Watch Deep Impact live from NASA TV

Watch NASA TV online -Deep Impact Schedule Expected Impact time: July 4, 1:52 am EST NASA launched Deep Impact space craft on Jan 12, 2005 to study Comet Tempel 1. Well the trick is as it approaches the comet on July 3rd, some where near Mars, the craft will separate into an impactor and a fly-by probe. The former will go head-on and hit the comet while the latter would grab some close-shot pictures. Links: NASA Mission – Wiki – Space.Com - Planetary Society

Mission Facts Science Objectives

Deep Impact is part of the low-cost Discovery program of NASA missions. Its overarching goal is to increase our understanding of how the solar system formed by studying what a comet is made of. By digging into the interior of the comet, scientists hope to reach pristine material that reflects the composition of the solar system when the comet formed billions of years ago. The specific mission objectives are:

• Strike Tempel 1 with the impactor
• Observe how the crater forms
• Measure the crater’s depth and diameter
• Measure the composition of the interor of the crater and of the ejecta that is spewed out of the crater
• Determine how the outgassing from the comet changes after the impact

Deep Impact’s science will mostly be accomplished in a very short period of time, within the couple of days before and after the impact occurs.

Mission Information

• Launch: January 12, 2005
• Location: Kennedy Space Center
• Launch Vehicle: Delta II
• Impactor separation: 06:00 on July 3, 2005 UTC (11:00 pm on July 2, PST)
• Encounter: 05:50 on July 4, 2005 UTC (10:50 on July 3, PST)
• Impactor approach velocity: 10.2 kilometers per second (22,800 miles per hour)
• Flyby S/C closest approach: 500 km (310 miles)
• End of Mission: August 3, 2005

Spacecraft Details

• Spacecraft mass:
  • Total: 1020 kg
  • Flyby Spacecraft: 515 kg
  • Instruments: 90 kg
  • Fuel: 86 kg
  • Impactor: 364 kg (49% copper, 24% aluminum)
  • Impactor fuel: 8 kg
• Spacecraft size:
  • Body: approximately 3.2m (126″) long, 1.7m (68″) wide, and 2.3m (92″) high
  • Impactor: 1m diameter
  • Solar panels: about 2.8m square
  • High gain antenna: 1m diameter
• Impact mechanics:
  • Relative velocity between impactor and comet: 10.2 kilometers per second (22,800 miles per hour)
  • Impact energy: 19 Gigajoules (equivalent to 4.5 tons of TNT, or to the amount of energy used by an average American household in one month)
  • Period: 117 minutes
• Mission cost:
  • Development and construction: $252 million
  • Mission operations: $15 million
  • Launch: $??? million

Spurs are NBA 2005 (World :) ) Champions!

Spurs lost in Game6 and got me worried. However, they turned the game around in the last quarter and won Game7. Tim Duncan is the MVP. Also in 1999, 2003 when Spurs won the championships. Duncan performance had been poor in Game6 and the first half of the Finals. Luckily he came around in the second quarters and delivered what ever it takes. Its funny that all national championship events in US are pompously referred to World Series. In fact Ginobili happens to be the only player in basketball history to win the European Cup, an Olympic gold medal, and (two) NBA Championship rings. This is how critics put it,

“Ginobili has summoned the power to will every man on the court towards him and appear as though they are mauling him. Regardless, he plays within the rules, which makes his style more ingenious than injustice.” – Ami Gavarian, Gainesville Weekly

Sethu Samudram project finally takes off

All along, I didnt know Indian ships had to navigate all around Sri Lanka for the coast to coast movements. I assumed such a canal or a natural sea passage already existed between India and SriLanka. Its a shame that we did not take this canal project seriously so far when the cost estimates were spiralling upwards. It is expected to save nearly 30 hours shipping time by cutting over 400 km off the voyage. Adam’s Bridge: is still the barrier. It is a 30 km long 2 million year old narrow and shallow ridge made up of sand and rocks connecting Dhanushkodi and Mannar (Sri Lanka). So, in the days of Ramayana, we did have a delicate land route to Sri Lanka. (Its myth is still unresolved, I presume) Sethusamudram work to start on July 2 Rediff, India – 4 hours ago Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the work on the Sethusamudram Canal Project on July two, Union Minister for Shipping and Surface Transport, TR … PM to inaugurate work on Sethusamudram Project on July two Press Trust of India PM to kick off ship canal project July 2:- Webindia123 Sethu project logo released News Today Chennai Online – all 5 related »

From Wikipedia, on Rama’s Bridge

Spurs win the Game5 NBA Finals !!

Today’s NBA Final was worth watching all along. Spurs & Pistons scored 89:89 at the end of the 4th quarter. In the first 2-3 minutes of the overtime, Pistons scored a 4 pt lead. Finally, Spurs fought back to a 96:95. I cant forget that last 2 minutes of the game. Robert Horry turned out to be CinderellaMan in the last quarter as well as the over time. Manu Ginobili rocks. Duncan lost it in the last quarter and was kind of less-confident or was it the ankle problem.. This is the best game I’ve ever watched. (Not that I watch often )

Teleporting over the internet

Wow. Is it not time for something like that. Now that WebCams are a big hit, why not go one step further and go 3D.

Computer scientists in the US are developing a system which would allow people to “teleport” a solid 3D recreation of themselves over the internet.