Archive for the ‘Space News’ Category
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September 20th, 2022
InSight’s first full selfie on Mars.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
In a Jet Propulsion Laboratory release, NASA’s InSight lander on Mars detected seismic waves from a meteoroid and was able to capture the sound of the space rock striking the surface of Mars for the first time.
The meteoroid – the term used for incoming space rocks before they hit the ground – entered Mars’ atmosphere on Sept. 5, 2021, exploding into at least three shards that each left craters behind.
Mars’ atmosphere is just 1% as dense as Earth’s, allowing far more meteoroids to pass through and impact the Red Planet’s surface.
InSight’s Instrument Deployment Camera (IDC) acquired this image showing the HP3 experiment and SEIS seismometer (Seismic Experiment for Interior Structures) on Sol 99, March 8, 2019.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Bloop!
This event marks the first time seismic and acoustic waves from an impact were detected on the Red Planet. Why does this meteoroid impact sound like a “bloop” in the video? It has to do with a peculiar atmospheric effect that’s also observed in deserts on Earth.
After sunset, the atmosphere retains some heat accumulated during the day. Sound waves travel through this heated atmosphere at different speeds, depending on their frequency. As a result, lower-pitched sounds arrive before high-pitched sounds. An observer close to the impact would hear a “bang,” while someone many miles away would hear the bass sounds first, creating a “bloop.”
Location confirmation
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter flew over the estimated impact site to confirm the location. The orbiter used its black-and-white Context Camera to reveal three darkened spots on the surface.
After locating these spots, the orbiter’s team used the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera, or HiRISE, to get a color close-up of the craters.
InSight Detects an Impact for the First Time: These craters were formed by a Sept. 5, 2021, meteoroid impact on Mars, the first to be detected by NASA’s InSight. Taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, this enhanced-color image highlights the dust and soil disturbed by the impact in blue in order to make details more visible to the human eye. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona.
Because HiRISE sees wavelengths the human eye can’t detect, scientists change the camera’s filters to enhance the color of the image. The areas that appear blue around the craters are where dust has been removed or disturbed by the blast of the impact. Martian dust is bright and red, so removing it makes the surface appear relatively dark and blue.
Credit for the research goes to NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Maryland/University of Arizona/CNES/IPGP/Manchu/Bureau 21/ETH Zurich/Kirschner/van Driel.
Give an ear and eye to this video at:
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The atmospheric layers from the ground up to the boundary with space, showing natural phenomena, human inputs and resultant impacts. These human inputs impact the troposphere (by enhancing climate change), the stratosphere (through ozone loss from multiple causes), the mesosphere (by influencing metal chemistry and accumulation and increasing noctilucent clouds), and the thermosphere (by likely causing contraction which will impact orbiting satellites).
Credit: Jamie D. Shutler, et al.
Rocket emissions and rubbish from spacecraft falling out of orbit are having increasingly detrimental effects on global atmospheric chemistry.
The growing scale and pace of space activities may lead to new unforeseen impacts on the environment and climate.
What is now needed is improved monitoring of the situation, as well as regulation to create an environmentally sustainable space industry.
These are findings from new research just published in the journal, Nature Geoscience.
Lead author of the paper, “Atmospheric impacts of the space industry require oversight” is Jamie Shutler, associate professor of Earth observation in the Center for Geography and Environmental Science, College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Exeter, Cornwall.
Wanted: policy and legal frameworks
Shutler and colleagues note that focused research is required now to build the policy and legal frameworks necessary to support a successful and more environmentally sustainable space industry.
“The collective influences on the global atmosphere from space activities remain unquantified, making it impossible to currently understand and evaluate their environmental impact,” the research paper explains. “There is now an urgent need to direct research and policy decisions towards quantifying and minimizing the space industry’s impact on the global atmosphere.”
Global space industry
The paper underscores the fact that the global space industry is estimated to be annually worth $350 billion and expected to reach more than $1 trillion by 2040.
Given that the industry has a heavy reliance on rockets, the launch rate is likely to quadruple within the next four years, with agencies and companies including SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic look to serve exploration, tourism and satellite markets.
Credit: SpaceX/StarLink
“These activities are now actively influencing all layers of the global atmosphere; and while these impacts are likely to increase with time, the consequences for global climate and weather are largely unknown,” Shutler and colleagues point out.
