How often can you say that you've seen the components of a space telescope being worked on at NASA? Thanks to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., that has now changed. › Learn More
How often can you say that you've seen the components of a space telescope being worked on at NASA? The answer is probably "rarely, if ever." However, thanks to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., that has now changed.Web cameras in Goddard's largest clean room are now providing daily, live coverage of work being done on components of the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope. You could say they're
"Webb-cams" and they provide one image per minute so people can see what happens behind the scenes. Of course, the work happens during regular working hours, so there may not be action on screen all the time.John Decker, Webb telescope Deputy Project Manager at NASA Goddard was the motivator in getting the "Webb-cam" up and running. "I thought it would be a great way for everyone to see what happens behind the scenes as components of this exciting new space telescope are being tested and coming together here at NASA Goddard," Decker said.The Webb telescope project is managed at Goddard, and several components of this next generation space telescope are already in a clean room here.
The James Webb Space Telescope is the next-generation premier space observatory, exploring deep space phenomena from distant galaxies to nearby planets and stars. The Webb telescope will give scientists clues about the formation of the universe and the evolution of our own solar system, from the first light after the Big Bang to the formation of star systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth. The telescope is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency and is expected to launch in 2014.Clean rooms are like operating rooms in hospitals. They are pristine areas kept as free as possible of contaminants that could interfere with delicate technology. There are several clean rooms at NASA Goddard.Anyone that works in a clean room, such as engineers and scientists, have to wear sterile bodysuits, head covers, gloves, boots, and face masks. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to get dressed before entering, and it's important because even one speck of dust or a fingerprint could severely damage the sensitive telescope components and instruments. Clean rooms act to filter out these harmful contaminants through a unique ventilation system and an entire wall of air filters. The clean room ventilation system circulates almost one million cubic feet of air every minute through 9,000 square feet of HEPA filters located along one wall. The HEPA filters are specially designed to last several decades. All of these features provide the largest Goddard clean room with a Class-10,000 rating. That means any cubic foot of air in the clean room has no more than 10,000 particles floating around in it larger than 0.5 microns. A micron is one-millionth of a meter, and typical “outside” air has millions of such particles. A human hair is between 20 and 200 microns wide.The advantage to the Webb-cam is that the average person doesn't need to do a micron-type clean up and spend time donning protective gear. Anyone can sit at their computer and see what's going on, no matter what they're wearing.
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The Citizen's Band (CB) radio system is a short range radio communications between individuals on a selection of 40 channels within the 27-MHz (11 m) band. CB radio has an specific set of standardized codes that have become iconic phrases known as Code10.
The CB radio can reach up to 4 or 5 miles, depending on the weather and type of terrain in the area. This is called "SHORT SKIP" but during good propagation the signal may travel far and this is known as "LONG SKIP". Band opening may varies from few minutes to hours.
The CB radio service is distinct from FRS or Amateur ("HAM") radio. In many countries, CB does not require a license and, unlike Amateur Radio, it may be used for business as well as personal communications. Like many other two-way radio services, Citizens' Band channels are shared by many users. Only one station may transmit at a time. Other stations must listen and wait for the shared channel to be available. Several countries have created similar radio services, with varying requirements for licensing and differing technical standards. In Malaysia CB are allocated on 27 MHZ and 477 MHZ. Any persons who wish to operates CB Radio must get the Typed Approved model.
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A Mosaic of Cassiopeia
This mosaic of images from the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explore, or WISE, in the constellation of Cassiopeia contains a large star-forming nebula within...
STS-131 News Conference and Briefings TodayTue, 09 Mar 2010 10:01:56 PM UTC+0800
Today at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the STS-131 astronauts will conduct an integrated ascent simulation before participating in their preflight news conference, airing on NASA TV at 2 p.m. EST. Preflight briefings also will air throughout the day on NASA TV, available on the Web at: www.nasa.gov/ntv. Preparation of space shuttle Discovery continues on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where today technicians are getting ready to service the shuttle's hypergolic system.
