So I am long overdue on my blog here, but to kick things off, a quick list of what I am reading now...
Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian,
Courage and Consequences by Karl Rove,
The Portable Henry Rollins,
and The Autobiography of Charles Darwin.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Monday, April 04, 2011
Birthday
So today is my birthday and it looks like tons of friends and school mates have posted to my wall on facebook giving me well wishes. that's nice. make me feel good. so far today is a good day, although i will add, bourbon is a bitch that hurts the next day. gotta watch that monster. bb
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Ode to Tuesday
Fuck, it's Monday.
Shit, It's Tuesday
Goddman it's Wednesday,
Mother Puss Bucket, it's Thurday
Jusus Fucking Christ, Thank God its Friday.
Oh, my Holy fukcing head hurts, it's Saturday.
Cock sucking faggot bitch, it's Sunday, I have to go to work tomorrow...
Shit, It's Tuesday
Goddman it's Wednesday,
Mother Puss Bucket, it's Thurday
Jusus Fucking Christ, Thank God its Friday.
Oh, my Holy fukcing head hurts, it's Saturday.
Cock sucking faggot bitch, it's Sunday, I have to go to work tomorrow...
Monday, September 13, 2010
"Don't ask, don't tell" is based on congressional LAW you idiots
10 USC 654
NB: This unofficial compilation of the U.S. Code is current as of Jan. 4, 2010 (see http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscprint.html).
- 1 -
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART II - PERSONNEL
CHAPTER 37 - GENERAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
§ 654. Policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces
(a) Findings.— Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States commits exclusively to the
Congress the powers to raise and support armies, provide and maintain a Navy, and make rules for
the government and regulation of the land and naval forces.
(2) There is no constitutional right to serve in the armed forces.
(3) Pursuant to the powers conferred by section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United
States, it lies within the discretion of the Congress to establish qualifications for and conditions
of service in the armed forces.
(4) The primary purpose of the armed forces is to prepare for and to prevail in combat should
the need arise.
(5) The conduct of military operations requires members of the armed forces to make
extraordinary sacrifices, including the ultimate sacrifice, in order to provide for the common
defense.
(6) Success in combat requires military units that are characterized by high morale, good order
and discipline, and unit cohesion.
(7) One of the most critical elements in combat capability is unit cohesion, that is, the bonds
of trust among individual service members that make the combat effectiveness of a military unit
greater than the sum of the combat effectiveness of the individual unit members.
(8) Military life is fundamentally different from civilian life in that—
(A) the extraordinary responsibilities of the armed forces, the unique conditions of military
service, and the critical role of unit cohesion, require that the military community, while
subject to civilian control, exist as a specialized society; and
(B) the military society is characterized by its own laws, rules, customs, and traditions,
including numerous restrictions on personal behavior, that would not be acceptable in civilian
society.
(9) The standards of conduct for members of the armed forces regulate a member’s life for 24
hours each day beginning at the moment the member enters military status and not ending until
that person is discharged or otherwise separated from the armed forces.
(10) Those standards of conduct, including the Uniform Code of Military Justice, apply to a
member of the armed forces at all times that the member has a military status, whether the member
is on base or off base, and whether the member is on duty or off duty.
(11) The pervasive application of the standards of conduct is necessary because members of the
armed forces must be ready at all times for worldwide deployment to a combat environment.
(12) The worldwide deployment of United States military forces, the international responsibilities
of the United States, and the potential for involvement of the armed forces in actual combat
routinely make it necessary for members of the armed forces involuntarily to accept living
conditions and working conditions that are often spartan, primitive, and characterized by forced
intimacy with little or no privacy.
(13) The prohibition against homosexual conduct is a longstanding element of military law that
continues to be necessary in the unique circumstances of military service.
10 USC 654
NB: This unofficial compilation of the U.S. Code is current as of Jan. 4, 2010 (see http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscprint.html).
- 2 -
(14) The armed forces must maintain personnel policies that exclude persons whose presence in
the armed forces would create an unacceptable risk to the armed forces’ high standards of morale,
good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.
(15) The presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage
in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order
and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.
