🚀 go-pugleaf

                                              National Space Society
                                              Lecture series:

         "Exploring Pluto: The Last Planetary Frontier"
         Jeff Foust, MIT astronomer

         Discussion of  the scientific benefits, 
         technical challenges, and political hurdles of 
         a flyby mission to Pluto.

                                              at MIT Lab for Computer Science,
                                              8th floor, room NE43-800,
                                              545 Tech. Square, on Main St.
                                              at railroad tracks, Cambridge.
                                              (617)258-2828,  Free.

                                              Thursday,  May 4, 1995
                                              7:30 p.m.


Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto has been the most mysterious, enigmatic
planet in the solar system.  Its small size and great distance from the
Earth have made if difficult to study the planet from Earth-based
telescopes, leaving us with only tantalizing hints about the planet: 
brightness variations which may be evidence for patches of ice and rock on 
its surface, a moon with a diameter half that of Pluto, and a tenuous 
atmosphere which may soon collapse. To better understand the planet, and to
complete the spacecraft reconnaissance of the solar system, scientists and 
engineers in NASA and academia are working on Pluto Express, a project to 
send small robotic probes to Pluto within the next ten to fifteen years.  
Jeff will discuss the scientific benefits, technical challenges, and 
political hurdles of a flyby mission to Pluto.

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These meetings are sponsored by the Boston Chapter of the National
Space Society (NSS); together with the MIT chapter of the Students for
the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS).  NSS sponsors
lectures on space related topics, usually on the first Thursday of
every month at the location listed above.

-----
Tom Baker             
tombaker@world.std.com for information