Deep Space and Interplanetary Exploration - Houston, we are go for launch!

[kato]

Is it that old that it's slowed down, or did something else happen to cause this one?

The compact object in a pulsar doesn't need to be a neutron star. There are white dwarf pulsars discovered in recent years (e.g. AR Scorpii re-evaluated in 2016) which tend to have pulse cycles on minute scales.

[kato]

Just found that the curation team at JAXA this month published its full catalogue of all objects that were retrieved from asteroid Ryugu by Hayabusa 2.

https://darts.isas.jaxa.jp/curation/hayabusa2/

The catalogue includes 404 particles (individual rocks heavier than 100µg), 33 aggregates (dust) and six "others" (space trash). All objects can be found with high-res photos in a rather convenient database at the above link.

The largest particle is this one at 138.1 mg weight and 10.345 mm length. It is the largest object actively retrieved from any extraterrestrial body other than the moon so far.


Individual data for objects (except "other") also always includes multiple FTIR spectra, e.g. for the above particle for 21 different spots on it. Never really looked at that kind of stuff, but i think for this object they seem to be showing hydroxy groups and carbon-carbon bonds.

The "other" space trash consists of six pieces (two yellowish, four aluminium) likely dislodged from Hayabusa 2 when it fired one of its guns at the asteroid during sampling. The sampler horn caught those pieces and brought them back to Earth. JAXA is considering using the third, unfired gun on Hayabusa 2 to litter on another asteroid in about 10 years.

[Thunderbolt]

1-minute video about "Local Bubble" being a gigantic (multi) supernova remnant, whose walls are (merged) supernova shockwaves plowing into surrounding gas & dust, compressing the same and triggering all of the local star formation, all of which occurs right on the walls of the "bubble":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGZQ4SmDxcQ&t=53s

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2022/01/astronomers-find-origin-of-stars-that-surround-earth/

(Looks somewhat like the Local Bubble, as a mammoth supernova remnant, triggering more & more star formation and hence more & more supernovae, is acting like a "wedge", splitting apart "Radcliffe wave" on the "rimward" side from the opposing sausage-links chain of molecular clouds on the "coreward" side of the Bubble)

more accurately scaled -- wonder if there's another "wave" like structure on the far side of the Local Bubble, threading through the Vela-Gum and Scorpius-Centaurus associations ???

[Daryk]

Very cool!  :thumbsup:

[kato]

Musk lost 40 Starlink satellites launched last week to a solar storm.

Reentry video

[rebs]

There are hazards, to be sure.  And geomagnetic storms are one of them.

[Luciora]

PLANETES we need you!

[Wrangler]

It's funny.. did they ignore the space weather forecast?

[idea weenie]

PLANETES we need you!

For these 40 we don't need Planetes, as the satellites are going to come down by themselves.  Now stuff at higher altitudes we will need something like Planetes, especially if it was the recipient of an ASAT weapon.

It's funny.. did they ignore the space weather forecast?

They better pay attention to the long-term forecast
Scott Manley - SpaceX Loses 40 Satellites To Solar Storm

[kato]

They better pay attention to the long-term forecast

I'd blame NOAA here to some extent actually.

This was the original prediction:


Sequentially what came then:

Code: [Select]

Space Weather Message Code: WATA30 / Serial Number: 200 / Issue Time: 2022 Feb 02 1914 UTC
CANCEL WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G2 Predicted / Cancel Serial Number: 199 / Original Issue Time: 2022 Jan 31 1954 UTC
Comment: Cancelling the G2 (Moderate) watch for 2 Feb and the G1 Watch for 3 Feb. No watches are now in effect.
[...]
Space Weather Message Code: WARK05 / Serial Number: 1633 / Issue Time: 2022 Feb 03 0554 UTC
WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected / Valid From: 2022 Feb 03 0555 UTC / Valid To: 2022 Feb 03 0900 UTC / Warning Condition: Onset / NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor
Potential Impacts: Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
[...]
Space Weather Message Code: ALTEF3 / Serial Number: 3196 / Issue Time: 2022 Feb 04 1347 UTC
ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu / Threshold Reached: 2022 Feb 04 1310 UTC / Station: GOES16
Potential Impacts: Satellite systems may experience significant charging resulting in increased risk to satellite systems.

The satellites were launched on Feb 3rd after the "cancel watch", and tried to sail through it on Feb 4th.

