| The Heliospheric Magnetic Field, the Solar Wind & the Interstellar Medium |
[Jun. 19th, 2008|07:00 pm] |
JPL's Office of Communications and Education is proud to present the 2008 Theodore von KᲭᮠLecture Series.
This month, please join us for:
"The Heliospheric Magnetic Field, the Solar Wind & the Interstellar Medium"
Presented by Dr. Edward J. Smith, NASA Project Scientist, Ulysses Mission
Thursday, June 19th in the Theodore von KᲭᮠAuditorium at JPL |
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| JPL Edward Stone Award for Outstanding Publication Seminar |
[May. 20th, 2008|11:30 am] |
JPL Edward Stone Award for Outstanding Publication Seminar
Detecting Tsunami Genesis and Scales Directly from Coastal GPS Stations
Dr. Tony Song
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
11:30 am
180-101
Abstract
Different from the conventional approach to tsunami warnings that rely on earthquake magnitude estimates, we have found that coastal GPS stations are able to detect continental slope displacements of faulting due to big earthquakes, and that the detected seafloor displacements are able to determine tsunami source energy and scales instantaneously. This method has successfully replicated three historical tsunamis caused by the 2004 Sumatra earthquake, the 2005 Nias earthquake, and the 1964 Alaska earthquake, respectively, and has been compared favorably with the conventional seismic solutions that usually take hours or days to get through inverting seismographs. Because many coastal GPS stations are already in operation for measuring ground motions in real time as often as once every few seconds, this study suggests a practical way of identifying tsunamigenic earthquakes for early warnings and reducing false alarms.
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| The Southern Ocean: Small Window – Big Impact on the Global Deep Ocean Circulation |
[May. 15th, 2008|12:00 pm] |
The Southern Ocean: Small Window – Big Impact on the Global Deep Ocean Circulation
Dr. Michael Schodlok
Thursday, May 15, 2008
12:00 noon
Von Karman Auditorium
Abstract
The Ocean covers more than 70% of the Earths surface and regulates the Earths climate. 90% of the total volume of ocean is found in the deep ocean below the thermocline (separating warmer surface and cold deep waters). As the deep ocean is not well mixed the temperature ranges between 0-3 degrees Celsius.
Various physical processes lead to dense water masses which are essential as driving force in the global ocean circulation. One of the major source regions can be found on the continental shelves of the Southern Ocean.
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| The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR): A New View of the High Energy Universe |
[May. 14th, 2008|11:00 am] |
The JPL and Caltech Seminar Series
sponsored by
the Office of the Chief Scientist and Chief Technologist
presents
Fiona Harrison
Caltech Professor of Physics and Astronomy
PI of NASA NuSTAR Mission
"The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR): A New View of the High Energy Universe"
Wednesday, May 14
11:00 AM to 12:00 noon
Conference Room 180-101
The high energy X-ray band is an under-exploited window on energetic phenomena in the Universe. It is an energy regime where massive black holes shine, where the remnants of recently exploded stars glow from radioactivity, and where the largest cosmic particle accelerators emit time variable radiation. To-date, however, our view of the high energy X-ray sky has been limited by the poor sensitivity and low resolving power of X-ray telescopes that operate above energies of 10 keV. The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) is a Small Explorer mission that will achieve a combination of sensitivity, angular, and spectral resolution unparalleled by the largest observatories flown in this band. By using new X-ray optics, detectors, and a deployable structure NuSTAR will undertake observations that will elucidate the evolution of massive black holes and how massive stars explode. This talk will provide an overview of the science and describe the technological advances that make the mission possible.
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| The Key Role of Systems Engineering in Reaching the Energy and Environment Dream |
[May. 12th, 2008|12:00 pm] |
Monday May 12th, 2008
JPL: 167 Conference Room 12-1
We are privileged to have a distinguished speaker for the next in a series of talks on alternative energy. Our speaker is Marija Ilic, Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She is an expert on Power Network Systems Engineering. She will be giving a talk on "The Key Role of Systems Engineering in Reaching the Energy and Environment Dream."
Abstract
Alternative energy--Marija Ilic, Carnegie Mellon University professor of electrical and computer engineering and of engineering and public policy, will speak at noon in the 167 conference room. She will discuss new and different ways electric power systems will be operated in the era of deregulation; the impact of how increasing amounts of renewable energy, often from multiple small sources, will make itself felt and will require further changes; and how control and communications technology must adapt to improve technical and economic performance. |
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| The 39th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium |
[May. 7th, 2008|08:00 am] |
The 39th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium
May 7-9, 2008 in Huntsville, AL, USA 39th Symposium Program The Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium is concerned with the problems of design, fabrication, test, and operational use of aerospace mechanisms. Emphasis is on hardware developments. The symposium provides both a social and technical forum for personnel active in the field of mechanisms technology, as well as providing a source of information for others with an interest in this field. The symposium is sponsored by the Mechanisms Education Association. It is hosted by National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Lockheed Martin Space Systems. The symposium site rotates among eight NASA centers and the symposium attracts papers and attendees internationally. |
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| Measuring Your Carbon Footprint |
[Apr. 1st, 2008|12:00 pm] |
"SCIENCE 101"
A SCIENCE LECTURE SERIES FOR THE NON-SCIENTIST
Measuring Your Carbon Footprint
Dr. Charles Miller
Deputy Principal Investigator of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
12:00 noon
von Karman Auditorium
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas. Current concentrations of atmospheric CO2 far exceed pre-industrial values found in polar ice core records of atmospheric composition dating back 650,000 years. The primary source of the increased atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide since the pre-industrial period results from fossil fuel combustion. Learn how the soon-to-be launched Orbiting Carbon Observatory will provide space-based observations of atmospheric CO2 and enable us to quantify worldwide carbon emissions.