Preparations for the next mission to the International Space Station continue as technicians working on Discovery at the pad calibrate the inertial measurement unit and test the camera located on the external fuel tank. › Shuttle Section
In the White Room of Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the members of space shuttle Discovery's STS-131 crew take time out from their training for a group portrait. Kneeling, from left, are Commander Alan Poindexter, Pilot James P. Dutton Jr., and Mission Specialist Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Standing, from left, are Mission Specialists Clayton Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Rick Mastracchio and Stephanie Wilson. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett › View larger image › Meet the STS-131 Crew
Discovery and Crew Prepare for STS-131 MissionCommander Alan Poindexter is set to lead the STS-131 mission to the International Space Station aboard space shuttle Discovery. Joining Poindexter will be Pilot Jim Dutton and Mission Specialists Rick Mastracchio, Clay Anderson, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Naoko Yamazaki of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Discovery will carry a multi-purpose logistics module filled with science racks for the laboratories aboard the station. The mission has three planned spacewalks, with work to include replacing an ammonia tank assembly, retrieving a Japanese experiment from the station’s exterior, and switching out a rate gyro assembly on the S0 segment of the station’s truss structure.STS-131 will be the 33rd shuttle mission to the station.Additional Resources › STS-130 Mission Summary (448 Kb PDF)
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Orbiter Status› About the Orbiters
All the techniques are based on bringing the mind into a state of relaxation, also called Alpha state. While in this state, the body is capable of regaining and reenergizing its immune strength, blood circulation improves and the person breathes adequately. In short, the body invigorates itself! The varions programme, such as Stop Smoking in One Hour, the Fun-Flying Seminar for those with a fear of flying or our Allergy / Migraine Solutions have had their fair share of success stories. While Autogenic Training takes only one to two minutes, three times a day to achieve incredible physical improvements, Hypnosis and NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) require the help of a qualified instructor to get the desire results. Here in Langkawi, we achieved already tremendous results with cancer patients, migraine and allergy sufferers, in the treatment of Compulsive Obsessive Disorders, fear rsp, panic related problems and the elimination of undesired and obstructive habits which impede personal progress.
Located on the southwest coast of the main island, about 30 minutes drive from Kuah Town and 15 minutes from the Langkawi International Airport is the craggy hulk of Gunung Machinchang. The Langkawi Cable Car route links the Base Station at Oriental Village to the Peak Station on top of the mountain. The exhilarating 20 minutes journey you take in a four-seater cable car silently ascends the height over a distance of 2.2 kilometres -- all the way hovering over the verdant forest canopy. Due to some repair works, the Middle Station where visitors can take a pause before proceeding on the jouney to the peak, is temporarily closed. The 360 ยบ panorama from the peak offers a breathtaking view of the islands, the rural lowlands and the seas as far as Thailand. Take in the great vista of hillside flora, a bird's eye view of the Telaga Tujuh waterfalls and an occasional glimpse of the wildlife, including the high-flying birds. Depending on the weather, you can sometimes find yourself ' levitating' in thick mist as the cable car climbs higher. The air up here is crisp and much cooler than the sweltering lowlands. Early evenings are the best times to be at the top for another perspective of the Langkawi sunset. However, be sure of the time to go up lest you miss the dazzling fiery display that splashes the horizon with all shades of red until darkness claim the islands.There is a 2.5 kilometre mountain trail that links Telaga Tujuh to the Middle and the Peak Stations. If you choose to take this trail please be aware that it is a hard and arduous climb most of the way.The Langkawi Cable Car has won three international awards.
The Langkawi group, with its 104 islands offers great sailing and plenty of protected anchorages. Over the last few years the area has become an established sailing destination with events like the annual Langkawi Regatta, attracting boats from all over the world.Langkawi now has four marinas and several bases offering facilities for
yachts around the islands. Some of the marinas are part of resort developments offering all the amenities of first class resort hotels in addition to yacht services. Sailing enthusiasts can charter boats through Sunsail, a major cruising company with a base at the Royal Langkawi Yacht club in
Kuah. You can either man the boat yourself (with the necessary qualifications), or charter a crew to make your voyage more comfortable. The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club’s marina is located on a large sweeping bay in Kuah with over 200 berths and full sailing facilities. Sunsail's charter base is also located here. You can hire a manned boat from them for the day and explore Langkawi’s caves, beaches and hidden islands. The marina’s close proximity to the town centre provides excellent access to duty-free shops and other business-class facilities. The berths can fit mega-yachts up to 60 meters (197 feet) long, and has a low tide depth of 3 meters (almost 10 feet). Pontoons have direct electricity, fuel and water supply, and offer a wireless internet service too. The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club’s marina is located on a large sweeping bay in Kuah with over 200 berths and full sailing facilities. Sunsail's charter base is also located here. You can hire a manned boat from them for the day and explore Langkawi’s caves, beaches and hidden islands. The marina’s close proximity to the town centre provides excellent access to duty-free shops and other business-class facilities. The berths can fit mega-yachts up to 60 meters (197 feet) long, and has a low tide depth of 3 meters (almost 10 feet). Pontoons have direct electricity, fuel and water supply, and offer a wireless internet service too. This lagoon-shaped marina is part of a resort and offers world-class features, including facilities for maintaining and repairing yachts. Their service is top-class and you will find all the necessary amenities required of a good marina. The marina also provides ferry transfers to Langkawi and a store for boat maintenance equipment.
