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Space News
Brighter Side of News
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Image Credit: Brighter Side of News
NASA makes first successful detection of Earth’s ambipolar electric field
- NASA's Endurance mission successfully detected Earth's ambipolar electric field after suspicions over half a century.
- The ambipolar electric field, a weak but significant force, aids charged particles in escaping Earth's upper atmosphere near the poles.
- The field was measured for the first time by NASA's Endurance mission through a rocket launched near the North Pole.
- The field acts like an invisible tug-of-war, helping keep charged particles together and lifting them into space.
- Endurance's data showed a tiny electric potential drop of 0.55 volts across a large region above Earth.
- The electric field lifts particles without heating them, allowing ions to escape Earth's atmosphere at supersonic speeds.
- Endurance's mission used a custom photoelectron spectrometer and other instruments to confirm the ambipolar field's strength.
- The field extends Earth's atmosphere, aiding particles in the polar wind to reach escape speeds and leave the atmosphere.
- The measurement of the ambipolar electric field validates long-standing theories and provides insight into planetary atmospheres and potential for life.
- Understanding the ambipolar field's role can help scientists comprehend how Earth's atmosphere evolves and how material is lost into space.
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Spaceflightnow
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Fram2 astronauts arrive in Florida ahead of polar spaceflight
- The Fram2 mission, featuring four astronauts, is set to launch from Florida, marking the first polar orbit spaceflight by astronauts.
- Scheduled for March 31 at 9:47 p.m. EDT, the mission will use a Falcon 9 first stage booster with notable milestones.
- The Crew Dragon Resilience capsule will observe Earth's polar regions and conduct experiments for long-duration space exploration.
- The diverse crew includes Chun Wang, Jannicke Mikkelsen, Rabea Rogge, and Eric Philips, with a focus on scientific research.
- 22 experiments, including sleep and glucose monitoring, will be carried out during the mission to aid future space endeavors.
- Philips looks forward to bone density studies and cultivating mushrooms in space for sustainable nutrition on long space missions.
- A key aspect of the mission is capturing imagery of the poles using advanced equipment and virtual planning by Mikkelsen and her team.
- The crew aims to document the auroras for scientific analysis and collaborate with ground-based photographers on the SolarMaX project.
- Safety is a top priority, with extensive testing of cameras and lenses for enduring the stresses of the space journey.
- The crew's dedication to exploration and scientific discovery will be showcased through their unique perspective of the polar regions.
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Arstechnica
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Image Credit: Arstechnica
NASA to put Starliner’s thrusters through an extensive workout before next launch
- NASA and Boeing are still deciding whether Starliner's next flight will carry astronauts.
- Extensive testing of Starliner's propulsion system is required before its next flight.
- Starliner will likely fly again in late 2021 or in 2026.
- Starliner may only complete a few missions before the retirement of the space station.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Visiting Mars on the Way to the Outer Solar System
- Recent Earthly visitors to Mars include NASA's Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft, utilizing Mars' velocity for added speed on their journeys to outer destinations.
- Mars serves as a gravitational slingshot, accelerating spacecraft departing in the same direction as the planet's orbit around the Sun, helping them reach the outer solar system with increased velocity.
- Missions strategically approach Mars to gain several percent of speed through flybys, with proximity affecting the speed boost, while aiming to avoid atmospheric interference at closest points.
- NASA's Europa Clipper was redirected towards Earth after its Mars flyby to benefit from a second gravity assist en route to Jupiter, showcasing the utilization of planetary motions for space exploration.
- While not the primary purpose of these visits, spacecraft often take the opportunity to observe Mars and its moons, like when Mastcam-Z on Clipper searched for interplanetary objects during its flyby.
- Perseverance rover on Mars has been exploring the 'Sally’s Cove' outcrop, examining dark-colored rocks and leaving spherules behind, offering anticipation for future discoveries.
- The outer solar system-bound missions find Mars flybys crucial for trajectory adjustments, showcasing the significance of utilizing planetary encounters for efficient and accelerated space travel.
- Exploring Mars not only aids in mission calibrations but also presents opportunities to study the Red Planet and its moons, maximizing the scientific gains during interplanetary voyages.
- Integrating Mars flybys into space missions exemplifies the intricate dance between planetary bodies and spacecraft trajectories, demonstrating the strategic planning involved in interstellar exploration.
- As exploration missions continue to utilize Mars for speed boosts and trajectory adjustments, the Red Planet remains a crucial waypoint in the journey towards deeper space exploration endeavors.
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Discover more
Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Turning Vanes inside the Altitude Wind Tunnel
- The Altitude Wind Tunnel (AWT) at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory became operational in 1944.
- The AWT was the only wind tunnel capable of testing full-size aircraft engines in simulated altitude conditions.
