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Space News
Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
We might have been completely wrong about the origin of Saturn's rings, new study claims
- Saturn's rings could be billions of years old despite appearing young, a new study suggests.
- Previous beliefs that the rings formed recently have been challenged.
- The rings' clean appearance does not necessarily indicate a young age, as micrometeoroids wouldn't stick to them.
- Computer simulations indicate that vaporized micrometeoroids may have left the rings clean, suggesting an older origin.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
NASA Missions Spot Cosmic ‘Wreath’ Displaying Stellar Circle of Life
- The star cluster NGC 602 resembles a giant holiday wreath and provides valuable insight into the stellar lifecycle.
- NGC 602 is located on the outskirts of the Small Magellanic Cloud, about 200,000 light-years from Earth.
- A combined image from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope reveals the dusty outline of the wreath and X-rays emitted by young, massive stars within the cluster.
- Another cluster, NGC 2264, known as the 'Christmas Tree Cluster,' features wispy green clouds that resemble an evergreen tree.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Jovian Vortex Hunters Spun Up Over New Paper
- Thanks to the Jovian Vortex Hunter project, a catalog of 7222 vortices in Jupiter's atmosphere has been published.
- The vortices are labeled by color, with white and dark vortices being most common near the poles.
- Over 5,000 volunteers helped build the catalog by classifying images from the JunoCam instrument on NASA's Juno mission.
- The catalog provides insights into Jupiter's atmosphere and can contribute to understanding the atmospheres of other planets.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Transforming Space Exploration: NASA and Northrop Grumman’s Digital Engineering Collaboration
- NASA has signed a Space Act Agreement with Northrop Grumman to explore digital engineering approaches in space exploration.
- The collaboration aims to reduce the time from concept to flight, improve design and testing processes, and enhance information sharing between NASA and industry partners.
- By leveraging digital engineering tools, both organizations aim to handle more complex missions and accelerate the development of new space technologies.
- The collaboration brings exciting possibilities for the future of space exploration and could lead to groundbreaking advancements in space capabilities.
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Knowridge
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Image Credit: Knowridge
We might finally know how galaxies grow so large
- A new research letter in Nature, titled "In situ spheroid formation in distant submillimetre-bright galaxies," has brought astronomers closer to understanding how galaxies become so massive.
- The lead author is Qing-Hua Tan from the Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. Dr. Annagrazia Puglisi from the University of Southampton co-authored the research.
- The researchers used the ALMA to examine highly luminous starburst galaxies in the distant Universe.
- The brightness profiles of over 100 ancient galaxies analyzed by the team reveal that most have tri-axial shapes rather than flat disks, indicating them to be spheroids.
- The Sersic index, characterizing the radial distribution of light coming from galaxies, and the Spergel index, used to classify the distribution of dark matter, helped the team characterize the complex structure of galaxies.
- Through mergers, the galaxies formed through intense episodes of star formation located in the cores of distant galaxies.
- These types of galaxies were more plentiful in the early Universe than they are now. The researchers’ results show that these galaxies used up their fuel quickly, forming the spheroids that are now populated by old stars.
- The researchers' findings could help in understanding how galaxies grow and the evolution of the universe since the beginning of time.
- This new research has relied on observations with a higher signal-to-noise ratio than previous research.
- The findings of the new research will redefine our understanding of how galaxies were created in the early universe.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Very Cold Detectors Reveal the Very Hot Universe and Kick Off a New Era in X-ray Astronomy
- Quantum calorimeters are opening a new window on the Universe and a new era of X-ray astronomy has dawned. These devices make precise measurements of energy quanta by measuring the temperature change that occurs when a quantum of energy is deposited in an absorber with low heat capacity. Operation at temperatures less than 0.1 K is required to reduce thermodynamic noise and heat capacity. Resolve, the spectrometer aboard the X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), launched in September 2023, has been operating well in orbit for over a year.
- The potential of the X-ray quantum calorimeter was first acknowledged in the early 1980s and since then, other approaches have been developed optimised for the needs of future missions. Quantum-calorimeter arrays with thousands of pixels that use superconducting transition-edge sensors (TES) instead of silicon (Si) thermistors led to improved energy resolution, more pixels per array and multiplexing. Quantum calorimeters using paramagnetic thermometers are a promising route for realizing even larger arrays. The rich Resolve data sets are identifying complex velocity structures, rare elements and multiple temperature components in a diverse ensemble of cosmic objects.
