| Space - The Final Frontier |
| November 26, 2011 |
| The George Washington Carver Science Fair in Philadelphia Dr. Bernard Anthony Harris, Jr. (born June 26, 1956 in Temple, Texas) is a former NASA astronaut. On February 9, 1995, Harris became the first African American to perform an extra-vehicular activity (spacewalk), during the second of his two Space Shuttle flights.On Friday, March 11, 2011, Dr. Harris was presented the 2011 George Washington Carver Award at the Awards ceremony of the George Washington Carver Science Fair held in the auditorium of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PAGeorge Washington Carver (1864-1943) was an agricultural chemist, botanist, and scientist, humanitarian and outstanding American ...Despite the many obstacles which confronted him in his native Alabama at the time, Carver managed to gain an education. His creative genius, which blossomed at the Tuskegee Institute, allowed him to discover over 300 products which he derived from the peanut and the sweet potato. His scientific work aided both the agriculture and economy of the South. The George Washington Carver Science Fair in Philadelphia Pennsylvania is named in honor of the late Dr. George Washington Carver. The Science Fair founded by a group of educators and busines spersons in 1979, encourages urban youth to pursue academic achievement and careers in science... And that was the message Dr. Harris the 32nd recipient of the George Washington Carver Award sought to convey to an audience consisting primary of science fair entrants and award presenters. Dr. Harris said that he grew up in the suburbs of Houston believing that he was an infinite being having an infinite purpose. That no one could stop him from achieving his god- given infinite purpose. And then he suggested to the Science Fair participants that they too were infinite being having an infinite purpose. That like him they should not allow anyone stop them from achieving their god-driven purpose. Therefore, he advised these impressionable young people to study hard to learn as much as they can to achieve their infinite purpose in life. Stating the same case in a different manner, Sister Esther Hat, IHM, coordinator, math and science, office of catholic education of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia also tried to impress on the students the need to study hard and imply themselves to their chosen fields to achieve success in life. The Science Fair is jointly sponsored by Temple University, The Academy of Natural Sciences, The School District of Philadelphia, and The Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Carver Fair is open to all students in grades four through twelve who attend Philadelphia County public, charter, parochial, and private schools, as well as to home schooled students residing in the county. Since its inception, over 30,000 students have participated in the Fair and have, in many cases, moved on to compete in the Delaware Valley Regional and Intel international Science Fairs. The George Washington Carver Science Fair is administered by a group of volunteers representing universities, school districts, corporations, foundations, and other organizations, It is funded by grants, donations, in-kind support, and individual gifts. People can help the administration of the George Washington Carver Science Fair by: • Becoming a member of the George Washington Carver Science Fair Committee; • Underwriting the award medals, program printing; judges’ meals and parking, or other Carver Fair expenses; • Making a mometary donation to the George Washington Carver Science Fair; and • Offering a Special Award at the Elementary or Secondary Fair. The Philadelphia Area Space Alliance is one of the many organizations that contribute to the success of the Science Fair by offering the James A. Chestek Award on the Elementary and the Oscar Harris Award on the Secondary Level …Special Judges for PASA are charged to look for projects that will promote the space science and technology that can lead to the goal of human habitation of space and the bodies in it. Up to this year PASA limited itself to giving one project entrant an award on the elementary and secondary level. But Special Judge Dennis Pearson impressed with the quality of the entrants provided the funding to award an additional prize on both the Elementary and Secondary level. PASA is an umbrella organization of area space activists who want to open up the space frontier to everyone. PASA's history dates back to the 1970s, when it was originally formed as the Space Future Society. This society later became known as L5 Philadelphia, a chapter of the L5 Society.(The 'L5' referred to a reference point in space near the Moon well suited for a space colony.) When the L5 Society merged with the National Space Institute, the National Space Society was born, and the local space chapter became NSS Philadelphia. To facilitate networking between space groups, NSS Philadelphia expanded to form the Philadelphia Area Space Alliance in 1995. This year, PASA remembers the 50th anniversary year of the first men in space: 1961-2011:Yuri Gagarin April 12, 1961 One orbit; Alan Shepard May 5, 1961 Sub orbit. Judging for PASA’s James H. Chestek Award took place February 25, 2011 at the Academy of Natural Science . PASA members Mike Fischer and Dennis Pearson served as the Special Judges for the group to award the prize to the student or students that in the opinion of the Special Judges made the best application of space science and technology in their projects ... 