By Jim Gerard, INSPIRE Education Specialist, KSC, FL
A solar storm could strike at any time and paralyze our nation by knocking out the electrical power grid and communication satellites we depend on. But don't worry! According to Dr. Sten Odenwald, an astronomer/mathematician from the Goddard Space Flight Center, we are developing tools and science to detect and counter the effects of such a storm. Dr. Odenwald presented to 152 members of the INSPIRE Online Learning Community at last evening's LiveChat. He led the participants through our current knowledge of the workings of the Sun's magnetosphere and how that interacts with the Sun' surface. That interaction produces events we refer to as 'space weather'. These events, such as flares and coronal mass ejections, can reach the Earth and cause an effect to its magnetic field. These effects range from the beautiful aurora found in the polar regions to dangerous electrical system malfunctions that could occur anywhere.
You can access the presentation in the Live Chat Archive found on the OLC Home page. We offer the chat in three formats: a Collaborate file, a Quicktime video and an MP3 audio file. The archive files will be posted on Monday morning. Students who view these archives are welcome to post questions for our speaker on the Discussion Board, and are eligible for 25 points by using the passcode (found at the end of the archive) to access the chat quiz.
Next week, our featured Center chat with Scott Anderson of the Marshall Space Flight Center on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and a look at the science on the International Space Station with Kennedy Space Center engineer Shiresh Patel on Nov. 10.
Coming up, there will be a special LiveChat with former astronaut and current NASA Associate Administrator of Education Leland Melvin on Thursday, November 17. Mr. Melvin will present about his time on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. This special chat will take place at 4 p.m. CT. We are asking that all questions be submitted before the event. Please submit your question where you post 'Sign me up' in the LiveChat sign up forum on the Discussion Board. We will read as many questions as we can during our time with Mr. Melvin. Only students who participate in the chat will have their questions read. Sign up now for all these exciting LiveChats!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment