Projects: Space Information
The Planetary Report
Volume XXVI, Number 3, May/June 2006
Credit: ESA / INAF-IASF, Rome, Italy, and Observatoire de Paris, France |
On the Cover
This view of Venus, the first released by the Visible
and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) on the European Space
Agency's Venus Express, reveals swirling patterns in the upper levels
of the planet's thick atmosphere. The left side of this south polar view shows
all that is visible to our Earthly eyes in reflected sunlight. The right
side is an infrared view of thermal energy emitted by Venus' overheated
atmosphere. For more information on these images, read "First
Venus Express VIRTIS Images Peel Away the Planet's Clouds."
From The Editor
"To boldly go where we have gone
before." We've been hearing that
a lot lately, as The Planetary Society and
its members contemplate the proposals for
NASA's science program over the next
few years.
On the surface, it might look like planetary
science is sitting pretty, with Voyager 1
at the boundary of our solar system, Messenger
on its way to Mercury, and a fleet
of spacecraft exploring the worlds between.
In this issue of The Planetary Report, you'll
read of missions at Mars and Venus, a conference
on astrobiology, and the opening
of a new Planetary Society telescope to
search for evidence of alien life. Shouldn't
we be content with that?
Yes, today, things are great. It's the future we’re fighting for.
The American space program is standing at a crossroads. One road follows
the Vision for Space Exploration and would take us on to Mars and continue
the exploration of other worlds. The other road continues in circles, not
only keeping humans bound in Earth orbit, but even scaling back robotic ventures
to other worlds.
Europe is already at Mars and the Moon. Japan, India, and China are making
plans for the Moon. All are waiting to see which road America chooses to take.
We know which one we'd take: the one that goes where no one has gone before.
— Charlene M. Anderson
Features
We Make It Happen! The Planetary Society Optical SETI Telescope
With the support of Planetary Society members around the world, The Planetary
Society Optical SETI Telescope began searching the skies for signs of intelligent
life
in April. Planetary Society Director of Projects Bruce
Betts explains the
cutting-edge
technology that will allow this unique SETI telescope to conduct a year-round,
all-sky survey.
The Third Time's a Charm: The Saga of the Mars Climate Sounder
Getting an instrument to Mars is hard. Getting it to Mars three times is
even harder.
For the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS), the weather-monitoring instrument now
on
board Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, the third time’s the charm. Here,
journalist
A.J.S. Rayl chronicles the trials and tribulations of getting this weather
satellite
to Mars and the extraordinary dedication of MCS project leader Dan McCleese.
Express
to Venus: Europe Successfully Enters Orbit
After more than a decade, we’ve returned to Venus. In April, Europe's
Venus
Express reached Venus and began a series of passes to perfect its orbit
around
Earth’s sister planet. Planetary Society Science and Technology Coordinator
Emily Lakdawalla was at mission control in Darmstadt, Germany to witness
the
arrival at Venus.
The Chance and Necessity of Life: Reflections on AbSciCon
2006
In March, scientists representing different disciplines and different countries
gathered
together in Washington, DC to discuss the question of whether or not we
are
alone in the universe. Planetary Report Technical Editor Jim
Burke attended
the
conference and shares his reflections here.
Departments
Members’ Dialogue
World Watch
Questions and Answers
Society News
The Planetary Report is available only to Members of The Planetary Society. If you'd like to read these and other exciting features, JOIN THE PLANETARY SOCIETY TODAY!
MEMBERS: Download this and other back issues of The Planetary Report in PDF format from the For Members section of the website.
|
[ what is this? ]