Furthermore, the reduction in satellite costs has led to the development of large satellite constellations.
Once complete, these constellations of spacecraft will result in a constant flow of de-orbiting debris as craft die and are replaced. “This debris could double the annual injection of aerosol particle mass into the mesosphere,” the paper explains, thereby increasing the amount of aluminium particles that can reach the stratosphere where they encourage ozone loss.
To access the paper – “Atmospheric impacts of the space industry require oversight” – go to:
SpaceShipOne, with Brian Binnie at the controls, flew the second suborbital flight in one week’s time in 2004 to capture the $10 million Ansari X Prize flight purse.
Courtesy Brian Binnie/Mike Mills
I am saddened to learn of the passing of a true space pioneer and friend, Brian Binnie – suborbital space travel pilot for the SpaceShipOne program.
On October 4, 2004, with Brian Binnie at the controls of SpaceShipOne, he flew the second suborbital flight in one week’s time to capture the $10 million Ansari X Prize flight purse.
Binnie’s passing was noted by the XPrize group.
That pioneering passage of space and time marked a new era of commercial space flight.
For detailed information, go to my story, “Test pilot Brian Binnie recounts his historic flight on SpaceShipOne and the future of private space travel” via Space.com at:
https://www.space.com/spaceshipone-test-pilot-brian-binnie-book-interview
Also, this book review is available at:
Book Review: The Magic and Menace of SpaceShipOne
https://www.leonarddavid.com/book-review-the-magic-and-menace-of-spaceshipone-2/
Lastly, go to my full interview with Binnie that appeared in a recent issue of Quest at: https://spacehistory101.com/
Credit: CNSA
Using data gathered by the mission’s Zhurong rover, Chinese scientists revealed the relationship between the formation of geological features and water activities on Mars by conducting a comprehensive study of these geological features in the landing area: Utopian Planitia.
Chinese scientists have found hydrated minerals in platy-like rocks, a layer of “duricrust,” proving that there has been substantial liquid water activity at the landing area since the Amazonian epoch, which was about 1 billion years ago.
Lander and Zhurong Mars rover.
Credit: CNSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Ocean hypothesis
These results revealed the impact of wind and water activities on Mars’ geological evolution and environmental changes, and provided support for the hypothesis that there was once an ocean in the Utopian Planitia, according to the China National Space Agency (CNSA).
Also obtained were a number of scientific results on the relationship between the density of rocks on the Martian surface and the degree of surface erosion, the distribution of ions and neutral particles in the near-Mars space environment, and the gravity field of Mars.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
“As liquid water activity has been found, we believe that there may have been some suitable climate conditions for the origin of life or the existence of such conditions in the past billion years on Mars,” Liu Yang, a researcher at the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), told China Central Television (CCTV). “These climate conditions are likely to be in a more moderate space underground.”
Raw data
The Tianwen-1 mission consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover was launched on July 23, 2020.
On May 15, 2021, the lander/rover combo touched down at the pre-selected landing area in Utopia Planitia, a vast Martian plain, marking the first time that China has landed a probe on the planet.
Credit: CNSA/CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
CNSA’s Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center stated that both the orbiter and rover have completed targeted scientific exploration missions, and acquired 1,480 gigabytes of raw scientific data, the center said.
The Zhurong rover is now in hibernation mode. It is expected to be woken up at year’s end when Mars environmental conditions improve. Given a normal working condition, Zhurong will continue to travel southward to obtain more roving probe data.
A newly released video details the Tianwen-1 Mars mission findings. Go to:
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Shenzhou-14 taikonauts completed their second set of spacewalks on Saturday.
Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe performed the tasks, with Liu Yang providing support inside the cabin. The Shenzhou-14 spacewalkers completed the second EVAs, which lasted about five hours, the China Manned Space Agency (CMS) announced.
The taikonaut twosome opened the airlock cabin of the Wentian lab module making their exit into space. The extravehicular (EVA) activities included installing foot-stop b, which will facilitate the astronauts to carry out operation on the bulkhead, and an assist handle, which can help astronauts open the hatch door from outside in emergency.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The astronauts were also to install additional pumps, the core equipment of the space station’s thermal control system, and carry out the challenging task of extravehicular rescue for the first time, according to China Central Television (CCTV).
Duties ahead
The three crew members were sent to the space station on June 5 for a six-month mission.