(b) Policy.— A member of the armed forces shall be separated from the armed forces under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense if one or more of the following findings is made
and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in such regulations:
(1) That the member has engaged in, attempted to engage in, or solicited another to engage in a
homosexual act or acts unless there are further findings, made and approved in accordance with
procedures set forth in such regulations, that the member has demonstrated that—
(A) such conduct is a departure from the member’s usual and customary behavior;
(B) such conduct, under all the circumstances, is unlikely to recur;
(C) such conduct was not accomplished by use of force, coercion, or intimidation;
(D) under the particular circumstances of the case, the member’s continued presence in the
armed forces is consistent with the interests of the armed forces in proper discipline, good
order, and morale; and
(E) the member does not have a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts.
(2) That the member has stated that he or she is a homosexual or bisexual, or words to that effect,
unless there is a further finding, made and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in
the regulations, that the member has demonstrated that he or she is not a person who engages in,
attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts.
(3) That the member has married or attempted to marry a person known to be of the same
biological sex.
(c) Entry Standards and Documents.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the standards for enlistment and appointment of
members of the armed forces reflect the policies set forth in subsection (b).
(2) The documents used to effectuate the enlistment or appointment of a person as a member of
the armed forces shall set forth the provisions of subsection (b).
(d) Required Briefings.— The briefings that members of the armed forces receive upon entry into
the armed forces and periodically thereafter under section 937 of this title (article 137 of the Uniform
Code of Military Justice) shall include a detailed explanation of the applicable laws and regulations
governing sexual conduct by members of the armed forces, including the policies prescribed under
subsection (b).
(e) Rule of Construction.— Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to require that a member
of the armed forces be processed for separation from the armed forces when a determination is made
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense that—
(1) the member engaged in conduct or made statements for the purpose of avoiding or terminating
military service; and
(2) separation of the member would not be in the best interest of the armed forces.
(f) Definitions.— In this section:
(1) The term “homosexual” means a person, regardless of sex, who engages in, attempts to engage
in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts, and includes the terms
“gay” and “lesbian”.
(2) The term “bisexual” means a person who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity
to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual and heterosexual acts.
(3) The term “homosexual act” means—
10 USC 654
NB: This unofficial compilation of the U.S. Code is current as of Jan. 4, 2010 (see http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscprint.html).
- 3 -
(A) any bodily contact, actively undertaken or passively permitted, between members of the
same sex for the purpose of satisfying sexual desires; and
(B) any bodily contact which a reasonable person would understand to demonstrate a
propensity or intent to engage in an act described in subparagraph (A).
(Added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title V, § 571(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1670.)
References in Text
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, referred to in subsec. (a)(10), is classified to chapter 47 (§ 801 et seq.) of this
title.
Implementation of Section; Regulations; Savings Provision; Sense of Congress
Section 571 (b)–(d) of Pub. L. 103–160 provided that:
“(b) Regulations.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 30, 1993], the Secretary of
Defense shall revise Department of Defense regulations, and issue such new regulations as may be necessary, to
implement section 654 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
“(c) Savings Provision.—Nothing in this section or section 654 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), may be construed to invalidate any inquiry, investigation, administrative action or proceeding, court-martial, or
judicial proceeding conducted before the effective date of regulations issued by the Secretary of Defense to implement
such section 654.
“(d) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—
“(1) the suspension of questioning concerning homosexuality as part of the processing of individuals for accession into
the Armed Forces under the interim policy of January 29, 1993, should be continued, but the Secretary of Defense may
reinstate that questioning with such questions or such revised questions as he considers appropriate if the Secretary
determines that it is necessary to do so in order to effectuate the policy set forth in section 654 of title 10, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a); and
“(2) the Secretary of Defense should consider issuing guidance governing the circumstances under which members of
the Armed Forces questioned about homosexuality for administrative purposes should be afforded warnings similar
to the warnings under section 831 (b) of title 10, United States Code (article 31(b) of the Uniform Code of Military
Justice).”
NB: This unofficial compilation of the U.S. Code is current as of Jan. 4, 2010 (see http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscprint.html).
