Chekt.
Lucky 7's.
Let 'em roll.
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
October 28, 2024
STEVE: A Glowing River over France
Sometimes a river of hot gas flows over your head. In this case the river created a Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE) that glowed bright red, white, and pink. Details of how STEVEs work remain a topic of research, but recent evidence holds that their glow results from a fast-moving river of hot ions flowing over a hundred kilometers up in the Earth's atmosphere: the ionosphere. The more expansive dull red glow might be related to the flowing STEVE, but alternatively might be a Stable Auroral Red (SAR) arc, a more general heat-related glow. The featured picture, taken earlier this month in Côte d'Opale, France, is a wide-angle digital composite made as the STEVE arc formed nearly overhead. Although the apparition lasted only a few minutes, this was long enough for the quick-thinking astrophotographer to get in the picture – can you find him?
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Dominican Republic signs agreement with NASA to advance space exploration
October 28, 2024 | 9:04 am
The Dominican Republic officially joined the Artemis Agreement, marking a new era of collaboration with NASA in peaceful space exploration and research, including missions to the Moon and Mars.
Ambassador Sonia Guzmán and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson celebrated this historic signing, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to safe and responsible space exploration and its potential to enhance opportunities in science and technology for Dominican youth.
The agreement, now with 47 signatories, aligns with international standards to ensure transparent and sustainable space activity.
Ambassador Guzmán highlighted the agreement as a milestone, paving the way for the Dominican Republic to attract investments in satellite communications, agricultural research, and related services, supporting economic growth.
She noted that the Artemis Agreement could lay a framework for legal standards to foster private sector involvement, further integrating the Dominican Republic into the global space industry.
NASA’s Bill Nelson welcomed the Dominican Republic, recognizing its role in advancing inclusive space exploration.
He praised the country’s commitment to guiding the next generation of space exploration through international cooperation.
At a recent meeting in Milan for the International Astronautical Congress, the Dominican Republic was formally welcomed and affirmed its interest in contributing to space governance, enhancing its participation in the global space community.
https://dominicantoday.com/dr/world/2024/10/28/dominican-republic-signs-agreement-with-nasa-to-advance-space-exploration/
President Biden's last Diwali celebration to feature NASA astronaut Sunita Williams
October 27, 2024, 23:21:49 IST
President Joe Biden will celebrate Diwali at the White House on Monday evening with a large gathering of Indian Americans from across the country.
The event will feature a video message from Sunita “Suni” Williams, a distinguished NASA astronaut and retired Navy Captain.
Williams recorded the greeting from the International Space Station, where she assumed command in September, according to the White House.
“Continuing a tradition from previous years, the President will light a Diya lamp in the Blue Room before his remarks,” the White House said.
After this he would deliver remarks before a gathering of Indian Americans, for whom he is hosting a reception.
This would be President Biden’s last Diwali reception at the White House as he is not running for the presidential election.
“Among the President’s introductions will be a video message from Sunita “Suni” Williams, a decorated NASA astronaut and retired Navy Captain.
She recorded a video greeting from the International Space Station, where she took over as Commander in September,” the White House said.
“Suni is a practising Hindu and has previously sent Diwali greetings from the ISS to people across the globe.
She has also brought multiple Indian/Hindu cultural items—including samosas and copies of Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita—with her to space in celebration of her heritage,” it said.
“Nootana, a classical South Asian dance and music ensemble based in Washington, DC, will provide musical entertainment for guests, in addition to the Marine Corps Band,” said the White House.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/us-president-bidens-last-diwali-celebration-to-feature-nasa-astronaut-sunita-williams-13829647.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14010229/Astronauts-ISS-urgent-evacuation-NASA.html
Astronauts on the ISS are braced for an urgent evacuation - as NASA uncovers 50 'areas of concern' including leaks and cracks on the 25-year-old space station
Updated: 07:33 EDT, 28 October 2024
NASA's astronauts aboard the International Space Station have been told to prepare for an urgent evacuation amid growing safety concerns.
