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BBC Star Diary: Saturn Rises High in the Sky (August 5 to 11, 2024)
The ringed planet will be high in the sky this week, making it a great time to spot the gas giant. Find out how to see the sight for yourself by listening to this week’s episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
CRS-21 Resupply Mission Launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 | International Space Station
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft launched to the International Space Station atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:02 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Cygnus, named the S.S. Francis R. “Dick” Scobee and carrying nearly 8,200 pounds of cargo, is planned to take a day-and-a-half trip around Earth before arriving at the International Space Station for its robotic capture by the Canadian Space Agency's Canadarm2 on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
Aboard the Cygnus spacecraft are tests of water recovery technology, a process to produce stem cells in microgravity, studies of the effects of spaceflight on microorganism DNA, liver tissue growth, and live science demonstrations for students.
This is Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply mission for NASA.
Learn about NASA's Commercial Resupply Services Program:
Shenzhou-18 Crew Completes In-Orbit Test & Experiments | China Space Station
The Shenzhou-18 crew—in orbit for over three months—more than half of their six-month mission period, successfully carried out equipment tests and multiple space science experiments last week.
The three Shenzhou-18 crew members aboard China's orbiting Tiangong space station—Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu—tested the smoke detection sensors in the space station to verify the functionality of the fire alarm system, and collected blood samples for research, according to the latest footage released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The crew used specialized tools to test the temperature and smoke detectors in the station, activating the fire alarm system including voice, lights, and instrument alerts.
Meanwhile, the trio collected blood samples for routine tests and aerospace medicine studies. Samples were frozen for later analysis on the Earth, aiming to develop health risk prediction models and study physiological changes during long-duration spaceflight.
The three astronauts conducted in-orbit research on blood samples to monitor physiological indicators. They centrifuged samples and analyzed plasma with a molecular probe spectrometer, verifying the feasibility of detecting organic compounds like proteins via this method in space.
They also performed maintenance tasks and medical exams during their mission.
China launched the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship to send the three astronauts to its orbiting Tiangong space station for a six-month mission on April 25, 2024. This is the 32nd flight mission of the country's crewed space program.
Shenzhou-18 Crew:
Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)
Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)
Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)
Video Credit: China Central Television (CCTV) Video
Liftoff: CRS-21 Resupply Mission on SpaceX Falcon 9 | International Space Station
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft launched to the International Space Station atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:02 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Cygnus, carrying nearly 8,200 pounds of cargo, is planned to take a day-and-a-half trip around Earth before arriving at the International Space Station for its robotic capture by the Canadian Space Agency's Canadarm2.
Aboard the Cygnus spacecraft are tests of water recovery technology, a process to produce stem cells in microgravity, studies of the effects of spaceflight on microorganism DNA, liver tissue growth, and live science demonstrations for students.
Learn about NASA's Commercial Resupply Services Program:
Planet Mars Images: Summer 2024| NASA Curiosity & Perseverance Mars Rovers
Mars 2020 - sol 1201
Mars 2020 - sol 1217
Mars 2020 - sol 1219
Mars 2020 - sol 1225
MSL - sol 4255
MSL - sol 4255 (Note: slight image misalignment)
Mars 2020 - sol 1218
Image 1: NASA’s Perseverance rover discovered “leopard spots” on a reddish rock nicknamed “Cheyava Falls” in Mars’ Jezero Crater in July 2024. Scientists think the spots may indicate that, billions of years ago, the chemical reactions in this rock could have supported microbial life; other explanations are being considered.
Other explanations for the observed features are being considered by the science team, and future research steps will be required to determine whether ancient life is a valid explanation.
Science Investigations on 21st Cargo Resupply Mission | International Space Station
NASA and its international partners are sending scientific investigations on Northrop Grumman’s 21st commercial resupply services mission, currently targeted to lift off on August 4, 2024.
Flying aboard the company’s Cygnus spacecraft are tests of water recovery technology and a process to produce stem cells in microgravity, studies of the effects of spaceflight on microorganism DNA and liver tissue growth, and live science demonstrations for students.
