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NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
December 3, 2024
Ice Clouds over a Red Planet
If you could stand on Mars – what might you see? You might look out over a vast orange landscape covered with rocks under a dusty orange sky, with a blue-tinted Sun over the horizon, and odd-shaped water clouds hovering high overhead. This was just the view captured last March by NASA's rolling explorer, Perseverance. The orange coloring is caused by rusted iron in the Martian dirt, some of which is small enough to be swept up by winds into the atmosphere. The blue tint near the rising Sun is caused by blue light being preferentially scattered out from the Sun by the floating dust. The light-colored clouds on the right are likely composed of water-ice and appear high in the Martian atmosphere. The shapes of some of these clouds are unusual for Earth and remain a topic of research.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
NASA to Cover its 31st SpaceX Resupply Mission Station Departure
Dec 02, 2024
NASA and its international partners are set to receive scientific research samples and hardware as a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft departs the International Space Station on Thursday, Dec. 5, for its return to Earth.
NASA’s live coverage of undocking and departure begins at 10:50 a.m. EST on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.
The Dragon spacecraft will undock from the forward port of the space station’s Harmony module at 11:05 a.m., and fire its thrusters to move a safe distance away from the station after receiving a command from ground controllers at SpaceX.
After re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft will splash down off the coast of Florida. NASA will not stream the splashdown and will post updates on the agency’s space station blog.
Filled with nearly 6,000 pounds of crew supplies, science investigations, and equipment, the spacecraft arrived to the orbiting laboratory Nov. 5 after it launched Nov. 4 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency’s SpaceX 31st commercial resupply services mission.
Dragon will carry back to Earth thousands of pounds of supplies and scientific experiments designed to take advantage of the space station’s microgravity environment.
Splashing down off the coast of Florida enables quick transportation of the experiments to NASA’s Space Systems Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, allowing researchers to collect data with minimal sample exposure to Earth’s gravity.
Scientific hardware and samples returning to Earth include GISMOS (Genes in Space Molecular Operations and Sequencing), which successfully conducted in-orbit sequencing of microbial DNA from the space station water system, and marks the first real look at the microbial population of the water system.
In addition, SpaceTED (Space Tissue Equivalent Dosimeter) returns to Earth after collecting data on crew radiation exposure and characterizes the space radiation environment.
The dosimeter is a student-developed technology demonstration and effectively operated for 11 months on station – six months longer than intended because of its success.
Additionally, two specimens printed with ESA’s (European Space Agency) Metal 3D Printer, will go to researchers for post-processing and analysis.
Researchers will compare the specimens printed in microgravity with those printed on Earth.
The goal is to demonstrate the capability to perform metal deposition, or the layering of metals, in 3D under sustained microgravity conditions and manufacture test specimens.
Researchers aim to understand the performance and limitations of the chosen technology and become familiar with crewed and remote operations of the instrument onboard a space habitat.
Also returning on spacecraft is the International Space Art and Poetry Contest, which invited students and educators around the world to submit drawings, paintings, or poems.
Winning art submissions were printed on station, photographed in the cupola, and will be returned to their creators on Earth.
In addition, Plasmonic Bubbles researchers will observe high-speed video of bubble behavior in microgravity to understand fundamental processes that occur on a heated bubble surface.
Results may improve understanding of how molecules are deposited on bubble surfaces and enhance detection methods for health care and environmental industries.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-to-cover-its-31st-spacex-resupply-mission-station-departure/
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/12/02/crew-packs-dragon-for-departure-this-week/
Carnarvon's NASA satellite dish receives first signal in almost 40 years
December 2, 2024
The jagged peaks and valleys of a line chart might not look like much, but they represent a comeback years in the making.
Carnarvon's historic Overseas Telecommunication Commission (OTC) dish had sat dormant for almost four decades.
The structure, nearly 900 kilometres north of Perth, was decommissioned after a decorated history that included aiding NASA lunar missions.
It was destined for demolition before Canadian aerospace company ThothX signed a 20-year lease for the facility in 2022, with minor repairs beginning last year.
This week, the 29-metre-wide parabolic antenna received its first radar signal since 1987.
"I flew 18,000 kilometres from Canada to conduct this test and so, you can imagine, I was delighted when we managed to receive the first signals from [the satellite]," ThothX chief executive Brendan Quine said.
Like a giant caravan
The dish needed to be aimed precisely at a satellite of interest in order to receive the signal.
However, it had only been rotated a handful of times since the late 1980s and rarely beyond the range of motion needed to be stowed for the cyclone season.
Along with a new back-end radio system, the dish's bearings required flushing with fresh oil and decades-worth of pigeon droppings removed, the latter of which was an ongoing battle.
