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Guardian
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Image Credit: Guardian
First orbital rocket launched from mainland Europe crashes after takeoff
- A test rocket aimed at kickstarting satellite launches from Europe fell to the ground and exploded less than a minute after takeoff from a Norwegian spaceport.
- The uncrewed Spectrum rocket was the first attempt at an orbital flight to originate from Europe.
- Isar Aerospace, the German startup behind the launch, described it as an initial test and mentioned that the data collected will help them learn from the experience.
- The Spectrum rocket is designed for small and medium-sized satellites and had a mission to collect data on Isar Aerospace's launch vehicle.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
Asteroid 2024 YR4 won’t hit in 2032, but it will be back
- Asteroid 2024 YR4, initially feared to hit Earth in 2032, has been determined not to pose a threat.
- Despite this, due to a unique orbital resonance phenomenon, asteroids like 2024 YR4 will cyclically return near Earth.
- These asteroids, located in a specific orbital Kirkwood gap influenced by Jupiter's gravity, could potentially collide with planets like Earth.
- Asteroid 887 Alinda, significantly larger than 2024 YR4 and capable of global damage, has an orbit that closely intersects Earth's.
- The orbits of 2024 YR4 and 887 Alinda exhibit a resonant pattern with Jupiter, causing them to return regularly to Earth's vicinity.
- The concept of Kirkwood gaps, where asteroids interact with Jupiter's gravitational pull, has been recognized since the late 1800s.
- Asteroids like 2024 YR4 and 887 Alinda follow specific orbital patterns that lead them back to Earth every few years.
- The orbit of 2024 YR4 will no longer bring it back every four years after a close approach to Earth in 2032, reducing the risk of impact.
- Ongoing efforts, including the upcoming NEO surveyor mission, aim to detect and track hazardous asteroids more efficiently.
- Maintaining vigilance for potentially impact-focused asteroids like 2024 YR4 is crucial for future planetary defense efforts.
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Arstechnica
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Image Credit: Arstechnica
NASA’s Curiosity rover has found the longest chain carbon molecules yet on Mars
- NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has detected the largest organic (carbon-containing) molecules ever found on the red planet.
- The discovery is one of the most significant findings in the search for evidence of past life on Mars.
- The organic molecules found by Curiosity consist of carbon atoms linked in long chains, with other elements bonded to them, like hydrogen and oxygen.
- Scientists used the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) instrument on the NASA rover to make their discovery.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
New study says residential trees can affect human health
- A recent study conducted in Switzerland found that neighborhoods with well-arranged trees have lower mortality risks, indicating a positive impact of residential trees on human health.
- The presence of aggregated and connected tree clusters in neighborhoods provides greater health benefits compared to fragmented green spaces.
- The study analyzed over 6 million adults and correlated tree canopy cover and spatial arrangement with mortality, highlighting the importance of tree quantity and positioning.
- Residents in neighborhoods with large, contiguous, and well-networked tree canopies showed a significantly lower mortality risk, especially in densely developed urban areas.
- While the study found correlations between tree canopy configuration and human health, causal links are yet to be determined.
- Researchers suggest that cities should focus on connecting isolated green spaces and strategically placing trees to maximize the health benefits for residents.
- Simple and compact tree canopy shapes like circular and rectangular forms are believed to have a more positive effect on health compared to irregular or fragmented coverage.
- Further research is needed to understand the specific factors influencing the relationship between tree canopy configuration and human health.
- The study emphasizes the importance of urban planning considerations in enhancing the health-promoting effects of green spaces at the neighborhood and city levels.
- In conclusion, the study highlights the significance of residential trees in promoting human health and underscores the value of well-structured forested green spaces in urban environments.
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Insider
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Image Credit: Insider
I'm a space nutritionist sending the first mushrooms into orbit. It could make travel to Mars a whole lot more palatable.
- Dr. Flav, a space nutritionist, partnered with SpaceX and NASA to send oyster mushrooms into orbit for a study on their growth in space.
- Mushrooms were chosen for their nutritional benefits, fast growth cycle, minimal resource requirements, and resilience.
- NASA favors whole foods over supplements and mushrooms are rich in nutrients found in various food groups.
- Mushrooms can naturally produce vitamin D and may help astronauts maintain bone health on long space flights.
- Adding mushrooms to meals may reduce the need for excessive salt intake, crucial for bone health in space.
- Mushrooms are high in umami, a flavor retained well in space environments, making them a valuable food option.
- Food plays a crucial role in mental health, culture, and connection for astronauts on long space missions.
- The study aims to unlock a key element for long-haul space travel and potentially aid in reaching Mars.