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| Large Deployable Mesh Antenna Overview |
[Mar. 10th, 2008|03:00 pm] |
The Division 35 Noontime Seminar Series
presents
Speaker: Mark Thomson
Instrument Engineering Section
Mechanical Systems Division (35)
Topic: Large Deployable Mesh Antenna Overview
Date: Monday, March 10, 2008
Time: 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: 167 Special Events Room
Abstract:
JPL is pursuing three Earth Science Missions, the success of which will depend upon large deployable mesh reflector antennas for their mission instruments. One such mission, Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), is a NASA directed mission that will be funded for Phase A very soon. These missions are JPL's first serious attempt to utilize deployable mesh reflectors since Galileo. Since that time there have been many new developments and much heritage gained, primarily on commercial satellite missions worldwide. This briefing attempts to summarize the status and history of deployable mesh reflectors, briefly describe how the most viable vendor's hardware works, and touch upon its unique application to the SMAP, DESDyNI and XOVWM projects.
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| Enceladus: An Active Ice World in the Saturn System |
[Mar. 5th, 2008|12:00 pm] |
Special Division 35 Noontime Seminar
Speaker: John Lin
Lead Design Engineer
ILC Dover Inc
Topic: High Tech Softgoods in Recent Space and Planetary Exploration Applications
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Time: 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: 79-16
Abstract:
The Vision for Space Exploration for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to return humans to the Moon by 2020 in preparation for further exploration to Mars and beyond. There is strong interest in utilizing engineered softgoods in many of the systems envisioned for lunar missions and other aspects of the architecture. Softgood and inflatable structures can enhance or replace metal and composite structures to achieve better system performance in terms of mass, packing, and deployment reliability. In the past four years, through various funding and contractual mechanisms including IR&D, CR&D, Innovative Partnership Program (IPP) and external contracts, ILC has supported many leading developments for high tech softgoods with their associated system applications.
This presentation will highlight the work performed by ILC Dover on recent space applications with discussion of expandable/deployable habitats, Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) landing bags, reentry ballutes and decelerators, planetary airship and balloons, a sunshield for cryogenic fuel storage, and the advanced spacesuit. This presentation will also cover recent work in material technologies including performance characterization of high strength fabric and webbing (pack, deploy and environment), radiation protection, structural health monitoring, self-healing, electronic textiles, and flex circuits.
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| JPL Chinese New Year Luncheon |
[Mar. 3rd, 2008|12:00 pm] |
AAC 2008 Chinese New Year Luncheon, March 3 Please join the JPL Asian American Council (AAC) in celebrating the Year of the Rat: 2008 Chinese New Year Luncheon Monday, March 3, 2008 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. von Karman Auditorium Price: $18 per person (Cash Only) Menu: Braised Eels (Catered by Chef Wang) VIPs: The newly crowned 2008 Miss Los Angeles Chinatown 2nd Princess Karin Lin, 4th Princess/Miss Photogenic Jody Chan, and Miss Friendship Tiffany Kwong will also join us. MC: Vivek Babtiwale, our very own JPL local celebrity. You may have seen him on shows such as ABC Good Morning America, American Inventor, YouTube, etc. |
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| Where in the World Will Our Energy Come From? |
[Feb. 28th, 2008|07:00 pm] |
Attended this with Mimi, Kevin, and Peter.
The von Kármán lecture series offers the public a front-row seat into exciting JPL-managed missions, significant science findings and futuristic technologies being developed at the Lab for NASA. The free monthly series, named after rocket pioneer and JPL founder Theodore von Kármán, takes place at JPL and Pasadena Community College. The lecture is also available via a live webcast or web archive.
| This month’s lecture: | | Where in the World Will Our Energy Come From? | | Summary : | | Where in the world will our energy come from? What would it take for the world to get away from fossil fuels and switch over to renewable energy? It takes more than willingness to buy a Prius or to install solar panels on your roof. If we want to use wind, solar thermal, solar electric, biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal energy it will take a lot of planning, and willingness on the part of governments and industry. It takes R&D investment, a favorable price per unit of energy to get anyone to produce alternative energy, and plenty of resources to create those energy sources.
| | Speaker : | | Dr. Nate Lewis
George L. Argyros Professor of Chemistry, Caltech
| | Location: | | Thursday, February 28, 2008, 7p.m.
