Only the size of a suitcase, the Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite (NEOSSat) has a 5.9-inch (15-cm) telescope and weighs about 143 pounds (65 kg). But it’s designed to hunt for threatening space rocks from Earth orbit, where the telescope can avoid interference from the planet’s atmosphere.

“That’s why a small telescope in space can be a lot more comparable to a large telescope on the ground,” said Alan Hildebrand, planetary scientist at the University of Calgary and head of the asteroid search project for NEOSSat.

The Canadian microsatellite would also keep an eye on Earth’s satellite traffic for both U.S. and Canadian space commands, swiveling around to target space rocks and satellites hundreds of times a day. That requires a revolutionary turning system for the $12 million-satellite to do its job upon launch in early 2010.

Astronomers have particular interest in Near Earth Objects, because such objects might threaten Earth in the near or distant future. Nearby asteroids could likewise serve as targets for future spacecraft missions to investigate.

NEOSSat will also shed more light on the less famous Inner Earth Objects, or asteroids found close to the sun within Earth’s orbit, mission managers said.

Point and click

NEOSSat draws upon the technological heritage of a star-gazing mission called MOST (Microvariability and Oscillation of STars), which represented Canada’s first space telescope. But the newer microsatellite also boasts an attitude control system based on spinning reaction wheels that allow it to turn quickly without consuming rocket fuel.

“We have to be able to point precisely at a chunk of sky for 100 seconds,” Hildebrand told SPACE.com. “Then you want to be able to slew from one field to another as fast as possible.”

Such rapid response balances out with the need to keep the space telescope steady on its target, whether peering at rocks in the asteroid belt or tracking a moving satellite.

“The attitude-control system is an absolute must,” said Brad Wallace, scientist at Defense Research Development Canada (DRDC), the agency working with the Canadian Space Agency on NEOSSat.

However, the system’s reaction wheels don’t require consumable fuel to do their work. NEOSSat will draw power from solar panels that convert the sun’s energy into the required amount of electricity — just 45 watts, or less power than an average light bulb.

Let’s go asteroid hunting

Low energy usage and a small size may make NEOSSat seem paltry compared to large ground telescopes that can cost $50 million and up. But scientists look forward to having a space telescope that can check out asteroids without bad weather or atmospheric background getting in the way.

“In terms of advantages of being in space, we’ve got 24/7 availability,” Hildebrand said.

Ground telescopes face limits even with blue skies on Earth, because the atmosphere makes it harder to spot the faint light signals from asteroids. NEOSSat reduces the background interference to one tenth of that on Earth, by going up roughly 435 miles (700 km) above the atmosphere.

Hildebrand hopes the microsatellite to discover at least 100 Near Earth Objects per year once operational, and many more asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Space traffic control

The microsatellite will also spend half its time tracking other satellites in orbit around Earth.

“Our first and foremost goal is to demonstrate satellite tracking capability,” said Wallace, who leads the DRDC science team focused on traffic control.

Wallace’s team will spend NEOSSat’s first year testing new observing and tracking techniques, before handing over the keys to DRDC’s client, the Canadian Forces. That would allow the space telescope to take a more active role in helping the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) monitor the skies.

Satellite tracking requires slightly less of the microsatellite’s capabilities, but Wallace also plans to test it on scenarios such as tracking “lost” objects and doing hand-off coverage that picks up from where another telescope began.

NEOSSat’s ability to take on dual responsibilities points to a future where microsatellites increasingly become the standard. The ability to use more recent technology and commercial, off-the-shelf parts has only sped up the miniaturization process, Wallace said.

Earth orbit will undoubtedly get more crowded not long after NEOSSat’s 2010 debut — DRDC has already begun work on a second microsatellite that will monitor maritime shipping and travel on Earth.

Video: The Asteroid Paradox Video: Take One Asteroid – A Recipe for Space Civilization GALLERY: Asteroids Original Story: Small Satellite Designed to Spot Big Bad Asteroids

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From: us.rd.yahoo.com

Conflict:

The Battle of Lissa was fought during the Third War of Italian Independence.

Date:

The two fleets met on July 20, 1866.

