Stargazers can now track space station<\/p>\n
By Lim Tri Santosa<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): There is definitely a lot of satisfaction
\ninvolved in predicting where and when a satellite will appear and
\nthen to actually observe it. Very soon you ask yourself whether
\nyou can do more with these satellites than just looking at them.
\nThe answer is yes and it is twofold.<\/p>\n
A new website (http:\/\/liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov\/) developed at
\nNASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is
\nmaking it easy and exciting for enthusiasts across the country
\nand around the world to catch a glimpse of the orbiting facility.
\nThe \"Where is the International Space Station?\" site lets users
\nidentify the orbiting space station and determine in advance when
\nit will pass over their hometowns.<\/p>\n
The site relies on a sophisticated, Java-based program called
\nJ-Pass, developed by Patrick Meyer, a data systems engineer at
\nthe Marshall Center.<\/p>\n
J-Pass displays user-friendly tracking information provided by
\nthe North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). It permits
\nsite visitors to track not only the International Space Station
\nbut also the Russian station Mir, space shuttle missions and the
\nHubble Space Telescope, including real time orbital positioning
\ndata of the Indonesian Palapa satellite.<\/p>\n
The International Space Station is a cooperative endeavor by
\nthe United States and 15 other nations. It is the largest
\ninternational space construction effort in history. Orbiting at
\nmore than 200 miles above the Earth, the space station is quickly
\ngrowing into one of the brightest permanent fixtures in the night
\nsky. Currently consisting of the American connecting module
\n\"Unity\" and the Russian control module \"Zarya\", the station
\ncircles the planet approximately 16 times per day, traveling at
\n17,500 mph (around 8 km per second) in an orbit varying from 208
\nto 285 miles from Earth.<\/p>\n
Because it reflects sunlight, the space station often looks
\nlike a slow-moving star as it crosses the sky. That deceptive
\nappearance can fool a casual viewer but it also makes sighting
\nthe station easier if one knows when and where to look. The best
\ntime to catch a glimpse of the space station is near dawn or
\ndusk, when the viewer is in near-darkness and the passing station
\ncontinues to reflect light from the rising or setting Sun.<\/p>\n
NASA's websites provide users with optimal visibility times
\nfor their locations. When construction is complete, estimates
\nsuggest that the 470-ton \"city in space\" will be brighter than
\nthe planet Venus. Access to NASA websites requires a Java-enabled
\nbrowser, such as recent versions of Netscape Navigator or
\nMicrosoft Internet Explorer. For viewers without a Java-enabled
\nbrowser, the websites include other methods for obtaining
\nsighting information. Johnson's Skywatch site contains a text-
\nonly list of sighting opportunities, while Marshall's site
\nfeatures an automated mailing list option. Subscribers to the
\nlist are notified by e-mail of upcoming satellite passes.<\/p>\n
Simply log onto the Internet and the computer will tell you
\nwhen the station will pass over your home. It will be easy to use
\nfor everyone. Once you find the location of the station, your
\nadventure will begin and you'll probably be surprised by what you
\nsee. The Internet sites below provide predictions of where and
\nwhen to look for the space station.<\/p>\n
Meyer said: \"The space station is fairly bright right now.
\nIt's almost as bright as Polaris, the North Star.\" And as more
\npieces are added to the station, particularly the massive solar
\npanels, it will become even brighter.<\/p>\n
The International Space Station will provide an orbital
\nlaboratory for long-term research, where one of the fundamental
\nforces of nature, i.e. gravity, is greatly reduced. In addition,
\nworld class research in biology, chemistry, physics, ecology and
\nmedicine can be conducted using the most modern tools available.
\nCommercialization of space research will allow industries to
\nexplore new products and services. Finally, the result of such
\ninnovation will create new jobs here on Earth and in space.<\/p>\n
While some experiments will take place inside the space
\nstation, others will take place externally. These experiments
\nwill help reveal the effects of long-term exposure to the
\nexternal space environment. Earth observations will allow
\nresearchers to study changes to our environment whether they are
\nnatural or by human causes.<\/p>\n
One thing: Don't expect to view the station for a long time.
\nMeyer said: \"The longest the station will be over your home will
\nbe about 10 minutes, also don't expect to make out the station's
\nshape; all you will see is a bright, darting object.\" But getting
\na quick glimpse of the largest multination engineering project
\never undertaken will be worth it. You'll see space history in the
\nmaking.<\/p>\n
Want to have a nighttime look at the orbiting International
\nSpace Station, where astronauts and Russian cosmonauts will live
\nand work during the next few years? It lets you identify the
\norbiting space station and determine, in advance, when it will
\npass over your hometown. For more information on tracking the
\nstation, go to Marshall's \"Liftoff to Space Exploration\" website,
\nhttp:\/\/liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov\/, Johnson's \"Skywatch\" website,
\nhttp:\/\/spaceflight.nasa.gov\/realdata\/sightings\/ and
\nhttp:\/\/spaceflight.nasa.gov\/realdata\/tracking\/<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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