The antenna's optics, a six-metre-deep tube at its centre, were also cleaned by hand.
Despite the comprehensive works and lofty goal, the latest test came down to three men and a hand-operated drill fitted to the rotator mechanism.
ThothX Australia director Phil Youd compared the manual operation to fine-tuning the dish atop a caravan.
"Some have got their satellite dishes … it's the same principle as that to find a satellite except it's far more accurate with what we've got," he said.
After several minute adjustments, the OTC dish managed to lock on the position of geo-stationary object NSS-12.
The United States-built satellite provides a wide range of services to Australia, such as television broadcasting, online banking transactions, emergency beacons, and military communications.
'Adversaries' above
With its proof-of-concept secured, ThothX plans to invest upwards of $10 million into the OTC dish, which it says will take a key place in its global satellite tracking network.
The dish's location in remote Western Australia, discovered by Mr Quine while searching Google Earth, is particularly well-positioned to give potential military clients a strategic advantage.
"Our adversaries are very active in space," he said.
He said an active radar would surpass the usefulness of telescopes used to monitor satellites, which could be affected by the weather.
"If you're waiting for your adversary to move a spacecraft, you kind of want to know immediately what's going on, and you want to be able to protect your own assets from things crashing into it," he said.
More work to be done
The state government contributed $50,000 towards the OTC dish's refurbishment in September as part of a regional development grant.
ThothX said those funds would go towards repainting the antenna and installing new power systems.
A fresh outer coating to help the dish withstand Carnarvon's corrosive ocean winds is next on the agenda, with hopes for a full radar demonstration in the next year.
Ultimately, the company expects to install more equipment and software that will allow the OTC dish to locate spacecraft up to 50,000 kilometres from Earth at an approximate three-metre margin of error.
The space company compared the project to its refurbishment of the 46-metre-dish at Algonquin Radio Observatory in Canada, one of several it operates across North America, Europe, and Australia.
It took about 15 years for the Algonquin dish to become fully operational.
Mr Youd, who also manages the Carnarvon Space and Technology Museum, said he was glad to help restore the local landmark.
"It's almost giving it a rebirth, you know?"
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-03/carnarvon-nasa-dish-receives-signal-repairs/104672866
You Are Now Arriving at ‘Pico Turquino’
Dec 02, 2024
Earth planning date: Monday, Nov. 18, 2024
Perseverance has been continuing its sightseeing tour of the Jezero crater rim, with this week’s travel itinerary including an up-close look at “Pico Turquino.”
Here, the team hopes to investigate the history recorded in this approximately 200-meter-long region (about 656 feet) of exposed outcrop.
Such rocks may reveal clues of ancient geologic processes including those that predate or are related to the violent impact that formed Jezero crater.
Recently, the team has been studying a number of outcropping ridges during the rover’s ascent of the crater rim, with the goal of characterizing the compositional diversity and structure of these exposed rocks.
After paralleling Pico Turquino about 70 meters (about 230 feet) to the south last week, the team planned a close approach over the weekend that positioned the rover at the southwestern extent of the ridge.
Prior to the 107-meter drive (about 351 feet) on sol 1332, the team planned two sols of targeted remote sensing with Mastcam-Z and SuperCam to investigate local regolith and conduct long distance imaging of a steep scarp and 20-meter (about 66 feet) diameter crater to the northwest.
The successful approach drive on sol 1332 allowed the team to come into Monday’s planning with the focus of assessing outcrop amenable for proximity science and repositioning the rover for upcoming abrasion activities.
Following our abrasion activities at Pico Turquino, the rover will be hitting the road en route to its next science stop at “Witch Hazel Hill.”
Orbital views of Witch Hazel Hill suggest the area may contain layered and light-toned bedrock that likely record important information of the planet’s ancient climate.
Prior to arriving at Witch Hazel Hill, the rover plans to pass through a high point known as Lookout Hill that will afford the team incredible views looking back into the crater, as well as get a glimpse westward of terrain far beyond Jezero.
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/you-are-now-arriving-at-pico-turquino/
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/sols-4732-4735-ill-zap-you-my-pretty-and-your-pebble-too/
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/4375-4381-a-stuffed-holiday-plan/
Experience the Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 Mission
Dec 02, 2024
Digital content creators are invited to register to attend the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission to carry astronauts to the International Space Station for a science expedition mission as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
This will be the 14th time a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by a Falcon 9 rocket takes crews to the orbital laboratory.
Launch of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission is targeted for no earlier than February 2025 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida.
The launch will carry NASA astronauts Anne McClain, commander, and Nichole Ayers, pilot, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, mission specialist, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov.