Huygens on Titan
In 2005 the robotic Huygens probe landed on Titan, Saturn's enigmatic moon, and sent back the first ever images from beneath Titan's thick cloud layers....
Image above: Expedition 22 Flight Engineer T.J. Creamer works with flex hoses in the International Space Station’s U.S. Destiny laboratory. Credit: NASA TV
The Expedition 22 crew spent Monday preparing for two of its members to travel home while also keeping busy with daily science and maintenance duties aboard the orbiting International Space Station. With just over a week left in their half-year mission on the International Space Station, Expedition 22 Commander Jeff Williams and Flight Engineer Maxim Suraev continued preparing to leave the station aboard the Soyuz TMA-16 spacecraft. Their Earthward journey will begin with a scheduled undocking at 4:03 a.m. EDT March 18 and end with a landing about 3.5 hours later. Flight Engineer Oleg Kotov will take over as expedition commander as he and Flight Engineers T.J. Creamer and Soichi Noguchi remain on the orbital outpost, becoming the Expedition 23 crew. New crew members Alexander Skvortsov, Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Mikhail Kornienko will join them two weeks later. They are slated to launch aboard the Soyuz TMA-18 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on April 2. Williams worked with the Integrated Cardiovascular (ICV) experiment in the Columbus laboratory. ICV researches the extent of cardiac atrophy and seeks to identify its mechanisms. In advance of a depressurization test of the Kibo laboratory’s airlock, Noguchi and Creamer spent time Monday installing equipment in the airlock that is designed to facilitate its depressurization for experiment placement on the Exposed Facility of the Japanese module.
ABOUT AMATEUR RADIO
Amateur radio service is defined in the Communication and Multimedia (Spectrum) Regulations 2000 as a radiocommunications service (covering both terrestrial and satellite) in which a station is used for the purpose of self traning, intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by authorized persons who are interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without any pecuniary interest.
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE
Regulation 27(1) of the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000 states that no person shall undertake or conduct any activity in designated skil area unless that person is certified. Amateur radio operator has been gazetted as a designated skill area category under the regulation, hence to operate an amateur radio station a person needs to have an appropriate proficiency and skill i.e. certified in this area.
INTERFERENCE
Please ensure that the radio transmision does not cause interference to any other radio services. Regulation 15(1) of the Communications and Multemedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000 states that no person shall intentionally design, install, operate, maintain or modify any communications equipment in a manner is likely to cause interference with, impairment, mulfunction of, or harm to any communications equipment or any other equipment.
Regulation 15(2) of the regulation denotes that a person who contravenes this regulation commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand ringgit (RM 300,000.00) or to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding three years or to both.
To eliminate the potential of interferences, the following procedures must be followed strictly:-
a) Ensure that suffient equipment, tools and test gear is available and can used to monitor and verify that your transmission does not cause any interference to other radio services.
b) You must responsible if your amateur radio is found to be the caused of interference. Immediate remedy action must be taken to rectify the problems in case of interference.
c) Ensure that the transmission do not exceed the level of over deviation.
d) Ensure that the radiated energy is always within the narrowest posible frequency bands for any class of emission in use.
e) The radiation of harmonics and spurious emissions should be suppressed to minimize interference.
Historical Description of Amateur Radio: From the Encyclopedia Britannica:-
Interest in amateur radio arose around the turn of the century, shortly after the Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi successfully sent the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901. The interference of amateur broadcasts with commercial and military transmissions led to the institution of government control in 1911. After World War I, amateurs became active in radio experimentation, contributing to developments in long-distance broadcasting and becoming the first radio operators successfully to exploit the upper medium-frequency and lower high-frequency radio bands. Over the years, amateur radio operators have also provided emergency communications during forest fires, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters. They serve as an important link between stricken communities and the outside world until normal communications are reestablished.Amateur radio operators in the United States are subject to international and federal regulations. There are five classes of licenses. Competence in the use of the International Morse Code and a knowledge of radio theory and regulation are required to obtain the advanced-level licenses. Amateur radio is allocated frequencies at the extreme high-frequency end of the medium-wave band, five groups of frequencies in the shortwave band, two groups in the veryhigh-frequency band, three in the ultrahigh-frequency band, and seven in the superhigh-frequency band for telegraphic and telephonic communication using amplitude and frequency modulation. There are restrictions on the power of the transmitters, and certain of the frequencies must be shared with due regard for the needs of other users.
How often can you say that you've seen the components of a space telescope being worked on at NASA? Thanks to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., that has now changed. › Learn More
