In This Edition

Exploring the Cosmos

Part 1: Learning from the Cosmos

Part 2: Going in to Space

Part 3: Tools of Discovery

Questions & Answers

Prof. Claude Canizares

Prof. Dava Newman, SM '89, PhD '92

Cady Coleman '83

Paul Filmer, PhD '92

Christopher Carr '99

Shana Diez '02

Carl Dietrich '99

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Going in to Space

When the Hubble Space Telescope's third gyroscope failed, NASA decided to send a shuttle Discovery crew up to fix it. Mission specialist John M. Grunsfeld '80, an astronaut who has logged 834 hours in space since 1992, participated in two space walks that replaced all six gyroscopes and made other key repairs.

"I realized that I'd been training for this mission nearly all my life. I started studying astronomy and physics at MIT, learning how to build hardware and to work on telescopes," Dr. Grunsfeld told Tech Talk. "I developed an X-ray astronomy instrument for a high-altitude balloon mission. I also got exposed to spacecraft operations as a controller for MIT's X-ray burst experiment on the SAS-3 satellite."

MIT Supports Human Exploration

Besides training future astronauts, MIT scientists are contributing new knowledge about how to thrive in space. A key question is what are human mechanics and energy requirements when gravity is less or more than Earth's? Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics Dava Newman's Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Dynamic Modeling and Simulation research project is working on computer-based simulations of astronaut motions during EVA tasks. Working in the Man Vehicle Laboratory, she has developed dynamic simulations of handling payloads and other actual tasks. Lecture notes and simulations on her website describe key concepts in her course, Aerospace Biomedical and Life Support Engineering, a quantitative approach to studying the problems of physiological adaptation to weightlessness.

"When freely floating about in microgravity we need to adapt to this new environment and it seems to take about one month before astronauts really have their 'microgravity sea legs'," says Newman. " In my course, we cover how the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and neurovestibular systems adapt to the weightless environment of space as well as space suit design, exercise, and artificial gravity." (Read more in an interview with Prof. Dava Newman.)

Getting humans into space is a complex task itself. Aero/Astro's Space Systems Laboratory, working with NASA and industry leaders, is developing technology and systems analysis for small spacecraft, precision optical systems, and International Space Station technology research and development.

MIT students are already working on bringing business to space. The MIT Mars Team is one of five finalists set to compete in the NASA Means Business student competition that is designed to integrate customers in mission planning for its 20-year Mars Exploration Program. The MIT entry, 2020 Vision: An Educational Outreach, focuses on bridging the information gap between NASA and U.S. students.

go on to Part 3: Tools of Discovery

NASA Administrator to Address Commencement Daniel Goldin, who has led NASA through four presidential administrations, will speak at MIT June 8.

Motion Sickness is Real Issue Aero/astro research provides tips for coping with motion sickness, whether you're a summer traveler or an astronaut.

Space Stations--Now and in the Future A student web site conceptualizes the next step for space stations and their role as an integral component to space research.

History of Manned Space Flight Visit this online timeline, 1950-2000.