- 1 -
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART II - PERSONNEL
CHAPTER 37 - GENERAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
§ 654. Policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces
(a) Findings.— Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United States commits exclusively to the
Congress the powers to raise and support armies, provide and maintain a Navy, and make rules for
the government and regulation of the land and naval forces.
(2) There is no constitutional right to serve in the armed forces.
(3) Pursuant to the powers conferred by section 8 of article I of the Constitution of the United
States, it lies within the discretion of the Congress to establish qualifications for and conditions
of service in the armed forces.
(4) The primary purpose of the armed forces is to prepare for and to prevail in combat should
the need arise.
(5) The conduct of military operations requires members of the armed forces to make
extraordinary sacrifices, including the ultimate sacrifice, in order to provide for the common
defense.
(6) Success in combat requires military units that are characterized by high morale, good order
and discipline, and unit cohesion.
(7) One of the most critical elements in combat capability is unit cohesion, that is, the bonds
of trust among individual service members that make the combat effectiveness of a military unit
greater than the sum of the combat effectiveness of the individual unit members.
(8) Military life is fundamentally different from civilian life in that—
(A) the extraordinary responsibilities of the armed forces, the unique conditions of military
service, and the critical role of unit cohesion, require that the military community, while
subject to civilian control, exist as a specialized society; and
(B) the military society is characterized by its own laws, rules, customs, and traditions,
including numerous restrictions on personal behavior, that would not be acceptable in civilian
society.
(9) The standards of conduct for members of the armed forces regulate a member’s life for 24
hours each day beginning at the moment the member enters military status and not ending until
that person is discharged or otherwise separated from the armed forces.
(10) Those standards of conduct, including the Uniform Code of Military Justice, apply to a
member of the armed forces at all times that the member has a military status, whether the member
is on base or off base, and whether the member is on duty or off duty.
(11) The pervasive application of the standards of conduct is necessary because members of the
armed forces must be ready at all times for worldwide deployment to a combat environment.
(12) The worldwide deployment of United States military forces, the international responsibilities
of the United States, and the potential for involvement of the armed forces in actual combat
routinely make it necessary for members of the armed forces involuntarily to accept living
conditions and working conditions that are often spartan, primitive, and characterized by forced
intimacy with little or no privacy.
(13) The prohibition against homosexual conduct is a longstanding element of military law that
continues to be necessary in the unique circumstances of military service.
10 USC 654
NB: This unofficial compilation of the U.S. Code is current as of Jan. 4, 2010 (see http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscprint.html).
- 2 -
(14) The armed forces must maintain personnel policies that exclude persons whose presence in
the armed forces would create an unacceptable risk to the armed forces’ high standards of morale,
good order and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.
(15) The presence in the armed forces of persons who demonstrate a propensity or intent to engage
in homosexual acts would create an unacceptable risk to the high standards of morale, good order
and discipline, and unit cohesion that are the essence of military capability.
(b) Policy.— A member of the armed forces shall be separated from the armed forces under
regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense if one or more of the following findings is made
and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in such regulations:
(1) That the member has engaged in, attempted to engage in, or solicited another to engage in a
homosexual act or acts unless there are further findings, made and approved in accordance with
procedures set forth in such regulations, that the member has demonstrated that—
(A) such conduct is a departure from the member’s usual and customary behavior;
(B) such conduct, under all the circumstances, is unlikely to recur;
(C) such conduct was not accomplished by use of force, coercion, or intimidation;
(D) under the particular circumstances of the case, the member’s continued presence in the
armed forces is consistent with the interests of the armed forces in proper discipline, good
order, and morale; and
(E) the member does not have a propensity or intent to engage in homosexual acts.
(2) That the member has stated that he or she is a homosexual or bisexual, or words to that effect,
unless there is a further finding, made and approved in accordance with procedures set forth in
the regulations, that the member has demonstrated that he or she is not a person who engages in,
attempts to engage in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts.
(3) That the member has married or attempted to marry a person known to be of the same
biological sex.
(c) Entry Standards and Documents.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the standards for enlistment and appointment of
members of the armed forces reflect the policies set forth in subsection (b).
(2) The documents used to effectuate the enlistment or appointment of a person as a member of
the armed forces shall set forth the provisions of subsection (b).
