Friends of NASA

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Shenzhou-19 & Shenzhou-18 Crews Meet | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 & Shenzhou-18 Crews Meet | China Space Station

The astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft met their Shenzhou-18 colleagues after arriving at the Tiangong space station on Wednesday, May 30, 2024, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover. Commander Cai Xuzhe and crew members Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze successfully reached their destination after the spaceship made a fast automated rendezvous and docking with the space station's core module Tianhe at 11:00 Wednesday (Beijing Time).

At 12:51 (Beijing Time), the Shenzhou-18 crew who had been aboard the space station, opened the hatch and greeted the new arrivals. The two crew teams took group photos and sent messages to the ground staff.

Commanders of the two space missions exchanged greetings.

"First of all, on behalf of the Shenzhou-18 crew, I welcome all of you. We are very happy and excited to welcome you to the space station today. Half a year ago, it was the Shenzhou 17 crew who greeted us. This time it is our turn to welcome you. Next, let us build our space home together," said Ye Guangfu, commander of the Shenzhou-18 spaceflight mission crew.

"I feel so good to be greeted by someone as soon as we arrive at the space home. I remember that two years ago today, we were expecting the arrival of the Mengtian lab capsule in the core module. In a blink of an eye, two years have passed and the space station has entered the application and development stage. Moreover, I also hope to return to the space home again and take a look. After returning again today, I feel very warm in my heart when I see the familiar environment in the cabin. Seeing that you have taken care of the space station so well, managing it so well, and that you have done a lot of outstanding work, I give you a big thumbs up. In the next period of time, I hope you can pass on good methods and good working methods to us. Finally, I hope we can spend some good time together and everything goes well," said Cai Xuzhe, commander of the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission crew.

Then the newcomers expressed their excitement for the gathering and thanked the previous crew for their hard work over the past six months.

Song Lingdong, a Shenzhou-19 crew member, said having seen the work done by the previous crew at the space station, he feels very confident about their mission.

"The ground staff all praised you for completing the mission well, and they are also very relieved and reassured when providing you support. We appreciate your hard work. We will learn from you in the next few days and please do share your valuable experience with us," Song said.

Wang Haoze, another Shenzhou-19 crew member, expressed her excitement to meet the Shenzhou-18 crew and appreciated their work in the past six months and preparations for the handover.

The Shenzhou-18 crew members also warmly welcomed the new arrivals.

Li Guangsu, a Shenzhou-18 crew member, said he looks forward to sharing their experience with their colleagues, learning from each other in exchanges and making progress together.

"We have carefully prepared some surprise foods for you. I look forward to your treasure hunt," he said.

Li Cong, another Shenzhou-18 crew member, said they had made the living space nice and tidy to welcome the new crew and even planted some fresh lettuce for a reunion dinner.

The six astronauts will live and work together for about five days to complete planned tasks and handover work, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The Shenzhou-19 spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 04:27 on Wednesday (Beijing Time).

Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's crewed space program and the fourth crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.

During the mission, the Shenzhou-19 crew will witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft.

The new crew will have numerous tasks to complete, including conducting 86 space science research and technology experiments, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and installing and recycling extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also engage in science education, public welfare activities, and other payload tests.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (蔡旭哲, commander)

Wang Haoze (王浩泽, mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (宋令东, mission specialist)

Shenzhou-18 Crew:

Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)

Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Date: Oct. 30, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #China #中国 #Shenzhou18 #神舟十八 #Shenzhou19 #神舟十九号 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #CaiXuzhe #WangHaoze #SongLingdong #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #LongDurationSpaceflight #CMSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-19 Astronauts Arrive at Launch Site | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Astronauts Arrive at Launch Site | China Space Station

The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China after a send-off ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2024 (Beijing Time) ready to board the spacecraft for a scheduled liftoff to the Tiangong space station.

The spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, later blasted off at 4:27 a.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Cai Xuzhe, the mission commander, and crew members Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze all expressed confidence in carrying out their mission aboard China's Tiangong space station.

