Show Date:September 7, 2005  
Pam Eastlick for THE DEEP on line

VIEW FROM ABOVE
AND
RING AROUND THE PLANET

Greetings and welcome to The Deep column and the deepest radio show on Earth. The Deep is the science talk radio program that takes you from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of the universe. This week on The Deep, aired at 6:00 this evening on K-57, we’ll talk about satellites, those marvels in the sky and then we’ll have some expedition calls. Maybe we’ll hear from Bob Silvers. Or perhaps we’ll talk to someone with news from Russia. We’ll also have some science news updates and we’ll be taking your phone calls. Tune in tonight and join host Jim Sullivan, Pam Eastlick and our expedition coordinator Peter Melyan for the latest in scientific news! Then log on to www.thedeepradioshow.com for more information on all the latest and deepest news!

EYE ON TRAGEDY

New Orleans before
	The tragedy on the Gulf Coast and the Boxing Day tsunami in the Indian Ocean make us respect anew the incredible power of Mother Nature and the ocean. One of the things that has greatly enhanced our ability to cope with the aftermath of these catastrophes is the ability to see the problem from a distance – a very far distance. Our orbiting satellites give us the big picture like no other tool. NASA science instruments and Earth-orbiting satellites are providing detailed insight about the environmental impact caused by Hurricane Katrina. Images and data are helping characterize the extent of flooding; damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure; and potential hazards caused by the storm and its aftermath.
	New Orleans after (Digital Globe image)
The Terra, Aqua and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellites have already provided Earth observations for land cover and rainfall. Terra's Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer is providing data on the magnitude and extent of damage and flooding to the U.S. Geological Survey Emergency Response Team. JPL is responsible for the American side of the joint U.S.-Japan science team that is validating and calibrating that instrument and its data products.Another NASA satellite in use is the Earth Observing Mission 1. The Advanced Land Imagery multispectral instrument on this satellite provided land use and land cover observations useful in determining hurricane damage areas and in aiding in recovery, response and mitigation.
Satellite image of Indonesia before and after the tsunami
They also help us prepare for these tragedies. Although satellites wouldn’t have given warning in time to evacuate people before the tsunami, the fact that thousands and thousands of people left the gulf coast before Katrina hit saved many, many lives. Watching typhoons swirl toward us on Internet or TV has become an island pastime. But weather and pictures aren’t the only things satellites do. The GPS system has revolutionized hiking and exploring on the ground. People don’t get lost nearly as often as they used to because now, thanks to that little GPS handheld or their cell phone, they know exactly where they are at all times. Whether you’re climbing to the top of Mt. Everest, exploring Antarctica or just trying to find a pizza place in a strange city, GPS is there to help.

Our orbiting satellites watch other things than Earth, of course. Several satellites keep an eye on our Sun. These satellites monitor sunspots and powerful solar storms that have the potential to knock out power grids, cause harm to orbiting astronauts and satellites and on the plus side create beautiful aurorae as they slam into Earth’s atmosphere.
And we’re moving out into space with our satellites. The International Space Station has been continuously inhabited for five years, despite the tragedies that have hampered the US support of the project. People can live in space and the astronauts aboard the ISS prove that every day.

Many of our orbiting satellites don’t look down toward Earth, they look out. Chandra looks at the universe in X-rays and the Spitzer Space Telescope view the wonders of the universe in infrared or heat. These two premier orbiting satellites have taught us much about our own galaxy and what lies beyond.

Of course, probably the most famous orbiting satellite that peers into deep space is the Hubble Space Telescope and there is news there as well. Unfortunately, there is still no funding to repair our eye in the visible sky (the light that human eyes can detect) and scientists have opted to turn off one of the three pointing gyros to save wear and tear on the instrument. They expect that doing so will extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope another eight months through 2008. Join us on The Deep this week as we discuss satellites and all the wonders they provide.

DISAPPEARING RINGS?
The Cassini spacecraft in orbit around the planet Saturn has provided new evidence that Saturn’s famous rings are much more dynamic and changeable that originally thought. The rings were first view close-up by the two Voyager spacecraft, which flew by the ringed giant in the early 80’s. By comparing photos taken then with new ones from Cassini, astronomers have discovered several dramatic differences.

For one thing, Saturn’s innermost ring – the D ring – has grown much dimmer in the last 25 years and a piece of it has moved at least 125 miles closer to Saturn. Astronomers don’t know why this has happened, but their observations could tell us something about the age and lifespan of Saturn’s rings. Scientists have also realized that the ice particles that make up the main rings are spinning slower than expected. They expected the particles in the denser A and B rings to rotate much faster than the less dense C ring, but all rotated with equal speed.

They also discovered that the outermost A ring wasn’t as dense as they thought and contains more empty space. Some of its ice particles are in huge clumps of debris that constantly break apart and reform because of gravity’s effects.

Whether we’re learning about orbiting satellites or changing rings, The Deep, hosted by Jim Sullivan with Pam Eastlick and Peter Melyan is the place to be on K-57 tonight at 6:00 p.m. Don’t miss it!