tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65743424335044951372024-03-14T02:21:03.330-07:00Save the James Webb Space TelescopeThe central source for information regarding the fight to Save JWSTBlairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08094793173137872524noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-26294522568832785632012-06-16T06:34:00.000-07:002012-06-16T06:40:38.645-07:00MIRI Arrives in the United StatesScience Warriors:<br />
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A small milestone in the construction and implementation of the James Webb Space Telescope has occurred. On May 29, 2012. the MIRI scientific instrument (the Mid-Infrared Instrument) has been delivered to NASA's Goddard facility ,from the European Space Agency, for testing and integration into the entire spacecraft.<br />
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">MIRI as it underwent alignment testing at the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Space in Oxfordshire, UK</span></div>
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The MIRI is the first of JWST's four principle scientific instruments to arrive. It was built by the European Space Agency by a collection or 10 European nations. Upon completion of MIRI, it was shipped to NASA'S Goddard facility in Greenbelt, Maryland for further testing and integration with the larger JWST. This will be one of the final steps for the MIRI instrument.<br />
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MIRI has a mid-IR camera and a imaging spectrometer, which will allow JWST to be able to see between 5 microns and 28 microns of light. This is an area of the electromagnetic spectrum that is just beyond normal human vision. It is important to study because it is a target area for the formation of the early universe, and the young galaxies and stars we expect to find there. Additionally, at this wavelength, MIRI will allow the James Webb Space Telescope to see through clouds of interstellar dust to see stars that appear obscured to non-IR telescopes. Stars tend to be born in that interstellar dust, so MIRI will allow JWST to understand the early years of a star's life in more detail. And what is even more incredible is that the MIRI instrument will also have the ability to block out the coronas of stars. Why do this? Well, it will help in studying extrasolar planets found in far away star systems.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ESA employees pose next to a wrapped-up, ready-to-ship MIRI in Europe. </td></tr>
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While at Goddard, MIRI will undergo inspection before being integrated into the ISIM (Integrated Science Instrument Module), where all four primary JWST science instruments will be housed on the telescope.<br />
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Additional information can be found in the following news stories:<br />
<a href="http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/14/4561911/first-flight-instrument-delivered.html">This story</a> offers some insight,<br />
<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/jun/HQ_12-198_JWST_MIRI_Arrival.html">and this story from NASA</a> is helpful, too.<br />
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Additionally, <a href="http://www.roe.ac.uk/ukatc/projects/miri/">The United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Center has this to say about the MIRI</a>. More information about what the MIRI is and what it will be capable of can also be found at <a href="http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/MIRI/index.htm">this University of Arizona webpage</a>. Background information on the science behind MIRI <a href="http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/MIRI/science.htm">can be found at this page</a>, which is also located at the University of Arizona. The James Webb Space Telescope, while a few years from launch, is coming together nicely.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKmqKXFylZeLobWb32nwYTkjTKt0ZGi2h1DjNIOa1_54cuZmZPo49lT82gYxPVQu7J5moJM_-JE1X3UGkLU8gzpT3vZZaj6fHyLWU082GJuD_SRChNd1Anw-ikQ2VImMf2uHY6LNvF_Lj/s1600/MIRI+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKmqKXFylZeLobWb32nwYTkjTKt0ZGi2h1DjNIOa1_54cuZmZPo49lT82gYxPVQu7J5moJM_-JE1X3UGkLU8gzpT3vZZaj6fHyLWU082GJuD_SRChNd1Anw-ikQ2VImMf2uHY6LNvF_Lj/s400/MIRI+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIRI being packed away in the UK. Goodbye Europe, hello Maryland! Click to embiggen. </td></tr>
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<br />neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-83939937865738146672012-02-20T18:36:00.000-08:002012-02-22T08:49:32.991-08:00FY2013, JWST and NASA Budget Woes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1ubc2m9yBiH4L7oud960tv6l1PB5kBQIhfUIMtvw_fRm1T3ESboaXVmasrvqtrY9o5G0iuFw_dB_mR0yx9jFqTDba9MWuoRxIVMUhz0SRPwL0sS6HjMlvMB2ejWswxpTS4Z5i12_HQ8z/s1600/Obama+Honeycomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1ubc2m9yBiH4L7oud960tv6l1PB5kBQIhfUIMtvw_fRm1T3ESboaXVmasrvqtrY9o5G0iuFw_dB_mR0yx9jFqTDba9MWuoRxIVMUhz0SRPwL0sS6HjMlvMB2ejWswxpTS4Z5i12_HQ8z/s400/Obama+Honeycomb.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="302" /></a></div>The Obama Administration has released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2013 (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/02/13/us/politics/2013-budget-proposal-graphic.html?src=tp">FY2013</a>). Generally speaking, it is a formalized recommendation for how the entire Federal Government will spend ("appropriate") money in the coming year. Both houses of U.S. Congress must now review Obama's proposed budget and either approve or amend it. Most of the time, Congress is unhappy with the details and make changes to the Administration's proposed budget to reflect the interests of the sitting Congress; eventually, they come to a compromise. Business as usual: a lengthy, convoluted process. And that is under normal conditions. In recent times, the word "austerity" has been thrown around quite a bit; code-word for sweeping budget cuts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>During the last few budget cycles, the U.S. government has been under record financial strain, as have many governments around the world. Budgets everywhere have been affected. States are showing serious deficits. Local governments are laying off employees and closing facilities. Bankruptcies are threatened in several places (see<a href="http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2011/11/jefferson_county_bankruptcy_fi_1.html"> largest municipal bankruptcy in US history</a>). And in Washington DC, politicians argue passionately over how to cut costs to reflect this new climate.<br /><br />These times of economic austerity have affected NASA deeply. But how? If you remember the events of summer and autumn 2011, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was placed on the budgetary chopping block. President Obama asked for $374 million and a House Subcommittee rejected this proposal, allocating $0 to the program. By November 2011, JWST <a href="http://savethistelescope.blogspot.com/2011/11/science-warriors-it-is-done-congrats-on.html">was seemingly saved at the last minute</a> and $530 million in funding was restored to the telescope for FY12. The Webb Telescope was not the only NASA program that was considered for cancellation - many other programs have been and continue to be affected. This kind of stress has been fracturing the scientific community as respective scientific professions rally around the projects to which they are closest. It has been a brutally difficult time for public science and space science in particular.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zVsGuDUWLNiP5hmEnUueoCRIfv3KE05z54Jh49WXLjLIP1LhUWmR9-PhlROjwWpwT-u3qvwmhJY1aLKP-ZLwntRUEH4oR7U9gdbE9mtj8YNBDPer3QLNuHMg389vWxVeS8O5IXAiXcos/s1600/SaveMars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zVsGuDUWLNiP5hmEnUueoCRIfv3KE05z54Jh49WXLjLIP1LhUWmR9-PhlROjwWpwT-u3qvwmhJY1aLKP-ZLwntRUEH4oR7U9gdbE9mtj8YNBDPer3QLNuHMg389vWxVeS8O5IXAiXcos/s320/SaveMars.jpg" border="0" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>So, has the situation calmed or intensified, based on the new FY2013 budget proposal from the Obama Administration? Well, for starters, there is an overall 0.3% reduction in NASA's budget (read: a 5% reduction from the President's NASA budget proposal in FY12). You might say, well that doesn't sound so bad. Not so fast. That's a loss of $59 million. That kind of money will affect several programs. As a result of this budget proposal,<a href="http://zeenews.india.com/news/space/nasa-kills-mars-deal-with-europe_758345.html"> NASA has cancelled the ExoMars partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA)</a>, which included new missions in 2016 and 2018. Deep cuts to outer solar system exploration and education have also been made in this budget proposal.<br /><br />According to NASA, the budgetary pain will be felt across the agency, but most directly in programs like Mars Exploration (<a href="http://www.financial-post.com/us-europes-mars-exploration-program-will-be-canceled-due-to-budget-cuts.html">losing $226 million - was $587 million, now will be $361 million</a>) [Check out this <a href="http://planetary.org/about/press/releases/2012/0213_NASA_Budget_Pushes_Science_to_the_Brink.html">statement by the Planetary Society</a> regarding the budget situation].<br /><br />It is important to note that the primary goal of <i>saveJWST</i> (that's us) is to keep a watchful eye over the Hubble of the Next Generation. The budget proposal keeps JWST running, so this amazing new telescope will be finished according to current plans and current funding (<a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/recentaccomplish.html">indeed, it is finishing ahead of schedule in many respects</a>). We're thrilled to see such strong support for the Webb Telescope from the White House and NASA HQ, but the proposed cuts to planetary science are deeply unfortunate. While cutting government spending is a noble goal at any level of government, prioritizing what money is spent is very important in its own right. The problem might just be that the politicians in Washington fail to realize just how important NASA is to the U.S. and world.<br /><br />As Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson eloquently puts it, “The most powerful agency on the dreams of a nation is currently underfunded to do what it needs to be doing, and that’s making dreams come true.”<br /><br />From an economic standpoint, NASA provides the U.S. with phenomenal return on the public investment. Take a look at some of the following statistics:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA#Economic_impact_of_NASA_funding">Economic Impact of NASA Funding</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/50th/50th_magazine/benefits.html">NASA's Positive Impact on Society</a></li><li><a href="http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/economics.html">The Economic Impacts of the US Space Program</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_of_NASA#Economic_impact_of_NASA_funding">Some Quoted Statistics from NASA Wikipedia Article</a></li></ul><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03HpFcKxZ30EPOUtx2q9Pl377ayfMWlh2RaDdNH1Pz57fXe1N7P85-yHuL5YtiLLPAHs55phG_uZ4pAHy-_JDYVZscetsom2KSxsckZPMv8pVB-Ooj5KPrm48qjmbD0GXoF_bLyotXac0/s1600/NASA_dollars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03HpFcKxZ30EPOUtx2q9Pl377ayfMWlh2RaDdNH1Pz57fXe1N7P85-yHuL5YtiLLPAHs55phG_uZ4pAHy-_JDYVZscetsom2KSxsckZPMv8pVB-Ooj5KPrm48qjmbD0GXoF_bLyotXac0/s320/NASA_dollars.jpg" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NASA FY2003 impact on individual states.<br />Image courtesy of NASA. Click to embiggen. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Putting the money aside, NASA also provides a tremendous amount of innovation to U.S. culture. Many of the technologies that we rely on as a nation have their origins in this famed space administration, or have been improved by it (<a href="http://history.nasa.gov/sp482.pdf">here</a> and <a href="http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2008-02/impact-nasa-everyday">here</a> and <a href="http://futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/10/10374642-what-has-nasa-done-for-you-lately-lots">here</a>, for examples). These factors add up to NASA being quite an economic engine. In a time when the influence and power of the U.S. is said to be fading, NASA provides a trump card<span class="st">—</span>an avenue of job growth and industry creation, and a magnificent source of inspiration for the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, engineers, technologists, educators, and science literate citizens.<br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvKYv7dBOZnVCXVjhEX7Pc-KfPoA4oFUoeqkTE0eek-nFc1Lw5Sg57tvG7iWTiTuu_0cL9HUfZ-DYG24hQeWyOEC5nUrQ7gJGOuAGcepyKSfOOu0uo8_QFLfJQz2L1rxl1UsYuZNDQg3V/s1600/Spirit+Rover+Footage.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvKYv7dBOZnVCXVjhEX7Pc-KfPoA4oFUoeqkTE0eek-nFc1Lw5Sg57tvG7iWTiTuu_0cL9HUfZ-DYG24hQeWyOEC5nUrQ7gJGOuAGcepyKSfOOu0uo8_QFLfJQz2L1rxl1UsYuZNDQg3V/s320/Spirit+Rover+Footage.gif" border="0" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Footage from the now dead Spirit Rover - one of the great successes<br />of the Mars Exploration Program. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Again, while our primary goal at <i>saveJWST</i> is to advocate for the James Webb Space Telescope, we want it to be known that we stand in solidarity with the rest of Space Science. In a climate of deep budget cuts, we believe the U.S. should not cede its role in "big science" projects, but also believe that, if cuts must be made, that they they are distributed thinly across the NASA directorates, reducing any disproportionate burden on singular projects.<br /><br />In sum, we believe <i>NASA should be properly funded</i>, not just for the sake of science and understanding, but for the sake of the U.S. economy. Scientists around the world should stand with each other on this<span class="st">—</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-size:130%;" ><b>science should have science's back</b></span><span class="st">—</span>and should not let these circumstances divide us. The public should demand this and our government should listen. The most important time for humanity to seize its destiny is now and it would be terribly tragic to slow down at this critical juncture.<br /><br />For more news on the James Webb Space Telescope, <a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/recentaccomplish.html">please check out this list of latest accomplishments</a>. Also, MOST DEFINITELY <a href="http://lareviewofbooks.org/post/17656414662/golden-eye">read this article by Ross Anderson</a>, who eloquently explains how and why the James Webb Space Telescope is so important to the future of humanity and our understanding of the universe.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.space.com/14560-nasa-2013-budget-planetary-science-infographic.html"> <img alt="Learn how cuts to the U.S. budget will threaten NASA space missions, in this SPACE.com infographic." src="http://www.space.com/images/i/15238/original/nasa-budget-cuts-120213j-02.jpg?1329178601" border="1" width="575" /></a><br />Source: <a href="http://www.space.com/">SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration</a>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-41421664094333693032011-11-21T20:58:00.001-08:002011-11-22T00:26:34.207-08:00JWST is Saved!!Science Warriors:<br />
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IT IS DONE! Congrats on a job well done! As you may have heard, the US House of Representatives have come to an agreement concerning the James Webb Space Telescope. And what did they agree on? A fully funded telescope! As it stands right now, JWST WILL FLY!! We did it!! (<a href="http://blogs.citypaper.com/index.php/2011/11/full-funding-secured-for-james-webb-space-telescope/">See this link</a> & then <a href="http://www.spacenews.com/civil/111118-nasa-budget-funds.html">this link here</a> for details on how the vote went down and how much money JWST will be getting)<br />
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While it is true that next year or the year after, the JWST may yet again enter choppy waters, for now we celebrate a <b>huge victory</b> for science and space exploration. The past four months have been as exhilarating as they have been arduous. During that time, <a href="http://mikulski.senate.gov/">Senator Barbara Mikulski</a>, <a href="http://www.northropgrumman.com/">Northrop Grumman</a>, the AAS (<a href="http://aas.org/">American Astronomical Society</a>), <a href="http://planetary.org/home/">The Planetary Society</a>, and many others have rallied behind the JWST. They deserve much of the credit for this victory. <br />
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Most important in this effort was you. Without your tweets, emails, phone calls, blog mentions, facebook & Google+ posts, reddit links, conversations with friends & family, and your enthusiasm to fight for this telescope, none of this would be possible. Thousands of people have signed petitions. Many engaged in conversations with their elected officials for the first time in their lives. Others still have created all kinds of media to help spread the word. ALL HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. Now, the Hubble of the next generation will fly!<br />
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Special thanks go to the volunteers of <a href="http://savethistelescope.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html"><i>saveJWST</i></a>: Chris, Zack, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/BookOfOa">Jon</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/NickAstronomer">Nick</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/neoteotihuacan">Kyle</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/somnastra">Blair</a>, Victor, Nicki, Pietro, Christine, and our fearless organizer <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/raphaelperrino">Raphael</a>. Additional thanks go out to <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/100234739044220131153/posts">Kevin</a>, to <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/113376742759915319727/posts">Alberto</a>, to <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ldattaro">Laura</a>, to <a href="http://savethistelescope.blogspot.com/2011/09/some-words-from-david-gaynes-director.html">David</a>, the <a href="http://www.spacetweepsociety.org/">Spacetweep Society</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/TashaVerse">Tashaverse</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/katrobison">katrobinson</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ageekmom">ageekmom</a> and the army of <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/search/nasatweetup">NASATweetup folks over on Twitter</a>, to <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/BradGoodspeed">Brad Goodspeed</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/callum.cglp">Callum Sutherland</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/JPMajor">JPMajor</a>, <a href="http://change.org/">change.org</a>, and to many, many more who can't be named here but have contributed heroically. You have done amazing work!<br />
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For now, all is good, but like Batman watching over Gotham, we will be keeping an eye on JWST in the future. Do check back with us periodically for updates.<br />
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Long live the James Webb. <br />
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@neoteotihuacanneoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-4733840266648547962011-11-07T22:43:00.000-08:002011-11-16T12:41:23.521-08:00The 3x10 Challenge<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Attention Gallant <i>saveWebbers</i></span></b>:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">History:</span> </span>So far, <a href="http://savethistelescope.blogspot.com/2011/11/us-senate-passes-general-jwst-funding.html">subcommittees have agreed to separate amounts</a> of funding for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). In July 2011, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Subcommittee</a> voted <span style="font-weight: bold;">strip all funding</span> from the JWST, and in September 2011, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">Senate CJS Subcommittee</a> voted to <span style="font-weight: bold;">fully fund</span> the JWST to the tune of $530 million. Since that time, the full US Senate has had their say, affirming the Senate CJS subcommittee's decision.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Update:</span> </span>So the telescope is funded now, right? Not quite. The endgame is in sight, but the fight for flight is not over. <a href="http://www.spacenews.com/policy/111104-nasa-funding-added-minibus.html">Space News</a> has recently reported that the House and Senate CJS subcommittees plan to come to an agreement on funding for the JWST by November 18! Mark the date, because that gives us <b>only ten days to save the JWST</b>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Action Alert:</span> We are at a critical juncture here, Science Warriors. If the result of the negotiations is a reduction in JWST funding, the cost of the telescope will increase and the schedule will be delayed, putting it at risk of cancellation in the future. When you write your <a href="http://on.fb.me/vMgrZZ">congressional representatives</a> we need you to advocate for full funding: $530 million. The time to act is <span style="font-weight: bold;">now</span>. With this said, we're thrilled to announce the <span style="font-weight: bold;">3x10 Challenge</span>!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/3x10-CHALLENGE_v2-20111108.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 560px; height: 363px;" src="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/3x10-CHALLENGE_v2-20111108.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The details:<br /><ol><li>We encourage <i>saveJWST</i> supporters to get three (3) people to contact a congressional representative from a <a href="http://on.fb.me/vMgrZZ">key district</a> within the next ten (10) days <span style="font-weight: bold;">OR</span> Write to three (3) different congressional representatives within that period.<br /></li><li>Once you've got your three (3), swing by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST"><i>saveJWST</i> Facebook Page</a> on November 17 (the day before the big House-Senate decision) and tell us about it using a Facebook poll that we'll post. Polling will close at 8 p.m. EST, November 17, 2011. </li><li>We will randomly select a winner from the pool of entries and announce that winner the next morning. The prize? <span style="font-weight: bold;">A 1-Year Subscription to Sky & Telescope Magazine</span><b>, Astronomy Magazine, or Astronomy Now Magazine. </b>(#SweetSpaceSwag)</li></ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpjBBCHhAJ_pFfGrCJtKLKWPnKGglG4dHpbLPJ2TIghOr2TC97K27MteSw4gSlvIoMRa2y4js46Ig5cAZIW3-c63RF9vduu8pQ17njR5okCyefQRw_RqlYzbOkfkCnAOQMHZ8480ZzxIg/s1600/Science+Warriors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtpjBBCHhAJ_pFfGrCJtKLKWPnKGglG4dHpbLPJ2TIghOr2TC97K27MteSw4gSlvIoMRa2y4js46Ig5cAZIW3-c63RF9vduu8pQ17njR5okCyefQRw_RqlYzbOkfkCnAOQMHZ8480ZzxIg/s400/Science+Warriors.jpg" border="0" height="313" width="400" /></a></div><div>If you are reading this, you clearly have an interest in science. You want humanity to explore and discover, to understand its place in the cosmos. You feel that it is our destiny, and that we NEED to do science in order to survive in a dangerous Universe. You also support science because it is THE basis of any industrialized nation. It is the key infrastructure on which modern society depends. So, don't let the James Webb Space Telescope become another <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider">Superconducting Super Collider</a>. You can help the USA refocus its science priorities in a positive, productive direction. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li><b>You can do something</b>. Contact your congressional representatives in the US House of Representatives. [<a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=282293668468892&set=a.225991724099087.62644.225905930774333&type=1&theater">Here is a complete list of those representatives</a> - don't worry if you are not in their district - write anyway]. If you do not tell them how you feel, how are they going to know?</li></ul></div><div><ul><li><b>Gather your three (3)</b>. Get three (3) people to to contact the US House of Representatives or contact three (3) congressional representatives within the next ten (10) days (and enter to win a 1-Year subscription to Sky and Telescope Magazine, Astronomy Magazine, or Astronomy Now Magazine).</li></ul></div><div><ul><li><b>Spread the Word</b>. Post this link on Facebook, Google+, Diaspora, Linkedin, Digg, Reddit, and anywhere you have a voice. Shoot a message to anyone who you think might listen. </li></ul></div><div><ul><li><b>Take the fight to Twitter</b>. Use the hashtags <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc0000;">#saveJWST</span></b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc0000;">#write4flight</span></b> and <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#cc0000;">#3x10</span></b>. If you tweet once day for these last few days, the world WILL hear you (psst! - you can tweet your representatives, too)</li></ul></div><div>Now is the time to take up our proverbial arms and fight for American Science. Now is the time to tell our representatives that they CANNOT cancel our future in favor of shortsighted and temporary concerns. Now is the time to <i>act</i>. Just think of how amazing it is going to feel when those first amazing caches of data start coming back to Earth, knowing that you did something, that you convinced others to help, that you <i>directly contributed</i> to a positive human future. Science, Warriors: Let's save this telescope!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtOuoNy8rmBgGBA85xRAT_LBI7RhhDTWvDb5gaYjAzWVV-bkzKfuzh70NT0cAhBtln3usorrQaPEI9vAAY2Ilh4VKhypF0J8r4E_Pm-d2WHiisd0AwBE7_fHUfV0GGqBM-MiQ3IFmsDPD/s1600/uncle-sam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtOuoNy8rmBgGBA85xRAT_LBI7RhhDTWvDb5gaYjAzWVV-bkzKfuzh70NT0cAhBtln3usorrQaPEI9vAAY2Ilh4VKhypF0J8r4E_Pm-d2WHiisd0AwBE7_fHUfV0GGqBM-MiQ3IFmsDPD/s640/uncle-sam.jpg" border="0" height="640" width="475" /></a></div><div><br /></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-58410715838755645502011-11-01T14:03:00.000-07:002011-11-02T07:36:21.468-07:00US Senate Passes Bill with Full JWST Funding!Greetings <i>SaveWebbers</i>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxWfdJfRVcuS7zHeeVf8QkuEaWchGWDtChM_vNVEud3Z-LXdBtnMFYKcR65MJyZWQ63TsjnfXV5QU4PhwvEXvggt7x8kcKZ6d2Wj-HRoZdWrJgFu-rjLQxPsLO5i_xbNnGL8LLWIAqRbu/s1600/590562main_ELG7230_226x170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxWfdJfRVcuS7zHeeVf8QkuEaWchGWDtChM_vNVEud3Z-LXdBtnMFYKcR65MJyZWQ63TsjnfXV5QU4PhwvEXvggt7x8kcKZ6d2Wj-HRoZdWrJgFu-rjLQxPsLO5i_xbNnGL8LLWIAqRbu/s1600/590562main_ELG7230_226x170.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Today we celebrate another victory for the James Webb Space Telescope. The US Senate announced that it passed the FY 2012 bill, which outlines much of the federal budget over the coming year. Inside that bill is a fully funded JWST! Previously, only the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Justice agreed to to fully fund the JWST. Now, the ENTIRE Senate has agreed to this funding!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> </span><br /><br />However, there is yet another step. The US House of Representatives must pass their version of the FY 2012 bill. If you remember, the US House Committee on Commerce, Science, and Justice voted to zero-out funding for the JWST. Now the ENTIRE US House must vote on this version of the bill.<br /><br />More info: <a href="http://blogs.citypaper.com/index.php/2011/11/senate-passes-budget-with-full-funding-for-james-webb-space-telescope/">http://blogs.citypaper.com/index.php/2011/11/senate-passes-budget-with-full-funding-for-james-webb-space-telescope/</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.universetoday.com/90530/senate-approves-bill-funding-jwst/">http://www.universetoday.com/90530/senate-approves-bill-funding-jwst/</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlhC23hMDgTZPB2RghtKfLavpYnIrwVqDePz8ISCynjH8RNuOcaGuDkBcQuI61myXVr8mtt9MTn1YFrPQyRgQnVI78PMn7ab6Z5OAPBIIGnFziBKtTUFI1tGfxsus3Pc7rNsEzszKSAAC/s1600/110th_US_Senate_class_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRlhC23hMDgTZPB2RghtKfLavpYnIrwVqDePz8ISCynjH8RNuOcaGuDkBcQuI61myXVr8mtt9MTn1YFrPQyRgQnVI78PMn7ab6Z5OAPBIIGnFziBKtTUFI1tGfxsus3Pc7rNsEzszKSAAC/s320/110th_US_Senate_class_photo.jpg" border="0" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>Remember, we are not finished yet. The US House must approve their version of the bill. After that, the US House and the US Senate must reconcile their differences.<br /><br />Keep writing those letters, Science Warriors! We need them now more than ever.<br /><br />Check out our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Facebook page</a>. And <a href="http://savethistelescope.blogspot.com/2011/10/calling-all-savewebbers-and-science.html">learn how you can help</a> save this scope: Write for Flight!neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-36900560343150313222011-10-21T03:02:00.000-07:002011-10-23T07:52:10.185-07:00"Write for Flight!" | Letter Writing Campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb7gUkpnEE5131kpf7WZkrPc_LwcDdNLNQcd1Go5joPRwXV_krAEWfrI_OILIUAjk7t_PN8drEsrjeQxaiVKf_Rp6K-3-d-XfowFJVP56cNIzvOkge0q6FpQQmy-Y08X0nvtLLhZcci85/s1600/save+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqb7gUkpnEE5131kpf7WZkrPc_LwcDdNLNQcd1Go5joPRwXV_krAEWfrI_OILIUAjk7t_PN8drEsrjeQxaiVKf_Rp6K-3-d-XfowFJVP56cNIzvOkge0q6FpQQmy-Y08X0nvtLLhZcci85/s200/save+logo.jpg" border="0" height="200" width="188" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Calling All Science Warriors & SaveWebbers!</span></span><u><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><br /><br />All hands on deck, folks! </span></b></u></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">It is time for our final </span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">coup de grâce. Congress has decided to speed up the process of passing the FY 2012 bill, which includes funding for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope">James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)</a>. This does not give us a lot of time to act, but act <i>WE MUST</i>. </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:130%;" ><u></u></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here's the Scoop:</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> </span></div><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfsQ8_JbqsnIhOwPmfx7oh-kgXEUWl1o_KeWeeMUMqkT6s2N1JDU2lSeH9wXBTujxMQti0hkvJiyGsS9KuFRhdwMIwFCSzwoWe1WWxLN76JgY9Oto_yJRaV1pJGPUSIUUA2qe7xOOmK7e/s1600/JWST+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfsQ8_JbqsnIhOwPmfx7oh-kgXEUWl1o_KeWeeMUMqkT6s2N1JDU2lSeH9wXBTujxMQti0hkvJiyGsS9KuFRhdwMIwFCSzwoWe1WWxLN76JgY9Oto_yJRaV1pJGPUSIUUA2qe7xOOmK7e/s400/JWST+1.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="378" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technicians hard at work on the James Webb Space Telescope</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As it stands right now, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US Senate Subcommittee</a> voted to fully fund JWST in this bill. However, this stands in stark contrast to the funding figure proposed by the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US House Subcommittee</a> in July 2011: $0.00. The process that is happening right now is a deliberation between the House and Senate Subcommittees in which they will negotiate a final figure. In short, it is still possible for the JWST to be underfunded or zeroed out. </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>saveJWST</i> volunteers have worked tirelessly to get the word out and your efforts have been rewarded. We created an online petition to raise awareness. You stepped up, signing an amazing 5,039 signatures in favor of the JWST. </span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The petition is, as you read this, on the way to the US House Subcommittee. </span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We created a Facebook page. You gave us millions of page views. You have emailed your friends, messaged your coworkers, and tweeted the effort to the entire world. All of this hard work and relentless energy has led to this moment. It has given all of us the ability to fight this battle. <i>Now we must act. </i></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></div><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBfTN8jrmEj8PXdwEdv4nDKO5EnqOw5BmPF3GCdKNJZLM5RnrHuhmdSXayNTQeNstWrnKW6zHUQNIjXDjJ1i7OU0EnA09gYxLUjhqeZfHQf0gpsp8SJgnW8dt240ydpGVqHdNrtAFuou/s1600/Infrared+Composite+Image+Downtown+Milky+Way+Spitzer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TBfTN8jrmEj8PXdwEdv4nDKO5EnqOw5BmPF3GCdKNJZLM5RnrHuhmdSXayNTQeNstWrnKW6zHUQNIjXDjJ1i7OU0EnA09gYxLUjhqeZfHQf0gpsp8SJgnW8dt240ydpGVqHdNrtAFuou/s400/Infrared+Composite+Image+Downtown+Milky+Way+Spitzer.jpg" border="0" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align: center;" class="tr-caption">Infrared Composite of the Center of Our Galaxy. </td></tr></tbody></table><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">We Need Your Help!</span></span><br />We need you to help all of us <i>save this telescope. </i></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">The 13 members of the </span><span style="color:blue;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a class="western" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">House Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and Science</span></a></u></span></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"> control the purse strings for the James Webb Space Telescope. If you want the JWST to fly, you will need to contact them personally. Our sources on Capitol Hill say <i>a handwritten letter</i> will go the furthest as far as getting your Congressperson’s attention. <i>Phone calls</i> fall in second and <i>emails</i> come in third. So please take a few minutes to write and send this massively important letter. <b>Our target representatives</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> need to know you feel that JWST should fly. If you don't tell them, they won’t know how you feel</b></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;">. Now, we’re not asking you to write him an entire book; any length—a few sentences or paragraphs—would be wonderful. And if you don’t have the time to write a letter and mail it, give your Congressperson's office a call or send him or her an email. If you are feeling especially geared for battle, <b>DO ALL THREE!</b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everyone will like to know if you've written, called or emailed. So, when you have contacted your Congressperson, swing by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Facebook page</a> and leave comment. Say "<span style="font-size:large;"><b>I'm a 1</b></span>" if you used one method of contact, "<span style="font-size:large;"><b>I'm a 2</b></span>" if you contacted them using two methods (next level: unlocked), or "<span style="font-size:large;"><b>I'm a 3</b></span>" if you are an elite science warrior. </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who to Contact:</span></span><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This part is easy. There are 13 members of the US House Subcommittee. We want to open a line of communication with all 13 members, plus House leadership, John Boehner and Eric Cantor. See below a list of Congressional Representatives who we need you to contact.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Write for Flight | Contact Congress Handouts</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Frank_Wolf.pdf">Frank Wolf of Virginia, Chairman</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Jo_Bonner.pdf">Jo Bonner of Alabama, Vice-Chair</a></span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Chaka_Fattah.pdf">Chaka Fattah of Pennsylvania</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/John_Culberson.pdf">John Culberson of Texas</a><br /> <a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Adam_Schiff.pdf">Adam Schiff of California</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Robert_Aderholt.pdf">Robert Aderholt of Alabama</a> <br /><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Mike_Honda.pdf">Mike Honda of California</a><br /> <a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Jose_Serrano.pdf">Jose Serrano of New York</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Steve_Austria.pdf">Steve Austria of Ohio</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Hal_Rogers.pdf">Hal Rogers of Kentucky </a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Norm_Dicks.pdf">Norm Dicks of Washington</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Tom_Graves.pdf"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tom Graves of Georgia</span></a></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Kevin_Yoder.pdf">Kevin Yoder of Kansas</a><br /> <a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/John_Boehner.pdf">John Boehner, Speaker of the House</a><br /><a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Hal_Rogers.pdf"> </a> <a href="http://www.savejwst.com/documents/Eric_Cantor.pdf">Eric Cantor, House Majority Leader</a></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />It will be most effective if you contact John Boehner or Eric Cantor, as most of us don't live in the 13 districts that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US House Subcommittee</a> serves. However, if you do live in these 13 districts, then GREAT. You can certainly contact them. If you have friends or family in these districts, then get them to contact these 13 representatives instead. Or, if you are feeling especially ambitious, write them all. You may not live in their district, but they will be making decisions about the JWST that effects all of humanity.<br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />No matter who you contact, its important that you <i>make your voice heard</i>. And its important that you spread the word. Seek out conversation on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Facebook page</a> and on Twitter, using the following hastags: <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23savejwst">#savejwst</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23savethistelescope">#savethistelescope</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23writeforflight">#writeforflight</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23jwst">#jwst</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23jameswebb">#jameswebb</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23jameswebbspacetelescope">#jameswebbspacetelescope</a></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is a tweet we encourage you to use and adapt: </span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in; color: rgb(102, 255, 255);"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">RT! Final Push to #saveJWST from Congressional Shortsightedness. This is it folks. Help us #writeforflight http://bit.ly/oZ5ifv</span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK5_t7WIeDhi-dS-seM7rNvcFeF4JtEll7QvIcvPZYvjtxepyvHMK8ANOol1Kj_jCvjozBFl5qc1HKwHyJqJ-yo6rYA8nmEaKQkfbU6U1IScMK9KjkjytG-HmfiL0uhjRi_1PuUTN4LZV/s1600/Voltron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK5_t7WIeDhi-dS-seM7rNvcFeF4JtEll7QvIcvPZYvjtxepyvHMK8ANOol1Kj_jCvjozBFl5qc1HKwHyJqJ-yo6rYA8nmEaKQkfbU6U1IScMK9KjkjytG-HmfiL0uhjRi_1PuUTN4LZV/s1600/Voltron.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's time to save the Hubble of the Next Generation. It's time to save the James Webb Space Telescope. Write for Flight, Science Warriors!<br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">@neoteotihuacan </span><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-55675111474492402772011-10-16T06:03:00.000-07:002011-10-16T06:10:44.519-07:00The Honeycomb Has Landed! JWST @ the Maryland Science Center (Oct. 14-26)Science Warriors: The Honeycomb has landed! Swing by the Maryland Science Center before October 26th, take a picture with the tennis-court-sized InfraRed telescope model, and enjoy a super-string of stellar events!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/30520832?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="309" width="550"></iframe><br /><br /><ul><li>Friday, Oct. 14, 2:00 p.m. | Remarks by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden (Location: Outside by model)</li></ul><ul><li>Friday, Oct. 14, 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. | Meet an Astronaut: Leland Melvin & John Grunsfeld (Location: Outside by model) </li></ul><ul><li>Friday, Oct. 14, 6:00 p.m. | Panel Discussion "The People behind JWST" (Location: Presentation Room)</li></ul><ul><li>Friday, Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m. | Stargazing Event (Location: MSC Courtyard)</li></ul><ul><li>Friday, Oct. 14, 10:00 to 11:00 p.m. | STEM Educational Tent & "Ask a Scientist" Booth (Location: Tent and outside by model)</li></ul><ul><li>Saturday, Oct. 15, 12:00 to 7:30 p.m. | STEM Educational Tent & "Ask a Scientist" Booth (Location: Tent and outside by model)</li></ul><ul><li>Saturday, Oct. 15, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. | NGC Presentation "Science & Engineering of the JWST" (Location: Presentation Room)</li></ul><ul><li>Sunday, Oct. 16, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. | STScI Presentation "Telescopes as Time Machines" (Location: Outside by by model)</li></ul><ul><li>Sunday-Tuesday, Oct. 16-18, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | STEM Educational Tent & "Ask a Scientist" Booth (Location: Tent and outside by model)</li></ul><ul><li>Wednesday, Oct. 26, 9:45 a.m. | Dedication of JWST Exhibit (Location: Maryland Science Center)</li></ul>Learn More @ <a href="http://www.northropgrumman.com/jwst_md">http://www.northropgrumman.com/jwst_md</a>Perrinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921748732366068281noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-5136934520154572572011-10-10T16:38:00.000-07:002011-10-11T04:34:57.823-07:00SaveJWST Video Contest: You Choose the Winner!Greetings SaveWebbers:<br /><br />We've received 2 wonderful video submissions, "Genesis" and "Vision," for the whyJWST? Video Competition, and now it's time to vote for the winner! Please take a few minutes and watch the videos (either below or in the survey) and select your favorite one: <a href="https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1NUKkt21QGaaaWw">Survey Link</a>. The video that receives the most votes wins, and its creator will receive 1 hour of access on the powerful, 2-meter Faulkes North or South telescope to observe any celestial object in the universe of their choosing (<a href="https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1NUKkt21QGaaaWw">see details here</a>). Voting ends on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT), and the winner will be announced on Monday, October 17, 20111 at 11:00 a.m. (EDT). Science Warriors: Cast your votes!<br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="https://qtrial.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1NUKkt21QGaaaWw">Survey Link</a></span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WDS-xt-yJ-k?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/khlYq9tuWAs?rel=0" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-40787576219256672152011-10-10T08:57:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:03:09.117-07:00Petition & Video Competition Close: What's Next?Attention SaveWebbers and Science Warriors:<br /><br />There are two items of note.<br /><ul><li>The <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope">change.org "DO NOT cancel funding for the James Webb Space Telescope" online petition</a> is officially closed. </li><li>The <a href="http://savethistelescope.blogspot.com/2011/09/whyjwst-video-competition.html">whyJWST? Video Competition</a> is now closed. </li></ul>However, all is not over. Our most important effort has yet to come. Read below for details:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN7geVMKZzcG09aBd5QXWejyQMwCPaTDHoKUVZ7rZ9Dt8iHZMh07JeCbA-IoUf9IaZY-hY4gX-DHW9NTdHwEKZT-KDNd6rHzCrP-QcP5zay0yAoPVZINbGYrAp_6uQEHV3e5nrYQCCs-c/s1600/Mirrors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN7geVMKZzcG09aBd5QXWejyQMwCPaTDHoKUVZ7rZ9Dt8iHZMh07JeCbA-IoUf9IaZY-hY4gX-DHW9NTdHwEKZT-KDNd6rHzCrP-QcP5zay0yAoPVZINbGYrAp_6uQEHV3e5nrYQCCs-c/s400/Mirrors.jpg" height="300" width="400" border="0" /></a></div><strong>The Petition</strong> was open from July 10, 2011 through to October 9, 2011<span class="st">—</span> a total of nearly 3 months. We received an amazing <strong>5,039 signatures</strong>! We thank you heartily for the effort, enthusiasm, and seriousness with which <span style="font-weight: bold;">you</span>, our most important supporter, helped spread the word and engage your publicly elected officials about the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Without you, this entire endeavor would have been impossible. This is especially true for the effort to save JWST because 99.9% of this has been conducted through social media and the Internet. If your signature is on this petition; if you tweeted about the effort to save JWST or posted on Facebook or talked to your friends and family, or contacted your democratically elected representatives, then you have sent a clear message to your contemporaries about the importance of JWST and the importance of science and technology in our society. You have also sent a message to future generations, saying "even now, during a period of dismal economic woes and conflicting priorities, there are those among us with vision and a long-term awareness of what is important; what will advance our species to one day travel to the stars."<br /><br />So what's our next move with the petition? We will be packaging the signatures, printing them out, and sending them to key members of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce Justice and Science</a> starting today. We will keep you updated on this progress.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql_KFmxAnn8nkUuChrSlOMtCgaFwplGyBZ7fnyghg9mtmRi_TIwvIk-iFkPE0un5CKxJKDp8AJu7CKfOgk4v9PP7hWrTpsH0koZkwoQc0slTGl1_41wcLqT1E4opN2soqOnRtv8BTKAjP/s1600/tertiary_br.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgql_KFmxAnn8nkUuChrSlOMtCgaFwplGyBZ7fnyghg9mtmRi_TIwvIk-iFkPE0un5CKxJKDp8AJu7CKfOgk4v9PP7hWrTpsH0koZkwoQc0slTGl1_41wcLqT1E4opN2soqOnRtv8BTKAjP/s400/tertiary_br.jpg" height="283" width="400" border="0" /></a></div><strong>The Video Competition</strong> is also now closed. We have accepted the final submissions and they are spectacular! Now, we will need your help on this one...we will be setting up a public vote to determine the winning submission. We still have a prize to give away (1 hour of access to the 2-meter Faulkes Telescope in Hawai'i or Australia) and it will be <strong><span style="color:#f1c232;">up to you, our saveJWST supporters, to determine the winner</span></strong>. Stay tuned to this blog and to our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#%21/SaveJWST">Facebook page</a> for the announcement of the public vote; It will be happening soon (read: over the next 5 hours).