After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft will perform a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the front port of the space station core module Tianhe in about 6.5 hours, forming a combination of three modules and three spacecraft, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

The three astronauts will complete an in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 trio and stay at the Tiangong space station for approximately six months.

During the mission, they will witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft.

Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's crewed space program and the fourth crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 2 minutes, 42 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

Prelaunch Ceremony for Shenzhou-19 Crew | China Space Station

Prelaunch Ceremony for Shenzhou-19 Crew | China Space Station

A send-off ceremony for the three astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission was held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, (Beijing Time) at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 4:27 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, reported to the commander-in-chief of China's manned space program Xu Xueqiang that they were ready to undertake their mission.

After receiving an order from the commander-in-chief, the astronauts boarded a vehicle and departed for the launch site amid cheers from a crowd of well-wishers.

The three astronauts will take over the command of the Tiangong space station after completing an in-orbit handover with their colleagues of the Shenzhou-18 mission.

The trio is expected to stay in orbit for around six months.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 3 minutes, 44 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

Shenzhou-19 Crewed Spacecraft Launch | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Crewed Spacecraft Launch | China Space Station

China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, sending three astronauts—including the country's first female space engineer—to its orbiting space station for a six-month mission. Mission specialist, Wang Haoze, is the third Chinese woman to take part in a crewed space flight, after Liu Yang who was in the Shenzhou-9 and 14 crews, and Wang Yaping, of Shenzhou-10 and 13.

The spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 4:27 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

About 10 minutes after the launch, the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The crew members, consisting of mission commander Cai Xuzhe and crew members Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, are in good shape and the launch is a complete success, the CMSA announced.

The spacecraft will then perform a fast, automated rendezvous and docking with the front port of the space station core module Tianhe in about 6.5 hours, forming a combination of three modules and three spacecraft.

Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's crewed space program, and the fourth manned mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 4 minutes

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Shenzhou-19 Crewed Spacecraft All Set for Liftoff | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Crewed Spacecraft All Set for Liftoff | China Space Station

All systems aboard the Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket are set and weather conditions are forecast to be suitable for the scheduled launch on Wednesday morning, Oct. 30, 2024, according to staff members at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

Lin Xiqiang, spokesman of the agency, announced this while briefing the media on the main tasks of the Shenzhou-19 mission.

"As evaluated and decided by the mission headquarters, the Shenzhou-19 spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 04:27 on Oct 30 Beijing Time. Crew members are astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, with Cai Xuzhe as the commander," Lin said.

"Astronaut Cai Xuzhe has participated in the Shenzhou-14 space flight mission. Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, among the third batch of Chinese astronauts, were born in the 1990s and will carry out a space flight for the first time. Song Lingdong was a former air force pilot before being selected as an astronaut and Wang Haoze previously served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. She is currently China's only female spaceflight engineer and will become the third Chinese woman to embark on a crewed spaceflight mission," he said.

The three astronauts will take over command of China’s Tiangong space station from the Shenzhou-18 crew currently in orbit and will spend about six months in space.

Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's crewed space program, and the 4th crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.

The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, sitting atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, has been transferred to the launching area, with pre-launch function checks and joint tests conducted to ensure the spaceship's readiness.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 1 minute, 34 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

Shenzhou-19 Crew Portraits | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Crew Portraits | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Crew Portrait | From the left: Mission Specialist Wang Haoze, Commander Cai Xuzhe, Mission Specialist Song Lingdong

Shenzhou-19 Commander Cai Xuzhe

Shenzhou-19 Mission Specialist & China's First Female Flight Engineer Wang Haoze

Shenzhou-19 Mission Specialist Song Lingdong

Shenzhou-19 Mission Specialist & China's First Female Flight Engineer Wang Haoze

Shenzhou-19 Commander Cai Xuzhe

Shenzhou-19 Mission Specialist & China's First Female Flight Engineer Wang Haoze

Shenzhou-19 Mission Specialist Song Lingdong

China's Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft is scheduled to launch no earlier than 4:27am Wednesday, October 30, 2024, (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the country's northwest, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Tuesday.

