Experience space missions

      When Apollo 13 was released in Mumbai years ago, I remember seeing it not less than 10 or 15 times. On a particular week I recall going daily in the afternoon ---of course quietly leaving the Times of India (!)--and returning in the evening after seeing this great film. I managed to convert several of my colleagues into space buffs like me.

       As though this was not enough, I managed to obtain three cds of the film and I still have them with me.

       Therefore for those passionate about space exploration like ``Beyond Moon and Mars,'' it was a real gift for us to experience space exploration through radio transmissions and photos. For this one needs to thank the new website spacelog.org.

        In this fantastic website--so refreshingly different from other space websites--the main textual content comes of a transcript of radio communications between the crew and mission control. The designers of the website have acknowledged that that are some limitations which stem from the original recordings.

        Each line starts with a timestamp in ground elapsed time. This is the time in days. hours, minutes and seconds since lift off. This is accompanied by photographs. The website has been so designed that viewers can navigate through the transcript using phases of the mission, and the key scenes within them, according to the designers.

         Or can even search for things which might interest an individual.

          The designers have invited viewers' participation either by correcting errors or adding more photos or making more glossary items.

           To repeat--- it is a fantastic website. Thank You Spacelog.Org.

            There is just one suggestion. Cannot sound be added to the website to make it really exciting. For example in the section dealing with the lift off maybe there should be a provision which will allow the user to hear the countdown and the roar of the rocket's lift off.?

             Please explore this idea.


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              By the time you read this blog, Japan's first spacecraft would have hopefully entered another plant.

              The name of the spacecraft is Akatsuki and its mission is to study Venus.

               Its success depends upon its capability of reversing the thrust of its engines for 12 minutes.

               More about it later.