Read more about the research making the journey to the orbiting laboratory:
Geomagnetic Storm Watch: Aurora Alert for Canada & U.S. | NOAA
A coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with a solar M8 flare is anticipated to arrive at Earth between midday to late on Aug 3, 2024. A moderate geomagnetic G2 Watch has been issued for August 3-4.
The aurora may become visible over northern and upper Midwest U.S. states from New York to Idaho.
The Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, is structured by strong magnetic fields. Where these fields are closed, often above sunspot groups, the confined solar atmosphere can suddenly and violently release bubbles of gas and magnetic fields called coronal mass ejections (CMEs). A large CME can contain a billion tons of matter that can be accelerated to several million miles per hour in a spectacular explosion. Solar material streams out through the interplanetary medium, impacting any planet or spacecraft in its path. CMEs are sometimes associated with flares but can occur independently.
"International Space Ambition: Why it's a Leap for Humankind"
"As the world marks the 55th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon landing, hopes are high for other milestones in lunar exploration. China plans to make a crewed lunar landing before 2030, build a basic station by 2035, and make an extended station by 2045. How does China's lunar program help efforts in deep space exploration? Answers from the Moon Village Association President Giuseppe Reibaldi. And, what's the significance of China's other deep space plans? Yang Yuguang, the vice chair of the Space Transportation Committee of the International Astronautical Federation, weighs in."
China's Chang'e-6 sample return mission (May 3-June 25, 2024) to the Moon's far side south pole region featured scientific payloads from France, Italy, Sweden, and Pakistan. International scientific payloads included the French radon gas detector (CNES), the European Space Agency/Swedish ion analyzer, and the Italian laser corner reflector (Italian Space Agency), as well as the Pakistani ICUBE-Q cube satellite.
The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) is a planned lunar base project currently being led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The ILRS will serve as a comprehensive scientific experiment base built on the lunar surface that can carry out multi-disciplinary and multi-objective scientific research activities including exploration and utilization, lunar-based observation, basic scientific experiments and technical verification, and long-term autonomous operation. The project will be "open to all interested countries and international partners." ILRS construction missions are expected to begin after the completion of China's Chang'e 8 mission in 2028.
Russian Soyuz MS-25 Crew Ship & Green Aurora | International Space Station
NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick: "Recent solar activity pushed the aurora closer to us. The Soyuz hangs from the station in a stream of aurora. Soyuz is illuminated in a light blue from [the] sun behind the camera and in front of the space station that is just about to rise."
Oxygen is responsible for vivid green aurora (wavelength of 557.7 nm).
Roscosmos (Russia): Nikolai Chub, Alexander Grebenkin (Russia)
NASA: Tracy Dyson, Matthew Dominick, Mike Barrett, Jeanette Epps
NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore
An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.
Learn more about the important research being operated on Station:
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Training in California & Florida
SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson
SpaceX Crew-9 Commander Zena Cardman
SpaceX Crew-9 Commander Zena Cardman (left) and Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson (right)
SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov of Russia
SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov of Russia
SpaceX Crew-9 Pilot Nick Hague
SpaceX Crew-9 Pilot Nick Hague
The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station poses for a photo in their flight suits in SpaceX’s new Dragon refurbishing facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. From left are, Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson of NASA, Pilot Nick Hague of NASA, Mission Specialist Alexsandr Gorbunov from Roscosmos (Russia), and Commander Zena Cardman from NASA.
The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station posed for photos during training at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, and at SpaceX’s new Dragon refurbishing facility at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This will be Gorbunov’s first trip to space and the station. Born in Zheleznogorsk, Kursk region, Russia, he studied engineering with qualifications in spacecraft and upper stages from the Moscow Aviation Institute. Gorbunov graduated from the military department with a specialty in operation and repair of aircraft, helicopters, and aircraft engines. Before being selected as a cosmonaut in 2018, he worked as an engineer for Rocket Space Corporation Energia and supported cargo spacecraft launches from the Baikonur cosmodrome.
An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.
This is the ninth rotational mission to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. It works with the American aerospace industry to meet the goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.