(d) Required Briefings.— The briefings that members of the armed forces receive upon entry into
the armed forces and periodically thereafter under section 937 of this title (article 137 of the Uniform
Code of Military Justice) shall include a detailed explanation of the applicable laws and regulations
governing sexual conduct by members of the armed forces, including the policies prescribed under
subsection (b).
(e) Rule of Construction.— Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed to require that a member
of the armed forces be processed for separation from the armed forces when a determination is made
in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense that—
(1) the member engaged in conduct or made statements for the purpose of avoiding or terminating
military service; and
(2) separation of the member would not be in the best interest of the armed forces.
(f) Definitions.— In this section:
(1) The term “homosexual” means a person, regardless of sex, who engages in, attempts to engage
in, has a propensity to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual acts, and includes the terms
“gay” and “lesbian”.
(2) The term “bisexual” means a person who engages in, attempts to engage in, has a propensity
to engage in, or intends to engage in homosexual and heterosexual acts.
(3) The term “homosexual act” means—
10 USC 654
NB: This unofficial compilation of the U.S. Code is current as of Jan. 4, 2010 (see http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscprint.html).
- 3 -
(A) any bodily contact, actively undertaken or passively permitted, between members of the
same sex for the purpose of satisfying sexual desires; and
(B) any bodily contact which a reasonable person would understand to demonstrate a
propensity or intent to engage in an act described in subparagraph (A).
(Added Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title V, § 571(a)(1), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1670.)
References in Text
The Uniform Code of Military Justice, referred to in subsec. (a)(10), is classified to chapter 47 (§ 801 et seq.) of this
title.
Implementation of Section; Regulations; Savings Provision; Sense of Congress
Section 571 (b)–(d) of Pub. L. 103–160 provided that:
“(b) Regulations.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 30, 1993], the Secretary of
Defense shall revise Department of Defense regulations, and issue such new regulations as may be necessary, to
implement section 654 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
“(c) Savings Provision.—Nothing in this section or section 654 of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection
(a), may be construed to invalidate any inquiry, investigation, administrative action or proceeding, court-martial, or
judicial proceeding conducted before the effective date of regulations issued by the Secretary of Defense to implement
such section 654.
“(d) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—
“(1) the suspension of questioning concerning homosexuality as part of the processing of individuals for accession into
the Armed Forces under the interim policy of January 29, 1993, should be continued, but the Secretary of Defense may
reinstate that questioning with such questions or such revised questions as he considers appropriate if the Secretary
determines that it is necessary to do so in order to effectuate the policy set forth in section 654 of title 10, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a); and
“(2) the Secretary of Defense should consider issuing guidance governing the circumstances under which members of
the Armed Forces questioned about homosexuality for administrative purposes should be afforded warnings similar
to the warnings under section 831 (b) of title 10, United States Code (article 31(b) of the Uniform Code of Military
Justice).”
Friday, August 06, 2010
Now it's Auguest
So, okay, fuck you. It's August and I haven't published anything in months, and certaily not anything origial, I've reposted a bit, and ranted and raved about some stuff that really didn't matter once mili-ounce of flyshit to anyone. So I am thinking of taking a new aproach... actually saying what is one my mind and what I am dealing with in the most "politically" sentitive way possible... (is that possible)?
#1 - Illegial imagrents - "illegal" hello!!???
#2 - Guy marriage - Seriously, don't get into the BS, look up gay, or Homosexual or anything like it in the bible and it's fucking "wrong." I don't give a shit who you fuck and how/where... but it should not be protected by the goddamn constitution... disagree, fuck you, I also belong to the NRA...
#3 Abortion and Death penalty - You can't disagree on these two. That's incorrect goddamn it! You can not be a supporter of "free choice" and against the death penalty in my mind; since the overwhelming vast majority of abortions are carried out by poor, uneducated women who --- when they have kids ---- are the kids that grow up and commit more than 70% of the goddamn death penalty crimes in the first fucking place!!!