Fleets & Commanders:

Italians

Count Carlo di Persano 12 ironclads, 10 cruisers, 4 gunboats

Austrians

Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff 7 ironclads, 1 ship-of-the-line, 6 cruisers, 12 gunboats

Battle of Lissa Summary:

Beginning in June 1866, the Third Italian War of Independence saw the newly unified state of Italy attack the Austrian Empire with the goal of recovering Venice. The Italians operated in conjunction with the Prussians who had opened the Austro-Prussian War days earlier. As the armies moved to engage, both nations’ fleets deployed into the Adriatic Sea. Following the Prussian victory at Königgrätz on July 3, the commander of the Italian fleet, Count Carlo di Persano was instructed to secure territory on the eastern side of the Adriatic that could later be exchanged in peace negotiations.

Steaming off Lissa (Vis), Persano elected to attack the island on July 18 and 19, 1866. Shelling shore positions, Persano’s ships began to wear down the defenders. Alerted to Persano’s position, Admiral Wilhelm von Tegetthoff began moving towards Lissa with the Austrian fleet. Like the Italian fleet, Tegetthoff’s squadron was a mix of modern ironclads and older, wooden warships. Early on July 20, Persano began preparing for another assault on Lissa as well as operations to land 2,200 men. As these operations were about to commence, Persano received reports of strange ships approaching.

Breaking off the landings, Persano gathered his fleet and took it to sea to meet the enemy. Forming into line ahead, Persano distributed his 12 ironclads throughout his formation, with the wooden warships filling the gaps. Bearing down on the Italians from the northwest, Tegetthoff formed his fleet into three wedges, with his 7 ironclads in the lead group. As his force was smaller than Persano’s and had fewer ironclads and rifled guns, Tegetthoff hoped to close quickly and win a melee-style battle where his heavy guns and rams could make up for his lack of numbers.

Having moved slowly after receiving the warnings of Tegetthoff’s approach, Persano’s fleet was still forming as the Austrians neared. This situation was worsened when Persano elected to transfer his flag from to the turret ship . This decision caused the Italian center to slow, opening a gap between it and the ships of the vanguard. Seeing this opening, Tegetthoff drove his ships into the gap, dividing the Italian fleet. Turning away from Rear Admiral Giuseppe Vacca’s vanguard, Tegetthoff ordered his ironclads to engage the Italian center.

With the ironclads of the first wedge engaged, Commodore Anton von Petz took the wooden warships of the second wedge and attacked the Italian third division. Though battling modern ironclads, von Petz’s ships held together and inflicted substantial damage. Seeing the battle devolve into a melee, Persano ordered to ram Petz’s flagship, the ship-of-the-line . Alerted to ’s approach, Petz was able to avoid the Italian ship. Following the flagship, attempted to ram . Turning into , took heavy damage, but remained afloat.

As was fighting for survival, Tegetthoff’s flagship, rammed and . Striking both ships with glancing blows, Tegetthoff inflicted enough damage to sink . Returning to , pounded the Italian ship with gunfire before ramming it. Opening an 18-foot hole, the ramming attack sent the Italian ship to the bottom. With the fighting beginning to wane, was presented with a chance to ram the wounded , however Persano elected to turn away and withdraw with his fleet.

Aftermath:

The Battle of Lissa cost the Italians two ironclads, as well as 620 dead and 20 wounded. While the Austrian fleet was battered, all of their ships survived and casualties were 38 killed and 138 wounded. The fighting off Lissa marked the first time two fleets of ironclads did battle and was one of the last engagements where ramming was used effectively. Returning to port, Persano was ultimately court-martialed for cowardice and dismissed from the Regia Marina. While Austria was ultimately forced to cede Venice to Italy after its defeat by Prussia, Tegetthoff’s actions prevented the loss of territory along the Dalmatian coast.

Selected Sources

Battle of Vis - 1866 Images of the Battle of Lissa The Austro-Prussian War and Third War of Italian Unification

From: militaryhistory.about.com

Tuesday July 22, 2008

Nas is ready to take his message to the streets this Summer. Following the official release of his Untitled LP, Nas will embark on The Jones Experience Tour to promote the album. In between appearances at the Rock the Bells Tour, Nas will go on a 21-city trek visiting mostly clubs and theaters.

The Jones Experience tour kicks off today (July 22) at the Metropolis in Montreal. From there, Nas will travel to Atlanta, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Houston, Detroit and Chicago, before wrapping up Sept. 5 at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Supporting acts for The Jones Experience tour include: like Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica and DJ Green Lantern.

As I previously reported, Nas will also perform at the 2008 Rock the Bells festival, which launched July 19 at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Ill. Also appearing on the 10-date traveling hip-hop festival are A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, De La Soul, Rakim and the reunited Pharcyde, among others.

Here’s the tour schedule for The Jones Experience Tour.