- The mushroom experiment sent to space on a SpaceX flight is expected to provide quick results and may be published by fall.
- Dr. Flav hopes the study will inspire others to pursue their dreams and contribute to advancing space exploration.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
Widespread severe weather expected in east-central US today
- More than 100 million people in east-central and mid-southern U.S. states are at risk of severe weather with large hail, damaging winds, and strong tornadoes expected.
- Cities like Indianapolis, St. Louis, Nashville, and Little Rock are under an enhanced risk level for severe storms.
- Two waves of thunderstorms are expected, starting early Sunday morning in the at-risk areas.
- The severe weather is caused by a strong low pressure system moving across the U.S., bringing warm, moist air from the Gulf.
- The severe weather threat will move eastwards, affecting the south, Mid-Atlantic, and northeast U.S.
- The Storm Prediction Center uses a five-level risk system to forecast severe weather, ranging from marginal to high risk categories.
- Weather watches are issued in advance of impending weather, while warnings indicate that particular weather hazards are expected to occur soon.
- Safety measures during severe storms include seeking shelter in basements, interior rooms, or designated safe spaces away from windows.
- Drivers should find the closest building to shelter in during severe weather, avoiding taking shelter under overpasses.
- Residents of mobile homes should seek shelter in sturdier structures during severe weather events.
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Earthsky
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Image Credit: Earthsky
The Big and Little Dipper: How to find them in the spring
- The Big and Little Dipper are easily visible in the northern sky in the spring for the Northern Hemisphere. The 2 outer stars in the Big Dipper point to Polaris, the North Star, which marks the end of the handle of the Little Dipper.
- Both the Big and Little Dippers are circumpolar, being above the horizon throughout the night in certain latitudes.
- The Big Dipper rotates around Polaris and changes in its position in the sky based on the season.
- To find the Little Dipper, trace a line from the outer stars of the Big Dipper to Polaris, then to the handle of the Little Dipper.
- The Big and Little Dippers are not constellations but asterisms, forming recognizable star patterns within the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor constellations.
- Over millennia, the star patterns of the Big and Little Dippers will slowly evolve due to the movement of stars in space.
- In Mi'kmaq star lore, the Celestial Bear associated with the Big Dipper has a captivating story involving hunters and the changing seasons.
- The Little Dipper, historically part of the Draco constellation, has played a role in navigation and is tied to ancient seafaring knowledge.
- Kochab and Pherkad, stars in the Little Dipper, are found to be the Guardians of the Pole marking the north celestial pole.
- Overall, the Big Dipper and Little Dipper are iconic star formations that captivate skywatchers throughout the year, with unique stories and celestial significance.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
Space photo of the week: Hubble zooms in on the glittering galaxy next door
- The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) is one of our galaxy's closest neighbors, visible to the naked eye from the Southern Hemisphere.
- Recently, the Hubble Space Telescope zoomed in on the SMC, capturing its intricate structure.
- The image reveals clouds of gas and dust illuminated by the light of young stars in the SMC.
- The SMC, lacking heavier elements found in large galaxies, fascinates astronomers as a unique example of what was happening in the early universe.
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Medium
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Image Credit: Medium
Space-Based Data Science
- Space infrastructure projects are increasingly incorporating data science and machine learning for managing complex operations in the aerospace industry.
- The utilization of techniques like predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, orbital optimization, clustering, and interactive dashboards has proven pivotal for informed decision-making in satellite operations.
- The wealth of data from satellite telemetry, sensor networks, and communication systems can be leveraged to enhance operational planning, maintenance, and real-time decision-making in the space ecosystem.
- Key components of space infrastructure optimization include time-series forecasting, anomaly detection, optimization algorithms, graph-based representations, advanced clustering, and ensemble learning techniques.
- Primary methods involve simulating satellite telemetry data, visualizing trends in component health, building time-series forecasting models using Prophet, and detecting anomalies with classical methods like Isolation Forest and deep learning models like LSTM Autoencoder.
- Optimizing orbital maneuvers involves a differential evolution algorithm to balance fuel usage and transfer time, while Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) offer insights into satellite constellation interactions.
- Space weather prediction using features like component temperature, battery level, and altitude, clustering with UMAP and HDBSCAN, ensemble learning through stacking, and visualization with alluvial diagrams are also integral to efficient space-based data science practices.
- Future directions include real-time data integration, deployment of production-grade pipelines, experimentation with transformer architectures, multi-agent reinforcement learning, and data fusion for enhanced analysis in space data science.
- This article presents a comprehensive framework for optimizing space-based infrastructure through data science and machine learning, providing a roadmap for practitioners to navigate the complexities of space operations efficiently and safely.