1st Place went to a boy whose project name was Model Rockets: Big versus small ... 2nd Place was awarded to a girl whose project was named: How can I Demonstrate Materials that are protected by a Magnetic force field... There were a over 500 Science Projects judged... Out of those we selected seven students to interview .... One very nice project was thrown out because the student obviously received excessive help from a tutor or his parents ... Now there is nothing wrong with the student receiving help but unfortunately the student was not briefed on how to explain his project ... In fact, he performed very poorly in explaining what the project was about ... Fact is, only the 1st place prize was on topic of the Award's purpose ... But some of the other projects we looked at might have space science applications and we asked that very fact ... What applications did their projects have if applied to space science and technology. And if an entrant was able to think out of the box to make the connection they received high marks for that connection. Judging for PASA’s Oscar Harris took place March 8, 2011 at the Student Pavilion on the grounds of Temple University near Broad Street … PASA member Dennis Pearson from the Lehigh Valley served as the lone Special Judge for PASA as the other scheduled Special Judge became ill and could not get to the event. This was the first year that Pearson had served as a Special Judge for PASA. Pearson for the National Space Society on May 20, 2011 servde as Chair of the NSS Chapter Assembly at the International Space Development Conference in Huntsville Alabama. He also has assumed the role of Region Coordinator for all NSS Chapters in the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia and the City of Washington D.C. Science Fair Projects on the Secondary level that best met the criteria for the award were: 1) A 11th grad girl completed a project on How to become a nAlien ... She speculated through researched theory what star systems would have planets similar to earth that would be capable of supporting ... She did not mention the Kepler results in her written presentation but did mention it in her oral presentation .. 2) An Eighth grade girl in a project called Ready, Set, Go Green built a solar paneled buggy which could operate on sun light or artificial light ... When asked she knew she could apply her project to our Mars Rovers and other Rovers... If there was an honorable mention it would have gone to a 10th grade boy who produced a good project entitled Growing Oak Trees on Mars …. Then there was a good project by a Middle School Student which explored the solar winds relationship with the earth’s magnetic poles and the shield that protects us from these solar winds from the sun. |
| NSS - Philadelphia Area Space Alliance (NSS -PASA) is an umbrella organization of area space these groups: American Institute of Architects (AIA) The Mars Homestead Project Philadelphia Science Fiction Society (PSFS) Planetary Society ProSpace Space Frontier Society Space Studies Institute (SSI) World Future Society (WFS) NSS-PASA's history dates back to the 1970s, when it was originally formed as the Space FutureSociety. This society later became known as L5 Philadelphia, a chapter of the L5 Society. (The 'L5' referred to a reference point in space near the Moon well suited for a space colony.) When the L5 Society merged with the National Space Institute, the National Space Society was born, and the local space chapter became NSS Philadelphia. To facilitate networking between space groups, NSS Philadelphia expanded to form the Philadelphia Area Space Alliance (PASA) in 1995. In 2011, due to new I.R.S requirements PASA became NSS- PASA to receive a new tax ID number to retain our 501(C)3 status as well as remain in good standing with the National Space Society, At NSS-PASA, our goals are to: Generate broad, visible public support for a vigorous space movement; encourage private enterprise efforts in space research and development, invigorating the economy with the benefits which result; Support educational efforts related to space research and development; Create opportunities for public involvement in space development and research Members of PASA believe that the best ways to be sure we can solve our problems on Earth are: to develop cheap sources of solar power, instead of using fossil fuels; mine the asteroids, instead of the Earth; take our manufacturing processes to the Moon and beyond,instead of polluting the Earth; and provide new living spaces for humanity. We believe that the government-funded Space Program should evolve into a free-economy-funded Space Movement. Human destiny is too important to be left to governments alone. Our mailing address: PASA, 928 Clinton St. #6, Philadelphia, PA 19107 Earl Bennett (President), Phone: (856) 261-8032 (H), E-mail: earlisat@verizon.net Mitch Gordon (Public Relations POC), Phone: (215) 625-0670, E-mail: mfgordon@excite.com |
