TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
January 22, 2025
The North America Nebula
The North America nebula on the sky can do what the North America continent on Earth cannot – form stars. Specifically, in analogy to the Earth-confined continent, the bright part that appears as the east coast is actually a hot bed of gas, dust, and newly formed stars known as the Cygnus Wall. The featured image shows the star forming wall lit and eroded by bright young stars and partly hidden by the dark dust they have created. The part of the North America nebula (NGC 7000) shown spans about 50 light years and lies about 1,500 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus).
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Let's send some to every household in America, pronto
NASA Welcomes Finland as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory
Jan 21, 2025
With Finland’s signing of the Artemis Accords on Tuesday, NASA celebrates the 53rd nation committing to the safe and responsible exploration of space that benefits humanity.
The signing ceremony took place on the margins of the Aalto University’s Winter Satellite Workshop 2025 in Espoo, Finland.
“Today, Finland is joining a community of nations that want to share scientific data freely, operate safely, and preserve the space environment for the Artemis Generation,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, who provided pre-recorded virtual remarks for the ceremony.
“By signing the Artemis Accords, Finland builds on its rich history in space, excelling in science, navigation, and Earth observation.
Forging strong partnerships between our nations and among the international community is critical for advancing our shared space exploration goals.”
Wille Rydman, Finland’s minister of economic affairs, signed the Artemis Accords in front of an audience of Finnish space officials and workshop attendees.
“Finland has been part of the space exploration community for decades with innovations and technology produced by Finnish companies and research institutions,” said Rydman.
“The signing of the Artemis Accords is in line with Finland’s newly updated space strategy that highlights the importance of international cooperation and of strengthening partnerships with the Unites States and other allies.
We aim for this cooperation to open great opportunities for the Finnish space sector in the new era of space exploration and in the Artemis program.”
NASA and Finland have a long history of collaboration, and most recently, Finland is contributing to the upcoming Intuitive Machines-2 delivery to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign and CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative.
Intuitive Machines will deliver a lunar LTE/4G communications system developed by Finnish company, Nokia.
Its U.S. subsidiary, Nokia of America, was selected as part of NASA’s Tipping Point opportunity through the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, to advance a lunar surface communications system that could help humans and robots explore more of the Moon than ever before.
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-welcomes-finland-as-newest-artemis-accords-signatory/
Advanced Modeling Enhances Gateway’s Lunar Dust Defense
Jan 22, 2025
NASA’s Artemis campaign aims to return humans to the Moon, develop a sustainable presence there, and lay the groundwork for the first crewed missions to Mars.
As the agency prepares for longer stays on and around the Moon, engineers are working diligently to understand the complex behavior of lunar dust, the sharp, jagged particles that can cling to spacesuits and jam equipment.
Lunar dust has posed a problem since astronauts first encountered it during the Apollo missions.
Ahead of more frequent and intense contact with dust, NASA is developing new strategies to protect equipment as astronauts travel between the Moon and spacecraft like Gateway, humanity’s first lunar space station.
Unlike Apollo-era spacecraft that faced lunar dust exposure just once, Gateway will encounter it each time a Human Landing System spacecraft returns to the space station from the lunar South Pole region.
Dust could enter Gateway’s environment, risking damage to science instruments, solar arrays, robotic systems, and other important hardware.
Josh Litofsky is the principal investigator and project manager leading a Gateway lunar dust adhesion testing campaign at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
His team tracks how the dust interacts with materials used to build Gateway.
“The particles are jagged from millions of years of micrometeoroid impacts, sticky due to chemical and electrical forces, and extremely small,” Litofsky said.
“Even small amounts of lunar dust can have a big impact on equipment and systems.”
Litofksy’s work seeks to validate the Gateway On-orbit Lunar Dust Modeling and Analysis Program (GOLDMAP), developed by Ronald Lee, also of Johnson Space Center.
By considering factors such as the design and configuration of the space station, the materials used, and the unique conditions in lunar orbit, GOLDMAP helps predict how dust may move and settle on Gateway’s external surfaces.
Early GOLDMAP simulations have shown that lunar dust can form clouds around Gateway, with larger particles sticking to surfaces.
The data from these tests and simulations will help NASA safeguard Gateway, to ensure the space station’s longevity during the next era of lunar exploration.
The lessons learned managing lunar dust and other harsh conditions through Gateway and Artemis will prepare NASA and its international partners for missions deeper into the cosmos.