More information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program:
NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Training in Dragon Spacecraft
SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson
SpaceX Crew-9 Commander Zena Cardman
SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov of Russia
SpaceX Crew-9 Pilot Nick Hague
The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station poses for a photo during a crew equipment interface test (CEIT). From left are, Mission Specialist Alexsandr Gorbunov from Roscosmos (Russia), Pilot Nick Hague from NASA, Commander Zena Cardman from NASA, and Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson from NASA.
The crew of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station poses for photos during a crew equipment interface test (CEIT) at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California. This test plays an important role in familiarizing crew members with the interior of the Crew Dragon spacecraft.
This will be Gorbunov’s first trip to space and the station. Born in Zheleznogorsk, Kursk region, Russia, he studied engineering with qualifications in spacecraft and upper stages from the Moscow Aviation Institute. Gorbunov graduated from the military department with a specialty in operation and repair of aircraft, helicopters, and aircraft engines. Before being selected as a cosmonaut in 2018, he worked as an engineer for Rocket Space Corporation Energia and supported cargo spacecraft launches from the Baikonur cosmodrome.
An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.
This is the ninth rotational mission to the space station under NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. It works with the American aerospace industry to meet the goal of safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the orbital outpost on American-made rockets and spacecraft launching from American soil.
Find more information on NASA’s Commercial Crew Program at:
On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft is seen being encapsulated inside the SpaceX Falcon 9 payload fairing as it prepares to launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida for the 21st Northrop Grumman commercial resupply services for NASA.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft is moved to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida on Aug. 2, 2024.
Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply ship is targeted to launch to the International Space Station atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 11:29 a.m. EDT, weather permitting, on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Cygnus is planned to take a day-and-a-half trip around Earth before arriving at the International Space Station for its robotic capture at 6 a.m. on Monday, 5, 2024.
Aboard the Cygnus spacecraft are tests of water recovery technology, a process to produce stem cells in microgravity, studies of the effects of spaceflight on microorganism DNA, liver tissue growth, and live science demonstrations for students.
Learn about NASA's Commercial Resupply Services Program:
Polar Moon Station Tour: 'Water-Based' Architecture Example | Lockheed Martin
"Science fiction is becoming reality. The Artemis program is taking us back to the Moon, and this time we'll establish a presence that will eventually take us farther into space than ever before. The building blocks of space infrastructure required to carry humanity on this journey are in development today."
"Dive into our vision of a water-based lunar architecture on the Moon that demonstrates our commitment to sustainable space exploration. This journey to the Moon is not just for knowledge, but securing our future, enabling Mars exploration, permanent bases and returning valuable resources to Earth."
"Jump in our rover and take a tour of the lunar south pole to see the infrastructure needed to maintain a permanent presence on the Moon. Highlights include:"
"Transportation: technology like the Orion spacecraft to transport humans to and from the Moon."
"Mobility: vehicles to explore the Moon’s surface."
"Power: a grid providing continuous power regardless of the Sun’s position."
"Habitation: reliable, lightweight and spacious shelters made of inflatable softgoods technology."
"Space Resources: water ice harvesting and regolith mining to support life on the Moon."
"Our approach for a responsible and effective path forward is water-based, nuclear-enabled and commercially-invested. To learn more about our vision for humanity's future in space, visit:"
China's iSpace JD-2 Reusable Engine Tests for SQX-3 Rocket Successful
Commercial rocket firm Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd., also known as iSpace, successfully completed a high-altitude 200-second long-range hot test assessment of its Jiao Dian Two (JD-2) liquid oxygen methane engine on August 1, 2024. The JD-2 engine is a self-developed main engine for i-Space’s medium to large reusable liquid carrier rocket, named SQX-3.
The JD-2 engine has met the longest working time requirement for the SQX-3 reusable launch vehicle. This recent test series has verified the performance and reliability of the JD-2 engine in an extended working state with the combustion chamber pressure exceeding 111% of the rated condition. This was the eighth hot test assessment for the JD-2 engine, effectively validating its reusability performance. This marks a major milestone for the JD-2 engine's design goals.