Fuck Darwin, it's a numbers game. 70% odds suck, i'm for abortion and the death penalty. eye for an eye shit, why not? it worked for hundreds of thousand of jews in the old testament. they are still a nation and didn't "Darwin off this planet with these rules. WHere the fuck are the rest of the "ancient" nations of the world. ;... they don't fucking exists.... sodom and gomorrah??? pillar's of morgan salt bitch. ...
#1 - Illegial imagrents - "illegal" hello!!???
#2 - Guy marriage - Seriously, don't get into the BS, look up gay, or Homosexual or anything like it in the bible and it's fucking "wrong." I don't give a shit who you fuck and how/where... but it should not be protected by the goddamn constitution... disagree, fuck you, I also belong to the NRA...
#3 Abortion and Death penalty - You can't disagree on these two. That's incorrect goddamn it! You can not be a supporter of "free choice" and against the death penalty in my mind; since the overwhelming vast majority of abortions are carried out by poor, uneducated women who --- when they have kids ---- are the kids that grow up and commit more than 70% of the goddamn death penalty crimes in the first fucking place!!!
Fuck Darwin, it's a numbers game. 70% odds suck, i'm for abortion and the death penalty. eye for an eye shit, why not? it worked for hundreds of thousand of jews in the old testament. they are still a nation and didn't "Darwin off this planet with these rules. WHere the fuck are the rest of the "ancient" nations of the world. ;... they don't fucking exists.... sodom and gomorrah??? pillar's of morgan salt bitch. ...
Sunday, May 02, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
ConocoPhillips Energy Prize is open for submissions
As of March 17, 2010, the ConocoPhillips Energy Prize is open for submissions.
Submit an Entry
About the Prize
The ConocoPhillips Energy Prize is a joint initiative of ConocoPhillips and Penn State to recognize new ideas and original, actionable solutions that can help improve the way the nation develops and uses energy.
In 2010, the program will award up to $300,000 in cash prizes to further the development of innovative ideas and solutions in three areas:
Developing new energy sources, including new ways to develop alternative energy.
Improving energy efficiency, such as new methods to significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed in the United States.
Combating climate change, including solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By creating an open forum for new energy ideas, we can create a path to a more secure and environmentally conscious energy future.
How it Works
Participants have until May 21, 2010, to submit their entries. See the complete program rules and entry details.
A qualified panel of expert judges will select up to five finalists – individuals or teams – to present their submissions in October. Submissions will be judged on the basis of creativity, scalability, commercial viability and sustainability.
Finalists will initially receive $25,000 to help further develop their concepts. The winner will receive an additional $100,000, the first runner-up will receive an additional $50,000, and the second runner-up will receive an additional $25,000.
KEY DATES
May 21, 2010 -- Entries due
August 2010 -- Finalists announced
October 2010 -- Awards event
Submit an Entry
About the Prize
The ConocoPhillips Energy Prize is a joint initiative of ConocoPhillips and Penn State to recognize new ideas and original, actionable solutions that can help improve the way the nation develops and uses energy.
In 2010, the program will award up to $300,000 in cash prizes to further the development of innovative ideas and solutions in three areas:
Developing new energy sources, including new ways to develop alternative energy.
Improving energy efficiency, such as new methods to significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed in the United States.
Combating climate change, including solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
By creating an open forum for new energy ideas, we can create a path to a more secure and environmentally conscious energy future.
How it Works
Participants have until May 21, 2010, to submit their entries. See the complete program rules and entry details.
A qualified panel of expert judges will select up to five finalists – individuals or teams – to present their submissions in October. Submissions will be judged on the basis of creativity, scalability, commercial viability and sustainability.
Finalists will initially receive $25,000 to help further develop their concepts. The winner will receive an additional $100,000, the first runner-up will receive an additional $50,000, and the second runner-up will receive an additional $25,000.
KEY DATES
May 21, 2010 -- Entries due
August 2010 -- Finalists announced
October 2010 -- Awards event
Cameron’s Camera
Avatar’s creator hopes to direct the first movies shot on Mars.