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/advanced-modeling-enhances-gateway-lunar-dust-defense/
Blue Abyss and NASA to advance space training and research
22 January 2025
This collaboration aims to bolster the development of next-generation infrastructure and capabilities for human spaceflight, astronaut training, and the simulation of extreme environments.
Under the terms of the agreement, NASA and Blue Abyss will collaborate to explore innovative solutions for training and conducting research that addresses challenges in low Earth orbit, cis-lunar, lunar, and Martian environments.
The partnership underscores a shared vision to promote a robust and competitive commercial space sector, advancing US leadership in space exploration and innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
Key Areas of Collaboration:
Developing commercial capabilities for astronaut selection and training.
Conducting research on human performance, robotics, and biological and physical sciences under extreme gravity conditions.
Mapping infrastructure needs for advanced simulation facilities, such as underwater modules, parabolic flights, and augmented reality technologies.
NASA will provide technical support and share insights from its extensive experience in space exploration to guide the development of Blue Abyss's commercial facilities and services.
The initial phase will include a comprehensive market study conducted by Blue Abyss to outline the 10-year vision for infrastructure requirements, with milestones set for reporting and evaluation.
The results of this market study will be shared with NASA to provide a better understanding of what commercial capabilities the agency could use in the future.
This non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement highlights NASA's ongoing commitment to facilitating partnerships that stimulate commercial opportunities while advancing scientific and technological frontiers.
John Vickers, Chief Executive Officer, Blue Abyss, said: "This Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Glenn Research Center represents a pivotal milestone for Blue Abyss.
As we develop next-generation infrastructure, including our proposed facilities in the US and UK, it helps position the UK as a significant player in the space sector, supporting industry growth, consultancy, training and infrastructure development that will attract international clients and foster innovation within the UK space industry."
Ross Hulbert, Head of Engagement at Spaceport Cornwall, said: "We're thrilled to welcome Blue Abyss to our Space Systems Operations Facility at Spaceport Cornwall. It's fantastic to have such an innovative team join us, especially at this exciting time.
“We’d like to extend our huge congratulations to everyone at Blue Abyss on their new partnership with NASA's Glenn Research Center.
This collaboration not only showcases their incredible capabilities but also solidifies the UK's role in advanced space and subsea training.”
https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/blue-abyss-and-nasa-to-advance-space-training-and-research.html
Governor Newsom meets with NASA JPL workers, small business owners impacted by firestorm
Jan 21, 2025
Continuing to have an eye toward recovery and rebuilding, Governor Gavin Newsom today met with workers and small business owners impacted by the devastating Los Angeles firestorm to hear their stories and highlight the state’s work to help communities rebuild.
The Governor visited NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Cañada Flintridge for a conversation with employees impacted by the Eaton Fire.
Hundreds of JPL employees lost their homes, with over 100 more likely to be displaced due to damage to their homes.
Joined by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, Governor Newsom talked with the employees about rebuilding efforts, as well as concerns about home insurance.
As the largest employer of those impacted by the Eaton Fire, JPL started a disaster relief fund to help employees, which has already raised over $2 million.
JPL manages the Deep Space Network, a global web of antennas that communicate with spacecraft.
The NASA facility has partnered with CAL FIRE to use soil moisture sensors to support the state’s fire management and prevention efforts.
JPL also helped California launch pollution-tracking satellites last year and partners with the state on drought monitoring.
Governor Newsom also visited with small business owners Kevin Hockin and Rosanna Kvernmo.
They started Side Pie as a pizza pop-up during the middle of the pandemic. After it went viral, they expanded into a brick-and-mortar shop in Altadena in 2021.
They received news while at Disneyland with their daughter that they had lost their restaurant and that their home suffered extensive smoke damage. Kevin and Rosanna plan on rebuilding when safe to do so.
"Thousands of hard-working Californians lost their homes, their businesses and their livelihoods to this firestorm.
From the hundreds of workers at NASA’s iconic Jet Propulsion Laboratory who lost their homes to folks like Kevin and Rosanna who lost their Altadena pizza shop – the numbers will never capture just how life-changing these fires were for Californians.
It will take years to rebuild and fully recover but California will be there every step of the way."
-
Governor Gavin Newsom
Helping small businesses recover
Since the firestorm, California has worked with federal and local providers to help businesses with the resources and support they need to recover and rebuild.