During the second half of their six-month stay in orbit, they will oversee the arrival of the other lab module Mengtian and be involved in the first Chinese space station crew handover when the Shenzhou-15 crew arrives.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The trio successfully completed their first EVAs from the airlock cabin of the Wentian lab module on September 2, which lasted about seven hours.
Frequent EVAs
“The Shenzhou-14 is fully tasked, and the Mengtian lab module will be launched soon. Before this second lab module is launched, the space station combination is yet to undergo a transposition to form an L-shaped configuration,” said Pan Shunliang, deputy chief designer of the Overall Design Department under the China Academy of Space Technology. Relatively frequent EVAs can help make spacewalk a regular activity, Pan told CCTV.
“The two astronauts outside the capsule and the astronaut inside should coordinate with each other. Other departments on the ground, including our space station system, astronaut system, Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, and measurement and communication system, also need to be greatly coordinated,” Pan said.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
“Especially in the operation stage, it may be necessary to transfer the solar wings of the core module to both sides of the lab modules,” Pan added. “This requires regular multiple spacewalks, and so the EVAs are conducted to prepare and test our capacity for spacewalks.”
Completed this year
The construction of China’s space station is expected to be completed this year. It will then evolve into a national space laboratory with three modules: the core module Tianhe, and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian.
Credit: CCTV/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
According to China Global Television Network (CGTN), Yin Rui, deputy chief commander of the astronaut system at the CMS, said there is more to expect from the second half of the Shenzhou-14 crew’s stay in orbit.
“China’s space station will be ready before this December and the perfect ‘T-shaped’ structure will be in full display 400km above Earth. That image will show the best of the Chinese wisdom and the Chinese people,” Yin said.
China launched Tianhe in April last year, and the first lab module Wentian on July 24 of this year. The second lab module Mengtian is set to be launched in October.
Go to these newly released videos focused on the 2nd spacewalk at:
Credit: CNBC
Next week’s episode of CNBC’s “Jay Leno’s Garage” features SpaceX Elon Musk.
It airs Wednesday, September 21 at 10PM ET/PT on CNBC.
Here are some great – and revealing — clips from the episode that features Elon Musk and Jay Leno.
- Elon Musk Gives Jay a Tour of SpaceX: In this exclusive interview, Leno travels to SpaceX for a tour of Musk’s latest innovation.
Go to:
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/09/15/new-elon-musk-gives-jay-a-tour-of-spacex.html
- Elon Musk Shows Jay His SpaceX Rocket Engines: Musk explains how his rocket engines are manufactured during Jay Leno’s tour of SpaceX.
Go to:
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/09/15/new-elon-musk-shows-jay-his-spacex-rocket-engines.html
- Elon Musk Tells Jay About Sending Humans to Mars: Leno asks Musk about engineering efficiency and the practicality of sending people to Mars.
Go to:
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/09/15/new-elon-musk-tells-jay-about-sending-humans-to-mars.html
Curiosity’s location as of Sol 3592. Distance driven at that Sol: 17.81 miles/28.66 kilometers
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover at Gale Crater is now performing Sol 3595 tasks.
New select imagery from the robot shows landscape features:
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image taken on Sol 3594, September 16, 2022.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image taken on Sol 3594, September 16, 2022.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager photo produced on Sol 3594, September 16, 2022.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Curiosity Right B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 3594, September 16, 2022.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager photo produced on Sol 3594, September 15, 2022.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager photo produced on Sol 3594, September 15, 2022.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Artwork depicts CAPSTONE spacecraft in a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO) around the moon.
Credit: NASA/Advanced Space
That troublesome tumbling of the NASA CAPSTONE Moon mission received some relatively good news on a recovery pathway for the spacecraft.
“The communications situation has dramatically improved, the power state of the spacecraft appears to be sufficient for continuous (duty cycled) heating of the propulsion system which dropped below its operational temperature,” said Advanced Space that’s operating the probe for NASA.
The microwave-sized spacecraft — Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment (CAPSTONE) — continues on its planned path to the Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit around the Moon.
CAPSTONE team members install solar panels onto the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment – at Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems Inc. in Irvine, California.
Credits: NASA/Dominic Hart
Ongoing effort
Teams at the Deep Space Network, NASA, Terran Orbital, and Advanced Space been engaged in a continuous, ongoing effort to straighten out and fly right CAPSTONE over the past 5 days.
