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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
NASA’s X-59 Completes Electromagnetic Testing
- NASA's X-59 research aircraft has completed electromagnetic testing at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works in California, ensuring its systems work together safely without interference.
- The testing focused on internal electronic systems to prevent disruptions in critical operations caused by electromagnetic interference.
- The X-59 aims to fly faster than the speed of sound, reducing sonic booms to quieter thumps as part of NASA's Quesst mission.
- Engine tests were recently completed as the aircraft progresses through ground tests for safety and performance.
- Electromagnetic interference testing also examined landing gear and fuel switch shutoff functionality to ensure proper system operation.
- NASA conducted proximity tests between the X-59 and F-15D aircraft to gather shock wave measurements, confirming compatibility and safety.
- Data from the X-59 during testing was transmitted to NASA's control facility to monitor for anomalies before in-flight operations.
- Following electromagnetic testing, the X-59 will proceed to aluminum bird tests, taxi tests, and eventually its first flight.
- The X-59's successful electromagnetic testing brings it one step closer to demonstrating quiet supersonic technology for commercial supersonic travel.
- The completion of these tests on the ground reduces risks and ensures system performance and compatibility before airborne operations.
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Spaceflightnow
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Live coverage: SpaceX to launch Intuitive Machines’ Moon lander on Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center
- Intuitive Machines is preparing to send its Nova-C lander, named Athena, to the Moon on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center.
- The mission, scheduled for March 6, aims to last 10 Earth days and is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program.
- The company received over $62 million from NASA to transport two science payloads to the lunar surface.
- Intuitive Machines is optimistic about the upcoming mission, building on lessons learned from its previous lunar mission - IM-1.
- The new mission will land at Mons Mouton near the Moon's South Pole, with a strategic importance regarding national interests.
- Athena will carry various payloads, including cameras for public images and instruments to examine the lunar regolith for volatiles gases and water ice.
- The mission also includes commercial payloads like rovers, a lunar surface communications system, and a tech demonstration for future Moon explorations.
- Intuitive Machines will deploy a rocket-propelled drone named Grace to extend exploratory reach, conducting hops in challenging lunar regions.
- Grace will carry science payloads to study stable water ice deposits and lunar surface temperatures in permanently shadowed regions.
- The IM-2 mission will also host separate rideshare payloads, including NASA's Lunar Trailblazer and AstroForge's Odin spacecraft on a flyby mission to an asteroid.
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Digitaltrends
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Image Credit: Digitaltrends
How to watch NASA launch its cosmic detective mission, SPHEREx, this weekend
- This weekend, NASA is set to launch a new astrophysics mission called SPHEREx, which aims to investigate the origins of the universe.
- The launch will take place at Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
- In addition to SPHEREx, the rocket will also carry a set of four small spacecraft called PUNCH to study the sun.
- The launch can be watched on NASA's YouTube page or by attending the virtual event.
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Universe Today
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Image Credit: Universe Today
This Laser Could Find Fossil Microbes on Mars
- Life on Earth may have originated in warm ponds, and similar conditions may have existed on Mars billions of years ago.
- NASA's Perseverance rover is equipped with a laser to analyze rocks and search for organic compounds as potential biosignatures of ancient life on Mars.
- A new laser is being developed to detect microbial fossils in gypsum deposits on Mars, based on the rapid formation and preservation potential of gypsum.
- Research published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences outlines the method for detecting biosignatures in Martian sulfate minerals.
- The study conducted in Algeria tested the method on gypsum deposits that mimic those found on Mars and identified fossil filaments and necessary chemical elements for life.
- Presence of dolomite, clay minerals, and pyrite surrounding the gypsum indicates the potential existence of ancient life on Mars.
- Additional tests are needed to distinguish true biosignatures from abiotic mineral formations and improve confidence in detecting life on Mars.
- Future Mars missions like ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover could benefit from this technology to search for evidence of past life on the planet.
- If successful, this method could be integrated into upcoming Mars rover missions to enhance the search for fossilized microbial life.
- Developing reliable techniques for detecting ancient life on Mars is crucial for advancing our understanding of the planet's past and potential habitability.
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Brighter Side of News
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Image Credit: Brighter Side of News
NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer begins mission to find hidden water on the moon
- NASA's Lunar Trailblazer mission, set to launch on February 26, will map water sources on the Moon using a thermal imaging camera built by the University of Oxford.
- The mission aims to provide data on lunar water deposits, which could be utilized for various purposes including drinking water, oxygen, and rocket fuel.
- Equipped with advanced instruments, the spacecraft will analyze the lunar surface at a resolution of 50 meters per pixel.
- Special focus will be on the Moon's South Pole craters where scientists estimate significant water ice reserves.
- The Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM) and the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) will work together to create detailed lunar water maps.
- The mission funded by NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program will launch as a secondary payload, aiming for detailed water detection and mapping on the Moon.
- The spacecraft will utilize a low-energy transfer method for its journey to the Moon, relying on gravitational forces for trajectory adjustments.
- Scientists hope to understand the origins of lunar water and its behavior under different conditions, addressing theories on how water arrived and persists on the Moon.
- The mission's findings could play a crucial role in future lunar expeditions and deepen understanding of water distribution on other planetary bodies.
