🚀 go-pugleaf

Ron Baalke writes (about Dante's expedition to Mt. Erebus):
> 	However, portions of the robot exploration will be 
> controlled from a payload control center at Goddard.  This will 
> be the longest distance ever for live robotic control and 
> simulates what may be in store for NASA's further exploration 
> activities with humans and robots on Mars.  
> 	The feeds will be transmitted from Mt. Erebus via NASA's 
> Tracking and Relay Data Satellite West to Goddard.  NASA will 
> issue further media advisories when the dates and times of the 
> feeds are  known. (Call 301/286-6397 for recorded update 
> information.)

I wonder how they define the distance for live robotic control?  I'm kind of  
surprised that NASA hasn't teleoperated anything in orbit from the ground  
yet... or do they include the satellite bounce distance?  If they do, then I  
guess Woods Hole would actually hold the record:  we've done quite a bit of  
remote flying of underwater ROVs from remote sites: via 10,000 meters of fiber  
optic tether, two satellite bounces and a few hundred miles of fiber-optic land  
line.

Interesting news, though.  Can you keep us informed about possible live video  
on NASA Select (schedules, etc.)?

--
Nathan Ulrich
Deep Submergence Laboratory
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
ulrich@canberra.whoi.edu