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Knowridge
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Image Credit: Knowridge
NASA’s new dust repelling shield seems to work well
- NASA has developed a method called Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) to deal with the hazards of lunar dust.
- Lunar dust is a constant background hazard for lunar astronauts and poses risks to their health and equipment.
- The EDS uses electrodynamic forces to prevent the dust from sticking to surfaces, such as spacesuits and equipment.
- The EDS proved effective in removing a significant portion of the dust in recent tests on the Moon.
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Spaceflightnow
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Live coverage: SpaceX to launch 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral
- SpaceX is set to launch 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.
- The launch is scheduled for Sunday, but the weather forecast is problematic with potential storms and strong wind gusts.
- If the launch is delayed to Monday, the weather conditions are expected to be more favorable.
- The Starlink V2 Mini satellites feature upgraded systems and will allow up to 29 satellites to launch on each mission.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
NASA rover spots hundreds of 'spider eggs' on Mars — and scientists have no idea how they got there
- NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has discovered a rock resembling spider eggs on Mars.
- The rock, named 'St. Pauls Bay,' is lightly dusted with red sand and appears out of place.
- Its origin and strange texture are a mystery; it lacks context clues and could provide insights into Martian geology.
- Studying the rock and the surrounding area of Witch Hazel Hill could reveal the presence of volcanic activity, meteor strikes, or previous groundwater on Mars.
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Hackaday
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Image Credit: Hackaday
AMSAT-OSCAR 7: the Ham Satellite That Refused to Die
- The AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (AO-7) amateur radio satellite was launched in 1974 with an expected lifespan of five years.
- In 1981, a battery failure caused AO-7 to be declared dead, but in 2002 it unexpectedly came back to life.
- The revival was attributed to a possible short circuit in one of the cells of the satellite's NiCd battery pack.
- Thanks to the smart use of the Earth's magnetic field and solar panels, AO-7 continues to operate and maintain its spin after 50 years.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
China now has a 'kill mesh' in orbit, Space Force vice chief says
- The U.S. Space Force is urged to enhance its capabilities as China and Russia develop on-orbit weaponry, creating a turning point in space security.
- Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein emphasizes the need for a shift towards warfighting capability to defend satellites and space infrastructure effectively.
- Recent displays of orbital warfare by China and Russia, including ASAT tests and satellite maneuvers, highlight the need for Space Force to adapt and deter aggression.
- International norms in space are eroding as adversaries engage in aggressive behaviors like jamming, spoofing, and dazzling of satellites, risking safety and professionalism.
- The Space Force aims to maintain superiority in the face of advancing ISR technologies, particularly noting China's transition from a 'Kill Chain' to a 'Kill Mesh' network.
- Efforts to reinforce infrastructure, leverage commercial partnerships, and develop integrated defense systems like Golden Dome are crucial in countering adversarial threats in space.
- Gen. Guetlein warns that the capability gap in space technology between the U.S. and adversaries has significantly narrowed and requires a strategic shift to maintain U.S. advantage.
- Commercial space sector advancements have surpassed some Space Force capabilities, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnerships in enhancing space defense.
- The evolving operational environment in space calls for a proactive approach to address emerging threats and ensure the resilience of U.S. space capabilities.
- Space Force initiatives like Golden Dome aim to integrate diverse capabilities to create a more robust defense network to safeguard U.S. assets in space.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
How to photograph a meteor shower
- Photographing a meteor shower is an exciting and rewarding experience that requires preparation, equipment, and creativity.
- Capturing a meteor shower well involves technical skill, patience, and creativity, along with the right equipment and camera settings.
- Key equipment includes DSLR or mirrorless cameras, wide-angle lenses with a fast aperture, sturdy tripod, and remote shutter release.
- Camera settings for meteor photography include manual mode, long exposures, low-light settings, and shooting in RAW mode for editing flexibility.
- Photography techniques such as including foreground elements, time-lapse, composite images, reflections, fireballs, and panoramic shots can enhance meteor shower images.
- Post-processing skills with software like Adobe Lightroom can further enhance astrophotography images.
- Choosing the right meteor shower involves considering factors like intensity, radiant point, moon phase, weather, and light pollution.
- Popular meteor showers to photograph in the Northern Hemisphere include Quadrantids, Lyrids, Perseids, Orionids, and Geminids.
- Meteor showers are predictable celestial events that occur when Earth's orbit passes through debris trails left by comets or asteroids.
- Researching peak nights of showers, dark sky locations, and moon phases is crucial for successful meteor shower photography.
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