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NASA’s C-20A Studies Extreme Weather Events
Dec 04, 2024
On a changing planet, where phenomena like severe hurricanes, landslides, and wildfires are becoming more severe, scientists need data to assess and model disaster impacts and to potentially make predictions about hazards.
NASA’s C-20A aircraft is a significant asset that can carry key instruments for understanding the science behind these phenomena.
Based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, the C-20A is a military version of the Gulfstream III business jet and operates as an airborne science aircraft for a variety of Earth science research missions.
In October, the plane was deployed to fly over areas affected by Hurricane Milton.
With winds of up to 120 miles per hour, the hurricane hit the Florida coast as a category 3 storm, and produced lightning, heavy rainfall, and a series of tornadoes.
In the aftermath of the storm, the C-20A was outfitted with the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR) instrument to collect detailed data about the affected flood areas.
“Our team focused specifically on inland river flooding near dense populations, collecting data that could help inform disaster response and preparation in the future,” said Starr Ginn, C-20A aircraft project manager.
“By all indications, this rapid response to support Hurricane Milton recovery efforts was a successful coordination of efforts by science and aircraft teams.”
The UAVSAR was developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, and uses a technique called interferometry to detect subtle changes to Earth’s surface.
Interferometry uses the intersection of multiple wavelengths to make precise measurements. This detection system effectively measures the terrain changes or impacts before and after an extreme natural event.
When flown onboard an aircraft, radars like the UAVSAR can also provide more detail than satellite radars.
“Where satellite instruments might only get a measurement every one to two weeks, the UAVSAR can fill in points between satellite passes to calibrate ground-based instruments,” Ginn said.
“It takes data at faster rates and with more precision. We can design overlapping flights in three or more directions to detect more textures and motions on the Earth’s surface.
This is a big advantage over the one-dimensional line-of-sight measurement provided by a single flight.”
The C-20A team also used the UAVSAR in October to investigate the Portuguese Bend landslide in Rancho Pales Verdes. The Portuguese Bend Landslide began in the mid- to late-Pleistocene period over 11,000 years ago.
Though inactive for thousands of years, the landslide was reactivated in 1956 when a road construction project added weight to the top of it. Recently, the landslide has been moving at increasing rates during dry seasons.
NASA’s JPL scientists, Xiang Li, Alexander Handwerger, Gilles Peltzer, and Eric Fielding have been researching this landslide progression using satellite-based instruments.
“The high-resolution capability of UAVSAR is ideal for landslides since they have relatively small features,” said Ginn. “This helps us understand the different characteristics of the landslide body.”
The C-20A airborne observatory also provided crucial insight for studies of wildfire.
The Fire and Smoke Model Evaluation Experiment (FASMEE), a multi-agency experiment led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, included flights of the C-20A.
This experiment studied fire behavior and smoke.
“The airborne perspective allows FASMEE researchers to better understand fire behavior and smoke production,” said Michael Falkowski, program manager for NASA’s Applied Sciences Wildland Fire program.
“Hopefully this data will help mitigate fire risk, restore degraded ecosystems, and protect human communities from catastrophic fire.”
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/armstrong/nasas-c-20a-studies-extreme-weather-events/
Expanded AI Model with Global Data Enhances Earth Science Applications
Dec 04, 2024
NASA, IBM, and Forschungszentrum Jülich have released an expanded version of the open-source Prithvi Geospatial artificial intelligence (AI) foundation model to support a broader range of geographical applications.
Now, with the inclusion of global data, the foundation model can support tracking changes in land use, monitoring disasters, and predicting crop yields worldwide.
The Prithvi Geospatial foundation model, first released in August 2023 by NASA and IBM, is pre-trained on NASA's Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) dataset and learns by filling in masked information.
The model is available on Hugging Face, a data science platform where machine learning developers openly build, train, deploy, and share models.
