[meteorite-list] NASA Kicks Off Asteroid Simulation; Media Invited to Observe

[Ron Baalke]

Aug. 21, 2012

Joshua Buck 
Headquarters, Washington 
202-358-1100 
jbuck at nasa.gov 

Brandi Dean 
Johnson Space Center, Houston 
281-483-5111 
brandi.k.dean at nasa.gov 

MEDIA ADVISORY: M12-156

NASA KICKS OFF ASTEROID SIMULATION; MEDIA INVITED TO OBSERVE

HOUSTON -- A simulated mission to an asteroid is under way at NASA's 
Johnson Space Center in Houston. Journalists are invited to learn 
about the test and technologies on Thursday, Aug. 30. 

Media will be able to learn about the test and see the technologies up 
close. Reporters interested in attending should email Brandi Dean at 
brandi.k.dean at nasa.gov. International media must apply for 
credentials by 5 p.m. CDT, Aug. 23. U.S. reporters should respond by 
5 p.m. Aug. 29. 

The Research and Technology Studies (RATS) test, a 10-day asteroid 
exploration simulation in Johnson's Space Vehicle Mockup Facility, 
kicked off this week. As NASA makes plans to send humans to asteroids 
by 2025, RATS and other mission simulations provide the agency with a 
way to test new operations, concepts and exploration techniques to 
influence the future of exploration. 

The 2012 RATS test will use several technologies to simulate life and 
work on the surface of an asteroid. A crew of five scientists and 
flight controllers in pairs will take turns sleeping, eating, 
exercising and working inside the cabin of the multi-mission Space 
Exploration Vehicle (SEV) for 3 days and 2 nights at a time. They 
will evaluate the cabin's displays, controls and views with the help 
of a video wall that contours around the vehicle's windows displaying 
a simulation of the asteroid surface as they steer across it. 

Outside of the SEV, crew members will participate in simulated 
spacewalks on the asteroid surface using Johnson's virtual reality 
laboratory and its Active Response Gravity Offload System. The 
laboratory uses a virtual reality helmet and gloves to simulate 
movement on a virtual asteroid surface. The system suspends 
astronauts from a specialized crane designed to offset their weight 
and simulate microgravity. 

The team will use these technologies to evaluate various modes of 
movement during spacewalks while the SEV-based crew members assist 
from inside the vehicle. A team of flight controllers and scientists 
also will support the tests from the nearby Mission Control Center, 
with a 50-second, one-way delay in communication between the two 
groups to mimic what astronauts working on an asteroid would 
experience. 

For information about the RATS tests and links to follow the mission 
on Facebook and Twitter, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/desertrats 
	
-end-