| A Honeymoon Cruise to the Moon (A Near-Term Fiction) by Ronnie Lajoie, edited and expanded by Dennis L. Pearson Picture this ... You have just gotten married and you and your new spouse begin your honeymoon by boarding a commercial space shuttle owned and operated by Vigin Galatic to take you into Low Earth Orbit. The US Federal Aviation Administration had given the green light for the world's first commercial spaceport in New Mexico in December 2008. And since then, a number of other commercial spaceport's developed as the industry became viable and prosperous. The present year is 2031. After performing a maneuver or two, your shuttle accelerates to rendezvous with a passing space cruise liner, a giant rotating space hotel with all the luxury accommodations of the best hotels and Casinos on Earth. The Space Cruise liner a joint venture between Bigelow Aerospace and the Disney ompany. The next step would be for the shuttle to dock with and join the space cruise liner (this one named the Burt Ratan) on its week-long journey to the Moon and back ... This journey in a more basic way was taken by U.S. Government employees at least 8 times between 1968 and 1972. Six of these trips resulted in 12 U.S Citizens setting foot on the Moon and 6 others sightseeing above in Low Moon Orbit , Two of these trips involving six other individuals were Moon swing-rounds - one intentional and one unintended. Concerning the intentional swing-round, our most seasoned citizens remember the inspirational Christmas reading of the Genesis Story while on board cameras transmitted lunar and earth pictures back to Earth . Concerning the unintentional swing-round, a trip that should had landed 2 additional Americans on the Moon, but instead held Americans and the world in suspense as an on board explosion canceled the Moon landing and made those fellow human beings on planet Earth wonder whether the Apollo 13 astronauts would get home safely. The married couple ( husband and wife , spouse and spouse) disembarks the Shuttle and immediately follow other passengers to the nearest observation window to watch their home planet Earth slowly recede. After several hours of planet-gazing and cuddling, the two them finally pull themselves away from the window long enough today to check into their room. An unique room that can automatically expand from its original dimensions and detract to its original dimensions to accommodate the amount of people that enter it or leave it. The Reservation Clerk told the Couple that they had a reservation for a room on the "Sands of Mars Level," where centripetal acceleration from the rotating ship equaled the gravity of the planet Mars -- and where there was a beach party held there every other night! Then the Clerk added that the Couple ( Mr. & Mrs Louis D'Amore } still had not decided on what level to consummate their marriage: "Earth," "Mars," "Moon," or "Zero-G" --- Perhaps all four! Why not, the Couple had all week to enjoy these experiences or sensations. Of course, being adventurous, the couple decided to have their first dinner on the "Zero-G-Level... What a big mistake that was ... Oh well! ... At least the folks at the other table forgave them and laughed about it.... And the staff assured them that the wine stain could be removed.... Has anyone seen how the waiters and waitresses working for the 1950's style Sonic restaurant serve their orders while skating on roller skates, well up here in the Zero-G-Level it was fun to see the waiters literally swim in a weightless environment to and from each table. But of course, by the end of the trip, the couple is really glad that they can have a nice "normal" morning cup of coffee on the good old "Earth Level". That's just the way it is ... Even on Earth a group of American and Canadian Tourists visiting China welcomed the menu choice of a genuine hamburger after eating for days on end the same Chinese Menu choice. The inflexible Chinese Tour Guide had planned yet another repetitive Chinese Menu choice when faced with a mini-revolt , suddenly had to become flexible to avoid losing control of their clients. But at the same time warned his clients to be back on the bus at the planned time or else. What next for the couple on the Cruise liner? Why not give a go at bowling on the "Lunar Level." In 1/6th Gravity how wacky can these games be? And boy, You should see how far these pins fly! Perhaps not as far as Alan Shepard's unauthorized Golf Shot on the Moon. But what is obvious they split and fly much further then what they would do on Earth. Then afterwards, the Couple will find an observation window pointing at the Moon to do more gazing and of course, more cuddling. Then its on to Beach Party # 1 back on "Mars Level." On Day 2, the passengers of the Rutan were required to participate in an Evacuation Drill, so that everyone on board would know how to get to the nearest lifeboats in case of a serious emergency. This is no different then what ocean going cruise liners put their passengers through. Except lifeboats on the space cruise liner must be prepared to deal with issues that are quite different then issues that must be dealt with by ocean liners. These Crew Escape capsules were developed by Boeing . Each lifeboat must have enough fuel and supplies on board to sustain life all the way back to Earth; however, the nominal plan is to dock one at a time with one of the larger Earth return shuttles, like the one that brought