Over the last few days, CAPSTONE’s power – though limited by the orientation of the spacecraft in its spin relative to the Sun – appears to be sufficient for heating of the propulsion system. The propellant and propulsion system are in a recoverable state.
“Information on the cause of the anomaly has been obtained and is being evaluated, and recovery plans that mitigate risk of further anomalous behavior are being developed,” said Advanced Space of Westminster, Colorado, the group that developed and operates CAPSTONE.
Jeffrey Parker, chief technology officer of Advanced Space (left) explains the CAPSTONE mission to U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper over a full-size model of the spacecraft.
Credit: Advanced Space/Jason Johnson
“We do not have a timeline for a recovery attempt, but the team is working hard to make progress guided by what we are learning from the data with an explicit goal to minimize further risk to the mission,” an Advanced Space statement explained.
Credit: Space Foundation
The Space Foundation is launching a “Moon Colony Kit” project for classrooms. Students and educators grades 4-8 can participate, with the kit highlighting 50 different Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) careers. A Website offers Spanish translation.
The kit was developed in collaboration with NASA and The White House National Space Council, with principal sponsorship from AstroSapiens Foundation.
Artemis I Rollout: August 16, 2022
Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Drawing upon the upcoming Artemis I mission, Space Foundation is hosting a free, national educator professional development event for thousands of educators with NASA and Space Foundation education specialists. This event is being held on Monday, Sept.19 to discuss the Artemis program and related educational opportunities.
At a live mission briefing during World Space Week 2022 on Friday, Oct. 7, the Moon Colony Kit project will kick off a nationwide student challenge in which top-performing students will have the opportunity to participate in NASA-themed programs at Space Center Houston.
Credit: Space Foundation
Are you eligible?
You are eligible to participate in the Moon Colony Kit initiative IF you are a resident of the continental United States (excluding Puerto Rico, Alaska, or Hawaii), you teach 4th – 8th grade and agree to the following:
Participate in a live (or view a recorded) 90-minute Teacher Professional Development Workshop on September 19, 2022
Participate in a live (or view a recorded) 30-minute Student Mission Briefing on October 7, 2022
Implement the Moon Colony Kit collaborative game content with your students
To learn more about the Moon Colony Kit and to register, visit:
https://www.discoverspace.org/education/resources-for-educators/moon-colony-kit/
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has been closely monitoring the Long March 7A (CZ-7A) rocket launched on September 13, 2022 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center, Hainan Island.
PhilSA was able to verify the estimated drop zones of rocket debris from the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
In a PhilSA posting, two drop zones within Philippine territory have been identified based on the NOTAM: Drop zone 1 is approximately 71 kilometers from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, while drop zone 2 is approximately 52 kilometers away from Sta. Ana, Cagayan.
PhilSA submitted this information as well as other actionable details in a report issued to all relevant government agencies before the launch.
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Falling debris threat
“While debris from CZ-7A is unlikely to fall on land features or inhabited areas in the Philippine territory,” PhilSA said, “falling debris still poses a considerable threat to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zones.”
Last July, the core stage debris of the Long March 5B rocket landed on Philippine waters in an uncontrolled reentry.
“In the case of Long March 7A, the possibility of a similar uncontrolled reentry of the rocket’s upper stages cannot be ruled out at this time,” the PhilSA statement added.
“PhilSA wishes to reiterate its earlier advice to the public to immediately inform local authorities if suspected floating debris is sighted at sea. PhilSA also cautions everyone against retrieving or coming in close contact with these materials,” the statement concludes.
The Long March-7A booster launched the ZhongXing-1E satellite from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, a telecommunications satellite designed to “provide users with high-quality voice, data, radio, and television transmission services.”
Quite disruptive
While the Long March 7A uses kerosene and liquid oxygen in its first two stages. “that said, dropping rocket stages into another country’s 200 nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), while likely not illegal, could be quite disruptive…as the Philippines have pointed out,” said Michael Byers, co-director, of the Outer Space Institute at the University of British Columbia in Canada told Inside Outer Space.
Byers was lead author of a recent study published in Nature Astronomy that looked at three decades of data to approximate the chance of human casualties from uncontrolled rocket reentries.
To view a video of the launch, go to:
