Discover How a New Solar Orbiting Spacecraft Connects Magnetic Avalanches to Solar Flares

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Recent high-resolution findings from ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission provide groundbreaking insights into solar flares. These explosive events are triggered by cascading magnetic reconnection processes, releasing immense energy and “raining down” plasma clumps into the Sun’s atmosphere.

Detailed overview of M-class solar flares as observed by ESA’s solar probes. Image credit: ESA / Solar Orbiter / Chitta et al., doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202557253.

Solar flares are powerful explosions originating from the Sun.

These dramatic events occur when energy stored in entangled magnetic fields is suddenly unleashed through a process known as “magnetic reconnection.”

In mere minutes, intersecting magnetic field lines disconnect and reconnect, leading to a rapid rise in temperature and accelerating millions of degrees of plasma and high-energy particles, potentially resulting in solar flares.

The most intense flares can initiate a cascade of reactions, causing magnetic storms on Earth and potentially disrupting radio communications. Hence, monitoring and understanding these flares is crucial.

However, the mechanisms behind such swift energy release remain largely enigmatic.

An exceptional series of observations from the Solar Orbiter’s four instruments has finally provided clarity. This mission, with its comprehensive approach, offers the most detailed perspective on solar flares to date.

The Solar Orbiter’s Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) captured high-resolution images of features just hundreds of kilometers across in the Sun’s outer atmosphere (corona), recording changes every two seconds.

Three other instruments—SPICE, STIX, and PHI—examined various depth and temperature regions, from the corona to the Sun’s visible surface, or photosphere.

“We were fortunate to witness this massive flare precursor in such exquisite detail,” said Dr. Pradeep Chitta, an astronomer at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research.

“Such detailed and frequent observations of flares are rarely possible due to the limited observation window and the significant data storage required.”

“We were in the right place at the right time to capture these intricate details of the flare.”

Solar Orbiter observations have revealed an intricate view of the central engine during the preflare and shock stages of a solar flare as a magnetic avalanche.

“Even prior to the major flare event, ribbon-like features rapidly traversed the Sun’s atmosphere,” Dr. Chitta noted.

“The flow of these ‘rainy plasma blobs’ indicates increasing energy buildup, intensifying as the flare progresses.”

“This rain of plasma will continue for a while even after the flare diminishes.”

“This marks the first time we’ve observed such a level of spatial and temporal detail in the solar corona.”

“We did not anticipate such high-energy particles emerging from the avalanche process.”

“There is still much to explore regarding this phenomenon, but future missions equipped with high-resolution X-ray imaging will further our understanding.”

“This is one of Solar Orbiter’s most thrilling achievements thus far,” stated Dr. Miho Jamby, ESA’s Solar Orbiter Collaborative Project Scientist.

“The Solar Orbiter’s observations unveil the flare’s central engine and underscore the significant role of an avalanche-like magnetic energy release mechanism.”

There is a compelling prospect of whether this mechanism is universal across all flares and in other flaring stars.

Results can be found in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

_____

LP Citta et al. 2026. Magnetic avalanches as the central engine driving solar flares. A&A 705, A113; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202557253

Source: www.sci.news

NASA Mars Spacecraft May Have Ceased Operations in Orbit

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

For nearly a month, NASA has been striving to reestablish communication with the MAVEN probe, which unexpectedly went silent while orbiting Mars.

The space agency lost contact with the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) spacecraft on December 6. Despite efforts to restore connectivity, mission controllers believe the spacecraft was spinning erratically based on data received that day.

NASA plans to make another attempt to revive MAVEN on January 16 due to Mars and Earth being positioned on opposite sides of the sun, which has caused significant communication delays.

Unfortunately, the prognosis is concerning for one of NASA’s flagship missions.

Since its entry into orbit around Mars in 2014, the MAVEN spacecraft has been instrumental in studying the Red Planet’s upper atmosphere, including the ionosphere, and understanding how Mars has lost its atmosphere over billions of years. MAVEN also facilitates communications among two rovers on the Martian surface, Curiosity and Perseverance, and Earth.

NASA has been unable to contact MAVEN since December 6, a day when the agency experienced a “loss of signal” while the spacecraft was behind Mars. This situation generally leads to routine communication interruptions, but MAVEN failed to reestablish contact when it emerged from behind the planet.

NASA announced it is investigating the situation. In a statement from December 9, few specifics were given, although mission controllers reported that all subsystems were functioning correctly before the spacecraft passed behind Mars.

After about a week, NASA updated that they had not received communications from MAVEN since December 4 but did retrieve a snippet of tracking data from December 6.

The findings were alarming. “Analysis of that signal suggests that the MAVEN spacecraft was rotating unexpectedly as it emerged from behind Mars,” NASA officials stated in a statement.

NASA employs a global network of radio antennas known as the Deep Space Network to issue commands to MAVEN and monitor incoming signals. On December 16 and 20, attempts were made to capture images of MAVEN in orbit using instruments aboard NASA’s Curiosity rover.

Meanwhile, mission controllers are diligently analyzing the last set of recovered tracking data. NASA reported on December 23 that they were trying to piece together a timeline to understand the issue. Additional details were not disclosed in a comment request, but the agency referred to the December 23 update.

Originally, the MAVEN mission was intended to last just two years, yet it has been operational for more than a decade. In 2024, NASA celebrated a decade since MAVEN began orbiting Mars.

By examining Mars’ atmospheric loss, MAVEN has provided insights into the planet’s past and present climate, illustrating its transformation from a potentially habitable environment with liquid water to the cold, desolate world it is today.

MAVEN is one of three NASA spacecraft currently orbiting Mars. The agency also operates the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2005, and Mars Odyssey, launched in 2001.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

ESA’s JUICE Spacecraft Sends Back New Images of 3I/ATLAS

Posted on December 5, 2025 by

In November 2025, ESA’s Jupiter Ice Satellite Probe (Juice) utilized five scientific instruments to study 3I/ATLAS, marking the second interstellar comet ever identified in our neighboring universe. The spacecraft also captured fresh images of this interstellar traveler using its navigation camera (NavCam).

This image from ESA’s Juice spacecraft captures the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: ESA / Juice / NavCam / CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

“Though the data from the scientific instruments won’t reach Earth until February 2026, our team was eager to see what we could find,” stated members of the Juice team.

“We opted to download just a quarter of a single NavCam image to test the waters.”

“To our astonishment, we clearly observed a comet, notably surrounded by signs of activity.”

“You can distinctly see the glowing gas surrounding the comet, referred to as the coma, along with indications of its two tails.”

“The comet’s ‘plasma tail,’ composed of electrically charged gas, stretches toward the top of the image.”

“A fainter ‘dust tail,’ made of tiny solid particles, can also be seen extending to the bottom left.”

Annotated version of the Juice image depicting interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Image credit: ESA / Juice / NavCam / CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.

The image of 3I/ATLAS was captured on November 2, during the initial observation window of Comet Juice.

This observation took place on November 4, just two days before Juice’s closest approach to the comet, approximately 66 million kilometers (41 million miles) away.

“On February 18 and 20, 2026, we will receive data from the five scientific instruments (JANUS, MAJIS, UVS, SWI, PEP) activated during the observation,” the researchers mentioned.

“This delay results from Juice currently using its main high-gain antenna as a heat shield against the sun, while a smaller medium-gain antenna transmits data to Earth at a slower rate.”

Even though Juice was situated farther from 3I/ATLAS than ESA’s Mars rover—which returned in October—it observed 3I/ATLAS shortly after the comet’s closest proximity to the Sun, suggesting a more active state.

“We anticipate clearer indications of this activity with data from our scientific instruments,” the scientists elaborated.

“This will encompass not only visuals from JANUS (Juice’s high-resolution optical camera), but also spectrometry data from MAJIS and UVS, compositional insights from SWI, and particle data from PEP.”

Source: www.sci.news

Blue Origin Launches Rocket to Transport NASA’s Twin Spacecraft to Mars

Posted on November 14, 2025 by

Blue Origin achieved a successful launch of its impressive New Glenn rocket on Thursday, transporting two NASA spacecraft en route to Mars. This marks just the rocket’s second flight, as both Blue Origin and NASA anticipate it will eventually carry personnel and supplies to the moon.

Soaring to a height of 321 feet (98 meters), the New Glenn rocket burst into the afternoon sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, initiating a lengthy journey for NASA’s twin Mars rovers to the Red Planet. The launch was delayed by four days due to inclement weather and a solar storm, which created auroras visible as far south as Florida.

In a significant achievement for the emerging company, Blue Origin successfully retrieved the booster after its separation from the upper stage and the Mars rover. This step is vital for cost reduction and reusability, mirroring SpaceX’s operational model. Company employees erupted in cheers as the booster landed upright on a barge 375 miles (600 kilometers) offshore, with an elated Bezos observing from launch control.

“Next time it’s the moon!” the employees chanted excitedly after the centerpiece of the booster landed. Twenty minutes later, the upper stage of the rocket deployed the two Mars rovers into space, fulfilling the primary goal of the mission.

The New Glenn conducted its inaugural test flight in January, successfully placing a prototype satellite into orbit, though it did not manage to land its booster on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean.

The twin Mars rover, named Escapade, will remain near Earth for a year at a distance of 1 mile (1.5 kilometers). Once Earth and Mars are ideally aligned next fall, they will utilize gravity assist from Earth to travel to the Red Planet, with an expected arrival in 2027.

During its orbit around Mars, the spacecraft will map the planet’s upper atmosphere and diffuse magnetic field, studying their interactions with solar wind. The data collected will enhance understanding of the processes driving the loss of Mars’ atmosphere and provide insights into how the planet transitioned from a wet and warm environment to its current dry and dusty state. Researchers will also investigate ways to protect astronauts from the intense radiation present on Mars.

“We are eager to gain a deeper understanding of how the solar wind interacts with Mars,” stated Escapade’s lead scientist Rob Lillis from the University of California, Berkeley, ahead of the launch. “Escapade offers a unique opportunity with two spacecraft operating simultaneously, granting us an unprecedented stereo perspective.”

This relatively cost-effective mission is budgeted at less than $80 million and is managed by the University of California, Berkeley. Initially slated for last fall, the launch of the Mars rover was postponed due to issues related to Blue Origin’s new rocket.

The New Glenn rocket, named in honor of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, is significantly larger than Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, which caters to affluent passengers traveling to the edge of space from West Texas. Blue Origin is also set to launch a demonstration mission for its prototype lunar lander, Blue Moon, aboard New Glenn in the upcoming months.

Skip past newsletter promotions

Founded in 2000 by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin holds a contract with NASA for the third astronaut lunar landing under the Artemis program. In contrast, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, utilized its Starship rocket—approximately 100 feet (30 meters) taller than New Glenn—to successfully complete the first two crewed lunar landings.

However, last month, NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy reinstated the contract for the initial manned moon landing, expressing concerns regarding the pace of progress on Starship’s testing from Texas. Both Blue Origin and SpaceX have put forth preliminary plans for landing.

Plans are underway for NASA to send astronauts around the moon early next year using its own Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, followed by the Artemis crew’s attempt to land. The space agency aims to surpass China’s mission and return astronauts to the moon within the next decade.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Spacecraft Predicts Solar Storm 15 Hours Before Impact with Earth

Posted on September 1, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Solar Storms Threaten Electronic Systems on Earth

Solar Dynamics Observatory, NASA.

Solar activity — Solar Storms Threaten Electronic Systems on Earth

Solar Dynamics Observatory, NASA.

Following the successful testing of techniques using solar group spacecraft, it may soon be possible to forecast significant solar storms capable of disrupting Earth’s electronics by more than half a day in advance.

