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Venus atmosphere sample return noted in China’s long-term space science roadmap
October 22, 2024
China has unveiled a long-term roadmap to guide its space science programs up to 2050, including a mission to collect a sample of the Venusian atmosphere.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the China National Space Administration (CNSA), and the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) jointly announced the National Space Science Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan (2024-2050) in a press conference Oct. 15.
“China’s space science research is still in its infancy, with a relatively small number of space science satellites.
Some gaps need to be filled to become a space powerhouse,” Ding said. Ding Chibiao, CAS vice president said.
Goals include implementing national space science missions, strengthening basic research, building a high-level talent pool for space science, and making breakthrough achievements at the global level.
Three stages
The plan outlines five major scientific themes and 17 priority development directions.
Missions focusing on the extreme universe, the nature of matter, habitable planets, studying the Sun and space exploration will be implemented in three stages: up to 2027, 2028-2035, and 2036-2050.
The first phase (up to 2027) focuses on a number of known missions and projects.
These include launching a first crewed lunar mission by 2030, space station operations including a Hubble-class telescope, and initiating key scientific projects.
Also noted are a selection of large projects, such as a space gravitational wave detection pathfinder and a solar polar orbiter.
Small and medium class missions could include dark matter particle detection, a solar observatory at Sun-Earth L5 and exoplanet missions.
Five missions—Discovering Sky at the Longest Wavelength (DSL), Enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry (eXTP), Solar Polar Orbiter (SPO), Taiji-2 and Earth 2.0—are understood to be approved and in development.
These would search for signals in the cosmic dark ages, study objects such as black holes, study the Sun, detect gravitational waves and conduct long-term surveys for Earth-like habitable exoplanets respectively.
The second phase (2028–2035) aims for breakthroughs in advanced space missions, including the Tianwen-4 mission to Jupiter, solar system boundary exploration, the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), and a Venus atmospheric sample return.
Further possibilities noted include asteroid exploration and exoplanet moon detection.
The final phase (2036–2050) targets global leadership in space science with 5-6 large-scale missions and diverse smaller projects.
Venus atmosphere sample return
The roadmap reveals a number of new plans. A Venus orbiter named VOICE was previously under consideration for selection for what is now the apparent first phase of the roadmap.
This has been replaced by a more ambitious Venus atmosphere sample return mission during phase two.
No details of the mission proposal were released.
For reference, a proposal from MIT in 2022 details a descent and deceleration into the Venusian atmosphere, the inflation of a balloon and sampling, and a Venus ascent vehicle delivering a sample canister into orbit for rendezvous with a waiting orbiter.
Such a mission, informed by recent studies of the Venusian atmosphere—some noting the potential biomarker phosphine—would likely focus on astrobiology: habitability and a potential search for life.
China is also working towards launching a Mars sample return mission in 2028. That will aim to deliver the first-ever samples to Earth by 2031, with a focus on astrobiology.
The wider program will be open to the outside in some form. “We will further promote various forms of international cooperation and exchanges in space science, so that the achievements of space science and technology can better and benefit humankind.”
Wang Chi, director of the National Space Science Center (NSSC) under CAS, said in the press conference.
https://spacenews.com/venus-atmosphere-sample-return-noted-in-chinas-long-term-space-science-roadmap/
China launches 3 Tianping-3 radar calibration satellites
October 22, 2024
China launched a trio of satellites late Monday for ground radar equipment calibration and other measurements.
A Long March 6 rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, northern China, at 8:10 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 21 (0010 UTC, Oct. 22).
The state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) announced launch success, revealing the payloads to be the Tianping-3A (01), B (01), and B (02) satellites.
The Tianping-3 mission is described in Chinese state media reports as a single satellite. However, as noted by SAST, three discrete satellites were launched.
“The satellite is mainly used for ground radar equipment calibration and radar cross section (RCS) measurement,” Chinese state media reported.
“It will provide support for ground optical equipment imaging experiments and low-orbit space environment detection and monitoring experiments, as well as offer services for atmospheric space environment measurement and orbit prediction model correction.”
No images or further information on the satellites was provided. The satellites could be used for purposes related to defense, weather forecasting, and scientific research.
These can help verify radar performance, calibration for target detection, weather radar calibration, space debris tracking, or tracking atmospheric phenomena.
Tianping-3 satellites can be used as benchmarks to compare and validate the measurements of ground-based radars, offering highly accurate measurements of their RCS.
The satellites may have corner reflectors or transponders on board to provide a strong and well-characterized signal to ground-based radars.
This signal helps in calibrating the radar’s performance, such as its power levels, antenna alignment, and other critical parameters.
SAST provided the Long March 6 rocket for the mission. The 29-meter-long, three-stage rocket uses a single YF-100 kerosene-liquid oxygen engine on its first stage.
The launcher is one of China’s new generation Long March rockets and had its first launch in 2015. The Long March 6 has launched 13 times, all successfully.
It bears little resemblance to the much larger Long March 6A, which features an elongated first stage, two first stage YF-100 engines, and four solid rocket boosters.
Chinese launch activity
Tuesday’s mission was China’s 50th orbital launch attempt of 2024.
It followed last week’s launch of the Gaofen-12 Earth observation satellite and a second group of 18 satellites for the Qianfan/Thousand megaconstellation.
China is preparing to send the Shenzhou-19 crewed mission to the Tiangong space station around the end of October.
The crew spacecraft atop of a Long March 2F rocket was rolled out to its pad at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Tuesday.
Three as yet unknown astronauts will join the Shenzhou-18 crew aboard Tiangong and take over residency of the space station.
The Tianzhou-8 cargo resupply mission is expected to follow in November, launching on a Long March 7 rocket from Wenchang.
The country appears to be falling well short of a target of 100 launches for the year, according to plans announced by China’s state-owned main space contractor CASC in early 2024.
Both CASC and the country’s commercial launch providers are launching at a slower rate than estimated.
https://spacenews.com/china-launches-3-tianping-3-radar-calibration-satellites/
CSO, CMSSF inspire newest Guardians, Airmen during BMT graduation week
Oct. 21, 2024
U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman set high expectations for the graduating class of enlisted Guardians and Airmen during a Basic Military Training ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, Oct. 17.
This marked the first time Saltzman has presided over a BMT graduation ceremony since becoming CSO.
He was joined by the Space Force’s most senior enlisted leader, Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna.
On Oct. 15, Bentivegna aided in the new Guardian’s patching ceremony, a tradition unique to the Space Force.
The soon-to-be Guardians received their first Space Force patches to be worn on their uniform, which were previously worn by another active Guardian, to symbolize their shared connection to service.
These patches were delivered alongside hand-written notes from fellow Guardians that welcomed them to the U.S. Space Force.
The next day, Bentivegna joined the coining ceremony, where each graduate receives their first challenge coin, a tradition among service members to show unit pride and esprit de corps.
At the graduation, Saltzman spoke directly to the graduating Guardians and Airmen, beginning with delivering a special message to the families in attendance.
“It’s great to see all the families joining us today … Seven and a half weeks ago, you entrusted us with our nation’s most valuable treasure – your loved ones,” Saltzman said.
“Your support has pushed these Airmen and Guardians to complete their Basic Military Training and to join the world’s greatest Air Force and Space Force.”
Recognizing the families, Saltzman emphasized the importance of their support and how their Guardians and Airmen appreciated their encouragement.
He then turned his attention to the formations of new service members that filled the parade field.
“To the graduates; I am so proud to be standing here before you,” Saltzman said.
“You, who have stood up and answered the call to service … Each of you had a different reason for joining, but I think you’ll find that by the end of your time in service – whether it is just the initial commitment or a 30-plus year career – your memories will be more about the people you met along the journey, than the jobs you held.”
Saltzman emphasized that their transition from BMT to their services was only the first of many transformations they will go through.
He spoke about the changes both services are going through to address an era of Great Power Competition, noting how graduates will help drive that change.
“We expect you to meet the current threat but also to evolve and meet the future threat, too,” Saltzman said. “We expect you to be the innovators that recognize when change is needed and to have the courage to speak up and lead.
We expect you to be bold and collaborative problem solvers with the capacity to engage, analyze and debate new ideas … ideas that shift the status quo.”
Finally, Saltzman led the formation in their Oath of Enlistment, marking the beginning of their journey through the Space Force and Air Force enlisted ranks.
Since the Space Force’s creation in 2019, enlisted Guardians have trained alongside Airmen at BMT, and that partnership continues today.
While both services’ training lasts seven and a half weeks, future Space Force enlistees receive service-specific training curriculum to prepare them for the unique challenges Guardians face.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3941180/cso-cmssf-inspire-newest-guardians-airmen-during-bmt-graduation-week/
Illinois Couple Chased by Rectangular UFO Then it Zoomed Upward
October 21, 2024
A couple in Illinois had a strange encounter on a highway a week ago.
They noticed something was following them and then witnessed it zooming straight upward into the sky.
I saw this brand new report on the National UFO Reporting Center website that was just shared on October 12, 2024.
They said this strange encounter happened when they were driving from Champaign, Illinois toward Indiana.
It was near Urbana that they noticed something odd behind them. Here are the exact words of their eyewitness testimony:
"It was hovering then shot up and disappeared. My husband and I were driving from champaign Illinois toward Indiana and my husband said "what is that behind us?"
When I turned around I seen a dark gray rectangle hoovering. We looked at it for about 2 minutes and it just stayed in one place then it started to move upward and then disappeared."
The details of the report they submitted show that whatever the object was got within a mile of them and was very large.
It appeared at about a 45 degree angle. The entire encounter only lasted a couple of minutes, but was significant enough that they felt like they should submit an official report.
Normally, it's easy to dismiss an incident like this as a mistaken conventional plane or weather detection object or even planet or meteor.
In this instance, whatever appeared between Champaign and Urbana, Illinois doesn't match up with any of those things.
https://101theeagle.com/illinois-couple-mysterious-highway-encounter/
This Texas Cemetery Is Home To A Space Alien
October 22, 2024
Once upon a time, long before Roswell had its day in the UFO spotlight, there was a little town called Aurora, Texas.
In 1897, Aurora was the it place for an out-of-this-world experience, literally.
According to a Dallas Morning News article from April 19, 1897, a “mystery airship” (UFO, but make it vintage) came tumbling out of the sky. Its final resting place?
Right through the poor Judge J.S. Proctor’s windmill, smashing his prized flower garden in the process. Talk about a rough landing.
The alien pilot, described as “petite” and very Martian, didn’t make it out of the crash alive, which might explain why we never got a sequel.
Being the hospitable folks they were, the locals gave our extraterrestrial visitor a full-on Christian burial under a tree branch in the town cemetery.
They even placed a headstone with a “crude” depiction of the alien’s ship. Unfortunately, the headstone went the way of all great mysteries—missing.
But don’t worry, UFO hunters are still begging the town to dig up the grave, though so far, nobody’s handed over the shovels.
Today, the headstone is long gone, probably swiped by some alien memorabilia collector, but there’s still a Texas historical marker at the cemetery mentioning our friendly neighborhood Martian.
If you're looking for the “grave,” a large rock marks the spot. It’s covered with trinkets left by UFO enthusiasts, because if you can’t dig up a Martian, you might as well leave a keychain.
So next time you're in Aurora, skip the flower gardens and windmills, and take a moment to say hi to the one visitor who’s traveled the farthest to crash land in small-town Texas history.
Just don't ask about the headstone.
https://kisselpaso.com/this-texas-cemetery-is-home-to-a-space-alien/
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2018/04/16/fake-news-from-wise-county-brought-ufo-believers-to-aurora-eventually/
'Aliens have two bases on Earth' says lawyer who claims to know their locations
Updated11:17, 22 OCT 2024
A lawyer known for disclosing details of UFOs and alien visits claims to know the location of two alien bases on Earth.
Danny Sheehan has been involved in bringing UFO whistleblowers to the United States Congress in recent years.
He has been helping to provide explosive evidence of alleged government cover-ups regarding real encounters with extraterrestrial beings.
And during a new interview, a clip of which has gone viral on social media site Reddit, Sheehan has dropped another bombshell about the location of alien bases on Earth.
He said: “(There are) bases here, on our planet. Many of which are located high in the desolate areas in the mountains where very few people ever go, and beneath the sea.
There's a major base in the Pacific that we're virtually certain exists off Baja – between Baja and Guadeloupe Island.
“Potentially beneath the ocean floor, it's been monitored and we have potentially hundreds of videos of vehicles coming and going from that location and plunging into the sea and going down into, and coming from that base.
“There are some . . . inside our national security state apparatus that knows this to be true.
And they are in fact, engaged at the present time . . . attempting to shoot down these UFOs . . . and taking captive the members who pilot those craft. It is an extraordinarily dangerous situation.”
The full talk was posted by the New Paradigm Institute on social media for “Global Discourse Day 2024” on Sunday.
He went on to claim that the “UFO phenomenon is real” and that it wasn't someone mistaking it for a bird or some other kind of technology in the form of a “secret government programme”.
And shockingly, he said: “They are transporting organic live beings from some other planet in our galaxy, or from some other dimension . . . they are coming and going from our planet and have been for some time.”
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/aliens-two-bases-earth-says-33943847
https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1lPKqOZgzEYJb