<br /><br /><u><strong>What's next?</strong></u> So, now that this Video Competition and the Petition are closed, are we done here? <strong>Oh no we are not!</strong> Our most important effort is coming up. The House and the Senate are now deliberating the final numbers for the FY2012 bill, which includes funding for the JWST. Now is the most important time to act. Have no fear. We have a plan. And <u><strong><span style="color:#f1c232;">we will be announcing this plan on Wednesday October 12, 2011</span></strong></u>. So, stay tuned and get ready. This Telescope must fly!<br /><br />@neoteotihuacanneoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-16749157701678098122011-10-06T13:33:00.000-07:002011-10-07T14:03:55.565-07:00Zoom In: The Next Step<span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Greetings SaveWebbers: Today we present a guest post from a fellow SaveWebber and all-around Science Advocate, Laura Dattaro. </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Laura Dattaro is the associate editor of Baltimore City Paper (<a href="http://citypaper.com/archives/authors?author=Laura%20Dattaro">archive</a>) and a <a href="http://earthsky.org/team/lauradattaro">contributing writer for EarthSky</a>. She can be contacted at <span style="color:orange;">ldattaro@citypaper.com</span>; follow her on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ldattaro">@ldattaro</a>. Read her post below: </span><br /><br /><hr noshade="noshade"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Picture a globe. A map of the world. If you have one nearby, take a look. At the macro level, it's a picture of land and sea, outlines of continents as they meet the shores of the oceans. If you have a topographic globe, you can run your fingers over it and feel individual mountain ranges, the tactile signature of our home planet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6PuhASs9ckhoEFA9OWCYIh4Jt06sNVzRRaehz-uNsRyexEFP-Z7vRoJ-Kndy8xoxWmUFz8CNEsp1Gwl-W9g8qUo0W_tM0WxO0wMXx_7snAQ80fTfZyxYTHMQ5l0RGIqi7FffWt_fbXNa/s1600/Iceland++Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6PuhASs9ckhoEFA9OWCYIh4Jt06sNVzRRaehz-uNsRyexEFP-Z7vRoJ-Kndy8xoxWmUFz8CNEsp1Gwl-W9g8qUo0W_tM0WxO0wMXx_7snAQ80fTfZyxYTHMQ5l0RGIqi7FffWt_fbXNa/s320/Iceland++Map.jpg" border="0" height="320" width="288" /></a></div>Zoom in, and you can see outlines of countries, cities, towns. You can find rivers and lakes, deserts and jungles, islands peppering the seas. All of it's labeled and accurately scaled: everything in its right place.<br /><br />Now picture of a map of the universe. Imagine a massive black plane, all the macro pieces—galaxy clusters, nebulae, black holes—placed just so, the emptiness of space washing upon their ample shores. Zoom in, and you could see individual stars, planets, comets. Zoom in far enough, and you'd find our tiny globe.<br /><br />A map of our universe today would be highly incomplete. We know a lot—a whole lot—but there is still a nearly endless expanse of black yet to be filled in. Our own globe used to be similarly lacking. In fact, early citizens of Earth named it so because they hadn't yet seen the seas. (Eventually, some thought to rename it Water, but alas, the name was stuck.) But thanks to millenia worth of gallant explorers, men who gave their lives to forge the oceans and map the world, we now know what our home looks like, and we're learning more every day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/gWOcsq7yosM/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gWOcsq7yosM&fs=1&source=uds"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gWOcsq7yosM&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="266" width="320"></embed></object></div><br />Consider <a href="http://www.powersof10.com/film">Powers of 10</a>, a short video made in 1968 that's been preserved by the United States National Film Registry in the Library of Congress. The whole thing is worth a view, but for our purposes, stick with the first half, until about 4:40 in. The filmmakers have zoomed out from two picnickers in Chicago by powers of 10, and have reached 100 million light-years away, “the limit of our vision.”<br /><br />Now, consider this <a href="http://primaxstudio.com/stuff/scale_of_universe/">Scale of the Universe</a>, created in 2010. It too conceptualizes the scale of our world in a way that veers toward comprehensible. But what in 1968 was so much empty space, dotted only by galaxies and galaxy clusters, is today a colorful explosion of nebulae, black holes, exoplanets, quasars, and supersonic star jets. Nowhere in Powers of 10 do we see the Pillars of Creation, or the Tarantula Nebula, or even our own Kuiper Belt, referenced only as "a fringe of myriad comets too faint to see." (Though Gerard Kuiper first hypothesized a plethora of bodies at the edge of the solar system in 1950, it wasn't until 1992 that astronomers sighted the first Kuiper Belt Object.) And nowhere does the video hint at the vastness noted in the Scale of the Universe: That our universe is 14 billion years old, and so we have billions of cubic light-years to explore.<br /><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAvt2ITlnbxN0PxrnFKTiDyIlqMKiHSz17Mq4zp5u3v9TcVH8T9YSeDrd3s0wikSWrUpd2lsqS8oODxmIFEG0NX1ArWxNMzfqxrXEni8bdZ4ge0ZfO_ql8wfYZffctL2zuVzlLIQacLO7/s1600/HubbleDeepField.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAvt2ITlnbxN0PxrnFKTiDyIlqMKiHSz17Mq4zp5u3v9TcVH8T9YSeDrd3s0wikSWrUpd2lsqS8oODxmIFEG0NX1ArWxNMzfqxrXEni8bdZ4ge0ZfO_ql8wfYZffctL2zuVzlLIQacLO7/s320/HubbleDeepField.jpg" border="0" height="320" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famous Hubble Deep Field<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>What made all the difference? A lot of technology, and a lot of work, but, largely, it was Hubble. In 1995 the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_Deep_Field">Hubble Deep Field</a> was released, an image showing what was thought at the time to be 1,500 galaxies huddled together in the space of sky that would fit in the opening of a drinking straw. When Hubble's technology was updated—by astronauts using space shuttles—it took new images, and new data, and resulted in a 2004 composite image that showed 10,000 galaxies in the same amount of tiny space. Hubble let us pin down the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_universe">universe's age</a> for the first time. It discovered that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universe_expansion">universe's rate of expansion was itself expanding</a>. It made the first observations of atmospheric compositions of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exoplanets">exoplanets</a>. It filled in a lot of space on our empty universe globe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx0-fYKCseZWS1DedswomsZGM5WoAZjboHjQ9tP6X4jhR88pdm8SUAIsc_DbYx3Ul-xl2pJaFA2Fs3izQ-eXINQWLvkxL2ZZ2qf7toeTHHfknbK0y1s6UHQgsvplgCr7xY3u0BdJRp4_c/s1600/Webb+Mirror+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIx0-fYKCseZWS1DedswomsZGM5WoAZjboHjQ9tP6X4jhR88pdm8SUAIsc_DbYx3Ul-xl2pJaFA2Fs3izQ-eXINQWLvkxL2ZZ2qf7toeTHHfknbK0y1s6UHQgsvplgCr7xY3u0BdJRp4_c/s1600/Webb+Mirror+1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>But there is much left to do, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope#Future">Hubble is dying</a>. We cannot go back and fix it, and even if we could, it's time to move on. And what's next is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope">James Webb</a>. Astronomers at the <a href="http://www.stsci.edu/portal/">Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)</a> in Baltimore began planning JWST in 1995, just five years after Hubble's launch, because they knew building it would be a challenge. And it has been one. JWST is criticized for poor management, poor planning, and poor budgeting. But what must be remembered is that nothing like JWST has ever been built before. As a prominent scientist (who requested not to be named) at STScI recently told me, this is not like building a car. We have made many millions of cars. We know how much they cost, how they fit together, how much time they take to build. But no one knew, when work began on JWST, just what problems to anticipate. And the initial schedule and budget were overly optimistic.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ8saQ3csOcPy-OFUdGP_nKDZz9StVv59Bqg8wZlXyf7eZ0IihjQPWEH02Grjzl_jqIZk9QosI-xXSY2n4BfX9KwoZ2SAbZD5HNH4QvDMNs79DjGC-4N9JSYfGnz-Lhiwy0zvLKCtfUee/s1600/Webb+Mirror+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZ8saQ3csOcPy-OFUdGP_nKDZz9StVv59Bqg8wZlXyf7eZ0IihjQPWEH02Grjzl_jqIZk9QosI-xXSY2n4BfX9KwoZ2SAbZD5HNH4QvDMNs79DjGC-4N9JSYfGnz-Lhiwy0zvLKCtfUee/s320/Webb+Mirror+2.jpg" border="0" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>NASA generally builds a 25% reserve into its budget—money to be used in the event that something goes wrong. For each year of JWST work up until now, reserves were well below 10%, and possibly as low as 3%. With a project as massive and integrated as JWST, if one thing goes wrong, it snowballs. Small delays roll into bigger ones; time and money are lost exponentially. And you end up where we are today: seven years overdue.<br /><br />This is a problem, and no one is denying that. But the <a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/resources/JamesWebbSpaceTelescopeIndependentComprehensiveReviewPanelReport.pdf">project's leadership has been entirely reworked</a>. JWST is now its own division within NASA, rather than part of the astrophysics division. Everyone at the senior management level has been replaced. In fact, changes took place almost immediately following the release of an Oct. 29, 2010, <a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/resources/JWSTAPSJuly132011revA.pdf">Independent Comprehensive Review Panel (ICRP) report</a><http: pdf="" gov="">, requested by Maryland's state <a href="http://mikulski.senate.gov/index.cfm">Sen. Barbara Mikulski</a>, which first exposed the myriad problems plaguing the project. NASA issued a response <http: pdf="" resources="" gov="">detailing its agreement with all of the ICRP's recommendations and its proposed steps to comply with them; by Dec. 1, 2010, the first ICRP-recommended executive meeting between Goddard, NASA, and the prime contractors took place in California.<br /><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqB7qfS9cEMCmD3yDxWi7fy4aa3RuE_kjRp9B3RYbnt5bVSkiB0egiVsx7ewyhnnz96s_AHBs5smpJK6hBYWct5WMeBLEZa_MulCBICJzb55RKl4vl7hV017kYutafQmi1wc7yEpE3DC4/s1600/L2_rendering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqB7qfS9cEMCmD3yDxWi7fy4aa3RuE_kjRp9B3RYbnt5bVSkiB0egiVsx7ewyhnnz96s_AHBs5smpJK6hBYWct5WMeBLEZa_MulCBICJzb55RKl4vl7hV017kYutafQmi1wc7yEpE3DC4/s320/L2_rendering.jpg" border="0" height="267" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L2 - the "Gravity Well" where JWST will be parked</td></tr></tbody></table>Here's the biggest part: All of the hardest work is done. While it's difficult to pin down specific numbers, I was recently given estimated figures. The money that's left to be spent can be split into three parts. About one-third is dedicated to construction of the remaining pieces: <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/sunshield-umbrella.html">the complex sunshield</a> (much of the design work and modeling of which is done), and the spacecraft bus, a relatively simple piece. Another third is meant for integration—putting all the pieces together—and testing. And the other third? Reserves. It might not even be spent. (The current $8.7 billion price tag, keep in mind, includes seven years of operations, data archiving, and other life-cycle costs.)<br /><br />But why are we building JWST? Let's consider the science. James Webb is designed to see in the infrared in order to capture light from the most distant objects in the universe. It can see through the dust and gas smearing the skies and watch stars and planets as they form. And it can test the atmospheres of distant bodies to search for signs of planets like our own, planets that future, more ambitious technologies could study, or maybe, one day, visit. We are poised to discover our own creation. We are set to unearth interstellar siblings. We are prepared to fulfill dreams that have existed since man first peered at the sky. And we stand to lose everything.<br /><br /><table class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7CssICJ33VGK7czmVEpAaz6LwaXZG9ojD1M6OE2iXAmgUVzhDZUbG6QZ1f-vcIoSJwY3r6BmZBLEJmfX4-UsTecahjzjU3VVBRC2JobfjYhqCKJqguTuQWa8aciSGl0a0U3aN4e7IkID/s1600/Infrared+Comparison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7CssICJ33VGK7czmVEpAaz6LwaXZG9ojD1M6OE2iXAmgUVzhDZUbG6QZ1f-vcIoSJwY3r6BmZBLEJmfX4-UsTecahjzjU3VVBRC2JobfjYhqCKJqguTuQWa8aciSGl0a0U3aN4e7IkID/s320/Infrared+Comparison.jpg" border="0" height="224" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparison of formation in Visible and Infrared</td></tr></tbody></table>In the wake of the ICRP report, officials within NASA were forced by law to prepare an “analysis of alternatives,” a report that examined if the same science goals could be achieved with a cheaper piece of technology than JWST as currently planned. (The report has not, to my knowledge, been released to the public.) The answer? Nope. If we want to do what JWST is designed to do—if we want to look back to the big bang, search realistically for life, watch creation as it happens—the most cost effective way to do it is to build and use the James Webb.<br /><br />And that's really the point. There is no if. There is no should. Exploring is simply what humans do. It's what we've always done, and it's what we will continue to do. If we've proven anything about ourselves, it's that we're not content with not knowing. Men and women through the ages have dedicated their lives to exploring our land, our seas, and our skies, and those are the men and women we still hold in admiration decades, centuries, and millenia after they've died. James Webb is simply the next step—and as long as we're still alive, it won't be the last.<br /><br />For more information on JWST's status, see <a href="http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/07/20/Howard.pdf">JWST Program Director Rick Howard's</a> <http: 07="" 2011="" 20="" pdf="" media="" medialibrary="" gov="">and <a href="http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/07/21/7132011_Astro_Division_Update-Morse.pdf">Astrophysics Director Jon Morse's <http: 07="" 2011="" 21="" pdf="" media="" medialibrary="" gov="">July presentations</http:></a> to NASA's Astrophysics Subcommittee. If you missed STScI's September Webinar, you can listen to the audio and view the presentations <a href="ftp://crucible.stsci.edu/JWST_Webinar/">here</a> <ftp: edu="" jwst_webinar="">or download PDFs of the slides <a href="http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/meetings/webinar2011">here</a><http: jwst="" meetings="" webinar2011="" edu="">.<br /><hr noshade="noshade"><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-style: italic;">For more about the quest to map our home planet, read the chapter on Earth in </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Planets-Dava-Sobel/dp/0670034460">Dava Sobel<http: com="">'s <span>The Planets</span></http:></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-style: italic;">. Better yet, read the whole book!<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-style: italic;"> </span></http:></ftp:></http:></http:></http:><a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102); font-style: italic;" href="https://twitter.com/#%21/ldattaro">@ldattaro</a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://panoviewimaging.com/astro/giga/HUDF" height="100%" width="550">You need a Frames Capable browser to view this content.</iframe>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-88346619139990349292011-09-28T21:38:00.000-07:002011-10-03T11:51:46.274-07:00End of the Change.org Petition!Attention <i>Science Warriors</i>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">The change.org petition is coming to an end!</span> </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGiKt00btcN312vzx3PmeRt9re3H8QHHRmbrgNJgJ6vHd9LU-sv-yyMZenC_CxtdaxiElIi_N7RDMNKlda2dm_QL8hnTJNDqqXRRwqKdcMxNVx3USHOWDb5r33iyCozDvpTofC5kPFunW/s1600/horse.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGiKt00btcN312vzx3PmeRt9re3H8QHHRmbrgNJgJ6vHd9LU-sv-yyMZenC_CxtdaxiElIi_N7RDMNKlda2dm_QL8hnTJNDqqXRRwqKdcMxNVx3USHOWDb5r33iyCozDvpTofC5kPFunW/s400/horse.gif" width="400" /></a></div><br />Yes. It is true. According to an anonymous, credible source on Capitol Hill, the <a href="http://appropriations.senate.gov/sc-commerce.cfm">Senate</a> and <a href="http://appropriations.house.gov/About/Members/CommerceJusticeScience.htm">House</a> CJS subcommittees will be negotiating during the next 2-3 weeks on the final amount of funding for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) before including the final figure in a massive omnibus bill (includes all 12 appropriations bills) that will go before the House and Senate Floors. The critical time to influence decision-making on Capitol Hill is now. Our plan is to end the Change.org petition, print it, bind it, and deliver it to key members of Congress by mid-October. Please help us in our final push to get as many signatures as possible before the petition ends. The last day for the petition is <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">OCTOBER 9 2011</b></span>. Science Warriors, the time to do battle is nigh! Let's close this sweet chapter and let Congress know who works for who around here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope"><b>Please Sign the Petition Today!</b></a></div><br />However, this is not the end. It is no where near the end. Our most effective coup-de-grace is now.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-48279745679511723592011-09-14T17:47:00.000-07:002011-09-28T10:57:30.484-07:00JWST News Update: Senate Appropriations Committee VoteGreetings Science Warriors:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMPCTAjUDdzhJ9iBXcJCFE5An-Iq0RBmPImv9Z-xLQ1HfvCiEVJWmpxedkFl4GHwZjwRS6IOTHNYiZKzgyZyeVcdGNLPEhEFsM2IKI7XomfycBvQPf9uc6A054hZOnOwKkU3rzXf_C2rD/s1600/JWST+News+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMPCTAjUDdzhJ9iBXcJCFE5An-Iq0RBmPImv9Z-xLQ1HfvCiEVJWmpxedkFl4GHwZjwRS6IOTHNYiZKzgyZyeVcdGNLPEhEFsM2IKI7XomfycBvQPf9uc6A054hZOnOwKkU3rzXf_C2rD/s400/JWST+News+Logo.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-size:130%;color:#66ffff;" >Good News for the JWST!</span><br /><div>Earlier today (Wednesday September 14, 2011) the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Committee_on_Appropriations">US Senate Appropriations Committee</a>, including the <a href="http://appropriations.senate.gov/sc-commerce.cfm">Subcommittee concerning Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies</a> met to hash out the details of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_United_States_federal_budget">FY2012 bill</a>. A few of those details include a small victory for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) today! The Senate Subcommittee has voted to include $530 million for the JWST in 2012. This represents a larger amount than the Obama Administration proposed, which totaled $374 million. This is a significant positive outcome for the JWST. However, we are not out of the woods just yet. Read below more details.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-size:130%;color:#66ffff;" >The Effects of a Two-Chambered Legislature</span><br /><div>So, didn't we just do this kind of vote two months ago and lose? If you are confused, you're not alone; we were too! <u>Here is some background on how the process works</u>: The US Congress is divided into two halves: the House of Representatives and the Senate. When building a bill, in order to make it law, each half of Congress negotiates the details of a bill in special committees dedicated to specific tasks and subjects. In July, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies</a> voted NOT to include funding for the JWST when building thier version of the FY 2012 bill. That's when most of us got motivated. Today, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies</a> sat down to discuss the details of <em>their version</em> of the FY 2012 bill. The Senate Subcommittee decided to "mark-up" (which means amend the bill, a normal process for any bill) so that NASA receives <span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" ><strong>$17.9 Billion</strong></span>, which is only $509 Million less than NASA budget last year. This proposed NASA budget<span class="Apple-style-span"> <span class="Apple-style-span">"provides funds to enable a 2018 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope"</span> (<a href="http://appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=d396ebde-ec78-470d-b46b-b4d49c8e565e">from the Senate Subcommitte Summary for thier version of FY 2012</a>), with a proposed 2012 JWST budget of <span style="color: rgb(204, 255, 255);" ><strong>$530 million</strong></span>.</span><span style="font-family:TimesNewRoman;"> </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTek2F52cgGNI9Q-1k6sHI2uv943DlOeza4kofRBsJ6gVrDqjWjoCQhyphenhyphenofpN_j8MYxCHWc4qblICLih6Tv9_QZHDpxvy34p148p9m475Oyg9KyQJXbg8etwOlLr00HhHq3DWJ9L4HrOcbP/s1600/JWST+Woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTek2F52cgGNI9Q-1k6sHI2uv943DlOeza4kofRBsJ6gVrDqjWjoCQhyphenhyphenofpN_j8MYxCHWc4qblICLih6Tv9_QZHDpxvy34p148p9m475Oyg9KyQJXbg8etwOlLr00HhHq3DWJ9L4HrOcbP/s400/JWST+Woods.jpg" border="0" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>This differs from what the US House proposed NASA should receive: Overall, <a href="http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/CJS_REPORT.pdf">only $16.8 billion</a> and JWST, specifically, <a href="http://appropriations.house.gov/UploadedFiles/CJS_REPORT.pdf">$0</a>. Check out this <a href="http://www.spacepolitics.com/2011/07/13/details-about-the-houses-proposed-nasa-budget/">Space Politics article</a> for an excellent summary of the changes the US House Subcommittee proposed for NASA in FY 2012. With regard to funding for NASA and funding for the JWST, the House and the Senate disagree with each other. Now, they will have to compromise. </div><div><br /></div><div>We expect the bill to go to the full Senate for a floor vote soon. When it passes, and it may be amended before it does, it will be presented for a full House vote. There, both the House and Senate will have to compromise on the details of the FY 2012 budget. Finally, it moves to the President's desk to be signed into law. When might it reach the full House floor for a vote? Perhaps sometime in October is our best guess. The timeline for a bill can change at a moments notice. And rest assured we will be keeping up with that timeline.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 255, 255);font-size:130%;color:#66ffff;" >More Battles Yet to Come</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33N6pWUS9zaqTJ28Nw2icKNGduXXDD7fw5-tSn1ue5snje9q7Wa6PL7cQlv0JaNbYo0_GIjHth6UR8kdfw1iqCUUYEXKnEyIeiKNqTSyiKd4S6LiPsocL7X-mPACRrL24YUHOhgmJcKIP/s1600/Save+JWST.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img rba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33N6pWUS9zaqTJ28Nw2icKNGduXXDD7fw5-tSn1ue5snje9q7Wa6PL7cQlv0JaNbYo0_GIjHth6UR8kdfw1iqCUUYEXKnEyIeiKNqTSyiKd4S6LiPsocL7X-mPACRrL24YUHOhgmJcKIP/s320/Save+JWST.JPG" border="0" height="320" width="302" /></a></div><em>SaveJWST</em> wants to offer a big hearty <b style="color:#66ffff;"><span class="Apple-style-span">"Thank You"</span></b> to all of you who signed the petition, who interacted with the facebook page, and especially those of you who made your voices heard with the US Congress. We can't be sure of how much our presence and grassroots activity impacted the Senators in the US Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies today. Regardless, we are thrilled that members of the Senate have thrown their support behind NASA and JWST.<br /><br /><b style="color:#66ffff;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Today is a victory, Science Warriors.</span></i></b><span style="color:#66ffff;"> </span>We should cheer for this day. However, we still have battles yet to fight. JWST is not entirely safe yet, so please continue to gather supporters and spread the message. We need more signatures for a louder collective voice. We need more emails and phone calls pouring into Congress. We will keep you updated on the progress of this magnificent telescope: The Hubble of the Next Generation. The fight for flight continues!<br /><br />@neoteotihuacan</div></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-72085255111316929412011-09-13T19:21:00.000-07:002011-09-25T21:09:14.292-07:00The whyJWST Video CompetitionDear Science Warriors:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlIiYLVg8g-yADUkNXXn43c9W3s9-2CQoXEsSIjEXSBH3gOgWTprNFakYjGTzhlgSpK6TxPSFgaspqjxvfSbCwAztEHZxDcZ5lA9CrtKHAnRmyFTyjaj2sG4PszG-UWYBT30yyq7o02Bu/s1600/Main+Mirrors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlIiYLVg8g-yADUkNXXn43c9W3s9-2CQoXEsSIjEXSBH3gOgWTprNFakYjGTzhlgSpK6TxPSFgaspqjxvfSbCwAztEHZxDcZ5lA9CrtKHAnRmyFTyjaj2sG4PszG-UWYBT30yyq7o02Bu/s320/Main+Mirrors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JWST Primary Mirrors and Technicians</td></tr>