If your passion is to communicate and engage the world online, then this is the event for you! Seize the opportunity to see and share the #Crew10 mission launch.
A maximum of 50 social media users will be selected to attend this two-day event and will be given exclusive access to Kennedy.
NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:
View a crewed launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft
Tour NASA facilities at Kennedy Space Center
Meet and interact with Crew-10 subject matter experts
Meet fellow space enthusiasts who are active on social media
NASA Social registration for the Crew-10 launch opens on Monday, Dec. 2, and the deadline to apply is at 10 a.m. EDT on Monday, Dec. 16.
All social applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
https://www.nasa.gov/general/experience-the-launch-of-nasas-spacex-crew-10-mission/
https://www.nasa.gov/general/apply-for-a-nasa-social-media-credential/
Govt invites Israeli startups for collaboration in quantum, space sector
Dec 03 2024 | 8:26 PM IST
Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday invited Israeli startups to collaborate with Indian firms on the National Quantum Mission.
Singh made the offer to Israel's Industry and Economy Minister Nir Barkat who met him here.
The two leaders discussed collaboration in startups in the space, quantum technology, agriculture and health sectors.
Singh invited Israeli startups, known for their pioneering work in quantum computing, to partner with Indian institutions to co-develop critical quantum technologies.
"India and Israel can supplement each other in this domain India with its large market, manpower, and opportunities, and Israel with its cutting-edge innovation," Singh said.
India's National Quantum Mission aims to harness quantum technologies to bolster sectors like communication, cryptography, and computing, he said.
Singh said Israeli startups and researchers could play a vital role in co-developing critical technologies, leveraging their experience for mutual benefit.
The minister said since the opening of the space sector to private players, the number of startups in this domain has surged, reflecting India's growing role as a global space technology hub.
During the meeting, the two ministers also explored partnerships in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things.
Singh said Israeli companies can view India as a reliable partner in these critical domains and highlighted the country's strides in indigenous tech development, including mobile manufacturing and 5G rollout.
https://www.business-standard.com/companies/start-ups/govt-invites-israeli-startups-for-collaboration-in-quantum-space-sector-124120301127_1.html
NASA invests $1.5 million toward creation of Auburn University Space Manufacturing Initiative
Dec 3, 2024 7:30 AM
In-Space Manufacturing capabilities for structural and functional parts — tools, electronics, and sensors — is an inevitable part of future space activity.
That’s why the world leader in space exploration is calling upon Auburn University.
NASA recently invested $1.5 million toward the Auburn University Space Manufacturing Initiative, led by Masoud Mahjouri-Samani, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and Brock Birdsong, director of research at the Auburn University Applied Research Institute.
This new initiative will focus on a circular manufacturing ecosystem where local resources can be reused for manufacturing new parts and systems on demand.
“The Auburn University Space Manufacturing Initiative is a prime example of Auburn’s leadership as a space-grant institution,” said Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development.
“The Initiative’s research will be a driving force behind innovations necessary to advance critical missions and activities in space.”
“We must maintain our leadership in space, push the envelope of space exploration, and unleash its potential for both space and terrestrial applications,” said Mahjouri-Samani.
“To do this, we must have the capabilities to manufacture parts and systems in space.”
The need for in-space manufacturing impacts multiple missions, Mahjouri-Samani said, including in orbit, on a surface (moon/Mars) and in deep space.
“The scarcity of resources in space, the microgravity environment and the high cost of transporting materials create challenges,” said Mahjouri-Samani, director of the university’s LASE-END lab who is building off of current research to create the space manufacturing initiative.
“Scarcity of resources in space limits the use of current manufacturing technologies. Properly disposing of the out-of-mission and scrap parts in space is also a huge issue.
These challenges demand manufacturing technologies that operate in space environments and, most importantly, can reuse and recycle the available resources.”
Mahjouri-Samani suggested the use of space junk. “They’re already a big problem up in the space and are growing exponentially,” he said. “Why not convert them into necessary parts?”
Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, Mahjouri-Samani said, are potential manufacturing candidates for in-space manufacturing needs, as they have made a paradigm shift in the design and manufacturing of complex parts and 3D structures.
However, these technologies require well-defined sources of materials such as powders, sheets, and filaments for the printing process.
For instance, the most common AM machines for 3D printing metallic parts, such as laser-based powder bed fusion or powder-fed directed energy deposition systems, require metal powders.
“These metal powders must be prepared in powder manufacturing facilities, properly stored and safely transported to the machine users for printing parts,” Mahjouri-Samani said.
“These expensive technologies are less practical for remote locations, and they have complex safety requirements.”
Enter the Auburn University Space Manufacturing Initiative, which will use the funding to employ and develop new AM technologies that print parts and devices utilizing local resources.
