Posted on Sep 07, 2009 05:25:04 PM | NASA EDGE | 4 Comments
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BLACK POINT LAVA FLOW, AZ (NASA EDGE PRESS) Life moves pretty fast across the lava flow in Arizona for the NASA Desert Research and Technology Studies Team (D-RATS.) At approximately 7:00am local time, NASA EDGE Set Therapist and Everyman were separated from their more studious counterparts and whisked away to the remote LER testing area by D-RATS taskmasters Joe Kosmo and Barbara Romig for exclusive coverage of the eighth day of a 14 day mission.
NASA EDGE brought back some stunning video and photos, but Ron explained that the pictures don’t tell the entire story.
“It’s really the little things. We were instructed not to interact with the two test subjects. I mean, if they are staring into the sun and claiming that they’re heading North, you don’t correct them. Not that that happened. That was just an example.”
Franklin added, “We are so used to correcting the Co-Host. It was actually a challenge not to interact or intervene. But it’s cool, because everybody learns more by working through the errors and kinks along the way.”
Despite dry heat, malfunctioning communications equipment, uncooperative weather and a relentlessly rugged drive into the desert, the mission is going well and NASA, the D-RATS and even NASA EDGE are learning and making progress.
Joe Kosmo put it best when he said quite simply, “we are out here to learn.”
The LER drives toward some questionable weather. Credit: Ron Beard
Check out the cool observation bubble. Is that Brent in there? Credit: Ron Beard
They don't have full suits, but they are going through all of the important motions. Credit: Ron Beard
This pic would never be taken on the Moon, except for the thumbs up! Credit: Ron Beard
Tags : General
4 comments so far ( Post your own )
- 4
On Oct 30, 2009 04:15:45 AM
Timo
wrote:
Nice pictures.
Those remind me about question of getting to Moon. Why carry everything in single ship from Earth to Moon? Those things don't look light or easy to get to the Moon.
What is the hardest part of the mission? Getting out of Earths gravity well and back in.
So how about building that ship on the ISS instead and using that as base for both start of the mission and end of the mission.
You avoid:
1) risky "all eggs in one basket" thing
2) need to carry everything in single ship out from earths gravity well
3) non-routine trip out of the Earths gravity well
4) non-routine landing back to Earth
you gain:
1) ability to keep the ship for more missions, only refueling is needed.
2) ability to fit it with more payload-efficient ion engines (or what is the most efficient current method of getting high speeds)
3) ability to build it as big as you want it to be without difficulties of getting it out of the Earth
You could have multiple lander-crafts in single ISS-to-Moon and bigger crew than if you try to fit everything in single Earth-to-Moon spacecraft.
etc.- 3 On Sep 27, 2009 10:20:18 PM Zara wrote:
Sorry I haven't been on here for so long. Haha, I love the comment for the last picture! That would truly be a sad sight. Great job; keep up the sensational work!
- 2 On Sep 20, 2009 10:22:59 AM sadhu wrote:
hey nasa I want the video of chandryan 2 project.
- 1 On Sep 09, 2009 01:36:11 AM Monstr wrote:
Very Cool Pictures,
Please show More
R. Price
Cincinnati, Ohio - 3 On Sep 27, 2009 10:20:18 PM Zara wrote:
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