The United Nations Basic Space Science
Initiative: The TRIPOD concept
1
National Astronomical Observatory, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
2
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2421, USA
email: d.wentzel@worldnet.att.net
3
American Association of Variable Star Observers, 25 Birch Street, Cambridge, MA 02138,
USA
email: arne@aavso.org
4
3015 10th St., Boulder, CO 80304, USA
email: jeffrey.bennett@comcast.net
5
College of Arts and Sciences, Sharjah University P.O. Box, 27272 Sharjah, United Arab
Emirates
email: alnaimiy2@yahoo.com
6
Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Pala Campus, Arunapuram P.O. Box, Pala-686574,
Kerala, India
email: mathai@math.mcgill.ca
7
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
email: gopals@ssedmail.gsfc.nasa.gov
8
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
email: joseph.m.davila@nasa.gov
9
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA
email: barbara.j.thompson@nasa.gov
10
AFRL/VSBXS and ISR, Boston College, 29 Randolph Road, Hanscom AFB, MA
01731-3010, USA
email: David.Webb.ctr@hanscom.af.mil
11
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, Vienna International Centre, A-1400 Vienna,
Austria
email: hans.haubold@unvienna.org
Abstract. Since 1990, the United Nations is annually holding a workshop on basic space science
for the benefit of the worldwide development of astronomy. Additional to the scientific benefits
of the workshops and the strengthening of international cooperation, the workshops lead to the
establishment of astronomical telescope facilities through the Official Development Assistance
(ODA) of Japan. Teaching material, hands-on astrophysics material, and variable star observing
programmes had been developed for the operation of such astronomical telescope facilities in an
university environment. This approach to astronomical telescope facility, observing programme,
and teaching astronomy has become known as the basic space science TRIPOD concept. Cur-
rently, a similar TRIPOD concept is being developed for the International Heliophysical Year
2007, consisting of an instrument array, data taking and analysis, and teaching space science.
Keywords. United Nations, international cooperation, basic space science, TRIPOD, astro-
† Presented the invited paper on behalf of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
link
66.102.9.104...:6lmAR6mCaz0J:arxiv.org/pdf/physics/0610149+united+nations+e.t.+space&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk&client=firefox-a
[edit on 24-4-2007 by Shadoww]