2 if by silver certificate
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Jan 22, 2024
Shadows of Mountain and Moon
Can the Moon and a mountain really cast similar shadows? Yes, but the division between light and dark does not have to be aligned. Pictured, a quarter moon was captured above the mountain Grivola in Italy in early October of 2022. The Sun is to the right of the featured picturesque landscape, illuminating the right side of the Moon in a similar way that it illuminates the right side of the mountain. This lunar phase is called "quarter" because the lit fraction visible from Earth is one quarter of the entire lunar surface. Digital post-processing of this single exposure gave both gigantic objects more prominence. Capturing the terminator of this quarter moon in close alignment with nearly vertical mountain ridge required careful timing because the Earth rotates once a day.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
NASA restores contact with Mars helicopter Ingenuity after communications dropout on latest flight
Jan 22, 2024
I held my breath for a moment on Jan. 18, when scientists announced they'd lost contact with the Perseverance Mars rover's helicopter friend, Ingenuity.
Ingenuity had been nearing completion of its 72nd flight — a liftoff far past the threshold of "borrowed time" in this case, as the mighty craft was originally built for a mere maximum of five flights. The fate of Ingenuity was pretty uncertain for a short while.
However, I'm pleased to report that Ingenuity has officially regained communication with ground control and continues to surpass the limitations scientists once thought it'd need to live by. According to a Jan. 20 NASA post on X (formerly Twitter), Perseverance had conducted long-duration listening sessions to help pinpoint Ingenuity's signal. "The team is reviewing the new data to better understand the unexpected comms dropout during Flight 72," the post says.
Ingenuity launched to the Martian surface alongside the Perseverance rover on July 30, 2020. It landed on its target less than a year later, and soon began its mission of flying above the Red Planet to foremost gather information about whether it's possible to control an airborne vehicle on a world with a gravitational pull and atmosphere different from those of Earth.
Thanks to Ingenuity's success, scientists concluded that such a feat is indeed possible. But after five planned flights surrounding this particular mission, it became clear that Ingenuity had much more juice left within. It kept flying… and flying… and flying until, as we see, it finished its stunning 72nd flight. It has since greatly expanded its purpose too, taking cool and crucial images of the Martian area Perseverance is tasked with exploring. It's a region called the Jezero crater, and it's thought to have once been flooded with water.
This small helicopter communicates with NASA ground control via the Deep Space Network, which is the classic line on which tons of space missions talk to scientists on Earth.
Everything seemed fine during the probe's 72nd hop on Mars' red surface, as it successfully climbed to an expected maximum altitude of 40 feet (12 meters) and communicated its ascension status with Perseverance, NASA explained. But, during descent, "communications between the helicopter and rover terminated early, prior to touchdown," the agency had said in a statement.
Nonetheless, the glitch is all in the past, so I (and I'm sure many others across the world) can stop holding my breath. Hopefully, we'll be getting some answers as to why the situation arose in the first place, but meanwhile, Ingenuity continues to prove resilient.
https://www.space.com/ingenuity-mars-helicopter-nasa-communications-regained-perserverance
Archer Aviation & NASA: Pioneering eVTOL Tech through Space Act Agreement
01/22/2024
In a groundbreaking move, Archer Aviation Inc., a frontrunner in electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, has inked a Space Act Agreement with NASA. This historic collaboration marks a significant stride in the evolution of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and space exploration technologies.
The partnership kicks off with a project focusing on high-performance battery cells, pivotal for both AAM and space applications. This venture not only showcases Archer Aviation’s commitment to innovation but also underscores NASA’s ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of aerospace technology.
While the electric vehicle supply chain is maturing in the U.S., electric aircraft technology is still in its infancy. This partnership aims to accelerate progress in this domain, not just in the U.S. but globally. The joint venture will test Archer’s battery cell and system designs, sharing insights to propel the entire AAM industry forward.
Archer’s plan to deliver a high-performance battery pack for its Midnight electric air taxi is a testament to its commitment to safety and innovation. These batteries, tailored for aerospace applications, are pivotal for the mass production and adoption of electric aviation, including eVTOL and electric conventional take off and landing (eCTOL) aircraft.
Adam Goldstein, Archer’s Founder and CEO, emphasizes the importance of this partnership in maintaining U.S. leadership in aerospace. In an era where global competition is intensifying, collaborations like this are crucial for the U.S. to remain at the forefront of aerospace innovation.
The collaboration will delve into extensive testing of the safety, energy, and power performance of the battery cells. Utilizing the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), one of the world’s most advanced high-speed X-ray facilities, the tests aim to understand the cells’ behavior under extreme conditions.
Archer and NASA’s joint efforts promise substantial benefits, transforming urban and rural mobility. AAM will redefine commuting, enhance cargo and logistics, and open new pathways for manufacturing jobs and socio-economic opportunities. Central to this revolution is the design, development, and mass production of batteries and electric motors explicitly crafted for electric aircraft.
https://stupiddope.com/2024/01/archer-aviation-nasa-pioneering-evtol-tech-through-space-act-agreement/
David Lee Roth Thinks Sammy Hagar Was 'Sex Probed' by Aliens
Jan 18, 2024
David Lee Roth thinks he knows why Sammy Hagar keeps talking about him.
In a video posted to YouTube titled “The Ballad of Popsicle Sam,” Van Halen’s original frontman concluded that the Red Rocker must have been “sex probed” by aliens.
“According to Sam, he was abducted by aliens,” Roth explained, referring to Hagar’s belief that he had an alien encounter as a teenager.
“I know that when you're abducted by aliens you get sex probed,” Roth insisted. “I am compelled to solicit this sordid subject in an effort to explain Sam Hagar’s conduct. For the last 10 summers I haven't said a single syllable about him. Not one. I defy you. And in the face of a constant fart gas aimed in our direction here at the Mojo Dojo Diamond Dave Laboratories. And I think we've arrived at both the technical and the medical answer that may explain some of Sammy Hagar's conduct and his constant spew of diarrhea vitriol in our direction. Sammy Hagar was abducted by aliens and he was sex probed.”
Roth went on to ponder how an alien might examine a human, ultimately admitting he had “no idea” of the means or apparatus that would be used.
“But what I do know with absolute accuracy is that if you take a half of a popsicle and you jam it into a cassette tape player, no matter how carefully you extract it, that tape player will never play the same again," Roth concluded. "No matter how carefully you try and fix those delicate little parts. And it'll get worse and it'll seem like the singer that you used to [be] will stop making sense whatsoever. A lot like Sam.”
Roth’s wild alien theory is just the latest chapter in the ongoing war of words between the former Van Halen singers. In November, following the announcement of his Van Halen-focused tour, Hagar haphazardly invited Roth to join. "If David Lee Roth wants to come out and join us, come on, motherfucker. You are welcome," the Red Rocker declared. Days later, Roth issued a response: "I'm ready to go. Let's do this."
Despite what seemed like a possible agreement, Hagar soon clarified that his invitation was for Roth to "sing a song on a show or two… if he can remember the words." He added there was "no fucking way" he'd agree to a full tour with Roth.
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/david-lee-roth-sammy-hagar-probed-aliens/