Lin Xiqiang, spokesman of the agency, announced this while briefing the media on the main tasks of the Shenzhou-19 mission.

The three astronauts will take over command of China’s Tiangong space station from the Shenzhou-18 crew currently in orbit and will spend about six months in space.

Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's crewed space program, and the 4th crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Shenzhou-18 Crew:

Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)

Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)

Image Credit: CGTN

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

Are Colors in Astronomical Images Real? | European Southern Observatory

Are Colors in Astronomical Images Real? | European Southern Observatory

Images of galaxies and nebulae often look very colorful. But where do these colors come from? Are they real? What do they mean? In this episode of Chasing Starlight, we show you everything that goes behind the scenes when making astronomical images, from how astronomical detectors actually work to how we choose what colors to display.

00:00 How we capture color

01:50 Why true color isn’t always useful

03:06 The light that our eyes can’t see

04:23 Correcting artefacts

05:45 Conclusions

Video Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Duration: 6 minutes, 33 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

#NASA #NSF #ESO #Space #Astronomy #Science #Light #Color #LightSpectrum #Stars #Nebulae #Galaxies #MilkyWayGalaxy #HumanBiology #Physics #Astrophysics #Cosmos #Universe #Telescopes #Chile #ChasingStarlight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-19 Crew Training | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Crew Training | China Space Station

"Ever wonder what it takes to become a space traveler? The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has introduced the Shenzhou-19 team, set to launch at 4:27 a.m. Beijing Time on October 30, 2024, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Here is a look at the rigorous training and the challenges the Shenzhou-19 crew faced!"

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Video Credit: CGTN

Duration: 49 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

China's First Female Flight Engineer Ready for Launch | China Space Station

China's First Female Flight Engineer Ready for Launch | China Space Station

Wang Haoze, China's first female spaceflight engineer, will embark on the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, is set to make history as the country's first rocket designer to ride one of her works into space. She will become the third Chinese woman to take part in a crewed space flight, after Liu Yang who was in the Shenzhou-9 and 14 crews, and Wang Yaping, of Shenzhou-10 and 13.

The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 4:27 Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

Wang, along with astronauts Song Lingdong and Cai Xuzhe—the commander—to carry out the mission.

The 34-year-old flight engineer represents a new generation of Chinese astronauts: scientists and engineers that are now stepping into spacesuits themselves.

Born in north China's Hebei Province, Wang holds a degree of engineering thermophysics and previously served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

However, Wang's journey from designing rocket engines to operating them was not easy. During astronaut selection in 2020, she faced one of her toughest challenges in the centrifuge—a machine that simulates an intense six-fold G force of spaceflight.

"Our centrifuge instructor said that he'd got an alarm bell which has never rung because no astronaut had ever pressed the button. I was holding that button with my mind struggling. I felt terribly sick in those moments but I thought I just couldn't press it, I can't be the first to do this," she said.

This determination characterized her entire training journey. As an engineer-turned astronaut, Wang has developed what she calls her two "magic keys" to success: practice hard and think diligently.

"The first 'magic key' is called 'practice hard', and the second 'magic key' is called 'think diligently'. Docking is very easy for a pilot to get started quickly, but for me an engineer, it was a little confusing at first. What should I do then? I had to keep practicing, and after practicing nearly 1,000 times, I meet the requirement for every docking simulation. Then the second one: diligent in thinking. There are certain operations that need us to do more thinking in extravehicular training. For example, what kind of posture should my body in the suit present to extend the range of operation, and where should my hand pinch it so that I can grip it more firmly and exert force," Wang said.

The crew will complete in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 trio and stay at the space station for approximately six months, witnessing the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft during the mission.

Many tasks await the new crew to complete: conducting space science and application tests, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, and installing and recycling extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also engage in science education, public welfare activities, and other payload tests.

"I think I would be more useful in communicating with the ground technicians. For instance, when we encounter some situations outside the plan and need to use our wisdom and engineering background together to solve the problem, I think there is a role for me to play," Wang said.

