TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
December 6, 2024
Xuyi Station and the Fireball
Colorful and bright, this streaking fireball meteor was captured in a single exposure taken at Purple Mountain (Tsuchinshan) Observatory’s Xuyi Station in 2020, during planet Earth's annual Perseid meteor shower. The dome in the foreground houses the China Near Earth Object Survey Telescope (CNEOST), the largest multi-purpose Schmidt telescope in China. Located in Xuyi County, Jiangsu Province, the station began its operation as an extension of China's Purple Mountain Observatory in 2006. Darling of planet Earth's night skies in 2024, the bright comet designated Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) was discovered in images taken there on 2023 January 9. The discovery is jointly credited to NASA's ATLAS robotic survey telescope at Sutherland Observatory, South Africa. Other comet discoveries associated with the historic Purple Mountain Observatory and bearing the observatory's transliterated Mandarin name include periodic comets 60/P Tsuchinshan and 62/P Tsuchinshan.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
2027: NASA names a new date for the return of humans to the Moon
December 6, 2024
On December 5, NASA held a press conference about the Artemis program.
The aerospace administration shared the results of its investigation into the Orion spacecraft heat shield anomaly, and also gave a new timeline for the return of humans to the Moon.
Orion’s heat shield
A significant part of the press conference was devoted to Orion’s thermal protection.
Recall that after the return to Earth of the spacecraft capsule involved in the Artemis II mission, it was found that the ablative heat shield had experienced more material loss than expected.
During its post-flight inspection, engineers found cracks and cavities.
To determine the causes of this anomaly, NASA specialists conducted an extensive investigation. It included more than a hundred different tests.
The investigation revealed that the heat shield was not allowing enough gases formed inside the material called Avcoat to escape, causing parts of the material to crack and break off.
Despite this, the temperature inside Orion remained comfortable and safe with a crew on board.
In the end, the experts decided not to change the shield already installed on the spacecraft that would be involved in the Artemis II mission.
Changes will be made to the design of the shields that will be involved in future missions to the Moon.
NASA stresses that the shield designed for Artemis II will do its task and ensure the safe return of the four astronauts to Earth.
Postponement of Artemis II and Artemis III missions
Another topic raised was the timing of the Artemis II and Artemis III missions. As expected, NASA announced their postponement.
Artemis II flight moved from September 2025 to April 2026. Artemis III flight — from September 2026 to mid-2027.
It was absolutely the expected decision. The Artemis program has encountered a number of delays, ranging from unprepared lunar spacesuits to the need to repair the mobile launch platform for the SLS rocket.
SpaceX also needs to do a lot more work to put the Starship into operation, without which the landing of American astronauts on the Moon is not feasible.
NASA also said it had begun assembling the SLS rocket that would be used for the Artemis II mission. The announcement occurred amid rumors that its project would soon be shut down due to excessive cost and constant delays.
So it may indicate that the SLS will still be utilized for some lunar missions. Preparing a replacement for the rocket will take time and at the current stage could further delay the return of humans to the Moon.
At the same time, we should not forget that Jared Isaacman will soon take over as NASA administrator. He may have completely different ideas about the Artemis program and how best to achieve its objectives.
https://universemagazine.com/en/2027-nasa-names-a-new-date-for-the-return-of-humans-to-the-moon/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAP-ywsh_HI
NASA Invites Media to Administrator Flight in Electra Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
Dec 05, 2024
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will fly in aircraft manufacturer Electra’s EL2 Goldfinch experimental prototype aircraft on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Members of the media are invited to speak with Nelson and Electra leaders just prior to the flight at 11:45 a.m. EST at Manassas Regional Airport in Manassas, Virginia.
Electra designed the experimental aircraft with the goals of reducing emissions and noise and connecting new locations for regional air travel, including underserved communities.
Media will be able to view and film the flight, which is set to feature ultra-short takeoffs and landings with as few as 150 feet of ground roll.
The flight also is set to include a battery-only landing. Media interested in participating must RSVP to Rob Margetta at robert.j.margetta@nasa.gov.