The Sun periodically emits powerful plasma bursts known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which create strong magnetic fields that can harm electronics on our planet. While satellites and telescopes do monitor CME indicators, their predictions depend on the magnetic field within each CME, making it challenging to identify which emissions will be hazardous.

One of the most reliable instruments for assessing these magnetic fields is found in satellites positioned in gravity-stable orbits around the Earth, known as Lagrange Points. Though these satellites are positioned hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, they exist at only about 1% of the distance to the Sun, which contributes to their ability to provide warnings about the intensity of a CME within an hour of its impact.

Now, Emma Davis from Glaz and her colleagues at Austria’s Space Meteorological Office have discovered a method utilizing the European Space Agency’s solar orbiter to issue earlier alerts. “Solar Orbiters are primarily a scientific mission and not specifically designed for this purpose,” Davis explains. “This is an added benefit from unforeseen alignments during a CME event.”

On March 17th and 23rd of this year, two sets of CMEs were heading toward Earth while the solar orbiter was positioned between our planet and the Sun. Davis and her team leveraged the spacecraft’s magnetic field and solar wind speed measurements to model the internal magnetic architecture of each CME and anticipate the severity of the geomagnetic storms they would induce. Remarkably, the entire forecasting process required less than five minutes, allowing predictions 7 and 15 hours before the events reached Earth.

Davis noted that their predictions closely aligned with the actual geomagnetic strengths observed, which she found remarkable considering the dynamic changes the CME’s magnetic fields undergo as they approach Earth. “The fortunate aspect was that not many unexpected events occurred, and these CMEs behaved rather predictably,” she adds.

She cautions that upcoming storms may not follow the same predictable patterns and that determining the exact arrival time of these storms remains challenging, with uncertainties lasting several hours.

Nevertheless, she underscores the importance of real-time measurements once a CME departs from the Sun. Chris Scott from the University of Reading, UK, who was not part of this research, noted, “It provides an early indication of the potential configuration of the magnetic fields within each eruption.”

However, data from these two events alone are insufficient for fine-tuning predictive models, and further observations are essential before establishing reliable, specialized solar storm monitoring missions near the Sun, Scott concludes.

Astronomy’s Global Capital: Chile

Explore Chile’s astronomical wonders. Visit some of the world’s leading observatories and gaze upon a star-studded sky that boasts some of the clearest views on the planet.

Topics:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Can I Launch a Spacecraft to Intercept the Interstellar Object 3i/Atlas?

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

NASA’s Juno spacecraft may be tasked with intercepting interstellar objects

NASA/JPL-Caltech

Interstellar objects passing through our solar system make a brief journey around the sun before heading back into deep space. While astronomers can capture images of comet 3i/Atlas traversing our universe, is there a possibility of intercepting this object?

Researchers globally are investigating several strategies, including repurposing European Space Agency (ESA) missions and rerouting existing NASA endeavors to intervene. However, the task is complicated by the comet’s speed of 60 km/sec and the limited preparation time available.

One notable proposal comes from Avi Loeb at Harvard University, who suggests that the interstellar object “Umuamua is akin to an alien spacecraft; I made a similar assertion regarding 3i/Atlas.” Loeb and his team have published a paper, which, despite not being peer-reviewed, indicates that NASA’s Juno spacecraft could adjust its orbit around Jupiter to rendezvous with 3i/Atlas on March 14th next year.

Nonetheless, this idea faces challenges. Mark Burchell from the University of Kent emphasizes the aging spacecraft’s limitations. Launched in 2011, Juno was initially slated to end its mission with a collision into Jupiter’s surface in 2021, which has been delayed until September this year. It has already experienced two technical issues this year, both resolved by engineers.

“The current orbit allows for closer views of Jupiter and a pass by Io [Jupiter’s moon] in 2023. By 2024, it will be exposed to significant radiation, which is unsurprising given the performance anomalies observed that necessitate a restart,” Burchell explains. “If those modifications are successful and the instruments function properly, there might be valuable data to acquire.”

In a post on X, Jason Wright from Penn State has also voiced skepticism regarding this concept, highlighting that the spacecraft has limited fuel and systematic engine issues.

Another potential avenue to observe 3i/Atlas closely is through the ESA’s Jupiter Ice Moon Explorer (Juice). Luca Conversi from ESA mentions that they are considering this possibility. “We acknowledge this valuable opportunity and are currently assessing the technical feasibility. However, we can’t divulge too much at this stage,” Conversi states.

Despite Juice being closer to 3i/Atlas than Earth, it cannot alter its course towards the comet. “I’m uncertain if redirecting it to a comet is practical. Astrodynamics is far more complex than depicted in science fiction films, and altering a spacecraft’s trajectory is quite challenging,” comments Conversi.

Presently, several spacecraft, including Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey, are in orbit around Mars and nearing the end of their operational lifespans. Research conducted by Michigan State University and colleague Atsuhiro Yaginuma suggests that while this method has advantages, it’s unclear whether these spacecraft possess sufficient fuel for such a journey.

The ESA is developing another mission aimed at improving the chances of approaching interstellar objects in the future. The Comet Interceptor spacecraft, scheduled for launch in 2029, is set to await the discovery of comets or interstellar objects that can be targeted at a stable position between Earth and the Sun, facilitating exploration. These missions are rare, as scientists often do not know what the target will be or its appearance timeline.

Colin Snodgrass at the University of Edinburgh, who serves as the deputy lead of the Comet Interceptor, elaborates that this mission would “require a bit of additional maneuverability” to effectively intercept fast-moving objects like 3i/Atlas. For these swift visitors, he suggests a broader mission with a streamlined payload. “If the goal is simple speed, minimize non-essential equipment and prioritize fuel mass,” he advises.

Another future concept involves deploying small satellites in large orbits monthly. “This would distribute them across Earth’s orbit,” Snodgrass explains. “At any time, one of them could return to Earth and leverage gravity to navigate to interesting locations.”

Astrometric endeavors, such as the legacy investigation of space and time, could quickly enhance our understanding of the frequency of these objects entering our solar system, improving prior warnings about their arrival. “When they are moving rapidly, timely notifications can make a significant difference. Instead of providing alerts months ahead of perihelion, having earlier warnings will significantly impact our response,” Snodgrass remarks.

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Soviet Spacecraft Make Impact on Earth After Fifty-Year Voyage

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

After 53 years traversing the cosmos, a quirky Soviet spacecraft known as Cosmos-482 has made its way back to Earth, penetrating the atmosphere at 9:24 am on Saturday, according to Los Cosmos, a Russian state entity overseeing the space program.

Cosmos-482, designed for a landing on Venus, may have survived its descent. As reported by Roscosmos, its remnants were found scattered across the Indian Ocean near Jakarta, Indonesia.

Launched on March 31, 1972, the Kosmos-482 became tethered to Earth’s orbit due to a premature shutdown of one of its rocket boosters. Its return evokes memories of the Cold War space race, sparking images of terrestrial forces projecting into the solar systems.

“It takes me back to a time when the Soviet Union was bold in space exploration. We might all be more adventurous in space,” remarks Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who monitors orbiting objects. “In that context, it is a bittersweet occasion.”

While the U.S. triumphed in the lunar race, the Soviet Union set its eyes on Venus through its Venella program.

Between 1961 and 1984, the Soviets dispatched 29 spacecraft towards this enigmatic world, although many missions did not succeed more than a dozen fell short. The Venella missions observed Venus from orbit, gathered atmospheric data, descended through its caustic clouds, collected and analyzed soil samples, and transmitted the first images from the planet’s surface.

“Kosmos-482 serves as a reminder of the Soviet Union’s encounter with Venus 50 years ago, a tangible relic of that endeavor,” states Asif Siddiqi, a historian at Fordham University focusing on Soviet space activities. “It’s oddly fascinating how the past continues to linger in orbit around the Earth.”

Fifty years later, as the country aims to return to the moon and dispatch probes to Mars, Jupiter, and various asteroids, only an isolated Japanese spacecraft remains at Venus amidst proposals facing delays with uncertain timelines and an unpredictable future.

While landing astronauts on the moon during the space race was a monumental achievement, it also highlighted the rest of our solar system. As the U.S. increasingly focused on Mars, the Soviet Union turned its attention to the second planet from the sun.

“Back then, both nations were intrigued by Mars, but Venus proved a more accessible target,” asserts Kathleen Lewis, curator of the International Space Program at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

Often referred to as Earth’s twin due to its similar size, Venus is shrouded in a dense atmosphere of carbon dioxide and veiled under thick layers of sulfuric clouds. Its surface endures scorching temperatures reaching 870 degrees Fahrenheit, coupled with atmospheric pressure nearly 90 times greater than Earth’s.

“How do you create technology capable of surviving a months-long journey across the solar system, entering a thick atmosphere, and capturing images without being destroyed?” Dr. Siddiqi questioned. “It’s an astonishing challenge to consider solving back in the 1960s.”

Venella 9 Descent Craft and Lander

credit…
Via NASA

The Soviets, unbothered by the challenges presented by such a hostile world, persistently launched hardware towards Venus. At that time, no blueprint existed for such endeavors.

“You were essentially inventing the technology to send to Venus,” Dr. Siddiqi explained. “Today, if a country like Japan wishes to send a mission to Venus, they have decades of knowledge and engineering guidebooks. In the ’60s, there was nothing.”

The Soviet Venella program achieved many milestones, including being the first probe to enter the atmosphere of another planet, the first spacecraft to successfully land on another planet, and the first to capture sounds from an alien landscape.

The breakdown of Kosmos-482 occurred midway through this timeline, and its re-entry wasn’t the first encounter with Earth for the intended Venus lander.

Around 1 am on April 3, 1972, merely days after the troublesome launch, several 30-pound titanium spheres, each the size of a beach ball and inscribed with Cyrillic letters, descended upon the town of Ashburton, New Zealand.

One landed in a turnip field, leaving local residents cautious. The New Zealand Herald reported in 2002 that one of these spheres was ultimately confined in a police cell in Ashburton.

According to space law, ownership of a downed space object belongs to the country that launched it; however, the Soviets did not claim ownership of the sphere initially. The “space ball” was eventually returned to the farmers who discovered it.

Although Cosmos-482 was lost, the two other spacecraft launched days earlier successfully reached Venus and relayed data from the surface for 50 minutes. Two years later, when Venera 9 and 10 arrived, the Soviets ensured redundancy by launching both spacecraft.

The Venera program concluded in the mid-1980s with an ambitious Vega probe, which, starting in 1984, deployed a landing craft on Venus’s surface in 1985 and flew by Halley’s Comet in 1986.

“The legacy of Soviet Venus exploration in the 70s and 80s was a point of pride for the Soviet Union,” Dr. Lewis noted.

The re-entry of Cosmos-482 holds unique historical significance but isn’t particularly unusual today, as nations and companies continue to launch more technology into orbit, resulting in an increase of objects descending from the sky.

“We see frequent re-entries nowadays,” says Greg Henning, an Aerospace Corporation engineer and space debris specialist. The nonprofit organization tracks objects in orbit. “We observe dozens of instances each day, most of which go unnoticed.”

This is particularly true now, as heightened solar activity expands the Earth’s atmosphere, increasing drag on orbiting objects.

Some of these re-entries create spectacular light displays, whether through controlled descents like SpaceX’s cargo and crew capsules or unintentional ones, such as the failed test flight of SpaceX’s Starship prototype. Others, like China’s Long March 5B rocket booster, are uncontrolled and potentially hazardous.

However, in rare instances, spacecraft such as Cosmos-482 return to Earth as remnants of humanity’s formative endeavors.

“There exists an archive of the space race that continues to circle Earth. Many objects released in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s remain in orbit,” Dr. Siddiqi remarked. “At times, pieces of this living museum may fall on my head, reminding me of its presence.”

