TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Aug 25, 2023
A Season of Saturn
Ringed planet Saturn will be at its 2023 opposition, opposite the Sun in Earth's skies, on August 27. While that puts the sixth planet from the Sun at its brightest and well-placed for viewing, its beautiful ring system isn't visible to the unaided eye. Still, this sequence of telescopic images taken a year apart over the last six years follows both Saturn and rings as seen from inner planet Earth. The gas giant's ring plane tilts from most open in 2018 to approaching edge-on in 2023 (top to bottom). That's summer to nearly the autumn equinox for Saturn's northern hemisphere. In the sharp planetary portraits, Saturn's northern hexagon and a large storm system are clearly visible in 2018. In 2023, ice moon Tethys is transiting, casting its shadow across southern hemisphere cloud bands, while Saturn's cold blue south pole is emerging from almost a decade of winter darkness.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
NASA Experience Enables Advance of Small Business’s Humanoid Robot
Aug 23, 2023
NASA’s experience in developing humanoid robots designed to work together with astronauts is playing a crucial role in the advancement of the robotics industry. In part thanks to this expertise, one of the agency’s small business partners recently unveiled a humanoid robot for Earth-based applications.
Apptronik, Inc. of Austin, Texas, has worked with NASA via SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) contracts to collaborate on the development of its robot, named Apollo, which aims to improve the human experience through a wide range of service abilities.
While Apollo is designed for use on Earth in logistics, manufacturing, home delivery and patient care, NASA is interested in potentially adapting the robots for use in space to serve as assistants for astronauts living and working on the surface of the Moon and Mars, and to act as remote “avatars” for human operators on Earth.
The NASA collaboration with Apptronik focused on the modularity of the robot, which allows it to be reconfigured to perform different functions. It can be equipped with different levels of dexterity, autonomy, and the ability to utilize tools depending on which tasks it needs to perform. NASA also contributed expertise on how to develop mobility and software features that provide safe robotic operation when working alongside humans.
“By applying NASA’s expertise in human-safe mobile robots to commercial projects, together we are able to spur innovation in this important field,” says Shaun Azimi, lead of the dexterous robotics team at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “We are proud to see our efforts result in robotics technology that will benefit the American economy and assist humans in working safely and productively here on Earth and potentially in space exploration as well.”
General purpose robots of many forms, including humanoids, could be used on the lunar and Martian surface to offload mundane and dangerous tasks from astronauts, enabling humans to focus on science and exploration. Robots could also assist with the maintenance of resource utilization plants that would allow astronauts to live off resources found on the surface.
While the agency’s current humanoid robot platform, Valkyrie, could help humans in these situations, another option for the agency could be to adapt commercial general purpose robots for space applications, as is the approach taken by the CoSTAR (Collaborative SubTerranean Autonomos Robots) project, managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. CoSTAR is iterating on a commercial robot to develop one that could autonomously explore caves, pits, tunnels, and other subsurface terrain on the Moon and Mars. NASA plans to collaborate in a similar fashion using robots from many industry partners, including companies like Apptronik.
Using robots to enhance Artemis missions could help humanity build a long-term presence on the lunar surface and one day on other planets like Mars. Through domestic and international commercial partnerships, NASA is creating the next generation of human-scale robotic capabilities.
The NASA SBIR program is part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate and is managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. NASA’s Valkyrie robot is managed by NASA’s Johnson Space Center Engineering Directorate in Houston, Texas.
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-experience-enables-advance-of-small-business-s-humanoid-robot
CSO visits Texas Air National Guardsmen
Aug 23, 2023
ELLINGTON FIELD, Texas – U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman visited the 147th Attack Wing in Houston, Texas, August 18, 2023. Saltzman’s visit highlighted the importance of seamless integration and collaboration in the air and space domains.
While at Ellington Field, Saltzman observed the wing’s primary mission and met with Airmen responsible for the operations and support of the MQ-9 Reaper.
The advanced capabilities of the MQ-9, which plays a pivotal role in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat support, highlight the complimentary nature between Air Force operations and Space Force assets. These assets, including communication satellites and the GPS constellation, are critical in ensuring the success of the 147th Attack Wing’s MQ-9 mission.
