NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

Mar 1, 2024

Odysseus and The Dish

Murriyang, the CSIRO’s Parkes Radio Telescope, points toward a nearly Full Moon in this image from New South Wales, Australia, planet Earth. Bathed in moonlight, the 64 meter dish is receiving weak radio signals from Odysseus, following the robotic lander's February 22 touch down some 300 kilometers north of the Moon's south pole. The landing of Odysseus represents the first U.S. landing on the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Odysseus' tilted orientation on the lunar surface prevents its high-gain antenna from pointing toward Earth. But the sensitivity of the large, steerable Parkes dish significantly improved the reception of data from the experiments delivered to the lunar surface by the robotic moon lander. Of course the Parkes Radio Telescope dish became famous for its superior lunar television reception during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, allowing denizens of planet Earth to watch the first moonwalk.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?

NASA Selects ACMI as Second Approved Exploration Park Facility

FEB 29, 2024

NASA and the American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) signed an agreement Thursday, Feb. 29 to lease underutilized land in a 240-acre Exploration Park at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. ACMI will enable the development of facilities to enable commercial and defense space manufacturing.

The agreement is the second such public/private lease agreement to allow industry and academia to use NASA Johnson land to create facilities for a collaborative development environment that increases commercial access and enhances the United States’ commercial competitiveness in the space and aerospace industries. NASA signed a similar lease with the Texas A&M University System earlier this month.

Calling it the Space Systems Campus, ACMI plans to incorporate an applied research facility partnered with multiple stakeholders across academia, state and local government, the Department of Defense and regional economic development organizations.

“For more than 60 years, NASA Johnson has been the hub of human space exploration,” said NASA Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche. “This Space Systems Campus will be a significant component within our objectives for a robust and durable space economy that will benefit not only the nation’s efforts to explore the Moon, Mars and the asteroids, but all of humanity as the benefits of space exploration research roll home to Earth.”

As the home of Mission Control Center for the agency’s human space missions, astronaut training, robotics, human health and space medicine, NASA Johnson leads the way for the human exploration. Leveraging this unique role and location, Exploration Park will play a key role in helping the human spaceflight community attain U.S. goals for the commercialization and development of a robust space economy by creating an infrastructure that fosters a multi-use environment where academic researchers, aerospace companies and entrepreneurs can collaborate with NASA. Exploration Park will create an infrastructure that allows for a multi-use space hardware development environment, where academic researchers, aerospace companies and entrepreneurs can collaborate on space exploration’s greatest challenges.

“ACMI Properties will develop this Campus to serve the needs of our future tenants, aerospace industry, the Department of Defense and other significant stakeholders that comprise our ecosystem approach,” said Simon Shewmaker, head of development for ACMI Properties. “Our aim is to support human spaceflight missions for the next 40 years and beyond.”

NASA issued an announcement for proposals for use of the undeveloped and underutilized land near Saturn Lane on June 9, 2023, and has just completed negotiations with ACMI to formalize the lease agreement. The parcel is outside of Johnson’s controlled access area and adjacent to its main campus. NASA will lease the land for 20 years with two 20-year extension options, for a potential of up to 60 years.

In the coming years, NASA and its academic, commercial, and international partners will see the completion of the International Space Station Program, the commercial development of low Earth orbit, and the first human Artemis campaign missions establishing sustainable human presence on the Moon in preparation for human missions to Mars.

Johnson already is leading the commercialization of space with the commercial cargo and crew programs and private astronaut missions to the space station. The center also is supporting the development of commercial space stations in low Earth orbit, and lunar-capable commercial spacesuits and lunar landers that will be provided as services to both NASA and the private sector to accelerate human access to space. Through the development of Exploration Park, the center will broaden the scope of the human spaceflight community that is tackling the many difficult challenges ahead.

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-selects-acmi-as-second-approved-exploration-park-facility/

Hubble Uncovers a Celestial Fossil

MAR 01, 2024

This densely populated group of stars is the globular cluster NGC 1841, which is part of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a satellite galaxy of our Milky Way galaxy that lies about 162,000 light-years away. Satellite galaxies are bound by gravity in orbits around a more massive host galaxy. We typically think of the Andromeda Galaxy as our galaxy’s nearest galactic companion, but it is more accurate to say that Andromeda is the nearest galaxy that is not in orbit around the Milky Way galaxy. In fact, dozens of satellite galaxies orbit our galaxy and they are far closer than Andromeda. The largest and brightest of these is the LMC, which is easily visible to the unaided eye from the southern hemisphere under dark sky conditions away from light pollution.