Jonathan Wolf contributed to this report.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Soviet Cosmos 482 Spacecraft Collides with Unknown Locations on Earth

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Soviet spacecraft, which was launched on a failed mission to Venus in 1972, is thought to have crashed to Earth early Saturday morning.

The European Space Agency monitored the craft’s uncontrolled descent and reported that it was last tracked by German radar. By the time of the anticipated crash, radar could no longer locate Cosmos 482, concluding that “it is likely that re-entry has already occurred.”

No injuries have been reported.

Cosmos 482 was part of the Soviet Venera Program, a series of probes designed to study Venus. While ten of these missions successfully landed on the harsh planet, the rocket carrying Cosmos 482 malfunctioned, leaving its upper stage, including the descent module, trapped in Earth’s orbit.

For the next 53 years, the approximately 3-foot-wide, 1,069-pound spacecraft orbited Earth in a smaller, elliptical path until it was close enough to descend into the atmosphere.

It’s common for space debris to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. The ESA reports that over 2,400 human-made objects fell from space in 2022. Most burned up upon re-entry, with the majority not landing in the ocean.

However, Cosmos 482 was engineered to withstand the dense atmosphere of Venus and operate on a planet with an average temperature of 867 degrees Fahrenheit (464°C). This design means it was theoretically robust enough to endure a routine re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere.

There are no recorded instances of space debris causing human fatalities. An ESA official stated in a blog post about Cosmos-482, “The risk of a satellite re-entering and causing injury is exceedingly low. The annual chance of an individual being harmed by orbital debris is less than one in 100 billion. By comparison, a person is approximately 65,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning.”

On Friday, U.S. space forces estimated that the spacecraft would re-enter the atmosphere at 1:52 AM on Saturday over the Pacific Ocean, west of Guam.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Halfton Soviet Spacecraft Set for Earth Collision: No Need to Panic

Posted on May 9, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Discarded Soviet-era spacecrafts do not pose a significant risk to Earth, according to experts.

The Kosmos-482, initially designed for a mission to land on Venus, has been stuck in Earth’s orbit for 53 years due to rocket issues. It is anticipated to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere in the coming days, with the latest forecasts predicting an uncontrolled descent on Saturday.

While the sight of large metal fragments falling back to Earth might seem alarming, old satellites and rocket debris actually re-enter the atmosphere almost daily. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), such events are quite common.

Typically, spacecraft burn up harmlessly upon re-entry. Even if some components survive the intense heat, it is rare for them to land on populated areas, mainly due to the fact that oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface.

“The likelihood of a satellite re-entering and causing injury is exceedingly low,” noted an ESA official in Blog entries regarding Kosmos-482. “Statistically, an individual has less than a one in 100 billion chance of being harmed by space debris. In contrast, a person is approximately 65,000 times more likely to be struck by lightning.”

ESA’s Space Debris Office predicts that Kosmos-482 will start its descent around 4:26 AM on Saturday, with a possible variance of ±4.35 hours.

Meanwhile, U.S. space forces anticipate an earlier re-entry time of about 1:52 AM on Saturday.

The specific re-entry trajectory remains uncertain due to atmospheric dynamics, space weather, and orbital decay, complicating the task of accurately predicting when and where an uncontrolled spacecraft will land.

As the spacecraft nears re-entry, predictions may become more reliable, but pinpointing the exact landing site remains challenging.

NASA has indicated that the potential landing area could be “52 N-52 seconds latitude,” a vast expanse that includes much of Africa, Australia, North America, South America, and parts of Europe and Asia.

Officials from the Space Force have stated that current projections suggest Kosmos-482 will re-enter the Pacific Ocean, west of Guam, landing south of Australia, possibly over or near the southern ocean.

Launched by the Soviet Union in 1972, Kosmos-482 was part of a mission aimed at landing on Venus but ended up in orbit around Earth following a rocket failure.

While most of the debris from this ill-fated mission returned to Earth decades ago, the spherical landing capsule is anticipated to descend this weekend.

This capsule, measuring around 3 feet in diameter, was engineered to withstand the extreme conditions of Venus, raising questions about its capacity to survive re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, as highlighted by Marco Langbroek, a scientist from the Delft Institute of Technology in the Netherlands, who has been monitoring Kosmos-482 and posting updates online.

“Even if it manages to re-enter, there’s a chance that it might collide intact,” Langbroek noted in a blog update on Thursday. “However, the impact could be severe, and I highly doubt the parachute deployment system will function after 53 years of battery drainage.”

Nonetheless, this does not imply that coastal populations are at imminent risk.

“While the risks are not exceedingly high, they aren’t nonexistent. With masses under 500 kg and impacts resembling those of meteorites, the probabilities are similar,” he wrote.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Soviet-era Spacecraft Poised to Re-enter Earth After Half a Century of Failed Venus Mission

Posted on May 2, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

A Soviet-era spaceship aims to land on Venus, with plans for it to return to Earth in the near future.

Currently, it is uncertain where the mass of half-ton metal will descend and how much will survive the journey. Experts are monitoring space debris.

Dutch scientist Marco Langbroek estimates that the spacecraft may re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around May 10th.

“There are risks involved, but there’s no need for excessive concern,” Langbroek stated in an email.

The object is relatively small, and even if it remains intact, the likelihood of it causing damage is similar to that of encountering a random meteorite fall, which occurs annually. “The chance of being struck by lightning in your lifetime is far greater,” he added.

He also mentioned that the spacecraft could potentially impact someone or something; however, this scenario cannot be entirely dismissed.

The Soviet Union sent the spacecraft, known as Cosmos 482, into orbit in 1972 as part of its Venus mission series. It never successfully launched from Earth orbit due to a rocket malfunction.

Most of its counterparts fell back within a decade, yet Langbroek and others believe the landing capsule, a spherical object about three feet (1 meter) in diameter, has been in a highly elliptical orbit for the past 53 years, gradually descending.

There is a substantial possibility that the over 1,000-pound (approximately 500 kilograms) spacecraft could endure re-entry. It was designed to withstand the harsh conditions of Venus’ atmosphere, which is thick with carbon dioxide, according to Langbroek from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Experts are skeptical about the longevity of its parachute system. Additionally, heat shields might have deteriorated over extended periods in orbit.

Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory mentioned in an email that while the spacecraft would benefit from an intact heat shield, if it manages to re-enter successfully, “a half-ton metal object will be falling from the sky.”

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 51.7°N and 51.7°S, passing near London, Edmonton, Alberta, and Cape Horn, South America. However, given that much of the Earth is covered by water, “the chances are favorable.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is speeding towards yet another near encounter with an asteroid

Posted on April 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

NASA Lucy Spaceship This weekend, we will be heading past a small asteroid as we will continue our path to even bigger prizes: Unexplored: A flock of asteroids near Jupiter.

That’s probably The second asteroid encounter It was released for Lucy in 2021 as Quest to turn 11 Space Lock. A close approach should help scientists better understand the early solar system when planets are forming. The asteroid is Ancient leftovers.

The upcoming flyby is a 2027 dress rehearsal in which Lucy reached the first so-called Trojan asteroid near Jupiter.

Sunday’s spacecraft, making three scientific instruments, observes a harmless asteroid known as Donald Johansson. The encounter takes place 139 million miles (223 million kilometers) from Earth, the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

A paleontologist named Lockheed Martin, the asteroid, the architect and operator of the spacecraft, is in mission control for all actions. He discovered Ethiopian fossil Lucy 50 years ago. The spaceship is named after a famous human ancestor.

NASA’s Lucy approaches 596 miles (960 kilometers) to this asteroid, an estimated 2½ miles (4 kilometers), but much shorter in width. Scientists should consider their size and shape better after a short visit. The spacecraft zooms at over 30,000 mph (48,000 kph).

The asteroid is one of countless fragments believed to have arisen from a massive collision 150 million years ago.

“It’s not going to be a basic potato. We already know that,” said Hal Levison, chief scientist at the South West Research Institute.

Rather, Levison said the asteroid could resemble bowling pins and snowmen like Arocos, the Kuiper Belt object that NASA’s New Horizon spacecraft visits in 2019. Another possibility is that two elongated but separate asteroids are far apart.

“We don’t know what to expect, and that’s what makes this so cool,” he said.

There is no communication with Lucy during the flyby as the spacecraft is keeping its antenna away from Earth to track the asteroid. Levison expects to have most of the scientific data within a day.

Lucy’s next stop, “Main Event,” is a Trojan asteroid that, as Levison calls it, shares Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun. A herd of Trojans preceded the largest planet in the solar system, circles the sun. Lucy visited eight people from 2027 to 2033, some of which will be paired with two.

Lucy’s first asteroid flyby came in 2023 as she passed Little Dinkinesh, located in the main asteroid belt. The spaceship discovered a mini-moon around it.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

SpaceX’s spacecraft rocket lost in test flight due to explosion in previous attempt

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Following a failed test flight in January, SpaceX set out for another launch attempt on Thursday hoping for a better outcome.

Unfortunately, the mission was cut short once again after losing contact with the upper-stage vehicle.

The Starship system, towering at 400 feet, launched from SpaceX’s Starbase site near Brownsville, Texas, for its eighth test flight at 6:30pm.

However, within eight minutes, similar to the January incident, some engines seemed to shut off. Live video footage showed the craft spinning before all communication was lost.

In the live webcast, SpaceX Communications manager Dan Huot announced, “I think it’s clear that we won’t continue with today’s mission.”

Shortly after the mishap, Florida airports issued ground stops due to the “space launch incident” in Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, Orlando International Airport, and Miami International Airport.

Videos circulating online show explosions and potential debris in parts of Florida. One video posted by an X user shows what appears to be an overhead fireball in Boynton Beach, Florida.

SpaceX stated on X that the Starship suffered a collapse, described as a “rapid, unplanned demolition.”

The company is now analyzing data from the flight tests to determine the root cause of the incident.

Huot mentioned in the webcast that SpaceX will be monitoring potential debris and working closely with air traffic restrictions.

While accidents are not uncommon in the development of new rockets and spacecraft, this marks the second consecutive setback for SpaceX.

During the seventh test mission in January, a similar loss of communication occurred, eventually leading to an explosion over the Caribbean.

SpaceX Debris
Courtesy Todd Martin

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration launched an investigation. Despite clearing the spacecraft for Thursday’s test flight, investigations are ongoing.

The FAA, among other agencies, has faced budget and staffing cuts under the Trump administration, raising concerns about oversight in areas like commercial spaceflight.

SpaceX’s internal investigation revealed that a leaky propellant likely caused the explosion during the previous test flight.

SpaceX made upgrades to prevent similar incidents and enhance safety measures before the Thursday launch.

Despite the short-lived test flight, SpaceX achieved a significant milestone with the Super Heavy Booster returning successfully to the launch site and landing on the Tower’s robotic arm.

This marks the third successful “Catch” operation by SpaceX, a crucial step towards the goal of creating a fully reusable Starship system.

Starship, the most powerful rocket in development, consists of a first-stage booster and an upper-stage spaceship called Super Heavy.

SpaceX officials emphasize that many more test missions will likely be conducted before the Starship can transport humans.

The next-generation Megarocket, Starship, is expected to play a pivotal role in NASA’s moon missions and potentially future missions to Mars.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Blue Ghost Spacecraft from Firefly completes its second commercial moon landing

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The Blue Ghost took a photo of the shadows on the moon.

Firefly Air Space

The Texas company has achieved its second commercial landing on the moon. And the first company didn't fall with a touchdown. Success comes even in the gusts of private and state moon exploration.

The Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Lander was launched on January 15th on top of the SpaceX rocket, and spent 45 days of travel to the moon. It landed at 8:34am on March 2nd. Chrysium in the Maresa smooth basin formed by a volcanic eruption three billion years ago.

