This information sheet explains how NASA photographs, slides, mission status information, and CD-ROMs produced by the SIR-C/X-SAR Project at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, can be obtained by educators and the general public. SIR-C/X-SAR is a joint US/German/Italian mission which will fly aboard the space shuttle in April and August, 1994 as part of the Space Radar Laboratory.
The Space Radar Laboratory, part of NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, is studying how our global environment is changing. From the unique vantage point of space, SIR-C/X-SAR will observe, monitor, and assess large-scale environmental processes with a focus on climate change. The spaceborne data, complemented by aircraft and ground studies, will give scientists highly detailed information which will help them distinguish natural environmental changes from those that are the result of human activity.
SIR-CED is an education initiative based around the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s imaging radar program and is designed for middle school and high school students. A pre-launch CD-ROM (Volume ID SIRCED01) has been produced in support of this effort. The CD-ROM contains a Teacher's Guide, radar images, photographs from the Space shuttle, ground-based photographs, maps and other important data on sites all around the world which will be imaged by the SIR-C mission. It also contains easy-to-use software to display the images. The Teacher's Guide contains a simplified introduction to how imaging radar works and its role in NASA's Mission to Planet Earth, plus lesson plans. For information contact:
EROS Data Center
Attn: Customer Services
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57198
Phone: (605) 594-6116
FAX: (605) 594-6589
In October 1994, SIR-C survey image products will be available to the public on CD-ROMs from the U.S. Geological Survey's EROS Data Center (EDC). The EDC is the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS) Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (Land Processes DAAC).
Standard digital image products will be available on 8 mm tapes from the EDC beginning early 1995.
Survey data are uncalibrated, low resolution (100 m) images of entire data takes. One CD will contain up to twelve data takes. These data are suitable for determining the extent of areal coverage,
interpreting landforms, and for use in requesting high resolution standard digital frame products. For information, contact the EDC number listed above.
Photographic products of released images are available through the JPL contractors listed below. The contractor maintains and sells a catalog of available images which is updated periodically. All images have captions describing the area covered and the features of particular scientific interest. For slides contact:
Newell Colour
221 North Westmoreland Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90064-4892
(213)380-2980, Ext 269
FAX: (213)739-6984
The JPL Public Information Office (PIO) provides general information about the SIR-C/X-SAR mission. PIO will direct specific inquiries to the appropriate sources. The offices primary responsibility is to provide materials to the working press.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Public Information Office
Mail Stop 186-120
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, California 91109
(818)354-5011, FAX: (818)354-4537
A status phone is maintained at JPL where Mission status updates are recorded. The phone number is (818) 354-2410.
Videotapes of SIR-C materials can be purchased from:
The STARCOM Company
10523-45 Burbank Blvd.
North Hollywood, California 91601
(818)753-3058, FAX: (818)985-1013
Copies can be produced in a variety of video formats and standards, including PAL and SECAM. The following video is available:
AVC-94-144 "SIR-C/X-SAR STS-59 Computer Animation Collection - 4/18/94;" (0:19:21)JPL PIO maintains a public access computer site bulletin board. Public users of the site currently connect to it by the following methods:
By modem over commercial telephone lines to 1 (818) 354-1333. Parameters are: no parity, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit. This line supports speeds up to 14.4 kbps with v32 bis/v42 error correction and compression protocols, and supports up to 3 callers simultaneously.
Users with Internet access can use anonymous FTP to: jplinfo.jpl.nasa.gov(137.78.104.2).
In addition, on-lab PC users with Ethernet access and Novell software can log on to the file server JPL-PAO as GUEST. On-lab Macintosh users with Ethernet can use Chooser to select Appletalk zone JPL-186-Enet, then log on to server JPL-PAO as GUEST.
For questions related to the bulletin board, please contact:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Public Information Office
(818)354-5011
NASAs Education Division supports Teacher Resource Centers (TRCs) at each NASA Center, as well as a large number of Regional TRCs in cooperation with educational organizations around the country. It also supports a national center for distribution of audio-visual materials, the Central Operation of Resources for Educators (CORE).
The TRC at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) usually has a wider variety of planetary material than the other Teacher Resource Centers. The JPL TRC has compiled a video collection, which is updated periodically. For information on titles/contents, and other services, contact:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Teacher Resource Center
Mail Stop CS-530
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, California 91109
(818)354-6916
TRCs provide teachers with access to NASA's materials. In general, visiting teachers can browse through the materials, and the center can assist in duplicating materials in their collection, including videotapes.
TRCs should be the principal source for educators interested in teaching material or suggestions. The TRCs should also be able to provide assistance to teachers in understanding and using the materials.
SPACELINK is an electronic information system for educators (a computer bulletin board) particularly oriented toward teachers interested in using NASA materials in their classes. It is operated by NASAÕs Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama. SPACELINK can be reached by a telephone modem or through the Internet network. It contains a wide variety of information, as well as software and digital image files in the GIF format, which are suitable for classroom computer display. Contact:
telnet: spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov (192.149.89.61); modem: (205) 895-0028
Footnote:
The Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C mission is managed by NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. SIR-C/X-SAR Project Office, Mail Stop 300-331, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.
7/5/94
Return to the NASA/JPL Imaging Radar Home Page