NASA’s aeronautics research works to develop new generations of sustainable aviation technologies that will create new options for both U.S. passengers and cargo.
Agency-supported research aims to provide industry providers like Electra, and others, data that can help inform the designs of innovative, greener aircraft with reduced operating costs.
NASA investments have included projects that explore electrified aircraft technologies, and work that helped refine the electric short-takeoff and landing concept.
The agency’s work with private sector aviation providers helps NASA in its effort to bring sustainable solutions to the American public.
In November, NASA selected Electra as one of five recipients of its Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability 2050 awards, through which they will develop design studies and explore key technologies to push the boundaries of possibility for next-generation sustainable commercial aircraft.
These new studies will help the agency identify and select promising aircraft concepts and technologies for further investigations.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-invites-media-to-administrator-flight-in-electra-hybrid-electric-aircraft/
NASA to Test Technology for X-59’s Unique Shock Wave Measurements
Dec 05, 2024
NASA will soon test advancements made on a key tool for measuring the unique “sonic thumps” that its quiet supersonic X-59 research aircraft will make while flying.
A shock-sensing probe is a cone-shaped air data probe developed with specific features to capture the unique shock waves the X-59 will produce.
Researchers at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California developed two versions of the probe to collect precise pressure data during supersonic flight.
One probe is optimized for near-field measurements, capturing shock waves that occur very close to where the X-59 will generate them.
The second shock-sensing probe will measure the mid-field, collecting data at altitudes between 5,000 to 20,000 feet below the aircraft.
When an aircraft flies supersonic, it generates shockwaves that travel through the surrounding air, producing loud sonic booms. The X-59 is designed to divert those shock waves, reducing the loud sonic booms to quieter sonic thumps.
During test flights, an F-15B aircraft with a shock-sensing probe attached to its nose will fly with the X-59. The roughly 6-foot probe will continuously collect thousands of pressure samples per second, capturing air pressure changes as it flies through shock waves.
Data from the sensors will be vital for validating computer models that predict the strength of the shock waves produced by the X-59, the centerpiece of NASA’s Quesst mission.
“A shock-sensing probe acts as the truth source, comparing the predicted data with the real-world measurements,” said Mike Frederick, NASA principal investigator for the probe.
For the near-field probe, the F-15B will fly close behind the X-59 at its cruising altitude of approximately 55,000 feet, utilizing a “follow-the-leader” setup allowing researchers to analyze shock waves in real time.
The mid-field probe, intended for separate missions, will collect more useful data as the shock waves travel closer to the ground.
The probes’ ability to capture small pressure changes is especially important for the X-59, as its shock waves are expected to be much weaker than those of most supersonic aircraft.
By comparing the probes’ data to predictions from advanced computer models, researchers can better evaluate their accuracy.
“The probes have five pressure ports, one at the tip and four around the cone,” said Frederick.
“These ports measure static pressure changes as the aircraft flies through shock waves, helping us understand the shock characteristics of a particular aircraft.”
The ports combine their measurements to calculate the local pressure, speed, and direction of airflow.
Researchers will soon evaluate upgrades to the near-field shock-sensing probe through test flights, where the probe, mounted on one F-15B, will collect data by chasing a second F-15 during supersonic flight.
The upgrades include having the probe’s pressure transducers – devices that measure the air pressure on the cone – just 5 inches from its ports.
Previous designs placed those transducers nearly 12 feet away, delaying recording time and distorting measurements.
Temperature sensitivity on previous designs also presented a challenge, causing fluctuations in accuracy with changing conditions.
To solve this, the team designed a heating system to maintain the pressure transducers at a consistent temperature during flight.
“The probe will meet the resolution and accuracy requirements from the Quesst mission,” Frederick said.
“This project shows how NASA can take existing technology and adapt it to solve new challenges.”
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-to-test-technology-for-x-59s-unique-shock-wave-measurements/
Antarctic Sea Ice Concentration
Dec 5, 2024
This animation shows the percent of sea ice concentration in Antarctica for the past twelve years, using data from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) instrument aboard the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Global Change Observation Mission - Water 1 (GCOM-W1) platform.
