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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

TRACE and it's Open Data Policy

25 March 05 - Seems like NASA will pull the plug out of the very succesful TRACE solar satellite. Due to budgetary cuts, this may already happen in September 2005. See the message from the American Astronomical Society / Solar Physics Division, that, on top of all the TRACE-achievements, also discusses a number of upcoming solar missions.

The Transition Region and Coronal Explorer is a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) mission to image the solar corona and transition region at high angular and temporal resolution. The TRACE project maintains an Open Data Policy: all data are available from our data archives (see below) to the science community as soon as the spacecraft data have been processed. Fast access to TRACE imagery.

The TRACE site here: vestige.lmsal.com/TRACE/

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Now, here is something refreshing and welcomed. All data freely presented to the public upon request. Why can't NASA establish this for all it's missions? But of course, TRACE's days are numbered.

[starbux]

Why should NASA fund any new missions if it cannot maintain current projects still producing valuable data?

Soon NASA will become the snake that devours itself.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Yea....

NASA needs an intense reorganization, top to bottom, and install people with gumption, vision and backbone.

ESA will soon be the number one space explorers if NASA doesn't get it's act together. Let's hope the Shuttle mission in May is 100% successful and boosts moral over there.

[Maddad]

It's an issue of money, people. Each year. NASA isn't a company that has its own financial resources. Congress has to vote them the funds. Each year. If congress doesn't, then NASA has to cut programs.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Quite true.

What I found very interesting from watching "From the Earth to the Moon" recently is that Senator Walter Mondale had desires to curtail NASA greatly...if not wanting to shut it down all together. Every election has it's small minds.

I applaud and have become very fond of Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) in challenging the poor decision to scuttle the Hubble. So far out of 100 senators, she has been the only one to support NASA and it's space exploration efforts.

The majority of people feel that money spent on space exploration is squandering funds. Firstly, the money isn't loaded into buckets and launched into space...forever lost. It's reinvested into the economy and fosters new technology. Even if we just got Tang out of it. Secondly, it is always brought up that we should address Earthbound problems first. This is a dead end attitude, as human created problems will always exist among us and no amount of money will ever solve it, until mindsets of the ignorant desire change, but I don't see it changing anytime soon.

I feel that space exploration should be a national industry such as computers, auto making and television are now. Preparing kids early on to enter the space industry should be offered as easily as teaching languages.

The returns on the money spent on such efforts would be satisfactory.

[starbux]

I feel that space exploration should be a national industry such as computers, auto making and television are now. Preparing kids early on to enter the space industry should be offered as easily as teaching languages.

But I think the space exploration industry needs to be de-nationalized. Without diversity in the marketplace, the jobs won't be there. Continuing to look towards NASA and congress to bring us the bright future in space that we've all idealized only insures that the bright future will continue to remain --- in the future.

Continuing the same schtick for years and years has brought us to the reality that we have today. If you're happy (and I mean REALLY happy) with the way things are then great. But if not, then it's time that we recognize that NASA has outlived its usefulness. Let congress pull the plug on NASA entirely. We will find another way, a better way. And we'll be thinking outside the box.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

You do make logical sense....

But, I'm still stuck in the glory days of NASA and American pride of the can-do attitude of the space program.

I really don't want to see a Starbucks symbol on space faring scraft or that this flight was brought to you by Budwieser. But, at the same time, I had no problem with PanAm and their suborbital passenger flights to come, (circa 1960's). Remember 2001: A Space Oddessy? How odd.

I read somewhere that a solar sail like spacecraft is planned for the main objective of selling advertising space...to be seen high above our heads.

Urrggh!...

[starbux]

Chicago said:

I really don't want to see a Starbucks symbol on space faring scraft or that this flight was brought to you by Budwieser. But, at the same time, I had no problem with PanAm and their suborbital passenger flights to come, (circa 1960's). Remember 2001: A Space Oddessy? How odd.

(

Too bad you feel that way but its not a perfect world. So IF the ONLY means of making space access affordable to the average citizen consumer required the subsidiery of advertising or large corporations, then you would rather scrap the whole concept and keep us remaining where we are now?