Using thrusters, Blue Ghost slowed from an orbital speed of 1.7 km/sec to just 1 meter/sec, then landed on shock absorbing legs within 100 meters of the target. Jason Kim, CEO of Hotaru; I told CNN That the short height of the craft was the key to a safe landing: “It is a successful design, you see past designs and successful past designs, [they] Very similar – short and squatti. ”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqsgzztvpao

The Blue Ghost is approximately 2 metres tall and 3.5 metres wide, and features 10 scientific instruments as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services Program, which uses the private sector to perform various experiments prior to the planned crew mission.

These include testing of the lunar planet, which uses compressed gas blasts to mix and collect samples of lunar dust, radiation-curable computer chips, and lunar GNSS receiver experiments that pick up signals from GPS and Galileo navigation satellite constellation to bring Earth into orbit to provide timing data for the moon.

The Lander will be operating on Earth Day-Moon Day, approximately 14 days before falling into the darkness and closing around March 16th. While other landers have unexpectedly survived the harsh conditions before, a frostling moon night will likely be the end of the mission.

Last February, the Texas-based intuitive machine landed the Odysseus spacecraft on the moon, becoming the first private company to achieve a feat previously only achieved by the National Space Agency. Odysseus fell to the side while landing, but still managed to work surprisingly well.

Many moon missions are in progress or planning. Also, Blue Ghost's Launch Rocket was another commercial moon mission, Ispace's Resilience Lander, intended to land in April. It is expected that around 12 landers will reach the moon in 2025 alone.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

SpaceX successfully launches spacecraft rocket on test flight following pre-explosion incident

Posted on March 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

SpaceX is set to launch the Starship Megarocket on its upcoming test flight on Monday, approximately six weeks after the top stage of the vehicle exploded over the Atlantic during its final test.

Following the incident on January 16th, SpaceX lost contact with Starship about eight minutes after the flight, leading to subsequent explosions that scattered debris and small fragments near Turks and Caicos. Local authorities confirmed no injuries occurred.

The US Federal Aviation Administration initiated an investigation after the accident and grounded the rocket during the probe. On Friday, the agency announced clearance for the spaceship to resume flights, although the investigation remains ongoing.

SpaceX’s own investigation identified the “attic” section as the source of the leak that caused propellant to escape, triggering a fire and shutting down most of the spacecraft’s engines in a controlled sequence.

Strips of the recent SpaceX launch dotted the sky on January 16th.
Courtesy Todd Martin

Data transmission ceased over eight minutes into the test flight, resulting in the vehicle disintegrating three minutes later.

Subsequent to the incident, SpaceX implemented several hardware and operational modifications to Starship’s upper stage, without disclosing specific details of the upgrades.

The eighth test flight for Starship, originally planned for Friday, encountered brief delays without explanation.

The FAA green-lit the flight, amidst broader fiscal and personnel reductions targeting various federal agencies during the Trump administration’s tenure. Reuters reported that the Government Efficiency Bureau, spearheaded by SpaceX’s Elon Musk, engaged with the FAA, with SpaceX engineers assisting as specialized government personnel.

The existence of Doge personnel within the FAA’s commercial spaceflight division overseeing private companies like SpaceX remains undocumented, prompting some lawmakers and critics, including Senator Ed Markey, to voice reservations regarding potential conflicts of interest.

The planned Monday launch aims to deploy four mock Starlink satellites mid-flight, marking the first payload release by the vehicle.

Upon separation from the second stage, Starship’s first Hull King stage is slated to return to the launch pad, where SpaceX intends to “catch” it using extensive mechanical equipment at the rocket’s launch tower. This stage was successfully retrieved during the January flight, signaling partial testing success for the company.

The catch maneuver is pivotal in SpaceX’s ambition to establish Starship as a fully reusable rocket system.

If the launch proceeds as planned, the upper stage will soar for about an hour on Monday before splashing down in the Indian Ocean off Western Australia.

Standing at 400 feet tall, the spacecraft constitutes the most potent rocket ever developed, comprising a super-heavy first-stage booster and an upper-stage spaceship.

Envisioned to play a crucial role in NASA’s moon missions, SpaceX has been selected by the agency to ferry astronauts during the Artemis III mission scheduled for 2027. Musk hinted at potential application for future Mars missions utilizing the spacecraft.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Dirt on Spacecraft Might Be Necessary for Astronaut Health

Posted on February 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The International Space Station may be a little too clean

geopix/alamy

A strategy to keep the spacecraft as clean and infertile as possible to ensure that astronauts do not get sick may be a mistake. Researchers studying the International Space Station (ISS) say our immune system may require stimulation from certain types of molecules and microorganisms to maintain good health.

“The general concept is to have as few microorganisms as possible, but the question is whether it's the best thing for long-term space travel.” Peter Drestein At the University of California, San Diego. “And that's related to places on earth, such as research. [stations]hospitals and submarines, can spend more than a few months. ”

One reason for sterilizing spacecraft is to avoid covering contaminated planets such as Mars with microorganisms from Earth, but the main concern is that infections that can easily be treated on our planets can become a major problem with spacecraft.

Dorrstein and his team analyzed over 700 surface swabs mounted on the ISS.

“The space station doesn't have many molecules and microorganisms,” he says. “It's at the extreme edge of human life.”

The team believes this lack of exposure to the usual wide range of molecules and microorganisms could be one of the reasons why there is a major change in the universe's immune system. On space stations, astronauts are often subject to rashes, abnormal allergies, fungal or bacterial infections, and activation of latent viruses such as Epstein Barr found in one of the samples.

“We don't fully understand that,” says Drestein. “But the way I see this is that you have to ping your immune system regularly.”

Researchers say they need to find ways to ensure that environments like space stations are “more diverse in molecules and microorganisms, but without introducing infectious pathogens.”

One way to do this is Subtilis Bacillus Instead of disinfectant, Drestein says. B. subtilis It is already widely used for antifungal activities.

Growing a variety of plants is also helpful. “We know from other studies that when people are exposed to more plant molecules, they tend to have a reduced connection to asthma and allergies,” Drestein says. He says these plant molecules are not entirely present in the space station.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

SpaceX reveals Starship spacecraft experienced rupture during flight, footage of debris circulating online

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

SpaceX announced Thursday that its Starship spacecraft was damaged during a flight meant to test the capabilities of its giant rocket.

The upper stage of the rocket system appears to have disintegrated somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico or possibly the Caribbean Sea. Shortly after SpaceX announced it had lost contact with the spacecraft, a video showing debris flying through the sky surfaced on social media.

Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, Shared a video of the rubble on Xwrote, “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!”

Musk added later: “Preliminary indications are that there was an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the firewall of the ship’s engine, which was large enough to create a pressure that exceeded the capacity of the vent.”

Musk added that there will be no changes to future launch plans, although some changes will be made, such as increased firefighting efforts.

No one was aboard the Starship, but it is currently being tested in preparation for a mission to the moon and beyond.

SpaceX’s seventh Starship test flight started off smoothly, with the rocket lifting off and the booster returning intact to shore at the company’s Starbase launch site near Brownsville, Texas.

Problems began shortly thereafter, and SpaceX lost contact with Starship about nine minutes after liftoff. Kate Tice, senior manager of quality systems engineering at SpaceX, said the company had lost a ship. SpaceX wrote about X It said there had been a “rapid and unplanned demolition.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that it was “aware of an anomaly that occurred during the SpaceX Starship Flight 7 mission.”

Shortly after, the FAA said in an updated statement that it “temporarily slowed and redirected the aircraft around the area where spacecraft debris had fallen,” adding that normal operations had resumed.

SpaceX video According to an article posted early Thursday, Starship’s planned trajectory would take it from the southern tip of Texas, over the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula, east to near Cuba, and across the Atlantic Ocean. If the flight had gone as planned, it would have ended up in the Indian Ocean.

Starship is the most powerful rocket ever developed, standing 400 feet tall. The rocket consists of two parts: a first stage booster known as the Super Heavy and an upper stage Starship spacecraft.

The system is expected to play a key role in NASA’s efforts to return to the moon. NASA has selected SpaceX to carry astronauts to the moon’s surface on NASA’s Artemis III mission, scheduled to launch in 2027. Musk also said Starship could be used for future Mars missions.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson I posted a congratulatory message to X. noted that test flights are critical to ensuring safe manned missions.

“Spaceflight isn’t easy. It’s never routine. That’s why these tests are so important. Each test brings us closer to the moon and, through #Artemis, to Mars. ” he wrote.

It is not uncommon for accidents to occur during the testing of new rockets and spacecraft. SpaceX’s first attempt to launch Starship in 2023 ended with a fiery explosion minutes after liftoff. The incident triggered a months-long safety review that scrutinized the environmental impact of rocket launches from South Texa’s Gulf Coast.

Holly Hackman told NBC News she was walking on the beach with her boyfriend in the Turks and Caicos Islands when debris started flowing overhead and recorded video. she posted online.

“He thought it was an alien,” Hackman said. “We were going for a walk on the beach and my boyfriend looked up and freaked me out.”

Jason Abbruzzese

Jason Abbruzzese is deputy editor for technology and science at NBC News Digital.

Dennis Chow

Dennis Chou is a science and space reporter for NBC News.

Colin Seeley, Noraig O'Connor and Brian Gullion contributed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA astronauts to extend their stay in space by boarding Boeing spacecraft

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

NASA announced on Tuesday that two astronauts have been stranded on the International Space Station since a problem with their Boeing spacecraft in June. Due to delays, they will have to remain there even longer.

The next astronaut launch to the ISS, originally scheduled for February, has been postponed to late March. This is to allow the new SpaceX spacecraft used for the mission more time to complete processing.

The four crew members currently on board the station must wait for the next crew member to arrive before departing in another SpaceX Dragon capsule. Among them are NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are set to embark on the first test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Originally planned to spend about a week on the space station, Williams and Wilmore have now been living and working in orbit for over nine months, including additional time due to the recent delay.

Typically, new crew members overlap with departing crew members for a short period on the ISS, known as the handover period. During this time, astronauts exchange information about ongoing experiments, maintenance projects, and other protocols.

When Williams and Wilmore finally depart, NASA astronaut Nick Haig and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov will also return home with them.

December 2, 2024, ISS astronaut Suni Williams.
NASA (via Flickr)

According to officials, the new Dragon capsule scheduled for launch in late March should arrive at NASA’s processing facility in Florida in early January. Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, emphasized the meticulous attention to detail required in manufacturing, assembling, testing, and integrating a new spacecraft.

The capsule, known as Crew 10, will be launched by NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nicole Ayers, Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov, and Japanese cosmonaut Takuya Onishi. Until then, the quartet will continue training for the mission at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Equipment deployed by NASA’s European Clipper spacecraft

Posted on November 27, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

NASA’s European Clipper, the largest spacecraft the agency has ever developed for a planetary mission, is already 20 million kilometers (13 million miles) from Earth.

An artist’s concept for NASA’s Europa Clipper shows the spacecraft silhouetted on the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, with the magnetometer boom fully deployed on top and the antenna for the radar instrument pointing out from the solar array. It’s growing. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Europa Clipper launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024.

The spacecraft is hurtling toward the Sun at 35 kilometers per second (22 miles per second).

Europa Clipper will travel 2.9 billion kilometers (1.8 billion miles) to reach Jupiter in 2030 and begin a series of 49 flybys in 2031, collecting data using an array of instruments. , will tell scientists whether the icy moon and its interior ocean influenced the icy moons. Conditions necessary for life to exist.

For now, the information mission teams are receiving from the spacecraft is strictly engineering data, telling them how the hardware is working.