These resources will be used as feedstock for the on-demand and in-situ generation of micro and nano-powders for the printing process.
“In contrast to the current AM technologies where pre-existing powders are required, in our approach, particles will be generated on-demand using a laser ablation process of the solid parts,” Mahjouri-Samani said.
“This unique approach allows us to address the space environment's scarcity and low gravity challenges for 2D, 2.5D, and 3D printing of functional and structural parts using local resources.”
Birdsong said by leveraging the university’s relationship with NASA and its world-class innovation in laser-based additive micro and nanomanufacturing technologies, Auburn is in a strong position to advance in-space manufacturing efforts.
“Our expertise in advanced manufacturing, and particularly NASA-funded on-orbit-printing functional structures and devices will allow Auburn to make important advances for in-space manufacturing challenge,” he said.
“In addition, Auburn has demonstrated the in-situ generation and real-time sintering of ultra-small nanoparticles for in-space manufacturing of electronics and sensors, which is an ongoing research project with NASA.”
https://www.eng.auburn.edu/news/2024/12/nasa-invests-in-creation-of-auburn-space-manufacturing-initiative.html
CesiumAstro and Axiom Space Join Forces to Develop Next-Generation Spacesuit Technology
December 03, 2024 08:45 AM EST
CesiumAstro, a leader in advanced space connectivity solutions, has teamed up with Axiom Space to develop key systems for their next-generation lunar spacesuit.
This collaboration will equip astronauts with essential capabilities for upcoming Moon missions.
CesiumAstro’s software-defined radio (SDR) will serve as the core computing and communications system for the spacesuits.
This advanced technology is designed to manage critical life support functions, facilitate data analysis, and ensure reliable communications in the challenging lunar environment.
“This collaboration represents a significant leap in spacesuit technology,” said Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro.
“Our software-defined radio will provide astronauts with unprecedented capabilities, enhancing safety and scientific productivity during lunar exploration.”
Key features of CesiumAstro’s SDR include:
High-performance computing using advanced chip technology
Robust communication links supporting high-speed data transfer
Resilient design to withstand extreme space conditions
Flexible architecture allowing for future upgrades and adaptations
The system’s reliability is reinforced through redundant components and extensive testing protocols, ensuring consistent performance throughout extended lunar operations.
Russell Ralston, Axiom Space Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity, commented on the effort: “CesiumAstro’s innovative approach made them an ideal teammate in the development of this crucial capability for our spacesuit.
Their technology will play a vital role in the success of future lunar missions.”
This groundbreaking project marks a historic milestone in efforts to return humans to the lunar surface, paving the way for future deep space exploration missions.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203048931/en/CesiumAstro-and-Axiom-Space-Join-Forces-to-Develop-Next-Generation-Spacesuit-Technology
https://www.cesiumastro.com/
UNO’s Nebraska Deterrence Lab Joins NATO Space Deterrence Wargames to Address Future Security Challenges
2024/12/03
The Nebraska Deterrence Lab (NDL) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has partnered with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to help run a series of space deterrence wargames.
As part of the team of nine NATO nations, NDL has assisted in developing and testing a deterrence framework that would anticipate and address future security challenges.
The first wargame took place in the Netherlands on April 29-May 2, 2024.
Michelle Black, Ph.D., professor of political science, and Deanna House, Ph.D., professor of information systems and quantitative analysis, co-lead NDL.
Black’s experience working at the Department of Defense and House’s expertise in cybersecurity bring significant value to their own work as well as more comprehensive ideas in shared research.
“NATO has invited academics before as individual experts, but this is the first time that they’ve partnered with a whole lab,” Black said. “And I do think that we’re the right lab for the job.
We’re really open to understanding and thinking about concepts differently and have a history with them. It made sense.”
According to a NATO statement about the exercise, “Space underpins the Alliance’s deterrence and defense missions, including the ability to navigate and track forces, position and target assets, and gather intelligence for informed decision-making.
As the space domain becomes more contested and congested, there is an increased need to ensure its responsible use, and to protect space assets from growing threats.
The deterrence framework would include procedures to deter and respond to nefarious acts, strengthening the cohesion and cooperation among Allies and partners.”
Black and House agree that NDL is perfect for this new role on the wargames team, pointing to their respected portfolio and the fact that it is the only lab in the U.S. that does academic research on multi-actor deterrence.
When it comes to working on the wargames project, House has been thrilled to see students learning ways to apply their skills to real-world problems and broaden their thinking of what career paths are possible for them.
“In my discipline of cybersecurity, we focus a lot on what the private sector does. With private sector work, we don’t think about the impact on national security or the livelihoods of citizens,” House said.