The LMC is home to many globular clusters. These celestial bodies fall somewhere between open clusters – which are much less dense and tightly bound – and small, compact galaxies. Increasingly sophisticated observations reveal the stellar populations and characteristics of globular clusters are varied and complex, and we have yet to fully understand how these tightly packed groups of stars form. However, there are certain consistencies across all globular clusters: they are very stable and hold their shape for a long time, which means they are generally very old and contain large numbers of very old stars. Globular clusters are akin to celestial ‘fossils.’ Just as fossils provide insight into the early development of life on Earth, globular clusters such as NGC 1841 can provide insights into very early star formation in galaxies.

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-uncovers-a-celestial-fossil/

Satellite snaps eerily circular holes in the clouds above Florida. What caused them?

Feb 29, 2024

A cluster of eerily circular holes recently appeared in the clouds above Florida, a stunning new NASA image shows. The rare occurrence, which has previously (and incorrectly) been linked to UFOs, has a surprisingly simple explanation — but it took scientists more than 60 years to figure it out.

NASA's Terra satellite photographed the bizarre voids, known as fallstreak holes or hole-punch clouds, above the Gulf of Mexico off Florida's west coast on Jan. 30. NASA's Earth Observatory revealed the striking image on Feb. 26.

Unusual, circular holes like these ones first began to appear in the 1940s, sparking wild theories that they were the result of UFOs, according to the Earth Observatory. However, they are actually created by airplanes flying through the clouds.

There are two types of clouds in the new photos: cavum clouds, which are large, circular holes; and canal clouds, which have a more oblong shape. Both types most commonly occur in altocumulus clouds — supercooled bands of water vapor that float in the sky between 7,000 and 18,000 feet (2,100 and 5,500 meters) above the surface, much higher than most rain clouds.

Altocumulus clouds can be as cold as around 5 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 15 degrees Celsius) without their water droplets freezing. This is because there are fewer small particles, such as dust and pollen, at that altitude, which are needed for ice crystals to form in the air.

However, when air moves around the wings or past the propellers of airplanes, it can further cool the surrounding water vapor by as much as 36 F (20 C). At these extremely low temperatures, the droplets freeze even without particles to form around and begin to fall below the holes, creating wispy strands of cloud, known as virga.

These wispy clouds often hang below the holes they fell from and can be seen at the heart of the misty voids when viewed from above.

The holes in the new image were all created by planes taking off from Miami International Airport, according to the Earth Observatory.

Cavum and canal clouds can also form naturally when specific regions of the atmosphere cool down, but this is rare.

Scientists only discovered what was causing the more frequent artificially created holes within the last 15 years. In a 2011 study, researchers used satellite images and flight data to prove that planes were responsible.

The study also showed that the angle at which planes rise and descend through the clouds affects which type of hole will appear: A steep angle will create the more circular cavum clouds, while a more shallow angle will create stretched canal clouds.

Cavum and canal clouds normally last around one hour before they close up, but their lifespan can be impacted by other factors such as temperature, cloud density and wind speeds, the study found.

The holes pose no threat to people on the ground but they can slightly increase the amount of precipitation that occurs in the areas surrounding airports, the study showed.

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/weather/satellite-snaps-eerily-circular-holes-in-the-clouds-above-florida-what-caused-them

China launches first high orbit internet satellite

February 29, 2024

China launched the first of a new “high orbit” internet satellite series Thursday, apparently to provide internet services to China and surrounding areas.

A Long March 3B/G rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China at 8:03 a.m. Eastern (1303 UTC) Feb. 29.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) announced launch success within an hour of liftoff. CASC’s statement revealed the previously undisclosed payload to be High orbit satellite internet-01 (Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui-01).

AIrspace closure notices revealed that a Long March 3B/G launch was planned from Xichang for Feb. 29, indicating that a payload was likely destined for geosynchronous transfer orbit. In Chinese, high orbit refers to orbits above low Earth orbit, rather than specifically to high Earth orbit (HEO).

Initial Chinese state media reports on the launch provided no details of the satellite. CASC revealed only that the satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a major spacecraft maker.

China already operates a series of ChinaSat (Zhongxing) geostationary communications satellites, with CASC directly involved in the joint venture. ChinaSat-26, China’s first satellite providing more than 100 gigabits per second (Gbps), was launched in February last year.

State media Xinhua reported in November that a first high orbit internet satellite had been completed and would be used to provide coverage for the entirety of China and key areas along the “Belt and Road” initiative.

