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Purple lights on the red planet: NASA's MAVEN captures spectacular aurora on Mars
Jun 18, 2024 05:11 PM IST
NASA'a MAVEN spacecraft, which orbits Mars captured a stunning sight of aurora on the planet. The stellar display of purple-coloured lights on the red planet was shared on Instagram by the official handle of NASA. Since the video was captured and posted, it has mesmerised many people on social media.
While sharing the video, NASA wrote, "The brighter the purple, the more auroras were present. Taken as waves of energetic particles from a solar storm were arriving at Mars, the sequence pauses at the end when the wave of the most energetic particles arrived and overwhelmed the instrument with noise."
The space agency further added, "The way these auroras occur is different than those seen on Earth. Our home planet is shielded from charged particles by a robust magnetic field, which normally limits auroras to regions near the poles. (Solar maximum is the reason behind the recent auroras seen as far south as Alabama.) Mars lost its internally generated magnetic field in the ancient past, so there's no protection from the barrage of energetic particles. When charged particles hit the Martian atmosphere, it results in auroras that engulf the entire planet."
https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/purple-lights-on-the-red-planet-nasas-maven-captures-spectacular-aurora-on-mars-watch-101718710254600.html
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8K4EHepykc/
Shine on, Starliner! Aurora glows green as astronauts test spacecraft ahead of return to Earth June 22
June 17, 2024
A new image and incredible timelapse show an aurora filling the view as Boeing Starliner astronauts performed a crucial in-flight test in space on Saturday (June 15).
Starliner is currently at the International Space Station (ISS), and the crew was testing the capsule's thrusters because problems had delayed its docking procedures; the first time issues occurred was June 6, when astronauts were on board.
While that was happening, NASA astronauts floated into a nearby SpaceX Dragon capsule, also attached to the ISS, and captured a green aurora shimmering behind the Starliner's rear end.
"Starliner was doing some testing today, so we decided to check it out from the Dragon windows," NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
"Timing was great for the aurora to line up nicely with Starliner's service module thrusters." Dominick also shared a timelapse of the testing, in which you can see flashlights from the crew lighting up Starliner.
Auroras occur when the sun erupts and sends out charged particles that interact with magnetic field lines surrounding Earth. The particles glow and send out bright colors.
The sun is especially active right now as it peaks in its normal 11-year cycle of activity, which is why these shows have been more frequently seen on Earth and in space.
Starliner is co-piloted by veteran NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both former U.S. Navy test pilots.
They have stressed repeatedly that the mission is developmental and is designed to shake out major issues before Starliner is fully certified to carry ISS rotation missions, starting no earlier than 2025 with Starliner-1.
Due to thruster-testing and spacewalk-scheduling, the team's expected one-week Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission has doubled in length to depart no earlier than June 22. NASA will hold a media briefing tomorrow (June 18) to discuss the mission's progress.
During the extended mission, "the crew will perform additional hatch operations to better understand its handling, repeat some 'safe haven' testing and assess piloting using the forward window," Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, said in a recent agency statement.
https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-international-space-station-aurora
NASA and Boeing will discuss Starliner's delayed ISS departure today, and you can listen live
NASA will talk about the delayed return to Earth of Boeing's Starliner capsule during a press conference today (June 18), and you can listen to it live.
NASA and Boeing representatives will discuss the progress of Starliner's mission at the International Space Station (ISS), which docked June 6 after experiencing several helium leaks and issues with five onboard reaction control system (RCS) thrusters.
The press conference begins at 12 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) and you can listen to it live here at Space.com, via NASA Television.
Starliner's first docking attempt was waved off due to the RCS thruster issues, but the rendezvous was accomplished successfully on the second try a few hours later on June 6.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have since done testing of the thrusters to evaluate the issues and the spacecraft's performance. Starliner was expected to spend about a week at the ISS, but NASA and Boeing have extended the capsule's orbital stay until at least June 22.
During the extended mission, "the crew will perform additional hatch operations to better understand its handling, repeat some 'safe haven' testing and assess piloting using the forward window," Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said in a recent agency statement.
https://www.space.com/nasa-boeing-starliner-thruster-june-18-webcast-preview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21X5lGlDOfg
SpaceX ASTRA 1P Mission
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, June 18 for a Falcon 9 launch of the SES ASTRA 1P mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The two-hour and 49-minute launch window opens at 5:35 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available Wednesday, June 19 with the same window.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about 15 minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the ninth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Ax-2, Euclid, Ax-3, CRS-30, and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=astra1p
U.S. and India advance human spaceflight cooperation
June 18, 2024
The governments of the United States and India announced June 17 they are moving ahead with cooperation on human spaceflight that would include flying an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, although with few details on who would fly and when.
