Astrogram
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
March 26, 1999
AMES RESEARCH CENTER, MOFFETT FIELD
March 26, 1999 Communication for the information technology age Astrogram — 1
The Ames
Information Technology at Work
Robotic rover, spacesuit geologist work
together in test of future exploration
NASA recently tested a remotely oper- ploration Office. "While we are in the early advance images of the site and the
ated planetary rover and an advanced pro- stages of learning how to explore other geologist's activities back to Ames and JSC.
totype spacesuit in southern California to planets, NASA has not identified any spe- The rover is equipped with JSC-developed
see how robots and humans might some- cific human missions beyond Earth's orbit." software that should allow it to automati-
day work best together to explore other NASA acquired the Marsokhod rover cally track the human explorer's progress
planets. and move in response. In addition, the
A team of scientists rover was designed to assist the astro-
and engineers from Ames naut by documenting science targets,
and Johnson Space Cen- and carrying rock samples and space-
ter (JSC), Houston, TX, is walking tools.
conducting the first field Although the field tests were not
test involving the Rus- open to the public, project scientists
sian-built Marsokhod and showcased the Marsokhod rover and the
a geologist wearing a new spacesuit during a public demon-
NASA advanced proto- stration following the science mission.
type spacesuit. Dubbed The demonstration was conducted in
the Astronaut-Rover In- cooperation with the Bureau of Land
teraction for Planetary Management on Saturday, Feb. 27, from
Surface Exploration 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PST at the Barstow
(ASRO) experiment, the High School stadium, First and Campus
four-day primary science Way, Barstow, CA.
mission was conducted Information about the Barstow school
Feb. 22-25 in the Mojave can be found on the school's web site:
Desert, east of Los Ange- http://www.barstow.k12.ca.us/bhs/ The
les; a public demonstra- public web site for the Marsokhod field
tion was held on Feb. 27. photo by Cesar Mina test is located at: http://
The rover activity was Team members during the Astronaut Rover Interaction Experiment (ASRO). quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/special/mars/
led by Ames, while JSC Team members are from left to right are: Cesar Mina-Field Engineer; Linda
provided the spacesuit, Kobayashi-Electrical Engineer; Sergey Sokolov-Electrical Engineer; The
visual-tracking software, Marsokhod rover (also wearing a NASA baseball hat!); Edmond Grin-SETI BY MICHAEL MEWHINNEY
and associated human Scientist; Anne Wright-Computer Scientist; Hans Thomas-Field Test Manager;
space exploration exper- Seth Carter-Learning Technologies Project Journalist
tise. Together, the team
hopes to develop a synergistic relationship from Russia and equipped it with
between the two explorers. improved avionics, computers
"We want to obtain a preliminary assess- and science instruments. It fea-
ment of human interaction with a rover for
future planetary exploration, and find out
tures six titanium wheels, a ro-
botic arm to pick up soil samples
Astrobiology Seminar
how they can best help each other," ex- and stereo video cameras
plained ASRO Project Science Leader Dr. mounted on a pan-and-tilt plat-
Nathalie Cabrol of Ames. "We want to be form to transmit live images of
ready when it is time to start human surface the field test via a satellite back to
exploration on other planets." scientists at Ames. The 165-pound
"NASA envisions future planetary sur- (75-kilogram) rover is three feet
face spacewalks to be a cooperative effort, (one meter) wide and 4.5 feet
with robots assisting humans to increase (1.5 meters) long, with a mast
productivity during these time-limited ex- that extends about 4.5 feet high
cursions away from the base station," said to hold the cameras.
Robert Yowell of the Extravehicular Activity The spacesuit is constructed
Projects Office at JSC. primarily of fabric, with ball bear-
The ASRO Project should improve the ings that allow the wearer to move
safety and performance of human surface more easily when the suit is in-
operations, and therefore help minimize flated to 3.75 pounds per square
the cost of human planetary missions. Spe- inch above the local pressure, as it
cifically, the team hopes to learn how the would be on the Moon or Mars. A photo by Dominic Hart
rover and the astronauts can collaborate in self-contained liquid air backpack
various operational tasks, leading to recom- provides life support, cooling,
Dr. Paul C. W. Davies, world-famous scientist and
mendations for improving the designs of communications and power. The
author, was at Ames on Mar 3 where he presented a
future advanced spacesuits and rovers. suit and backpack have a weight
seminar on “Biological Determinism: Is life written
"The test is part of a continuing NASA of about 150 pounds (68 kilo-
into the laws of physics?” Dr. Davies touched on a
effort to better identify the challenges fac- grams) on Earth.
broad array of topics, from human life and the laws
ing future human explorers of other worlds, JSC geologist Dean Eppler
of physics to questions of intelligence and morality.
and the technologies that will be needed to wore the spacesuit during the test.
meet those challenges," explained Joyce The Marsokhod served as a scout
Carpenter, Deputy Manager of the JSC Ex- and videographer, transmitting
Simulation Calibration
Laboratory; Herb Finger; Russ
Molari, former Sterling Software
employee and one of the
original software developers;
Semra Muratoglu of Sterling photo by Dominic Hart
Software. Nobel-Prize winning professor and author
Dr. Murray Gell-Mann addressed Ames'
researchers at a Director's Colloquium on
In the mid 1970's, a team of engineers, out its 25-year history were on hand as Astrobiology on February 26.
software developers, and technicians de- the final shutdown occurred. Retirees
signed and implemented the Ames Stan- and former contact employees partici-
dard Wind Tunnel Data System (SWTS). pated in the event. Foremost among
The system, which was developed by these was Joe Cambra, the original SWTS
Teledyne Controls of El Segundo, CA, even-
tually became the primary data acquisition
Project Manager, who was given the
honor of entering the final command. X-36 Honorees
system for all the major wind tunnels at Along with rememberances, a skit, and NASA/Boeing X-36 team honorees in-
Ames, the Arc Jet Facility, and several re- refreshments, a final toast was given to cluded the following individuals who were
search aircraft such as the early Tilt Rotor. a data system that served Ames well omitted from the March 12 Astrogram
The system had a design life expectancy of beyond its expectation. To all in atten-
edition: NASA Ames: Lloyd Corliss, Dwight
approximately 10 years. dance, the event brought a sweet and
On February 26, 1999, more than 25 sour closure to an era of flight and wind Balough; NASA Dryden: Gary Cosentino;
years after the original installation, the final tunnel testing. Boeing Phantom Works: Dave Abel, Rod
SWTDS system was be retired. Nearly 50 Wyatt, Kevin Lowary, John Lentz.
BY HERB FINGER
developers and users of SWTS from through-
Astrogram
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