Press “Play” in the lower left corner of the embedded map to view changes in percent sea ice concentration over the past 12 years in monthly increments.
Sea ice concentration describes the relative amount of area covered by ice, as compared to a reference area.
The animation displays the percent of sea ice concentration in Antarctica as a daily composite of the AMSR2 1:30 a.m. ascending and 1:30 p.m. descending half-orbit passes, at a spatial resolution of 12 km.
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/worldview-image-archive/antarctic-sea-ice-concentration
More NASA Artemis
FAQ: NASA’s Artemis Campaign and Recent Updates
https://www.nasa.gov/general/faq-nasas-artemis-campaign-and-recent-updates/
NASA Shares Orion Heat Shield Findings, Updates Artemis Moon Missions
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-shares-orion-heat-shield-findings-updates-artemis-moon-missions/
NASA Identifies Cause of Artemis I Orion Heat Shield Char Loss
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/nasa-identifies-cause-of-artemis-i-orion-heat-shield-char-loss/
IAEA chief: Iran poised to ‘quite dramatically’ increase stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium
Updated 7:29 AM PST, December 6, 2024
Iran stands poised to “quite dramatically” increase its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium as it has signalled it will start cascades of advanced centrifuges, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency warned Friday.
The comments from Rafael Mariano Grossi came just hours after Iran said it conducted a successful space launch with its heaviest payload ever, the latest for its program that the West alleges improves Tehran’s ballistic missile program.
The launch of the Simorgh rocket comes as Iran’s nuclear program now enriches uranium at 60%, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
While Iran maintains its program is peaceful, officials in the Islamic Republic increasingly threaten to potentially seek the bomb and an intercontinental ballistic missile that would allow Tehran to use the weapon against distant foes like the United States.
Grossi, speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, said his inspectors planned to see just how many centrifuges Iran would be spinning after Tehran informed his agency of its plans.
“I think it is very concerning,” Grossi said. “They were preparing and they have all of these facilities sort of in abeyance and now they are activating that. So we are going to see.”
He added: “If they really make them turn — all of them — it’s going to be a huge jump.”
Iran did not immediately acknowledge the preparations.
Iran has always denied seeking nuclear weapons and says its space program, like its nuclear activities, is for purely civilian purposes.
However, U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA say Iran had an organized military nuclear program up until 2003.
https://apnews.com/article/iran-space-launch-mideast-tensions-26b332d54d39173db8524b006848b6c8
SpaceX satellite launch from Kennedy Space Center tops off three launches in 30 hours
December 6, 2024
SpaceX sent up a commercial satellite late Thursday morning from Kennedy Space Center, completing three launches in just under 30 hours among its three active pads in Florida and California.
A Falcon 9 rocket on the SiriusXM SXM-9 mission took up the satellite radio company's hardware built by Maxar Space Systems to geosynchronous transfer orbit with liftoff from KSC's Launch Complex 39-A at 11:10 a.m. under mostly clear skies.
The first-stage booster made its 19th launch with a recovery landing downrange in the Atlantic on the droneship Just Read the Instructions.
It marked the 380th successful booster landing for the company since 2015, and the 100th alone for Just Read the Instructions, one of three drone ships SpaceX uses alongside A Shortfall of Gravitas, both of which sail out of Port Canaveral, and the west coast-based Of Course I Still Love You.
It marked the 87th launch from the Space Coast in 2024 with all but five of those coming from SpaceX.
The 86th came early Wednesday at 5:13 a.m. when a Falcon 9 launched 24 Starlink satellites from neighboring Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX also sent up another Starlink mission on the west coast from California's Vandenburg Space Force Base at 10:05 p.m. Wednesday.
That's already a record that bested the 72 Space Coast launches from pads at both KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, but with only 25 days left in the year, it's unlikely to reach 100.
United Launch Alliance had originally planned to knock out two more launches of its new Vulcan Centaur on national security missions, but the rocket has seen a delay in certification for those flights by the Space Force after a booster issue on the last launch.