- Resolve is revealing the Universe through spectroscopy alone. It allows researchers to construct images of complex environments where collections of gas, dust and various attributes emit and absorb X-rays at energies characteristic of their various compositions, velocities and temperatures. Resolve's SXS obtained high-resolution spectra of the Perseus cluster of galaxies and N132D supernova remnant to create the most detailed X-ray spectrum of the object ever made. These results help improve our understanding of the explosion mechanism, how elements produced in stars get distributed, and allow us to infer the type of star each was before ending in a supernova.
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Tech Story
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Russia Launches ‘Starlink Killer’ Kalinka System, Threatening Ukraine’s Military Communications
- Russia has introduced a new device known as the “Starlink killer,” or Kalinka surveillance system, in a major development in the continuing confrontation between Russia and Ukraine.
- The Kalinka system, created by the Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies (CBST) in Russia, is intended to identify, track, and interfere with signals coming from Starlink terminals.
- Kalinka's arrival threatens Ukraine's military communications, which heavily depend on Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink satellite network for coordination and communication.
- Russia's deployment of the Kalinka surveillance system is a significant turning point in the ongoing war with Ukraine, potentially changing military tactics and undermining Ukraine's reliance on Starlink technology.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
NASA reports on Ingenuity Mars helicopter accident
- NASA engineers have determined that the Ingenuity Mars helicopter was permanently grounded due to navigation system problems, which caused it to sustain damage to its rotor blades, rendering it inoperable.
- The Ingenuity, which conducted the first ever powered, controlled flight on another planet, was only scheduled for five test flights but far exceeded expectations managing 72 flights over almost three years.
- The accident's cause relates to the lack of surface texture at a section of Jezero Crater, changing the visual features the helicopter's navigation systems were monitoring.
- The navigation system design was optimised for pebbly terrain, which was the case for the first five flights but by flight number 72, the Ingenuity reached a section of Jezero Crater which had steep, mostly featureless sand ripples.
- Lack of features to track on the surface caused the navigation system to fail, creating high horizontal velocities at touchdown, causing the helicopter to pitch and ultimately roll, snapping all four rotor blades off.
- NASA plans to release a technical report about Ingenuity's final flight in a few weeks.
- Although Ingenuity is currently grounded, it continues to transmit weekly weather data to the Perseverance rover and sends aviation electronics information, which engineers are using to design the next generation Martian aircraft.
- A somwhat larger Mars Chopper rotorcraft is currently being designed and would be able to fly autonomously up to two miles per day.
- Ingenuity's mission extension allowed it to act as an aerial scout for the Perseverance rover, and scientists are now using data collected during the aircraft's 72 flights to improve navigation systems for future flights.
- NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter exceeded expectations during its lifespan, and plans for a second generation helicopter are already underway.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
How to catch a supernova explosion before it happens
- Astronomers are searching for ways to identify stars that are about to go supernova so they can watch the event unfold in real-time and gain insights into these enormous explosions.
- Finding such a star is no easy task but scientists have been successful in some cases by observing the star's behaviour in real-time before the explosion.
- Astronomers hope that the forthcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory will aid their search for supernova precursors.
- Massive stars can undergo great eruptions, which might be mistaken for supernovas but they ultimately do not destroy the star.
- Observing these pre-supernova eruptions offers scientists a rare opportunity to uncover the mysteries of supernova explosions.
- One compelling hypothesis suggests that interaction with multiple stars may account for the changes in brightness, signalling the approach of a star's final moments.
- In 2025, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will begin to study these events, providing opportunities to search for fainter precursor activity.
- By recognizing the signals that indicate a star is nearing the end of its life, we can alert the scientific community and be ready to watch as a star experiences its final moments.
- Observatories such as the European Southern Observatory and the Zwicky Transient Facility are currently used to identify the signs that indicate a star is nearing the end of its life.
- The discovery of SN2023fyq, which provided astronomers with a rare opportunity to observe the first light from a supernova shock breakout, offers insights into the conditions leading up to these cosmic events.
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Knowridge
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Image Credit: Knowridge
The Sun may be more prone to flares than we thought
- A recent study estimates stars like ours produce superflares about once a century by analyzing Kepler data on tens of thousands of Sun-like stars.
- Superflares emit about 1032 erg of radiation, or 6.2444 electron volts (eV). These flares cause significant damage to radio communications, power grids, navigation systems, and spacecraft and astronauts.
