The Michigan Daily-Friday, January 19, 1979-Page 9 'U' HELPS SEND SPACECRAFT ON THEIR WAY: NASA blasts off into 1979. By TIMOTHY YAGLE An American space fleet, already scattered across the Solar System as 1979 begins, is ready for a year of the most wide-ranging planetary ex- plorations ever attempted. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), still basking in the success of its triuimphant and con- tinuing satellite probe of Venus, laun- ched last year. It is also commanding an armada of other space probes that will hopefully solve some of the mysteries of the Solar Sysltem that have puzzled scientists for centuries. THE VIKING and Venus spacecraft will continue their surveys of Mars and Venus respectively. The Voyager spacecraft will cruise toward close en- counters with Jupiter and Saturn. American spacecraftwill apparently have the Jovian (non earth-like) planets all to themselves this year because the Soviets ented their ex- plorations of the planets with two visits Hof their own to Venus. The Soviets have composed mostly of hydr helium. Cameras installed on V began examining it and seve: moons last week, Voyage within 174,000 miles from J March. Voyager 2, trailing ship, is due there in July. "tSaturn-a golden globe1 its equator by its famous "ri be observed by Pioneer 11 a year, 11/2 billion mile jour spacecraft will pass between a space first as it flies b Pioneer will also study Tit Saturn's 10 moons. Almostt Earth, Titan is seen by some as a likely place to search terrestrial life because similarities to Earth. * Venus, the Earth's sister wrapped with swirls of clo make its surface temperatu 900 degrees Farenheit. NASA HAS SENT severals "NASA has dubbed 1979 as the of the Planets hopeful that ti and space off e exploration ficia is of 0 ogen and Almost no water is present on Venus. Donahue says this is one mystery the Voyager I Pioneer-Venus should clarify. NASA ral of its 13 scientists believe water was present on r will be the surface at one time. Scientists want upiter this to find out where the water went, if it its sister- was there to beging with, he added. THE DIFFERENCES between hugged at Venus and the Earth can be explained, ings," will by large motions in the atmosphere," after a six- Carignan explained. Like Earth, rney. The Venus' climate is controlled by the the rings, clouds that hover over the-surface, but y Saturn. there are fewer local weather an, one of variations on Venus than on Earth, he the size of added. For that reason, scientists say r scietra-Venus offers a way to test climactic for extra- theories that have been developed to fit of its circumstances on Earth. *And finally, Mars, the red dot r planet, is currently visible in our easternnight uds which sky. This rust-colored planet, which has ire around been the fascination of science-fiction writers for years, has been under the spacecraf- eye of two Viking landers since July 20, 1976. Unfortunately, no life has been discovered around the two landing spots, but this does not mean life doesn't exist on Mars. Both landers, like the Venus probe, are still sending back weather reports and other infor- Year mation. This ultra-busy year of space ex- are ploration should climax in laste 1979 with the maiden voyage of the manned the r Space Shuttle. THE SHUTTLE, designed as the Sts to workhorse of the current U.S. space program, will revolutionize near-earth here, space travel and cut the cost of space flight expenditures, says James Loudon, the Exhibit Musem's staff astronomer. The plane-like spacecraft could be used for more than 100 flights and is scheduled to be launched in December. One of its first missions is repor- er-Venus I tedlyu to change the attitude of the =long orbit Skylab and boost it into a higher orbit. nation and But due to its current high-drag at- day to be titude, its rapidly losing its altitude and could plunge to Earth before the shut- re virtual tie's debut flight. different," Continuing problems with the three chairman main engines has been the primary heric and reason for the repeated postponement nt (AOS). of the first shuttle launch. o "under- THE UNIVERSITY'S Aeospace nuch from Engineering department is also ac- tively participating in the Shuttle well as the program. Prof. William Powers is on North designing the all-important re-entry ed in the guidance system while the Aerospac al parts of Engineering department is conducting .diometerfa space system design course for ret and a students interested in designing a shut- ll study tle payload to be launched possibly in y 1982. he Space After 1979, both Voyagers will fly by tion of Dr. Saturn in the next few years and Voyager 2 is scheduled to reach Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, possibly in 1986. Following its mission at Saturn, Pioneer 11 will continue on its endless and silent trek to the stars, It carries a metal plaque engraved with the image of a man, a woman and the astronomical location of the Earth in case any civilization in a far corner of the Solar System happens to encouter it. planets' atmospheres will help scientis understand better the Earth's atmosp weather, and