Expert: James Gort - 8/7/2011

Question
Hello,

If you can not answer this question maybe you know someone who can.

I used to frequent J Track at NASA for satellite tracking. A very nice applet that show real time view of the earth and satellites orbiting.

Now when I go there and click the link nothing happens. There must be another place with similar data in similar form.

Thank you very much

Answer
Hello William,

Apparently, NASA, specifically Marshall Space Flight Center, has restricted access
to J-Track and J-Track 3D. It seems that you need to fill out a technology
transfer agreement before you can get to the software.

But I don't think they have their act together yet. Here is a note from the Marshall Space Flight Center's web site:

"When most people think of NASA technology, software does not always come to mind. However, software is a strategic asset and a valuable NASA technology. Software inventions and innovations, like any other NASA technology, should be reported and released in order to maximize its benefit to NASA and the general public.

The Technology Transfer Program and the Software Release Authority (SRA) at each Center work together to ensure the proper release of software. Each NASA Center has a process for software release that begins with the software developer and ends with the Center SRA’s approval or rejection of the request for the software release.

Point of Contact: Evelyn Hill, 256-544-7117"


So my recommendation is to contact Ms. Hill.

Sorry, but I don't know of any similar software.

Cheers,

Prof. James Gort