200+ business advisors from Small Business Support Centers funded through the California Office of the Small Business Advocate’s (CalOSBA) Technical Assistance Program are staffed across the region.
This includes business advisors from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Women’s Business Center (WBC) who can answer loan application, insurance, employee support and business recovery questions.
They are co-located at the Disaster Recovery Center at Pasadena City College and the Disaster Loan Outreach Center in Camarillo (Ventura County).
SBDC and WBC advisors are also present at the various Business Recovery Centers organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
CalOSBA has launched a Resource Guide for small businesses impacted by the wildfires through its Outsmart Disaster website, and is conducting a series of online trainings in both English and Spanish.
The California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) is offering loan programs for businesses from one to 750 employees affected by the LA wildfires.
Disaster Relief Loan Guarantee Program (DRLGP) issues loan guarantees up to 95% of the loan through IBank’s partner Financial Development Corporations to help small business borrowers impacted by disaster who need term loans or lines of credit for working capital.
Additionally, Governor Newsom has issued a number of executive orders in response to the Los Angeles fire storms to help aid in rebuilding and recovery, create more temporary housing, and protect survivors from exploitation and price gouging.
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/21/governor-newsom-meets-with-nasa-jpl-workers-small-business-owners-impacted-by-firestorm/
https://www.ca.gov/LAfires/
NASA Begins Final ASTER Data Processing Campaign
Jan 21, 2025
NASA’s Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Science Team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have announced a final data processing campaign that will make the entire ASTER data archive freely available and easily accessible to users around the globe.
The ASTER instrument travels in near-polar orbit aboard NASA’s Terra satellite, the flagship satellite of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS), which launched in December 1999.
Since then, it has collected 25 years’ worth of data used to create detailed maps of radiance, land surface temperature, emissivity, reflectance, and elevation.
“In April 2016, the entire ASTER archive was made freely available to the public.
This was the period of on-demand ordering capabilities for ASTER higher-level products like surface reflectance, surface temperature, digital elevation models, and so on,” said Cole Krehbiel, Project Scientist at LP DAAC.
“Now we're entering an era where all of these data are not only freely available, but easily accessible in the Earthdata Cloud.
We're going to have 4.5 million scenes for each of ASTER’s 11 data products available at users’ fingertips, so they’ll no longer have to submit requests for them to be processed.”
In the parlance of ASTER, a scene is a 60 kilometer (km) by 60 km acquisition or observation of the Earth’s surface with 14 bands ranging from the visible to the thermal infrared.
However, unlike other space-based instruments that continuously collect observations as they orbit Earth (e.g., the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites or the Operational Land Imager (OLI) aboard the Landsat 8-9 satellites), ASTER does not continuously collect data, and only collects an average of 8 minutes of data per orbit, which results in about 650 scenes per day.
These acquisitions are selected and scheduled by the ASTER Science Team and generally include areas of interest to the science community.
However, they may also include data acquisition requests from users.
The entire ASTER data product archive is searchable via NASA’s Earthdata Search and through LP DAAC, where users can immediately download Level 1T data for all 4.5 million ASTER observations.
Users can download the static ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) and Global Water Bodies Database from Earthdata Search and the Japan Space Systems website.
Currently, users can submit orders to process Level 1A and Level 1B radiance and higher-level data products, including surface radiance, emissivity, reflectance, kinetic temperature, and by-scene digital elevation models.
When the data processing campaign is complete, users will have the complete ASTER data archive available at their fingertips and will no longer have to wait for the data they need.
“Using the same interface, users will be able to look at an ASTER scene, determine the product they want (e.g., the temperature product), and instead of it being produced and then receiving a link to download it, the data will be in the archive and they'll download it immediately,” said Michael Abrams, ASTER Science Team Lead.
Although the final ASTER processing campaign won’t result in the creation of any new ASTER data products, it will yield new versions of existing products that are directly accessible and available to users in the NASA Earthdata Cloud.
These new versions will be produced with the same production algorithms (save for a slight change to an atmospheric variable in one of them), the same software, and the same calibration coefficients.
The ASTER Level 1T product also includes updates to the input Digital Elevation Model (DEM) sources and Ground Control Points (GCPs) to match Landsat Collection 2.
“Nothing is different,” said Abrams. “The whole point is to be able to have a consistent 25-year record where you can get a scene from day one and you can compare it with a scene from today and the values you get are consistent.
