NASA Postdoctoral Program Application Deadline

March 1, 2008 - 12:00 am

Michael H. Hecht, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

March 6, 2008 - 3:30 pm

"The lowdown on icy soil on Mars: The Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) on Phoenix" Abstract: MECA's microscope station, wet chemistry laboratory, and physical properties probe will perform the first analysis of the icy soil of the northern Martian plains in the summer of 2007. Combining optical and atomic force microscopes, the microscopy station will span the size range of airborne dust grains. Four identical chemistry laboratories carry their own water and chemicals to analyze martian mud and determine the soluble ions in the soil. The Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP) will measure permittivity, electrical conductivity, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, temperature, and humidity, and will collectively characterize the state of water in all phases in the ground. TECP also doubles as an atmospheric probe, measuring wind, air temperature, and relative humidity.

Chris Ruf, AOSS

March 12, 2008 - 3:30 pm

"Inversion of Satellite Remote Sensing Measurements by Bayesian Estimation" Abstract: Satellite remote sensing instruments for Earth science estimate geophysical properties of the atmosphere and surface indirectly from radiance and backscatter measurements. The estimation problem can often be expressed as an inversion of a forward model which, when given the exact geophysical state, can predict the measurements. In all practical situations, the inverse problem is severely underconstrained since the number of unknown geophysical parameters far exceeds the number of measurements. Various methods are commonly employed to constrain the inversion. One class of methods weighs the past statistical behavior of the geophysical parameters against the behavior implied by the present remote sensing measurements and makes a decision based on both characteristics. One means of implementing this decision algorithmically is Bayesian estimation. The idea of Bayesian estimation will be reviewed and then applied to the problem of estimating rainfall with a satellite microwave radiometer.

John H. Hoffman, Professor, University of Texas

March 13, 2008 - 3:30 pm

"The Thermal Evolved Gas Analyzer -TEGA- on Phoenix" TEGA consists of two instruments, a set of 8 small ovens, the T of TEGA and an Evolved Gas Analyzer, the EGA of TEGA, a mass spectrometer. Soil and ice samples are dug from a trench in the surface of Mars by the lander's robotic arm and transferred to one of the ovens. Subsequent heating releases dissolved gases from icy samples and from minerals as they decomplse very high temperatures. Elemental abundances nd istopic rations of principal constituents will ve measured. Between oven runs, atmospheric abundances and isotopic ratios will be determined.

Fifth Annual Michigan Geophysical Union Meeting

March 14, 2008 - 10:00 am

The Michigan Geophysical Union is a friendly forum for graduate and undergraduate students to present their current research in various aspects of earth, oceanic, atmospheric, and space sciences. Posters will be judged and one winner will be selected from each of the sponsoring departments. Winners will be presented with a generous monetary award. Students: To present a poster at MGU, e-mail Dan Gershman (djgersh@umich.edu) with the title of your poster, a brief abstract summarizing your research, any class conflicts on the day of the event—so we can work your judging around it—and the name of your advisor by Tuesday March 4, 2008. Please be sure to include “MGU Abstract” in the subject line of your email. Details regarding poster preparations will be made available to you upon receipt of your abstract. Tentative Schedule of Activities: Poster Session 10am to 12pm Lunch 12pm to 1pm Poster Session 1pm to 3pm Poster Awards Presentation 3pm to 3:30pm All faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to attend to learn about the exciting research that is taking place within these two departments.

AOSS March Major Madness

March 19, 2008 - 4:30 pm

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Ralph D. Lorenz, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

March 20, 2008 - 3:30 pm

"Titan Unveiled" Saturn's giant moon Titan has been of considerable interest since the presence of an atmosphere was hinted at one century ago. The NASA-ESA-ASI Cassini-Huygens mission, at Saturn for the last 4 years, has transformed this curious dot in the sky into a remarkably diverse, complex and interesting world, which is in many ways more Earth-like than anywhere in the solar system. This talk will summarize some of Cassini's recent findings with emphasis on the interactions between Titan's surface and atmosphere. These include dune-covered sand seas, river channels that attest to violent but perhaps rare downpours and climate change, hydrocarbon lakes and a changing spin state forced by seasonal changes in zonal winds. Titan's thick atmosphere and low gravity permit a wide range of exploration vehicle types, notably aircraft and balloons. The scientific goals and technical features of vehicles and instruments for future exploration of Titan, perhaps in the next decade's Flagship opportunity, will be discussed.

Ralph B. Baldwin Prize in Astrophysics and Space Science Application and Deadline

March 21, 2008 - 8:00 am

Ralph B. Baldwin Prize in Astrophysics and Space Science competition

Carolyn Kuranz, AOSS

March 24, 2008 - 3:30 pm

Title: Laboratory blast wave driven instabilities on the Omega laser Abstract: This presentation discusses experiments well scaled to the blast wave driven instabilities during the explosion phase of SN1987A. Blast waves occur following a sudden, finite release of energy, and consist of a shock front followed by a rarefaction wave. When a blast wave crosses an interface with a decrease in density, hydrodynamic instabilities will develop. These experiments include target materials scaled in density to the He/H layer in SN1987A. About 5 kJ of laser energy from the Omega Laser facility irradiates a 150 µm plastic layer that is followed by a low-density foam layer. A blast wave structure similar to those in supernovae is created in the plastic layer. The blast wave crosses a three-dimensional interface with a wavelength of 71 µm in two orthogonal directions, at times supplemented by additional sinusoidal modes. This produces unstable growth dominated by the Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability. We have detected the interface structure under these conditions, using dual orthogonal radiography, and will show some of the resulting data. Recent advancements in our x-ray backlighting techniques have greatly improved the resolution of our x-ray radiographic images. Under certain conditions, the improved images show some mass extending beyond the RT spike and penetrating further than previously observed. Current simulations do not show this phenomenon. This presentation will discuss the amount of mass in these spike extensions as well as the error analysis of this calculation. This research was sponsored by the SSAA through DOE Research Grants DE-FG52-07NA28058, DE-FG52-04NA00064.

Nelson W. Spencer Lecture - Dr. S. Pete Worden, NASA Ames Research Center Director

March 26, 2008 - 2:30 pm

"U. S. Space Exploration Program: Opportunities for the Future" In January of 2004 President Bush defined the vision for U.S. Space Exploration. NASA was charged with completing the International Space Station, safely flying the Space Shuttle until 2010, developing and flying the Crew Exploration Vehicle – the Shuttle’s replacement no later than 2014 and with a goal of 2012, returning to the moon no later than 2020, extend human presence across the solar system and beyond, implement a sustained and affordable robotic program, develop supporting innovative technologies knowledge and infrastructures, and promote international and commercial participation in exploration. The goal of commercial participation in exploration is key. We are optimistic this will open the entire sphere of the inner solar system to commerce. It is also worth noting that the impressive new technologies and capabilities we will develop will benefit people on earth. NASA Ames Research Center is playing a key role in support of the Space Exploration Program particularly with the Constellation Program and the LCROSS mission. NASA Ames also plays a key role in both small spacecraft development and with the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). Implementation of the U.S. Space Exploration Program and establishing a program to develop a sustained human presence on the Moon, including a robust precursor program is critical to promote exploration, science, commerce and U.S. preeminence in spaces as well as a stepping stone to future exploration of Mars and other destinations.