NASA news, July 2010

Earlier this month Microsoft released new software that will allow anyone to explore Mars online through new WorldWide Telescope software.

Read the report from The Chronicle of Higher Education for more on the new high resolution images of Mars. Director of earth, energy, and environment for Microsoft Research, Dan Fay (MA E ’88), says, “You can actually see rover tracks on the Martian surface.”

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Crain’s Cleveland Business is reporting on research at the NASA Glenn Research Center (OH) on the development plans for a power grid on the moon.

The grid would potentially power the western portion of the Research Center. The project “would involve dispersing several alternative energy sources and storage technologies throughout the campus’ West Area.

James Soeder (OH A ’72), senior technologist for power at NASA Glenn, believes this project centers on the ability to join “smart grid” technologies.

“What you have to do is bring them together and get them to work in concert,” Mr. Soeder said. Read the full article

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A NASA engineer is currently working at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, CO, on designing “safer lithium-ion battery packs for sky walkers and automobile drivers.”

During the nine-month partnership the researchers hope to learn more about battery behavior under abuse conditions to make a better and safer ion battery. Read the full story here

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