Subject:
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JPL engineer needs help with space instr. model
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.build
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Date:
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Fri, 5 Nov 1999 03:00:47 GMT
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Viewed:
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668 times
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Hi all!
I am a field research engineer at JPL for the MISR project of the
Earth Observation System. Our URL is: www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov. I have
been involved with our project's outreach effort for some years and came
up with an idea of using Legos to demonstrate how our Earth remote-sensing
instrument works. I swiped my daughter's Technics set and made a proof-of-
concept model, and it was a hit! Yep, you could say I'm paid to play with
Legos now.
Anyhow, I have been asked to make a bigger & better version that looks more
like our instrument and has sensible colors. As I am sure you all know, I
kind of made do with what my daughter's set had. My requirements:
1) Build a durable demonstration tool (model) for media relations, etc.
2) Identify and procure the right parts.
2a) Design the model without buying the entire Lego inventory.
3) Use logical colors. Very heavy on the black, grey, chrome, & gold.
I have seen software for vitual building, but I wonder if it is model-friendly
or scenario-heavy. In other words, I don't want to design a virtual town,
just a discreet object. I also wonder if the software has a complete inventory
of available parts in its library. You never know which specific part "looks"
just like what you want to emulate until you snap it on. I don't have a need
for any specific system, either. Just the right "looking" parts.
Is there a catalog of parts or is everything sold in sets nowadays? Can one
mail-order specific pieces? How long does it take? Will Lego give JPL special
consideration if approched correctly? Why does the corporate website take so
*%$#!! long to load? I mean JPL is connected to a fiber-optic all the way to
Euorpe and it STILL is galacial! Maybe my Sparc5 is the culprit, hmm. Lots of
sound and graphics, naw...
Anyhow, you begin to see what I am up against. FYI I got the first Lego set
on my block from my uncle who traveled to Europe regularly in 1966. Ya, my
white blocks got soft and yellow before the vacuum or my cousins got them.
Wow, has Lego-mania sure evolved since then!
- Mark.Helmlinger@jpl.nasa.gov
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: JPL engineer needs help with space instr. model
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| (...) Cool! Actually, I'm surprised NASA diddn't do this with sojurner back in 96. (...) This probably means gluing the non-moving parts together. That is how all of the "official" models like store displays are built. (...) For most of us this is a (...) (25 years ago, 5-Nov-99, to lugnet.build)
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