The White House released a fact sheet regarding a meeting of the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), held June 17 in New Delhi and chaired by the national security advisers of the two countries.
The statement highlighted the progress made by the two countries in cooperation in various technology sectors.
In space, the fact sheet hailed “securing a carrier for the first-ever joint effort between NASA and ISRO astronauts at the International Space Station.”
This appeared to reference an announcement last June that the United States would train Indian astronauts with the goal “of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024.”
The fact sheet did not disclose who the carrier for the mission would be or when the mission would fly. In May, Eric Garcetti, U.S. ambassador to India, stated that the mission would take place this year.
A NASA spokesperson, though, said that details about the flight were still being finalized, and only after that would NASA “determine the mission timelines and training modules required” for such a mission.
The most likely scenario for flying an Indian astronaut to the ISS would be through a private astronaut mission, which would spend up to two weeks at the station.
The next such mission is Axiom Space’s Ax-4, scheduled for late this year, although the company has not disclosed the crew for that mission or training plans.
The fact sheet noted that the two countries had completed a “Strategic Framework for Human Spaceflight Cooperation” but did not disclose details about the document.
The joint statement last year said that framework would be completed by the end of 2023. They also said they would “work toward commencing advanced training for ISRO astronauts at the NASA Johnson Space Center.”
The countries also are exploring “opportunities for India’s participation in the Lunar Gateway Program, as well as joint avenues for collaboration in other space technologies.”
The NASA-led lunar Gateway currently includes the Western partners on the ISS as well as the United Arab Emirates, which agreed in January to develop an airlock module.
India and the United States emphasized cooperation on defense space topics in the statement. India was an observer in the Global Sentinel space security exercise held in February by U.S. Space Command, and will be a participant in the exercise next year.
The two countries also discussed space defense cooperation at the Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue in May that included a space tabletop exercise. Two Indian startups, 114ai and 3rdiTech, have partnered with the U.S. Space Force on space situational awareness technologies.
NASA and the Indian space agency ISRO have been cooperating for several years on the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Earth science mission, which the fact sheet noted.
NISAR was scheduled for launch earlier this year on an Indian GSLV rocket, but was postponed to modify its large deployable antenna to protect it from higher-than-expected temperatures when stowed.
Neither agency, not the White House fact sheet, have disclosed a new launch date for NISAR.
https://spacenews.com/u-s-and-india-advance-human-spaceflight-cooperation/
Space Force taps four firms for laser network project
June 17, 2024
The Space Systems Command (SSC) announced it has awarded contracts to four companies to develop prototypes for laser communication terminals, kicking off the first phase of a $100 million program dubbed Enterprise Space Terminal.
Blue Origin, CACI International, General Atomics, and Viasat will compete to design and prototype optical communications terminals for use in space.
These terminals essentially function like high-powered modems, using lasers to transmit and receive data over vast distances at the speed of light.
The goal of the Enterprise Space Terminal project, overseen by SSC’s Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power Program Executive Office, is to establish a space mesh network across various orbits — from low Earth orbit to beyond geosynchronous.
The project seeks to ensure compatibility between future military space systems, enabling seamless communication regardless of location.
'Diverse communications paths’
“The Enterprise Space Terminal prototypes will be a huge step forward for a future space mesh network,” John Kirkemo, senior materiel leader of SSC’s Advanced Communications Acquisition Delta, said June 17 in a news release.
These terminals will implement a common language so all satellites can talk to each other, he said. “This creates a robust network that offers diverse communication paths for critical national security data.”
The four companies were competitively selected by the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC), an organization established by the Department of Defense to attract non-traditional defense contractors, specifically startups and commercial firms.
The chosen companies will be evaluated on the size, weight, power consumption, and cost-effectiveness of their laser communication terminal prototypes.
https://spacenews.com/space-force-taps-four-firms-for-laser-network-project/
Space Delta 7 welcomes new ISR commander
June 17, 2024
Col. Phoenix Hauser took command of Space Delta 7 - Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance during a change of command ceremony at Peterson Space Force Base, June 13.
Lt. Gen. David N. Miller, Jr., Space Operations Command commander, presided over the ceremony.
“The simple truth is that without our teammates in Delta 7, without their ability to detect, characterize, target and address … we would have no Space Force,” Miller said.
“Phoenix comes to us with a wealth of experience … she is the perfect person to lead this team in an era of Great Power Competition. These are consequential times.”