“Working on deterrence projects, especially on the wargames, has made students think about things differently and consider a broader application of what they may want to do. A lot of folks in younger generations aren’t motivated by making companies money.
They want to make an impact, which might be as a civil servant or working in defense.”
Black and House encourage interdisciplinary collaboration in the lab, drawing in students of various majors who use different approaches to solve problems.
“We have lab meetings where we discuss what we’re researching and our challenges. The Information Science & Technology (IS&T) students might see a challenge and say, ‘Oh, I have an app for that,’” Black said.
“But they don’t know the end user or how it should be structured. So, the Arts & Sciences students have ideas for that. We have the developers and analysts next to each other, learning to speak each other’s language.”
Miranda Barna, a graduate student earning a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice, works in NDL and agrees that the collaboration between students of different majors and backgrounds has really benefited her academic work.
“My favorite part about working at the Deterrence Lab is being able to learn from my peers,” Barna said. “As a social science student, I find it valuable to be able to discuss ideas with the technology students.
Everyone is so excited to learn from each other and create new things. It’s given me a lot of new perspectives.”
This has proven quite effective. NDL is recognized for its strong deterrence research and networking in the field, garnering local and national partnerships and work with defense agencies, such as the FBI.
There are currently twenty student positions in NDL, fourteen of which are assigned to the wargames project.
Students began this work in Fall 2023 to prepare for the wargame in April and May, then analyzed results from that wargame over the summer.
They are now preparing for the next wargame in 2025.
NDL will continue to work on the series of space deterrence wargames, which are planned to run through March 2026.
https://www.unomaha.edu/news/2024/12/unos-nebraska-deterrence-lab-joins-nato-space-deterrence-wargames-to-address-future-security-challenges.php
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Five_space_mysteries_Proba-3_will_help_solve
Five space mysteries Proba-3 will help solve
03/12/2024
ESA’s Proba-3 will be the first mission to create an artificial total solar eclipse by flying a pair of satellites 150 metres apart.
For six hours at a time, it will be able to see the Sun’s faint atmosphere, the corona, in the hard-to-observe region between the Sun’s edge and 1.4 million kilometres from its surface.
This new technology combined with the satellite pair’s unique extended orbit around Earth will allow Proba-3 to do important science, revealing secrets of the Sun, space weather and Earth’s radiation belts.
Proba-3, short for ‘Project for On-Board Autonomy 3’, is the fourth in a series of in-orbit demonstration missions which test out new technologies.
The millimetre precision with which the pair of satellites will position themselves in space has never been done before.
Let's dive into the top five space science mysteries that this mission will investigate.
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Why is the solar corona so much hotter than the Sun itself?
We all know the Sun is hot, but it is still a mystery how material in the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the solar corona, can reach million-degree temperatures. The visible surface below it, called the photosphere, is just 4500–6000 °C.
Rather than being a real surface, the photosphere is the layer of the Sun from which visible light can escape. Below it, light emitted from atoms in the Sun’s hot, dense interior is almost immediately re-absorbed by other atoms.
Light can be trapped inside the Sun for a long time before it can escape from the photosphere through the less dense charged gas (plasma) above.
Moving out into the corona, which is both less dense and further from the Sun’s core, you would expect to find lower temperatures. Instead, it gets around two-hundred times hotter!
Proba-3 will tackle this mystery by studying the solar corona closer to the Sun’s surface than any ‘coronagraph’ before it.
By blocking out the Sun’s direct light with one spacecraft, the other spacecraft will be able to see the faint visible light coming from the corona down to just 70 000 km above the Sun’s surface.
The coronagraph is Proba-3's main science instrument. It is called ASPIICS, which stands for Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona of the Sun.
One thing ASPIICS will hunt for is waves moving through the loops and plumes of plasma in the corona. This kind of movement is a likely cause for the corona's high temperatures.
The coronagraph will be able to capture these small-scale, fast movements by imaging the inner corona as fast as every couple of seconds.
Additionally, the coronagraph can show us which parts of the Sun's corona are hotter than others by using different light filters.
Imaging in white light, the instrument sees where the glowing plasma (of all temperatures) is concentrated and how it moves around.
These images can be compared to those taken through a green light filter, which selectively captures light sent out by particularly hot particles in the corona.
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What accelerates the solar wind?
The solar wind is the continuous stream of plasma sent out by the Sun, mostly made up of electrons, protons and alpha particles. When the solar wind collides with Earth’s magnetic field it can produce auroras – the northern and southern lights.
Just like wind on Earth, solar wind can be fast or slow, smooth or gusty. It comes in two main types, which differ not only in wind speed but also in composition and source region.