“If we don’t have space, we don’t have a mission,” said Col. Travis Walters, 147th Attack Wing Commander. “Without the communications and GPS satellites that U.S. Space Force Guardians provide, we could not do what we do here on a daily basis 24/7 to support the combatant commands.”
Walters also emphasized the significance of the collaboration between the 147th Attack Wing and civilian partners. He highlighted the fact that, as in many Guard and Reserve units, members have long tenured ties to the community and local businesses. “We have Airmen that fix and fly airplanes on drill weekends bringing with them the culture and expertise that resides in the community,” said Walters.
During the visit, Saltzman had the opportunity to meet with elected officials, including Rep. Brian Babin, Texas 36th Congressional District, key leaders from the Texas Military Department, including Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, Texas Adjutant General, and civilian sector partners from the Houston space ecosystem.
“Not everybody understands how space directly supports their mission,” said Saltzman. “Clearly this is a wing that understands how space helps, contributes, and enables the mission that you do for the joint force.”
Saltzman’s visit to the 147th Attack Wing symbolizes the evolving nature of military operations in the 21st century. The Joint Force is embracing the interconnected nature of space, cyber, and more traditional military capabilities to meet challenges presented by today’s dynamic national security environment.
The 147th Attack Wing’s integration and understanding of space’s role in enabling Air Force capabilities exemplifies the future of holistic defense strategies where collaboration and technological prowess combine to successfully achieve military objectives.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3502911/cso-visits-texas-air-national-guardsmen/
USSF Awards University Consortium Research Opportunity 2.0
Aug. 22, 2023
The United States Space Force selected two institutions under the University Consortium Research Opportunity 2.0/Space Strategic Technology Institute 1 to facilitate applied research in the areas of Beyond Geostationary Earth Orbit Operations and Space Domain Awareness.
In partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory and Universities Space Research Association, USSF has selected the following lead institutions to receive a combined total of $6.4 million dollars:
The Regents of University of Colorado Boulder
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
This opportunity focuses on addressing challenges related to space object tracking beyond geostationary orbit as well as advancing capabilities that can be integrated into current and future USSF space systems. Focus areas for the selected proposals include astrodynamics trajectory design and optimization, sensing, decision making and simulations, and workforce development.
About University Consortium Research Opportunities (UCRO)
UCRO is a Space Force managed program that encourages joint applied research, development, and demonstration of key space science and technology challenges by funding a network of partnered universities. The selected teams are required to be comprised of at least three research institution including a lead university, and are encouraged to partner with other universities,
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3500890/ussf-awards-university-consortium-research-opportunity-20/
India's Chandrayaan-3 moon rover Pragyan rolls onto the lunar surface for 1st time
Aug 24, 2023
India has nailed another milestone in its smashing Chandrayaan-3 moon mission. Less than a day after the historic touchdown, its Pragyan rover rolled out of the lander and onto the lunar surface.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced the successful deployment of Pragyan, a sanskrit word for wisdom, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"The Ch-3 Rover ramped down from the Lander and India took a walk on the moon!" ISRO said in the post at about 11:00 pm EDT, Wednesday, Aug. 23 (0300 GMT on Thursday, Aug. 24).
In a subsequent post, the organization confirmed that "all activities are on schedule" and "all systems are normal."
The solar-powered Pragyan descended onto the moon's surface on Wednesday aboard the Chandrayaan-3's Vikram (sanskrit for valor) lander in what was India's first successful moon landing and the world's first landing near the lunar south pole.
Pragyan will now spend two weeks exploring the vicinity of the landing site, studying the chemical composition of moon dust and gravel. The moon's south pole has become a focus of attention for the global moon science and exploration community in recent years because this region is believed to hold substantial quantities of water ice in the rocks of its permanently shadowed polar craters. Scientists think this water could be extracted and used by future human crews, which would bring down the cost of moon exploration as water wouldn't have to be brought from Earth. This water could also be split into hydrogen and oxygen and used to make fuel for rockets that might be launching from the moon in the future.
