good stuff if you are interested in Sonora history

jerry

jerry

Guest
A 2030 flight plan to Mars might include touching down on Mexican soil as a team of specialists from the United States and Mexico sets out to assess the viability of using the Sonoran Desert as astronaut training grounds.

ADVERTISEMENT
The desert is unique in the world for its extensive dune fields in one of the driest regions, where the focus of exploration experts is the 2,000-square-kilometer biosphere reserve at El Pinacate.

The most striking characteristic of El Pinacate — a dormant volcanic area — are the numerous volcanic phenomena and geological formations located on the Pinacate Sierra.

With three distinct peaks, the area’s complex structure, comprised of red and black lava flows, is the most spectacular and youngest lava field in North America with extensive fields of dunes.

That the area has previously served for astronaut training is a “little historical fact,” explained the director of the Mexican Space Agency (AEM).

“This region, with its unique characteristics in Sonora, was selected by NASA [United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration] as a training ground for astronauts during the Apollo program from 1965 to 1970, in what was the first lunar exploration made by humans,” said Javier Mendieta Jiménez.

ADVERTISEMENT
“Several astronauts, including Edgar Mitchell and Alan B. Shepard, trained there,” he added.

In order to determine how viable El Pinacate will be for the next chapter of human space exploration, an expedition comprised of several specialists from Arizona State University, the president of the Technological University of Guaymas, Sonora, researchers from the National Space Society and two postgraduates from the Institute of Geophysics of the National Autonomous University of México (UNAM) havs set out for the biosphere reserve.

Joined by members of El Pinacate biosphere reserve staff as well as personnel from the AEM, the expedition is expected to offer valuable information to NASA.

The space agency is looking for areas on Earth that offer similar inhospitable conditions as those found on the Red Planet, as astronauts are to train for a manned Mars expedition scheduled for 2030.
 
Jungle Jim

Jungle Jim

Guest
"the Mexican Space Agency (AEM)" Now that's a good one!

Stage one, probably developed the catapults used a few years back used to pitch bales of Mota over the wall which by the way, has been there for years.

Stage two, most likely developed quadracopter drones currently in use to transport tiny blocks of Mota over the wall which by the way, has been there for years.

Need "similar inhospitable conditions as................" They should take a look at the Penasco Dump!

And BTW the El Pinacate is not "a dormant volcanic area" It is totally DEAD. The hot spot that formed the region is no more.

JJ
 
Landshark

Landshark

Guest
jerry said:
A 2030 flight plan to Mars might include touching down on Mexican soil as a team of specialists from the United States and Mexico sets out to assess the viability of using the Sonoran Desert as astronaut training grounds.

ADVERTISEMENT
The desert is unique in the world for its extensive dune fields in one of the driest regions, where the focus of exploration experts is the 2,000-square-kilometer biosphere reserve at El Pinacate.

The most striking characteristic of El Pinacate — a dormant volcanic area — are the numerous volcanic phenomena and geological formations located on the Pinacate Sierra.

With three distinct peaks, the area’s complex structure, comprised of red and black lava flows, is the most spectacular and youngest lava field in North America with extensive fields of dunes.

That the area has previously served for astronaut training is a “little historical fact,” explained the director of the Mexican Space Agency (AEM).

“This region, with its unique characteristics in Sonora, was selected by NASA [United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration] as a training ground for astronauts during the Apollo program from 1965 to 1970, in what was the first lunar exploration made by humans,” said Javier Mendieta Jiménez.

ADVERTISEMENT
“Several astronauts, including Edgar Mitchell and Alan B. Shepard, trained there,” he added.

In order to determine how viable El Pinacate will be for the next chapter of human space exploration, an expedition comprised of several specialists from Arizona State University, the president of the Technological University of Guaymas, Sonora, researchers from the National Space Society and two postgraduates from the Institute of Geophysics of the National Autonomous University of México (UNAM) havs set out for the biosphere reserve.

Joined by members of El Pinacate biosphere reserve staff as well as personnel from the AEM, the expedition is expected to offer valuable information to NASA.

The space agency is looking for areas on Earth that offer similar inhospitable conditions as those found on the Red Planet, as astronauts are to train for a manned Mars expedition scheduled for 2030.
Click to expand...
I like watching Star Trek as much the next guy but going to Mars has never made any sense. Jimmy Buffett says it best....

Speakin' of fruitcakes, how 'bout the government?
Your tax dollars at work.
We lost our Martian rocket ship
The high paid spokesman said
Looks like that silly rocket ship
Has lost its cone shaped head
We spent 90 jillion dollars trying to get a look at Mars
I hear universal laughter ringing out among the stars
 
jerry

jerry

Guest
Landshark said:
I like watching Star Trek as much the next guy but going to Mars has never made any sense. Jimmy Buffett says it best....

Speakin' of fruitcakes, how 'bout the government?
Your tax dollars at work.
We lost our Martian rocket ship
The high paid spokesman said
Looks like that silly rocket ship
Has lost its cone shaped head
We spent 90 jillion dollars trying to get a look at Mars
I hear universal laughter ringing out among the stars
Click to expand...
I went to Buffet new years eve show in Nashville...now that was cold and crazy!
 
jerry

jerry

Guest
Jungle Jim said:
"the Mexican Space Agency (AEM)" Now that's a good one!

Stage one, probably developed the catapults used a few years back used to pitch bales of Mota over the wall which by the way, has been there for years.

Stage two, most likely developed quadracopter drones currently in use to transport tiny blocks of Mota over the wall which by the way, has been there for years.

Need "similar inhospitable conditions as................" They should take a look at the Penasco Dump!

And BTW the El Pinacate is not "a dormant volcanic area" It is totally DEAD. The hot spot that formed the region is no more.

JJ
Click to expand...
 
Jungle Jim

Jungle Jim

Guest
Verrrrrryyyyy interesting Jerry...

I am always amazed as to the lengths some assholes will go to to twist facts in order to support some asinine alarmist agenda. The big question is WHY?

In the beginning of that (shit-fo-mercial) the heat plumes (steam clouds) are clearly being emitted from the warm water of Laguna Prieta. Laguna Prieta is a permanent natural well or Pozo located in the Desierto del Altar sand dunes, there are a few others but most are temporary and depend on rainfall in the Pinacates rather than the artesian well effect as found in most large dune areas. The name of the laguna (prieta) refers to the stinking black water, an effect of warm water loaded with sulfur and a sulfur eating bacteria. We often get a nose full of that aroma while waiting at the toll booth on the new highway.

That pond is less than ten miles south of the border and about twenty miles east of San Luis RC Sonora. It's relatively easy to get to in a 4WD vehicle and has always been a popular bird watching spot. It is also located AT LEAST FORTY FIVE MILES from the Pinacate lava shield. The video that guy made is a outright lie as he superimposed the steam clouds over the big craters that are even farther east. So WHY?

There are dozens of natural hot water wells all around the Salton Sea and the Imperial Valley. They are the effects of the San Andreas Fault and the shallow magma down in the active crack in the earths crust.

Ever think the steam clouds just might be that wiley Desert Bigfoot farting on a cold night?

JJ
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top