‘Slow’ solar wind – which still reaches Earth with speeds up to 500 km/s, or 1.8 million km/h – is made up of particles that resemble the makeup of the Sun's outer atmosphere or corona.
While the details remain elusive, this type of solar wind is known to be connected to active sunspot regions on the Sun which also produce solar flares and eruptions.
Proba-3's ASPIICS coronagraph will investigate how the twisted and concentrated magnetic field lines coming from sunspots interact with the magnetic field further out.
While it cannot detect this field directly, it will see the glowing plasma in the corona which follows along magnetic field lines and disturbances therein. By hunting for ‘blobs’ of slow solar wind, it can track how and where the wind gets pushed out.
'Fast’ solar wind can reach speeds of more than two million kilometres per hour and is composed of a particle mix more closely resembling that of the Sun's surface.
This type of wind is known to come from magnetic structures called coronal holes – regions where the Sun’s magnetic field does not turn back down into the Sun. Plasma can flow outward along these ‘open’ magnetic field lines, creating solar wind.
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But the question remains: how does fast solar wind reach such high speeds? To solve this mystery, Proba-3 will search for jets and waves including ‘magnetic switchbacks’ thought to give solar wind a magnetic push.
ASPIICS will reveal how plasma moves through the corona from right near the Sun's surface to around 1.4 million km further out.
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How does the Sun fling out material in coronal mass ejections?
Solar wind is one type of space weather, but what we really need to watch out for are the larger, more powerful solar storms. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are huge bubbles of charged particles (plasma) threaded with magnetic field lines.
CMEs are often – but not always – launched at the same time as bursts of electromagnetic radiation known as solar flares.
When Earth gets hit by a CME, this can deform Earth’s protective magnetic field and cause a geomagnetic storm. These storms can affect satellites, disrupt navigation systems, cause power outages, and bring auroras to lower latitudes.
Fast-moving CMEs can also create shockwaves that accelerate protons or other particles around the Sun to extremely high speeds. These ‘solar energetic particles’ can damage spacecraft and pose a risk to astronauts outside Earth's protective atmosphere.
By being able to see what happens in the solar corona very close to the Sun's surface, Proba-3 will reveal what happens leading up to a CME, how they erupt, how they expand outwards and how they interact with other structures and activity around the Sun.
It will see this part of the Sun's atmosphere for hours at a time and better than any coronagraph before it.
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How do electrons trapped in Earth’s radiation belts behave?
Space around Earth constantly has particles racing through it, either coming from the Sun, slingshotted to us from elsewhere in the Solar System, or reaching us from interstellar space.
Thankfully, we are protected from these by Earth's protective atmosphere and magnetic field, but this same field traps charged particles in rings around Earth known as the Van Allen radiation belts.
These fast-moving, high-energy particles pose risks to devices in space. They can disrupt onboard measurements and memories, or even cause permanent damage, while also posing potential danger to astronauts.
Proba-3's extended, elliptical orbit brings if from 600 km above Earth's surface all the way out to 60 530 km. This means that in every 19.7-hour orbit it passes twice through both the inner and outer radiation belts surrounding our planet.
There are other Earth-orbiting missions that traverse both belts, but Proba-3 is unique in crossing an unusually large portion of them.
With its 3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer (3DEES) instrument, Proba-3 will measure the number, direction of origin and energies of electrons in Earth's radiation belts.
This is the first time that the energy and fluxes of high-energy electrons will be measured at the same time across six different directions spanning a 180° field of view.
3DEES will reveal the behaviour of Earth's radiation belts under normal conditions, but it will also see how they are affected by space weather, including the previously mentioned solar wind and coronal mass ejections.
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How much does the Sun’s energy output change over time?
The Sun shines every day, but some days it shines more than others. Within a year, depending on Earth's distance to the Sun, the total solar irradiance reaching Earth can vary as much as 6%.
But how much the Sun radiates also changes depending on how active it is, with changes of around 0.1% taking place over the roughly 11-year solar cycle.
It is still a matter of scientific debate how much the Sun's energy output has changed over longer time periods (100–1000 years).
While recent climate change is certainly caused by human activities, it is possible that the Sun had a part to play in past climatic changes such as the cooling during the Little Ice Age (c. 1300–1850).
Could the Sun be more changeable than recent records show?
The Sun is responsible for more than 99.9% of the energy available at Earth's surface, and even small changes can have a big impact on processes that shape Earth's climate. Knowing the total solar irradiance is important for accurate climate modelling.
To improve and extend our monitoring of the Sun, Proba-3's ‘Occulter’ spacecraft will continuously measure the Sun's energy output using its Digital Absolute Radiometer (DARA) instrument.
DARA is designed to minimise unwanted straylight entering it, it can calibrate itself, and it should be able to measure more frequently thanks to a faster control system.