Because NASA releases data, products, and research in the open, businesses and commercial entities can take these models and transform them into marketable products and services that generate economic value.
“We’re excited about the downstream applications that are made possible with the addition of global HLS data to the Prithvi Geospatial foundation model.
We’ve embedded NASA’s scientific expertise directly into these foundation models, enabling them to quickly translate petabytes of data into actionable insights,” said Kevin Murphy, NASA chief science data officer.
“It’s like having a powerful assistant that leverages NASA’s knowledge to help make faster, more informed decisions, leading to economic and societal benefits.”
AI foundation models are pre-trained on large datasets with self-supervised learning techniques, providing flexible base models that can be fine-tuned for domain-specific downstream tasks.
Focusing on diverse land use and ecosystems, researchers selected HLS satellite images that represented various landscapes while avoiding lower-quality data caused by clouds or gaps.
Urban areas were emphasized to ensure better coverage, and strict quality controls were applied to create a large, well-balanced dataset.
The final dataset is significantly larger than previous versions, offering improved global representation and reliability for environmental analysis. These methods created a robust and representative dataset, ideal for reliable model training and analysis.
The Prithvi Geospatial foundation model has already proven valuable in several applications, including post-disaster flood mapping and detecting burn scars caused by fires.
One application, the Multi-Temporal Cloud Gap Imputation, leverages the foundation model to reconstruct the gaps in satellite imagery caused by cloud cover, enabling a clearer view of Earth's surface over time.
This approach supports a variety of applications, including environmental monitoring and agricultural planning.
Another application, Multi-Temporal Crop Segmentation, uses satellite imagery to classify and map different crop types and land cover across the United States.
By analyzing time-sequenced data and layering U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Crop Data, Prithvi Geospatial can accurately identify crop patterns, which in turn could improve agricultural monitoring and resource management on a large scale.
The flood mapping dataset can classify flood water and permanent water across diverse biomes and ecosystems, supporting flood management by training models to detect surface water.
Wildfire scar mapping combines satellite imagery with wildfire data to capture detailed views of wildfire scars shortly after fires occurred.
This approach provides valuable data for training models to map fire-affected areas, aiding in wildfire management and recovery efforts.
This model has also been tested with additional downstream applications including estimation of gross primary productivity, above ground biomass estimation, landslide detection, and burn intensity estimations.
“The updates to this Prithvi Geospatial model have been driven by valuable feedback from users of the initial version,” said Rahul Ramachandran, AI foundation model for science lead and senior data science strategist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
“This enhanced model has also undergone rigorous testing across a broader range of downstream use cases, ensuring improved versatility and performance, resulting in a version of the model that will empower diverse environmental monitoring applications, delivering significant societal benefits.”
https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/ai-geospatial-model-earth/
Dragon Packed With Science and Now Targets Friday Undocking
December 4, 2024
Packing research samples and station hardware for return to Earth were the top tasks aboard the International Space Station on Wednesday.
The seven-member Expedition 72 crew also serviced a variety of science hardware and electronics gear throughout the orbital lab.
NASA astronauts are finishing up the loading of completed science experiments and lab hardware inside the Dragon spacecraft for retrieval and analysis on Earth.
NASA and SpaceX now are targeting Friday, Dec. 6, for the return of the resupply spacecraft. Mission managers waved off the planned return on Thursday, Dec. 5, due to forecasted high winds at the splashdown site off the coast of Florida.
NASA’s live coverage of Dragon’s undocking and departure begins at 10:50 a.m. EST on NASA+ as the spacecraft autonomously undocks from the Harmony module’s forward port around 11:05 a.m. on Friday.
Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.
NASA astronaut and station commander Suni Williams kicked off her day installing the sample-packed Space Automated Lab Incubator inside Dragon.
NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore continued her work loading and securing portable science freezers filled with research samples and powered lockers containing finalized experiments inside the Earthbound spacecraft.