Drag as claimed by SpaceX as the cause for the re-entry is not considered a real issue for satellite operators until magnitude G3 ("strong" geomagnetic storm with K-index >=7), and in G2 storms is only cited "possible changes in drag affect orbit predictions".

[Daryk]

40?? ???

Holy cow... if that doesn't get the respective organizations doing their jobs better, NOTHING will...  :-\

[idea weenie]

Astra tried another launch today, 1st stage did decently, separation, not so good

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

[Wrangler]

I'm kind of surprised, I thought they had tested the nose separation part. Scott Manley had done a YouTube video (he an engineer, not a rocket scientist) and went over a comparison of the stage separation with the video from both launches of 007 in the current rocket 008. You could see in the video that something happened with the latch releases for the nose cone section it's simply didn't want to let go fully.

Last week blue origins had done its own test of its New Glen rockets nose cone in a vacuum chamber to test to see if if it separates properly or not. I don't know the background of astra, but I thought they had did a similar test. NASA spaceflight YouTube channel had done video tour of the assembly floor for the rockets. Their assembling the rockets by hand from what viewed. It's likely that a mistake was made there or it was defective clamp. The stage separation happened when the gas build up accrued when rocket motor kick in, which appears to be what finally allowed playload separation to accurebut with damage to second stage.

[rebs]

NASA has proposed a new orbiter mission to Neptune.  Crossing my fingers.

https://www.planetary.org/articles/return-to-neptune-plans#:~:text=Neptune%20Odyssey%20isn't%20the,Neptune%20and%20Triton%20in%202038.

[Daryk]

Excellent news!  :thumbsup:

[rebs]

Separate probe for Triton sounds interesting as well.

[Wrangler]

Interesting findings from the Dwarf Planet Ceres.  Reported on Phys.org The planet appears to have signs of an Organic/Chemistry under the surface.  Focus was on three craters, where salt deposits were found.



These deposits were discovered by the Dawn missions to the planet. 

[Daryk]

Ceres is a dwarf planet now?  I obviously missed the change...  :-\

[Sabelkatten]

Ceres is a dwarf planet now?  I obviously missed the change...  :-\

Follows from the definition - It's round, but not alone in its orbit. :)

[Daryk]

Makes sense, thanks!  :thumbsup:

[Wrangler]

Europa Clipper space probe begins assembly. The probe is intended to explore Europa, slated for October 2024 (Report from NASA)

[glitterboy2098]

Ceres is a dwarf planet now?  I obviously missed the change...  :-\

that was part of the fallout of the IAU's planet definition. it got lost in the chaos surrounding the demotion of Pluto to dwarf planet status from full planet.

[Daryk]

Lost in the chaos indeed...  :-\

[StoryReader]

So far so good for the James Webb Space Telescope out at the L2 point.  Pretty amazing!

https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-better-than-expected-image

[Daryk]

Great article, thanks for sharing!  :thumbsup:

[rebs]

https://gizmodo.com/arianegroup-concept-reusable-upper-state-spacecraft-1849553008

New article about a possible reusable space freighter that could open up exploration efforts for ESA.

[Wrangler]

https://gizmodo.com/arianegroup-concept-reusable-upper-state-spacecraft-1849553008

New article about a possible reusable space freighter that could open up exploration efforts for ESA.

Its being written as reusable stage.  However, so far from everything seen so far it's a reusable capsule.  They may have some ways to go get to that "stage" of development.

[kato]

Its being written as reusable stage.  However, so far from everything seen so far it's a reusable capsule.

SUSIE is basically a 25-ton version of SPACE RIDER.

Arianegroup press release:
https://press.ariane.group/arianegroup-devoile-susie-a-liac-4735/?lang=eng

Recaping that it's intended to be a flexible space tug with ability to:
a) conduct space station supply missions similar to ATV
b) be optionally manned
c) inspect, tow, repair and recover satellites from orbit
d) carry out missions out to lunar orbit (!)

The stated ability to return up to 7 tons payload from orbit to ground is a fairly significant number. We lost any such heavier downlift ability with the Space Shuttle - the commercial US freighters are 2 tons maximum.

Initial deployment would be on Ariane 64, but Susie is intended to be used on future (fully reusable) ESA launchers as a possible upper stage.

[rebs]

On Monday, September 26th, the Double Asteroid Redirection Test will take place.  And the James Webb Space Telescope will be watching with its keen, giant eye.

Details in the following link...

https://www.space.com/dart-asteroid-impact-space-telescope-observations

[Daryk]

Cool article... too bad I'll be at work when it happens...