JD-2 incorporates technologies like torch ignition, 3D printing, fully electric valves, and intelligent fault diagnosis. It is currently the most advanced domestically developed liquid oxygen methane rocket engine with the highest thrust.
iSpace made history as the first privately-funded Chinese company to reach orbit in 2019 with the solid-fueled Hyperbola-1 rocket.
In addition to iSpace, other Chinese companies, such as Galactic Energy and CAS Space, are conducting similar tests of reusable rocket engines.
China opened up its space sector to private and commercial activity in 2014.
China's Tiangong space station is expected to provide an opportunity for commercial launch vehicles to gain contracts to deliver cargo.
Additionally, China's Guowang low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband satellite megaconstellation (described as an expanded Chinese version of Starlink) is also expected to provide many valuable opportunities for commercial ventures.
Video Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA) Watcher
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: Hardware Highlights Spring 2024
Every day, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope moves closer to completion. This video highlights examples of the important hardware milestones from part of this journey. Components and systems are built separately, tested, and then integrated with larger parts of the spacecraft to carefully build the full telescope. Roman’s foundation is the primary structure, or spacecraft bus. It houses electronics and support systems. Like the chassis of a car, everything is built up from this aluminum hexagon.
This video, covering the spring of 2024, opens with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s integration and testing complex. The flight versions of the Solar Array Sun Shield panels are unpacked in Goddard’s largest clean room and placed into special racks to safely hold them. Multiple copies of hardware often exist, most for testing purposes; flight hardware is the version that will actually fly in space on the final spacecraft.
The flight solar panel arrays are the only ones covered with delicate solar cells. The Outer Barrel Assembly, also flight hardware, arrives at Goddard and is unpacked from its shipping container. This structure will surround and protect Roman’s primary mirror from stray light.
Fitted to the front of the spacecraft, the Deployable Aperture Cover is another element of light protection. It will cover the aperture during launch and then deploy in space to shield the aperture from sunlight. To ensure that it is ready, engineers deploy it in a large thermal vacuum chamber. Once the hardware is deployed, the chamber will evacuates all the air and generates high and low temperature extremes to simulate the conditions in space.
The Wide Field Instrument is Roman’s primary one and it will capture enormous images of distant objects. Assembled by BAE Systems in Colorado, it undergoes environmental testing at their facilities, proving that it can function in space, before traveling to Goddard for integration with the rest of the spacecraft.
The Coronagraph Instrument, a technology demonstration that will be able to directly image planets outside our solar system, was developed and built at JPL in California. After comprehensive testing there, JPL carefully transported the Coronagraph across the country to Goddard, where a team of JPL and Goddard engineers carefully unpacked it and performed a thorough inspection as well as continued testing.
Finally, the Optical Telescope Assembly is a combination of the 7.9- foot (2.4- meter) primary mirror, the smaller secondary mirror, and many additional optical elements designed to direct the focused beam of light to Roman’s two instruments. The assembly was built at L3Harris in New York and went through testing at their facilities in preparation for sending it to Goddard. The Optical Telescope Assembly will be the last major piece of hardware to arrive at Goddard this fall.
To learn more about all these systems and where they fit into Roman, visit:
Launching no later than May 2027, Roman is NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission. An infrared survey telescope with the same resolution as Hubble but at least 100 times the field of view, Roman is being built and tested at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Partners from around the globe are contributing to this effort.
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Producer: Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Videographers: Sophia Roberts (Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc.)
Scott Wiessinger (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Public affairs officer: Claire Andreoli (NASA/GSFC)
A Decade of Global Precipitation Measurement: US-Japan Cooperation | NASA Goddard
Through rain and snow, hurricane, typhoon and monsoon, flash flood and bomb cyclone, for ten years, the joint NASA-JAXA Global Precipitation Measurement mission has measured a lot of water. GPM’s Core Observatory satellite launched from Tanegashima Space Center in Japan in early 2014, becoming the first satellite to be able to see through the clouds and measure liquid and frozen precipitation from the Equator to polar regions using a radar. Now in its tenth year of operation, we look at ten events brought to light by this groundbreaking mission.
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