Another DARA – the exact same instrument – is already flying through space on the Chinese FY-3E weather satellite, launched in 2021 and flying around 800 km above Earth's surface. .
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US Spy Plane Violates Uganda, DRC Air Spaces
December 2, 2024
An alleged US spy plane breached the airspaces of Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last month, according to Ugandan media.
The violations were recorded three times on November 14, 15, and 26, Kampala Post reported, citing military sources.
According to the outlet, a Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft flew over Kasese and Bundibugyo in Uganda and Beni in the DRC.
The aircraft, with the tail number N9191, is leased by the US Department of Defense and is used for surveillance, the outlet added.
It is based out of Djibouti, which houses a US Navy base.
False Permission Sought
The US Defence Attaché’s Office in Kampala had sought permission for the aircraft to transport personnel and cargo to the DRC.
However, a probe was ordered after it never landed at its destination and was spotted making “suspicious maneuvers” in both the countries’ airspaces, Kampala Post wrote.
The “US controllers of the spy aircraft did not bother to even ask the DRC for permission to enter their airspace,” the outlet wrote.
“Instead, it was the Ugandan air traffic controllers who notified the understandably enraged DRC air traffic controllers.”
Both Uganda’s President and the Chief of Military Staff have reportedly been apprised of the matter and the aircraft’s earlier authorization has been revoked.
https://thedefensepost.com/2024/12/02/us-spy-plane-uganda/
Commercial Spaceflight Federation Rebrands To Represent Whole Commercial Space Industry
December 3, 2024
The trade association formerly known as the Commercial Spaceflight Federation is getting a new name, a concise mandate, and a way to support the politicians who support space.
The group will now be known as the Commercial Space Federation (CSF) to more accurately reflect its members, which include companies working in sectors ranging from spaceports to space situational awareness to EO.
“I heard we were seen as the launch trade association when 75% of member companies were not launch companies,” Dave Cavossa, who became president of CSF in June, told Payload.
“Launch is very important to what we do, but…it felt like it was time to mature again, that it’s about all of commercial space.”
Industry councils: To better represent its diverse membership, CSF created six new industry councils.
These will allow the organization to tailor both the info it shares with companies and its advocacy on the Hill to the priorities of specific sectors, though Cavossa acknowledged there will likely be significant overlap on things such as export control and mission authorization.
The councils are:
Launch and reentry
Commercial LEO
Space exploration
Spaceports and infrastructure
Remote sensing and analytics
Satellite and space situational awareness
Political support: CSF is also establishing a political action committee, or PAC, that is designed to support pro-commercial space lawmakers in their reelection bids, Cavossa said, noting that having a PAC affiliated with a trade association is very common in other industries.
The fund will be able to dole out contributions made by CSF employees, staff at its member companies, and PAC-to-PAC transfers from member companies’ own political funds.
“We want to make sure we’re there to support those members who step up and say we need to reduce regulation for commercial space to help it grow, we need to grow the NASA budget, we need to grow DoD budget for commercial space,” Cavossa said.
“We want to go out of our way very loudly to support them.”
A new motto: CSF is unveiling its “Integrate, Compete, and Unleash” initiative—because “everybody needs something short and sweet,” Cavossa said.
The initiative distills the organization’s top priorities that extend across its membership, regardless of sector.
Integrate: Cavossa said the government should include commercial space at the very beginning of mission planning and use commercial tech and services whenever possible.
Compete: This is a call for an open bidding process and for firm fixed-price contracts to make the government a “smarter buyer,” Cavossa said.
Unleash: CSF will be asking officials to consider what regulations are truly needed and scrap the rest.
What’s next:
Cavossa shared some of the top priorities for his member companies—and the top things he’ll be bringing to Congress and the new administration next year:
Increasing the budget for NASA and DoD space programs
Rewriting the FAA’s Part 450
Modernizing export control regulations
Eliminating duplication and cutting regulations
Approving a mission authorization architecture
Finalizing a plan to transition from the ISS to commercial space stations
https://payloadspace.com/csf-rebrands-to-represent-whole-commercial-space-industry/
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3925436/5-years-securing-our-nations-interests-in-from-and-to-space/
The shape of light: Scientists reveal image of an individual photon for 1st time ever
December 3, 2024
Researchers in Birmingham have created the first image of a photon, a lemon-shaped particle of light emitted from the surface of a nanoparticle.
The theory that made this image possible, reported Nov. 14 in the journal Physical Review Letters, enables scientists to calculate and understand various properties of these quantum particles — which could open up a range of new possibilities across fields such as quantum computing, photovoltaic devices and artificial photosynthesis.