Williams and Hague also had time to join each other in the Quest airlock replacing components and resizing a spacesuit ahead of a series spacewalks planned for early next year.
Wilmore spent all day Wednesday loading cargo from the station into Dragon.
NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit started his day in the Kibo laboratory module configuring a small satellite orbital deployer that will soon be placed into the vacuum of space to release a series of CubeSats.
Pettit, a four-time space station visitor, wrapped up his shift replacing experiment samples inside the Combustion Integrated Rack readying the research device for a spacecraft fire safety investigation.
Roscosmos Flight Engineer Aleksandr Gorbunov also worked on cargo duties but on the other side of the orbital outpost.
Gorbunov unpacked some of the nearly three tons of cargo launched aboard the Progress 90 cargo craft on Nov. 21 and docking to the Poisk module on Nov. 23.
The first-time space flyer completed his day inspecting and photographing air conditioning hardware in the Zvezda service module.
Cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner partnered together throughout the day Wednesday servicing a host of communications and electronics hardware in the orbital outpost’s Roscosmos segment.
Ovchinin then moved on and checked ventilation equipment inside the Zarya module. Vagner conducted a photo-inspection of windows inside Zvezda then collected his hair samples for biological analysis.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2024/12/04/dragon-packed-with-science-and-now-targets-friday-undocking/
German firm tests powerful NASA battery that offers 30,000 cycles, 30-year life
Dec 05, 2024 08:44 AM EST
RWE, a German energy company, is testing advanced battery technology originally developed by NASA for the International Space Station.
The innovative energy storage solution is being integrated into the company’s wind and solar projects.
RWE plans to test nickel-hydrogen batteries in a renewable energy pilot project at its Milwaukee, Wisconsin, testing facility in the US.
The batteries, named Energy Storage Vessels (ESVs), capable of over 30,000 cycles, are supplied by EnerVenue, a company leading the commercial use of high-efficiency metal-hydrogen technology.
Nickel-hydrogen innovation
Energy storage technologies are urgently needed as the globe undergoes a significant shift to renewable energy sources.
Our greatest option to until has been lithium-ion batteries, but creating large-scale storage solutions is becoming more and more costly and time-consuming.
Li-ion batteries are vulnerable to thermal runaway, and in order to avoid a serious accident, big energy storage solutions require extra cooling, ventilation, and fire suppression facilities.
Batteries built on nickel and hydrogen may be useful in this situation.
Nickel-hydrogen batteries operate like traditional batteries with stacked electrodes, but they are enclosed in a pressurized gas tank.
The cathode uses nickel hydroxide, while the anode relies on hydrogen. Charging produces hydrogen gas, which is oxidized during discharge to create water.
Despite concerns about handling combustible hydrogen and pressurized tanks, the internal pressure is only 5 percent of that in hydrogen fuel cells.
Additionally, any excess pressure causes hydrogen to recombine into water, ensuring safety.
Advanced storage solutions
NASA has used nickel-hydrogen batteries for systems such as the International Space Station (ISS) since the 1970s. Platinum catalysts, which were expensive, were used in the initial design.
But in 2020, Yi Cui, a materials science professor at Stanford, created a less expensive substitute utilizing a nickel-molybdenum-cobalt alloy, opening up the technology for wider use.
Cui’s invention of an affordable nickel-molybdenum-cobalt alloy catalyst led to the founding of EnerVenue.
EnerVenue’s battery packs, called ESVs, feature six-foot-long, six-inch-wide tanks capable of storing 3 kWh of energy.
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, ESVs operate across a wide temperature range (-40°F to 140°F) without requiring additional safety measures.
However, nickel-hydrogen batteries are costlier to manufacture and have lower energy density, necessitating more units to match lithium-ion outputs.
Despite these limitations, nickel-hydrogen batteries excel in durability, with a lifespan of 30,000 charge cycles—equivalent to up to 30 years of use.
EnerVenue estimates they retain 86 percent capacity even after extensive use. This makes them a promising alternative for long-term energy storage in a sustainable energy future.
