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Subject: SPACE Digest V11 #150

SPACE Digest                                     Volume 11 : Issue 150

Today's Topics:
             Laser Fact Sheet (Forwarded)
               Re: Spacecraft on Venus
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 15 Mar 90 04:36:17 GMT
From: trident.arc.nasa.gov![e-mail]  (Peter E. Yee)
Subject: Laser Fact Sheet (Forwarded)

Terri Sindelar                                     March 16, 1990
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Mike Simmons
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.


           NASA'S FIRST MOBILE TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER

     The first of what NASA hopes will become a small fleet of
tractor-trailer mounted mobile teacher resource centers debuted
March 16 in Washington, D.C.

     The mobile teacher resource centers are part of a larger
NASA program, Project LASER.  LASER, in this case, stands for
"Learning About Science, Engineering and Research."

     NASA established the mobile teacher resource trailer to
reach teachers across the United States who would otherwise not
have access to the stationary teacher resource centers (TRC) at
NASA's field centers and at the regional TRCs.

     This pilot program has been developed by NASA's Marshall
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., with corporate
sponsorship, principally for this initial prototype, by Navistar
International Transportation Corp., Chicago, Ill.,
Transcontinental Marketing Exhibits Inc., Lake Bluff, Ill., and
the Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Penn.
Additional mobile resource centers will be developed as the
prototype progresses and further corporate sponsorships
materialize.

     Project LASER is one of the 68 identified NASA initiatives
in response to the goals and recommendations of The Task Force on
Women, Minorities and the Handicapped in Science and Technology.

     "To meet the exploration and research goals in space and
aeronautics levied by the President, NASA must make full use of a
great resource, a highly skilled and talented workforce," said
Admiral Richard Truly, NASA Administrator.  "We must help insure
that students today are well motivated and academically prepared
to help conduct the Nation's future research and development
efforts.  I feel strongly that NASA has a special responsibility
in education for a very simple reason.  Our programs - airplanes,
spaceships, Moon, Mars and astronauts - can get to kids."

     NASA has designed the interior of the trailer with six
teacher work stations, each serving two teachers concurrently.
Each work station is equipped with a computer providing access to
"NASA Spacelink," an electronic information system with a broad
range of information and educational materials of value to
teachers of grades K-12, particularly in the areas of mathematics
and science.  Each work station also is equipped with videotapes
recorder and a monitoring system so teachers can copy from a
large library of NASA educational videotapes.

     In a separate common-use work station at one end of the
trailer, NASA has installed a large library of lesson plans and
activities and photographic slides related to aeronautics,
astronomy and space exploration.  The trailer contains photocopy
and photographic equipment that will allow teachers to copy these
materials for later use in their classrooms.  The mobile center
is staffed by a full-time specially selected mathematics and
science teacher and two technicians.

     "Through the mobile centers, NASA hopes to accomplish three
goals," said J D Horne, Director of the Executive Staff at the
Marshall Space Flight Center, who initiated the mobile teacher
resource center concept.  "First, we want to help teachers
facilitate and enrich science and mathematics education without
adding to their teaching burden.  Second, we want to provide
well-designed, practical and interesting, 'hands-on' activities
essential to get children to put forth the effort necessary to
understand science and mathematics.  Finally, we hope to focus
greater effort on grades three through eight to create and
maintain the necessary interest through positive reinforcement to
sustain the students' desire to learn algebra, geometry,
calculus, biology, chemistry and physics.  We want to show
students that science and engineering courses are not 'too
tough,' or for geniuses only.  To reach the students, we must
first reach their teachers," Horne concluded.  "This is the
ultimate goal of the new mobile teacher resource centers."

      The 22-ton mobile teacher resource center consists of a
deep blue International tractor which was provided by Navistar
and a 48-foot-long, van-style trailer, provided by Trans-
continental Marketing Exhibits.  The trailer, also painted deep
blue, is decorated with a full-color rendition of a Space Shuttle
orbiter flying over the Earth, and carries the logo "NASA --
Project LASER."

     Access to the instructional trailer is via stowable
stairways at the front and rear of the trailer.  A Braun power-
lift at the rear of the trailer allows handicapped persons
access.

     A NASA educator will staff the mobile teacher resource
center and conduct workshops for teachers in order that they may
take maximum advantage of resources available at the mobile
center and through NASA's Educational Affairs Division.

     The need to boost interest in science and mathematics across
the nation is critical.  As President Bush stated in a
convocation ceremony Sept. 28, 1989 at the University of
Virginia, "Education is a way of life.  And educational reform is
an urgent responsibility for every parent, every student, every
community.  And those who do not advance the cause of education
hinder it."

     Project Laser was created as part of NASA's commitment to
meeting this challenge.  In addition to the mobile teacher
resource center, the Project Laser program includes the
development of a space technology course by a team of certified
teachers and Marshall Space Flight Center scientists and
engineers.

     Further, a school in the Huntsville, Ala., area is serving
as a prototype where space science studies are being integrated
with traditional courses.  And, Marshall has recruited a team of
current and retired center and contractor employees who have made
themselves available to make presentations in public schools and
serve as tutors, field trip hosts and consultants to teachers.

     This pilot effort is one of dozens of NASA programs at the
elementary, secondary and college levels intended as catalysts to
American education, particularly in math and science.

     "NASA doesn't assume all students it contacts will want to
become astronauts or space scientists," said Horne.  "We know
most will move on to careers outside science and engineering.
Yet NASA does know that unless America provides itself with a
large enough pool of scientists and engineers, our nation's world
leadership role in science and technology will be seriously
threatened."

------------------------------

Date: 15 Mar 90 02:04:46 GMT
From: cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!b-tech!kitenet![e-mail]  (Russ Cage)
Subject: Re: Spacecraft on Venus

In article <[e-mail]> bnr-fos!hwt%bmerh490 writes:
>TIMMs (Thermally Integrated Micro Modules) are it - a set of ceramic
>and metal vaccuum tubes, sealed and the whole assembly is heated to
>a nice warm red glow.  Heat dissipation - why measure ?  Good 1950's
>technology.

This is neat.  We have 2 vacuum and 2 possible semiconductor
technologies which might be usable on a long-term Venus lander.
Counting them, in order of (likely) availability date:

1.)    TIMMs
2.)    SiC semiconductors (maybe doubtful, but they are high-temp)
3.)    Field-emission cathode micro-tubes (or whatever they're called).
4.)    Diamond semiconductors (probably much higher temp than SiC)

The first has the advantage that they're available now, the second and
fourth that they'd have much lower power dissipation and you could make
better computers out of them, and the third might be available very
soon and share some of the advantages of #1 along with real small size.

Now all that is necessary is a power supply.  These are all devices
which (will) require electricity, what will work at Venus temps?
Are Peltier junctions available for RTGs which can run at 800 F on
the *cold* side?  What about rectennas to receive beamed power from
a (higher, cooler) balloon-borne probe?  (If we can make an 800 F
transistor, we can make an 800 F Schottky diode, I bet.)
--
  I am paid to write all of RSI's opinions.  Want me to write some for you?
[phone]        Forewarned is half an octopus.
Russ Cage, Robust Software Inc.            [e-mail]

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End of SPACE Digest V11 #150
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