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In the next few years, the Hubble Space Telescope—a triumph of science and technology that has yielded a multitude of discoveries and inspired millions worldwide—will be shut down. Fortunately, NASA is in the process of building its successor: the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Scheduled to launch in 2018, the JWST will give us an unprecedented view of the heavens. Scientists will use the JWST to study the formation of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems. Perhaps most intriguing, the telescope will allow us to view the light of stars formed a mere 400,000 years after the Big Bang and will expand our knowledge of how the universe we know today came to be.</div>
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Unfortunately, on July 13, 2011, the House Appropriations Committee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies voted to shut down the JWST program. This was devastating news for the scientific community and space enthusiasts in the United States and abroad. Within days of the announcement, we launched an online grassroots campaign (<i>saveJWST</i>) to the Save the James Webb Space Telescope, creating a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/saveJWST">Facebook fan page</a>, <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope">online petition</a>, and this blog. Our mission is to spread the word about the importance of the JWST and encourage people to contact their congressional representatives to save the program.<br />
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In an effort to raise public awareness for the troubled JWST, we are thrilled to announce <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">The whyJWST Video Competition</span></b>:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_vYXXKB9ZDvwXkOVo_eBLFRiQQrEQehPHhyhSGAEpR90nTD5hQ4digznntneSbXWLFh-HMEniR4gYsjlwBmE2bA6suw56g-GtrfkvA5ikcDHceKBWqg8HDB18XyIbKltvo_p8m5o9BTW/s1600/whyJWST+Competition+Button.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_vYXXKB9ZDvwXkOVo_eBLFRiQQrEQehPHhyhSGAEpR90nTD5hQ4digznntneSbXWLFh-HMEniR4gYsjlwBmE2bA6suw56g-GtrfkvA5ikcDHceKBWqg8HDB18XyIbKltvo_p8m5o9BTW/s400/whyJWST+Competition+Button.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
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That's right, a Video Competition! If you feel passionately about the JWST and would like to see it fly; if you believe American science and our collective human destiny need this important successor to the Hubble to study exoplanets in search of life, to unlock the secrets of the birth of the universe and our future in it, then put in your two cents for thousands to see! <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Create a video celebrating and/or championing the JWST and submit it to the whyJWST Video Competition</span></b>. Do this and you could win big. Your video can also help bring much needed attention to the funding troubles of the James Webb Space Telescope. The video can help to educate the public about JWST's fate. It can explore the science behind JWST. You can also direct the video as a plea toward Congress or the voting public. Your imagination is the only limit. Create a video and we will post the best submissions on the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/SavetheJWST">saveJWST youtube channel</a>.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-size: medium;"><b><u>The Prize</u></b></span>:<br />
Our prize is astronomical. Literally:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qU137H3Mqh5a6-F3Mzc2FMulG9-n1xIGFVm9aZFT8bxe3IEax1_U2EDr5Ozy1fG3arhmxiN6xlSrSjoDYBYIh5HIsx4nsGxgyTlMj8mCscHKga5KNApqTKvRIReovjYOYFdJwlM17MS_/s1600/Faulkes+Telescope+Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qU137H3Mqh5a6-F3Mzc2FMulG9-n1xIGFVm9aZFT8bxe3IEax1_U2EDr5Ozy1fG3arhmxiN6xlSrSjoDYBYIh5HIsx4nsGxgyTlMj8mCscHKga5KNApqTKvRIReovjYOYFdJwlM17MS_/s320/Faulkes+Telescope+Image.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the Faulkes Telescope</td></tr>
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The winner of the <b>whyJWST Video Competition</b> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">will be granted 1 hour of access</span></b> to the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">2-meter Faulkes Telescope In Hawai'i or Australia</span></b> to image any celestial object of their choosing (excluding planets in our Solar System) between 0900 and 1700 UT, Monday-Friday. The two telescopes, which cost $8 million each, have some of the most sensitive <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge-coupled_device">CCD (charged-coupled device)</a> cameras in the world, and can be operated remotely from a personal computer.<br />
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<u><b>Technical Prize Details</b></u>: The winner will be able to log in with a specially created account, slew to the target, and image the heavens for 1 hour. If the hour is lost to weather or any technical issues, the account will have another 60 minutes granted to it. For more information about the Faulkes Telescopes, check out their website: <a href="http://www.faulkes-telescope.com/">www.faulkes-telescope.com</a>. Note that planets may not be observed, as they cause significant ghost image on the CCD.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqsLvrKaXuVERc2JeZnyHWSPsKyzOw1w5yoWhv-5SIdcjFi9p9hxnEz7_u_gnF_R9cXHI7tn6Y02cpybYWYrV_vTWCV3KN__Yww4zLJQ2e1AeRBFb5n7z4wHRa_ljXomW9zYZwWEpVaEM/s1600/Faulkes+Telescope+Hawaii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqsLvrKaXuVERc2JeZnyHWSPsKyzOw1w5yoWhv-5SIdcjFi9p9hxnEz7_u_gnF_R9cXHI7tn6Y02cpybYWYrV_vTWCV3KN__Yww4zLJQ2e1AeRBFb5n7z4wHRa_ljXomW9zYZwWEpVaEM/s400/Faulkes+Telescope+Hawaii.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faulkes Telescope Hawaii. Click to Embiggen</td></tr>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-size: medium;"><u>How to Enter:</u></span></b><br />
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<li>The <b>whyJWST Video Competition</b> ends Sunday October 9, 2011 at 11:59 pm. Videos will not be accepted after this deadline. The winner will be selected and announced by Friday October 21, 2011</li>
<li>All video submissions should be loaded directly onto your youtube.com account. When you upload the video, you will have an opportunity to tag the video. Simply tag the video "<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">whyJWST</span></b>". Please see the video below for detailed instructions on how to upload a video onto youtube.com: </li>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="266" src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/qFyIT7rVZ0Q/0.jpg" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qFyIT7rVZ0Q&fs=1&source=uds">
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<li>After the video is uploaded and appropriately tagged, you will need to send an email to <a href="mailto:saveJWST@gmail.com">saveJWST@gmail.com</a>. Please include the following: Subject Line should read "<b>whyJWST Video Competition.</b>" In the body of the email please include your <b>1)</b> name, <b>2)</b> email address, <b>3)</b> a link to your <b>whyJWST</b> youtube video, <b>4) </b>and a 10-character handle or username. The handle or username will be used to identify you as the video author if the video submission is posted publicly. </li>
<li>Videos may be no longer than 3 minutes in length. </li>
<li>Videos must be original. You must obtain a release for any persons or properties appearing in the video submission. This includes music or images protected by copyright, among other properties. See Original Work of Authorship section of the official rules, below.</li>
<li>The<b> whyJWST Video Competition</b> is open to any human on Earth or in Low Earth Orbit. However, only adults can submit a video. Whether or not a person is legally considered an adult will be defined by the standards and laws of the nation and jurisdiction in which that person resides. If you are underage and still wish to participate, then please have a parent or guardian submit your video on your behalf. </li>
<li>For any questions on how this process works, please send an email to saveJWST@gmail.com. For questions, please include the subject line "<b>whyJWST Question</b>". </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faulkes Telescope. Click to Embiggen</td></tr>
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232; font-size: medium;"><u>Legal Rules and Standards:</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Eligibility:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">:</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A</span></span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nyone is eligible to enter and participate. Entrants may be citizens of any nation on Earth. Submissions will be considered irrespective of national origin, religious background, political affiliation, gender, sex, ethnicity, age, or race. Minors of any nation may also participate, but must have a parent or guardian submit their video ON THEIR BEHALF. Minor status will be ascertained according to the customs and laws of the nation where the entrant resides. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><u><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Entry Rules:</span></b></u></span></span></span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, the entrant must upload their video submission to their personal youtube account. Then, the entrant must tag the video submission specifically with the tag "<b>whyJWST</b>" on the youtube website.. Finally, the entrant must </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Send their name, email, entrant-created username or handle, and link to the youtube video submission to the following email address: </span></span><a href="mailto:saveJWST@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">saveJWST@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">. By entering, each participant agrees to be bound by the rules and regulations of this competition. One Winner from the pool of entrants will be selected by a panel of judges comprised of saveJWST volunteers. The Winner will be selected on the success by which their video articulates an emotional and/or intellectual connection to the James Webb Space Telescope, as determined by the sole discretion of the judges. SaveJWST volunteers reserve the right to disqualify any submission saveJWST determines is offensive, inappropriate, not in keeping with saveJWST's image, or that an Entrant has not otherwise complied with these Official Contest Rules. The Winner will be selected on Friday </span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">October 21, 2011</span></span><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"> by the judges, whose decision shall be final. The Winner will be notified by email to the email address provided in the Entrant's email within approximately 5 of days of the judging and are required to respond within 3 days of transmission of that email notice. If winner fails to respond within that time period, the prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner chosen from the remaining entrants in the pool. By entering, all entrants release saveJWST, and its volunteers, affiliates, subsidiaries, vendors, agencies, suppliers and all others associated with the development or execution of this Competition from any and all liability with respect to, or in any way arising from, this Contest or the acceptance, possession or use of any prizes including, without limitation, liability for any personal injury, damage or loss.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhlJK_KXeNYkxAHzaUQmqHKknVktFfrhIdrXsuHLS5Cb7avUEUPdjAVPQomRUsnlHBki4_tMSSvhZFW8zI7WgrOeKJh9lXvA99V-ZwOcAXs94Ep9KRd5kmRduiTJpaw1bAv74JDJXYWkg/s1600/Faulkes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhlJK_KXeNYkxAHzaUQmqHKknVktFfrhIdrXsuHLS5Cb7avUEUPdjAVPQomRUsnlHBki4_tMSSvhZFW8zI7WgrOeKJh9lXvA99V-ZwOcAXs94Ep9KRd5kmRduiTJpaw1bAv74JDJXYWkg/s320/Faulkes+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faulkes Telescope. Click to Embiggen</td></tr>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><u><b>Use of Entrant Information:</b></u></span></span><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">: </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Entrant information will be used wholly by the saveJWST volunteers. However, an entry, except where prohibited by law, constitutes a grant of permission to saveJWST or its agents to include the winner's name in connection with a Winner's List without further notice. The use of personal contact information gathered in connection with this promotion will be treated in accordance with respect to privacy and not released to anyone under any condition OUTSIDE of this competition.The entrant is directed to created a username for the purposes of protecting the entrant's privacy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><u style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;"><br /></span></b></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 900;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><u style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">Prizes:</span></b></u><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The winner of the <b>whyJWST Video Competition</b> <b style="font-weight: normal;">will be granted 1 hour of access</b> to the <b style="font-weight: normal;">2-meter Faulkes Telescope In Hawai'i or Australia</b> to image any celestial object of their choosing (excluding planets in our Solar System) between 0900 and 1700 UT, Monday-Friday. The two telescopes, can be operated remotely from a personal computer. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The winner will be able to log in with a specially created account, slew to the target, and image the heavens for 1 hour. If the hour is lost to weather or any technical issues, the account will have another 60 minutes granted to it. For more information about the Faulkes Telescopes, check out their website: <a href="http://www.faulkes-telescope.com/">www.faulkes-telescope.com</a>. Note that planets may not be observed, as they cause significant ghost image on the CCD.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><u><b>Original Work of Authorship:</b></u></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>A</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: 900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By submitting an entry, Entrant warrants, certifies and represents that: (i) the video submission is original to Entrant, he/she is the sole and exclusive owner of the copyrights in and to the video submission, and has obtained a release from all persons appearing in the video, and from all owners of property appearing in the video submitted for consideration; and (ii) Entrant has the full and exclusive right, power and authority to submit the video entry, and to grant the saveJWST volunteers the right to present the submission to the public, without further compensation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>B</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 900;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the submission contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Entrant and/or that are subject to the rights of third parties, the Entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the video, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the use and exhibition of the Video by the saveJWST volunteers. This includes, but is not limited to, music and images protected by copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, right of privacy, right of publicity, and any other third party rights. Upon request, Entrant shall provide saveJWST with copies of all such</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> consents/releases/permissions.</span></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in; widows: 2;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr42cC1VNlo_JbRol-Y3xYNXmIK3R1Geadt_fwCueJHP0UV9nOJRN-OSh5LgFn8k7_3UEd_VfG_g06gtPwr3kcDm-plLf0vpbdrdcz_Z3pWG5TplzT4XRap4wsd1iWmiK4_jaeUeIVWrUQ/s1600/Faulkes+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr42cC1VNlo_JbRol-Y3xYNXmIK3R1Geadt_fwCueJHP0UV9nOJRN-OSh5LgFn8k7_3UEd_VfG_g06gtPwr3kcDm-plLf0vpbdrdcz_Z3pWG5TplzT4XRap4wsd1iWmiK4_jaeUeIVWrUQ/s320/Faulkes+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faulkes Telescope. Click to Embiggen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><u><b>Grant of License:</b></u></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By submitting an entry and in consideration of the opportunity to win the prize described herein which Entrant acknowledges is good and valuable consideration, Entrant grants the saveJWST volunteers the perpetual right and license to reproduce, distribute, transmit, and/or display any and all parts of the Video in all existing and future media, including but not limited to the saveJWST websites, or in any other manner in saveJWST's discretion, without attribution or further compensation. Use of a submission by the saveJWST volunteers does not suggest in any way that the Entrant is a winner.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #f1c232;"><u><b>Right of Privacy:</b></u></span></span><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By submitting an entry and in consideration of the opportunity to win the prize described herein which Entrant acknowledges is good and valuable consideration, Entrant grants the saveJWST volunteers the right and permission to use his/her name, voice, biographical information, likeness, and any other indication of Entrant's identity, and any statements made by Entrant, including excerpts thereof (collectively the "Publicity Rights"), in connection with the Entrant's video and the #whyJWST Video Competition, for use on the saveJWST websites and for display on the savetheJWST youtube.com channel, in all forms of media, worldwide in perpetuity, without further notice or compensation, except where prohibited law. Entrant agrees to release and discharge the saveJWST volunteers from all claims for damages arising from or relating to publication, use or distribution of the Video and Publicity Rights.LEGAL WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN INDIVIDUAL, WHETHER OR NOT AN ENTRANT, TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE, DESTROY, TAMPER OR VANDALIZE THE WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROMOTION, OR INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST, IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND THE saveJWST VOLUNTEERS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND DILIGENTLY PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AGAINST ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP5nssI3xrspolYl9-UmRyXUZ4u42xuPA59YVy_1d74u0qpIO35PE-BZ_WZW-OrQFAI-PSyCgRRAR9TQTJfQbNMImQcTYGcRsgbv9hPGQBIVjQm-lRBA9e3HhgpwueZfuqdXo1lbbARdW/s1600/Faulkes+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkP5nssI3xrspolYl9-UmRyXUZ4u42xuPA59YVy_1d74u0qpIO35PE-BZ_WZW-OrQFAI-PSyCgRRAR9TQTJfQbNMImQcTYGcRsgbv9hPGQBIVjQm-lRBA9e3HhgpwueZfuqdXo1lbbARdW/s320/Faulkes+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faulkes Telescope. Click to Embiggen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></blockquote>
<b>Good Luck!</b></div>
<div>
<br />
And follow the competition at our youtube channel: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/SavetheJWST">savetheJWST youtube channel</a><br />
<br />
@neoteotihuacan<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eub3l75rVI3THw9n8xeoizURyJHs5ei0VKXa5qXv7mnLbKoeOBHjDLjp_TV5vDE9iwDW0zJVAGhbw_dJgEF6wPmwavp92BQiyCzTibylD80FJlbOG6hhVmiCKEq_HUCroqClT2G-4hZo/s1600/Faulkes+Telescope+Australia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eub3l75rVI3THw9n8xeoizURyJHs5ei0VKXa5qXv7mnLbKoeOBHjDLjp_TV5vDE9iwDW0zJVAGhbw_dJgEF6wPmwavp92BQiyCzTibylD80FJlbOG6hhVmiCKEq_HUCroqClT2G-4hZo/s320/Faulkes+Telescope+Australia.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faulkes Telescope Australia. Click to Embiggen</td></tr>
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neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-81954210116308636642011-09-12T13:34:00.000-07:002011-09-12T14:46:08.015-07:00US Senate Subcommittee is Set to Vote Sep 14 2011Greetings Science Warriors:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26Y4iPt0OyTBKE5VHpcQZ7jGJvssR8-wHVfadpZ3ZwePknt5hEN6rpf2xbZFsNTbVBtceicVuGvCZxpywNT5q9LHa7oVp1iRFvCcj8It5f0plHen17UYU1H9G91MdTxnmqMSmFWutbghG/s1600/Congress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26Y4iPt0OyTBKE5VHpcQZ7jGJvssR8-wHVfadpZ3ZwePknt5hEN6rpf2xbZFsNTbVBtceicVuGvCZxpywNT5q9LHa7oVp1iRFvCcj8It5f0plHen17UYU1H9G91MdTxnmqMSmFWutbghG/s400/Congress.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As you may have heard through our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">facebook page</a>, the next vote for the fate of the James Webb Space Telescope has been tentatively scheduled for September 14th 2011 in the United States Senate (<a href="http://appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=1567c207-b537-4a6b-ab4c-5df08e2c067c">check this link for details</a>). Instead of dealing with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US House Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science</a> we are dealing with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_Appropriations_Subcommittee_on_Commerce,_Justice,_Science,_and_Related_Agencies">US Senate version of that same subcommittee</a>.<br />
<br />