- The Kepler Space Telescope monitored about 100,000 main-sequence stars continuously for years for signs of periodic dips indicating the presence of exoplanets. This same telescope recorded countless solar flares, giving observers plenty of data on stellar activity.
- The team analyzed data obtained by Kepler from 56,450 Sun-like stars between 2009 and 2013. They identified 2,889 superflares from 2,527 of the observed stars, producing an average of one superflare per star per century.
- Previous surveys found average intervals of a thousand or even ten thousand years, but this study is more precise and sensitive. Nevertheless, it is possible that more violent solar particle events and superflares occurred in the past.
- It is unclear whether gigantic flares are always accompanied by coronal mass ejections and what is the relationship between superflares and extreme solar particle events. This requires further investigation.
- The new data remind us that even the most extreme solar events are part of the Sun’s natural repertoire, urging caution and regular monitoring.
- By 2031, ESA’s Vigil probe, assisted by MPS’s Polarimetric and Magnetic Imager (PHI) instrument, will help monitor the Sun more effectively for reliable forecasting and advanced warning.
- While astronomers have not yet determined whether the Sun can produce “superflares”, numerous agencies actively monitor the Sun’s behavior to learn more about its long-term behavior.
- Previous surveys had to limit themselves to stars without any close neighbors, making this study the most precise and sensitive to date to determine the exact source of observed flares.
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Digitaltrends
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Image Credit: Digitaltrends
Blue Origin edges closer to New Glenn rocket’s maiden flight
- Blue Origin is set to conduct a wet dress rehearsal ahead of the inaugural flight of the New Glenn rocket.
- A wet dress rehearsal involves testing the rocket's systems under conditions similar to an actual launch.
- Blue Origin hopes to receive a license for hotfire and launch from the Federal Aviation Administration.
- The upcoming NG-1 mission will test key technologies for Blue Origin's future orbital transfer vehicle.
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Insider
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Image Credit: Insider
Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX's Texas 'Starbase' into its own city
- SpaceX has submitted a petition to incorporate its 'Starbase' launch site in Texas as a city.
- The facility has been a hub for SpaceX's rocket production since 2014 and has hosted high-profile launches.
- Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, plans to make Starbase the new headquarters of the company.
- Musk previously moved SpaceX's HQ from California to Texas due to regulatory and legal concerns.
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StartupDaily
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Skip to the Moon: the team behind a $42 million Australian Space Agency project to build Australia’s first lunar ‘Roo-ver’ revealed
- A consortium of 21 startups, space and manufacturing companies, mining giant BHP, and several universities will collaborate to put an Australian-made rover on the Moon.
- The ELO2 Consortium, co-led by EPE Oceania and Lunar Outpost Oceania, will design, construct, and operate the 'Roo-ver' on the lunar surface as part of NASA's Artemis Moon exploration program.
- The Australian government has allocated $42 million through the Australian Space Agency (ASA) to fund the development of Roo-ver.
- The semi-autonomous rover will collect lunar soil, gather data on the lunar surface, support the Artemis Program, and test capabilities for human habitation.
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Spaceflightnow
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U.S. Space Force launches expedited GPS mission using Falcon 9 rocket
- The latest third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite launched to orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Monday night.
- Onboard was the GPS 3 Space Vehicle (SV) 07, marking a first-of-its-kind mission for the U.S. Space Force.
- The spacecraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was originally scheduled to launch onboard a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket.
- However, to get the satellite on orbit in a more expedited fashion, multiple portions of the Space Force and Lockheed Martin, worked to pivot from one rocket to another in a shortened timeframe.
- The spacecraft will continue to operate out of Lockheed Martin's Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Center until its official acceptance into the current operational GPS 31-satellite constellation.
- The shortened timeframe provided logistical challenges, such as the required 2,337-mile road transfer from Lockheed Martin's facilities in Colorado to Florida since military aircraft was tied up in response operations related to Hurricane Milton.
- The comparatively fast pivot from one launch provider to another is an example of rapid responsiveness, which is highly important for the government according to the recent Space Force Association's Spacepower Conference.
- The block three GPS satellites have a predicted lifespan of about 15 years and provide up to eight times more anti-jamming power than GPS II space vehicles.
- This series of spacecraft are nicknamed after famous explorers and pioneers, with SV-07 being named 'Sally Ride,' the first American woman in space.
- The comparatively fast pivot from one launch provider to another is an example of what Space Force leaders emphasized during the recent Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference as highly important for the government: rapid responsiveness in space.
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