Light's quantum behavior is well established, with over 100 years of experiments showing it can exist in both wave and particle form.
But our fundamental understanding of this quantum nature is much further behind, and we only have a limited grasp of how photons are created and emitted, or of how they change through space and time.
"We want to be able to understand these processes to leverage that quantum side," first author Ben Yuen, a research fellow at the University of Birmingham in the U.K., told Live Science in an email.
"How do light and matter really interact at this level?"
However, the very nature of light means the answer to this question has almost limitless possibilities. "We can think of a photon being a fundamental excitation of an electromagnetic field," explained Yuen.
These fields are a continuum of different frequencies, each of which could potentially become excited.
"You can split up a continuum into smaller parts and between any two points, there's still an infinite number of possible points you could pick," Yuen added.
The result is that the properties of a photon are heavily dependent on the properties of its environment, leading to some incredibly complex math.
"At first glance, we would have to write down and solve an infinite number of equations to reach an answer," Yuen said.
To tackle this seemingly impossible task, Yuen and co-author Angela Demetriadou, professor of theoretical nanophotonics at the University of Birmingham, employed a clever math trick to dramatically simplify the equations.
Introducing imaginary numbers — multiples of the impossible square root of -1 — is a powerful tool when handling complex equations.
Manipulating these imaginary components allows many of the difficult terms in the equation to cancel each other out.
Provided all imaginary numbers are converted back to real numbers before reaching the solution, this leaves a much more manageable calculation.
"We transformed that continuum of real frequencies into a discrete set of complex frequencies," explained Yuen.
"By doing that, we simplify the equations from a continuum into a discrete set which we can handle. We can put those into a computer and solve them."
The team used these new calculations to model the properties of a photon emitted from the surface of a nanoparticle, describing the interactions with the emitter and how the photon propagated away from the source.
From these results, the team generated the first image of a photon, a lemon-shaped particle never seen before in physics.
Yuen stressed, however, that this is only the shape of a photon generated under these conditions. "The shape changes completely with the environment," he said.
"This is really the point of nanophotonics, that by shaping the environment, we can really shape the photon itself."
The team's calculations provide a fundamental insight into the properties of this quantum particle — knowledge that Yuen believes will open up new lines of research for physicists, chemists and biologists alike.
"We could think about optoelectronic devices, photochemistry, light harvesting and photovoltaics, understanding photosynthesis, biosensors, and quantum communication," Yuen said.
"And there will be a whole host of unknown applications. By doing this kind of really fundamental theory, you unlock new possibilities in other areas."
https://www.space.com/the-universe/the-shape-of-light-scientists-reveal-image-of-an-individual-photon-for-1st-time-ever
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.203604
BepiColombo probe captures haunting Mercury image on 5th of 6 gravity assist flybys
December 2, 2024
The BepiColombo Mercury probe flew close to our solar system's innermost planet this week, capturing another haunting image as it zoomed by.
On Sunday (Dec. 1), BepiColombo made its fifth of six flybys of Mercury. On this most recent rendezvous, the probe was 200 times farther from the planet than on its previous flyby, which saw it come within just 103 miles (165 kilometers) of Mercury's surface.
Despite the greater distance in this recent flyby, the probe was once again able to generate an eerie image of diminutive Mercury, shining alone in the darkness of space.
This fifth flyby is the first during which the probe used its Mercury Radiometer and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (MERTIS) instrument, which measures the temperature and composition of the planet's surface and reveals what types of minerals are found on the planet's surface, which the European Space Agency (ESA) says is "one of the key Mercury mysteries that BepiColombo is designed to tackle."
BepiColombo is operated by the ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The probe launched in 2018 atop an Ariane 5 rocket on an eight-year voyage that will place it in orbit around Mercury.
The original mission plan had the spacecraft arriving in December 2025, but BepiColombo experienced thruster glitches that slowed things down; the probe is now set to be inserted into Mercury's orbit in November 2026.
Once there, the spacecraft will separate into two separate orbiters: ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. The pair will then study the small, hot world with 16 different science instruments.
The spacecraft has been flying by Earth, Venus and Mercury since 2020, use the planets' gravity to help put it on the right course to enter Mercury's orbit.
BepiColombo made its first Earth and Venus flybys in 2020, and first swung past Mercury on Oct. 1, 2021.
After one flyby in 2022 and 2023 each, the probe then made close approaches to Mercury on Sept. 4, 2024 and Dec. 1, 2024.
The probe's next Mercury flyby will occur on Jan. 8, 2025.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/mercury/bepicolombo-probe-captures-haunting-mercury-image-on-5th-of-6-gravity-assist-flybys-photo
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/11/BepiColombo_s_fifth_Mercury_flyby