While this is not a vote with the full House or the full Senate, this new vote is still vital to our efforts to save JWST. If we succeed in getting a positive vote now, it means the James Webb Space Telescope has a real chance to fly. Our plan is to get the word out to all of the JWST supporters and to have as many of you contacting Senators as possible. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Together, we will be heard</span></b>!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiigTmhQbxzon98qKvU16h7c3Ws4rJ-XvEPqHhovBZKQHrM5nVUcKv2bieS07T2HiByqAdQKaf0GNEz8DaZ-P7QyZnsBZbOZ2jeJkTTntlNpFpRD_QgU2quDIXS7ORYNNNbw9EDbuWukm/s1600/RedAlert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiigTmhQbxzon98qKvU16h7c3Ws4rJ-XvEPqHhovBZKQHrM5nVUcKv2bieS07T2HiByqAdQKaf0GNEz8DaZ-P7QyZnsBZbOZ2jeJkTTntlNpFpRD_QgU2quDIXS7ORYNNNbw9EDbuWukm/s320/RedAlert.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy of Paramount Pictures</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Now is the time to speak out</span></b>. If you haven't contacted your senators yet then, please, take 5 minutes and send them an email or a fax right now. Take 10 minutes and call their office today and tell them that the James Webb Space Telescope should not be allowed to become the next failed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider">Superconducting Super Collidor</a>. Get as many friends as you can to do the same. Tell them that the United States of America deserves to keep our global leadership in science. Tell them that the US of A deserves to have these jobs. Tell them to properly fund the JWST!<br />
<br />
And especially if you have already contacted your reps, then <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">CONTACT THEM AGAIN</span></b>.<br />
If you are unaware of who your senators are, the <a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/">click on this link to find out</a>. If you need talking points, then read this <a href="http://firstgalaxies.org/jwst/">fantastic summary about JWST (be sure to check out the MYTHS section!)</a>.<br />
<br />
In addition to contacting your own Senators, send emails, faxes and phone calls to actual US Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science. You will find their contact information below:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"></span><br />
<h3 style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Committee Membership</h3><table><tbody>
<tr><td class="subtitlebox" colspan="4" style="background-color: #666666; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; z-index: 1000;"><b>Majority Members (Democrats)</b></td></tr>
<tr><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="30%"><b>Member Name</b></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="15%"><b>DC Phone</b></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="15%"><b>DC FAX</b></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="30%"><b>Contact Form</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=MDSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)</a> [Chairman]</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-4654</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-8858</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://mikulski.senate.gov/contact/shareyouropinion.cfm" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://mikulski.senate.gov/contact/shareyouropinion.cfm</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=HISR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Dan Inouye (D-HI)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-3934</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-6747</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://inouye.senate.gov/Contact/ContactDKI.cfm" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://inouye.senate.gov/Contact/ContactDKI.cfm</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=VTSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Patrick Leahy (D-VT)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-4242</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-3479</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://leahy.senate.gov/contact/" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://leahy.senate.gov/contact/</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=WISR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Herb Kohl (D-WI)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-5653</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-9787</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://kohl.senate.gov/contact.cfm" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://kohl.senate.gov/contact.cfm</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=CASR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-3841</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-228-3954</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=RISR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Jack Reed (D-RI)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-4642</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-4680</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://reed.senate.gov/contact/" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://reed.senate.gov/contact/</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=NJSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-3224</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-228-4054</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/index1.cfm" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://lautenberg.senate.gov/contact/index1.cfm</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=NESR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Ben Nelson (D-NE)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-6551</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-228-0012</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://bennelson.senate.gov/email-issues.cfm" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://bennelson.senate.gov/email-issues.cfm</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=ARSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Mark Pryor (D-AR)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-2353</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-228-0908</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://pryor.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://pryor.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=OHSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Sherrod Brown (D-OH)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-2315</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-228-6321</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://brown.senate.gov/contact/" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://brown.senate.gov/contact/</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="subtitlebox" colspan="4" style="background-color: #666666; border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 0px; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; z-index: 1000;"><b>Minority Members (Republicans)</b></td></tr>
<tr><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="30%"><b>Member Name</b></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="15%"><b>DC Phone</b></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="15%"><b>DC FAX</b></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" width="30%"><b>Contact Form</b></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=TXSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)</a> [Ranking Member]</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-5922</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-0776</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://hutchison.senate.gov/?p=email_kay" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://hutchison.senate.gov/?p=email_kay</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=ALSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Richard Shelby (R-AL)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-5744</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-3416</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactsenatorshelby?p=EmailSenatorShelby" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactsena …</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=KYSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Mitch McConnell (R-KY)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-2541</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-2499</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contac …</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=TNSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Lamar Alexander (R-TN)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-4944</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-228-3398</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=AKSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-6665</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-5301</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EMailLisa" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=EMailL …</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=WIJR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Ron Johnson (R-WI)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-5323</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-228-6965</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-senator" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-t …</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=MEJR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Susan Collins (R-ME)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-2523</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-2693</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCollins.EmailIssue&CFID=42332418&CFTOKEN=65610887" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAct …</a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=SCSR&site=congressmerge" style="color: blue;">Lindsey Graham (R-SC)</a></td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-5972</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">202-224-3808</td><td nowrap="" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a href="http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.EmailSenatorGraham" style="color: blue;" target="_top">http://lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction …</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">We can do this, Science Warriors. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Check with the facebook page for updates</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">@neoteotihuacan</span>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-38150302035163307912011-09-07T18:04:00.001-07:002011-09-08T10:20:45.652-07:00Some Words from David Gaynes, Director of the Documentary "Saving Hubble"<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; "><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); ">(Science Warrors: Below is a guest post from the director of the documentary <b><a href="http://www.savinghubble.com/trailer.html">Saving Hubble</a></b>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; ">David Gaynes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153); ">.)</span></i></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">To the Save JWST Community: Keep Fighting! </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV_c_VjMBZO7_Vg57SasNXCzZNL7yCFAnenxGNBaEpOdHslofr5-x5Pt3ltHeobh7t3V2BEvCz57nAqrPpvaKWlU_O0WuIxuNFcYVXKj8vpg36oFMTXqZFVhNzReeWCzB1yAgwzQTvjzd/s1600/david+gaynes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOV_c_VjMBZO7_Vg57SasNXCzZNL7yCFAnenxGNBaEpOdHslofr5-x5Pt3ltHeobh7t3V2BEvCz57nAqrPpvaKWlU_O0WuIxuNFcYVXKj8vpg36oFMTXqZFVhNzReeWCzB1yAgwzQTvjzd/s320/david+gaynes.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Gaynes, Director of Saving Hubble</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6;">My name is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"><b> David Gaynes</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6;"> and I am the director of Saving Hubble, a soon-to-be-completed documentary film about the people's successful battle to reinstate the Hubble Space Telescope in 2004-2005 (the film pairs that story, cleverly I hope, with reflections about humans and our connection to the universe). I am writing to ask for your support of our project, specifically because the success of Saving Hubble will also mean support for the saveJWST movement. We want to promote your cause and we want you to be our partners in letting the world know about Saving Hubble and our ambitious, non-profit, cross-country, grassroots distribution tour: The Hubble Roadshow. </span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Information about what Hubble Roadshow is about is online at our <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931776949/the-hubble-roadshow?ref=live">Kickstarter page</a>: </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><br /><center><iframe frameborder="0" height="410px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931776949/the-hubble-roadshow/widget/video.html" width="480px"></iframe></center><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Following is an excerpt of a letter I wrote in support of JWST to members of <a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/">AURA</a>, the organization that would ultimately administer the scientific use of Webb (as it does Hubble, via STSCi):</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">"The James Webb Space Telescope is in danger of being defunded at the hands</span></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_1hAVDTo-uqv1ztZYwQsqKr0onx7AcXSS-JJ-LiVu8WgUIPZerG1nGCkgLIpPV4wTvFnqsRmWI9XMOKaIfy38FkuyeWYXh2WAVrcAFIrkzCJ9Pgz_ZtLn66h5HlCPacVE2HG46vFiAIF/s1600/Hubble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_1hAVDTo-uqv1ztZYwQsqKr0onx7AcXSS-JJ-LiVu8WgUIPZerG1nGCkgLIpPV4wTvFnqsRmWI9XMOKaIfy38FkuyeWYXh2WAVrcAFIrkzCJ9Pgz_ZtLn66h5HlCPacVE2HG46vFiAIF/s1600/Hubble.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hubble in Action</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">of a Congress whose shortsighted goals of slashing budgets will force us to relinquish our scientific and technical leadership.</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are currently outinvested and in danger of being outperformed by other nations and this has grave consequences for our national prosperity, the educational prowess of the next generation of American citizens, and most importantly, the prospect of a deepened human understanding of the natural universe (something that affects citizens of the world, which has always been the highest contribution of American Democracy to human civilization)." </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">"As Webb continues to be jeopardized by a leadership that can't be trusted</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">to speak on behalf of its citizenry, we must demonstrate that the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">American <b>public</b> understands and values the innovation that has always been</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the hallmark of our great democracy. The Hubble Roadshow and the</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">documentary Saving Hubble wish to contribute to the growing chorus of</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">people who believe that Webb, like the long embattled Hubble, like the</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">tragically defunct Supercollider, needs our voice. Understandably, there</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">are many issues that Americans of different political beliefs can and</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">should be passionate about. Space, a great unifier among policy debates, is the rare issue where we can establish consensus among traditional political enemies and is precious, exceptional opportunity regular citizens have to speak</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">on behalf of humanity above nationality. It is America's great pride to</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">have dreamt, built, launched, fixed, and operated the Hubble Space</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Telescope. It is our great shame when we take programs that have been the</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">recipient of tremendous investment, that are universally accepted to be of</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the highest scientific value, and abandon them. Hubble was saved more than</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">once from the shortsightedness of elected representatives. Webb, an</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">endeavor of Hubblesque proportion and scientific magnitude must not suffer </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">because of a politicized, ineffectual legislature. This is the time to invest in our future, inspire the next generation, and lead the world to a new level of awareness."</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Thank you for the opportunity to share what I'm doing with you. Let's all continue to do what we know in our hearts is the right thing, the only thing: we must stand up for humanity's right to comprehend the universe!</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Best,</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">David Gaynes</span></span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Director, Saving Hubble</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.savinghubble.com/">Saving Hubble</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e6e6e6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931776949/the-hubble-roadshow?ref=live">The Hubble Roadshow Kickstarter Campaign</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><align=left><iframe frameborder="0" height="380px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931776949/the-hubble-roadshow/widget/card.html" width="220px"></iframe></align=left></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-32736867675656941862011-08-22T20:21:00.000-07:002011-08-23T20:52:49.520-07:00A Change in the Overall Price Tag of JWSTDear Science Warriors:
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f87217;"><strong>The James Webb Space Telescope is in trouble.</strong></span> On July 13, 2011, the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies voted to cut funding for the JWST from NASA's FY2012 budget. Since that time, there has been a groundswell of support building for this next giant leap of science and technology. Many people in the USA and around the world want JWST to fly, and hope that this telescope doesn't become another <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superconducting_Super_Collider">Superconducting Super Collider</a>.
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU66JsFi0lW7yz_cuY9L9mLj73GCKVENoNqomoQaTqOeMCY3_lcAq7IILf-E_K0R8SFS7i3F6Sxfpi4jd82D-pFnu43W4UvOXtPg75MWu3cPcDxT1nXTToHcSBsWdgqgRnZfmHuzzDyf7/s1600/SSC+Ruins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU66JsFi0lW7yz_cuY9L9mLj73GCKVENoNqomoQaTqOeMCY3_lcAq7IILf-E_K0R8SFS7i3F6Sxfpi4jd82D-pFnu43W4UvOXtPg75MWu3cPcDxT1nXTToHcSBsWdgqgRnZfmHuzzDyf7/s400/SSC+Ruins.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruins of the Superconducting Super Collider near Dallas, Texas, a stark reminder of the shortsighted nature of Congress. Click to embiggen. </td></tr></tbody></table>
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<br />And now, just yesterday (Monday Aug 22 2011) we read <a href="http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awx/2011/08/22/awx_08_22_2011_p0-362179.xml&headline=NASA%20Estimates%20$8.7%20Billion%20To%20Fly%20Webb">news that the overall price tag</a> of the JWST will be going up, despite the fact that the United States has already spent most of this money for JWST:
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></b></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span>
<br /><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">"Managers at NASA replanning the James Webb Space Telescope program after an independent cost analysis found it over budget and behind schedule have concluded it will cost about </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">$8.7 billion</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> to finish the telescope in time for a launch in 2018 and operate it at the Earth-Sun L2 Lagrange point for five years."</span></b> - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awx/2011/08/22/awx_08_22_2011_p0-362179.xml&headline=NASA%20Estimates%20$8.7%20Billion%20To%20Fly%20Webb">Aviation Week</a></span></span></blockquote>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTl67R6UEAKyxo6U94Ud7f1iGuvseu267JsODjM7cg7IEhXUjQ2ef2JSKkuguL6eW7kVKSSaLUGdd50APjuVmjnTMGsjkKAtDeY63t-Ylw25oDr0zjwJApE73VqxxjWsgHs1Ovc4PJJah/s1600/jwst_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTl67R6UEAKyxo6U94Ud7f1iGuvseu267JsODjM7cg7IEhXUjQ2ef2JSKkuguL6eW7kVKSSaLUGdd50APjuVmjnTMGsjkKAtDeY63t-Ylw25oDr0zjwJApE73VqxxjWsgHs1Ovc4PJJah/s1600/jwst_logo.gif" /></a></div><a href="http://news.discovery.com/space/costs-for-space-telescope-soar-110822.html">Discovery News</a>, <a href="http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awx/2011/08/22/awx_08_22_2011_p0-362179.xml&headline=NASA%20Estimates%20$8.7%20Billion%20To%20Fly%20Webb">Aviation Week</a>, <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/88356/rumors-of-continued-soaring-life-cycle-costs-for-webb-telescope/">Universe Today</a> and <a href="http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/2011/08/webb-costs-cont.html">NASAWatch</a> have reported on the increase, casting doubt on the future of the JWST. It may come as a surprise to many that JWST may require an additional $3.6 billion worth of funding to fly. However, it does not change the critically important role the JST will play in the technical and scientific advancement of the human species. It certainly does not change our fundamental need to understand the universe, nor the millions upon millions of children and adults, around the world, who will be affected by the scientific discoveries and breakthrough technological spin-offs afforded by JWST. A small example of that effect from <a href="http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/economics.html">"The Economic Impacts of the US Space Program"</a>:
<br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span>
<br /><blockquote><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span">"Midwest Research Institute (MRI) study of the relationship between R&D expenditures and technology-induced increases in GNP indicated that </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">each dollar spent on R&D returns an average of slightly over seven dollars in GNP</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">over an eighteen-year period following the expenditure (3). Assuming that NASA's R&D expenditures produce the same economic payoff as the average R&D expenditure, MRI concluded that the $25 billion (1958) spent on civilian space R&D during the 1959-69 period returned $52 billion through 1970 and will continue to stimulate benefits through 1987, for a total gain of $181 billion."</span></span></b>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span"> - </span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><a href="http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/economics.html">The Economic Impacts of the US Space Program</a></blockquote>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqqY6HE9K0BVgiO8axV1oXKJIH_3VYETpHV-pQpB5RmrTnyniJ7HIcAQFGuL1MynofQqIv3T08iC3DDh2eeXQA751UhyphenhyphenMS_yTgne-4f3J0UQAhQTNibvSL5ofDBBTKQAQU7vPcsNHezBH/s1600/4974751471_762cfe0288+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqqY6HE9K0BVgiO8axV1oXKJIH_3VYETpHV-pQpB5RmrTnyniJ7HIcAQFGuL1MynofQqIv3T08iC3DDh2eeXQA751UhyphenhyphenMS_yTgne-4f3J0UQAhQTNibvSL5ofDBBTKQAQU7vPcsNHezBH/s400/4974751471_762cfe0288+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>NASA stimulates innovation in the US and global economies. It creates jobs and income for many Americans and helps bring research dollars to the United States of America from other nations. For example, The ESA (European Space Agency) and the CSA (Canadian Space Agency) both are helping the US to fund and build the JWST.
