Projects: Space Information
The Planetary Report
Volume XXI, Number 6, November/December 2001
Credit: NASA / JPL / University of Arizona |
On the Cover
Two days after its closest approach to Jupiter, Cassini
captured a stunning sight: a crystal-clear image of Io with Jupiter's swirling
bands of atmosphere in the background. Although Io seems to be floating
just above Jupiter's clouds, there is actually room for two and a half Jupiter-size
planets between the gas giant and its innermost moon. Cassini collected
its last images of the Jovian system in March 2001. The spacecraft is now
on the final leg of its six-and-a-half-year journey, intending to keep its
July 1, 2004 appointment with Saturn.
From The Editor
This year has brought a series of extraordinary
events into the life of
The Planetary Society. Our Cosmos 1
project has torqued everything as we
work toward flying the world's first solar
sail. The events of September 11 have
changed the landscape in which nonprofit
organizations exist, and we are
still feeling our way along. And finally,
we scored one of our biggest political
victories ever when Congress, responding
to our members' clamor for a mission to
Pluto, provided the funds for NASA to
continue efforts to reach the last unexplored
planet in our solar system.
Cosmos 1 is progressing a bit more slowly than we had hoped, and we are now
aiming for a launch this spring. We've been pushing the envelope in several
ways at once, and since our schedule is flexible, a small delay will not adversely
affect the project.
And even as we celebrate the Pluto victory, we are planning our next moves
in the campaign, for the mission is not yet safe. You'll see that we've reorganized
our regular departments in this issue to bring you an expanded “World
Watch”
detailing developments in space exploration around the world.
This year was remarkably busy; next year will be just as full. We're glad
to have you with us as we move into the future.
— Charlene M. Anderson
Features
The Society's New Leader: An Interview with Wesley T. Huntress Jr.
This September, The Planetary Society welcomed its third president. Wes
Huntress
will lead the world's largest space interest group into a century that
could see humans
walk on Mars and explore the outermost borders of our solar system -- and
maybe
even reach beyond. We've devoted several pages here to introducing Wes
to our
members and letting him explain, in his own words, where he sees The Planetary
Society headed and what lies in store for space exploration and the search
for
extraterrestrial life.
The Strange Acceleration of Pioneer 10 and 11
Our wandering spacecraft
never lose the ability to surprise us. It's been nearly
30 years since their launch in the early 1970s, but Pioneer 10 and 11 continue
to
return data as they exit our solar system. The data include information
on the spacecrafts'
speed and direction as they leave the region of solar influence. A small
group
of scientists -- including John Anderson, a frequent contributor
to The Planetary
Report -- have been analyzing the Pioneers' flight and have made
a bewildering discovery:
the spacecraft are accelerating toward the Sun for no apparent reason.
Mars Odyssey Enters Mars Orbit
Another spacecraft is orbiting Mars,
carrying a powerful array of instruments
to continue the quest to understand the role of water on the Red Planet.
Meanwhile,
Mars Global Surveyor has just returned its 100,000th image of the Martian
surface.
Mars science is humming along, and we are pleased that one of its practitioners,
Bruce Betts, is reporting for us on Odyssey's successful orbit insertion.
Bruce has
just joined the Society's staff as our director of projects and will
be guiding our many
research projects, including those concerning Mars.
DEPARTMENTS
Members' Dialogue
World Watch: Special Edition
Questions and Answers
Society News
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