- With collaborative efforts and innovative technology, the Lunar Trailblazer mission represents a significant step towards sustainable human exploration of the Moon.
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Mensjournal
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Scientists Announce Major Update About Earth-Threatening Asteroid
- Astronomers have announced that there is no longer a viable threat from asteroid 2024 YR4.
- The odds of the asteroid colliding with Earth in 2032 have been reduced to 0.001 percent according to the European Space Agency, and 0.004 percent according to NASA.
- There is a small chance of the asteroid coming into contact with the moon in 2032, with odds of 1.7 percent.
- Scientists will continue to track the asteroid until 2028 and plan to use the Webb Space Telescope to determine its exact size next month.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Takes Its 1st Images of Asteroid Donaldjohanson
- NASA's Lucy spacecraft has captured its first images of the asteroid Donaldjohanson.
- The spacecraft will pass within 596 miles of the 2-mile-wide asteroid on April 20.
- This encounter with Donaldjohanson will serve as a dress rehearsal for Lucy's main targets, the Jupiter Trojan asteroids.
- Lucy will continue to image Donaldjohanson over the next two months to ensure an accurate flyby.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Sharing PLANETS Curriculum with Out-of-School Time Educators
- Out of school time (OST) educators work with youth in afterschool, community, and camp programs.
- The NASA Science Activation program’s PLANETS project provides curriculum and virtual support on planetary science and engineering.
- PLANETS offers three curriculum units focused on themes from NASA’s strategic priorities and mission directives in planetary science.
- The PLANETS project recently exhibited at national conferences to share the free NASA partner resources with educators.
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Universe Today
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Image Credit: Universe Today
Can We Develop a More Accurate Habitable Zone Using Sulfur?
- The habitable zone is a range of distance from a star where conditions can support liquid water and potentially life on a planet's surface.
- A recent study suggests that sulfur chemistry can be used to better define the inner border of a star's habitable zone.
- The presence of atmospheric sulfur on an inner planet indicates the lack of surface oceans, and thus a narrower habitable zone.
- However, high levels of ultraviolet light can break down sulfur compounds, making the sulfur test ineffective for some potentially habitable planets around red dwarf stars.
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Livescience
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Image Credit: Livescience
Mars was once a 'vacation-style' beach planet, Chinese rover scans reveal
- Ground-penetrating radar by the Chinese rover Zhurong reveals that Mars may have once had sandy beaches along the shoreline of a large ocean.
- The ocean, called Deuteronilus, existed over 3 billion years ago and could have supported life.
- Zhurong discovered evidence of ancient beaches and river deltas on Mars, indicating wind, waves, and a beach-like environment.
- These findings provide insight into Mars' ancient habitable environments and could help identify locations to search for past life.
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Metro
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Image Credit: Metro
Every planet will align this week for last time until 2040 – here’s how to see it
- Every planet in our solar system will be visible at once for a few evenings around February 28, 2025, marking a rare event not to occur again until 2040.
- Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible to the naked eye, with Uranus and Neptune visible with a telescope.
- The best time to see the planetary alignment this week is just after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, starting February 25.
- Uranus and Neptune may not be visible without a telescope, while Mars, Venus, and Jupiter will be more prominent.
- A planetary alignment is when several planets gather on one side of the Sun, not necessarily in a straight line.
- There will be a seven-planet alignment on February 28, a rare occurrence that happens periodically.
- While planetary alignments are visual phenomena, they do not significantly affect Earth in terms of tides or weather.
- To view the planets aligning, experts suggest going to dark areas away from artificial lights and using finder charts or stargazing apps.
- Observing the brightness of the specks in the sky can help differentiate planets from stars during this celestial event.
- This rare celestial event presents a unique opportunity to witness the planets aligning in the night sky, offering a spectacular sight for stargazers.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Diamonds from NASA’s X-59
- NASA’s X-59 aircraft demonstrates Mach diamonds during engine tests.
- Engine tests proved the aircraft's ability to generate supersonic flight thrust.
- The X-59 is part of NASA's Quesst mission to reduce sonic booms during supersonic flight.
- The successful engine tests are a step towards achieving commercial supersonic flight over land.
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Universe Today
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Image Credit: Universe Today
A Hybrid Hydrogen Drive Train Could Eliminate Aircraft Emissions
- NASA has supported the development of a hybrid hydrogen-based engine for aircraft to eliminate emissions.
- The engine, called Hy2PASS, uses a fuel cell and a gas turbine in a hybrid configuration.
- By decoupling the compressor from the turbine, the system achieves increased efficiency and eliminates emissions.
- The project is in the initial phase, focusing on proving the concept and optimizing energy requirements.
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Nasa
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Image Credit: Nasa
Free Flying Robotics, Space Agriculture Ahead of Cargo Mission Swap
- Astronaut Suni Williams tests Astrobee robotic assistant's ability to autonomously capture simulated orbital debris.
- NASA Flight Engineer Don Pettit installs research components in the Advanced Plant Habitat, focusing on growing Red Romaine lettuce.
- NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Butch Wilmore perform science hardware maintenance and cargo transfers.
- The Progress 89 cargo craft departs the International Space Station, to be replaced by the Progress 91 cargo craft.
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