“In the future, China Satcom will promote the construction of satellites with larger, single-satellite capacity. It is expected that by the end of the “14th Five-Year Plan”, the total capacity of high-throughput communication satellites will exceed 500 Gbps,” Xinhua reported, referring to the period 2021-2025.

Notably China also has plans for two low Earth orbit satellite internet constellations. These are the national Guowang program and the Shanghai-backed G60 Starlink constellations. These projects will require a surge in launch rate and launch capacity and could provide contracts for China’s commercial launch service providers.

The launch was China’s 10th of 2024. CASC this week revealed that China will aim to conduct around 100 launches this year. CASC is targeting around 70 launches, with commercial launch entities planning roughly 30 further launches.

Major missions include two crewed and two cargo missions to the Tiangong space station. The first half of the year will see the launch of the Queqiao-2 lunar relay satellite. That spacecraft will support Chang’e-6, a first-ever lunar far side sample return mission.

https://spacenews.com/china-launches-first-high-orbit-internet-satellite/

Canadian Space Agency closing Ottawa spacecraft lab

Mar 01, 2024 7:48 AM PST

The Canadian Space Agency has confirmed a west Ottawa spacecraft laboratory it calls "Canada's national facility for spacecraft assembly [and] integration" is closing at the end of March 2025.

The David Florida Laboratory officially opened in 1972 in the Shirley's Bay complex off Carling Avenue.

It's one of the few complexes in the world that can simulate conditions of a rocket launch and space flight, according to the agency. It also performs some work on antennas that isn't done anywhere else.

Work on the Canadarm and the guidance sensor for the James Webb Space Telescope was carried out there, and the lab continues to provide "ongoing support for Canada's contribution to the International Space Station Program."

The facility also had space available for lease to other companies and organizations.

The "achievements" section of lab's website lists 41 wins over 50 years on subjects such as tracking asteroids, communications technology for Japan and Spain, life on Mars and monitoring changes to Earth's surface water.

Answering an email from CBC on Friday, a space agency spokesperson said the lab is scheduled to close March 31, 2025, after several months of winding down.

"The Canadian Space Agency remains committed to working closely with industry to help unlock the full potential of Canada's space sector and respond to the realities of the new and growing space market," they said.

They declined a request for an interview.

The lab is named after C. David Florida who worked on experimental communications satellites and was director of the Canadian National Space Telecommunications Laboratory when he died in 1971.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/david-florida-laboratory-ottawa-canada-closing-1.7130800

China Has Built a Huge Space Simulation Chamber

MARCH 1, 2024

Well it certainly caught my attention when I saw the headlines “China’s first Space Environment Simulator” sounds like something right out of an adventure holiday. Whilst you can’t buy tickets to ‘have a go’ it’s actually for China to test spacecraft before launching them into the harsh environments of space. It allows researchers to simulate nine environmental factors; vacuum, high and low temperature, charged particles, electromagnetic radiation, space dust, plasma, weak magnetic field, neutral gasses and microgravity – and it even looks futuristic too!

The Harbin Institute of Technology and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation developed the simulator as part of China’s first large scale scientific facility. It’s official name is the Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure facility, or SESRI for short and it will provide focus to explore the environments of space with focus on space craft and life forms and also on plasma (charged gas) interactions.

The facility covers an area the size of 50 soccer fields, has four main laboratories and has the ability to tailor the environmental conditions based on research requirements. Each one covers a different aspect of space exploration for example the Lunar Dust Simulation chamber studies the impact of dust on spacecraft, astronauts and their spacesuits. Any space faring person or craft is subjected to extreme temperature fluctuations, to elevated levels of charged particles and electromagnetic radiation and to higher levels of space dust and all of these are adjustable with the simulator.

Some experiments that previously required time in space will no longer have to be launched and can be completed on the ground in a far more controlled, safer and even cheaper environment. Deputy Commander in Chief of the project Li Liyi even mused that it was akin to bringing the space station to Earth. In addition to offering and simulating the environment to test space craft, it will also allow for agricultural breeding and life science experiments to explore humans reaction and interaction to long term colonies on other planets.

The official opening came after 18 years of work from start to finish and hopes to establish China as one of the world’s main aerospace powers. It has already received interest from as many as 110 universities and institutes from over 30 countries.

SESRI holds great importance to China in facilitating scientific and technological breakthroughs that can span across technologies, sciences and even industries. But China’s aspiration’s don’t stop there. They hope it will help to unravel some of the mysteries of the universe and reveal scientific laws that govern the cosmos we see today.

https://www.universetoday.com/165979/china-has-built-a-huge-space-simulation-chamber/