For Wang, who spent years studying advanced rocket propulsion systems before becoming an astronaut, the Wednesday launch represents more than just a mission; it's a culmination of a lifetime dedication to space exploration.

"All I think about is to focus on my work, I must do every job well in space," she said.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 3 minutes

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #China #中国 #Shenzhou18 #神舟十八 #Shenzhou19 #神舟十九号 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #CaiXuzhe #WangHaoze #FlightEngineer #Women #SongLingdong #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #LongDurationSpaceflight #CMSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Shenzhou-19 Crew Launch Scheduled for Oct. 30, 2024 | China Space Station

Shenzhou-19 Crew Launch Scheduled for Oct. 30, 2024 | China Space Station

China's Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft is scheduled to be launched no earlier than at 04:27 Wednesday, October 30, 2024, (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the country's northwest, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Tuesday.

Lin Xiqiang, spokesman of the agency, announced this while briefing the media on the main tasks of the Shenzhou-19 mission.

The three astronauts will take over command of China’s Tiangong space station from the Shenzhou-18 crew currently in orbit and will spend about six months in space.

Shenzhou-19 is the 33rd flight mission of China's crewed space program, and the 4th manned mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.

Shenzhou-19 Crew:

Cai Xuzhe (commander)

Wang Haoze (mission specialist)

Song Lingdong (mission specialist)

Shenzhou-18 Crew:

Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)

Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 1 minute, 22 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 29, 2024

Monday, October 28, 2024

NASA Perseverance Mars Rover Drive Path Animation | JPL

NASA Perseverance Mars Rover Drive Path Animation | JPL

This animated orbital-map view shows the route NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover has taken since its February 2021 landing at Jezero Crater to July 2024, when it took its “Cheyava Falls” sample. As of October 2024, the rover has driven over 30 kilometers (18.65 miles), and has collected 24 samples of rock and regolith as well as one air sample.

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is currently negotiating a steeply sloping route up Jezero Crater’s western wall with the aim of cresting the rim in early December 2024.

“Mars rovers have driven over steeper terrain, and they’ve driven over more slippery terrain, but this is the first time one had to handle both—and on this scale,” said the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Camden Miller, who was a rover planner, or “driver,” for Curiosity and now serves the same role on the Perseverance mission. “For every two steps forward Perseverance takes, we were taking at least one step back. The rover planners saw this was trending toward a long, hard slog, so we got together to think up some options.”

NASA's Perseverance rover landed on Mars in 2021 carrying 43 tubes for collecting samples from the Martian surface. So far, Perseverance has sealed and cached 24 samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and dust), plus one atmospheric sample and three witness tubes.

Celebrating 3+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

Video Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Duration: 47 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 28, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #MarsSampleReturn #MSR #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #Animation #HD #Video

Planet Mars Images: Fall 2024 | NASA Mars Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

Planet Mars Images: Fall 2024 | NASA Mars Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers

This enhanced-color mosaic was taken on Sept. 27, 2024, by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover (Mars 2020) while climbing the western wall of Jezero Crater. Many of the landmarks visited by the rover during its 3½-year exploration of Mars can be seen.

Tracks shown in this image indicate the slipperiness of the terrain that NASA's Perseverance Mars rover (Mars 2020) has encountered during its climb up the rim of Jezero Crater. The image was taken by one of rover’s navigation cameras on Oct. 11, 2024.

Mars 2020 - sol 1311

Mars 2020 - sol 1309

MSL - sol 4345

MSL - sol 4301

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover is negotiating a steeply sloping route up Jezero Crater’s western wall with the aim of cresting the rim in early December 2024.

“Mars rovers have driven over steeper terrain, and they’ve driven over more slippery terrain, but this is the first time one had to handle both — and on this scale,” said the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Camden Miller, who was a rover planner, or “driver,” for Curiosity and now serves the same role on the Perseverance mission. “For every two steps forward Perseverance takes, we were taking at least one step back. The rover planners saw this was trending toward a long, hard slog, so we got together to think up some options.”

