[X] My Assistant

[mars loon]

Today we celebrate and enjoy 900 SOLS for Spirit at Gusev



That marks 10 x the design lifetime

An incredible milestone and CONGRATULATIONS to the entire team on the Mars Exploration Rover mission from the US, Germany, Denmark and around the world.

Enjoy the gamut of Mars Exploration at the 2006 MARS DAY event at the The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, DC on Friday July 21, 2006.

detailed info and schedule at these links

http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=497
http://www.nasm.si.edu/marsday/

http://www.nasm.si.edu/marsday/marsdaysched.html

there are wonderful activities planned for all ages and interests. Scientists and volunteers including myself (at the Viking display station) will be on hand to interact with the public, one on one, and answer questions. If you are in the area please stop by the Viking display and say hello and see a full scale model of the RAT too.

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/ceps/etp/m.../viking_MOF.gif

See a full scale rover model at the MER station

http://media.nasm.si.edu/webimages/640/SI2005-2062-4_640.jpg

Enjoy Mars on Earth for a day.

ken kremer

[David]

Enjoy the gamut of Mars Exploration at the 2006 MARS DAY event at the The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, DC on Friday July 21, 2006.

I popped by the NASM for Mars Day -- didn't see mars loon however. Had fun chatting with the people I did see. Said some unkind things about the accuracy of the MER model they've got there. Talking over Viking was more fun, though my direct memories of Viking are very fragmentary. NASM's Mars Day sort of got subsumed under all of their birthday celebrations (and of course just their normal day-to-day operations).

Recommendation to anyone visiting NASM: even if it is 90°F+ outside, bring along a jacket! They keep the place absolutely frigid inside.

[mars loon]

I popped by the NASM for Mars Day -- didn't see mars loon however. Had fun chatting with the people I did see. Said some unkind things about the accuracy of the MER model they've got there. Talking over Viking was more fun, though my direct memories of Viking are very fragmentary. NASM's Mars Day sort of got subsumed under all of their birthday celebrations (and of course just their normal day-to-day operations).

Recommendation to anyone visiting NASM: even if it is 90°F+ outside, bring along a jacket! They keep the place absolutely frigid inside.

HI David, All

Well I've just returned from a superlative experience at MARS DAY 2006. I was stationed at the Viking lander with a Viking engineer from the morning until about 1 PM with the RAT and a display table of pictures and 3-D viewing right in front of the lander. Then, the next shift took over and set up a different display on the landing site selections and I walked around to assist with other activity stations. sorry to have missed you David.

At the Viking station we had a constant stream of people. So it was non stop action for us and my voice was starting to get a bit hoarse. If anything I was warm from the adreniline flow and the excitement of conveying the exploration of our favorite planet to the masses.

The event was well attended by thousands and I hope to post some pictures shortly. A few reporters also took pictures of our Viking display station and they focused especially on the crowds of kids and adults for my 3-D talks. Please let me know if anyone sees coverage in the papers.

Please note that the MER display model was built by Cornell students and was not intended to be an exact replica. Did you notice the RAT hole model at the base of the display case which was donated by Honeybee Robotics?

This was the 30th anniversary of the Viking 1 landing on 20 July 1976 as well as the 30th anniversary of the museum. The magnitude of the musem and its many displays is overwhelming, but in a truly magnificent way for anyone interested in reaching for the Stars !!

ken

[mars loon]

Mars Day 2006: 21 July 2006

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
30th Anniversary of Viking 1 Landing at Chryse Planitia on 20 July 1976

Schedule of Activities here:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/marsday/marsdaysched.html

Some photos from my participation at the Viking Lander and some activities elsewhere

Below is an overhead shot of MARS DAY 2006 showing the Viking Lander (left center) located at the main museum entrance and our display table as it appeared in the afternoon. A full-scale working model of the Mars Pathfinder Sojourner rover is a bit below and to the right of the Apollo 11 Command Module


This view shows the full scale Viking model (proof test article) in back of my morning display of classic Viking images. Lander instrumentation visible include: the Cameras, S-band high gain antenna, Meteorology boom and sensors, Biology lab, GC-MS (gas chromatograph mass spectrometer), and Descent engines. The display pictures included just three of my favorite current 3-D images (left center, and use your anaglyphs) to compare with all the classic Viking images


Kids and adults enjoying 3-D


The RAT grinds away, rather effectively

Thats my full scale RAT model from the generous folks at Honeybee. Carl Sagan is pictured in the image located just below the RAT, from his COSMOS series as he stands next to this exact Viking model (proof test article)

Never underestimate the power of 3-D to attract a steady crowd and bring Mars to life



A ground level view of Sojourner, located right next to the Viking display


In the afternoon, I wandered over to help at the museum's large 3-D display


a terrific day for all

ken