This is what makes Terra’s longevity and its data record so incredible and so useful. The data are consistent for a 25-year record of the Earth. It’s unparalleled.”
The final ASTER data processing campaign is slated to begin in January 2025, and according to Abrams, it will take approximately 18 months to get through the ASTER data record and archive everything in the cloud before the full collections are available to the public.
cont.
https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/news/feature-articles/nasa-begins-final-aster-data-processing-campaign
Incredible Space Photography! A New Perspective on Rocket Launches
22 January 2025
Astronaut Don Pettit has unveiled a stunning new image from the International Space Station (ISS) that captures a rocket launch in a unique way.
Using a long exposure technique, Pettit documented Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket as it soared through the cosmos, creating a mesmerizing visual effect among the stars.
At first glance, the image appears to be a classic star trail photograph.
However, a closer inspection reveals a subtle line that marks the path of the New Glenn rocket as it ascended from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This massive rocket, standing at 320 feet tall, was photographed on January 16th as it coasted in the upper stage after separating from its booster.
Pettit meticulously set up his cameras within the ISS’s cupola—a unique futuristic observatory with panoramic views.
With three wide-angle lenses at the ready, he anticipated one would successfully capture the rocket’s trajectory through space.
He described the challenge of taking this striking image, noting that the ISS traveled over various locations, including Oklahoma and the Gulf of Mexico, during the four-minute exposure.
At 69, Pettit is not only NASA’s oldest active astronaut but also a seasoned space photographer. His passion for astrophotography has led to breathtaking images, including the Milky Way and Starlink satellites.
His ability to change camera lenses in microgravity showcases the innovative nature of photography in space, adding a touch of humor to the complexities of capturing such extraordinary moments.
Beyond the Launch: The Cultural and Global Significance of Space Imagery
The breathtaking image captured by astronaut Don Pettit of the New Glenn rocket not only showcases the remarkable advancements in space exploration but also carries profound implications for society and the global economy.
As commercial spaceflight becomes increasingly accessible, it is reshaping our perceptions of space travel and igniting public interest in the cosmos.
This shift has the potential to alter the cultural narrative around space, embedding it deeper into our societal fabric and inspiring a new generation to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Additionally, the proliferation of such images from the International Space Station (ISS) demonstrates a transition toward a more collaborative international space community.
The involvement of private companies like Blue Origin signifies a move away from government-led programs, suggesting a future where the global economy may increasingly depend on commercial space ventures.
This evolving landscape could foster economic growth in sectors related to aerospace, technology, and tourism, paving the way for new job opportunities and innovations.
Moreover, the environmental impact of increasing rocket launches cannot be overlooked.
As the frequency of launches rises, concerns about carbon footprints, resource usage, and space debris become paramount.
Sustainable practices will need to be prioritized to ensure that both Earth’s atmosphere and the surrounding space remain viable for future exploration.
In looking toward the future, imagery like Pettit’s will likely play a critical role in enhancing our understanding of space while fostering a sense of wonder, curiosity, and responsibility about our place in the universe.
https://www.scimag.news/news-en/62089/incredible-space-photography-a-new-perspective-on-rocket-launches/
https://x.com/astro_pettit/status/1881084708756369563
Emory researchers explore heart cell growth in space to advance treatments on Earth
Jan 22, 2025
A research team led by Chunhui Xu from Emory University has demonstrated that heart muscle cells can survive and grow in the microgravity environment of space.
Published in Biomaterials, the findings suggest new avenues for creating more resilient heart cells that could enhance cell therapy-a technique that involves transplanting millions of heart cells to repair damaged cardiac tissue.
"The idea behind cell therapy is to regenerate new muscle," explained Xu, a professor of pediatrics at the Emory University School of Medicine.
"But survival is the issue. For the heart muscle specifically, once it's damaged, it cannot regrow. After you inject new cells into the injured area, many of them are lost."
Xu's team was inspired by prior research showing that cancer cells proliferated faster in space.
They initially simulated microgravity on Earth using a random positioning machine, which continuously shifted cells to prevent them from acclimating to any fixed direction.
Observing higher survival rates in these conditions, they hypothesized that space's unique environment might prompt molecular changes that improve the survival of heart cells injected into patients.
"In space, the cells can actually sense that new environment and make changes," Xu added.
From the laboratory to the International Space Station
The study utilized specialized heart muscle cells derived from generic human stem cells, which were transformed into three-dimensional spheroids that mimicked the structure and function of human heart tissue.
