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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Oct 4, 2023
IC 2118: The Witch Head Nebula
Does this nebula look like the head of a witch? The nebula is known popularly as the Witch Head Nebula because, it is said, the nebula's shape resembles a Halloween-style caricature of a witch's head. Exactly how, though, can be a topic of imaginative speculation. What is clear is that IC 2118 is about 50 light-years across and made of gas and dust that points to because it has been partly eroded by the nearby star Rigel. One of the brighter stars in the constellation Orion, Rigel lies below the bottom of the featured image. The blue color of the Witch Head Nebula and is caused not only by Rigel's intense blue starlight but because the dust grains scatter blue light more efficiently than red. The same physical process causes Earth's daytime sky to appear blue, although the scatterers in planet Earth's atmosphere are molecules of nitrogen and oxygen.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
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AMCM Developing New 8-Laser M 8K Metal 3D Printer For Space Rocket Production
Oct 3, 2023
AMCM, a Germany-based partner company of 3D printer manufacturer EOS, has announced the development of its newest metal Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) 3D printer, the AMCM M 8K.
Building on the company’s existing AMCM M 4K system, AMCM’s new 3D printer will incorporate 8 1kW lasers and a substantial build volume of 800 x 800 x 1200 mm.
The development of the M 8K is being aided by a national grant to support aerospace firm ArianeGroup’s Ariane 6 program. This project is being conducted on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).
The first application of the M 8K will be to manufacture combustion chambers used in ArianeGroup’s Prometheus rocket engine. 3D printed in CuCr1Zr, these components measure over 1,000 mm in height and possess a maximum diameter of 800 mm.
According to Martin Bullemer, Managing Director at AMCM, the new M 8K System will be operational within a year. The first 3D printed combustion chambers are set to be delivered to ArianeGroup by the end of 2024.
“We needed to find a partner who was willing to work with us to push the boundaries of what’s possible. This is literally AMCM’s DNA, who have already built an excellent reputation having multiple M 4K systems in this industry,” commented Jan Alting, Head of Future Propulsion of ArianeGroup.
“ArianeGroup projects must meet ESA’s strict requirements to be approved for launch. As a result, we place the greatest value on part quality, e.g., material microstructure and surface roughness,” explained Alting. “We are confident that we will be able to solve this challenge in a short period of time and help the company enter new markets. Promoting cutting-edge technological innovation is an integral part of our mission.”
“The excellent laser, scanner and optics design with our tried-and-tested beam sources is based on decades of process expertise from EOS,” added Bullemer.
According to Bullemer, AMCM faced a range of size-related challenges when designing the M 8K. “The build volume is 4 times that of the M 4K, which also means mass. Therefore, the z-axis of the system must be able to move up to 5 tons of powder with the highest precision,” explained Bullemer.
Bullemer also highlighted the importance of material supply when it comes to the new 3D printer. “For printing up to 1.2 m tall parts with high productivity and quality, powder management is key. Reliably feeding tons of metal powder over several days is no walk in the park. You do not want to interrupt the process in any case.”
AMCM has also announced that it will integrate EOS’s SmartFusion and EOSTATE Exposure OT (optical tomography) systems into the M 8K.
According to AMCM, this integration will improve in-process quality assurance and process monitoring, reducing subsequent testing efforts. Indeed, the company claims that process control and validation are both particularly important, given the M 8K’s longer 3D print runs and larger part capabilities.
Leveraging additive manufacturing to produce key components for space rocket engines is nothing new. Last month, it was announced that aerospace propulsion system developer Agile Space Industries is pursuing certification of Ni625 powder from industrial 3D printing materials manufacturer 6K Additive.
Agile is aiming to use this material for 3D printed space rocket components, including the company’s A2200 bipropellant hypergolic engine. These engines will be used on a lunar lander for a mission to the moon.
Similarly, Edinburgh-based private rocket manufacturer Skyrora recently began full-duration testing to qualify the updated design of its 3D printed 70kN rocket engine. Manufactured using the company’s Skyprint 2 3D printers, the new engine design features an improved cooling chamber to optimize cooling efficiency and extend the engines’ life cycle.
Elsewhere, Italian 3D printing service bureau BEAMIT SpA announced that it is providing 3D printed aerospace parts for the Cygnus program. 3D printed out of NASA-qualified AlSi7Mg aluminum using PBF-LB, the parts are NADCAP certified.
The Cygnus program is aimed at resupplying the International Space Station (ISS) and advancing space exploration using Cygnus spacecraft manufactured by Northrop Grumman.
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/amcm-developing-new-8-laser-m-8k-metal-3d-printer-for-space-rocket-production-224990/
U.S. Space Force awards Booz Allen $630 million contract for satellite systems support
October 4, 2023
Booz Allen Hamilton won a seven-year $630 million contract from the U.S. Space Force for systems engineering and integration of satellite systems used for missile warning, environmental monitoring and surveillance, the company announced Oct. 4.
Based in McLean, Virginia, Booz Allen is a large consulting firm that provides management and technology services. The Space Force contract is for support services of satellite programs run by the Space Systems Command’s space sensing program office, including the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) and legacy constellations.
The company originally won the Space Sensing Systems Engineering and Integration contract in 2022 but the award was put on hold due to protests.