Astronomers are also eyeing those shaded and thermally stable craters as a possible location for next-generation telescopes that would allow them to peer deeper into the universe than is currently possible.
The solar-powered Pragyan and its companion Vikram are not expected to last beyond the next lunar night, a frigid two-week period without sunshine.
Chandrayaan-3 touched down on the lunar surface on Wednesday at 8:33 am ET (1233 GMT or 6:03 p.m. India Standard Time). About four hours later, ISRO shared a set of four images captured by the lander's cameras during descent and one image taken after touchdown, revealing a pockmarked lunar surface and the lander's own shadow.
Chandrayaan-3 was India's second try at landing near the moon's south pole. The mission's predecessor, Chandrayaan-2, crashed into the moon in September 2019 due to a software glitch. India celebrated the triumphant landing only three days after Russia failed to land its Luna-25 mission in the same area following a botched orbital maneuver. Russia's first try to land on the moon in 47 years, Luna-25 was the former space super power's attempt to restore respect for its struggling space sector amid the war in Ukraine, which has made it an international pariah.
https://www.space.com/chandrayaan-3-rover-first-steps-on-moon
https://twitter.com/isro/status/1694945669721776263
UFO Activity Linked to US Nuclear Installations, Study Finds
Aug 25, 2023
The UFO subject has become so popular in recent years that it is hard to believe that half-a-decade ago, it was considered hogwash and conspiracy nonsense. The more we look into the subject of UFOs, the more we are educated and left surprised.
Recent investigations conducted by the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) suggest a notable correlation between US nuclear warfare facilities and unidentified flying object (UFO) occurrences, particularly during the peak years of the Cold War.
Understanding UFO Intentions
For almost 80 years, one puzzling question about UFOs has persisted: Do their actions suggest a deliberate strategy? A recent SCU study was aimed at illuminating this very enigma, exploring the interaction between UFO sightings and America’s crucial atomic warfare infrastructure.
Drawing from historical academic research and official government records, the study centered on incidents reported from 1945 to 1975. Remarkably, the SCU’s earlier research, labeled the “UAP Pattern Recognition Study: 1945-1975 US Military Atomic Warfare Complex”, unearthed a surge in UFO sightings at locations where nuclear advancements were in progress. Such a trend was notably absent in prior governmental or academic evaluations.
UFO Sightings: A Closer Look
These UFO activities predominantly took place at American missile development arenas, testing sites, during the pioneering deployment of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), and Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) warheads.
On the flip side, traditional military bases that lacked atomic arsenals showed no such increased UFO incidents during the examined timeframe. Moreover, the initial flurry of reports at nuclear weapon repositories and production facilities waned over the years.
Interestingly, there was no discernible trend in UFOs engaging with military aircraft. Instead, unusual activity spiked as new missile delivery systems emerged, particularly during the creation of international ballistic missile structures and as missiles were equipped with multiple nuclear warheads.
Conclusions Drawn
After an exhaustive evaluation, the SCU deduced that these UFO sightings likely represent a calculated examination of the US nuclear weapon system and its combat potential.
In their recent statement, the SCU elaborated, “The methodology adopted for this analysis mirrors techniques employed by the national intelligence sector for threat assessments. This approach aids in evaluating reports of events that are sporadic and difficult to replicate.”
https://curiosmos.com/ufo-activity-linked-to-us-nuclear-installations-study-finds/
https://curiosmos.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/UAP-Indications-Analysis-1945-1975-United-States-Atomic-Warfare-Complex.pdf
Something weird
Viral UFO Video Breaks The Internet But Here's the Hidden Reality
After looking at the viral video more closely, some people claim to have spotted the word "TRUFF" written on the object. In the video, you can see that the object is shaped like a typical flying saucer, which is what we often think of when we imagine a UFO.
This made a lot of people online react in a funny and amused way. The word "TRUFF" is actually connected to a type of spicy sauce brand. This sauce is famous for its unique and memorable ways of promoting itself.
This connection made some individuals think that the video was actually a way of advertising TRUFF sauce.
https://in.mashable.com/science/58986/viral-ufo-video-breaks-the-internet-but-heres-the-hidden-reality