Those now won't take place until 2025.
Blue Origin, meanwhile, could be gearing up for a hot fire soon of its New Glenn rocket on the pad at Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 36 with Jeff Bezos' company still sticking to the goal of launching it on its debut mission before the end of the year.
For its part, SpaceX plans to continue Falcon 9 launches at a pace of about two per week from Florida.
Including launches in California, though, SpaceX has now launched 124 orbital missions as well as four suborbital test flights of its Starship and Super Heavy rocket from Texas.
https://phys.org/news/2024-12-spacex-satellite-kennedy-space-center.html
India to beam quantum signals into space from Ladakh
UPDATED: Dec 6, 2024 16:54 IST
Scientists from the Raman Research Institute (RRI) have identified optimal locations in India for beaming quantum signals into space, marking a significant advancement in satellite-based quantum communications.
This research, published in EPJ Quantum Technology, highlights the potential for quantum key distribution (QKD) to enhance global communication security.
A quantum signal refers to information transmitted using the principles of quantum mechanics, which governs the behaviour of particles at extremely small scales, such as photons, electrons, or atoms.
Quantum signals are primarily associated with quantum communication and quantum computing systems.
The study focuses on the viability of transmitting quantum signals through the atmosphere, which is crucial for establishing effective satellite communication systems.
Researchers analysed existing open-source data from three of India's advanced observatory sites: the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanle, Mt. Abu in Rajasthan, and the Aryabhatta Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) in Nainital.
The findings indicate that Hanle, located in the high-altitude desert of Ladakh, is the prime candidate for this revolutionary technology due to its dry climate and low atmospheric water vapor levels.
Professor Urbasi Sinha, head of the Quantum Information and Computing (QuIC) lab at RRI, stated, “Hanle offers all required natural settings suitable for setting up a ground station and undertaking quantum communication over long distances.”
The research emphasises the interdisciplinary nature of satellite-based quantum communications, which relies on understanding high-precision telescope operations and atmospheric turbulence patterns.
The study also outlines the unique characteristics of quantum communication compared to traditional satellite communications.
While conventional systems operate in megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, quantum communication utilizes terahertz (THz) frequencies, significantly enhancing data transmission capabilities.
The researchers found that IAO Hanle had the least signal loss among the sites studied, making it ideal for establishing a potential ground station.
They also highlighted that India’s diverse geographical terrains could serve as a universal template for future quantum satellite projects worldwide.
As India continues to explore quantum technologies, this research lays the groundwork for secure satellite-based communication systems that could revolutionize data security on a global scale.
https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/india-to-beam-quantum-signals-into-space-from-ladakh-2645980-2024-12-06
NASA’s Hubble Takes the Closest-Ever Look at a Quasar
Dec 05, 2024
Astronomers have used the unique capabilities of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to peer closer than ever into the throat of an energetic monster black hole powering a quasar.
A quasar is a galactic center that glows brightly as the black hole consumes material in its immediate surroundings.
The new Hubble views of the environment around the quasar show a lot of "weird things," according to Bin Ren of the Côte d'Azur Observatory and Université Côte d'Azur in Nice, France.
"We've got a few blobs of different sizes, and a mysterious L-shaped filamentary structure. This is all within 16,000 light-years of the black hole."
Some of the objects could be small satellite galaxies falling into the black hole, and so they could offer the materials that will accrete onto the central supermassive black hole, powering the bright lighthouse.
"Thanks to Hubble's observing power, we're opening a new gateway into understanding quasars," said Ren. "My colleagues are excited because they've never seen this much detail before."
Quasars look starlike as point sources of light in the sky (hence the name quasi-stellar object). The quasar in the new study, 3C 273, was identified in 1963 by astronomer Maarten Schmidt as the first quasar.
At a distance of 2.5 billion light-years it was too far away for a star. It must have been more energetic than ever imagined, with a luminosity over 10 times brighter than the brightest giant elliptical galaxies.
This opened the door to an unexpected new puzzle in cosmology: What is powering this massive energy production? The likely culprit was material accreting onto a black hole.