Advancing sustainability
RWE’s pilot project at its US testing facility near Milwaukee will evaluate EnerVenue’s ESV batteries.
The project’s objectives are to evaluate overall efficiency, temperature resilience, duration, charge and discharge performance, and cycling adaptability.
RWE will use the data from these experiments to improve the technology in preparation for possible future energy project integration.
RWE claims that ESVs have extremely long lifespans and can cycle three times a day.
Their scalable design ensures flexibility and safety, avoiding thermal runaway risks seen in lithium-ion batteries, thus eliminating costly fire suppression systems.
Additionally, ESVs are easier to recycle, enhancing their sustainability and environmental appeal.
“Energy Storage Vessels are built to meet the demands of even the most diverse and challenging clean energy applications, providing a reliable, long-lasting, and sustainable answer for large-scale renewable energy projects.
Collaborating with a leader like RWE allows us to showcase the capabilities of our technology and demonstrate how it can drive the future of clean energy expansion and grid resilience,” said Majid Keshavarz, CTO of EnerVenue, in a statement.
RWE develops and operates battery storage systems across the U.S., Europe, and Australia, with a current capacity of 0.7 GW and 1.4 GW under construction.
As part of its Growing Green strategy, the company aims to expand its capacity to 6 GW globally by 2030.
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/german-firm-tests-powerful-nasa-battery
magniX achieves milestone in NASA test==
December 05, 2024
Electric aviation powertrain developer magniX reached a historic milestone in testing its magni650 electric propulsion unit (EPU) at NASA’s Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) in Sandusky, Ohio.
The magni650 successfully performed at an altitude of 30,000 feet at a maximum continuous power of 700 kilowatts (kW) – an unprecedented achievement for an electric engine.
The breakthrough performance of magniX’s EPU under simulated flight conditions at altitude demonstrates its readiness for the flight test phase of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project and moves it closer to the world’s first electric engine certification.
In the next stage of EPFD, one of the four turbine engines on magniX’s De Havilland Dash 7 test aircraft will be replaced with a magni650 electric powertrain, with test flights planned for 2026.
The final stage of the program will see a second turbine engine substituted with another magniX powertrain. This configuration is expected to reduce fuel consumption up to 40% on a typical flight.
The data collected will help bring the electrification of large-scale commercial aircraft closer to entry-into-service by the end of the decade.
With a record of powering first flights on five different aircraft, magniX is leading the advancement of electric aviation.
Having launched its Samson batteries earlier in 2024, with superior energy density and cycle-life, magniX provides a full electric powertrain solution with a pathway to entry-into-service.
“The NEAT test campaign has moved us closer to the world’s first certification of an electric powertrain for aviation,” said Ben Loxton, magniX VP of Technical Programs.
“The work we are doing with NASA in the EPFD project will enable the electrification of regional commercial aviation in pure electric on short routes, and hybridization on longer routes – significant steps toward the decarbonization of aerospace.”
https://www.aerospacemanufacturinganddesign.com/news/magnix-achieves-milestone-nasa-test/
=OBITUARY: NASA Veteran, Bishop Clarence Ferguson, 93, Passed Away Peacefully Nov. 19 in Viera
December 5, 2024
Bishop Clarence Ferguson transitioned peacefully on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, in Viera, FL, at the age of 93.
Born on April 20, 1931, to the late James and Wessie Brothers Ferguson, Clarence was the fifth of fourteen children.
A graduate of Monroe High School and a proud product of the Florida school system, he served his country in the United States Army for two years.
His passion for education led him to study real estate at Brevard Community College and earn a Bachelor of Science in Theological Studies from Truth Bible College and Seminary in Jacksonville, FL.
Clarence dedicated over 31 years of service to NASA at Kennedy Space Center, where he excelled as an Assistant Property Disposal Officer and received numerous awards for his outstanding contributions.