Booz Allen will be responsible for the integration of different elements of major space sensing programs, such as the satellites and ground stations used for missile warning and missile tracking, environmental monitoring and other data collection from space, Eric Hoffman, vice president and leader of Booz Allen’s space business, told SpaceNews.
The role of the systems integrator is significant in a program like Next-Generation OPIR where there are different contractors working on the satellites and the ground systems, he said.
“The government has to essentially act as the integrator and make sure all these things come together and ultimately deliver warfighter capability,” Hoffman added. “Our role is to help make that happen, make sure that digital engineering environments are set up and can talk to each other, and the ground systems are synchronized.”
Another task under this contract is to support the users of the infrared imagery and other data collected by satellites. “There’s so much more that can be done with the data that comes off of the various platforms,” Hoffman said. Booz Allen will apply artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to help operators analyze data, he said.
Contract under protest for 16 months
The Space Sensing SE&I contract was previously held by SAIC. The Space Force recompeted it and selected Booz Allen in January 2022. Shortly after, the award was protested by SAIC and Mantech International.
After the bid protests were settled, the Space Force was cleared to move forward with the contract award to Booz Allen in June 2023.
https://spacenews.com/u-s-space-force-awards-booz-allen-630-million-contract-for-satellite-systems-support/
Axiom Space, Prada Join Forces on Tech, Design for NASA’s Next-Gen Lunar Spacesuits
Oct. 4, 2023
In the first groundbreaking partnership between an Italian luxury fashion house and a commercial space company, Axiom Space, industry leader and architect of the world’s first commercial space station, announces a collaboration with Prada on NASA's lunar spacesuits for the Artemis III mission.
As the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in December 1972, this Artemis mission, planned for 2025, will also be the first to place a woman on the Moon.
"We are thrilled to partner with Prada on the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit," said Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space. "Prada's technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will bring advanced technologies instrumental in ensuring not only the comfort of astronauts on the lunar surface, but also the much-needed human factors considerations absent from legacy spacesuits."
Prada’s engineers will work alongside the Axiom Space systems team throughout the design process, developing solutions for materials and design features to protect against the unique challenge of space and the lunar environment.
“The constantly forward-thinking ethos of Prada for humanity has broadened to his desire of adventure and to brave new horizons: space,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Marketing Director. “We are honored to be a part of this historic mission with Axiom Space. Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology and design know-how – which started back in the ‘90s with Luna Rossa challenging for the America’s cup – will now be applied to the design of a spacesuit for the Artemis era. It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation to advance civilization.”
The AxEMU spacesuit will provide astronauts with advanced capabilities for space exploration, while offering NASA commercially developed human systems needed to access, live and work on and around the Moon. Evolving NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) spacesuit design, the Axiom Space spacesuits are created to provide increased flexibility, greater protection to withstand the harsh environment, and specialized tools for exploration and scientific opportunities. Using innovative technologies and design, these spacesuits will enable greater exploration of the lunar surface than ever before.
The development of these next-generation spacesuits is a significant milestone in furthering space exploration, and enabling a deeper understanding of the Moon, the solar system, and beyond.
https://www.axiomspace.com/news/prada-axiom-suit
Comtech wins $48 million U.S. Army contract for satellite modems
October 4, 2023
The U.S. Army awarded Comtech Telecommunications a $48.6 million contract to develop a satellite modem that can connect to multiple networks, the company announced Oct. 3.
Comtech, based in Melville, New York, is a provider of satellite and terrestrial communications equipment and services.
The company will design what the Army calls an EDIM modem, short for Enterprise Digital Intermediate Frequency Multi-Carrier.
Satellite communications modems are devices used to transmit and receive signals to and from a satellite. The EDIM modems are required to support multiple satellite providers, a key feature sought by the U.S. military so it can access services that operate in different orbits and frequencies.
The new equipment will replace existing EBEM modems (Enhanced Bandwidth Efficient Modem) at U.S. military installations that Viasat has supplied since 2014.
The EDIM modems enable “digitized, hybrid satellite network architectures,” said Ken Peterman, president and CEO of Comtech. Military network users will be able to roam across different carriers so they can have a more resilient communications infrastructure, he said.
The satellite terminals equipped with EDIM modems also can be integrated with terrestrial communications systems, said Peterman.
The modem will be designed to support satcom systems across the Army and the other military services, he said. “Government and commercial customers are increasingly demanding flexible ground architecture that supports a variety of orbits, constellations, and waveforms.”
Quantities, schedule TBD
The Army organization that oversees this project is the Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS).
It has yet to be determined how many units Comtech will produce and when the new equipment will be introduced, said Peterman.
“The fielding quantities, delivery schedules, and contract vehicles for EDIM modems will be determined by the Army and other services,” he said. “There are tens of thousands of EBEM modems fielded today that we expect to see replaced.”
“EDIM is contemplated as a largely drop-in replacement for existing modems installed in fixed sites, including U.S. Army regional hub nodes and Defense Information Systems Agency facilities,” Peterman said.
Each organization that currently uses EBEM models will decide on the timing of the upgrade to the new modem at fixed sites over the coming years, he said.
The Army also has plans to replace aging EBEM modems used in tactical systems for forward-deployed satcom infrastructure, said Peterman. ‘We anticipate they will lean heavily on similar capabilities to those being developed under the EDIM contract.”
https://spacenews.com/comtech-wins-48-million-u-s-army-contract-for-satellite-modems/