the current passenger including the newly married couple here. As the days progress, more and more time is spent by all passengers watching the Moon as it grows larger and larger in the observation windows. Then on the day of the closest approach , there is a final briefing on the Close Pass Thrill Ride which includes the usual warning for children and people with weak hearts, The married couple and the other passengers are asked at this briefing whether any of them would change their mind about going. Sarah and Louis D'Amore say:" No way, We're going for it. " According to the schedule, Mr & Mrs D'Amore climb aboard a smaller lunar shuttle - this one would have no wings and would look like two fat sausage links: a passenger compartment and a separate fuel tank and engine section. A second shuttle just like the one being used is on standby in case of an emergency. Then your shuttle leaves the cruise liner and performs an orbital maneuver to head closer to the lunar surface. Meanwhile, the cruise liner passes the Moon at its optimum distance for a free return to Earth as the tiny lunar shuttle descends closer to the Moon and takes the adventure seekers on board on a trill ride of one's life. The large, thick lunar glass window, held firm by strong metal straps, gives the group a wide field of view that only astronauts have while space-walking. Your Lunar shuttle pilot identified craters, industrial and educational sites which could be seen on your way towards the surface - including the Gary Larsen Far Side Observatory and the University of Tranquility School of Economics and Technology at Steelworkers Bay - but eventually becomes quiet to focus on piloting, Since the moon has no atmosphere, your lunar shuttle is going to get Really close with no resistance, and it would be moving so fast that at its closest approach the landscape may become a blur...What does a cowboy say on a bucking horse? ... Yee- Hah ... That is what Louis D'Amore said in an very excited voice as his shuttle reached its closest approach to the Lunar surface. As it happened, the Orbital arc of the lunar shuttle took it back up from the surface, and after another orbital maneuver it rendezvous and docks back with the space cruise liner. Said Mrs,, the daughter of Peter Sweyer said "Wow." Over dinner at the Lunar Lagoon Polynesian restaurant, the D'Amore's meet an elderly couple who stayed on board the cruise liner during the closest approach and who had a lovely view of the far side of the Moon. The couples share experiences and agree to exchange photographs back on Earth ... Oh did I tell you that the D'Amore's had the privilege of speaking to and sitting with former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. As president, Obama had canceled the government's effort to get back to the Moon to stay and then go on to Mars. His new direction for NASA was said to be more robotic, but he promoted an effort to go to Mars and the Asteroids. As far as the Moon, his attitude was that we did that, done that... But that was some twenty years ago ... But now the year is 2031 and Obama's goal of getting to Mars is vastly behind schedule ... Nevertheless he had hoped that the new Commercial space business would pick up the slack in Low Earth Orbit and beyond... Eventually the Commercial Space Business developed the capacity to go to Low Earth Orbit and to the Moon. However, this development occurred for other reasons then Obama's approach. Of interest Bill Nye, the Space Guy , offers us an insight why the government's exploration space program preceded on a very slow course unseen in the space program since its inception. He wrote in June 2011 that the politicians had botched it again putting our future in space at risk...According to Nye the U.S Congress had shackled NASA with a rocket designed by committee ... Literally worse, the design was based on benefits to the Congressman's districts, not on sound engineering or benefits to science, exploration or to our future. Nye charged that In 2010, Congress passed a law specifying that NASA must build a new heavy-lift rocket out of parts originally designed for the 30-year old space shuttle and the Ares rocket that the administration already canceled? Why! So industries in their districts could manufacture the same old parts and fit them together. As it happened NASA tried to build a powerful new deep- space rocket capable of launching explorers to other worlds, and as a result was forced to make technical decisions driven by politics, not sound engineering. And disgustingly, when NASA pointed out the flaws in Congress's mandate, they are told, "Its. the law." Nye charged the U.S Congress had gotten away with that absurdity due to the lack of leadership in Washington . And also, that the Obama Administration had been complicit, content to go for the easy compromise, letting vested interests set the path into space, while precious opportunities pass us by because NASA was forced to waste money while going nowhere. And according to Nye, for NASA it got worse citing the fact that the same ill-conceived legislation that forced our space agency to waste billions of dollars building a rocket out of 1970's parts had triggered a new crisis for the Obama Administration's 2012 Budget as proposed. That Budget proposed:
Which caused Nye to speculate or suggest that this would be the beginning of the end for space exploration ... Not only for the United States but also for NASA's international partners who counted on the U.S. to keep its part of the bargain. Then he added with disgust that the International Space Station Station would be the furthest reach for human explorers for the foreseeable future. Becausegone are any concrete plans to return astronauts to the Moon or send them on to Mars. Nye sadly believes the flow of scientific creativity and technical innovation cannot be turned on and off like a spigot. To make progress, there must be sustained support. NASA has been charged with exploring and innovating, but Congress and the Obama Administration routinely turn the spigot on and off and then seem outraged when NASA failed to meet its schedule and expectations. But as it already was said eventually the Commercial Space Business developed the capacity to go to Low Earth Orbit and to the Moon. However, this development occurred for other reasons then the short-sighted and Obama's and Congressional approach. Now back to our much delayed Honeymoon cruise to the Moon ... After some Zero-G dancing under some major moonlight, the D'Amore's then venture over to the Crater Copernicus Casino on the Lunar Level where you could have fun with low gravity Craps and Roulette. With the Moon now receding and the Earth growing every hour, it was time to return to the observation windows frequently. Of course the main reason for people taking this cruise would be to see for themselves what once only the Apollo astronauts saw. Video recordings and virtual reality just cannot compare with the intense feelings that all this is actually happening in real time. On Departure day, it is time to say good-bye to newly met friends and take one last look out of an observation window at the rapidly approaching blue-green and swirly-white marble called Earth. Then all passengers climb aboard the same Earth space shuttle that brought them here. The D'Amore's notice that some of the passengers are returning cruise liner staff. One of them tells the D'Amore's that the shuttle is carrying some non-recycable waste products from the cruise liner that will be jettisoned and burned up in the atmosphere during reentry. Once the shuttle undocks from the cruise liner, all eyes watch as it sails away to once again journey around the Moon. And then too, all eyes strain to see the space shuttle that is taking the next batch of guests as the space liner, but that won't happen until the cruise liner has rounded the planet. All eyes strain for a glimpse of an orbiting space station, but space is big, even in Low Earth Orbit, and the shuttles return trajectory is designed to stay well away from orbiting satellites and stations. Certainly, reentry is fun, once one can get over the nervousness of seeing orange plasma engulf the shuttle. The reentry loads are not as high as launch, and since all returning guests had spent their last two hours on the cruise liner on the Earth level, they are less uncomfortable during reentry. Landing is made at a Spaceport ( this case, the Queen City Space Port in Allentown Pennsylvania without incident , and all passengers get a quick check up while waiting for their luggage. Out in the parking lot, the D'Amores both seek the car with the just married foam logo still on the windshield. .... There it is ... No, that's someone else's. After the D"Amore's find their car, they spot more just married logos on other parked cars. In amazement, the D'Amore's said :Gee, quite a number of newlyweds must be taking the honeymoon cruise to the Moon. But Nye would say .... The Politicians by their botched decisions in regard to government space programs did provide short-term aid for the commercial development of space but in the long-term hindered a quick march into space for non-government commercial interests which sponsored these honeymoon cruises \ |
| Dennis Pearson served as chair of the NSS Chapters Assembly at ISDC 2011 in Huntsville Alabama |
| Oak Tree On Mars By Jason Fontaine ---Employee United Space Alliance An Oak tree on Mars Without cityscapes, noise or cars Let’s plant An Oak tree on Mars Might the roots take hold ... This tree might grow The branches reach high Into a red, dusty sky Magnificent would this be Without restraint No salty seas Only to be Lost amidst the endless stars As a lonely, the only Oak tree on Mars In this seed from a thought of a dream Nothing impossible today it seems Swaying against a dusty, red wind Dreams are lost if held within Plant them. Watch them grow Into the endless horizon we shall go Dreams will take root for all to know An Oak tree on Mars Let's watch it grow Beyond the politics - beyond the budget restraints and all that is said in and out of the media - we have a space program and what it means to all of us. This is a story I told my children. No, I'm no engineer. No, I'm not an astronaut. I don't make "decisions". But, I'm inspired. If even the tiniest of inspiration can accompany the human condition - anything is possible. Maybe, even - an Oak Tree on Mars. Think about it. Everything of value in this world has a cost. We equate this cost, mistakenly with a monetary value. However, the best things in life are priceless. I believe our space program is one of those things. |