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<br />And if an additional $3.6 billion still sounds high, we would like you to know that this is still only a fraction of what the US Federal Government spends annually. How much of a fraction? The new JWST total would be 0.25%...a quarter of 1 percent of the overall <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget">Federal Spending for 2010</a>, for example. How much does that compare to the Defense Budget of the United States? The new total for the JWST would equal only 1.3% of what we spent on the entire Military in the US. It sounds like a great deal of money on the surface, but when compared to the other things the US spends money on, it seems insignificant. Except that the JWST is anything but insignificant. It is still the next greatest leap in our understanding of the Universe and our place in it. And overall, JWST represents an angle of the United States's personality that is hard to quantify. We'll let Neil deGrasse Tyson explain it better than we can:
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="266" src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/3_F3pw5F_Pc/0.jpg" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3_F3pw5F_Pc&fs=1&source=uds"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3_F3pw5F_Pc&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
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<br /><b><u>Good News from NASA</u></b>:
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<br />And so, we've received a little bad news concerning the budget of the JWST. If you are a supporter of the James Webb Space Telescope, then you should know that occasionally we will get some bad news. However, do not be dismayed, because NASA itself considers this to be a priority which means that this telescope is likely to fly (<b><span class="Apple-style-span">most especially with your support</span></b>)!! <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110822/full/476379a.html">NASA announced yesterday</a> as well that it will request of the federal government that NASA be allowed to fund JWST from the entire agency and not just one individual NASA fund:
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></b>
<br /><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">"The flagship observatory is currently funded entirely through NASA's science division; now NASA is requesting that more than US $1 billion in extra costs be shared 50:50 with the rest of the agency. The request reflects administrator Charles Bolden's view, expressed earlier this month, that the telescope is a priority not only for the science programme, but for the entire agency."</span></b> - </span><a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110822/full/476379a.html">Nature News Monday Aug 22 2011</a></blockquote>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6Q9a8WhIA9Pg6hxfmjOKlQA8Ld-eg0e5CPH-s3kToea9AlofwMhn47U2r_LLErifYa4tZSZDuv17ONnP1iso5wSWLVVThNA2vIREzz_ZSu0lmHTg00pWqc70d-dpZm8oFz42gXPrl34A/s1600/JWST_logo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6Q9a8WhIA9Pg6hxfmjOKlQA8Ld-eg0e5CPH-s3kToea9AlofwMhn47U2r_LLErifYa4tZSZDuv17ONnP1iso5wSWLVVThNA2vIREzz_ZSu0lmHTg00pWqc70d-dpZm8oFz42gXPrl34A/s320/JWST_logo+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Ultimately, NASA wants the JWST to fly and is fighting to keep it alive. NASA's chief administrator Charles Bolden has expressed that the JWST is one of NASA's top three priorities.
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<br />The public wants JWST to launch because they realize that it is vital economically and scientifically to our future. Scientists all over the world know that JWST must fly because of the necessary work in science it represents and that not launching it would set science back a number of years. NASA itself admits the importance of the JWST and is making huge arrangements to make sure that JWST happens. The only people who need convincing are our representatives in Washington DC. Since they work for you, they will listen to you. You just have to tell them how you feel. Tell them that the JWST represents all that is good, innovative, bold, and smart in American science.Tell them that the James Webb Space Telescope must fly.
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<br />Stay tuned to this blog and to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">facebook page</a> for further information concerning the fight to save the James Webb Space Telescope. We will continue to be a rallying point for this grassroots campaign.
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<br />As always Space Warriors, do your part:
<br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> </span></span></div></div><blockquote><div><b>a) Sign the <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope">Petition </a></b></div><div><b>b) Like the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Facebook Page </a></b></div><div><b>c) <a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES </a></b></div><div><b>d) Spread the Word</b></div><div>
<br /></div></blockquote><div><i>@neoteotihuacan</i>
<br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"></span></span></div></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-70706002235295917352011-08-16T22:52:00.000-07:002011-08-17T06:49:26.451-07:00The American Astronomical SocietyGreeting Science Warriors,<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNrnY-MwTZhUkKf8RWndxkWdhV8MAom1dQrQZKlZIqSms9jMRXuKGcXcMkNsZ1Q4ga1D9-q5GvF50mUXXidmMr8WtKu1zR6WcH4PCakuOziugmwNS1mSEvt2RlJd7l8XtaSMylsz-gcpF/s1600/Capitol+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNrnY-MwTZhUkKf8RWndxkWdhV8MAom1dQrQZKlZIqSms9jMRXuKGcXcMkNsZ1Q4ga1D9-q5GvF50mUXXidmMr8WtKu1zR6WcH4PCakuOziugmwNS1mSEvt2RlJd7l8XtaSMylsz-gcpF/s400/Capitol+Hill.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div>News and efforts concerning the plight of the JWST are growing exponentially. Earthsky.org has brought <a href="http://earthsky.org/space/james-webb-space-telescope-in-financial-limbo-but-science-pushes-on">recent awareness</a> to the public. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Astronomy-Now-Magazine/58988439332">Astronomy Now Magazine</a> is releasing a news update in this month's issue concerning the JWST. The <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110810/full/476127a.html">Journal Nature has briefly discussed JWST</a> on its website. Dr. Lawrence Krauss has advocated in the pages of <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304911104576445942803367416.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0">The Wall Street Journal</a> for continuing ahead with the JWST mission. <a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/07/15/138164326/funding-for-james-webb-space-telescope-in-jeopardy">NPR's Science Friday</a> has talked about the issue over the airwaves. The <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2011-08-07&bk=A&pg=16">Washington Post opened the subject favorably</a> in its Sunday editorial. <a href="http://www.northropgrumman.com/supportjwst/">Northrop Grumman advocates for its creation</a>, saying bluntly "<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">...there is no mission planned by any other space agency that can achieve the science goals of JWST"</span></b>. AURA - the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy - has made a strong statement supporting the JWST and <a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/news.asp?newsID=264">provided general resources for the public</a> to use to gain awareness of the issue. The AAS (American Astronomical Society) is sending representatives directly to Capital Hill to discuss the JWST issue with key members of Congress. </div><div><br />
</div><div>All this and more is happening right now because many people and organizations realize that the James Webb Space Telescope is important to the future of humanity and therefore MUST FLY. However, it all means nothing if YOU do not contact your representatives. While most of us agree that JWST represents all that is good, innovative, bold and smart in American science, members of Congress do not automatically see it that way. <b>YOU MUST MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!</b></div><div><br />
</div><div><b><u>What the AAS is doing</u></b>: </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cBEHKoZ7Yc0Eq2yLd7TIYRirp68BuKpcigOV30H4Im57lPC9zlkhIZAwRqLOsFL8Zx8XQSHFaaL9q75gckrop1Btm5_rxZEc8PSQstcHtvmzi1B-LBIyrc9k6ZkQvGDHGAsRY7CgVkXK/s1600/AAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3cBEHKoZ7Yc0Eq2yLd7TIYRirp68BuKpcigOV30H4Im57lPC9zlkhIZAwRqLOsFL8Zx8XQSHFaaL9q75gckrop1Btm5_rxZEc8PSQstcHtvmzi1B-LBIyrc9k6ZkQvGDHGAsRY7CgVkXK/s400/AAS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>As you may know, the <a href="http://aas.org/node/4497">American Astronomical Society</a> has been vocal about supporting the James Webb Space Telescope during its time of crisis. Only 36 days ago, the United States House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Commerce Justice and Science voted NOT to continue funding for the JWST while building the architecture of a larger budget bill. The AAS recognized this as a travesty and a waste, as many of us have. The JWST should fly because it represents all that is good, innovative, bold, and smart in American science. The American Astronomical Society understands this, too.<br />
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The AAS penned an <a href="http://aas.org/node/4497">informational letter addressed directly to the public</a>. The main concern of the letter is "what can you do?" The AAS has listed many plausible avenues of action for a concerned US citizen. We suggest you take a few minutes and read through them. The most important item on the list is, basically, CONTACTING YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. Nothing else can do so much to guarantee that the James Webb Space Telescope launches and revolutionizes our universe.<br />
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Also addressed in the letter are the actions the AAS has been taking on behalf of JWST:<br />
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<ul><li>AAS members have gone to DC to discuss the JWST issue with congressional members now, during the August recess. </li>
<li>In discussions with congressional members, it was noted that JWST overall project management was reorganized, the budget adjusted and the telescope on schedule for a 2018 launch date. </li>
<li>AAS members conversed with Representative Frank Wolf of Virginia and Representative Chaka Fattah staff members, noting that the House of Representatives Committee on Commerce Science and Justice wanted the budgeting issues concerning JWST and other NASA projects to get NASA attention on certain management issues. </li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div><b><u>What's Next? </u></b></div><div><br />
</div><div>According to contact AAS members made with Rep. Wolf's and Rep. Fattah's staff members, it is important that </div><div><br />
</div><div><ul><li>NASA's "rebaselined" JWST plan be approved by the Executive Branch's Office of Management and Budget</li>
<li>The next vote will come after a Senate-House agreement on a final NASA budget where the SENATE (not House of Reps) Committee on Commerce, Justice and Science will vote on the future of the JWST</li>
<li>The AAS promises to be a leader in the fight to save JWST and will provide further updates in the near future. </li>
</ul><div>We suggest you check out the <a href="http://aas.org/node/4497">AAS website materials</a> concerning the JWST. Review the contents of this blog for up-to-date news, important links and resources, and explanations of the science behind JWST. And as always: </div></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div style="color: #c3c3c3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">a) Sign the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Petition</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #c3c3c3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> b) Like the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Facebook Page</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #c3c3c3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">c)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></span></span></div><div style="color: #c3c3c3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">d) Spread the Word</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #c3c3c3;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">@neoteotihuacan</span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQth2_4oaYsTrcXm6W9oDWzP9flwDidP9rSOpsEPxVvkIywrLxMBd8FySq2Jh6wieaLLQ55rekzYc3ykeupjRqkfcAHo_UGuxyXTe2f0-ADQaMvbulYsXrEUm1IJdU9Z2PttyjcMsMWMVK/s1600/James_Webb_Telescope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQth2_4oaYsTrcXm6W9oDWzP9flwDidP9rSOpsEPxVvkIywrLxMBd8FySq2Jh6wieaLLQ55rekzYc3ykeupjRqkfcAHo_UGuxyXTe2f0-ADQaMvbulYsXrEUm1IJdU9Z2PttyjcMsMWMVK/s400/James_Webb_Telescope.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-28253736712364171692011-08-07T23:59:00.000-07:002011-08-23T09:00:47.325-07:00saveJWST Resource & News UpdateGreetings Science Warriors,
<br />Let us not forget that <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">the James Webb Space Telescope is still in trouble</span></b>.<div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghF3nesIZYtV1pztDwXGL2MDVMiaGmro-KTe4u-lepQB9ZIHjrhM-Z00m7ArJd94TUr7ViElfuDiYw9SBBFnVBH1kU-tcQvtA3G0Q88QZQ3IYbBS6qPwlRv2Fvgq-D-urRnhXM8P3_daU0/s1600/277510_231290230235903_225905930774333_780077_6456621_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghF3nesIZYtV1pztDwXGL2MDVMiaGmro-KTe4u-lepQB9ZIHjrhM-Z00m7ArJd94TUr7ViElfuDiYw9SBBFnVBH1kU-tcQvtA3G0Q88QZQ3IYbBS6qPwlRv2Fvgq-D-urRnhXM8P3_daU0/s400/277510_231290230235903_225905930774333_780077_6456621_o.jpg" width="377" /></a></div>
<br />Quick review of new information concerning the fight to save the JWST:
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<br /><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">We still do not know the date of the next vote in the House of Representatives</span></li>
<br /><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">All of the primary mirrors have been polished (most difficult task in building JWST)</span></li>
<br /><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">N</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">ASA has completed coating 13 of 18 primary mirror segments and will complete the rest by early next year (this is a post-polishing requirement)</span></span></span></li>
<br /><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">3,603 petition signatures, 3,670 Facebook Likes, and thousands of reTweets</span></span></span></li>
<br /></ul>
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<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCc16Tr3_yEE0fF__WY15vCQ2aoE79NCB5Agp5dn4YJOl6A_QkZoPnyTK_qHbifEuwp1qqAL1EzBV_dEcgAGjV-oBNih1dJEN7cvOhOXl7S_vI6_eeXt5tbjrWQgNASWUbiL-R7JcC0Z0/s1600/563711main_polish-mirrors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCc16Tr3_yEE0fF__WY15vCQ2aoE79NCB5Agp5dn4YJOl6A_QkZoPnyTK_qHbifEuwp1qqAL1EzBV_dEcgAGjV-oBNih1dJEN7cvOhOXl7S_vI6_eeXt5tbjrWQgNASWUbiL-R7JcC0Z0/s320/563711main_polish-mirrors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technician working in the process of mirror polishing</td></tr></tbody></table><div>Several members of Congress advocate for the JWST. Among those representatives are <a href="http://hoyer.house.gov/">Congressman Steny Hoyer</a>, <a href="http://mikulski.senate.gov/media/pressrelease/7-7-2011-1.cfm">Senator Barbara Mikulski</a>, <a href="http://donnaedwards.house.gov/">Congresswoman Donna Edwards</a>, and <a href="http://schiff.house.gov/index.html">Representative Adam Schiff</a>. Contacting you representatives and letting them know you want the JWST to fly is THE BEST idea. However, if you live in any of the districts of the above mentioned politicians and since they are already on your side, you should contact them and ask them <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i>how</i> <i>you can help</i>.</span>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweXkknz9adNzBidBPVId_YPbOmBG4_PnZ1b1qCXwx9mULfTlURJtDWN8W2Xhs5qacF5PiajA2GWM3Z5MD0kTpQ_ONXV2BVzOut_gKFTGl0WKRByPqQ9cgbF3sUeTZmfuqOSwUrDDxvrsK/s1600/280009_226135954084664_225905930774333_760997_8204700_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjweXkknz9adNzBidBPVId_YPbOmBG4_PnZ1b1qCXwx9mULfTlURJtDWN8W2Xhs5qacF5PiajA2GWM3Z5MD0kTpQ_ONXV2BVzOut_gKFTGl0WKRByPqQ9cgbF3sUeTZmfuqOSwUrDDxvrsK/s400/280009_226135954084664_225905930774333_760997_8204700_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Timeline of major telescope instrument missions. As you can see many are scheduled to end quite soon</td></tr></tbody></table>
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<br /></div><div>In the last few weeks, several organizations and personalities have publicly endorsed the JWST. Among the most notable are: </div><div><ul><li>Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor on JWST, has <a href="http://www.northropgrumman.com/supportjwst/">created an amazing webpage</a> that cuts right to the chase about why the telescope is important for science and for America's leadership in the world. Most importantly, the webpage features a built in mechanism for contacting your representatives about JWST. </li>
<br /><li>earthsky.org has <a href="http://earthsky.org/space/james-webb-space-telescope-in-financial-limbo-but-science-pushes-on">written an article</a> describing what JWST has ALREADY done for humanity and for science, now, before it has even launched. This article also mentions the public support that is growing against the possible cancellation of JWST. </li>
<br /><li>The Washington Post featured a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper?dt=2011-08-07&bk=A&pg=16">Sunday editorial</a> discussing why it would be a waste of money TO CUT the JWST. The author argues that since it is nearly complete, it would greatly benefit the public to finish the telescope and not waste what has already been spent in construction. </li>
<br /><li>Dr. Lawrence Krauss <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304911104576445942803367416.html?mod=ITP_opinion_0">writes an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal</a> advocating for the JWST (must be a WSJ subscriber to access full article online) </li>
<br /><li>Among the blogs and tumblrs of the world, people are writing and creating and advocating for JWST, including this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZGE86qBxCI">example video on youtube form user jnosanov</a>. </li>
<br /></ul><div>When spreading the word, be sure to cite these articles and comments in your discussions. As the fight to save this telescope progresses, more media outets and experts of various colors will step forward to cover/discuss the merits of JWST. </div><div>
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<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05KjJxWsc7O-nPSh0WXexBle_Iv2lQpCmgVKkniDsqKn8q4_kWobkulHa7XyWMU-r8_jzjmdsziBt6grGe-kHTnJ8pEtURUtJe8YIvJisXntgT8iWXbGnBrEa33EHOXx6iXKpvXcVzH-V/s1600/Mirrors+Mirrors+Mirrors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05KjJxWsc7O-nPSh0WXexBle_Iv2lQpCmgVKkniDsqKn8q4_kWobkulHa7XyWMU-r8_jzjmdsziBt6grGe-kHTnJ8pEtURUtJe8YIvJisXntgT8iWXbGnBrEa33EHOXx6iXKpvXcVzH-V/s320/Mirrors+Mirrors+Mirrors.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polished mirrors in all their glory</td></tr></tbody></table><div>The James Webb Space Telescope seems to be caught up in a larger battle over the role of the United States Federal Government. Regardless of how you see that role, there is still room for science to improve all of our lives, to shed light on the most important questions in human existence, and to help keep America at the forefront of scientific research and innovation. The James Webb Space Telescope represents all that is good, innovative, bold, and smart in American Science. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>There is still much to do, people. And there will be more to come in the story of the James Webb Space Telescope. Stay tuned to this blog, to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Facebook page</a>, and the <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/SaveJWST">saveJWST twitter account</a> for the latest news regarding the fight to save the James Webb Space Telescope. And remember the 4 steps to save the JWST: </div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"> a) Sign the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Petition</a></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> b) Like the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Facebook Page</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">c)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">d) Spread the Word</span></span></span></div><div>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjRQqxOg_PTPnB-wI4P6m49wGiL8R-wSMPFkBlzxT-ktQbSDfWtjQNwKEQNlXf6_YOSAOfUMOWw-MliN-0LK0Bx5rkv0vkgd6BfNtvoxdsttq7k-v02huDkuAprqx4gCHbt3KGcWXYTkm/s1600/318050main_jwstmirror1_20090312_HI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjRQqxOg_PTPnB-wI4P6m49wGiL8R-wSMPFkBlzxT-ktQbSDfWtjQNwKEQNlXf6_YOSAOfUMOWw-MliN-0LK0Bx5rkv0vkgd6BfNtvoxdsttq7k-v02huDkuAprqx4gCHbt3KGcWXYTkm/s400/318050main_jwstmirror1_20090312_HI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Technicians in Huntsville examine one of JWST's mirrors</td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">
<br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">@neoteotihuacan</span></span></span></div></div></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-66255615425727818162011-08-01T18:51:00.000-07:002011-08-01T18:59:12.735-07:00SaveJWST Campaign UpdateGreetings Science Warriors:<br />
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Just a reminder...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">the James Webb Space Telescope is in Trouble</span></b>.<br />
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This blog represents efforts by volunteers to bring awareness to the possibility that Congress may vote to cut funding for this amazing new chapter in the Human Story. That vote will be coming to the United States House of Representatives very soon, although we do not yet know the exact date. The House Appropriations Subcommittee concerning Commerce, Justice, and Science has already voted NOT to further fund the JWST. Now we are waiting to discover the date that this bill goes to vote for the entire <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Representatives_of_the_United_States">US House of Representatives</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJinNl7INS6C3xlrjESjv8q5PMmXB6RYYybdXFABizmyRMeGu4fZrodtMaucptTZk5Y3qaYfONFlJmZ28tljHkDwU0QzMBDWw1hnM_gIsKsV9M7yrRarWDkNbkSwBfM15c_0rPN4QjM_B/s1600/House+of+Reps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJinNl7INS6C3xlrjESjv8q5PMmXB6RYYybdXFABizmyRMeGu4fZrodtMaucptTZk5Y3qaYfONFlJmZ28tljHkDwU0QzMBDWw1hnM_gIsKsV9M7yrRarWDkNbkSwBfM15c_0rPN4QjM_B/s400/House+of+Reps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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Hopefully, the US House of Representatives will understand that the JWST is important not just for securing science jobs here in the US, but also important for keeping the United States on the forefront of the current scientific revolution and for keeping the US competitive internationally. Most importantly, the JWST will be a beacon of understanding our place in the universe. JWST will usher in a new wave of scientific discoveries and see near to the beginning of time. Hopefully, the US House of Representatives will understand this, too.<br />
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While we are waiting for official confirmation of the date of the full vote in the House of Representatives, we should be about the business of getting the word out about saving the JWST. Doing your part is easy. Simply follow the following steps:<br />