These cell clusters were frozen for transport to the International Space Station (ISS) and thawed just before launch.
Control samples remained on Earth for comparison. Astronauts aboard the ISS monitored the cells under microscopes and sent video footage back to the research team.
After an eight-day space mission, live cell cultures returned to Earth for further analysis.
Researchers compared the space-exposed cells with those kept on Earth to identify unique molecular changes triggered by microgravity.
The results showed that the space-traveling cells produced higher levels of proteins linked to cell survival.
Understanding how microgravity influences the molecular processes of heart cells may pave the way for engineering cells with enhanced survivability on Earth.
This insight is critical for developing effective cell therapies to repair damaged hearts.
"Rather than sending cells to space," Xu noted, "We basically have to work out new ways to understand the molecular changes that push the cells to improve their survival, so we can manipulate these changes in the cells when we prepare them on Earth.
Then we hope to generate a new strategy to make better cells for cell therapy."
https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Emory_researchers_explore_heart_cell_growth_in_space_to_advance_treatments_on_Earth_999.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0142961224006161?via%3Dihub
Swarm detects tidal signatures of our oceans
22/01/2025
A study using data from ESA’s Swarm mission suggests that faint magnetic signatures created by Earth’s tides can help us determine magma distribution under the seabed and could even give us insights into long-term trends in global ocean temperatures and salinity.
Swarm is a constellation of three satellites that study Earth’s geomagnetic field. This magnetic field that extends from Earth’s interior into space is thought to be produced largely by an ocean of liquid iron in the planet’s outer core.
Other sources of magnetism include magnetised rocks in the crust.
And although we might not normally think of oceans as generating magnetism, the salty sea water is a moderate electrical conductor.
This means that as tides flow across Earth’s magnetic field, they generate weak electric currents, which in turn induce small magnetic signals – that can be detected from space.
With its satellites flying at an altitude between 462 km and 511 km, Swarm measures Earth’s magnetic field more accurately than ever before.
It can detect faint tidal signatures and distinguish them from other stronger magnetic field sources from Earth’s interior.
“This study shows that Swarm can provide data on properties of the entire water column of our oceans.” says Anja Strømme, ESA’s Swarm Mission Manager.
Swarm’s data can also provide insights into the distribution of magma, which could in future support better understanding of events such as the Hunga-Tonga volcanic eruption of 2022.
The study of these signatures made the front cover of the world’s oldest scientific journal, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, and was conducted by a team from the University of Cologne and the Technical University of Denmark.
Swarm gets better with age
The mission, launched in 2013, was only meant to fly for four years but is now in its 12th year. Anja adds: “This is one of the benefits of flying missions for longer than originally planned.
So, by flying as long as the scientific output is of excellent quality and resources allow, you can tackle scientific questions that weren’t originally envisaged.”
Swarm is, however, slowly nearing the natural end of its lifespan as drag gradually brings the satellites physically closer to Earth.
This has enabled the mission’s instruments – the satellites carry state-of-the-art sensors including magnetometers that measure the strength, magnitude and direction of the magnetic field – to capture faint signals that would be more difficult to detect from the higher orbits at the start of the mission.
Less solar interference
Swarm’s ability to detect the faint ocean signals was also helped by the Sun’s less active period around 2017.
“These are among the smallest signals detected by the Swarm mission so far,” says lead author Alexander Grayver, of the University of Cologne.
“The data are particularly good because they were gathered during a period of solar minimum, when there was less noise due to space weather.”
The ‘minimum’ period of the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle is when the Sun’s surface is least active.
During this ‘quiet’ period, it emits less solar matter – including electromagnetic radiation and charged particles – so ‘space weather’ phenomena such as the Northern Lights are less frequent.
And with less electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, the geomagnetic signals from Earth are more easily detectable by Swarm’s magnetometers and other instruments.
The hope is that, when the next solar minimum comes around after 2030, Swarm might still be flying – albeit at a lower altitude – and will be able to continue detecting the faint signals that can help us understand more about the temperatures and salinity deep within our oceans.
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Swarm/Swarm_detects_tidal_signatures_of_our_oceans
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2024.0078
Earth's elusive 'ignorosphere' could shed new light on auroras
January 21, 2025
Japanese scientists have created the first-ever long-term dataset about Earth's entire atmosphere, stretching all the way to space.
They hope the project will help shed light on some little-explored processes taking place inside our planet's gaseous shroud, including the magnificent northern lights.