Beyond his career, he was a devoted community leader, serving as a Chaplain for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, an active member of the NAACP, and a supporter of the Cocoa-Rockledge Civic League.
Alongside his beloved wife, Susie, he mentored local youth, shaping their lives with guidance and encouragement.
In 1982, Clarence was ordained as a pastor by the Churches of God, Cleveland, Tennessee.
He began his pastoral journey at Southside Church of God in Gifford, FL, later serving at Titusville Church of God.
He was ordained as a Bishop in 1992 and faithfully served as District Assistant Overseer of the Churches of God from 1995 to 2003.
In 1986, Bishop Ferguson founded Rockledge Church of God, now known as Faith Temple Christian Center. Under his visionary leadership, the church became a beacon of hope and inspiration in the community.
Following his retirement from NASA in 1989, he devoted himself fully to ministry while co-owning Little Folk Child Care Center with his wife.
Though he retired as Senior Pastor in 2001, he continued to serve as Bishop and Overseer, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering faith and dedicated service.
He is survived by his devoted wife of over 65 years, Dr. Susie Walker Ferguson; his children, daughter Deborah Yarbrough (Keith) and son Dr. R. Shaun Ferguson; cherished grandchildren Brian Yarbrough (Amy), Kristen Yarbrough, Jamin Robinson (Amy), and Javon Adams; great-grandchildren Kyla and Brayden Yarbrough, and David and Kaylah Robinson, who were beloved as great-grandchildren.
He also leaves behind Cynthia Stewart, who was like a daughter to him; his siblings Willie Jean Ferguson (Bernice), Ruth Jackson, David Ferguson (Deloris), and Bruce Ferguson (Loretta); and a host of extended family and friends.
Bishop Clarence Ferguson’s life was a testament to faith, service, and love. His legacy will continue to inspire and uplift all those whose lives he touched.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 6, 2024, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m., at Faith Temple Christian Center, 836 Ferndale Ave., Rockledge, Florida, 32955.
Funeral service will be Saturday, December 7, 2024, 1 p.m., at Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 213 Stone St., Cocoa, Florida, 32922.
Clergy are asked to be in civic attire; all others are asked to wear blue.
https://spacecoastdaily.com/2024/12/obituary-nasa-veteran-bishop-clarence-ferguson-93-passed-away-peacefully-nov-19-in-viera/
SpaceX SXM-9 Mission
December 5, 2024
SpaceX is targeting Thursday, December 5 for launch of the SiriusXM SXM-9 mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The 90-minute window opens at 11:10 a.m. ET. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on Friday, December 6 during a two-hour window that opens at the same time.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.
This will be the 19th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Instelsat IS-40e, O3B mPOWER, Ovzon 3, Eutelsat 36D, Turksat 6A, Maxar 2, and 10 Starlink missions.
After 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=sxm-9
Matt Dominick’s X Account: A Visual Journey from Space
Dec 05, 2024
NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Matthew Dominick launched to the International Space Station on March 3, 2024 as the commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission.
AS a flight engineer aboard the orbiting laboratory, Dominick conducted scientific research while capturing breathtaking views of Earth and beyond from the ultimate vantage point—250 miles above the planet.
Dominick’s X account (@dominickmatthew) has become a visual diary, showcasing the beauty of our planet captured from low Earth orbit during his 235 days in space.
From the ethereal glow of auroras dancing across the atmosphere to comets rising up over the horizon during an orbital sunrise, each meticulously captured image reflects his dedication to sharing the wonders of space exploration through social media.
He goes beyond simply posting pictures; he reveals the techniques behind his astrophotography, including camera settings and insights into his creative process, inviting followers to appreciate the artistry involved.
Amid his daily astronaut duties, Dominick dedicated personal time to this endeavor, amassing nearly 500,000 captivating photos of Earth and snapshots of life aboard the International Space Station, while having traveled 99,708,603 total statue miles around our home planet. Through his lens(es), he invited us to experience the awe of space while highlighting the realities of life in orbit, fostering an authentic connection with those who engage with his work.
