In attendance: Dewey A., Brian E., Brad J., Ray Mc C., Farin W., Cherie W., John B., Tony M., Jim W.

Dewey Anderson gave a talk about orbital mechanics, how the simple application of Keplerr's laws allows you to work out transit times from Earth to Mars, for the least energy Hohmann transfer orbit, to the quicker free return trajectories that allow you to get back to Earth when it's still there! We discussed why LEO is half-way to anywhere, the problems of communicating with Mars during eclipse, and many other useful things,up to the tag-team Saturnian moons. Dewey had also brought along his latest spacesuit designs, with new battery and fan designs, and a waistcoat cooled with special frozen gel pouches that is probably more practical than fan cooling. Its amazing what some swing bin tops and ingenuity can do!

We also discussed the changing budget situation at NASA, and the new metorite discovered by the Martian Rovers. We wondered if any of the Antartic meteorites that have a terrestrial origin could be tested for bacteria to give a reference for possible Martian ones. ??? mentioned that his extensive collection of books on Mars had been professionally catalgued, and would be uploaded here.

The next meeting will be 7/17/06 at CU Environmental Design 102, 7 P.M. On to Mars.

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