Immediately after launch, Europa Clipper deployed a giant solar array extending the length of a basketball court.

Next on the list was the magnetometer boom, which unwound from a canister attached to the spacecraft body and stretched 8.5 meters (28 feet) in length.

To ensure that all boom deployments went well, the team used data from three magnetometer sensors.

Once the spacecraft reaches Jupiter, these sensors will measure Europa’s surrounding magnetic field, confirming the existence of an ocean believed to lie beneath the moon’s icy crust, and telling scientists about its depth and salinity. I’ll let you know.

After the magnetometer, the spacecraft deployed several antennas for radar instruments.

Four high-frequency antennas extend laterally from the solar array, forming what appear to be two long poles, each 17.6 m (57.7 ft) long.

Eight rectangular very high frequency antennas, each 2.76 m (9 ft) long, were also deployed, two on each of the two solar arrays.

“This is an exciting time for the spacecraft to complete these important deployments,” said Jordan Evans, a researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and project manager for Europa Clipper.

“Most of what the team is focused on right now is understanding the small, interesting things in the data that help us understand the behavior of the spacecraft on a deeper level. It’s really good to see that. That’s it.”

The remaining seven devices will be powered on and off throughout December and January so engineers can check their health.

Some instruments, including visible imagers and gas and dust mass spectrometers, will remain under protective covers for the next three years or so to prevent potential damage from the Sun while Europa Clipper was in the inner solar system. I plan to make it.

Once all equipment and engineering subsystems are checked out, the mission team will shift its focus to Mars.

On March 1, 2025, Europa Clipper will reach Mars’ orbit and begin orbiting Mars, using Mars’ gravity to gain speed.

The mission navigator has already completed one course correction maneuver to keep the spacecraft on the correct course as planned.

On Mars, as a test run, the rover’s thermal imager will be turned on to take multicolor images of Mars.

They also plan to collect data on the radar equipment so engineers can verify that it is working as expected.

The spacecraft is scheduled to perform another gravity assist in December 2026 and swoop down to Earth before making the remainder of its long journey to the Jupiter system.

At that time, the magnetometer measures the Earth’s magnetic field and calibrates the instrument.

Source: www.sci.news

Proba-3: Twin spacecraft launched to create a simulated solar eclipse

Posted on November 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Two Proba-3 spacecraft work together to create an artificial solar eclipse

ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) aims to create an artificial solar eclipse in space with its upcoming Proba-3 mission, which will help study the Sun and demonstrate extremely precise formation flight down to just a millimeter. It turns out.

Scheduled to launch on December 4 on an Indian PSLV-XL rocket, the mission will consist of two spacecraft. After launch, they will be placed into a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth, bringing them about 600 kilometers (600 kilometers) close to Earth, but at a distance of about 60,000 kilometers (60,000 kilometers) from the Earth.

One of the spacecraft, called Occulter, features a 1.4-meter-wide disc made of carbon fiber and plastic. The other spacecraft will fly about 150 meters behind the first spacecraft and point its camera there. From this vantage point, the occulter's disk blocks the surface of the Sun, much like the Moon appears to cover the Sun during a total solar eclipse. This will allow imaging probes to observe the solar corona, or the sun's atmosphere, in more detail than ever before.

“This will be the closest we've ever seen the corona to the Sun in visible light,” said Damien Galano, ESA's Proba-3 mission manager. “This could provide concrete information about the temperature of the corona, the formation of the solar wind, and how the corona expands into space.”

Proba-3 accomplishes this feat by flying with incredible precision. Both spacecraft are equipped with sensors to track their position in space, and the Occulter uses 12 nitrogen thrusters to autonomously maintain its position with its partner with millimeter accuracy. The thrusters can deliver just 10 millinewtons of thrust, which is 1/50th the force of human breathing.

To limit the destabilizing effects of Earth's gravity, the artificial eclipse will last six hours when the spacecraft is furthest from Earth. More than 1,000 solar eclipses are planned during the two-year mission. Galano said this is the first time since experiments with artificial solar eclipses in space. 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

The experience gained from the Proba-3 mission could also be applied to things like refueling spacecraft and developing large telescopes in space. “Until now, we've only been able to achieve accuracy of a centimeter or better,” said Steve Buckley, Proba-3 lead engineer at Onsemi, a US company that developed some of the sensors for the mission. “This is 10 times better.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Chinese spacecraft discovers more evidence of ancient ocean on Mars

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Topographic map of Mars showing Utopian plains that may have once been an ocean

United States Geological Survey

Possible ancient coastlines have been discovered in a region of Mars explored by China’s Zhurong rover, adding further evidence that vast lowlands in Mars’ northern hemisphere may once have been covered by ocean. The evidence has been obtained.

The rover landed in the southern part of Utopia Plain in May 2021 and remained active for almost a year. Researchers studying data from the rover have found hints that there was an ancient ocean or liquid water 400,000 years ago.

now, Bo Woo Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and their colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis of the topographical features of the landing area by combining remote sensing data from satellites and observations from the spacecraft.

They say they found features consistent with the presence of a southern Utopian coastline, including valleys and sediment channels. They also determined the dating and composition of surface sediments in the area. Based on this, the research team believes that the ocean existed 3.68 billion years ago, but froze and disappeared about 260 million years later.

“This discovery not only provides further evidence in support of the Martian ocean theory, but also perhaps presents for the first time a discussion of its evolutionary scenario,” Wu said.

This area can be divided into a shallow area to the south and a deep area to the north. Wu said shallower parts of the ocean may have been up to 600 meters deep, but there isn’t enough data to estimate the ocean’s maximum depth.

“Water is an important element for life, and the presence of oceans on Mars in the past raises the possibility that Mars may once have harbored early microbial life,” he says.

Mathieu Rapport Researchers at Stanford University in California say whether early Mars had an ocean is a highly debated question with significant implications for the planet’s past habitability. He said future missions will need to test the new findings.

“Utopia Plains may constitute a valuable record of early Martian near-shore and coastal environments,” Rapport says.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

New Images of Comet Gassan-ATLAS Captured by NASA Astronauts and SOHO Spacecraft

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

A bright comet from the Oort cloud named C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is passing close to Earth and will be visible until late October 2024.

This image, taken by the ESA/NASA Solar-Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) on October 10, 2024, shows Comet Atlas Gassan and its bright tail streaming from upper left to right. Mercury will be visible as a bright dot on the left. Image credit: ESA/NASA.

Comet Tsuchiyama-ATLAS It was discovered on January 9, 2023 by astronomers from China's Zishan Observatory.

The comet, also known as C/2023 A3, was independently discovered by South Africa's ATLAS on February 22, 2023.

It orbits the Sun in a retrograde orbit and lies at an inclination of 139°.

It reached perihelion on September 27, 2024, at a distance of 0.391 astronomical units. Its closest approach to Earth was on October 12th. It is expected to be 200 AU from the Sun in 2239.

Each day throughout October, the comet rises higher and higher in the western sky as it moves away from the sun. But as it progresses, it gets darker and darker.

October 14th to 24th is the best time to observe it using binoculars or a small telescope.

Eagle-eyed skywatchers may be able to spot the star with their naked eyes for a few days, but then binoculars or a telescope will be needed as it gets darker.

“Comet Tuchinshan-Atlas may have come from the Oort Cloud, a region of space between 2,000 times the distance between Earth and the Sun and one light year.” said Jason Ybarra, director of the WVU Planetarium and Observatory.

“This region is so far away that the gravitational pull from the Sun competes with the gravitational pull from passing stars and the entire Milky Way galaxy.”

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick took this photo of comet Atlas Tsuchiyama on September 28, 2024. At the time, the comet was about 70.8 million kilometers (44 million miles) from Earth. Image credit: NASA/Matthew Dominick.

“The larger the orbit, the longer it takes for the comet to orbit that orbit,” he added.

“In the case of comets originating from the Oort cloud, their orbits take a very long time, so their orbits may change due to gravitational interactions with other bodies in the solar system, and it is possible to predict the future behavior of comets. It becomes difficult to do so.”

“If it gains enough energy from these interactions, Comet Gassan-ATLAS may never come back. It will have to wait at least another 80,000 years. In any case, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s an event.”

Just before sunrise on September 28, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick took a time-lapse photo of the comet Tuchingshan Atlas orbiting over the South Pacific Ocean southeast of New Zealand from the International Space Station.

From October 7th to October 11th, the comet brightly illuminated the field of view of the onboard LASCO (Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph Experiment) instrument. ESA/NASA Solar Heliosphere Observatory (Soho).

This device uses a disc to block the sun's bright light, making it easier to see details and objects near the sun.

Source: www.sci.news

NASA launches Europa Clipper spacecraft towards Jupiter’s icy moons

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Europa Clipper launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm EDT, beginning a six-year journey to Jupiter's icy moon Europa. The spacecraft will fly 49 times, approaching as close as 25 kilometers. Searching for the ingredients of life below the surface (16 miles).

Europa Clipper will lift off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 14, 2024 at 12:06 pm EDT. Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett.

european clipper This is the largest spacecraft ever built by NASA for a planetary mission.

Expanding the giant solar array, the spacecraft could span the length of a basketball court (30.5 meters, or 100 feet, end to end).

“We congratulate the European Clipper team as it begins its first journey to the ocean world beyond Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

“NASA is a world leader in exploration and discovery, and the Europa Clipper mission is no exception.”

“By exploring the unknown, Europa Clipper will help us better understand whether there is potential for life not only within our solar system, but also on the billions of moons and planets outside the sun. .”

“We couldn't be more excited about the incredible and unprecedented science that NASA's European Clipper mission will bring for generations to come,” said Nikki Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. states.

“All of NASA's science is interconnected, and Europa Clipper's scientific discoveries will help other missions in Jupiter exploration, including Juno, Galileo, and Voyager, explore the possibility of inhabited planets beyond our home planet. We will build on the legacy we have created as we explore possible worlds.”

“We are very happy to be able to send Europa Clipper to explore a potentially habitable ocean world, thanks to all of our colleagues and partners who have worked so hard to date.” said Dr. Laurie Leshin, Director of NASA's Jet Division. Promotion Institute.

“The Europa Clipper will undoubtedly deliver amazing science. It is always bittersweet to send something we have worked so hard on for so many years on its long journey, but this amazing team We know that spacecraft will expand our knowledge of our solar system and provide inspiration for future exploration.”

“As Europa Clipper embarks on its journey, I will reflect on the countless dedications, innovations, and teamwork that made this moment possible,” said Europa Clipper project manager, also at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jordan Evans said.

“This launch is more than just the next chapter in solar system exploration. It is a journey into another ocean, driven by our common curiosity and the quest to answer the question 'Are we alone?' A leap forward to uncover the mysteries of the world. ”

The journey to Jupiter will be a long 2.9 billion kilometers (1.8 billion miles), and instead of heading straight there, Europa Clipper will orbit Mars and then Earth, speeding past it.

The spacecraft is scheduled to begin orbiting Jupiter in April 2030 and begin its 49 science-focused flybys of Europa in 2031 while orbiting the gas giant.

This orbit is designed to take full advantage of the science Europa Clipper can perform and minimize exposure to Jupiter's notoriously intense radiation.

Scientists on the mission will be able to “see” how thick Europa's ice shell is and gain a deeper understanding of the vast ocean beneath.

They will examine surface material that may have come up from below, look for fingerprints of organic compounds that form the building blocks of life, and sample gases emitted by the moon for evidence of habitability. I will.

They will analyze the results and look for signs of a water world that could support life beneath the moon's frozen shell.

“It's important for us to picture what that alien ocean is like, the chemistry and biochemistry that might be going on there,” said Europa Clipper team member said Dr. Morgan Cable, an astrobiologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Its research centers on searching for the types of salts, ices, and organic materials that make up the main ingredients of a habitable world.