Our current system of tax-funded (meaning you are being FORCED by the state to pay for it whether you agree with a program or not) space efforts only means that the bureaucrats -- not you, get to decide what kind of future you will have in space. Corporate sponsered space MUST deliver on what is demanded by its consumers or it will founder very quickly. In a free market space economy people would not be forced by the government to pay for a particular industry. They either give us what we want, or we don't buy it, period.

As for intrusive ads in the sky that might contribute to light pollution, I think there are enough of us out there that we'd be po'd enough to boycott or threaten to boycott such a company and its services. Perhaps even sue for some trespass over properties on the ground. Unless of course, the government grants them an exclusive license that would protect the company from such actions --- then it's the fault of the government, not the free market.

[Centaur]

"I feel that space exploration should be a national industry such as computers, auto making and television are now."

By national do you mean nationalized (which they are not) or commercial? Are you referring to TV sets (not many made in USA) or program production (which is being concentrated into a few big national firms and led to my layoff.)

Those industries at the forefront are there due to market forces. If people are willing to buy what they produce, then naturally they are successful. Space exploration must continue to prove its worth, either to taxpayers, consumers or academic institutions. It has done so in many ways in the past, most notably in the realm of communications. But the public constantly needs to be convinced in the face of other priorities.

Do you recall the visionary 1950 George Pal sci-fi film, "Destination Moon"? It imagined a concentrated effort to reach the Moon through private enterprise, not government funding. However, Cold War competition motivated JFK to ask Congress to foot the bill for a Moon landing.

OK, Uncle Sam gave the era of space exploration a nice jump start. If it is to continue, however, other institutions (corporate or academic) will have to take the lead as NASA dwindles in importance. If people really want those things that space exploration may provide, they must be willing to shell out hard earned money to those who will do the work.

If sufficient people are not convinced of the need, then it falls upon true believers to sharpen their arguments or come up with the cash themselves. Government cannot do it all without taxing the nation out of existence, while trying to please all who desire goodies. That was the root cause of the downfall of Rome. Had they been more economically efficient, their empire may have developed institutions that could have placed a man on the Moon by the year 1000.

Afterthought:
My, my, we have gotten political here. Perhaps that critic at astronomy.com actually knew what he was talking about.

[Maddad]

Chicago said:

The majority of people feel that money spent on space exploration is squandering funds.

Ask these people if they like all their electronic gadgets that use printed circuit boards. That's a spin-off from space exploration. We developed them to save weight. As a byprodut, EVERYTHING electronic today uses them. The return on the investment already has paid for space exploration many times over.

starbux said:

Our current system of tax-funded (meaning you are being FORCED by the state to pay for it whether you agree with a program or not)

On the contrary. You don't like paying for it? Vote that government official out of office. We're paying for it because the elected officials believe that at least 50% of the people want it.

starbux said:

Corporate sponsered space MUST deliver on what is demanded by its consumers or it will founder very quickly.

Who's demanding that? An isolated few fringe group individuals. Corporations who try to deliever on that become non-corporations by way of bankruptcy.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

And we are now seeing private enterprise take it's first steps into space. Already there are advanced sales for civilian flights into space and a number of companies gearing up for it. I would have thought Buzz Aldrins's group would have made it first, but it was not to be.

*Everybodies got an opinion, and not a thing wrong with that, except when the person making the statement becomes a target, gets flamed and a sour mood sets in. Democracy means all voices are heard, regardless of how insane, stupid or out of the norm it may be interpreted as. I read them all, open to most and welcome the interaction.

The forum reflects what's on the minds of it's members, and freeflow dialog should never criticized. Lively conversation is what makes a topic interesting and colorful, instead of bland dry repeats of generic science. That's why we have personal observations, personal experiences and thoughts on various subject matters through this forum - from all who wish to post. There is at least a 40 to 1 ratio of lurkers to posters according to my daily stats and I don't want yesmen/women, all nodding in agreement. As long as it's astronomy and space related, it's cool.

I am locking this thread at this point, but if anyone wishes to continue it, (many good points), please do so in the "Soapbox" Board.

Thanks...

. Perhaps that critic at astronomy.com actually knew what he was talking about

Naw, can't please them all. ..Next!