The US space agency and its Russian counterpart, Roscomos, are tracking 50 'areas of concern' related to a growing leak aboard the station.
NASA is now calling the cracks in a Russian service module a 'top safety risk' - escalating the threat rating to five out of five.
Astronauts have been warned to stay in the American section when the module is open so they can be close to their spacecraft in case of an emergency evacuation.
Although officials have been aware of the issue since 2019, the exact source of the leak is still unknown.
All potential cracks have been covered with 'a combination of sealant and patches' but NASA warned that the leak reached its fastest rate yet in April this year.
Concerns over the station's safety are now so high that NASA has negotiated with Roscomos to only open the hatch when absolutely necessary and to keep it sealed in the evenings.
And that's not the only cause for concern, as the space agency has warned that the ISS is at risk of being pelted with micro-meteors and space debris.
The air leak is located in the Russian Zvezda Service Module Transfer Tunnel which was installed in 2000 and is used to house life support equipment and to access a Russian cargo dock.
In 2019 it was noted that the module had begun to leak a small amount of air through an unidentified crack.
However, despite efforts to seal the module, the amount of air escaping the station has only increased over the last five years.
In February this year, NASA was forced to hold a press conference on the issue as the amount of air escaping temporarily increased from 0.2 lbs per day (0.09 kg) to 2.4 lbs (1.08 kg) per day.
A report published in September by NASA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) confirmed that the leak then hit record rates in April - losing 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) of air every day.
This has prompted the space agency to escalate the threat rating to the highest level and consider plans for evacuation.
In May and June, NASA officials travelled to Russia to discuss 'heightened concerns' over the seemingly growing leak.
Speaking to the Washington Post, NASA associate administrator Jim Free says: 'We have conveyed the seriousness of the leaks multiple times, including when I was in Russia earlier this year.
The air leak is located in the Russian Zvezda Service Module Transfer Tunnel which was installed in 2000 and is used to house life support equipment and to access a Russian cargo dock.
In 2019 it was noted that the module had begun to leak a small amount of air through an unidentified crack.
However, despite efforts to seal the module, the amount of air escaping the station has only increased over the last five years.
In February this year, NASA was forced to hold a press conference on the issue as the amount of air escaping temporarily increased from 0.2 lbs per day (0.09 kg) to 2.4 lbs (1.08 kg) per day.
A report published in September by NASA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) confirmed that the leak then hit record rates in April - losing 3.7 lbs (1.68 kg) of air every day.
This has prompted the space agency to escalate the threat rating to the highest level and consider plans for evacuation.
In May and June, NASA officials travelled to Russia to discuss 'heightened concerns' over the seemingly growing leak.
Speaking to the Washington Post, NASA associate administrator Jim Free says: 'We have conveyed the seriousness of the leaks multiple times, including when I was in Russia earlier this year.
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However, the two agencies are yet to agree on when the leak rate would be considered 'untenable'.
In the same OIG report, NASA also raised the concern that the space station could be seriously damaged by tiny pieces of material in orbit - escalating the risk rating to the highest level.
The agency wrote: 'NASA considers the threat of micrometeoroids and orbital debris (MMOD) a top risk to crew safety, the ISS structure, visiting vehicles, and sustained ISS operations.'
NASA has added shields to the American sections which can protect against pieces of debris up to 3cm but warns that it does not have plans to add protection from larger pieces.
However, there are now an estimated 100 million pieces of small debris which are not being tracked and could still damage or destroy spacecraft.
In the report, NASA notes that the growing risk posed by orbital debris also poses a serious issue for any plans to safely evacuate the ISS crew in an emergency.
They write: 'Due to the high costs and a limited budget, the lack of ready-to-launch vehicles prevent the Agency from having an immediate response capability if crew vehicles encounter significant damage and are no longer safe for crew evacuation.'
The issue is that the ISS is already a decade older than its planned operational lifespan and is beginning to seriously show its age.
In September, NASA estimated that there were 588 replacement parts aboard the station that were operating beyond their intended lifetime.
NASA has planned to use the station up until 2030, at which time it will be burned up in a controlled de-orbit.