In 1994 Hubble’s new sharp view revealed that the environment surrounding quasars is far more complex than first suspected.
The images suggested galactic collisions and mergers between quasars and companion galaxies, where debris cascades down onto supermassive black holes. This reignites the giant black holes that drive quasars.
For Hubble, staring into the quasar 3C 273 is like looking directly into a blinding car headlight and trying to see an ant crawling on the rim around it.
The quasar pours out thousands of times the entire energy of stars in a galaxy. One of closest quasars to Earth, 3C 273 is 2.5 billion light-years away.
(If it was very nearby, a few tens of light-years from Earth, it would appear as bright as the Sun in the sky!) Hubble's Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) can serve as a coronagraph to block light from central sources, not unlike how the Moon blocks the Sun's glare during a total solar eclipse.
Astronomers have used STIS to unveil dusty disks around stars to understand the formation of planetary systems, and now they can use STIS to better understand quasars’ host galaxies.
The Hubble coronograph allowed astronomers to look eight times closer to the black hole than ever before.
Scientists got rare insight into the quasar’s 300,000-light-year-long extragalactic jet of material blazing across space at nearly the speed of light.
By comparing the STIS coronagraphic data with archival STIS images with a 22-year separation, the team led by Ren concluded that the jet is moving faster when it is farther away from the monster black hole.
"With the fine spatial structures and jet motion, Hubble bridged a gap between the small-scale radio interferometry and large-scale optical imaging observations, and thus we can take an observational step towards a more complete understanding of quasar host morphology.
Our previous view was very limited, but Hubble is allowing us to understand the complicated quasar morphology and galactic interactions in detail.
In the future, looking further at 3C 273 in infrared light with the James Webb Space Telescope might give us more clues," said Ren.
At least 1 million quasars are scattered across the sky. They are useful background "spotlights" for a variety of astronomical observations.
Quasars were most abundant about 3 billion years after the big bang, when galaxy collisions were more common.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-takes-the-closest-ever-look-at-a-quasar/
International cooperation at the heart of space security
6 December 2024
The Combined Space Operations Initiative (CSpO) partners exchanged views on space threats, conducted a tabletop exercise, and endorsed a joint statement, reaffirming the importance of CSpO’s mission and the commitment of its members to the Outer Space Treaty.
CSpO is a 10-nation partnership which comprises Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Its mission is to lead as responsible space actors and to protect and defend against hostile space activities.
CSpO is pursuing activities to coordinate defence space activities, address emerging threats, and promote the lawful and responsible use of space.
From communications and banking to directing and securing information advantage for our armed forces, space services are fundamental to our prosperity and defence.
However, we live in an increasingly volatile and competitive world.
Threats to our interests in space are proliferating, from the potential placement of nuclear weapons in space to destructive testing using direct ascent anti-satellite missiles.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, said:
We are seeing increasing competition in space, with some competitors fielding advanced capabilities that could disrupt the satellites we rely on for modern life.
It is crucial that we work alongside our allies, through partnerships like CSpO, to safeguard our interests in space.
Director General Industry, Trade and Economic Security, Avril Jolliffe, said:
It’s more important than ever that we increase our resilience and interoperability, strengthen and uphold the international rules-based order, and deter hostile acts.
No nation can do this alone – space is truly a global endeavour and CSpO is integral to how the UK is pursuing this.
Space must remain a peaceful, safe, stable, secure, and sustainable environment for the benefit of all.
The UK is committed to working with the international community to reduce space threats through norms, rules, and principles of responsible space behaviours.
The MOD is supporting the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects through the UN.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/international-cooperation-at-the-heart-of-space-security
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Double_win_for_Europe_Sentinel-1C_and_Vega-C_take_to_the_skies
Double win for Europe: Sentinel-1C and Vega-C take to the skies
06/12/2024
The third Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite was launched on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Sentinel-1C extends the legacy of its predecessors, delivering high-resolution radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment, supporting a diverse range of applications and advancing scientific research.