Building on this commitment to connect, Dominick participated in the first-ever live X Spaces event from space, marking a new way for NASA astronauts to connect personally with followers.
He shared insider tips on astrophotography from orbit and discussed the challenges and joys of capturing stunning images in microgravity.
Concluding the event, he vividly narrated his live experience floating into the Cupola at sunset while orbiting over Paris just days before the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Dominick’s journey as an astronaut unfolds in real-time on his X account. He has captured the arrivals and departures of various spacecraft, documented dynamic weather events, and even participated in Olympic festivities.
His stunning timelapses and behind-the-scenes videos offer an intimate look at life aboard the space station, beautifully illustrating the intricate interplay between science and wonder.
What sets Dominick’s account apart is his playful perspective. He invites his audience into lighthearted moments—whether he’s cleaning his retainer in microgravity, relishing the arrival of fresh fruit, or sharing insights from the ISS toolbox.
By documenting and sharing these experiences, he demystifies the complexities of space travel, making it an accessible and relatable journey for all.
Through his engaging posts, Dominick cultivates a deeper connection with his followers, encouraging them to share in the beauty and reality of life beyond our planet.
Visit Dominick’s X account (@dominickmatthew) to experience the wonders of space through his eyes, enriched by his remarkable journey of orbiting the Earth 3,760 times.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/station/matt-dominicks-x-account-a-visual-journey-from-space/
https://x.com/dominickmatthew/
NASA’s Astronaut Sunita Williams Grows Lettuce in Space
5 December 2024 20:00 IST
NASA astronaut Sunita Williams is conducting an agricultural experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) aimed at advancing space farming techniques and addressing Earth's agricultural challenges, as per reports.
The experiment, part of NASA's Plant Habitat-07 study, involves cultivating “Outredgeous” romaine lettuce in microgravity conditions.
According to reports, the study examines how water availability impacts plant growth in space, with potential benefits for long-term space missions and sustainable farming on Earth.
Objectives of the Experiment
The primary goal of this research is to develop effective plant cultivation methods for extended space missions.
Scientists are exploring how plants grow and thrive in microgravity to support self-sustaining life-support systems in space.
As per sources, these findings are expected to aid in designing water-efficient agricultural practices for drought-stricken regions on Earth.
According to multiple reports, Sunita Williams has been collecting baseline water samples and installing the science carrier for the lettuce, which serves as its cultivation chamber.
Data from this experiment will assess growth patterns, nutritional content, and the general health of the lettuce.
Implications for Space and Earth
The ability to grow food in space is considered crucial for reducing dependence on resupply missions and providing astronauts with fresh, nutritious produce.
This also offers psychological benefits during prolonged space travel. On Earth, these findings may inform sustainable farming practices, allowing crops to be cultivated using minimal resources.
Reports suggest that the ISS's Advanced Plant Habitat, used for this study, provides cutting-edge infrastructure for agricultural research.
Insights gained could contribute to solutions for global food security and resource conservation.
https://www.gadgets360.com/science/news/nasa-s-sunita-williams-conducts-space-farming-experiment-to-tackle-earth-s-agricultural-challenges-7178196
SpaceX Starlink Mission
December 4, 2024
On Wednesday, December 4 at 7:05 p.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This was the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew 7, CRS-29, NROL-186, EarthCARE, PACE, Transporter-10, and now six Starlink missions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-9-14
Vendée Globe Race watched from space with CLS
4 Dec 13:39 PST
As the skippers race in the sometimes ferocious Southern Ocean close to Antarctica, the Vendée Globe is paying extra attention to look after the sailors' safety.
A virtual zone called the Antarctic Exclusion Zone (ZEA) has been set up around Antarctica, prohibiting skippers from getting too close to the ice which is contained within this no go area.