By Tony Reichhardt
airspacemag.com, March 23, 2010
The day after he won two Golden Globes for making the top-grossing film of all time, Avatar director James Cameron was in the NASA Administrator’s office, describing the scene he’d really like to shoot:
“The camera is looking down at the Mars rover,” recalls Mike Ravine, who was in the meeting. “You can see the sample arm off to one side, and we pan up and see Mars in front of us. We’re rolling slowly along the surface. We pan back slowly so we see Mars going by, then look back at the tracks of the rover going off to the horizon behind us—in 3-D.”
As Cameron talked, Ravine looked around at the faces of the gathered NASA officials, “and everybody in the room was nodding, clearly thinking, “Oh, yeah.”
Now the developers of the Mastcam camera for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), NASA’s next Mars rover, are trying to make Cameron’s dream come true. They’re in a race to build a zoom 3-D camera—the kind NASA originally selected for the mission, then scrapped as a cost-cutting measure—in time for its October 2011 launch. Actually, the camera needs to be finished by this December, in time to be tested on the rover. Ravine, Advanced Projects Manager at Malin Space Science Systems, the San Diego-based company building the camera, says it’s doable, but just barely. “The first thing I think of when I wake up every morning is, ‘Oh my god, I wish we had more time.’ ”
Restoring the zoom capability would allow the camera to take wide-angle, 3-D video from a perspective comparable to what a person would see walking around Mars. Cameron is included as a co-investigator for Mastcam, which is unusual for a non-scientist. Michael Malin, the camera's principal investigator, invited him to join the project in 2003. Malin knew Cameron through Ravine, who had worked with the director on earlier plans for a commercial moon mission called BlastOff!—forerunner to today’s Google Lunar X-Prize (which Cameron also has an interest in). The director, whose credits include Titanic, the second-highest grossing film ever, has a long association with the real space program, having served on NASA’s Advisory Board and lobbied—unsuccessfully—to fly cameras on the space station.
As a Mastcam co-investigator, he was on track to direct the first movie scenes shot on another planet. Then the MSL, which is larger and more complex than the Spirit and Opportunity rovers now on Mars, ran into money problems. The project’s price tag rose from $1.64 billion to $2.3 billion, and when the costs seemed out of control in 2007, NASA insisted on cuts, one of which was replacing the binocular zoom Mastcam with a simpler instrument that has two “eyes” of fixed, but different, focal lengths. The “descoping” of Mastcam saved about $1.5 million. When work stopped on the zoom version, Ravine figures the camera was about 80 percent complete.
He and his colleagues heaved a sigh and went to work finishing the scaled-down camera, which they recently delivered to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, NASA’s center in charge of the MSL. But they preserved the option of building a zoom camera by going ahead with the purchase of critical camera parts, including small motors used for the zoom assembly, just in case circumstances changed. And when, in 2008, NASA slipped the MSL launch date two years to 2011, they saw an opportunity.
At the time, Cameron was immersed in making Avatar. But in January of this year, he and Ravine met with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and other agency officials to make their case for replacing the fixed-focus Mastcam with the original zoom version. There is little risk to NASA. The fixed Mastcam is already built and delivered, and will fly on MSL as planned if the zoom version doesn’t come together in time. But if it does, and if it passes qualification tests without holding up the MSL schedule, it could be swapped onto the rover. The plan has passed preliminary technical reviews, and NASA is paying $5 million to construct the zoom camera, which would cost another $2 million to $3 million to install. “Nobody has promised anything,” says Ravine, but the space agency is “supportive and enthusiastic.”
Ravine says that if the zooming camera flies, there would be only a marginal improvement in Mastcam’s science capabilities, but the cinematic advantage would be great. The cameras on Spirit and Opportunity can’t take images fast enough to produce video. The fixed Mastcams on MSL will have that ability, but only for a small field of view. The zoom would give the public a wide-angle, you-are-there view of Mars exploration.
Cameron, who has filmed with 3-D cameras miles underwater, has said his goal in becoming a co-investigator on Mastcam “was to have the same capability on Mars as I have with the 3-D high definition motion imaging system I developed for deep ocean exploration and motion pictures…And that will allow all of us to accompany the rover on its journey.”
That’s also what motivates Ravine, a planetary geologist by training. He agrees with the NASA project manager who said, after a review of the plan to upgrade Mastcam, “I want my grandkids to be able to see this stuff.”
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