Some parts of Earth's atmosphere are studied continuously in incredible detail.
For example, millions of weather stations all around the world, hundreds of meteorological balloons and countless airplanes provide daily measurements of the entire troposphere, the atmosphere's lowest region.
The balloons also reach the lower part of the stratosphere, the layer above the troposphere.
The amount of data generated by these measurements is so high that it makes modern computational weather models nearly infallible.
Look a little higher, however, and the story is completely different. The mesosphere, the layer of sparse air above the stratosphere that reaches nearly to the edge of space, is very much a complete unknown.
So little is known about processes in the mesosphere that the region is sometimes called the "ignorosphere."
This void in our knowledge is a result of the ignorosphere's unreachability — it's too high for stratospheric balloons and generally too low for instruments on satellites in low Earth orbit to explore.
A team of researchers from the University of Tokyo attempted to solve the problem using computer modelling.
They took the rare available measurements of meteorological parameters in the ignorosphere — obtained by sounding rockets and Earth-based radar and lidar instruments — and fed them into a new data assimilation system they had developed earlier.
Data assimilation is a technique that combines modelling with direct observations to predict the evolution of a system.
The system was then instructed to reconstruct what may be happening within the mesosphere to fill in the blanks.
The Japanese researchers used the model to generate 19 years' worth of data encompassing the evolution of the entire atmosphere up to the altitude of 110 kilometers (68.4 miles).
They then used additional measurements of mesospheric winds obtained by ground-based radar to verify some parameters in the model to gain confidence in its results.
The dataset covers the period between September 2004 and December 2023 and will enable researchers to explore and model some of the mysterious phenomena that take place at higher altitudes, including the mesmerizing aurora borealis and its antipodean counterpart, the aurora australis.
"For the troposphere and stratosphere, we have a lot of data, and numerical modelling for this region is almost perfect," Kaoru Sato, a professor of atmospheric physics at the University of Tokyo and lead researcher behind the project, told Space.com.
"In the region above, the models don't perform that well because they don't have accurate data of the initial conditions. Our dataset can provide that."
The ignorosphere is the atmospheric region where many effects related to space weather occur.
When bursts of charged particles from the sun hit our planet, they mix with the thin gases high above Earth, exciting the air molecules.
As that happens, the molecules give off the mesmerizing glow we can observe on Earth as the auroras. But there are other, less visible effects that space weather has on the atmosphere.
"The high-energy solar particles can change ozone chemistry and disrupt the ozone layer," Sato said.
"We also know that the aurora phenomenon can create what we call gravity waves, which then propagate downward into the atmosphere."
Gravity waves (not to be mistaken for the gravitational waves produced by black hole collisions, among other dramatic encounters) are vortices that occur throughout the atmosphere.
They transport energy across the globe, thus affecting climate patterns. So far, however, climate modelers haven't been able to understand the effects of gravity waves that occur at higher altitudes.
"Our dataset provides initial conditions in very high resolution for the general circulation model of the atmosphere," Sato said.
"So, it allows us to simulate gravity waves in the entire atmosphere, from the surface to the edge of space."
The data will also help researchers better model how processes in the lower atmosphere affect the ionosphere, the part of the atmosphere above altitudes of 50 miles (80 km), where gaseous particles are constantly ionized by the solar wind.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/earth/earths-elusive-ignorosphere-could-shed-new-light-on-auroras
https://progearthplanetsci.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40645-024-00674-3
related article
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14313075/trump-pauses-cdc-fda-nih-rfk-jr-health-agencies.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-14313075/trump-pauses-cdc-fda-nih-rfk-jr-health-agencies.html
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/tech/beam-me-to-the-stars-scientists-propose-wild-new-interstellar-travel-tech
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0094576524003837
Beam me to the stars: Scientists propose wild new interstellar travel tech
January 22, 2025
Researchers have proposed a new propulsion method that could make covering the vast distances required for interstellar missions feasible within a human lifetime.
The fundamental challenge in reaching a different star system lies in figuring out how to generate and transfer enough energy to a spacecraft both efficiently and affordably.
The physical limitations of modern spacecraft pose significant challenges for reaching interstellar space in a human lifetime, especially with limited room onboard for carrying propellant or batteries.
If we ever want to achieve the tremendous speeds necessary to cross interstellar distances in a human lifetime, we need to find outside-the-box solutions.