climate." Vanessa Redgrave's Fili "THEPALES TINIAN" Friday Jan. 19, Saturday Jan. 20 7:30 pm both nights Angell Hall Auditorium B Admission $1.50 Sponsored by: PALESTINE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK RECORDING PRODUCED BY LEONARD ROSENMAN DANDSAUL ZAENTZ Composed and Conducted by LEONARD ROSENMAN TWO-RECORD SET LOR-1 AVAILABLE ON FANTASY RECORDS AND TAPES A FANTASY FILMS PRESENTATION Released thru United Artists not planned any other Jovian probes for this year, according to space experts, but Soviet space flights are seldomly announced in advance. NASA has dubbed 1979 as the "Year of the Planets" and space officials are hopeful that the exploration of other planets' atmospheres will help scien- tists to understand better the Earth's atmosphere, weather and climate. The data may also provide clues as to the origin, evolution and future of our Solar System. "THIS IS BY no means a mundane endeavor," said Donald Rea of NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California. "Space is one of the few frontiers we have left and there's a lot to explore out there. It's an adventure, an escape . . . from our everyday existence. The "grand tour" of the Jovian planets includes: * Jupiter-a colorful giant 1200 times bigger than the earth and encircled by bands of white, gold and brown dust. It is the largest of all the nine planets in the solar system and five times farther from the Sun than the Earth. Jupiter is ts to the bright planet. Pionee is currently locked in a year and will send valuable inform pictures back to Earth every analyzed by NASA scientists. "The Earth and Venus a twins, yet they are greatly d said Prof. Thomas Donahue, of the University Atmosph Oceanic Science Departmen American scientists want to stand why Venus differs so m Earth." THE AOS department, as w Space Physics Research Lab Campus are actively involv Pioneer-Venus project. Severa the probe, including a ra which measures temperatur spectrometer, which wi radiation, "were built-at th Research Lab under the direc George Carignan. Donahue, along with AOSl drew Nagy, who has been a with the ambitious project s will be members of the NASAt will analyze the data sent bac th. $18.9-9 Now Showing At A N N A R B O R 523..E. Liberty 994,E8031: 514% E. William ((upstairs) 668-1776 Prof. An- associated ince 1971, team who k to Ear- ~(******************* * "GimmeaD * Gimme an A Gimme an 1 l... L ...Y Give the MICHIGAN DAILY that old college try. CALL 764-0558 to order your subscription Come browse through our Green House CICIREL I'S GREEN HOUSE " A Large Selection of Hanging Baskets & House Plants includ- ing Green Plants, Cactus & Succulents * Macrame, Pots, Ceramics, Soil & Accessories 7330 Geddes Rd., 482-8205 (N. of Ypsilanti, 2 miles E. of US 23) l eJ. ,// ? :i a 4" WILL A TO GROW. Dataproducts Corporation is the leading independent manufacturer of line printers selling directly to major computer companies worldwide. We are recruiting for our two California locations, in Santa Clara and Woodland Hills, and our Wallingford, Connecticut Division. Dataproducts will be interviewing on campus: Monday, January 29,1979 Expanding business has created professional career opportunities in our California locations of Santa Clara and Woodland Hills and in our Wallingford, Connecticut division in the areas of: * ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING " MECHANICAL ENGINEERING * MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING * COMPUTER SCIENCE ENGINEERING We offer an outstanding benefits package, including tuition reimburse- ment, paid Christmas/New Year week holiday, liberal vacation plan, profit sharing and stock ownership plan, paid medical/dental/life insur- ance, credit union and, long term disability insurance. If you are unable to meet with our recruiter on campus, please forward resume to: DON HUTCHISON College Relations Coordinator ... -nn -..~. ... . nA'IA I Q. WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN YOU FIND OVER 40 NUCLEAR RESEARCH FACILITIES ON ONE "CAMPUS"? A. In Idaho, at E G WHE RE YOUR CAREER HAVE ENORMOUS ROOM 11 E G & G is the operating contractor for the Department of Energy's vast Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). The INEL, our campus, covers about 900 square miles and employs some 7,000 people, of whom roughly 4,000\hold degrees. If you plan a career in NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY, NUCLEAR REACTOR SAFETY OR DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES, the INEL offers you a virtually unique world located amid some of the most beau- tiful, unspoiled mountain and forest lands in the nation. We have openings and are hiring personnel in the following areas: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING " NUCLEAR ENGINEERING GENERAL ENGINEERING * METALLURGICAL ENGINEERING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Please address: Technical Employment-Dept. CS E G & G IDAHO, INC. P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401 U S Ctizenship Required We Are An Equal Opportunity Employer MIF H'V CAMPUS INTERVIEWS, JANUARY 19th IVFR\/I~R 5ITV OF MiruuMAM I I iii