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International Association of Space Entrepreneurs
Posted on 05/03/2010 6:26:01 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
James Cameron's love of science and high-tech cameras has previously shone through with his undersea documentaries -- not to mention Titanic or even Avatar. Now the film director is playing "public engagement co-investigator" on NASA's upcoming SUV-sized rover mission, which will carry full-color digital cameras and zoom lenses -- but it's a race to complete the lenses in time for the mission's 2011 launch.
Cameron approached NASA administrator Charles Bolden about including the 3-D camera in January, according to the AP. NASA had originally cut the 3-D camera and zoom lens options back in 2007, for budgetary reasons.
But Cameron's argument that a high-res 3-D camera would boost public interest swayed Bolden to his side. The U.S. space agency recently funded completion of the 3-D and zoom-capable cameras by Malin Space Science Systems, Inc, the company which developed the Mastcams.
Restoring the zoom is not a science issue, although there will be some science benefits," said Michael Malin, principal investigator for the Mastcam. "The fixed focal length Mastcams we just delivered will do almost all of the science we originally proposed. But they cannot provide a wide field of view with comparable eye stereo."
(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...
Ping
After NASA recovers from Obama? Who knows if Cameron will even be alive when/if NASA goes to Mars again.
Next: Blue astronauts.
.
Let him pay for the whole darn mission.
My thoughts exactly.He can certainly afford it.
Send him along to set them up.
He can bring Obama as his wing man or Pelosi as his wing woman his choice either will do
When did Cameron get a space agency?
Cameron is like Dan Rather and the Dixie Chicks......
When FR stops talking about them and giving them free publicity....
No one talks about them.
James Cameron goes to Mars to videotape the Mars landscape to make a profit in his next film. Once he gets there, he discovers that the Mars landscape is over populated with ugly blue aliens that refuse to move out of the shot. So in order for him to get the aliens to move, he has to send in an avatar to join the population and pressure them to move. When this is not accomplished, Cameron is forced to start a war with the aliens. Cameron loses the war, and is held prisoner on Mars forever. The End.
It does have a space angle and he is giving this camera for free.It would be nice though if he paid for the mission.
Please include me on your NASA ping list. Thanks!
Well, unlike many, here.....
I’m not a big fan of Cameron and his liberal ilk.
I am not a fan of his but he did give a very expensive piece of hardware for free to NASA
Nice! I’ve been saying folks who make money off of space-related entertainment ought to put their money where their mouth is for a long time. I didn’t care for his latest movie, but I’ll enjoy the pics from Mars.
Maybe we could send Cameron to Mars himself, And leave him there.
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