TPS: Aim for Mars, Pluto, Cassini

TPS: Aim for Mars, Pluto, Cassini 

THE PLANETARY SOCIETY NEWSLETTER
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IN THIS ISSUE:

- Take Action: Aim for Mars!
- Special Member Offer: LEGO Rover Discount
- Secret Martian Code Revealed
- Is Pluto a Planet? Is Sedna? Vote Today!
- Beagle 2: An Interview with Colin Pillinger
- News! Cassini-Huygens, Rovers, Sedna
- You Make it Happen! Tell a Friend
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AIM FOR MARS!
Continuing our Campaign for
Human Exploration of the Red Planet

For over 30 years -- since the last Apollo astronaut
left the Moon -- human explorers have been restricted
to circling their home world. The new U.S. space
policy seeks finally to move us beyond Earth orbit with
a focus on exploration and a goal of sending humans
to Mars. Now is the time to direct our vision to
other worlds.
 
It is time to Aim for Mars!

The Planetary Society is leading an international
drive to redirect human space endeavors through a bold
new vision to the Moon, Mars and Beyond.
You can take action today to ensure that the vision
becomes reality.
 
Speak Out ... Take Action ... Learn More

You can Aim for Mars at:
http://aimformars.org

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SPECIAL LEGO ROVER OFFER FOR U.S. AND
CANADIAN PLANETARY SOCIETY MEMBERS

Join The Planetary Society, and receive a discount of
over 50% when you purchase a LEGO model of the
Mars Exploration Rover.

The regular price of this incredible model is $89.99 but
Planetary Society members can purchase this model for
only $39.99 through June 30, 2004.

This special arrangement is just one of the many benefits
You will receive as a member of The Planetary Society.

To purchase the rover, you will need a special Member
discount code. Once you have joined, simply email your name
and the join date to tps.mbl@planetary.org. We will email
you back with the code plus the instructions on purchasing
the rover.

Remember, this offer is only valid through June 30. Planetary
Society membership is open to all, however Rover
models can only be shipped to U.S. and Canadian addresses.

Don't miss out on this opportunity, join now at:
https://planetary.org/JoinUs.html

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SECRET MARTIAN CODE REVEALED

Want to get the answer to the secret coded
message from Mars?
Head straight for our code solutions pages -
Spirit code:
https://planetary.org/redrover-dvd/spirit_solution.html
Opportunity code:
https://planetary.org/redrover-dvd/opportunity_solution.html

Still want to try to solve the mystery? It's not too
late. Although the prize competition is over, you can
still enter your answer in the forms on the Spirit and
Opportunity code pages. In addition to the satisfaction
of being one of those who solve the code, you will
also be rewarded with a beautiful certificate of
accomplishment.

Test your code breaking skills for Spirit at:
https://planetary.org/redrover-dvd/dvd_spirit.html

For Opportunity at:
https://planetary.org/redrover-dvd/dvd_opportunity.html

Stay tuned, we will soon be announcing all of the winners
for the "Crack the Secret Martian Code" contest.
You could be one of them!
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WHAT IS A PLANET? CAST YOUR VOTE!

Astronomers recently announced the discovery of most
distant Sun-orbiting object ever observed from Earth
"Sedna," around three-quarters the size of Pluto,
orbiting the Sun on the far outskirts of the solar system.

These recent discoveries raise serious questions about
the status of the ninth planet. Is Pluto a true planet,
or is it merely one of a myriad space rocks orbiting
beyond Neptune? If it is a planet, should Sedna and
other large Kuiper Belt Objects be considered planets
as well? And if Sedna is not a planet, should Pluto be
retained as one? In other words, what is a planet?

This is your chance to make your voice heard.
Vote today! We will publish the results of the
vote in the coming weeks.

Vote today at:
http://planetary.org/news/2004/planet_vote.html

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DIALOGUE COLIN PILLINGER:
On Beagle 2 and the Search for Life on Mars

In a special web feature, Colin Pillinger, head of
Planetary and Space Sciences at the Open University
in the United Kingdom and the principal investigator of
Beagle 2 discusses with The Planetary Society the
risks involved in space missions and moving forward
after a loss.

"You can only learn by taking those opportunities"
says Pillinger. "Staying at home is like saying,
'We're going to lead a party to climb Everest. However
there's a risk.' You have to say to yourself --
'Do I want to go?' You know the risk, but you're not
going to stay home and watch it on the television."

Read the entire interview at:
http://planetary.org/news/2004/dialogue_pillinger.html

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THIS MONTH'S PLANETARY HEADLINES:
CASSINI-HUYGENS, MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS, SEDNA

Keep up with Planetary News at
The Planetary Society website.

Cassini-Huygens Approach Saturn and Capture
First Glimpse of Titan's Surface
http://www.planetary.org/news/2004/cassini_approach.html

Mars Exploration Rovers Update:
Spirit Makes Tracks to Columbia Hills;
Opportunity Cruises into Extended Mission
http://planetary.org/news/2004/mer-update_04-04-30.html

Sedna: A New Mystery
http://planetary.org/news/2004/sedna_mystery.html

Mars Exploration Rovers Update:
Spirit Gets 'Kicks' on Route 66;
Opportunity Solves Another Martian Mystery
http://planetary.org/news/2004/mer-update_04-04-17.html

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YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!
TELL A FRIEND
Forward this newsletter on to your friends
who share our belief in exploration. Tell them
about The Planetary Society. Tell them we
are aiming for Mars - and beyond. Ask them to
join The Planetary Society and join in our mission
to explore new worlds and seek other life.

Help us continue to build the strongest, most
influential space-advocacy organization on Earth.

Thank you.

Check in regularly at our website,
http://planetary.org

_________________________


If you are interested in the future of planetary
exploration, please contact us at
comments@planetary.org 
with your thoughts, questions, and concerns.



forwarded by TPS member

Bruno Moretti IK2WQA
Cicognola Astronomical Observatory & IK2WQA Ham Radio Station
45�43'28"N 8�36'35"E QTH Locator: JN45HR
http://setiboinc.ssl.berkeley.edu/ap/team_display.php?teamid=8
http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/stats/team/team_7422.html
http://gwtradate.tread.it/tradate/gat/index.html