Subject:
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Re: 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 03:41:19 GMT
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Viewed:
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473 times
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In lugnet.build, Mark Helmlinger writes:
> 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.
Cool! Actually, I'm surprised NASA diddn't do this with sojurner back
in 96.
> 1) Build a durable demonstration tool (model) for media relations, etc.
This probably means gluing the non-moving parts together. That is how
all of the "official" models like store displays are built.
> 2) Identify and procure the right parts.
> 2a) Design the model without buying the entire Lego inventory.
For most of us this is a vary expensive and time-consuming effort.
> 3) Use logical colors. Very heavy on the black, grey, chrome, & gold.
very few elements are made in chrome and particularly 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.
This would be the easiest part. The answer to the complete inventory question
is mostly yes, you will probably find all the parts you need in the "official"
ldraw releases. I would recommend MLcad for this step.
> 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...
There is no catalog of parts that us hobbyists have access to.
However, LEGO has been known to support various private artists and corporate
initiatives that "show off" their products well. I can't imagine that they
would not see the benifit in NASA media models made of LEGO elements.
Frankly I'm surprised this hasn't been done already.
I'm using a Sparc 5 right now, and the site came up reasonably fast
Like most Internet bottlenecks, yours is probably related to peering rather
than backbone performance (Hint: if you do a traceroute and see "192.41.177"
or "198.32.136" you are using "public" peering which is useless. You might
also see a jump in latency at that point.
KL
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: JPL engineer needs help with space instr. model
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| Wow! that's quick! (...) Actually, I would not know. JPL is one of many NASA centers, and there are 6000 employees at JPL with hundreds of projects and no chat rooms like this, to be sure. Legos have been used to build rovers and stuff for kids as (...) (25 years ago, 5-Nov-99, to lugnet.build)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | JPL engineer needs help with space instr. model
|
| 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 (...) (25 years ago, 5-Nov-99, to lugnet.build)
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