I'm helping with the Mars Rover!

[smib]

Originally Posted by Announcement that might not be allowed on the internet

CANBERRA ECAM
In 2009, NASA will launch a new Mars rover to continue its ongoing Mars exploration Program. This new rover, named Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), will be powered by a radioisotope thermoelectric generator. Heat given off by the radioactive decay of Pu-238 is converted into electricity, providing constant power and thermal stability for the rover’s payload of scientific instruments. While the generator’s radioisotope heat source is designed for safety in the event of a launch accident, NASA is required to conduct contingency planning and have equipment and personnel in place to monitor for and respond to any radiological release.
CANBERRA has been awarded a sole source contract for Environmental ontinuous Air Monitors (ECAMs) and satellite communications equipment to give NASA radiation control center personnel access to real-time net plutonium air concentration data from monitoring locations throughout the Kennedy Space Center and surrounding Brevard County. The LLNL National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC) will use the real-time Pu air concentration updates from the ECAM network along with meteorological data to predict the radiological consequences of a plutonium release, allowing NASA radiation control center personnel to modify their safety response lans.
CANBERRA Albuquerque Senior Scientist John Rodgers and Senior Systems Engineer Mike Hoy will be stationed at Kennedy Space Center throughout the launch to provide technical expertise to radiation control center staff.

Additional info can be found here.

And the best part is...
I test all the ECAMS!
Good to know some of the shit I work on here does more than just sit at power plants and natural disaster areas checking for radioactive leaks and such. This shit for for the fucking exploration of the god damn Red Planet!

[Brother Michael]

Originally Posted by smib

Additional info can be found here.

And the best part is...
I test all the ECAMS!
Good to know some of the shit I work on here does more than just sit at power plants and natural disaster areas checking for radioactive leaks and such. This shit for for the fucking exploration of the god damn Red Planet!

Sssssooooo......what is it that you do ?

[smib]

Originally Posted by Brother Michael

Sssssooooo......what is it that you do ?

I'm a test tech for Canberra Industies. I work primarily in the NIM (Nuclear Instrumentation Module) line, but I also do the majority of the testing for the CAM line, which includes a few products besides the ECAMs being used by these guys.

[emil_t]

nice work, any pics with the shell of ?

[Twerp128]

So your gonna pull a Top Gear, except use a Rover instead of a Robin? Did you watch that episode it didn't work out to well. . .

[smib]

Why? How hard can it be?

[pfrocker]

congratulations man, it's always exciting to be involved in big projects. It feels like you are actually giving something back to the world.

I was very proud in my engineering internship to be part of the hydraulics team, I was responsible for a lot of the measurements in an area that was in danger of flood damage.

[Brother Michael]

Originally Posted by smib

I'm a test tech for Canberra Industies. I work primarily in the NIM (Nuclear Instrumentation Module) line, but I also do the majority of the testing for the CAM line, which includes a few products besides the ECAMs being used by these guys.

Wow....sounds cool....and something I understand absolutely nothing about

[BlaRo]

This is why engineering is awesome. Kudos to you for doing what I sure as hell can't.

[smib]

Well, I don't do any engineering... yet. I'll be starting school this spring, but I may have to get an Electrical Engineering degree so the company will pay for it. Then I'll be able to get a much better paying job afford to pay for Mechanical/Physics Engineering after that.

[Jacobfox]

Originally Posted by pfrocker

congratulations man, it's always exciting to be involved in big projects. It feels like you are actually giving something back to the world.

I was very proud in my engineering internship to be part of the hydraulics team, I was responsible for a lot of the measurements in an area that was in danger of flood damage.

American river delta?

[DAFOOL]

Originally Posted by smib

Why? How hard can it be?

Uh oh, this question always leads to trouble.

[Labcoatguy]

Please please for the love of god make sure that this time around, the guys are clear on the differences between metric and English units.

[pfrocker]

Originally Posted by Jacobfox

American river delta?

No, it was Mill Valley Creek in the city of Mill Valley, CA. They had flooding in the winter every 2-3 years, so the city finally decided to do something.

[Hidden_Hunter]

Dang, I was hoping it meant that you were going to Canberra

[KaJuN]

That sounds like an awesome project you're part of. It must be a great feeling knowing you're helping something get to another planet.

This reminded me of a high school project that I had long forgotten about. Schools around the country helped out polishing little mirrors that were then put onto a satellite but I can't remember why now. Apparently everyone who helped had their name printed inside the thing. But by now it's probably either space junk or long since burned up over a small island in the Pacific.

[NooDle]

Awesome

[h-p]

Love the way how that RTG sticks out of that things ass.

[matt2000]

If you're making a Mars Rover, don't, just don't...







...use Lucas electrics.