SpaceX has been contracted to build a vehicle which can safely push the ISS back down to Earth for a cost of up to $843 million (ÂŁ650 million).
However, as Russia refuses to commit to extending the station's lifespan until 2030, NASA has admitted that the ability to perform a controlled deorbit is now 'unclear'
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NSSA explores strengthening cooperation with NASA
27 Oct 2024
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Aseeri, Chief Executive Officer of the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), met with Casey Swails, Deputy Associate Administrator of NASA, with the aim of exploring ways to enhance cooperation between the two sides.
Dr. Al Aseeri emphasised the NSSA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its international strategic partnerships, supporting peaceful and sustainable space exploration and utilising its technologies and sciences to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development both locally and internationally.
He added that this meeting is part of the agency’s ongoing collaboration with the US in exchanging scientific and research expertise in space science, as well as exchanging space data and information.
Discussions included the possibility of Bahrain participating in the Artemis mission through the launch of small CubeSat satellites, which would enhance Bahrain’s presence in this global exploration mission.
The meeting also addressed ways to bridge the technical gaps and capabilities related to space exploration, with possible opportunities to enhance the technical capabilities of the authority’s personnel in this domain.
Dr. Al Aseeri indicated that the main points of this meeting were guided by the directives of His Highness Major-General Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, National Security Advisor and Commander of the Royal Guard, contributing to the creation of a clear roadmap to enhance this cooperation with NASA.
On her part, Swails commended Bahrain’s collaboration with NASA, highlighting her recent visit and discussions with His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad, Dr. Al Aseeri of the NSSA, and Bahrain’s space engineers and students.
Swails noted Bahrain’s role as a signatory of the Artemis Accords and expressed enthusiasm for future joint initiatives, emphasising the potential for collaborative exploration, unique Earth observations, and advancing discoveries to inspire humanity.
https://www.bna.bh/en/National/NSSAexploresstrengtheningcooperationwithNASA.aspx
NASA VortEx 2 ready for launch campaign
October 25, 2024
A combined team from Andøya Space and NASA Wallops Flight Facility have in the last few weeks worked to prepare two sub-orbital research rockets for their upcoming launch campaign
– They were originally scheduled to launch in 2023, together with two other rockets who did launch, says Thomas Gansmoe, Director Sounding Rockets & Engineering Services at Andøya Space Sub-Orbital.
– But for various reasons the launches had to be postponed.
Vorticity Experiment (VortEx)
– The main scientific objective for these two remaining launch vehicles is to study how winds and energy from the lower parts of the atmosphere affect the upper parts, says Gansmoe.
The focus of the experiment is to figure out how gravity waves interact with each other, and how these interactions form vortices.
– These vortices can be thought of as small whirlpools of spinning air, Gansmoe says.
– It is basic research, and the knowledge gained here can be applied to various fields from oceanography to astrophysics.
– One of the launch vehicles contain canisters of trimethyl aluminum (TMA) which will be released in the upper part of the atmosphere, Gansmoe says.
– This will create several glowing clouds which will visualize turbulence and vortices. Four ground stations will observe how these clouds behaves in the minutes after launch.
– The clouds pose no hazards to residents in the region, says Gansmoe.
– These kinds of experiments have been done before from Andøya Space with great success. The clouds will be visible over a large area.
The principal investigator for this mission is Dr. Gerald Lehmacher from Clemson University, and the launch customer is the Sounding Rockets Program Office at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
– The launch vehicles have been designed and built by NASA Wallops Flight Facility, says Gansmoe. – And the launch campaign will be conducted from Andøya Space Sub-Orbital’s launch facility at Andøya.
Supported by groundbased instrumentation
Several groundbased instrumentation will support the launch campaign by performing remote sensing to determine the best time for launch, and at the same time gathering additional data for the scientists who are to analyze the results from this project.
– The Alomar Observatory will perform lidar measurements, and the project will also use radars and an airglow imager, Gansmoe finishes.
https://andoyaspace.no/news-articles/nasa-vortex-2-ready-for-launch-campaign/