[meteorite-list] NASA Kicks Off Asteroid Simulation; Media Invited to Observe

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:43:53 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <201208211643.q7LGhrmn014121_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

Aug. 21, 2012

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck at nasa.gov

Brandi Dean
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
brandi.k.dean at nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-156

NASA KICKS OFF ASTEROID SIMULATION; MEDIA INVITED TO OBSERVE

HOUSTON -- A simulated mission to an asteroid is under way at NASA's
Johnson Space Center in Houston. Journalists are invited to learn
about the test and technologies on Thursday, Aug. 30.

Media will be able to learn about the test and see the technologies up
close. Reporters interested in attending should email Brandi Dean at
brandi.k.dean at nasa.gov. International media must apply for
credentials by 5 p.m. CDT, Aug. 23. U.S. reporters should respond by
5 p.m. Aug. 29.

The Research and Technology Studies (RATS) test, a 10-day asteroid
exploration simulation in Johnson's Space Vehicle Mockup Facility,
kicked off this week. As NASA makes plans to send humans to asteroids
by 2025, RATS and other mission simulations provide the agency with a
way to test new operations, concepts and exploration techniques to
influence the future of exploration.

The 2012 RATS test will use several technologies to simulate life and
work on the surface of an asteroid. A crew of five scientists and
flight controllers in pairs will take turns sleeping, eating,
exercising and working inside the cabin of the multi-mission Space
Exploration Vehicle (SEV) for 3 days and 2 nights at a time. They
will evaluate the cabin's displays, controls and views with the help
of a video wall that contours around the vehicle's windows displaying
a simulation of the asteroid surface as they steer across it.

Outside of the SEV, crew members will participate in simulated
spacewalks on the asteroid surface using Johnson's virtual reality
laboratory and its Active Response Gravity Offload System. The
laboratory uses a virtual reality helmet and gloves to simulate
movement on a virtual asteroid surface. The system suspends
astronauts from a specialized crane designed to offset their weight
and simulate microgravity.

The team will use these technologies to evaluate various modes of
movement during spacewalks while the SEV-based crew members assist
from inside the vehicle. A team of flight controllers and scientists
also will support the tests from the nearby Mission Control Center,
with a 50-second, one-way delay in communication between the two
groups to mimic what astronauts working on an asteroid would
experience.

For information about the RATS tests and links to follow the mission
on Facebook and Twitter, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/desertrats
        
-end-
Received on Tue 21 Aug 2012 12:43:53 PM PDT