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<ol><li><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Sign the petition at change.org</u></span></b> [<a href="http://bit.ly/oy4ibI">Click here to do so now</a>]</li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMcw5SbAnNclFCT29rHXZxblFgFx3J1dp_2aObieDjSTqAskNxd0RHmoBq1egHRUY2VtnGJx2doNwe9HHdzs5cLv4xRuX0Hrx09TbKT36ZYhkHkBv6jlcYfDqrDYeRDexIqhaewRaX7LO/s1600/Gold+JWST+Mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIMcw5SbAnNclFCT29rHXZxblFgFx3J1dp_2aObieDjSTqAskNxd0RHmoBq1egHRUY2VtnGJx2doNwe9HHdzs5cLv4xRuX0Hrx09TbKT36ZYhkHkBv6jlcYfDqrDYeRDexIqhaewRaX7LO/s320/Gold+JWST+Mirror.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>Just recently, the number of petitions signatures has reached 3,500 signatures! For only 20 days of active signature collecting, this is a fantastic effort and it shows without a doubt that the telescope is important to many people. Some of you may be asking yourself, "what good can online signatures do?" To this, we say that the petition is only a representation of the interest the people have in JWST. For the ultimate good that you can do, follow step 3 [contacting your representatives]. For the petition, when the time comes, we will be be able to show elected officials and the nation the impressive amount of petition signatures we will have, and those people in turn will see it as a measurement of the will of the people. If you are a resident of the United States of America, then sign it now. </div><div><br />
</div><div> 2. <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Like the Facebook Page</u></span></b> [<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Click here to do this now</a>]</div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYVIMRwlXgXJmILe8iovpNIb3DlcxAsid_ZuaitmHL-iQ19wqTxm_pWlsjTvbWgQ9-Ehky9IIzzSufLuM1ZgYugwdj_2IxAi96sYXi5_Xe8YzTfZkqBrg2bWdhq1J3j2ELHW9qTCKRBaJ/s1600/Mirror+Man+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYVIMRwlXgXJmILe8iovpNIb3DlcxAsid_ZuaitmHL-iQ19wqTxm_pWlsjTvbWgQ9-Ehky9IIzzSufLuM1ZgYugwdj_2IxAi96sYXi5_Xe8YzTfZkqBrg2bWdhq1J3j2ELHW9qTCKRBaJ/s320/Mirror+Man+Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Facebook fan page is like the petition in one important distinction; it will ALSO act as a measurement of the will of the people. The Facebook page will also, unlike the petition, be a rallying point for updates and news concerning the effort to save the James Webb Space Telescope. Check in frequently to learn about new articles concerning the JWST, for news about the battle to deprive the JWST of funding, and to interact with other Science Warriors who, like you, are putting in their support for this most important Next Step in the story of Humanity. </div><div><br />
</div><div> 3. <b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</span></u></b> [<a href="http://ww.contactingthecongress.org/">Click here to find them</a>]</div><div><br />
</div><div>By far, the most important thing you can do is to contact all of your Representatives and Senators and let them know that you are a supporter of the JWST and they you want to continue the telescope's funding. Call them. Email them. Write them via snail mail. Each representative will have a preferred method they they respond best to. With just a tiny bit of research, you can find out if an email or a phone call will have the best chance of reaching them. Regardless of how contact is achieved, DO CONTACT them. This one step will save the JWST from Congress's own shortsightedness. </div><div><br />
</div><div> 4. <b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Spread the Word</span></u></b></div><div><br />
</div><div>After you taken these steps, it is also crucial that you tell others what you've done and why you've done it. Ask them if they support keeping the United States at the forefront of science in the world. Ask them if it is important to them that Humanity know it's place in the universe, that we try to understand just what the universe is and how it has come into being. Ask them if they, too, will contact their representatives. Then, show them how. </div><div><br />
</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUlLeJbrqEMUXcv0K8vXRH8MnXb7SJYd9JdCnafNphiQxYu10Yl-sNVH10uOOzgQuDZU4nQzHMHKJ1sStBl48R21m6WoRd6K3rTN3arJ3ohvsImkPPcJBTi4Bnnkz556khU52V264xiuK/s1600/Mirror+Man+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUlLeJbrqEMUXcv0K8vXRH8MnXb7SJYd9JdCnafNphiQxYu10Yl-sNVH10uOOzgQuDZU4nQzHMHKJ1sStBl48R21m6WoRd6K3rTN3arJ3ohvsImkPPcJBTi4Bnnkz556khU52V264xiuK/s320/Mirror+Man+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div>Ladies and gentlemen, as soon as we know the date of the next vote in the House of Representatives, we will tell all of you via Twitter, Facebook, the Petition, and this blog. Stay tuned for new information about the JWST funding battle. Also, feel free to browse this blog for past posts on what kinds of science experiments the JWST will perform, guest posts from people in Astronomy and other sciences who will speak about the JWST, as well as updates on the legal battle to come. </div><div><br />
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</div><div>And before we say anything else, we would like to let you know about the <a href="http://www.northropgrumman.com/supportjwst/">Northrop Grumman website</a> advocating for the James Webb Space Telescope. If you didn't already know, NG is the contracted company that is constructing the telescope's major components. It is a really nice site that includes a media gallery, an information center, and most importantly it has a "Take Legislative Action" center. It is an impressive effort on behalf of those involved with the telescope's creation. Be sure to check it out, and to use it as a tool to help spread the word about JWST. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Fight on, Science Warriors. </div><div><br />
</div><div>@neoteotihuacan</div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-79920323947725230512011-07-25T22:50:00.000-07:002011-07-26T16:27:52.104-07:00The NIRCam Instrument<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">NIR</span>cam (Near Infrared Camera)</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoLQO2WU6zHi7yJ29O-OR0lD3sjKZlE0TJleBYWRb0m-MNSVKI0AzlRa1wth_N2IrlQvcaElSuNpBomtKJi47X7tJDrNQ9-WcG_NyQMgiyg5HswexL0tEKmvGbyAyGwob5wx92fuMRoNO/s1600/NIRCam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoLQO2WU6zHi7yJ29O-OR0lD3sjKZlE0TJleBYWRb0m-MNSVKI0AzlRa1wth_N2IrlQvcaElSuNpBomtKJi47X7tJDrNQ9-WcG_NyQMgiyg5HswexL0tEKmvGbyAyGwob5wx92fuMRoNO/s320/NIRCam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NIRCam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The James Webb Space Telescope has a number of scientific instruments and features that will help us to understand just what is going on out here in the Universe. First and foremost is the telescope - <a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/mirrors.html">18 gold-coated beryllium hexagonal mirrors</a>, secondary mirrors, and other support structures that will comprise one of the most advanced optical machines ever built. Additionally, there is the ISIM and the Sunshield. The <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">ISIM</span></b> (<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">I</span></b>ntegrated <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">S</span></b>cience <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">I</span></b>nstrument <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">M</span></b>odule) contains 4 scientific instruments. They are as follows:</div><ul><li>NIRCam - The Near Infrared Camera</li>
<li>NIRSpec - The Near Infrared Spectrometer</li>
<li>MIRI - The Mid-Infrared Instrument</li>
<li>FGS-TFI - The Field Guidance Sensor Tunable Filter Camera</li>
</ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The NIRCam - the Near Infrared Camera - is one of the more important tools on the JWST. As the name implies, it will see in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared">Near Infrared portion of the spectrum</a>.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR55IRlNbnKkq1A3aFt91sIGuuajDxRCZ1kjoJStQRgkXBFYrMx4KJP-vK8DSrIzS0wtkzWoxooQp4Vh67ZWiJCHv51N8M685iOD6JcZ5UvlOWVansw0qzlmHoVDlnm_pbId15q_M7t7ql/s1600/Electromagnetic-Spectrum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR55IRlNbnKkq1A3aFt91sIGuuajDxRCZ1kjoJStQRgkXBFYrMx4KJP-vK8DSrIzS0wtkzWoxooQp4Vh67ZWiJCHv51N8M685iOD6JcZ5UvlOWVansw0qzlmHoVDlnm_pbId15q_M7t7ql/s400/Electromagnetic-Spectrum.png" style="cursor: move;" width="262" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u>What is Infrared Light? </u></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Generally, the infrared area of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrum">electromagnetic spectrum</a> (see left) is the area that<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">covers the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavelength">wavelength</a> range from roughly 300 GHz (1 milimeter) to 400 THz (750 nanometers). It can be divided into three sub-regions:</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Far-Infrared</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Mid-Infrared</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Near-Infrared</span></li>
</ul><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The wavelength of the infrared portion of the EM (EM = Electromagnetic) Spectrum is longer than that of visible light. Our eyes, evolved over hundreds of millions of years, never tuned into IR wavelenghts (IR = Infrared). Therefore, we cannot see IR <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared_photography">without the aid of specially designed lenses and instruments</a> that can block the visible light that we normally see. </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">However, just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there. Infrared is usually part of most of the light that we see. The sun emits IR light along with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunlight">bright sunshine</a> that blankets the Earth. As a result of constant light from the sun, many objects, plants and animals on the Earth will reflect IR light the same as light from the visible part of the EM spectrum. </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_hzfT9uktlQlkP4u0d4CHISc-bYD4gV9dFk0rpCfZYZpbCf7ID3FpeNWmz2mpVN5kMFKbUwXSkFfL0lAVRLQuZ0fudDQuNYYUF50eZErpwHJMxHn4iMleK4WtDjZBw55q7n75beXcuPz/s1600/Infrared+bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_hzfT9uktlQlkP4u0d4CHISc-bYD4gV9dFk0rpCfZYZpbCf7ID3FpeNWmz2mpVN5kMFKbUwXSkFfL0lAVRLQuZ0fudDQuNYYUF50eZErpwHJMxHn4iMleK4WtDjZBw55q7n75beXcuPz/s320/Infrared+bat.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Bats emitting heat, as seen in IR</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Importantly, IR light is given off when heat of a specific range of temperatures is reached. Since light is a form of radiation (energy radiating away from a source), atomic materials in the course of their normal atomic functions give off energy, which radiates out and can be seen somewhere on the EM Spectrum. IR light is specific to a certain range of energy or heat. Anything that is within a specific range of temperature will give off Infrared light in addition to other kinds of electromagnetic radiation (see right). </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><b><u>Using Infrared Spectrum to Understand</u></b></span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Now that humanity understands what gives off IR light/radiation, we can use it to understand more about the world around us and to improve the technology we use. We use IR spectrum analysis to aim military drones at targets, to provide insight and details about a weather forecast, studying the efficiency of cell phone communication, night vision, television remotes, communication among computer devices, etc, etc...</span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzG9YpYR9XiBc-Pl4V-u-9f0rmNrPC9VrEQixWRXZdo4VVWrofs4isiCgFrvuIm_GlTK2aaY6OCJrOh3Kmn5FlJIOclo24iUetMC3iP-gZ0Jkz_wOdf5DDYUdiy0CInv9bigH_PjP5EVp/s1600/Age+of+the+Universe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzG9YpYR9XiBc-Pl4V-u-9f0rmNrPC9VrEQixWRXZdo4VVWrofs4isiCgFrvuIm_GlTK2aaY6OCJrOh3Kmn5FlJIOclo24iUetMC3iP-gZ0Jkz_wOdf5DDYUdiy0CInv9bigH_PjP5EVp/s400/Age+of+the+Universe.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Timeline of the Universe. Click to embiggen. </div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Most telling for the JWST is that infrared can be used to greatly increase our understanding of the universe. Lots of things in the Universe happen all across the Electromagnetic Spectrum, including the Infrared. Importantly, lots of things DID happen in the Infrared, too, way back in the distant past of our 13 billion year old Universe. Much of the light from the early universe is coming to us still...even right now, at this moment. Our universe is SO OLD and SO MIND-POPPINGLY HUGE that light from the beginning of time is still traveling across the vastness of space and spilling across our Earth. When you look up into the sky, you are truly looking back in time. </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwh9wpERTzDK9IaTJHI9lxwTty3rn7bTkHj8-S6IqRvbDGSp-076QAHUPHNmK-UU6lnSOQh5EM8sShagKCqiR3vRCVJyr21eTbv-wn56RelK_uO6eCCsqoTT0TYFP-VMVZuZ_5DCtEfB6/s1600/space-telescopes-hubble-jw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwh9wpERTzDK9IaTJHI9lxwTty3rn7bTkHj8-S6IqRvbDGSp-076QAHUPHNmK-UU6lnSOQh5EM8sShagKCqiR3vRCVJyr21eTbv-wn56RelK_uO6eCCsqoTT0TYFP-VMVZuZ_5DCtEfB6/s400/space-telescopes-hubble-jw.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="197" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Simulation of JWST View</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Since we can observe that the Universe is expanding (thanks in part to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppler_effect">Doppler Effect</a>), anything moving away from us will emit light in the red end of the spectrum. Although Hubble helped us to understand that the expansion of the Universe is actually <i>accelerating</i>, the James Webb Space Telescope NIRcam will be the instrument that can see the details of that cosmological redshift. From the JWST Wikipedia entry: </span></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div></div><blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>Looking beyond our own galaxy to more distant galaxy clusters, quasars, and gamma-ray bursts, the most distant objects viewable are also the "youngest," that is, they were formed during a time period closer in time to that of the Big Bang. We see them today because their light has taken billions of years to reach us. Because the universe is expanding, as the light travels it becomes red-shifted and are therefore easier to see if viewed in the infrared. JWST's infrared capabilities are expected to let it see all the way to the very first galaxies forming just a few hundred million years after the big bang.</b></span></span></span></div></blockquote><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOwX0NoPWVtQG-NaByvd6LIvoThB4gk3HP3TnlCCrIFY6j9brNi6J7B-pvQW8jN_EW19K3qc8XOIJVCIq53i5DCkE_y1b_x_2M4qQ0klEjfOZWledKb27ZTLVFoz_MxvKGEbKCI1DsKtj/s1600/instrumentranges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOwX0NoPWVtQG-NaByvd6LIvoThB4gk3HP3TnlCCrIFY6j9brNi6J7B-pvQW8jN_EW19K3qc8XOIJVCIq53i5DCkE_y1b_x_2M4qQ0klEjfOZWledKb27ZTLVFoz_MxvKGEbKCI1DsKtj/s320/instrumentranges.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><u>The NIRCam</u></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The Near Infrared Camera will focus on a particular area of the Infrared portion of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. It will be able to see right through cloudy nebulae and pick up many details in the night sky that Hubble and Spitzer cannot see. It will be this instrument aboard JWST that makes the difference.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>NIRCam will fit inside the larger ISIM assembly/structure. It will reflect light through a series of implements that will eventually process the incoming image. Here is an image from the <a href="http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/nircam/">University of Arizona website</a> (UA built the NIRCam) coupled with an explanation of the pathway the light will take provided by the <a href="http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/instruments/nircam">Space Telescope Science Institute website</a> (STSI will be running the NIRCam):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpWEzDrx2Hs6wAcM33MOWeL6M0VC1fjvRY9b3PMObrN1FM0N_h1OwXlsFnIBy513KY_VShGaKBNR4OMMP5tBk-uH-DrKt_0EnAKOsx1S45ZT9CgrKUir2bnK2wrbonExufWaBPqZyeOA2/s1600/NIRCam+optical+path.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpWEzDrx2Hs6wAcM33MOWeL6M0VC1fjvRY9b3PMObrN1FM0N_h1OwXlsFnIBy513KY_VShGaKBNR4OMMP5tBk-uH-DrKt_0EnAKOsx1S45ZT9CgrKUir2bnK2wrbonExufWaBPqZyeOA2/s320/NIRCam+optical+path.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to Embiggen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>The incoming light initially reflects off the pick-off mirror. Subsequently it passes through the collimator and the dichroic, which is used to split the light into the short (0.6-2.3µm) and long (2.4-5.0µm) wavelength light paths. Each of these two beams then passes through a pupil wheel and filter wheel combination, each beam having its own separate pupil and filter wheel. After this, the light passes through the camera corrector optics and is imaged (after reflecting off a fold flat in the short wavelength beam) onto the focal plane arrays (FPAs).</b></span></span></blockquote><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The NIRCam will be able to perform several basic operations. Those include:<br />
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<ul><li>two types of imaging (small source imaging and survey imaging)</li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronagraph">coronagraphy</a> (blocking out the main source of light to study the corona) </li>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectroscopy">spectroscopy</a> (studying the composition of something through the light they reflect/give off) </li>
<li>wavefront sensing (useful in aligning the primary mirrors. This is important for the life of the telescope and the quality of images received/produced...therefore this feature has some redundancies)</li>
</ul><div>The NIRCam is also outfitted with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grism">Grisms</a> (think prisms but with gratings so that only certain wavelengths of light can enter). With Grisms, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;">"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">one and the same camera can be used both for imaging (without the grism) and spectroscopy (with the grism) without having to be moved"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grism">wikipedia entry</a>)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">. Having the ability to perform spectroscopy in this way will make the JWST <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">especially useful for high precision spectrophotometric observations of transiting exoplanets"</span> (from <a href="http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/nircam/nircam_grism_spie07.pdf">Observing Exoplanets with the JWST NIRCam Grisms</a>). The JWST will not only study the general birth of the Universe, but look for and help study the birth of life. </div><br />
As of June 2011, the ISIM (which contains the NIRCam and the other science instruments) is 90% complete on manufacturing, with NASA contractors planning on ISIM instrument integration soon. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">More information on the NIRCam can be found at the following links: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/nircam.html">Official JWST NASA page on the NIRCam</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/instruments/nircam/">Space Telescope Science Institute blurb on NIRCam</a><br />
<a href="http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/nircam/">University of Arizona NIRCam Page</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/universe/features/nircam-unit.html">www.nasa.gov Page on NIRCam</a><br />
<a href="http://ircamera.as.arizona.edu/nircam/nircam_grism_spie07.pdf">Observing Exoplanets with the JWST NIRCam Grisms</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/resources/JWSTAPSJuly132011revA.pdf">NASA June 2011 Powerpoint Report on status of JWST and effects of JWST Replan</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope#Optics_and_instruments">James Webb Space Telescope Wikipedia Entry</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redshift">Cosmological Redshift</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://michaelgr.com/2007/05/20/the-hubble-space-telescope-vs-new-james-webb-space-telescope/">Comparison of Capabilities of Hubble Space Telescope versus James Webb Space Telescope</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As always Science Warriors, it only takes 4 steps to save the JWST: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">a) Sign the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Petition</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> b) Like the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Facebook Page</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">c)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">d) Spread the Word</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">@neoteotihuacan</span></span></div></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-25379737660444655952011-07-21T06:14:00.000-07:002011-07-21T06:14:19.355-07:00The saveJWST 4X5 Challenge!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States, </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: inherit;"><b>The James Webb Space Telescope is in trouble</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;">. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">In order to bring awareness to the issue of saving the James Webb Space Telescope, our partners over at <a href="http://facebook.com/saveJWST">facebook.com/saveJWST</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> have begun the 4X5 Challenge. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6AmVeNbYBfBIlbPf5A0uB6HEce87AcGGtFXd1-sYrl2VdU3mYXO_YrsIPPdbHcvvUq5yGuRiRJisV6KYpc-oCWTkCkme1hXN1s-S_fFy5ah4CZ4lVFRK9W8sQtjF4plnQgrJ0L2y4q43/s1600/4x5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6AmVeNbYBfBIlbPf5A0uB6HEce87AcGGtFXd1-sYrl2VdU3mYXO_YrsIPPdbHcvvUq5yGuRiRJisV6KYpc-oCWTkCkme1hXN1s-S_fFy5ah4CZ4lVFRK9W8sQtjF4plnQgrJ0L2y4q43/s400/4x5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 4X5 Challenge is this: "Over the next 4 days, we challenge you to get 5 people to write, call, email or meet with their congressional representatives about saving the James Webb Space Telescope. Once you've got your 5 people to contact their reps, then drop by the <a href="http://facebook.com/saveJWST">facebook page</a> and leave the following message: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">I'm a Stellar Person. I've got my 5!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We will keep a tally and randomly select two of you stellar people for a cosmically cool prize!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The challenge ends at 11:59pm EDT on Saturday July 23 2011. The winners will be announced on Sunday. Good luck! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div>As always, Space Warriors, do not forget the 4 steps to saving JWST: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">a) Sign the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Petition</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> b) Like the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Facebook Page</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">c)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">d) Spread the Word</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">@neoteotihuacan</span></span></div><br />
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</span></span>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-18235558682971305482011-07-21T05:20:00.000-07:002011-07-21T05:40:09.250-07:00AURA Supports the JWST (and others as well!)Ladies and Gentlemen of the United States of America,<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">The James Webb Space Telescope is in trouble</span></b>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcwecvGksUmbGJS-8qigfInpuKNotSSWJFYeshUQcPmpgikA7vxq4ofUL6Nc3AqI6vKMZlo3NLvk41KeyWqv7Gbb63u1D_HHCM_gX-zAzXxCC8fEsCqwBPFu6e3BcT405gznkgWuNeBGT/s1600/JWST+Mirror+Reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcwecvGksUmbGJS-8qigfInpuKNotSSWJFYeshUQcPmpgikA7vxq4ofUL6Nc3AqI6vKMZlo3NLvk41KeyWqv7Gbb63u1D_HHCM_gX-zAzXxCC8fEsCqwBPFu6e3BcT405gznkgWuNeBGT/s400/JWST+Mirror+Reflection.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team portrait during testing phase for JWST mirrors back in April 2011. Click to embiggen</td></tr>