Enter relativistic electron beams made up of electrons moving close to the speed of light.
"Beaming power to the ship has long been recognized as one way to get more energy […] than we can carry with us," Jeff Greason, Chief Technologist of Electric Sky, Inc, and chairman of the Tau Zero Foundation, told Space.com.
"Energy is power [multiplied by] time — so to get a given amount of energy from a beam, you either need very high power or you need to stay in the beam a long time."
One such solution that was recently proposed uses electron beams accelerated to near the speed of light to propel spacecraft, something that could overcome the vast distances between Earth and the next closest star.
"For interstellar flight, the primary challenge is that the distances are so great," Greason explained.
"Alpha Centauri is 4.3 light-years away; about 2,000 times further away from the sun than the Voyager 1 spacecraft has reached — the furthest spacecraft we've ever sent into deep space so far.
No one is likely to fund a scientific mission that takes much longer than 30 years to return the data — that means we need to fly fast."
A study by Greason and Gerrit Bruhaug, a physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, published in the journal Acta Astronautica, highlights that reaching practical interstellar speeds hinges on the ability to deliver sufficient amounts of kinetic energy to the spacecraft in an economic way.
"Interstellar flight requires us to collect and control vast amounts of energy to achieve speeds fast enough to be useful," said Greason.
"Chemical rockets that we use today, even with the extra speed boost from flying by planets, or from […] swinging by the sun for a boost, just don't have the ability to scale to useful interstellar speeds."
Most theoretical studies on "beam riders" for interstellar travel have focused on laser beams, which are composed of particles of light called photons.
Notable examples include laser-powered interstellar ramjets and laser sails. Ramjets propel spacecraft by compressing hydrogen gas collected from the interstellar medium, with energy supplied by a laser beam transmitted from a distant source.
In contrast, laser sails use the momentum of photons from the laser beam to push the spacecraft forward.
While both concepts appear to be ideal solutions, several limitations hinder their application. Interstellar ramjets face challenges such as the sparse density of the interstellar medium and immense energy and fusion requirements.
Laser sails, though simpler in design, struggle with maintaining beam alignment and intensity over vast distances to ensure adequate power delivery.
Electrons, by contrast, are far easier to accelerate to near-light speeds and offer unique advantages, though they remain less explored due to their own set of limitations.
"Since the electrons are all negatively charged, they repel each other which spreads the beam apart," explained Greason.
But Greason and Bruhaug argue there are ways to counteract this.
At relativistic speeds — that is near the speed of light — time moves more slowly, which would mean the electron beam wouldn't have enough time to spread out, keeping the beam focused.
The other advantage lies in the fact that space is not empty. "There's a very thin spread of ionized gases called plasma that fills space, which has its own electrons and ions drifting around," explained Greason.
"When the electron beam passes through [this plasma], it repels the lighter electrons from this background gas but the ions, which are heavy, move more slowly and are left behind."
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As the electron beam passes through the plasma, it sees a magnetic field due to passing by the ions left behind from the space plasma; that magnetic field creates a force that pulls the electron beam together, effectively squeezing the beam and preventing it from spreading apart.
"That's called a 'relativistic pinch,'" said Greason. "If this all works right, we can hold the beam together in space a very long distance — thousands of times the distance from Earth to the sun — and that would provide the power to accelerate a spacecraft."
In their paper, the duo calculated that an electron beam traveling at these speeds could generate enough power to propel a 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) probe — about the same size as Voyager 1 — up to 10% of the speed of light.
This would enable it to reach Alpha Centauri in just 40 years, a significant improvement over the current 70,000 years it would take.
Greason argues that examples of these pinched relativistic beams already exist in deep space, such as jets of charged particles released by black holes, indicating it is hypothetically possible.
"But can we produce those kinds of conditions artificially?" he asked. "Will the sun's own magnetic field break up the beam? How would we get the electron beam started? These are all questions that remain."
In the paper, the team suggests placing a "beam-generating spacecraft" close to the sun, where the intense sunlight could provide the power needed for the beam.
"While there is engineering work to do in making such a high-power beam, it's not especially difficult compared to the other challenges," commented Greason.
Projecting an electron beam out to a spacecraft is also only half the challenge — the power generated needs to be able to propel a spacecraft.
"That means converting the energy of the beam into ejecting some kind of propellant or 'reaction mass,'" said Greason. "This beam would be transmitting a lot of power, and that conversion would have to put very little waste heat into the spacecraft so it doesn't melt!"
