Jet Propulsion Laboratory

About: Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a facility organization based out in La Cañada Flintridge, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Mars Exploration Program & Telescope. The organization has 8801 authors who have published 14333 publications receiving 548163 citations. The organization is also known as: JPL & NASA JPL.

Cassini plasma spectrometer investigation

Abstract: Cassini/Huygens is a joint project of NASA and the European Space Agency designed to explore the Saturnian system in depth during its four-year mission. Cassini, the orbiter spacecraft, will carry twelve hardware investigations while Huygens, the Titan atmospheric probe, will carry an additional six. The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS), one of 12 orbiter investigations, includes 3 plasma sensors designed to cover the broadest possible range of plasma energy, composition, and temporal variation. It is conservatively estimated that CAPS will provide a factor of ten or more improvement in measurement capabilities over those of the Voyager spacecraft at Saturn.

Biologically Inspired Intelligent Robots

Abstract: From the Publisher: Advances in biologically inspired technologies, such as artificial intelligence and artificial muscles, are making the possibility of engineering robots that look and behave like humans a closer reality. The multidisciplinary issues involved in the development of these robots include materials, actuators, sensors, structures, functionality, control, intelligence, and autonomy. This book reviews various aspects ranging from the biological model to the vision for the future.

Exposed water ice deposits on the surface of comet 9P/Tempel 1.

Abstract: We report the direct detection of solid water ice deposits exposed on the surface of comet 9P/Tempel 1, as observed by the Deep Impact mission. Three anomalously colored areas are shown to include water ice on the basis of their near-infrared spectra, which include diagnostic water ice absorptions at wavelengths of 1.5 and 2.0 micrometers. These absorptions are well modeled as a mixture of nearby non-ice regions and 3 to 6% water ice particles 10 to 50 micrometers in diameter. These particle sizes are larger than those ejected during the impact experiment, which suggests that the surface deposits are loose aggregates. The total area of exposed water ice is substantially less than that required to support the observed ambient outgassing from the comet, which likely has additional source regions below the surface.