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AURA - The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy - has <a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/news.asp?newsID=264">produced a web page</a> collecting some of the statements of support for the James Webb Space Telescope from various peoples and organizations. Their page contains a valuable set of links which are worth reading for anyone interested in saving the James Webb Space Telescope from Congress. The original text of the article:<br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px;">AURA Reaction to Proposed Cancellation of JWST</span> </span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Today, AURA strongly objected to the proposal by the House Commerce, Justice, and Science Subcommittee to terminate the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). JWST remains the world's foremost effort to push the boundaries of astronomy and astrophysics.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Over the past year, NASA managers and the science community have undertaken a concerted effort to establish a budget and technology plan that allows the launch of JWST by 2018. The proposal by the Congress to terminate the program comes at a time when these efforts are coming to fruition. In addition, in June, NASA contractors completed the polishing and fabrication of all of the JWST mirrors completing one of the most challenging technical hurdles.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">In commenting on the proposed cancellation, Dr. William S. Smith, President of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy said "Against a backdrop of widespread discussion over the future of NASA and the human spaceflight program, it is tragic that the Congress is also proposing to curtail NASA's science program. JWST is NASA's premier science facility, unsurpassed by any other telescope now or in the future."</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Dr. Dan Clemens of Boston University, Chair of the AURA Board, said "The science community has planned and eagerly anticipated JWST since it was identified as the highest priority astronomy program over a decade ago. The importance of its science has only increased since then. I hope that this year's final appropriations bill will provide the needed support to complete this program."</span></span></blockquote><br />
The page includes the following links, which are reproduced here: <br />
<a href="http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/Subcommittee/?IssueID=34794">House Committee On Justice, Commerce & Science Markup Materials</a><br />
<a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/2011/7%20July%202011%20Statement%20on%20Webb%20Telescope.pdf">Statement by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a steadfast JWST Supporter</a><br />
(Find the Senator on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/SenatorBarb">@SenatorBarb</a>)<br />
<a href="http://aas.org/node/4483">Statement by the American Astronomical Society</a><br />
<a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/2011/Letter%20to%20Harold%20Rogers%20on%20JWST.pdf">Letter drom Dr. William Smith to the House Appropriations Committee</a><br />
(Dr. Smith is AURA president)<br />
<a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/2011/Hoyer%20Statement.pdf">Statement from Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland</a><br />
<a href="http://donnaedwards.house.gov/">Statement by Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland</a><br />
(Scroll down a bit...)<br />
<a href="http://www.stsci.edu/jwst/news/2011/budget">Space Telescope Science Institute Statement</a><br />
<a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/2011/Statement%20from%20CASCA.pdf">Statement from the Canadian Astronomical Society </a><br />
(Canada's own Space Agency is funding $750 Million to JWST)<br />
<a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/2011/JSTAC_Holdren_JWST.pdf">Letter to the President's Science Advisor from JWST Advisory Committee</a><br />
(a must read)<br />
<a href="http://www.aura-astronomy.org/news/2011/JWST%20Statements.pdf">List of these links as well as media coverage</a><br />
(also worth reading)<br />
<br />
Remember, when contacting your representatives, do feel free to drop these names and organizations in your letter/email/phone call. It doesn't not hurt to mention that you "feel the same as the Canadian Astronomical Society" or that you "echo the sentiments of Senator Barbara Mikulski and Congress members Donna Edwards and Steny Hoyer. Whatever you include, JWST will be saved if you at least contact them.<br />
<br />
<b>Congratulations Atlantis!</b><br />
Just wanted to give a quick acknowledgement to the Space Shuttle Atlantis Space Transportation System Mission 135. Atlantis and her four member crew just touched down at Florida's Kennedy Space Center a little over an hour ago (watched via NASA TV), ending the final Space Shuttle mission and ending of the Space Shuttle era. Atlantis herself logged in 33 flights for a total of 307 days in space, 4,848 orbits of the Earth, 125,935769 miles traveled. Some may be sad that America's manned space program is ending, but it is only a transition. We will be back. In the meantime, let's focus on getting the James Webb Space Telescope to fly, so that future astronauts will know more about where they are going =) Here is a <a href="http://www.spaceflight101.com/sts-135-flight-day-14.html">video recording of Atlantis landing in Florida</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux44STTsR-VEOUPYEmzQHQ5OjWMeZ0edQNQPzTMQqj7Aqn2BXepnf8GoB4zGf6sa1XVvKjzk5A6TdhYhnqpKHycnWoqauKBvLsxmgcb4xyxjxNqrZNV8FJGEFalixUq7qHgnDu0XS21NC/s1600/Atlantis+landing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux44STTsR-VEOUPYEmzQHQ5OjWMeZ0edQNQPzTMQqj7Aqn2BXepnf8GoB4zGf6sa1XVvKjzk5A6TdhYhnqpKHycnWoqauKBvLsxmgcb4xyxjxNqrZNV8FJGEFalixUq7qHgnDu0XS21NC/s320/Atlantis+landing.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div>As always, Space Warriors, do not forget the 4 steps to saving JWST: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">a) Sign the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Petition</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> b) Like the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Facebook Page</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">c)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">d) Spread the Word</span></span></div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Links:<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The Facebook Page</a><br />
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The Online Petition</a><br />
<a href="http://savejwst.tumblr.com/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The Tumblr Page</a><br />
<a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Contact Your Representatives Here</a><br />
<a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/resources/JWSTAPSJuly132011revA.pdf" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">NASA Plan for JWST (official)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">@neoteotihuacan</div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-74497872812660978662011-07-19T22:07:00.000-07:002011-07-19T22:09:04.101-07:00Video Montage of the saveJWST effortThis is a video compiled, produced and overall created not by a NASA graphics engineer or by a working member of the media. This was done by a concerned citizen who wants what the rest of us want: for the James Webb Space Telescope to fly. From the video's creator:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;"> want to go ahead and give permission here to any member of the Save the James Webb Telescope community to share, feature, or mirror this video on their own youtube channels, blogs, or websites [...] </span>I have all the animation, script, and music credits listed in the description box of the video, along with links to sign the petition and how to contact Representatives - just be sure to copy and paste this information to give proper credit. Spread it 'round folks! - Ms. Mitchell</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5sXMvAn1lOo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span></div><div>As always, Space Warriors, do not forget the 4 steps to saving JWST: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">a) Sign the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Petition</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> b) Like the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Facebook Page</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">c)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">d) Spread the Word</span></span></div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Links:<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The Facebook Page</a><br />
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The Online Petition</a><br />
<a href="http://savejwst.tumblr.com/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The Tumblr Page</a><br />
<a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Contact Your Representatives Here</a><br />
<a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/resources/JWSTAPSJuly132011revA.pdf" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">NASA Plan for JWST (official)</a><br />
<br />
Articles:<br />
<a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nasa-chief-to-congress-save-james-web-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">NASA Chief to Congress: Save This Telescope</a><br />
<a href="http://astroglia.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/cassini-and-the-james-webb-space-telescope/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The Astroglia Blog</a><br />
<a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2011/07/07/why-we-need-the-james-webb-space-telescope/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Discover Magazine on Why We Need JWST</a><br />
<a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2011/07/07/congress-puts-nasa-and-jwst-on-the-chopping-block/comment-page-3/#comment-397863" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Phil Plait (@BadAstronomer) of Discover Magazine on Saving JWST</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Webb_Space_Telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Wikipedia Entry for JWST</a><br />
<a href="http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2011/07/what_the_james_webb_space_tele.php" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">What the James Webb Telescope Means by Ethan Seigel</a><br />
<a href="http://www.americanscientist.org/science/pub/-2014" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">The American Scientist Article on JWST Defunding</a><br />
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seth-shostak/american-space-research-a_b_900851.html" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Huffington Post Article Discussing JWST</a><br />
<a href="http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news%2Fasd%2F2011%2F07%2F14%2F01.xml&headline=Move+Afoot+To+Keep+Webb+Telescope+Alive" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Attempt to Save JWST Underway (Aviation Week Article)</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">Keep up the fight, Space warriors, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;">@neoteotihuacan</span>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-33633167491170320502011-07-19T20:54:00.000-07:002011-07-19T21:22:06.814-07:00Current Status of the James Webb Space TelescopeGreets Science Warriors,<br />
<br />
This post is a review of a document NASA entitled "<a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/resources/JWSTAPSJuly132011revA.pdf">James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Program Status and Replan</a>". It was compiled in order for the public and the Federal Government to assess the status of the JWST and its ability to move forward. Warning: The report contains many technical details. This post will try to focus on the overall idea of the report.<br />
<br />
We are reviewing this report to counter the idea that the James Webb Space Telescope is behind schedule and over budget, that it is somehow easier to just scrap the project and leave it on the ground. It is true that the project has gone over budget. However, the telescope is on schedule and contrary the opinions of some, the hardest technical elements are completed. The real waste would be to leave it on the ground!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNH-6rY1E4ycNeOmbVrfhb0AaPxFi6HMRHQMimAnbRXngJNGtnbFg9OjzWyPemNwNskZRDRaGijrfqj0TYkay1dyIKBwuVS7mk17ka35wL6TN-f6oo-KjUhK59yuDnGW5bVb9-LdNJDvI/s1600/JWST_people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNH-6rY1E4ycNeOmbVrfhb0AaPxFi6HMRHQMimAnbRXngJNGtnbFg9OjzWyPemNwNskZRDRaGijrfqj0TYkay1dyIKBwuVS7mk17ka35wL6TN-f6oo-KjUhK59yuDnGW5bVb9-LdNJDvI/s400/JWST_people.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The full scale model at Goddard Space Flight Center. Click to embiggen. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
The report largely deals with the Telescope's replan. It reports that senior management had been replaced (see below), that a new schedule had been developed and that the JWST team were meeting deadlines within accepted costs according to that schedule. The report is a response to the assessment of the JWST by the group called the <b>Independent Comprehensive Review Panel (ICRP)</b>. The ICRP "confirmed that there are no technical issues on JWST". In the document, NASA indicates that it has agreed with all the ICRP recommendations, which include:<br />
<ul><li>Better transparency, cost control, and performance assessment</li>
<li>Replacement of senior management</li>
<li>Reorganized communication within top management and NASA HQ</li>
<li>Reassessment of budget</li>
</ul><div>It is worth noting that the majority of the ICRP recommendations have been followed, with the last few items in progress at the time of the report.<br />
<br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlA5G16aS7slPlM4qLnOilft_Mc1KO0GoKyZyBjKzaB5ZQOybf9RmrcelNqaAY-U79jucXjJstN-e90Qsn5YvamuvhHAaseDbAXKAEnGGzrF3JX8hBPaQoDfAstr2T_99jWaJ1ejONZ5p/s1600/James_Webb_Primary_Mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlA5G16aS7slPlM4qLnOilft_Mc1KO0GoKyZyBjKzaB5ZQOybf9RmrcelNqaAY-U79jucXjJstN-e90Qsn5YvamuvhHAaseDbAXKAEnGGzrF3JX8hBPaQoDfAstr2T_99jWaJ1ejONZ5p/s400/James_Webb_Primary_Mirror.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">The first six primary mirror segments being prepped for final cryogenic acceptance testing.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>The report addresses the budget for JWST and includes comparison of budget projections based on each budget year from 2004 to 2012. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The report indicates the status of all of the telescopes major components. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Telescope</span> itself, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Science Instruments</span>, the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Sunshield</span>, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Spacecraft components</span> are either completed or are approaching their completion dates. From the report: "75% (by mass) of the flight hardware is either ready to be fabricated, in fabrication, in test, or has been delivered". A few of the elements have, in fact, been completed ahead of schedule, according to the report. The primary mirrors, arguably one of the most important components aboard the JWST, have completed polishing by June 9, 2011 (additionally, <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/webb-secondary.html">the secondary mirrors have also completed polishing</a>). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFvhYg5tPSAmhf2dGB7CbY7tVj9Bx3HKBZGkQ93kXXfs5i42LDKQe0YpatQb9zkgKJfcvLZRxm5kEh4CHqv5Q_WeOVamaMh-9X-UsyqEsKOXvhOAs7V820AR_KeqJum4ePKCCCPSIfoQf/s1600/Component+Completion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFvhYg5tPSAmhf2dGB7CbY7tVj9Bx3HKBZGkQ93kXXfs5i42LDKQe0YpatQb9zkgKJfcvLZRxm5kEh4CHqv5Q_WeOVamaMh-9X-UsyqEsKOXvhOAs7V820AR_KeqJum4ePKCCCPSIfoQf/s400/Component+Completion.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click to embiggen</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>The new budget affects the entire project. Changes were being made across the board. Part of the new plan to adjust to new budget realities included a new launch date. The former launch date was going to be in 2013. The new plan has the JWST launching in 2018. Some of the concerns NASA had with the replan included the following, which all stem from a new prolonged launch date: </div><div><ul><li>Due to the new launch date, there is concern over the possible loss of contractor personnel due to periods of inactivity</li>
<li>Involved people are worried that about storing the telescope components for such a long period of time and what inactivity and aging would do to the parts</li>
<li>Inability to plan around funding uncertainty that far out in the future, especially in light of the recent budget cuts to NASA (9% overall so far).</li>
</ul><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyGYM7O9CxeAykIBCIw5SFnmPyVLufZ49yM0BaD-FTx8qP98YHyn3xjLKI5kGY252HzPCdTNdAzswlzhlRG0fI_-ha-tzYc8RtUbH4TBuptIH-GSwBSO2f3bqI00odOocGf1tgS69O8Rc/s1600/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_Mirror34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyGYM7O9CxeAykIBCIw5SFnmPyVLufZ49yM0BaD-FTx8qP98YHyn3xjLKI5kGY252HzPCdTNdAzswlzhlRG0fI_-ha-tzYc8RtUbH4TBuptIH-GSwBSO2f3bqI00odOocGf1tgS69O8Rc/s400/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_Mirror34.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><br />
</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div>The replan summary from the actual report is as follows and are quoted directly from the report: </div></div><div><ul><li> NASA has made significant changes in the management of JWST</li>
<li> NASA has developed a replan with an October 2018 launch date</li>
<li> Replan is on track to support the FY13 budget process</li>
<li> Communications has greatly improved both with Centers and contractors, especially at senior management levels</li>
<li> Assessment of alternatives completed – JWST remains is the best value</li>
</ul></div><div>"JWST continues to make great progress, achieving milestones within cost and schedule"</div><div><br />
</div><div>The report also wanted to remind us that while the JWST is largely an American effort, there are a few other nations who have contributed significantly to this telescope. The European Space Agency has contributed $150 million USD to the effort. The Canadian Space Agency has contributed a very substantial $790 million USD. </div><div><br />
</div><div>This has just been a brief summary of the report NASA has issued in response to its management reorganization, change in budget, and recommendations by the ICRP (see above) for the James Webb Space Telescope. For the full slide show, please <a href="http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/resources/JWSTAPSJuly132011revA.pdf">follow this link</a>. The telescope is almost ready. It would be a real blow to science, the working scientists here in the United States (and those who would come to the US), as well as the economy of the United States if this telescope were prevented from launching. </div><div><br />
</div><div>As always, Space Warriors, do not forget the 4 steps to saving JWST: </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">a) Sign the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Petition</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> b) Like the</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">Facebook Page</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">c)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/" style="color: #ca0000; text-decoration: none;">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c3c3c3;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;">d) Spread the Word</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: #999999;">Stayed tuned for more information!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">@neoteotihuacan</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">(see below for additional slides from the report)</span></span><br />
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6574342433504495137.post-2194772610919898492011-07-19T10:48:00.000-07:002011-07-19T15:28:59.481-07:00The saveJWST Art InitiativeLadies and Gentlemen of the United States of America,<br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>The James Webb Space Telescope is in trouble</b></span></div><div><br />
</div><div>In order to help raise awareness, we have decided to launch an <b style="font-style: italic;">Art Initiative</b>. For those that are interested, our sister site <a href="http://savejwst.tumblr.com/">http://savejwst.tumblr.com/</a> will be accepting and displaying publicly created artistic expressions relevant to saving the James Webb Space Telescope. If you are artistically inclined, or even if you are not and you just want this telescope to fly, then please feel free to make some art and to send it our way and we will post it for all the world to see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZBFgHnYPGVb5Rg779ypvI9d0FH5elUVstH0MMCwS8Oge41uHcvaQaIszHL9p4OWEMQd9gXqoYNKePycrZxKLKPktPkYKFkdrmYpnMIIcclR6qx32UEtd5_ymrtDqKL7kq1aZO8Y-TJvD/s1600/saveJWST+Art+Card+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlZBFgHnYPGVb5Rg779ypvI9d0FH5elUVstH0MMCwS8Oge41uHcvaQaIszHL9p4OWEMQd9gXqoYNKePycrZxKLKPktPkYKFkdrmYpnMIIcclR6qx32UEtd5_ymrtDqKL7kq1aZO8Y-TJvD/s400/saveJWST+Art+Card+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>The rules are simple: </div><div><br />
</div><div>1) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><b><u>No inappropriate images</u></b></span>. This is vague, we know, especially in art. However, you know where most people draw the line and we would hope that you would respect that. People of all ages from all over the world will be able to see your art. </div><div><br />
</div><div>2)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><b><u>Please keep it relevant to JWST</u></b></span></span>. We want to save the Telescope from Congress and not detract from that fight. </div><div><br />
</div><div>3) <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black; color: white;"><u>Art must be original</u></span></b>. Please use your own work. </div><div><br />
</div><div>4)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><u>No one will get paid or win anything</u></span></b></span>. Understand that art submitted to us will not be used for commercial gain by us, or by anyone. Once it heads our way, we cannot be held responsible for financial losses or expected financial gain. You create this art and share it to help encourage public awareness ONLY. </div><div><br />
</div><div>If you are interested, and we hope that you are, or if you have any questions, then please submit your artwork and/or questions to the following email address: </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">savejwstart@gmail.com</span></div><div><br />
</div><div>We look forward to seeing some great responses! </div><div>And remember, check back with this blog for updates on the fight to save the James Webb Space Telescope. Also:</div><div> a) Sign the <a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/do-not-cancel-funding-for-the-james-webb-space-telescope">Petition</a></div><div> b) Like the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SaveJWST">Facebook Page</a></div><div> c) <a href="http://www.contactingthecongress.org/">WRITE/CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES</a></div><div> d) Spread the Word</div><div><br />
</div><div>Continue the fight, Science Warriors,</div><div>@neoteotihuacan<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbzO3JBqAVDUjyfYD7vcfGiGDglx7O8KTTIE40MjfUaD1sHvFEm-U41ITckhSjqV5v2QbSZF3_IuXf_17O2E5NHGj7QfT7jQKvKBcjz8BBAquov_GAPIPh4bipJPGzS0TTb7tCSkfuFop/s1600/Great+Nation+White.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBbzO3JBqAVDUjyfYD7vcfGiGDglx7O8KTTIE40MjfUaD1sHvFEm-U41ITckhSjqV5v2QbSZF3_IuXf_17O2E5NHGj7QfT7jQKvKBcjz8BBAquov_GAPIPh4bipJPGzS0TTb7tCSkfuFop/s320/Great+Nation+White.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>neoteotihuacanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01376190614487910900noreply@blogger.com1