He says they have some ideas for how this could be accomplished, but they are all currently hypothetical and require more work to figure out.
They also need to do more computer modeling studies to better understand the beam's behavior and how it might be initiated, and then space-based experiments would provide concrete data to work from.
"For example, a satellite far from Earth could transmit a beam to the Moon to experimentally confirm that the results match those predicted by the modeling," said Greason.
While acquiring funding may be challenging, the scientists argue that compared to alternatives like laser-pushed sails, electron beams could achieve 10,000 times the range, thus requiring less power, and be capable of propelling heavier spacecraft.
"The cost of making a big beam scales with the power, so the relativistic electron beam approach may be significantly more affordable," said Greason.
"The work being done on laser-pushed spacecraft for interstellar flight is looking at ships of only a few grams, and that's very challenging to get scientific data back.
If we can push larger spacecraft of tens of kilograms, we can include more power supply, instruments, and communications to send the data back to Earth."
The ability to beam power over long distances has wide-ranging implications, from enabling faster travel within the solar system to transmitting power from the sun to other locations like the Moon.
Though it remains a distant goal, lowering the cost of interstellar transportation could one day allow humans to make voyages to other stars, pushing the boundaries of what was ever thought possible in space exploration.
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Go, Takashi, go
DAF to launch National Mentoring Month panels, programs, events
Jan. 21, 2025
The Department of the Air Force Mentoring Program is launching a series of events throughout January 2025 marking National Mentoring Month.
First launched in January 2002, National Mentoring Month is a call to action for all Airmen and Guardians to engage in mentoring relationships, both as mentors and mentees.
NMM introduces the Total Force to a series of panels, events and interactive discussions on mentoring as an enterprise imperative, ensuring greater awareness of the mentoring opportunities available to all Airman and Guardians and empowering them to reach their fullest potential.
The Department of Defense 2025 theme for NMM is “Mentoring tomorrow’s leaders today.”
Aligned under this is the DAF NMM theme for 2025, “Transforming lives… strengthening the force… finding common ground through mentoring.”
This year’s theme highlights the crucial role mentorship plays in preparing and strengthening our Total Force for potential challenges in an era of Great Power Competition.
Mentoring is a personal partnership that facilitates the sharing of knowledge, experience and wisdom. A mentor is someone who offers guidance, support and advice, helping to shape the career and development of their mentee.
A mentee is an individual who seeks growth, learning and is open to receiving guidance to enhance personal and career growth.
This reciprocal relationship is fundamental in fostering a productive mentoring environment within the Air Force and Space Force, and provides benefits felt not only on an individual basis but throughout the entire DAF.
Mentoring can take many forms, and for NMM 2025, U.S. Space Force and U.S. Air Forces Europe are leading the way in organizing “reverse mentoring” events aimed at bridging the generational and experiential divide between “junior mentors” and “senior mentees.”
The virtual and in-person forums are highly interactive, with topics selected by junior mentors ranging from the impact of physical fitness on Guardian readiness to gaining an edge in the era of GPC.
Mentoring can be a catalyst in advancing key DAF strategic initiatives, invigorate innovation and foster life-long relationships between mentors and mentees.
The relationships formed through mentoring ensures knowledge and experience is shared amongst all generations working within the DAF.
It also allows generational groups who may leave the force in the next 10 years the ability to leave their legacy through mentoring future DAF leaders.
"We are extremely excited to launch this year’s National Mentoring Month and have strategically put together a calendar of events in January, open to all of DAF members, to help build the leaders of tomorrow that prepare our workforce with the tools and resources for mentoring to grow people, drive innovation and change and encourage inspirational relationships,” said Director of Force Development Crystal Moore.
“We want to encourage everyone to get a mentor and be a mentor in 2025!”
DAF members can find a mentor and become a mentor through MyVector Mentoring, an online platform designed to match members with mentors and facilitate mentoring relationships across the DAF.
MyVector Mentoring offers a range of tools to support the mentoring process, including profile creation, and the ability to set goals, track progress and engage in meaningful discussions on personal and professional development.
MyVector can be accessed here.
DAF personnel interested in getting involved with NMM events can find more details here, and additional information on DAF mentoring can be found here.
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4035232/daf-to-launch-national-mentoring-month-panels-programs-events/
https://myvector.us.af.mil/myvector/PublicHome/NoticeAndConsent
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Mentoring2/