Additionally, Sentinel-1C introduces new capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic.
Sentinel-1C was launched into orbit on 5 December, lifting off aboard Vega-C at 22:20 CET (18:20 local time). The launch proceeded smoothly, with the rocket reaching space in eight minutes and dropping off Sentinel-1C at approximately 00:04 CET.
The launcher’s mission, called VV25, is a return-to-flight for Vega-C – Europe’s lightweight, high-performance rocket – marking the restart of routine commercial operations for the new launcher.
At 00:12 CET, ESA established communication with the satellite confirming that it was safely in orbit.
ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher said, “One moment combined two great European achievements today: the third launch of a Sentinel-1 satellite and the third launch of Vega-C, marking a triumphant return to form for both flagship European projects.
It was exciting and touching to see the mix of the European launcher and Copernicus community and teams rooting each other on in true Team Europe form.
"With the insertion of Sentinel-1C into orbit, ESA continues a legacy of steadfast Sentinels protecting the Earth and exemplifies why Europe needs secured flights: because what we send to space provides benefits to Earth, and it all starts with a launch.”
ESA’s Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen said, “Today’s launch marks a crucial step forward, reaffirming European independent access to space.
With Vega-C back in flight and the inaugural launch of Ariane 6 in July, we are in a great place going forward and I salute all the hard-working teams all over Europe and its spaceport who have worked tirelessly to achieve this success.”
ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli added, “We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Sentinel-1C, an example of the enduring partnership between ESA and the European Commission.
The mission plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges like climate change and disaster response, while ensuring the continuity of vital radar data for monitoring Earth’s land, oceans and ice.
“With Sentinel-1C successfully in orbit and Vega-C back in flight, Europe continues to demonstrate its leadership in space, delivering tangible benefits for Earth through cutting-edge technology and collaboration.”
About Copernicus Sentinel-1C
The Sentinel-1 mission, the first in the family of Copernicus, is based on a constellation of two identical satellites flying in the same orbit but 180° apart, to optimise global coverage and data delivery for Copernicus – the Earth observation component of the EU’s Space Programme.
Sentinel-1A was the first satellite in the series, launched in April 2014, followed by the launch of Sentinel-1B in 2016. The Sentinel-1B mission came to an end in August 2022 after experiencing a technical fault that rendered it unable to acquire data.
The satellite has been successfully de-orbited and will reenter Earth’s atmosphere within 25 years.
Sentinel-1C, along with its sibling Sentinel-1A, will return the mission to its full potential as a two-satellite constellation. Sentinel-1A is then due to be replaced by Sentinel-1D later next year.
Carrying advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface, the ambitious Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission has raised the bar for spaceborne radar.
Sentinel-1 carries a C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) instrument, which allows it to capture high-resolution imagery of Earth's surface.
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Sentinel-1 data contributes to numerous Copernicus services and applications, including Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking, routine sea-ice mapping and glacier-velocity measurements.
It also plays a vital role in marine surveillance, such as oil-spill detection, ship tracking for maritime security and monitoring illegal fishing activities.
Additionally, it is widely used for observing ground deformation caused by subsidence, earthquakes and volcanic activity, as well as for mapping forests, water and soil resources. The mission is crucial in supporting humanitarian aid and responding to crises worldwide.
Sentinel-1C and Sentinel-1D introduce new capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic, through their integrated Automatic Identification System (AIS).
This system comprises four onboard antennas and optimises the capture of signals transmitted by ships, which include crucial details such as a vessel identity, location and direction of passage, enabling precise tracking.
Sentinel-1 data are freely available via the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, providing instant access to a wide range of data from both the Copernicus Sentinel missions and the Copernicus Contributing Missions.
The Sentinel-1 mission is the result of close collaboration between ESA, the European Commission, industry, service providers and data users.
Designed and built by a consortium of more than 70 companies led by Thales Alenia Space and Airbus Defence and Space, it is an outstanding example of Europe’s technological excellence.
About Vega-C
Europe’s Vega-C rocket can launch 2300 kg into space, such as small scientific and Earth observation spacecraft.