This is where an imager called MISE (Mapping Imaging Spectrometer for Europa) comes into play.

Operating in the infrared, the spacecraft's MISE splits the reflected light into different wavelengths to identify the corresponding atoms and molecules.

The mission will also use an instrument called E-THEMIS (European Thermal Emission Imaging System), which also operates in infrared, to explore potential sites near Europa's surface where plumes could bring deep-sea material closer to the surface. Attempt to identify hotspots.

The task of the EIS (Europa Imaging System) is to take clear, detailed pictures of Europa's surface using both narrow-image and wide-image cameras.

“EIS imagers will provide incredibly high-resolution images to understand how Europa's surface continues to evolve and change,” said Dr. Cable.

NASA's Cassini mission has discovered giant plumes of water vapor spewing from jets near the south pole of Saturn's icy moon Enceladus.

Europa may also emit a misty column of water drawn from the ocean or from reservoirs within its shell.

The Europa Clipper's instrument, called Europa-UVS (Europa Ultraviolet Spectrograph), can explore the plume and study any material that could be ejected into space.

Regardless of whether Europa has a plume or not, the spacecraft will carry two instruments to analyze small amounts of gas and dust particles ejected from the moon's surface by collisions with micrometeorites and high-energy particles. It has been. MASPEX (MAss SPECtrometer for Planetary Exploration/Europa) and SUDA (Surface Dust Analyzer).

These instruments capture small pieces of material emitted from surfaces and turn them into charged particles that reveal their composition.

“The spacecraft will study the gases and grains emitted by Europa by sticking out its tongue, tasting the grains, and inhaling those gases,” Dr. Cable said.

The mission will also explore Europa's external and internal structures in a variety of ways. That's because both structures have far-reaching implications for the moon's habitability.

To gain insight into the thickness of ice shells and the presence of oceans, as well as their depth and salinity, the mission will measure the moon's induced magnetic field with the ECM (European Clipper Magnetometer) and use that data to analyze currents from flowing charged particles. We plan to combine it with the measured values of . Around Europa — Data provided by PIMS (Plasma Instrument for Magnetic Sounding).

In addition, mission scientists will use REASON (European Assessment and Near-Surface Sounding Radar), which monitors up to 18 miles (29 km) away, to detect every detail from the presence of ocean to ice structure and topography. I plan to investigate. several miles) into the shell. itself a potentially habitable environment.

Measuring the changes that Europa's gravity causes in radio signals should help determine the thickness of the ice and the depth of the ocean.

“Non-ice material on the surface can migrate into deep internal pockets of brine within the ice shell,” said Dr. Steve Vance, a member of the European Clipper team and an astrobiologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“Some may be large enough to be considered lakes, or at least ponds.”

“Using the collected data to perform large-scale computer modeling of Europa's internal structure, we may be able to uncover the ocean's composition and estimate its temperature profile.”

“Whatever the situation, the discovery will open a new chapter in the search for extraterrestrial life.”

“The European Clipper is almost certain to raise as many questions as it answers, if not more, in a completely different class than we have been thinking about for the past 25 years.”

_____

This article is based on a press release provided by NASA.

Source: www.sci.news

Boeing Starliner spacecraft embarks on return voyage without crew members

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Wilmore and Williams were present to assist with the detachment of Starliner from the space station.

“We’re cheering for you. You’re going to be fine,” Williams communicated to mission controllers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston before the capsule separated. “Bring us back to Earth. Best of luck.”

Starliner’s journey back will mark the end of a turbulent few months for Boeing and NASA, whose test flights were meant to show that the spacecraft could reliably transport astronauts to low Earth orbit and pave the way for NASA to approve Boeing for regular flights to the space station.

However, the issues with the thrusters are the latest setback for Boeing’s Starliner program, which is already more than $1.5 billion over budget and years behind schedule even before its first launch. An initial uncrewed test flight that NASA required before Boeing’s spacecraft could carry astronauts also failed, leading the company to try again in 2022.

NASA officials stated earlier this week that they are collaborating with Boeing to enhance Starliner’s thrusters, and further analysis will be conducted once the spacecraft returns and engineers evaluate its performance.

To prepare for a potential thruster malfunction as Starliner embarks on its return journey, flight controllers adjusted the capsule’s usual undocking process: After separating from the space station, Starliner would automatically move away from the station in case of any issues.

Preliminary data showed that the thrusters successfully completed all 12 scheduled burns during the retreat, according to NASA.

Several hours later, at 11:17 pm EST, Starliner’s engines will execute a 59-second “de-orbit burn,” decelerating the spacecraft and initiating its reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. As it nears the landing location in New Mexico, parachutes will be deployed to slow the capsule, with airbags beneath the spacecraft deployed to cushion the landing.

For Boeing, a successful return of the Starliner spacecraft will be mixed feelings: If all goes well, it could demonstrate that NASA astronauts could safely ride back on the spacecraft, although NASA’s senior leadership unanimously opted for SpaceX to handle the return flight to reduce the risk of further setbacks.

Boeing designed the Starliner spacecraft as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which began in 2011 to support private spacecraft in place of NASA’s retired space shuttle fleet. Competitor SpaceX is developing its Crew Dragon spacecraft under the same program, which has been conducting regular round-trip missions to the space station since 2020.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth without astronauts on Friday

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

NASA announced on Wednesday that the troubled Boeing spacecraft will undock from the International Space Station on Friday and attempt to return to Earth without any astronauts on board. The uncrewed liftoff of the Starliner spacecraft is set to take place, assuming the weather is clear at the landing site in New Mexico. The return journey is expected to last about six hours, with the spacecraft scheduled to land at White Sands Spaceport early Saturday morning.

This return flight marks the final phase of a challenging test flight that did not go as planned. The mission was supposed to demonstrate Boeing’s capability to safely transport astronauts to the space station, leading to NASA certification. However, after encountering issues with thrusters and a helium leak from its propulsion system, the mission had to be aborted, leaving astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams stranded on the space station for an extended period of time.

During a press conference, Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, expressed excitement about Starliner’s return and the lessons learned from this test flight. The spacecraft is set to undock from the space station on Friday evening and land in New Mexico early Saturday morning.

The undocking process will be different without astronauts on board, with precautions taken to protect the space station in case of any malfunctions. After departing from the space station, Starliner will perform a deorbit burn before landing in New Mexico with the help of parachutes and airbags.

A successful return would be significant for Boeing, potentially signaling the safe return of NASA astronauts aboard the spacecraft. However, NASA has requested SpaceX to handle the return flight to minimize risks.

The certification process for Starliner remains uncertain, with NASA and Boeing working together to address issues and improve the spacecraft’s thrusters.

Boeing, along with SpaceX, was awarded a contract under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program to develop spacecraft for transporting astronauts to low Earth orbit. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft has been successfully ferrying NASA astronauts to the space station since 2020.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

What is the unusual sound emanating from Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft?

Posted on September 2, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft carried astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the International Space Station.

NASA/Johnson Space Center

update: A statement was sent to SpaceNews’ Jeff Faust.NASA said the sound had stopped and explained why: “The feedback from the speakers was the result of an audio configuration between the space station and Starliner,” NASA said. “The space station’s audio system is complex, with multiple interconnected spacecraft and modules, and it is common for noise and feedback to occur.” They added that the feedback had no technical impact to the crew or spacecraft operations.

The ill-fated mission to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has run into trouble once again. The two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who only recently learned they would be staying on the ISS until at least February, began hearing strange noises coming from the Boeing spacecraft over the weekend.

“We’re hearing some strange noises coming from the speakers,” Wilmore told Mission Control in Houston, Texas, on August 31. Recorded by an enthusiast“We don’t know what caused it.”

Mission Control told Wilmore they would investigate the regular pulsating noise. New ScientistBoeing referred requests for comment to NASA, which did not immediately respond.

The Starliner spacecraft delivered Wilmore and Williams to the ISS on June 5, but a thruster failure and helium leak made the planned return trip with passengers deemed too risky.

The noise has puzzled space industry experts and mission control. “It’s very strange,” one person said. Martin Barstow Professor at the University of Leicester in the UK. “I’ve never been on a spacecraft, so I have no idea.”

Social media posts have speculated about the possibility of sonar interference, but say such interference couldn’t come from outside the capsule because sound waves cannot travel in space. Jonathan Aitken “I don’t think it’s a big deal,” said the researcher at the University of Sheffield in the UK. “The bigger question for me is whether it’s a single speaker that’s making the noise, or the whole communications system.”

To investigate the source of the noise, Barstow recommends a thorough inspection of the aircraft. “Find out where there are microphones that might be providing input and isolate them,” he says. “But the sound could also be coming from the audio system electronics.”

Barstow noted that the regular but occasionally erratic nature of the pulse may support the idea that this is a problem with electronic interference.

This hypothesis is Phil Metzger “Electromagnetic interference (EMI) is very common and difficult to eliminate,” said John F. Kennedy, a professor at the University of Central Florida who helped test the ISS intercom system as co-founder of NASA’s Swamp Works research facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He wrote to X.

Metzger said: New ScientistIn response to an interview request from SpaceX, astronaut John McClellan explained on social media that the interference could be coming from outside the Starliner: “During one test, we heard a noise that we tracked down to its source and found to be coming from a power inverter that is part of the test facility and not the spacecraft,” he wrote. “We believe that the noise on Starliner was due to electromagnetic interference leaking into something like an audio cable with a loose braid at the connector interface.”

What to do about it is another matter: Wilmore’s radio communications with Mission Control suggest that neither he nor Williams were overly concerned about the noise, but were confused as to its source.

There’s no rush to find out what the problem is, since Starliner is scheduled to return to Earth on its own on September 6. “I don’t think it’s significant since there won’t be a crew on board, but anything unusual should always be investigated,” Barstow said. “It might shed some light on an underlying problem.”

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

NASA reveals astronauts stranded in space will wait for SpaceX spacecraft instead of returning in Boeing capsule.

Posted on August 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

NASA announced on Saturday that SpaceX will bring home the two astronauts who have been stranded on the International Space Station since early June due to issues with Boeing’s spacecraft. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return to Earth aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft instead of the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. This decision follows months of uncertainty within the space agency regarding the safe return of the crew members on a mission initially planned to last eight days.

The problems with the Starliner spacecraft have posed a significant setback for Boeing’s space program, which has been struggling to keep up with SpaceX. The Starliner program was already over budget and behind schedule before the launch of Wilmore and Williams in June.

Top NASA officials, led by Administrator Bill Nelson, held a formal review in Houston and based their decision on the results of tests conducted in orbit and on the ground. The announcement to choose SpaceX for the astronauts’ return was made during a press conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Although the return plans have been finalized, Wilmore and Williams will remain on the space station for approximately six more months before coming back in February. NASA revealed that two seats on SpaceX’s next launch, Crew 9, will be left empty to accommodate the astronauts on their return journey.

The Crew 9 mission is scheduled to launch on September 24 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Meanwhile, the troubled Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth without its crew.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The Boeing spacecraft: What went wrong?

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The astronauts launched aboard the Starliner on June 5. The following day, they faced difficulties.

As Starliner neared the International Space Station, five of its 28 Reaction Control System thrusters failed, causing a nearly one-hour delay in the docking process.

Located on the spacecraft’s service module, these thrusters are crucial for maneuvering the capsule in orbit, especially during docking and undocking with the space station.

Although all four thrusters were eventually fixed, prompting NASA to launch an investigation into the cause of the failure.

Engineers from NASA and Boeing have been testing the thruster performance using a test engine at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, under conditions similar to those experienced by the capsule during its journey to the space station.