Support FriendsofNASA.org

Celebrating 12+ Years on Mars (2012-2024)

Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)

Rover Name: Curiosity

Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life.

Launch: Nov. 6, 2011

Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars

Celebrating 3+ Years on Mars

Mission Name: Mars 2020

Rover Name: Perseverance

Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for return to Earth.

Launch: July 30, 2020

Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars

For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov

Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

Processing: Kevin M. Gill/PipploIMP

Image Release Dates: Sept. 11-Oct. 28, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #RedPlanet #Planet #Astrobiology #Geology #CuriosityRover #MSL #MountSharp #GaleCrater #PerseveranceRover #Mars2020 #JezeroCrater #Robotics #SpaceTechnology #SpaceEngineering #JPL #Caltech #UnitedStates #CitizenScience #KevinGill #PipploIMP #STEM #Education

Planets Beware: NASA Finds Star Cluster Danger Zones | NASA Chandra

Planets Beware: NASA Finds Star Cluster Danger Zones | NASA Chandra

Most stars form in collections or groups, called clusters or associations, that include very massive stars. These giant stars send out large amounts of high-energy radiation, which can disrupt relatively fragile disks of dust and gas that are in the process of coalescing to form new planets.

A team of astronomers used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, along with ultraviolet, optical and infrared data, to show where some of the most treacherous places in a star cluster may be, where planets’ chances to form are diminished.

The target of the observations was Cygnus OB2, which is the nearest large cluster of stars to our Sun — at a distance of about 4,600 light-years. Cygnus OB2 contains hundreds of massive stars as well as thousands of lower-mass stars.

Astronomers used Chandra observations to map out the diffuse X-ray glow in between the stars and create a catalog of the young stars in the cluster. They then combined this catalog with others using optical and infrared data to create the best census of young stars yet in Cygnus OB2.

The researchers found that there is a lot of high-energy radiation produced by stars and planets in these crowded stellar environments. They determined that the X-rays plus intense ultraviolet light in Cygnus OB2 would have a devastating impact on planetary disks and systems in the process of forming there.

How would this happen? Planet-forming disks around stars naturally fade away over time. However, if these disks are close to massive stars that pump out lots of X-ray and ultraviolet radiation, this process of the disk destruction is accelerated. Instead of taking 5 or 10 million years, the disks around these giant stars are wiped out much sooner, possibly before planets have had time to form. The disks also disappear more quickly in regions where the stars are more closely packed together.

Video Credit: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Duration: 2 minutes, 18 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 28, 2024

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarClusters #CygnusOB2 #Planets #Exoplanets #StellarRadiation #Cygnus #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #NASAChandra #XrayObservatory #SpaceTelescopes #JPL #Caltech #CXC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Sun Melts Comet Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1) | ESA SOHO Spacecraft

Sun Melts Comet Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1) | ESA SOHO Spacecraft

"Today, our solar system has one less comet." Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1) "melted away" on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, when it passed within 0.008 astronomical units (AU) of the Sun. Coronagraphs onboard the European Space Agency's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) witnessed the final moments. In this animation, an opaque occulting disk covers the Sun, blocking its glare to produce an artificial eclipse. This allowed SOHO's digital cameras to see the comet only 550,000 km from the surface of the sun.

Comet ATLAS was categorized as a Kreutz sungrazer. These are a family of comets made up of fragments from the breakup of a single giant comet around a thousand years ago. SOHO has discovered thousands of them—almost all eventually disintegrate near the Sun.

Comet ATLAS first appeared in September 2024 when an outburst brightened the comet, making it appear larger than average Kreutz fragments. Many astronomers hoped it would survive the Sun and put on a magnificent display like the Kreutz Comet Ikeya-Seki did in 1965. Not this time.

The Oort cloud is theorized to be a vast cloud of icy planetesimals surrounding the Sun at distances ranging from 2,000 to 200,000 AU (0.03 to 3.2 light-years). The concept of such a cloud was proposed in 1950 by the Dutch astronomer Jan Oort, in whose honor the idea was named. Oort proposed that the bodies in this cloud replenish and keep constant the number of long-period comets entering the inner Solar System—where they are eventually consumed and destroyed during close approaches to the Sun.