- The tunnel featured turning vanes in each corner to straighten the airflow and direct it around the corners.
- The turning vanes were made up of 36 to 42 vertical vanes, each 2.5 feet long and half-moon shaped.
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The Verge
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Image Credit: The Verge
NASA and Boeing investigate Starliner’s ‘anomalies’ before its next crewed flight
- NASA and Boeing are investigating the 'in-flight anomalies' of the Starliner spacecraft before its next crewed flight.
- The Starliner experienced technical issues that prevented it from returning to Earth, causing its astronauts to travel back on SpaceX's Crew Dragon.
- NASA and Boeing are analyzing postflight data and conducting tests to resolve propulsion system issues and test a new helium system seal.
- The next crewed flight of the Boeing Starliner could take place later this year or in early 2026, depending on the resolution of the anomalies.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Sols 4493-4494: Just Looking Around
- NASA’s Mars rover Curiosity is focusing on remote sensing and geological observations on sols 4493-4494.
- Sol 4493 involves remote sensing for cloud detection and a dust-devil survey.
- Mastcam will observe bedrock targets and interesting veins, while ChemCam performs LIBS observations.
- Sol 4494 includes an extended dust-devil movie, a Mastcam tau observation, and a ChemCam AEGIS activity.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
NASA Employee Meets Success at NASA Stennis
- Rebecca Mataya, a budget analyst at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, shares her journey and experiences.
- She joined NASA Stennis after offering directions to a construction worker in need.
- Since then, she has worked in various roles and is currently a budget analyst in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.
- Mataya emphasizes the collaborative and supportive environment at NASA Stennis.
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Digitaltrends
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Image Credit: Digitaltrends
James Webb captures a rare astronomical ring in the sky
- A new image from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals a rare astronomical phenomenon known as an Einstein ring.
- The Einstein ring is formed by two separate galaxies and the gravitational forces acting on spacetime, resulting in the appearance of a ring-shaped object in the sky.
- The image showcases the alignment of an elliptical galaxy and a distant spiral galaxy, with the spiral galaxy appearing as a stretched ring surrounding the elliptical galaxy.
- The image was created using data from both the James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope, demonstrating the effectiveness of these telescopes when used in combination.
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Popsci
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Image Credit: Popsci
Earth’s oceans weren’t always blue, scientists say
- Earth's oceans were not always blue, they were green for over 2 billion years.
- Earth's earliest oceans had a green tint due to the presence of ferrous iron released by hydrothermal vent systems.
- Cyanobacteria, the ancient algae, evolved phycobilins to absorb light in the iron-rich, green oceans.
- The findings may help in understanding Earth's distant past and expanding the search for life in the universe.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Hubble Spots a Chance Alignment
- This NASA/ESA Hubble image features the spiral galaxy NGC 5530.
- The bright source near the center of NGC 5530 is a star within our own galaxy, not an active black hole.
- Australian amateur astronomer Robert Evans discovered a supernova, named SN 2007IT, in NGC 5530.
- The light from the supernova likely completed its 40-million-year journey to Earth just days before it was discovered.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Cygnus Departs Station After Release from Robotic Arm
- The Cygnus spacecraft, named S.S. Richard “Dick” Scobee, has departed from the International Space Station (ISS) after being released from the robotic arm.
- The release occurred above the Atlantic Ocean, with the Cygnus spacecraft being detached from the Earth-facing port of the ISS's Unity module.
- The Cygnus spacecraft arrived at the ISS on August 6, 2024, and delivered approximately 8,200 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, and other cargo for NASA.
- The spacecraft is set to perform a controlled destructive re-entry by burning up in Earth's atmosphere after a deorbit engine firing on March 30.
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Arstechnica
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Image Credit: Arstechnica
Rocket Report: Stoke is stoked; sovereignty is the buzzword in Europe
- European officials are focused on ensuring their own space launch capability.
- European leaders want sovereign access to space, independent of other countries.
- European nations aim to support the growth of their commercial space companies.
- German startup, Isar Aerospace, plans to launch its first rocket to become a European competitor in the space industry.
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Knowridge
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Image Credit: Knowridge
Scientists find hidden black hole from the early universe
- Scientists have discovered radio signals from hot gas around a supermassive black hole that existed 12.9 billion years ago.
- The research team used detailed observations from the ALMA telescope to see through dust and study the black hole.
- The discovery helps in understanding the growth of black holes and why many of them are hidden behind dust.
- This breakthrough discovery opens the way for further exploration of black holes in the early universe.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Cygnus Departing Station Soon Live on NASA+
- Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft is set to depart from the International Space Station.
- Live coverage of the departure is available on NASA+.
- NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers will monitor Cygnus’ systems during its departure.
- After deorbiting, Cygnus will safely burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
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