[meteorite-list] FW: JPL/Caltech Float Set to Launch on Rose Parade Mission

From: Greg Redfern <gredfern_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Dec 29 23:11:36 2004
Message-ID: <000801c4ee25$a7290320$110110ac_at_DHRYBX21>

Hi List,

  If you are interested in the Rose Parade make sure you see the links in
the attached.

All the best,

Greg Redfern
JPL NASA Solar System Ambassador
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/index.html
International Meteorite Collectors Association #5781
http://www.imca.cc
Member Meteoritical Society
http://www.meteoriticalsociety.org/
 
-----Original Message-----
From: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory [mailto:info_at_jpl.nasa.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 6:58 PM
To: Greg Redfern
Subject: JPL/Caltech Float Set to Launch on Rose Parade Mission

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Contact: Veronica McGregor (818) 354-9452
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
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Dolores Beasley (202) 358-1753
NASA Headquarters, Washington????????????
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News Release #2004-298 ? ? December 29, 2004
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JPL/Caltech Float Set to Launch on Rose Parade Mission
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A towering 50-foot robot from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) will thrill throngs of
parade-goers lining the streets of Pasadena, Calif., on New Year's Day.
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Resembling a giant transformer toy, the massive float, entitled "Family of
Explorers," honors nine Earth and space exploration missions managed by JPL
for NASA. The robot's arms and legs are adorned with models of each mission.
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The missions include -- the Cassini probe to Saturn; Stardust comet sample
return mission; Jason oceanography satellite; Genesis solar wind sample
return mission; Galaxy Evolution Explorer ultraviolet space telescope;
Spitzer Space Telescope; Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment to measure
Earth's gravitational field; and the venerable twin Mars Exploration Rovers,
Spirit and Opportunity.
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The Mars rovers form the robot's "skates" as it rolls down Orange Grove
Avenue, Colorado Boulevard and Sierra Madre Boulevard. The robot will wow
the crowds with special effects ranging from smoke from the robot's
"rockets" to strobe lights and animation. A remote control Web camera inside
the robot's head will provide an unprecedented view of the parade route.
Views from the Web camera will be on the Internet during the parade
at?http://www.floatcam.caltech.edu .
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"This has been an extraordinary year for us, a great year of exploration and
discovery," said JPL Director Dr. Charles Elachi. "Our intent is to
culminate this year and start the next year with another amazing event. We
at JPL pride ourselves on being one big family, so what better way to
celebrate our recent successes than with this Rose Parade float,
highlighting to millions of people around the world our achievements in
exploration on behalf of people everywhere."
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Hundreds of volunteers from JPL, Caltech, their families and friends, and
some local high school clubs are decorating the float. It is covered from
head to toe with flowers, seeds and other natural materials. Decoration
takes place at Rosemont Pavilion, next to the Rose Bowl. Today and tomorrow
crews are working from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. (PST), and on December 31, as late
as needed, to complete the float.
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The float was designed and built by Pasadena-based Phoenix Decorating
Company and its award-winning designer, Raul Rodriguez. A joint JPL/Caltech
float committee solicited design concepts from the JPL community earlier
this year and then worked with the builder to select the final concept.
Construction began in June. Caltech is funding the float. Caltech manages
JPL for NASA.
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Video and images supporting this story are on NASA TV's Video File (news
feed). Information about NASA TV and link to the Video File is available at:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv .
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Received on Wed 29 Dec 2004 11:11:35 PM PST