Visual Credit: ESA

Caption Credit: Spaceweather[dot]com

Capture Date: Oct. 28, 2024

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Sun #SolarSystem #Planet #Earth #ESA #SOHO #Spacecraft #SolarObservatory #SpaceTelescope #Europe #Comets #CometATLAS #C2024A1 #OortCloud #SouthAfrica #STEM #Education #Animation #GIF

Expedition 72 Crew Portrait & Crew-8 Farewell | International Space Station

Expedition 72 Crew Portrait & Crew-8 Farewell | International Space Station

On October 23, 2024, the Expedition 72 crew posed for a final group portrait ahead of the departure of NASA's SpaceX Crew-8 mission. From top left is NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin (Russia), astronauts Matthew Dominick and Mike Barratt, and cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Aleksandr Gorbunov of Russia. From bottom left are astronauts Suni Williams, Nick Hague, Don Pettit and Butch Wilmore, and cosmonaut Ivan Vagner (Russia).

After 235 days in space, SpaceX Dragon Endeavour and Crew-8 NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick and Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin of Russia returned to Earth and splashed down off the coast of Florida at 3:29 a.m. ET on Friday, October 25, 2024.

Expedition 72 Updates:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 72 Crew

Station Commander: Suni Williams

Roscosmos (Russia): Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, Aleksandr Gorbunov

NASA: Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, Nick Hague

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:

https://www.nasa.gov/iss-science

For more information about STEM on Station:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Date: Oct. 23, 2024

Release Date: Oct. 28, 2024

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Shenzhou-18 Crew Prepares for Earth Return | China Space Station

Shenzhou-18 Crew Prepares for Earth Return | China Space Station

The Shenzhou-18 crew aboard China's orbiting Tiangong space station is preparing for their return mission while wrapping up remaining experiments. The three astronauts, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong, and Li Guangsu, were sent into space for a six-month mission in April this year. Their return will take place after completing a handover with the Shenzhou-19 members at the space station.

Over the past week, the astronauts continued to carry out experiments in space material science, microgravity fluid physics and combustion science. They replaced the plug-in burner of a combustion cabinet gas experiment and samples from a fluid physics experiment cabinet as planned.

In addition, the crew members completed experimental tasks related to the study of astronaut psychological and behavioral ability.

In terms of emergency decision-making research, they used test software to complete basic cognitive ability tests, risk cognition tests, decision-style tests, and comprehensive decision-making tasks. The ground staff used the test results to carefully evaluate the astronauts' in-orbit emergency decision-making ability and to measure influential factors, such as in-orbit time, emotional states, and workload on the test results for emergency decision-making abilities.

In terms of in-orbit emotion recognition and evaluation research, the ground staff evaluated the emotional state of the astronauts through questionnaires, color preference tests, and emotional picture tests. They also explored the impact of medium- and long-term flight on the emotional state of astronauts.

Furthermore, the Shenzhou-18 crew conducted rendezvous and docking training.

The astronauts used the metacognitive training system to complete image recognition and operation testing under different initial conditions, confirming the overall accuracy and reliability of their operational skills.

In preparation for the return, the crew completed in-orbit data cleaning and transmission to ground stations, material inventory and sorting, equipment status checking, and they gathered items for return.

As for regular medical examinations, the astronauts had basic physical checks, ambulatory electrocardiographic blood pressure monitoring, 12-lead Electrocardiogram tests, plus non-invasive cardiac function and ultrasound examinations.

While keeping up physical exercise, the astronauts used microgravity physiological protective equipment, including acupoint stimulation clothing and bone loss countermeasure instruments to reduce the health impacts of their long-duration mission in a microgravity environment.

Shenzhou-18 Crew:

Ye Guangfu (叶光富, commander)

Li Cong (李聪, mission specialist)

Li Guangsu (李广苏, mission specialist)

Video Credit: CCTV

Duration: 1 minute, 52 seconds

Release Date: Oct. 27, 2024

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