Mission managers also performed a “hot fire test” by firing Starliner’s thrusters briefly while docked to the space station.

Initial results revealed that most of the thrusters operated normally, but a small Teflon seal expanding at high temperatures potentially blocked propellant flow to the thruster, leading to the docking issues.

Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager, mentioned the need for further testing to ensure ground tests accurately simulate on-orbit conditions. They also want to understand how the thruster issues impact Starliner’s ability to undock safely from the space station.

Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore at Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on June 5.
Chris O’Meara/AP Files

Additionally, the team is monitoring the spacecraft’s propulsion system for slow helium leaks.

Despite knowing about a helium leak before Starliner’s launch, officials discovered two more leaks in the capsule’s service module shortly after liftoff.

NASA confirmed that the propulsion system was stable and that the rate of helium leaks was not critical for the spacecraft’s return to Earth.

Further testing and analysis were conducted by additional propulsion experts hired by the company earlier this month.

The decision to return Wilmore and Williams aboard Starliner or use SpaceX for their return will determine their orbital stay extension into the new year, potentially until February for Wilmore, who could return with two other crew members aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.

NASA is expected to announce its decision on the astronauts’ return in the coming days.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA to determine astronauts’ return method on Boeing spacecraft within two weeks

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Should NASA opt to utilize SpaceX for the return journey, Wilmore and Williams would be required to stay aboard the space station for an additional six months.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is set to launch a new crew to the orbital outpost in September on a mission named Crew 9. NASA has announced a change in plans to send only two astronauts instead of the initial four, and could potentially use the available seats to bring back Wilmore and Williams at the conclusion of Crew 9 in February.

Under this scenario, the Starliner spacecraft would return to Earth without one crew member, as stated by NASA.

Bowersox mentioned on Wednesday that no decisions have been made as yet, but NASA must soon finalize a plan to manage the space station’s resources and ensure smooth operations in orbit.

“We’re approaching a point where a decision needs to be made by the end of August, potentially even earlier,” he explained.

The launch of Wilmore and Williams marked the first crewed test flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. This mission was intended to serve as a critical final test before NASA grants approval for Boeing to conduct regular trips to and from the International Space Station.

However, in June, five of Starliner’s thrusters malfunctioned as the spacecraft was nearing the space station, leading to a delay in the rendezvous and docking process. Helium leakage was detected from the capsule’s propulsion system during the flight. Mission managers were already aware of this issue prior to Starliner’s launch into orbit, but stated that it was unlikely to impact the mission or the astronauts’ safety.

Joe Acaba, astronaut office chief at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, stated that astronauts undergo training for potential contingencies, including accidents that could result in an extended stay in space.

While in orbit, Wilmore and Williams utilize their free time to conduct scientific experiments and assist the space station’s crew with maintenance work.

Acaba mentioned that the duo are kept informed about NASA’s decision-making process, but ultimately must rely on the expertise of engineers and mission managers on the ground.

“They will adhere to our directives. That’s their duty as astronauts,” Acaba affirmed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Next week, the JUICE spacecraft might be visible during a close flyby of Earth.

Posted on August 13, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

JUICE spacecraft may be visible from Southeast Asia during unprecedented operation

European Space Agency

The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will land on Earth in what the European Space Agency (ESA) calls a “double world first.” It is scheduled to fly past Earth and the Moon on August 19 and 20, the first of several complex maneuvers along a looping path to Jupiter. You may be able to see the spacecraft in the sky as it speeds past.

JUICE was launched on April 14, 2023, and has been orbiting the Sun almost parallel to Earth ever since. But on August 19, its journey will start to get interesting: it will pass within 700 km of the Moon's surface, slowing down slightly using a method called gravity assist. The next day, it will drop to less than 7,000 km above Earth's surface, curving its orbit even further. That's when eagle-eyed astronomy fans in Southeast Asia may get a glimpse of the spacecraft.

All of this is necessary because if JUICE were to fly in a straight line to Jupiter, it would need more than 60,000 kilograms of fuel to get there, and even more to slow down and enter orbit once there. With the entire spacecraft's mass unfueled at 2,420 kilograms, this just isn't feasible. Instead, upcoming Earth-Moon flybys will send the spacecraft to Venus, where it will begin to accelerate, then fly past Earth twice to get it just fast enough to reach Jupiter in 2031.

The first maneuver may be the most complex of the entire mission, as JUICE must pass precise points relative to both the Earth and the Moon to en route to Venus. “It's like going through a very narrow corridor very fast, with the accelerator at full speed with only millimeters of clearance on the side of the road,” said ESA's Ignacio Tanco in statementA dual Earth-Moon flyby has never been attempted before, nor has a dual gravity assist been performed.

If all goes well, JUICE will not only head to Venus and then Jupiter, but it will also perform the first major tests of its scientific instruments. For some of the probes, this will be their only chance to observe the planet's surface and iron out any kinks before they reach orbit around Jupiter and begin their mission to search for hints of possible life on the planet's giant moons.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Two NASA astronauts remain in space as testing of Boeing spacecraft continues

Posted on July 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Their ambitious mission was initially planned for just one week, but now, after 56 days on the International Space Station, the two NASA astronauts remain in orbit, awaiting a safe return journey in the Boeing spacecraft.

The troubled Starliner capsule is facing issues with its propulsion system, including a leak in its helium and failure of five thrusters. Despite the leak being detected before launch, mission managers believed it wouldn’t impact the safety of the astronauts or the flight.

Over the weekend, NASA and Boeing engineers conducted a crucial “hot fire test” of the Starliner, which is set to carry veteran astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore on its first crewed flight on June 5.

The test involved firing 27 of the capsule’s 28 jets in less than 1.2 seconds while evaluating their performance and checking for helium leaks. Preliminary results from the test were positive.

In a blog post published by NASA on Tuesday, it was stated that all thrusters performed well during the test.

NASA confirmed that the propulsion system of the Starliner remains stable, and the helium leak rate is not significant enough to endanger the return to Earth. The agency plans to recheck the system before the capsule separates from the space station.

A high-temperature burn test was also conducted with astronauts Wilmore and Williams inside the Starliner capsule as part of preparations for the return journey. The thrusters play a vital role in maneuvering the spacecraft during docking and undocking from the space station.

Overall, the progress made during the hot fire test is a positive sign for the upcoming crewed flight of the Starliner and the safe return of the astronauts.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Boeing spacecraft faces multiple delays in NASA astronauts’ return

Posted on June 25, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The test flight of Starliner to the International Space Station is aimed at showcasing the spacecraft’s capability to safely transport astronauts to low Earth orbit and assess its various systems in space.

The launch of the capsule was delayed numerous times before finally taking off on June 5, several years behind schedule and significantly over budget.

According to NASA officials, the return date for the astronauts has not yet been determined, but they could potentially return after a spacewalk scheduled for July 2 from the International Space Station.

Officials mentioned that there is no urgency to depart as the space station has adequate supplies to accommodate the visitors. NASA will thoroughly investigate before approving the undocking of the capsule.

Wilmore and Williams are currently residing on the ISS alongside seven other crew members: NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matt Dominic, Tracy Dyson, and Janet Epps, as well as Russian cosmonauts Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkhin, and Oleg Kononenko.

During their prolonged stay in space, Wilmore and Williams will assist in the operations of the space station and conduct various tests as part of the certification process for Starliner by NASA.

“Crew feedback has been extremely positive, and they recognize that all the insights gained during crew flight testing will enhance and refine the experience for future crew members,” stated Mark Nappi, vice president and program manager for Boeing’s Starliner program.

Ultimately, Boeing aims to provide scheduled flights to and from the space station for NASA, akin to the commercial services offered by SpaceX with its Crew Dragon spacecraft since 2020.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

NASA successfully restores Voyager 1 spacecraft to regular scientific operations

Posted on June 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Voyager 1 Due to technical issues, scientific observations are being carried out for the first time. Happened November 2023.

Voyager 1 launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 5, 1977, 16 days after its twin, Voyager 2. This artist's concept drawing depicts one of NASA's twin Voyager spacecraft. Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech.

Voyager 1 stopped transmitting readable science and engineering data to Earth on November 14, 2023, even though mission controllers were able to confirm that the spacecraft was still receiving commands and was otherwise operating normally.

In April 2024, they prompted Voyager 1 to begin transmitting engineering data containing information about the spacecraft's health and condition, partially resolving the problem.

On May 19, they carried out the second stage of the repair process and sent commands to the spacecraft to begin transmitting science data.

Two of the four scientific instruments immediately returned to normal operating mode.

The other two instruments required additional work, but all four are now returning usable science data.

The four instruments will study plasma waves, magnetic fields and particles.

This infographic highlights major milestones of NASA's Voyager missions, including visiting four outer planets and escaping the heliosphere, a protective bubble of magnetic fields and particles generated by the Sun. Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech.

The twin Voyager probes are NASA's longest-serving missions and the only spacecraft to have explored interstellar space.

Launched in 1977, both probes traveled to Jupiter and Saturn, with Voyager 1 traveling faster and reaching Jupiter and Saturn first.

Together, they have revealed a lot about the solar system's two largest planets and their moons.

Voyager 1 is more than 24 billion km (15 billion miles) from Earth, and Voyager 2 is more than 20 billion km (12 billion miles) from Earth.

The probe will celebrate its 47th anniversary of operation later this year.

“Voyager 1 and 2 are the only spacecraft to directly sample interstellar space, the region outside the heliosphere – the protective bubble of magnetic fields and solar wind created by the Sun,” NASA engineers said.

“Voyager 1 has resumed science, but additional minor operations are required to remove the effects of the problem.”

“Among other tasks, we will resynchronize the timing software in the spacecraft's three onboard computers to ensure commands are executed at the right time.”

“We will also be maintaining the digital tape recorder that records the plasma wave instrument data that is sent back to Earth twice a year.”

Source: www.sci.news

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft successfully docks with space station despite thruster issue

Posted on June 7, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Two NASA astronauts aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft successfully docked at the International Space Station on Thursday, despite issues with the spacecraft's thrusters.

NASA confirmed that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams docked with the space station at 1:34 p.m. ET.

“It's good to be connected to the great city of the sky,” Wilmore told mission controllers on the ground.

The docking attempt, originally scheduled for 12:15 p.m. ET, was postponed due to problems with five thrusters on the Starliner.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft docked with the International Space Station at 1:34 p.m. ET on June 6.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

The hatch between the Starliner capsule and the space station was opened about two hours after docking.

Astronaut Williams was the first to enter the space station, greeted by the ISS crew members already on board.

Wilmore and Williams expressed their gratitude to the teams that worked to get them to the ISS and said they were ready to begin work in orbit.

Their arrival brings the International Space Station to full capacity.

Wilmore and Williams are expected to spend about a week on the ISS before potentially returning to Earth on June 14.

Flight controllers will continue to monitor the capsule's reaction control thrusters for further adjustments.

The Starliner capsule is capable of autonomous docking with the space station.

The Boeing Starliner spacecraft prepares to dock with the International Space Station.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is more than 24 hours away from its first crewed test flight to the space station.

The test flight aims to demonstrate the capsule's ability to safely transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Chang’e-6 spacecraft from China commences sample collection on the dark side of the moon

Posted on June 3, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Illustration of the Chang’e 6 spacecraft landing on the moon

Source: cnsa.gov.cn

China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft has successfully landed on the far side of the moon and has begun taking lunar rock samples from that area for the first time.

After orbiting the Moon for three weeks, the probe landed on a relatively flat area of Apollo Crater within the South Pole-Aitken impact basin at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time on June 2.

The landing sequence was largely autonomous, as the far side of the moon has no direct communications link with Earth, but engineers were able to monitor the situation and send instructions using the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, which was launched in March this year and is currently in lunar orbit.

