Feb 28 1995
From The Space Library
Four more missions have been selected for NASA's Discovery program. Formally started in NASA's FY 1994 budget, it features small planetary exploration spacecraft with focused science goals that can be built in about 36 months for about $150 million. Lunar Prospector was judged mature enough to proceed, while missions to study the Sun, Venus, and a comet (Mission Stardust) were selected for further detailed study. Two missions are already under development in the Discovery program: the Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) mission-which would orbit the asteroid Eros in 1999-and the Mars Pathfinder, which would land on Mars in 1997. (NASA Releases 95-19, 94, 112 & 209; W Post, Mar 2/95, May 15/95; Fla Today, Nov 5/95; AP, Mar 5/95 & Nov 27/95; Av Wk, Mar 6/95 & Dec 11/95; Science, Mar 10/95)
A non-invasive and direct method of measuring the bending stiffness of long bones was developed by the Ames Research Center, Stanford University, and Gait Scan Inc., of Ridge, New Jersey. The device is known as the Mechanical Response Tissue Analyzer (MRTA). NASA is interested in using it to test the bones of astronauts, who lose calcium from their bones during space flight. When a forearm or leg is rested on a stable support, a small probe is placed on the skin which transmits a "buzz" that lasts less than five seconds. This new technology has already been used to show the fragility of hones in patients diagnosed with brittle bones. The MRTA is also expected to he used for follow-up testing of patients with osteoporosis and for monitoring the healing of broken bones. (NASA Release 95-20)
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