RSS | Print | Comments | Tell a Friend | Larger Text | Smaller Text | Bookmark and Share

Local News

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Space scientist describes work to Findlay Rotarians
By DENISE GRANT

Staff Writer

Ten-year-old Gannon Darrach, soon to be a fifth-grade student at Liberty-Benton Elementary School, got to introduce the guest speaker at Tuesday's meeting of the Findlay Rotary Club. It was his uncle, Murray Darrach, a space scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Gannon and his father, James Darrach, a Findlay chiropractor, helped arrange Murray's "visit" to Rotary via Skype. Skype is software that allows users to make voice calls and conduct video conferences over the Internet.

Speaking from his office in California, Murray Darrach was projected onto a large screen at the Findlay Country Club. It seemed a perfect setting for a talk with a space physicist.

Murray Darrach earned his doctorate in physics in 1990 from the University of Windsor. He has worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory since 1993. Darrach has received many awards for his work at NASA, and has participated in several shuttle missions. Most recently he had a sensor deployed on the International Space Station after the Shuttle Discovery launch in April.

On Tuesday, however, he seemed set on convincing his Rotary Club audience that NASA is much more than just an expensive, big government program.

In May 2009, the space agency announced it planned to give $150 million in stimulus package money to private companies. The idea is that soon NASA could be out of the business of designing, building and servicing its own rockets and spacecraft.

Darrach, a self-professed "child of the sixties," remembers watching astronaut John Glenn. It was clear during Tuesday's talk that the work of NASA is about more than dollar signs for this physicist.

"It can be strange to find myself working on these things," he said.

Darrach said there are only two more space shuttle missions scheduled before the work of putting people and payloads into space becomes a private venture. It will mean a loss of jobs for the 10,000 people who work at the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando, Fla. The space center is responsible for servicing the shuttles. He said about 9,000 of those employees, however, already work as private contractors.

Darrach's lab employs about 5,000 people and must compete for federal funding.

"So when we get those grants every three years or so, it means that we are doing something new and completely innovative. That's really what it is all about," he said.

Asked what has been the biggest discovery of his career, Darrach said it has been "learning how to pay my mortgage. ... I live in California, so that's an issue."

That's something everyone can understand. Rotary liked the answer and it proved that space physicists have a sense of humor. His greatest accomplishment, so far, however, might prove a little harder for most to figure out.

His lab specializes in the robotic exploration of space. He was quick to grab a poster that sat just over his shoulder during the interview. He explained that the apparatus, which used to be as big as a microwave oven, is now thumb-size. He helped develop it.

Darrach said every planet in the solar system has been probed, and in November 2011, NASA will launch a Mars Science Lab. The lab will take eight months to travel to Mars. The rover will canvas the surface of the planet for a year, looking for signs of past life.

Darrach has also worked with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop bomb-detecting sensors based on equipment used to see chemicals in space. He has also worked with the U.S. Navy to develop equipment to sense explosives in sea water.

He said there are many companies that will be interested in the commercialization of space, especially the media, those that monitor the weather, and companies that offer cellular phone, global positioning units, or other services that depend on satellites.

A video of the Mars Science Lab project can be seen at:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?all_videos&id=786#fragment-5



Grant: 419-427-8412,

Send an e-mail to Denise Grant


Subscribe to The Courier.
Comment on This Story
NOTE: Comment moderation has been enabled. If you see a comment that violates our Electronic User Agreement, please e-mail webmaster@thecourier.com. Thank you. If you are having problems viewing this Web page, please contact our Internet Department to help us diagnose and correct the problem. We may contact you for more information. Thanks in advance.
Your e-mail address will not be displayed on this website or shared with anyone. It is used by our online editor for contacting purposes.
Comments are moderated by The Courier according to its Electronic User Agreement within one business day. Comments that slander others or include language that violates the agreement will be rejected. All comments that impart opinion and information are welcome.
   NEWS VIDEO

Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
   SPECIAL SECTIONS
Summer Coupons
   WEEKEND
USA Weekend

ANDERSON COOPER: Five years after Hurricane Katrina, the CNN reporter returns to New Orleans as the Gulf Coast faces even newer challenges.


Roses are red...

SOLUTIONS, NOT PROBLEMS: The University of Findlay plays host to competitive sailor who is a quadruple amputee.

ALSO IN WEEKEND: Area events,
prep boys and girls soccer and a trip to Niagra Falls.

   STAY IN TOUCH
The Courier on Facebook
   VIRTUAL VILLAGE
TisaWee Farm

Far Flung Guest Book

Virtual Village
   PHOTO GALLERY
Randy's Seen

IMAGE BLOG: Go behind the scenes with Courier photographer Randy Roberts.


You can purchase photographs from The Courier through our easy-to-use online system. Get prints, mousepads, T-shirts and more!

   LOCAL NEWS
  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
j wrote in article "Many winners named as Hancock Fair opens":
Good but little expensive
“ The fair was interesting, but at $5 for the more popular rides on the expensive side, same with the food, many people commented... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 10:37:10 AM
JM wrote in article "McComb couple is serious about fair competition":
Very nice!
“ What a lovely article. Will have to check out their goods at the fair. ” Read More...
9/2/2010 10:21:42 AM
Ed wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Dirt bag...
“ A head shot would have put an end to the both dirt bag's chance of getting more money. NATE: could it be that you have some fir... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 9:53:26 AM
Yfkm wrote in article "Heroin outbreak":
Denial
“ To Tony and TL Every good citizen, parent and public official advocates the eradication of drugs from our communities; you are n... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 9:08:20 AM
Penny Musgrave wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Benton Ridge Shooting
“ Although I am all for catching the criminal, I don't condone what was done to this guy. They converged on him like gangbusters b... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 8:43:07 AM
Yfkm wrote in article "Parole denied in murder case":
Unqualified reassurance
“ To Tony - here is another example of your inability to see situations as they really are. It is obvious that you are so self in... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 8:42:45 AM
JP wrote in article "Pigskin Picks":
Wood Shed???
“ "Bubba," why would a Tiger take a Polar Bear to the wood shed? Wouldn't it be more likely that: Tigers knock Polar Bears into a... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:16:48 AM
poor victim!!!!! wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Nate
“ Nate your a moron and obviously do not know a thing about use of force. Also most taser cartridges carried have a 15 ft to 35 f... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:15:05 AM
Ryan wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Research
“ It doesn't matter if there was a weapon found or not. An officer's job is based upon perception and their objective reasonablen... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:05:15 AM
Derek wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Nate......what???
“ Nate, first of all, police officer's don't carry mase. If they did, the would carry maCe. Now, if you did some research, you'd... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 4:02:04 AM
  U.S. Headlines
  World News
  Ohio News
News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.