Footage from the spacecraft’s camera as it approaches the landing site

Source: cnsa.gov.cn

Once the lander and its attached ascent module separated from the orbital portion of the spacecraft, its engines began a controlled descent, using obstacle avoidance systems and cameras to detect rocks and stones and select a smooth landing area. About 100 meters above the lunar surface, laser scanners selected the final location, after which the engines were shut down and the craft made a cushioned landing.

The lander is currently collecting samples, using a robotic scoop to collect surface material and a drill to extract rocks from about two metres underground, in a process that will take 14 hours over two days, according to the China National Space Administration.

The collected samples will be loaded onto an ascent vehicle and sent through the lunar exosphere to the orbiter module, which will then return to Earth and release the sample-laden re-entry capsule on June 25, which will land at Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Researchers to investigate solar eclipses utilizing aircraft and NASA spacecraft

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Millions of people across North America are eagerly awaiting the total solar eclipse on April 8th, which promises to be a spectacular show. This rare event will see the moon completely obscuring the sun, providing a unique opportunity for scientific study.

NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy emphasized the significance of this event, stating that it allows scientists to observe the Earth, moon, and sun in a new light. The agency’s primary focus is on studying the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, which is usually obscured by the sun’s brightness. During a total solar eclipse, the corona becomes visible as a faint light surrounding a glowing halo.

Researchers are particularly interested in the corona as it plays a crucial role in transferring heat and energy to the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emitted from the sun’s atmosphere. Understanding the corona’s behavior can provide insights into solar phenomena such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms, which can impact Earth’s communications and power systems.

Scientists like solar astrophysicist Amir Caspi are taking advantage of this celestial event to study the sun’s atmosphere in detail. By using specialized instruments aboard aircraft and satellites, researchers hope to solve long-standing mysteries related to the sun’s corona and the solar wind.

The upcoming solar eclipse will also see spacecraft like NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter observing the sun from different vantage points. These missions aim to gather valuable data about the sun’s atmosphere and solar wind, providing unprecedented insights into solar activity and its potential effects on Earth.

As the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year cycle, researchers are eager to capture any potential solar eruptions and study their impact on space weather. The data collected during the solar eclipse will contribute to our understanding of solar phenomena and improve our ability to forecast space weather events.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Here’s How a spacecraft on the edge of interstellar space is communicating with Earth

Posted on March 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

NASA stays in touch with its space probes, like Voyager 2, through the Deep Space Network (DSN), which consists of radio receiving antennas located in three different spots globally. These locations include Goldstone in California, Robredo near Madrid, and Tidbinbilla near Canberra.

Voyager 2 can only be observed from the southern hemisphere, making the DSS-43 antenna at the Australian site the sole antenna on Earth that can communicate with the spacecraft.

Currently positioned more than 20 billion kilometers from Earth, Voyager 2 has a transmitter that outputs approximately 23 watts (around eight times more powerful than a typical cell phone). By the time a radio signal reaches Earth, it has only about one-tenth of this power.

undefined

To detect this extremely faint signal, DSS-43 and Voyager 2’s transmitters use narrowband, high-frequency signals that are highly directional and transmitted at slow bit rates.

Advanced signal processing techniques, minimal interference, and the fact that radio signals can travel through space with little obstruction allow DSS-43 to overcome long distances.

The antenna can transmit a signal to Voyager 2 at a much higher power level (up to about 400,000 watts) than it receives. This strong output can be easily picked up by the spacecraft even at far distances.

This piece (by Elouise Pace) addresses the question, “How can we communicate with Voyager 2, which is billions of miles away?”

If you have inquiries, please contact us at: questions@sciencefocus.comor reach out to us via Facebook, Xor Instagram Page (please include your name and location).

Explore our top Fascinating facts Many more fascinating scientific pages.

read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Third spacecraft launch successfully reaches space but fails to return during re-entry phase

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

SpaceX Starship takes off on March 14th

space x

SpaceX’s third and most ambitious Starship test flight appears to have been at least partially successful today, as it reached space, conducted fuel transfer tests, and traveled farther and faster than ever before. It looked like. However, the spacecraft failed to make its planned landing and appears to have either self-destructed or burned up in Earth’s atmosphere.

After launching from SpaceX’s property in Boca Chica, Texas, the first and second stages separate cleanly and the first stage (the booster that lifts the craft during the first part of its journey) descends to land at sea. started. SpaceX ultimately intends to recover and reuse both stages, but these early test flights are slated for a safer, easier water landing for both.

The first stage steered itself downhill, but seemed to struggle to slow its fall as intended and appeared to hit the sea at breakneck speed.

The second stage reached an altitude of approximately 230 kilometers and successfully opened and closed the payload door as a test. It was also possible to swap fuel from one tank to another, an experimental first step towards eventually refueling from one spacecraft to another. This is essential for long-range missions.

However, during reentry, the spacecraft reached such high temperatures that live video showed glowing plasma around the surface, and both video and telemetry data were lost.

The spacecraft would attempt to reignite the Raptor engines, something never before done in space, as it entered the atmosphere in a controlled manner at about 27,000 kilometers per hour. However, the relighting portion of this mission was omitted by the company, and the spacecraft was subsequently lost.

A view of SpaceX’s Starship taken nine minutes into the mission.

space x

US Federal Aviation Administration permission granted In preparation for the test flight on March 13th, the day before the scheduled launch date, tweeted SpaceX said it “met all safety, environmental, policy and financial responsibility requirements.”

starship It is the most powerful rocket ever made. The 121-meter-long ship consists of her two stages, a booster and a spacecraft, both of which are designed to be reusable, keeping costs down and allowing quick turnaround between flights. Masu.

Starship heated up during re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere after a flight of approximately 47 minutes, leading to the loss of the spacecraft.

space x

Today’s announcement marks the company’s third Starship announcement. In the first test in April last year, the first and second stages exploded before they separated, and in the test in November, the upper second stage reached space, but, which self-destructed when it stopped transmitting data, following the explosion of the first stage. Immediately after separation.

The ultimate goal of this project is to land humans on the moon and later on Mars.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Third spacecraft launch successfully reaches space but is lost upon re-entry.

Posted on March 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

SpaceX Starship takes off on March 14th

space x

SpaceX's third and most ambitious Starship test flight appears to have been at least partially successful today, as it reached space, conducted fuel transfer tests, and traveled farther and faster than ever before. It looked like. However, the spacecraft failed to make its planned landing and appears to have either self-destructed or burned up in Earth's atmosphere.

After launching from SpaceX's property in Boca Chica, Texas, the first and second stages separate cleanly and the first stage (the booster that lifts the craft during the first part of its journey) descends to land at sea. started. SpaceX ultimately intends to recover and reuse both stages, but these early test flights are slated for a safer, easier water landing for both.

The first stage steered itself downhill, but seemed to struggle to slow its fall as intended and appeared to hit the sea at breakneck speed.

However, during reentry, the spacecraft reached such high temperatures that live video showed glowing plasma around the surface, and both video and telemetry data were lost.

A view of SpaceX's Starship 9 minutes into its mission

space x

Today's announcement marks the company's third Starship announcement. In the first test in April last year, the first and second stages exploded before they separated, and in the test in November, the upper second stage reached space, but , which self-destructed when it stopped transmitting data, following the explosion of the first stage. Immediately after separation.

The ultimate goal of this project is to land humans on the moon and later on Mars.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Odysseus Spacecraft: The First Civilian Mission to Successfully Land on the Moon

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Photo taken by the Odysseus spacecraft in lunar orbit

intuitive machine

Intuitive Machines' Odysseus lander has landed on the moon. This is the first time a private company has landed a spacecraft on the moon, a welcome success after a string of recent high-profile landing failures by other companies.

The Odysseus spacecraft launched on a Falcon 9 rocket on February 14 for the flight, called the IM-1 mission. It entered lunar orbit on February 21st and landed near the moon's south pole on February 22nd.

Live footage from air traffic controllers became tense as the scheduled landing time passed without any contact from the lander. Finally, minutes after Odysseus was scheduled to land, Tim Crane, mission director in Intuitive Machines' mission control room, said, “We're receiving a signal. It's faint, but it's definitely there.'' “I'm doing it.”

The signal indicated that the spacecraft had landed on the moon, but the state of the spacecraft is still unknown. However, the landing was successful. “We know this has been a pain, but we're on the surface,” said Stephen Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines. “Welcome to the moon”

Before this landing, three other companies attempted to send landers to the moon. SpaceIL's Beresheet spacecraft was launched in 2019, and ispace's Hakuto-R mission was launched in 2022, but both crash-landed and were destroyed.

Astrobotic's Peregrine lander didn't even get very far after launching in January. A fuel leak forced the operators to return to Earth to burn up in the atmosphere. The success of the IM-1 has brought Intuitive Machines into an elite club. To date, only the national space agencies of the Soviet Union, the United States, China, India, and Japan have successfully landed on the moon.

Now that we have landed safely, we can begin the second part of the IM-1 mission. Odysseus carried six NASA payloads and six commercial payloads to the Moon. Some of these already serve that purpose, such as landing aids and cameras to take pictures of the landing. Some people have succeeded simply by reaching the moon. Perhaps most notable is artist Jeff Koons' collection of his 125 small sculptures. Other instruments are also now beginning their missions, including instruments that will measure how the moon's surrounding environment affects its surface.

The IM-1 mission is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, through which government contracts are awarded to private companies to build spaceflight capabilities through public-private partnerships. Three more moon landings are planned through CLPS in 2024, including an Intuitive Machines mission to harvest water ice from the moon's south pole.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Japanese spacecraft successfully lands on the moon, but encounters an issue

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

SLIM spacecraft illustration

JAXA

Japan's Smart Lander for Lunar Exploration (SLIM) has landed on the moon. Although the spacecraft is not operating perfectly, the successful landing follows a series of recent failed moon landings by governments and private spaceflight companies, and remains encouraging for international efforts to explore the moon. . With this landing, Japan will become the fifth country to land on the moon, following the United States, Soviet Union, China, and India.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched SLIM in September 2023, and the spacecraft took a long orbit to the moon, circling the Earth several times to conserve fuel. It has been orbiting the moon since December, taking images of the surface and preparing for landing.

The January 19 touchdown marked the first use of a technology engineers dubbed “smart eye,” which allows SLIM to aim its landing spot with extreme precision. SLIM determined its position by comparing images from its onboard camera with data from other spacecraft orbiting the moon, then autonomously navigated to a landing site on the slopes of Sioli Crater. JAXA officials are continuing to analyze how well the targeting protocol worked.

Initial signals from SLIM suggest that the solar panels do not appear to be operational, so the spacecraft is operating on battery power for now. If spacecraft operators are unable to figure out what's wrong with the solar cells and get them working, SLIM's scientific capabilities could be hampered and its lifespan significantly shortened. According to JAXA officials, battery life is expected to be only a few hours. It's possible the spacecraft will regain solar power, but for now JAXA's priority is to return as much data as possible to Earth before its batteries run out.

As SLIM descended to the lunar surface, two small rovers, each carrying a small payload of scientific instruments, also descended. One of them is designed to bounce rather than roll on wheels, and the other is a tennis ball. He was designed by toy manufacturers to roll on the moon, with a sphere slightly smaller than a ball. The spacecraft appears to be functioning normally.

Spacecraft landing sites are potentially important. Previous observations suggest that material may have come from inside the moon during the impact that formed the crater. SLIM's scientific instruments can study these minerals to learn about the formation and evolution of the Moon. A successful landing and the scientific data collected will provide useful data for the many spacecraft scheduled to travel to the moon from around the world in the coming years.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com