The von Kármán Auditorium at JPL
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA |
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| Enceladus: An Active Ice World in the Saturn System |
[Feb. 25th, 2008|11:30 am] |
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE COLLOQUIUM
Enceladus: An Active Ice World in the Saturn System
Dr. John Spencer
Southwest Research Institute
Monday, February 25, 2008
11:30 am
von Karman Auditorium
One of the most dramatic results from the Cassini mission has been the 2005 discovery of active ice volcanism on Saturn's small moon Enceladus. The discovery was made by multiple Cassini instruments, and demonstrates the power of the spacecraft's rich science payload to illuminate this completely unexpected discovery. Tidal heat derived from Enceladus' interaction with Saturn is somehow concentrated under the south pole of the moon, and escapes along a series of fractures which are also the source for huge jets of ice, water vapor, and other gases. These jets create an enormous ring of fine ice dust around Saturn, the E-ring. It even is possible that liquid water exists under the south pole, providing a potential habitat for life. Cassini is about to embark on a series of eight close flybys of Enceladus which will directly sample the dust and gas jets, and will image the active south polar region in unprecedented detail, promising deeper understanding of this remarkable phenomenon.
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| Supercomputing at JPL |
[Feb. 14th, 2008|01:00 pm] |
Supercomputing at JPL, an IT Lunch-and-Learn Seminar
with Chris Catherasoo, Manager
JPL Supercomputing and Visualization Systems
Thursday, February 14 - 12 noon to 1 p.m. - 180-101 conference room
Attend this talk to learn about resources that enhance the ability of JPL engineers, technologists, scientists, and their collaborators at other institutions to accomplish computationally intensive tasks. Chris Catherasoo will describe the history of supercomputing at JPL, the hardware and software currently available, recent accomplishments, and future plans. |
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| Introducing a new web-based materials properties database for lab-wide use |
[Feb. 13th, 2008|12:00 pm] |
The Division 35 Noontime Seminar Series
Speaker: Dr. Jong-ook Suh
Advanced Electronic Packaging Engineering Section
Enterprise Engineering Division (37)
Topic: Introducing a new web-based materials properties database for lab-wide use
Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2007
Time: 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.
Location: 167 Special Events Room
Abstract:
A chronic problem facing JPL designers is that vendor-supplied materials data sheets are often unreliable and do not cover materials properties throughout the ranges of extreme environmental conditions encountered in space applications. Throughout the years, JPL has gathered huge amounts of materials data through testing and experience, but it is accessible only to a very few people, residing primarily in paper form in cabinets and personal files. During FY 07, a joint effort between section 374 and division 35 resulted in the construction of a web-based database that will be the repository for this large amount of institutional knowledge. This database enables users to archive their data and share it for lab-wide use. In the database, data entries are categorized under an intuitive materials tree structure that users can browse by their category, and also offers a search function. In this presentation, the materials database will be introduced with a demonstration. |
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| A Hydrothermal Solution to the Concentration Problem of the Origin of Life |
[Feb. 7th, 2008|12:00 pm] |
A Hydrothermal Solution to the Concentration Problem of the Origin of Life
Professor Dieter Braun,
Noether Group on Dissipative Biosystems, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich
Thursday, February 07, 2008
12:00 noon
180-101
Life's origin is one of the most fundamental scientific puzzles. While we increasingly understand the intriguing structures that molecular evolution has provided, the first evolutionarily active molecular machines are hidden in the dark of Earth's history.
Chemistry is a good guide to understand the synthetic pathways of life's molecules. However it often neglects the role of boundary conditions to drive life from out of equilibrium conditions. We show recent experiments which provided evidence that the simple boundary condition of a thermal gradient in porous rock gives a straight forward solution to two fundamental problems of the origin of life.
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| How Life Began in Our Water World Over 4 Billion Years Ago |
[Feb. 4th, 2008|12:00 pm] |
"SCIENCE 101"
A SCIENCE LECTURE SERIES FOR THE NON-SCIENTIST
The Science Division (32) is continuing its monthly, 45-minute, all-Lab "Science 101" lecture series on Monday, February 4.
We encourage our Technical and Business Operations Colleagues to come and hear about the exciting work your science family does at the Lab.
How Life Began in Our Water World Over 4 Billion Years Ago
Dr. Michael Russell,
Senior NASA Research Fellow
Monday, February 04, 2008
12:00 noon
von Karman Auditorium
Abstract
Join Dr. Michael Russell as he journeys back in time over four billion years ago to when the world was young - to a world without land, except for solitary volcanoes that poured carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and into the all-enveloping and turbulent ocean. Hot springs bubbled into the ocean, and the ocean churned with a carbonated water that was slightly acidic. Conditions were ripe for life to begin. Living cells were created when hydrogen joined with carbon dioxide and ammonia. Life continued to evolve to where we are today - and, like our ultimate ancestors, we humans still like to bask in these conditions. (We still enjoy the steady flow of warm water, and even like our shower gels to be a bit acidic!) Come learn the evidence for his theory that the origin of life did indeed begin in this warm, submarine setting.
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