This zone is defined by the mission-driven company CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites), who are a long-standing partner of the race which is mobilizing satellites and experts for a unparalleled level of surveillance from space.
Satellites at the service of skippers
From space, three types of satellites continuously monitor icebergs which could threaten skippers and their boats. At an altitude of 700 km, they detect, analyze and track the ice using advanced technologies.
Cloud-piercing radar satellites: to detect icebergs day and night.
Optical satellites: space cameras.
Altimetric satellites: normally used to measure the average sea level, their use has been diverted here to detect icebergs.
An innovative space collaboration
This monitoring would not be possible without the cooperation of the ESA (European Space Agency) and the CNES (Centre national d'études spatiales), parent company of CLS.
For this 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, CLS is relying on:
Sentinel-1A, a radar satellite from the European Space Agency (ESA).
SWOT, an altimetric satellite launched in 2022, an innovation from CNES, which maps risk areas and predicts the movements of icebergs.
With these tools, each iceberg is integrated into forecast models that simulate its trajectory and evolution, allowing real-time adjustments to the Antarctic Exclusion Zone (AEZ).
Exceptional human and technological resources
Nearly 100 CLS experts, in Toulouse and around the world, are mobilizing satellites and artificial intelligence to analyze the data. Their mission? Anticipate risks so that each skipper completes the loop in optimal safety conditions.
Alain Leboeuf, President of the Vendée Globe and the Vendée department: "Skipper safety is an absolute priority for the Vendée Globe.
Thanks to our long-standing partnership with CLS, we benefit from reassuring expertise and proven know-how, essential for meeting the unique challenges of the Southern Seas.
This collaboration illustrates the strength of a lasting commitment to innovation and the safety of our heroes of the seas."
https://www.sail-world.com/news/281887/Vendee-Globe-Race-watched-from-space-with-CLS
https://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/tracker
Northrop Grumman activates Arctic satcom constellation for Space Force, Norway
December 3, 2024
Northrop Grumman announced Tuesday that it has handed over mission operations and completed activation of Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) constellation, expanding access to satellite communications in the High North for both the U.S. Space Force and Norway.
Built by Northrop Grumman and launched by SpaceX in August, the two-satellite constellation includes two Enhanced Polar System
— Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads and others for Space Norway, a state-owned firm that develops and manages space-based services for government and commercial use.
The satellites are intended to operate in a highly elliptical orbit to provide satcom capabilities for both commercial and military applications in the Arctic region.
The EPS-R payloads hosted on ASBM are expected to add to the capacity of Enhanced Polar System (EPS) payloads currently on orbit, extending the Pentagon’s satcom capability in the Arctic region until the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) system is fielded in the early 2030s, according to the Defense Department.
In addition, Northrop Grumman upgraded its ground system that’s used to operate the older EPS satellites with a common baseline software.
The upgrades allow for both EPS and EPS-R on the same architecture, “eliminating the need for training on two separate control systems,” a company press release stated.
The ASBM constellation includes systems for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense and Viasat that will boost X-band and Ka-band connectivity in the Arctic, and others for the Norwegian Radiation Monitor to provide data on highly elliptical orbits, according to the contractor.
“Thanks to a bold vision from our customers — and enabled by Northrop Grumman’s end-to-end capabilities, deep mission understanding and unmatched MILSATCOM legacy
— our service members and allies can now count on reliable, secure communications in this strategically important region while next-generation systems are developed,” Blake Bullock, vice president of military space systems at Northrop Grumman, said in a statement.
While the ASBM satellite contributes to the Defense Department’s effort to increase operational capacity in the Arctic, it also marked the first time a U.S. military payload was hosted on an international commercial space mission — a key step forward in the United States’ efforts to strengthen collaboration with international allies in space.
https://defensescoop.com/2024/12/03/northrop-grumman-activates-arctic-satcom-asbm-constellation-space-force-norway/