Hauser is the third commander to take charge of DEL 7, the organization responsible for providing the USSF and joint forces critical, time-sensitive and actionable intelligence for space domain operations to allow for the detection, characterization and targeting of adversary space capabilities.
“To the men and women of Delta 7, your reputation precedes you,” Hauser said.
“In the upcoming years, we are going to establish a style of warfare that has never been accomplished before in human history … we are going to train to fight, and we are going to fight to win. I’m looking forward to breaking ground with you, together.”
Miller highlighted Hauser as the right person for the job and praised the outgoing commander, Col. Brett Swigert, for his leadership over the last two years.
“He has done a remarkable job, he will be noted for literally doubling the combat power in Delta 7 from three squadrons to six,” Miller said.
Swigert, who will become the Director of Intelligence of Space Training and Readiness Command, shared memories of his time as commander.
“I’m incredibly humbled to have had the opportunity to lead this wonderful Delta 7 team,” Swigert said. “So, as I move over to be the Director of Intelligence at STARCOM, please reach out to me if I can ever be of assistance. Phoenix, the time is yours. Semper Supra.”
Previously designated the 544th ISR Group under the U.S. Air Force, DEL 7 was activated on July 24, 2020, with the capability of employing a variety of fixed and mobile sensors operated by ISR professionals across the globe to enable the USSF to gain and maintain information dominance and space superiority.
The delta oversees efforts and operations from the 71st ISR Squadron, 72nd ISRS, 73rd ISRS, 74th ISRS, 75th ISRS and 76th ISRS.
As one of 18 organizations of the U.S. Intelligence Community, the USSF assists the greater community through the collection, processing and assessment of data necessary to conduct military operations.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3809074/space-delta-7-welcomes-new-isr-commander/
Space Test Course integrates satellite operations into curriculum for first time
June 17, 2024
In a historic first, students from the Space Test Course at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School successfully operated a satellite in space from Edwards Air Force Base, May 20.
Previous classes have coordinated with commercial space providers to acquire satellite imagery to support multi-domain testing, dictating desired imagery and pass schedules, albeit without direct interaction with the satellite.
May 20 marks the inaugural instance where U.S. Space Force STC Class 24A students issued commands to a satellite on orbit from Edwards thanks to a partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicle Directorate.
“We are working in partnership with the AFRL’s small satellite division to test remote satellite operations capabilities from Edwards,” explained Maj. Stefanie Coward, Space Test Operations chief at USAFTPS.
“Some of their new tech demonstrator satellites operate on cloud-based ground systems. This opens the door to remote operations without a large infrastructure footprint.
May 20 marked first contact with a satellite from XVI, but the full capability of remote operations was proven as four pairs of students, under the oversight of an AFRL flight director and XVI Operations engineer/subject matter expert, managed operations of XVI from Edwards for the entire week completing a total of 15 satellite contacts.”
The XVI satellite is approaching the end of its experiment campaign.
But, based on the altitude of the orbit and the heritage of the satellite bus, there is a good chance XVI could continue residual operations for another three to five years.
Both organizations are interested in using XVI’s residual capability to support USAFTPS as a spaceborne laboratory, providing Space Test Course students the same kinds of hands-on experience Flight Test Course students get flying in the C-12, T-38, and F-16.
With a forward-looking perspective, Coward explained with optimism that this milestone marks the initial step in an ongoing journey.
“This is a first, but not a last. We are working with AFRL to formalize this partnership and continue operating XVI with future classes,” she said.
“The plan is to mirror the flight paradigm where TPS staff members formally qualify on a platform, and students go through a check-out process that allows them to perform operations under the supervision of a certified staff member.
Do I see STC students one day going ‘crew solo’ on a satellite? I hope so. But there is a lot of work still left to do to get there.”
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3809371/space-test-course-integrates-satellite-operations-into-curriculum-for-first-time/
CSO visits Kirtland AFB
June 18, 2024
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) – Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman visited Kirtland Air Force Base and its mission partners, June 12-14.
During his visit to the installation, Saltzman engaged closely with multiple departments at the Air Force Research Laboratory, a key institution to many advancements in aerospace technologies, space systems, directed energy and space operations.
Saltzman also met with non-Department of Defense partners including Blue Halo, a collaborative organization aimed at integrating advance technologies to bolster air and space superiority, and the Sandia National Laboratories, a center for research related to national security and technology innovation.
Saltzman’s visit underscored the critical collaborations between multiple defense organizations and research institutions, emphasizing the importance of staying at the forefront of technological advancements to safeguard our nation’s security and space capabilities in an era of Great Power Competition and ever-changing threats.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3810468/cso-visits-kirtland-afb/