samples it retrieves.
Mars is a cold desert planet with no liquid water on its surface. But in the Martian arctic, water ice lurks just below ground level. Discoveries made by the Mars Odyssey Orbiter in 2002 show large amounts of subsurface water ice in the northern arctic plain. The Phoenix lander targets this circumpolar region using a robotic arm to dig through the protective top soil layer to the water ice below and ultimately, to bring both soil and water ice to the lander platform for sophisticated scientific analysis.
The complement of the Phoenix spacecraft and its scientific instruments are ideally suited to uncover clues to the geologic history and biological potential of the Martian arctic. Phoenix will be the first mission to return data from either polar region providing an important contribution to the overall Mars science strategy "Follow the Water" and will be instrumental in achieving the four science goals of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program.
- Determine whether Life ever arose on Mars
- Characterize the Climate of Mars
- Characterize the Geology of Mars
- Prepare for Human Exploration The Phoenix Mission has two bold objectives to support these goals, which are to (1) study the history of water in the Martian arctic and (2) search for evidence of a habitable zone and assess the biological potential of the ice-soil boundary.
Aboard the deck of the Phoenix spacecraft are a suite of science instruments representing some of the most sophisticated and advanced technology ever sent to Mars. The Phoenix Mission inherits a highly capable spacecraft partially built for the Mars Surveyor Program 2001 and important lessons learned from the Mars Polar Lander.
The spacecraft has several subsystems that are being updated, if necessary, with parts and software that will increase reliability. These subsystems include
- command and data handling, controlling the spacecraft's computer processing
- electrical power, consisting of solar panels, batteries, and associated converting circuits
- telecommunications, ensuring flow of data to and from Earth
- guidance, navigation, and control, assuring the spacecraft arrives safely at Mars
- propulsion, controlling trajectory correction maneuvers during cruise and thrusters during landing
- structure, providing the spacecraft framework and integrity
- mechanisms, enabling the movement of several spacecraft components
- thermal-control, using heat transfer to ensure proper temperature ranges on all parts of the spacecraft.
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Launch Location: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 17-A
Launch Date: Aug. 3, 2007
Launch Time: 5:35:18 a.m. EDT
The Delta II is designed to boost medium-sized satellites and robotic explorers into space. NASA selected a model 7925 for this mission, which is a three-stage rocket equipped with nine strap-on solid rocket boosters and a 10-foot payload fairing that will protect the spacecraft during launch.
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Added: 1 year ago
Views: 75,324
In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy
In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common. Pangea Day seeks to overcome that -- to help people see themselves in others -- through the power of film.
On May 10, 2008 -- Pangea Day -- sites in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked to produce a 4-hour program of powerful films, visionary speakers, and uplifting music. The program will be broadcast live to the world through the Internet, television, digital cinemas, and mobile phones.
Your film could be part of it. The online video revolution has helped spawn a new generation of grass-roots film-makers worldwide. Much of the output, of course, is mediocre. But hidden in there are amazing talents capable of using film to astonishing effect... and capable of telling stories that can create powerful bonds between us.
So ask yourself this. If you had the entire world's attention for just a few minutes, what story would you tell? Perhaps you think the world looks at you, your country and your culture... and just doesn't understand. Then do something about it. Make a film and upload it here http://www.youtube.com/group/pangeaday You never know. It could end up bringing millions of people that bit closer together.
Pangea is the name of the original super-continent which contained all the world's land mass before the continents started splitting apart 250 million years ago. We're launching Pangea Day with the vision that the people of the world can begin to overcome their divisions, and that the power of film can help make it possible.
Movies can't change the world. But the people who watch them can.
To register as a film-maker, to get more ideas about film submissions, or to host a screening or learn how you can get involved, please visit our website at http://www.pangeaday.org.
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Added: 6 months ago
Views: 4,025
Angel performed World Of Illusion at Madison Square Garden in 1998. Criss then scored an o
Angel performed World Of Illusion at Madison Square Garden in 1998. Criss then scored an off Broadway show titled "Criss Angel Mindfreak," which ran up until January 6, 2003 following a run of 600 performances at The World in The World Underground Theater in Times Square. He also starred in several television specials. Criss Angel won the Academy of Magical Arts' Magician of the Year award in 2005[2] and the IMS Magician of the year in 2001 and 2004.[3]
He has even revealed the methods for many of his tricks to viewers at home on TV and in videos, although the effects revealed are usually very simple such as making a toothpick disappear, picking a pocket, or making a Styrofoam cup float. Angel discusses magic and his life in Mindfreak: Secret Revelations (published April 24, 2007), which became a Los Angeles Times best seller.
Angel is scheduled to appear in a new illusion-based Cirque du Soleil production at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas entitled Criss Angel: Believe, with an expected opening date in September 2008.[4] The countdown clock featured on Angel's official website is counting down to September 12, 2008 as a premiere. Angel has recently stated that there are plans for this attraction to run for 10 years, including 4,600 shows with a possible 5 year renewal option of his contract.
In July 2007, NBC signed Angel and Uri Geller for Phenomenon, a show airing on October 24 that searches for the next great mentalist.[5] Angel does not believe Geller has any paranormal abilities.[6]
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Added: 2 months ago
Views: 3,613
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++ Discussion on PangeaDay.org ++
Directed by Orlando Mesquita (Mozambique)
Children
++ Discussion on PangeaDay.org ++
Directed by Orlando Mesquita (Mozambique)
Children in Mozambique have found an interesting way to make a football.
Since 1984, Orlando Mesquita has edited, directed, and produced over 20 films, including features, educational programs, and documentaries. His projects explore the many facets of Mozambican life such as the role of women and war, refugees, and demobilized soldiers. In 1999 he won a Kuxa Kanema Best Video Award for his work as a co-director and editor on Community Stories.
Crew
Director: Orlando Mesquita
Script: Licinio Azevedo, Orlando Mesquita
Producer: Licínio Azevedo
Production Manager: Abdul Manafe
Camera: João "Funcho" Costa
Sound: Valente Dimande
Editor: Orlando Mesquita
Translator: Pedro Fernando Manhefero
English Translation: Ken Hansen
Editbox Editor: Charles Brittz
Audio Final Mix: Barry Donnelly
Subtitles: Royston Michaels
Post Production Facility: The Refinery - Cape Town
Music
Composer: Chico António
Performers: Rufas Maculuve, Felipe Mondlane, Milton Chissano
Credits and Thanks
Clara Chinaca, Daniel Freita, Manuel Mario, Ribeiro Xadreque, Betinho Castro, Mário Francisco, Vasco Domingos, Eusébio João, Felipe Catcheca, Campos Manuel, Danilo Marques, GESOM (Grupo de Educação Social de Manica), Copacabana Lodge
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Added: 2 months ago
Views: 455,638
A beautiful sunset at Bekal beach in Kasargod, Kerala. Visit http://www.indiavideo.org for
A beautiful sunset at Bekal beach in Kasargod, Kerala. Visit http://www.indiavideo.org for more videos.
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Added: 3 months ago
Views: 147
In the name of the collective the individual, the real, has always been sacrificed. - Osho
In the name of the collective the individual, the real, has always been sacrificed. - Osho
www.OSHO.com
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Added: 1 year ago
Views: 7,886
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