At 35 m tall, Vega-C weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad and reaches orbit with three solid-propellant-powered stages before the fourth liquid-propellant stage takes over for precise placement of satellites into their desired orbit around Earth.
Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.
Complementing the Ariane family to launch all types of payloads into their desired orbits, Vega-C ensures that Europe has versatile and independent access to space.
ESA owns the Vega-C programme, working with Avio as prime contractor and design authority. Arianespace was the launch service provider for Sentinel-1C.
This launch marks Vega-C’s return to flight, a key step in restoring Europe’s independent access to space. The first commercial flight in December 2022 failed due to a nozzle issue in its Zefiro-40 motor.
Since then, an improved nozzle was designed and built and the complete Zefiro-40 stage has undergone two successful firing tests, in May and October 2024, which demonstrated the motor’s ability to perform reliably under different pressure conditions and burn duration.
These tests confirmed the motor's readiness, and clear the path for Vega-C’s flight with Sentinel-1C.
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Kenya Space Agency and Expertise France Forge Landmark Partnership to Advance Space Innovation
December 6, 2024
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) Director General Brig. Hillary Kipkosgei hosted an executive delegation from Expertise France, led by its Director General, Jeremy Pellet.
During this meeting, the two leaders signed a landmark cooperation agreement aimed at fostering greater synergy in space-related collaborations.
KSA, a state corporation mandated to promote, coordinate, and regulate space activities in Kenya, plays a pivotal role in leveraging space science, technology, and services for national socio-economic development.
Its objectives include enhancing the development of national space capabilities and nurturing the growth of the space sector to maximize the benefits of space technologies for Kenya’s progress.
Expertise France, the French public international cooperation agency, designs and implements projects that contribute to the balanced development of partner countries.
Its efforts align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and France’s external action priorities.
The DG KSA reiterated the great synergy that had been developed between KSA and EF in joint activities and outreach throughout 2024.
He reassured the EF colleagues that the Kenyan government as a whole was keen on developing strategic partnerships, as envisaged by EF, to jointly develop programmes that would benefit Kenya and Africa.
The Director General of Expertise France emphasized the importance of synergy, collaboration, and partnerships as essential drivers of impactful outcomes.
He highlighted the significant progress achieved in collaboration with the Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and outlined broad areas of focus for future joint efforts, including:
– Capability and Capacity Building: Programs aimed at strengthening human and institutional capabilities, including light infrastructure projects.
– Facilitating Data Uptake: Building capacity to enhance the utilization of Earth Observation (EO) data within local ecosystems, including universities, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and private sector stakeholders.
These efforts will leverage existing national initiatives while emphasizing sustainable development use cases.
– Support for Innovation Ecosystems: Strengthening Kenya’s startup and space innovation ecosystem to drive technological advancements and foster economic growth.
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) and Expertise France (EF) are jointly working to establish an Earth Observation (EO) data Lab under the auspices of the Multi-Donor Action “Data Governance in Africa.”
This initiative is a collaborative effort between the African Union (AU) and the Team Europe Initiative (TEI), jointly financed by the European Union (EU) and five EU member states: Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, and Germany.
The EO data Lab aims to promote access to EO data and build the capacity of space sector stakeholders in Kenya, fostering innovation and value creation by enabling the development of data-driven services and products to address socio-economic challenges and drive sustainable development.
The Expertise France delegation included Mathieu Loubet (Regional Lead), Anthea Manasseh (Deputy Director, AFD), Loran Meme (Project Manager, AFD), and Byron Anangwe (EF Project Liaison).
Representing KSA were Jacques Matara (Ag. Deputy Director, Space Research and Innovation), Maj. Kenneth Kanda (Ag. Deputy Director, ICT), and Rachael Olore (Legal Officer).
This partnership underscores the shared commitment of both organizations to harness space innovation and technologies to create transformative impact in Kenya and beyond.
https://techafricanews.com/2024/12/06/kenya-space-agency-and-expertise-france-forge-landmark-partnership-to-advance-space-innovation/